The Demonic Cultivator

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In the Mystic Azure Realm, within the Yu Kingdom, lies the bustling city of Green River. The streets, vibrant with throngs of people and a riot of blooming flowers, are lively with activity. At one roadside, a humble tea stall offers a large bowl of cool tea for just a copper coin.

A plainly dressed young man sits quietly there, sipping his tea and reflecting on the past year of evading capture. As a person who had traversed from another world, he felt somewhat embarrassed by his current lowly state. He is Chu Xuan, who twenty years ago crossed into the Mystic Azure Realm and became an outer disciple of the Infinite Sect.

Lacking a benefactor or any magical aids, he relied solely on his handsome appearance and mediocre talents. Fortunately, the Infinite Sect, being the strongest in the Yu Kingdom and ruling over three of its nine provinces, provided him robust support.

After ten years of diligent practice, Chu Xuan finally managed to refine his Qi and entered the Qi Refining stage, thus advancing to the status of an inner disciple.

Recognizing his ordinary aptitude, he delved into various fields such as Gu (you know Reverend Insanity?), poison arts, corpse refining, puppetry, and disguise. Although his cultivation level wasn't high, his diverse skills made him a formidable cultivator. At his peak, he ranked tenth among the inner disciples, nearly catching the eye of an elder who would take him as a direct disciple.

Then disaster struck.

The foremost ancient ancestor of the Infinite Sect succumbed to demonic possession during cultivation and met an untimely demise. Upon hearing this, the five righteous sects of the Yu Kingdom declared the Infinite Sect culpable of numerous misdeeds and marked for destruction. Outnumbered, the Infinite Sect was driven back in defeat.

A Nascent Soul elder and ten Golden Core elders, most of whom perished or surrendered in the ensuing battles, left only a handful to escape. The Sect Leader, Vice Leader, and the chief elders either died, fled, or defected. From its zenith to dissolution, the sect crumbled within a mere month.

Compared to those mighty Golden Core cultivators, Chu Xuan was merely a small fry, which ironically allowed him to escape with his life. Nonetheless, his identity forced him into a life of constant hiding.

A year had passed since the fall of the Infinite Sect. Many disciples had been captured and executed, yet he remained alive. His extensive knowledge of various magics had now become his means of survival.

Even as he sat quietly, every sound in the vicinity was audible to him, thanks to the "Listening Insects" he cultivated in both ears. These magical creatures amplified even the slightest noises, allowing him to hear extremely subtle sounds.

At that moment, another person approached, hesitating before taking a seat across from the plainly dressed youth. He whispered tentatively, "Heavenly King covers the earth tiger?"

"Pagoda subdues the river sprite lighter," responded Chu Xuan calmly.

Exhaling in relief, the man said, "Senior Brother, you are truly brave to choose this place for our meeting."

Chu Xuan continued to sip his tea. "We are just rule-abiding rogue cultivators; what is there to fear?"

The man swallowed nervously, nodding repeatedly, his eyes filled with admiration as he looked at Chu Xuan.

Chu Xuan, this senior brother, once ranked tenth among the inner disciples of the Infinite Sect. Yet, a year had passed, and all the inner disciples ahead of him had been captured by the orthodox sects. Only Chu Xuan remained free, daring even to swagger about on the territory of the righteous sects. His audacity was indeed admirable!

"He Liang, did you bring the items?" Chu Xuan casually inquired as he sipped his tea.

He Liang nodded, pulling out a low-grade storage bag and passing it over. Chu Xuan received it and peered inside. His cultivation of blood arts required a vast amount of blood essence.

Whether from humans or demonic beasts, any being with essence blood would suffice. Harvesting it from mortals was the quickest method, but it reduced one's merit, and slaughtering too many could attract the scrutiny of the heavens.

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Such actions could lead to severe celestial and terrestrial tribulations when attempting to reach higher realms of cultivation, making survival difficult.

Chu Xuan speculated that the accidental demise of the first elder of the Infinite Sect was not unconnected to his heavy killing. Now, with the Infinite Sect destroyed, the five orthodox sects were strictly investigating the slaughter of mortals.

Killing mortals at such a time was akin to courting death. Therefore, he had entrusted He Liang to bring him demonic beast blood pearls, refined blood that was compact, energy-rich, and suitable for cultivation.

"The quality is good," Chu Xuan nodded slightly, tossing ten small spiritual stones to He Liang, who greedily pocketed them. Just as Chu Xuan was about to leave, he sensed something amiss. The snack stands, vegetable stalls, rouge shops, and meat shops around seemed to have changed hands. Even the voices were different. He was subtly but surely under surveillance, including by some with the potent aura of the Foundation Establishment stage.

He glanced at He Liang. The face Chu Xuan wore was a new human skin mask he had fashioned that day; apart from He Liang, no one knew he was Chu Xuan.

'Seems I'll need to change my face again.'

"Junior brother, I need another item," he suddenly said.

He Liang nodded, "Please instruct, senior brother."

"Do you have any Spirit Blood Pills?"

He Liang nodded earnestly, "I have two, taken from the sect's treasury when I fled."

Chu Xuan lowered his voice, "I need Spirit Blood Pills, as many as you can find."

He Liang paused, puzzled. "But those are needed by Foundation Establishment stage cultivators who are severely injured. Senior brother, you..."

He suddenly realized, "I understand! Senior brother, have you found Uncle Liu?"

Uncle Master Liu, fully named Liu Zhenxiong, a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment stage, was one of the few members of the Infinite Sect who had yet evaded capture by those righteous cultivators.

Chu Xuan spoke coldly, "Do not ask questions that should not be asked."

He Liang quickly covered his mouth, "I understand, I understand."

"Hand over the Spirit Blood Pill," demanded Chu Xuan, extending his hand.

In a low voice, He Liang replied, "The Spirit Blood Pill is too precious, Senior Brother, surely you don't have enough spirit stones?"

Chu Xuan remained silent.

In haste, He Liang suggested, "How about this? Take me to see Uncle Master Liu, and I will join you. In times like these, we should stick together, Senior Brother."

Chu Xuan sternly refused, "No, the risk is too great!"

He Liang sighed deeply, then reluctantly pulled out a spirit stone and placed it in Chu Xuan's hand.

"Just one medium spiritual stone! Not a stone more!"

Chu Xuan raised an eyebrow.

A small spiritual stone, a byproduct of the spirit stone veins with low purity, was generally circulated among Qi Refining stage cultivators.

A medium spiritual stone, significantly purer and larger, was mostly exchanged among Foundation Establishment stage cultivators.

A single medium spiritual stone could be traded for a hundred small spiritual stones.

Unexpectedly, He Liang possessed one.

"Given your sincerity, I am reluctantly reassured," Chu Xuan nodded slightly.

He Liang breathed a sigh of relief, "Let's go quickly, Senior Brother. With a Foundation Establishment stage cultivator like Uncle Master Liu for protection, I can rest easy."

Chu Xuan nodded, "The location is in an abandoned residence in the east of the city, follow me."

After speaking, he tossed a copper coin on the table and promptly rose to leave.

He Liang hurried after him.

After their departure, six observing cultivators immediately approached the tea stall.

The leader, a middle-aged cultivator exuding an aura of sage-like wisdom and clearly at the Foundation Establishment stage, exclaimed with joy, "He Liang has followed him; we must have hooked a big fish!"

"Follow them immediately, capturing this big fish will earn us all commendations!" he ordered in a low shout.

"Yes!"

Moments later, at the eastern city residences.

The middle-aged cultivator and his companions arrived at the site, swiftly encircling the nearby homes, sealing them off completely.

"Uncle Master, when do we move in?" asked a young disciple.

"Wait for the signal!" the middle-aged cultivator whispered back.

Shortly after, a loud explosion was heard. The door of the house was blown off its hinges.

He Liang was hurled out, blood spraying wildly as he fell through the air. In agony, he screamed, "Below! Liu Zhenxiong is underground! They've discovered me!"

The eyes of the middle-aged cultivator lit up, and he bellowed, "Charge in! Capture them alive!"

Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh.

The righteous cultivators swept past He Liang, storming into the residence.

Inside, indeed, there was a dark, vast hole leading underground.

The middle-aged cultivator and his followers entered, finding a labyrinth of numerous passageways and numerous traps and pitfalls.

After a lengthy search, a cultivator exclaimed, "Uncle Master, there is a mummified corpse here, its face skinned!"

The middle-aged cultivator paused, then recognized the body in a burst of rage, "This is He Liang! That one outside was Chu Xuan! Quick, chase them, we've been deceived!"

However, by the time they returned to the surface, there was no trace of "He Liang" to be found.

"Damn that Chu Xuan! He has escaped again!"

The middle-aged cultivator was uncontrollably furious.

Outside Green River City, Chu Xuan stripped off He Liang's face and casually tossed it into the river.

"These makeshift human skin masks are truly uncomfortable to wear," he muttered. He sifted through He Liang's storage bag, nodding slightly in approval. "Over eighty small spiritual stones, one medium spiritual stone, three Rejuvenation Pills, a vial of Spirit Restoration Water, a large barrel of demonic beast blood, plus all of He Liang's Spiritual Qi—not bad at all."

"Indeed, plundering after murder does make quick gains," Chu Xuan smacked his lips. Earlier, inside the abandoned residence, he had taken He Liang by surprise with a sneak attack, swiftly gaining control.

First, he extracted information about the righteous cultivators from He Liang, then he drained his Spiritual Qi using the Soul Extraction Technique. Finally, he skinned He Liang's face to create a temporary mask and made his escape.

"But can one truly escape forever?" he pondered. "Each minor breakthrough in my cultivation technique requires a substantial amount of lifeblood. The gu insects I nurture also need to consume a significant amount of flesh and blood to evolve. If they aren't fed adequately over time, they'll turn on me. Every quest for flesh and blood is a risk."

"Perhaps I should become a righteous cultivator instead," Chu Xuan smiled wryly. To survive in this world of cultivation, one must switch allegiances and practice the techniques of the righteous path.

However, if he were to train in the ways of the righteous, it would mean starting over from scratch. Given his mediocre talents, he doubted he'd ever reach the Foundation Establishment stage.

It seemed that only demonic techniques, which are low in requirements, quick to show results, and powerful, suited someone of his ordinary capabilities.

"Well, is this mirror one of He Liang's magical tools?" Chu Xuan noticed a dusty, blood-colored mirror in the corner of the storage bag. He retrieved it and channeled his Spiritual Qi into it, but to no avail. Normally, just a small amount of Spiritual Qi should activate a magical tool. This tool was peculiar—could it be of a high grade?

Chu Xuan injected half of his entire reserve of Spiritual Qi this time. Suddenly, the blood mirror buzzed and the dust cleared. The mirror then displayed a scene from a modern apocalypse—tall skyscrapers, desolate silence, and zombies roaming freely.

Chu Xuan was taken aback. This world, why did it so closely resemble the zombie-themed movies and shows he had watched before his transmigration?

He frowned, suddenly sensing a thought emanating from within the blood mirror. It seemed he could travel directly to this apocalyptic planet if he so wished.

Intrigued, Chu Xuan reached out and touched the mirror. In the blink of an eye, the world spun around him, filled with chaotic light, bizarre sounds, and distorted visions. When clarity returned, Chu Xuan found himself standing on a city street.

Tall buildings lined the street, and shops stood side by side, while the distance was dominated by towering skyscrapers. The street itself was littered with abandoned cars and overgrown weeds—a desolate scene indeed.

A sudden sound of footsteps caught his attention. A grotesque figure staggered out from the shadow of a car, its eyes hollow and bloodthirsty, drooling foul-smelling saliva—the unmistakable mark of a zombie. It roared upon sensing the scent of the living and lunged towards Chu Xuan.

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Chu Xuan, slightly frowning, swiftly raised his hand. A line of blood shot forth, slicing through the zombie's neck. The creature's head separated from its body, falling to the ground dead, its blood spurting out like a fountain.

After all, Chu Xuan was a Qi Refining stage cultivator. Although he had not yet mastered the abilities to command the wind or control the earth, and could only use his Spiritual Qi in basic ways, his strength and senses far surpassed those of ordinary humans. And the body of a zombie was no different from that of a human. A single cut to kill was nothing unusual.

Shaking his head and about to leave, Chu Xuan suddenly felt a stir within him from his nurtured gu insect, causing him to stop. He extended his palm, and from a split in the skin, a blood-red worm emerged. This worm, as thick as a finger and notably tough, was known as "Blood Steel Wire," a gu renowned for its toughness.

Cultivating the Art of Gu, feeding it over a long period, and developing a bond allowed it to be used against enemies. A Qi Refining stage cultivator had a very limited total amount of Spiritual Qi, usually able to activate a spell only once or twice before exhausting their reserves.

This was why Chu Xuan had chosen Blood Steel Wire as an additional means of defense. It was also his versatility that had solidified his standing among the disciples of the inner sect of the Infinite Sect, ranking tenth.

Currently, Chu Xuan's cultivation was too low to nurture more than one Blood Steel Wire, but as his level increased, he could nurture more, and thus develop more techniques for combat.

At this moment, the Blood Steel Wire, sensing the smell of blood and flesh, appeared quite hungry and kept looking eagerly in that direction. Chu Xuan, observing the corpse of the zombie, suddenly raised an eyebrow.

"Zombies can move... perhaps they too count as living beings?" Chu Xuan pondered. "Could the blood and flesh of zombies be effective for cultivating my techniques and feeding my gu?"

The more he thought about it, the more intrigued he became. In this world, techniques and spells were ranked from lowest to highest in four tiers.

The technique Chu Xuan practiced, the Blood Spirit Technique, was one of the superior Qi Refining techniques within the Infinite Sect, and his primary method of cultivation.

Compared to the top-tier techniques of the Qi Refining stage, it merely required a slower cultivation pace. As long as he could enhance the levels of his Blood Spirit Technique, his own realm would also rise.

Chu Xuan stepped forward and placed his hand on the zombie's corpse. The Blood Steel Wire instantly burrowed into it. Sounds of unnerving munching came from within the body.

Chu Xuan, accustomed to such noises, was indifferent. To him, as long as it was fed, the Blood Steel Wire was no different from a tame cat or dog.

It wasn't long before the Blood Steel Wire returned to the palm of his hand, meticulously clean. It was particular about its food; it preferred the flesh of humans the most, followed by that of demonic beasts.

Thus, it appeared that zombies could indeed serve as feed for his gu. Consequently, their blood should also be viable for his cultivation techniques.

Without hesitation, Chu Xuan began to search for more zombies. Shortly, he found three more unsuspecting zombies—no, passersby. The obedient Blood Steel Wire quickly bound their limbs. Though restrained, the zombies remained spirited, constantly howling.

Chu Xuan fetched a large barrel from his storage bag and slit the zombies' throats to collect their blood. Within moments, the barrel was full. The remaining corpses were not wasted; the Blood Steel Wire dived in and feasted.

Chu Xuan immediately began to practice the Blood Refinement Spell. This spell, learned at the first level of the Blood Spirit Technique, had no offensive power and was solely for refining blood, a mere low-tier spell of the Qi Refining stage. The blood before him was continuously absorbed, its impurities removed and gradually transformed into pure energy.

After purifying the large quantity of zombie blood, all that remained were several thumb-sized blood pearls. Despite being derived from zombie blood, Chu Xuan was unperturbed. Whether it was the blood of demonic beasts, gu, humans, or zombies, there was no distinction of high or low, precious or lowly. Anything that could make him stronger was valuable.

He swallowed a blood pearl and began to assimilate it. Moments later, his expression brightened. It was indeed effective! He could feel his Spiritual Qi growing stronger inside him.

"At this rate, I will soon achieve the fifth level of the Blood Spirit Technique," Chu Xuan said, visibly exhilarated.

The Blood Spirit Technique, divided into nine levels, correlates each level with the corresponding layer of Qi Refining. The first three levels of Qi Refining are considered the early stage, the fourth to sixth levels the middle stage, and the final three levels the late stage.

Chu Xuan, having mastered the fourth level of the Blood Spirit Technique, was in the midst of the Qi Refining middle stage. Advancing to the fifth level would mark another step forward and grant him access to new spells.

More importantly, zombies are not ordinary humans. Slaying zombies does not invoke the celestial retribution that typically befalls those who kill fellow humans—a fortunate oversight!

Chu Xuan suddenly realized that he had stumbled upon an excellent opportunity. Not only could he continue advancing his blood arts without concern, but he could also utilize gu, poison techniques, or even refine corpse puppets without needing a traditional alchemical furnace.

These were numerous zombies natural sources and readily available materials, weren't they?

"Moreover, with my current cultivation level, returning to the Mystic Azure Realm would still pose numerous dangers," he pondered. "Yet on this planet, I wield the power of life and death—a formidable force!"

Chu Xuan smiled. He could well utilize the zombies here to diligently cultivate his demonic techniques. Once he had amassed sufficient power, returning to his home would not be too late. "Let's continue collecting zombies," he decided.

Walking along the city streets, Chu Xuan soon chose a five-story shopping mall as his temporary base.

"Walmart..." he muttered, glancing at the sign before striding into the mall. On the first floor, numerous zombies roamed aimlessly, growling without purpose. Chu Xuan's presence quickly drew their attention, and in the next moment, they charged at him.

Chu Xuan laughed joyfully, "No rush, no rush, there's enough for everyone."

Moments later, on the fifth floor, Chu Xuan looked at the six bathtubs filled with blood before him. His face, initially weary from the bloodletting, now bore a satisfied smile. Such an abundance of blood would sustain his cultivation for a long time.

"However, constantly collecting blood is too tedious. Time to refine a few corpse puppets to work for me."

Chu Xuan scoured the mall but failed to find a suitable zombie. Refining a corpse into a corpse puppet required a body inherently strong, ideally muscular, and filled with deep resentment, which would make the corpse puppet incredibly powerful and vengeful, giving it an advantage against enemies.

However, the zombies in this mall hardly fit that description—they were emaciated and feeble, their roars lacking any vitality.

"Such feeble noises, they really zombies? Never mind, I'll rest for now and look around the area later; there must be some robust targets nearby."

Chu Xuan pulled over a lounge chair and laid down, not worried about zombie attacks. The Blood Steel Wire was always ready to protect him, reacting even faster than he could to any potential threats.

Throughout the past year, each day and night had been spent in perpetual fear, evading the relentless pursuit of the righteous sects. Others perceived him as poised and unflappable, yet this demeanor was nothing more than a carefully crafted facade.

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In such dire circumstances, one needs supreme rationality and calm to survive. At last, granted a brief respite, Chu Xuan could no longer contain the exhaustion that gnawed at his spirit. He succumbed to sleep.

Elsewhere, outside the Walmart Mall, two figures approached stealthily. The leader, a man with muscles coiled like dragons, was followed by a gaunt companion. In a hushed tone, the slender man said, "Brother Hu, command me as you will. If it will cure my mother, I'll do anything!"

A flicker of mockery crossed Tang Hu's eyes as he replied with a smile, "Rest assured, I won't send you to your death. There's still some food in this mall. You distract the zombies, I gather it. If you find yourself surrounded, do not fear; I will rescue you."

The gaunt man nodded emphatically, "Alright, I trust you." With that, he cautiously entered the mall, armed with a hose. Moments later, he had attracted a horde of zombies.

Seizing the opportunity, Tang Hu strode into the mall, hastily stuffing cans and medicines into his backpack—items with a long shelf life and still useful if unspoiled.

Suddenly, a panicked voice rang out from nearby, "Brother Hu! There are too many zombies! Help me!"

Surrounded by a swarm of zombies, the gaunt man's face was etched with terror. Hu, however, laughed sinisterly and continued to pack various resources into his backpack, making no move to assist.

"Brother Hu! Save me!"

The gaunt man's eyes were filled with desperate fury.

Tang Hu chuckled darkly, "I forgot to tell you something. Your mother died yesterday. The Spirit Hounds Gang won't waste medicine on a sixty-year-old woman."

The gaunt man's eyes widened in shock. A zombie seized the moment to pounce, sinking its teeth into his chest.

"I lured you here precisely to exploit you one last time," Tang Hu sneered. "After all, I've used you many times before; this won't make much difference. Thank you for drawing the zombies away with your life. Oh, and you have a sister, right? I'll take care of her for you."

By then, the gaunt man was overwhelmed by a mass of bloodthirsty zombies tearing flesh from his bones. With his last ounce of strength, he screamed, "Tang Hu! I will haunt you even in death!"

Tang Hu laughed heartily, "Very well, come find me when you become a ghost."

As the commotion drew more zombies, Tang Hu swiftly made his way to the second floor. Many scavengers had risked the first floor of the mall, but few dared venture to the second or higher floors, where more zombies and presumably more resources awaited.

"Yes!"

Tang Hu, eyes gleaming with avarice, scoured his way up, his gaze practically shooting green beams.

Thump, thump!

Some zombies even leapt from higher floors, plummeting straight toward the commotion caused by the gaunt man. Greed surged within Tang Hu at the sight, and he headed straight for the fifth floor. Indeed, he encountered almost no zombies along the way.

However, upon reaching the fifth floor, Tang Hu froze. Numerous zombie corpses lay scattered about. Judging by the dryness of the blood, they had died not long before.

Had someone reached the fifth floor of the mall before him?

Scanning the area, Tang Hu's eyes quickly landed on a lounge chair in the middle of an open space. A young man in strange attire lay upon it, deeply asleep. Around him, six bathtubs brimmed with blood.

This bizarre scene made Tang Hu involuntarily swallow his saliva.

"So much food!"

His eyes then fell on the dozens of canned goods near the young man, and his greed intensified. He hurriedly began stuffing the cans into his backpack.

"You have a nice build," a calm voice suddenly sounded.

Startled, Tang Hu swiftly drew his machete and swung around to strike.

Clang!

A metallic ring echoed, sending a numbing shock through Tang Hu's wrist, nearly causing him to drop his blade. He turned to see the young man already standing, looking at him with keen interest. The gaze was peculiar as if he didn't regard Tang Hu as a person but rather as an object.

What frightened Tang Hu even more was the sight of a blood-red worm wriggling in the young man's palm. He swallowed hard. Since the outbreak of the zombie crisis, the world had become filled with too many unknown mysteries. A person who could symbiotically live with a worm was no ordinary being!

Sensing the gravity of the situation, Tang Hu wisely set down his backpack and raised his hands above his head. "Hey, man, all these belongings are yours. My brother-in-law is Zhao Hong, the Boss Zhao. Let's talk this through."

Chu Xuan's interest was piqued at the mention of a name. "Boss Zhao, who is that?"

Tang Hu, momentarily stunned, quickly responded, "Boss Zhao is the leader of the Spirit Hounds Gang, the largest organization in East Lake City. His name is Zhao Hong."

Chu Xuan nodded. "Tell me everything you know about the area."

With no room to refuse, Tang Hu recounted all the information he knew. Chu Xuan nodded slightly in approval.

Tang Hu, trying to smile, pleaded, "Big brother, considering I've been so cooperative and for my brother-in-law's sake, could you let me go?"

Chu Xuan chuckled, "What I mean is, your physique is excellent, perfect for my corpse refining material."

Tang Hu froze. Corpse refining?

Before he could react, the Blood Steel Wire in Chu Xuan's palm shot out, swiftly binding his limbs. Tang Hu struggled desperately, but the blood-red worm was as hard as steel and impossible to break free from.

"Big brother, what... what are you doing?!" he cried out in horror.

"Refining a corpse puppet. Your robust body is most suitable for it," Chu Xuan said, busying himself with preparing a concoction. "Soon I'll provoke your resentment, and you'll become a rigid corpse soldier."

He was using a secret technique known as the "Vajra Corpse Refining Method" from the Corpse Puppet Sect. Unfortunately, the sect hadn't been very formidable and was eliminated early on by an alliance of righteous sects. Most of their heritage fell into the hands of these righteous sects, while a portion was absorbed by the Infinite Sect.

Regardless of the method, the basic product of any corpse refining process was known as a Corpse Soldier. Higher levels included Corpse General, Corpse Commanders, and Corpse King, each corresponding to increasing cultivation stages, mirroring the levels of cultivators, with each tier divided into nine grades.

The Vajra Corpse Refining Method focused on tempering the physical body. Zombie soldiers refined this way were impervious to blades and possessed immense strength, capable of contending with cultivators at the Qi Refining stage.

Previously, Chu Xuan had found it challenging to perform corpse refining due to the lengthy time required and the potential for disruptions. Since he couldn't stay in one place for long, he had been forced to abandon the idea of refining corpses.

Chu Xuan retrieved a large barrel from his storage bag and poured various concoctions into it. He then tossed Tang Hu, who was tightly bound, into the barrel, submerging him completely, including his head.

Tang Hu's voice gradually quieted. Following this, Chu Xuan solemnly slit his palm, squeezing out two drops of his essence blood, and let them fall into the barrel.

His complexion was noticeably paler. Essence blood was not like ordinary blood. Even though his cultivation of the Blood Spirit Technique accelerated the condensation of essence blood, it was not something that could be replenished overnight.

"Now, we just need to wait," Chu Xuan murmured. "According to the 'Vajra Corpse Refining Method,' results should be visible within three days at most."

Chu Xuan reclined on a nearby lounge chair, voraciously devouring cans of tuna he had found while hunting zombies. The cans were still within their expiration date.

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"Damn, modern industrial food is delicious," he exclaimed. "What have I been eating at the Infinite Sect? It was so bland I could cry." He sighed deeply, grateful to finally taste something befitting a human after so many years.

Three days later, Chu Xuan stood before the large barrel with a look of anticipation. He observed the figure inside—now pitch black and rigid all over, its physique noticeably bulkier than before. Bone armor had sprouted densely at the chest, joints, and back, providing formidable defense.

Chu Xuan tested it with a thrown dagger, which left only a superficial mark. Joy surged in his heart, knowing he had succeeded. The corpse puppet before him had attained the rank of corpse soldier, equivalent to a Qi Refining stage cultivator.

"I wonder about the quality of this corpse puppet," Chu Xuan pondered. The quality of corpse puppets was classified into four grades: superior, high, middle, and low. The better the concoction used in the refining process, the higher the quality of the resulting corpse puppet. A superior quality corpse puppet could master four spells upon creation, a high quality three, a middle quality two, and a low quality only one.

Back when Chu Xuan was still with the Infinite Sect, he had heard of a Golden Core elder who, during his Qi Refining stage, had fortuitously refined a superior quality corpse puppet that knew four spells from birth. It was with this corpse puppet's aid that the elder gradually ascended the path of cultivation and eventually reached the Golden Core stage.

Chu Xuan retrieved a small, dark tower known as the Corpse Nurturing Tower. This magic tool was specifically designed for capturing and cultivating corpses. Each Corpse Nurturing Tower came equipped with a spell to assess the quality and level of a corpse.

Chu Xuan's tower, acquired at a low price from a disheartened middle-aged disciple, was merely a low-grade magic tool. It possessed no offensive or defensive capabilities, serving solely to nurture corpses. He had always carried it with him, prepared for any eventuality. Now was the time to use it.

At the thought, Chu Xuan absorbed the newly formed corpse soldier into the Corpse Nurturing Tower. Inside, the abundant Yin Qi invigorated the corpse, which eagerly absorbed it in deep gulps.

Chu Xuan infused a thread of Spiritual Qi to activate the appraisal technique. A beam of black light illuminated the corpse, and a flicker of golden light emerged from its crown.

Chu Xuan was surprised, "A middle-grade second-level corpse soldier? Not bad at all!"

For his first attempt at corpse refining, using rather ordinary concoctions, he had managed to create a middle-grade corpse—a stroke of luck indeed.

He continued using the appraisal technique and quickly learned the two spells the corpse puppet possessed: Bloodthirst Technique and Golden Light Spell.

The Bloodthirst Technique allowed it to enter a berserk state, significantly boosting its combat capabilities but only for a quarter of an hour. Afterward, it would fall into a state of weakness for ten hours. The Golden Light Spell, as its name suggested, coated the user in a protective golden light, enhancing its defenses.

Together, these spells made the zombie a perfect tank. Though it was only a second-level corpse soldier, equivalent to a Qi Refining second stage cultivator, the combined effects of its spells could likely allow it to contend with a fourth-stage Qi Refining cultivator for a short time. Whether used as a decoy to attract enemy fire or as a protective measure in dangerous situations, it was exceedingly useful.

Chu Xuan felt a rush of satisfaction. This apocalyptic planet truly was a splendid place. In just three days, he had already acquired a corpse soldier as his trump card, effectively doubling his strength compared to three days ago.

"Pity the materials for refining corpse puppets are rare, otherwise I would definitely refine another one," Chu Xuan mused, smacking his lips. With a casual wave of his hand, the obedient corpse soldier approached and awaited his commands.

This was the benefit of the two drops of essence blood he had added to the concoction. As long as the corpse puppet was well-fed, it would faithfully follow his commands without turning against him.

"A second-level corpse soldier should have no trouble sweeping through this mall," Chu Xuan declared. "It's all yours."

With a dismissive wave, he reclined comfortably back on the lounge chair. The corpse soldier growled and dashed out. Almost immediately, the mall echoed with terrifying roars and the sound of flesh being torn apart, followed by the clanging of objects being smashed.

Chu Xuan, unfazed, continued enjoying his canned food while leisurely flipping through ancient texts. After all, isn't the essence of being a demonic cultivator to live freely and at ease?

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In the blink of an eye, five days had passed, and Chu Xuan was heartily devouring a steaming bowl of shrimp and fish cake noodles, thoroughly enjoying the indulgence.

Instant noodles could grow tiresome if eaten daily, yet their unique flavor was missed when not partaken of for a while. For Chu Xuan, who had spent decades in a world of cultivation, these flavors were sorely nostalgic.

At that moment, a fire burned vigorously in front of him. After quickly finishing his noodles, Chu Xuan used two sticks to retrieve an object from the dying embers—the blood mirror, which showed no signs of damage from the flames and seemed even brighter than before.

Chu Xuan glanced at the scene within the mirror—clear skies and beautiful landscapes, exactly where he had first crossed over. Now, the image was a fifth brighter. Once fully illuminated, he should be able to cross back.

He had discovered that the blood mirror could automatically absorb various forms of energy from its surroundings—Spiritual Qi, Evil Qi, Yin Qi, and even mundane energy like biological, thermal, light, and electrical energies. Throwing the mirror into the fire had been a way to harness thermal energy. At this rate, another month should suffice to fully charge it.

Meanwhile, an excited growl sounded nearby—it was the corpse soldier, now named Hu, returning with two gasoline cans. He had been out hunting zombies and had also been tasked with finding fuel. Initially struggling with the task, Hu had gradually come to understand and execute his instructions effectively.

Chu Xuan looked at Hu, now even more formidable and robust than before, and nodded in satisfaction.

"Hu, well done."

At his praise, the corpse puppet humbly lowered its head, allowing Chu Xuan to pat it. The name Hu was the result of deep contemplation by Chu Xuan, certainly not a hasty choice derived from any original name. Absolutely not.

In just two days, Hu had cleared all the zombies from the Walmart Mall. Those that looked healthy and spirited were captured and bled dry. The ones with good meat quality were used as feed for the Blood Steel Wire. The listless, less lively ones became nourishment for Hu himself. From the third day, Hu started clearing the zombies from the surrounding shops and residences, using the mall as his base. Over five days, he had progressed from a second-level to a third-level corpse soldier.

Although still only comparable to a third-stage Qi Refining cultivator in rank, Hu's sheer physical strength and overwhelming resentment meant that any low-level cultivator without many spells who got too close would likely end up dead or severely injured.

"What should I do with you? A bit early for you to be forming cocoons."

Chu Xuan smiled helplessly as he observed the Blood Steel Wire appearing lethargic, perhaps due to consuming too much zombie blood. Just this morning, he had awakened to find it showing signs of cocooning—a process indicating that the Blood Steel Wire was about to learn a natural spell and significantly increase in strength. This was excellent news for him.

The Blood Steel Wire was a type of gu insect relatively easy to obtain, which meant its potential was somewhat limited—it could cocoon only twice. Each cocooning was akin to rebirth, earning it the nickname "Twice-Reborn Gu," capable of learning two inherent spells.

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Naturally, the potential of a gu insect wasn't fixed; given fortuitous encounters with certain rare natural treasures and consuming them could prompt further transformations.

Chu Xuan's frustration stemmed from not yet having started cultivating such rare natural treasures. "Go capture a couple of lively zombies," he commanded with a wave of his hand.

The corpse soldier roared enthusiastically and leapt away, vanishing from sight. In less than ten minutes, it reappeared, each of its robust arms clutching a fiercely struggling, spirited zombie.

Chu Xuan nodded approvingly. "Gag them, tie them up, and throw them in the corner." The corpse soldier clumsily followed the orders but soon had the zombies secured.

Striding over, Chu Xuan pulled out a small knife and began to carve blood holes into the limbs and torsos of the captured zombies. He then retrieved a cultivation pouch from his storage bag and filled it with tiny red seeds, which upon contacting the flesh, quickly took root.

Within the blink of an eye, they sprouted one-centimeter-long tender red shoots with sharp, triangular leaves, a sinister crimson that fluttered in the breeze like the fangs of a demonic beast—a chilling sight.

These mystical plants were known as "Bloodfiend Fangs." They thrived on flesh and blood rather than Spiritual Qi. It would take a month for them to bloom and bear fruit, the "Blood Fang Fruit," which was precisely what the Blood Steel Wire needed for its cocooning.

Consuming these fruits would significantly enhance its speed and strength, and potentially allow it to learn an exceptional natural spell. The more Blood Fang Fruits consumed, the higher the likelihood of acquiring a superior natural spell.

Armed with years of dedicated study of the Gu Scriptures, Chu Xuan was intimately familiar with these details and prepared to leverage this knowledge to its fullest.

In the blink of an eye, a month had passed. Thanks to the generous and unwitting contribution of the surrounding zombies, Chu Xuan's cultivation had smoothly advanced to the sixth level of Qi Refining. Hu, too, had progressed admirably, reaching the fifth level of corpse soldier.

"Finally matured," Chu Xuan remarked with a smile as he approached the two zombies, now barely more than husks. The branches of the Bloodfiend Fangs bore heavy fruit. Over the month, Chu Xuan had fed the zombies chunks of zombie meat every other day to keep them alive, ensuring a continuous supply of nutrients for the Bloodfiend Fangs. Still, the zombies were now withered and emaciated, their flesh thoroughly drained by the plants.

Chu Xuan quickly harvested the Blood Fang Fruit, leaving the desiccated corpse puppets for Hu to utilize as a scrappy lunch. Hu munched happily on the side.

Chu Xuan examined the ten thumb-sized Blood Fang Fruits in his palm with amazement. Back when the Infinite Sect was still in existence, there had been specialists within the sect who cultivated these fruits.

However, they were exorbitantly priced, costing twenty sect contribution points each, equivalent to at least eighty small spiritual stones. He hadn't had many spiritual stones back then and certainly couldn't afford to buy Blood Fang Fruits.

But now, these fruits, worth a total of eight hundred small spiritual stones, lay quietly in his palm—a fortune far exceeding anything he had owned in the past.

"A never-ending supply of resources, indeed a splendid place," Chu Xuan mused, feeling sentimental as he brought the Blood Fang Fruits to Blood Steel Wire's mouth.

With a few eager swallows, Blood Steel Wire consumed all ten fruits and then settled into a deep slumber. No matter how Chu Xuan prodded, it remained motionless, its surface soon enveloped by a reddish-brown blood cocoon. Clearly, it had begun its true transformation.

"In no more than ten days, Blood Steel Wire will emerge from its cocoon, transformed into a once-reborn gu with its own innate spells!" Chu Xuan pondered the future. "By then, I should also consider returning to see about replenishing spiritual plant seeds and exchanging some spiritual stones for setting up formations."

"Looks like it's time to see if I can glean some resources from my senior brothers," Chu Xuan thought, eyeing the hundreds of blood pearls in his storage bag. These were the results of his daily practice of the Blood Refinement Technique on zombie blood. Blood pearls were a significant tonic for cultivation, an irresistible temptation for any demonic cultivator.

Ten days later, the Blood Steel Wire successfully emerged from its cocoon. Chu Xuan inspected it closely and noticed that after its transformation, it had grown larger and its outer skin had become even tougher. He casually picked up an iron rod and with a flick of his hand, the Blood Steel Wire shot out, slicing the rod into two with ease. Chu Xuan nodded in approval.

"Let's see what innate spell you've acquired," he said, prompting the Blood Steel Wire with a thought. Instantly, the Wire shot forward, binding Hu, tightening so fiercely that even Hu's colossal strength couldn't break free.

"Blood Binding!" Chu Xuan exclaimed, recognizing the control type spell. It was one of the best possible spells the Blood Steel Wire could have learned after its transformation.

Originally, the Wire wasn't known for its strength or lethal capabilities but rather for its defensive talents. Chu Xuan hadn't expected it to become an offensive powerhouse; the acquisition of the Blood Binding was exactly what he had hoped for—his skill tree had evolved correctly.

"Alright, that's enough, come back," Chu Xuan said with a smile, and the Blood Steel Wire swiftly returned to rest in the palm of his hand. Hu, now wary of another binding, kept a respectful distance, fearful of being ensnared once again.

Chu Xuan affectionately patted the small head of the Blood Steel Wire, pleased with its performance. "It's been almost two months since I arrived on this planet," he mused. "I've used up all the corpse puppet refining materials I had, and I need to return to the Mystic Azure Realm to gather more."

He contemplated further strategies. "It would be wise to refine a few more corpse soldiers. After I leave this place, I should have several to guard this area."

Additionally, he considered the possibility of acquiring a set of array disks and flags for the Blood Refining Array—a formation ideally suited for demonic cultivators to perform large-scale blood sacrifices.

The simplest Blood Refining Array could even be managed by a Qi Refining stage cultivator, while more advanced versions required deeper knowledge in array formations.

Chu Xuan recalled that the leader of the Corpse Puppet Sect had once used a city's worth of 300,000 souls to perform a Soul-Stealing Blood Refining Array, creating a powerful blood pearl. Consumed by the Sect's young master, it dramatically accelerated his cultivation: Qi Refining in a day, Foundation Establishment within a hundred days, reaching the ninth level in just three years—a prodigy who overshadowed even the most talented cultivators at the Foundation Establishment stage.

However, such grievous acts did not go unnoticed and soon brought destruction upon the Corpse Puppet Sect from the five major righteous sects.

"If I could deploy a Blood Refining Array here on this planet," Chu Xuan thought, "my cultivation would skyrocket!"

While reaching the Foundation Establishment within a hundred days was perhaps an exaggeration, doing so within a year seemed entirely feasible.

After having Hu tidy up the area, Chu Xuan went to the rooftop of the Walmart Mall to activate the blood mirror.

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"After months away, it's finally time to go back."

Chu Xuan's face was marked by a wistful expression, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. The last time he had left, he was merely at the fourth level of Qi Refining, and his only possession had been a single Blood Steel Wire.

In less than two months, he had advanced to the sixth level, his Blood Steel Wire had undergone its first transformation, and he now commanded a fifth-level corpse soldier. With such combat prowess, he could easily crush cultivators at the seventh level of Qi Refining and even had a seventy to eighty percent chance of victory against those at the eighth level.

Chu Xuan took a deep breath and connected his thoughts to the blood mirror. In the blink of an eye, he was absorbed into the mirror. To any onlooker, it would appear as if he had vanished into thin air, evaporated from the mortal realm.

...

In East Lake City, Haotai Hotel once ranked among the finest hotels in the city. Several years after the zombie outbreak, it had become the stronghold of the Spirit Hounds Gang.

Atop the highest floor of the Haotai Hotel, a lean, dark-skinned man lay on a sun lounger on the rooftop, soaking up the sunlight. This was Zhao Hong, the leader of the Spirit Hounds Gang. Flanking him were two voluptuous women who were carefully massaging his legs and shoulders.

In a nearby cage, a formidable black-backed wolfhound sat coiled. Even in a sitting position, it measured over three meters in length, its physique more robust than a bull. Menacing light flickered in its eyes, and drool flowed from its mouth, indicating its hunger.

Beneath the lounger, a burly man knelt trembling, barely daring to breathe loudly. Zhao Hong rolled over and said calmly, "Ling Tao, you assured me that you would find out how Tang Hu disappeared within half a month. It's nearly two months now."

Ling Tao hurriedly spoke, "Boss, Brother Hu disappeared at the Walmart Mall, which has become very dangerous, possibly due to the emergence of high-level zombies. I've lost two men already who were sent to scout the area. Boss, you can't blame me... I never imagined that high-level zombies would be there..."

Ling Tao crawled closer to Zhao Hong, clutching at his legs and weeping bitterly, "Only you can handle a high-level zombie, Boss!"

Zhao Hong sat up slightly and reached out to gently caress Ling Tao's face, smiling slightly, "It's not your fault, nobody knew there would be high-level zombies there."

Ling Tao was deeply moved, "Thank you, Boss! Thank you!"

"Feed Dahei for me, he's been hungry for a long time," Zhao Hong said casually.

"Yes, yes!"

Ling Tao hurriedly walked to the side, fetched a large bag of dog food, and was about to pour it into that wolf dog's food bowl.

The black-backed wolf-dog remained utterly still, drool streaming freely from its mouth.

Zhao Hong snapped his fingers crisply, "Dàhēi, eat."

With a howl, the wolf-dog burst forth from the iron cage, clamping its jaws around Ling Tao's arms. A sharp crack resounded as Ling Tao's arms broke cleanly at the elbows, blood spurting wildly.

"Ah! Ah! Boss!" Ling Tao screamed in agony, the severe pain of losing his arms clouding his ability to think.

Zhao Hong frowned, "How many times must I say it? Kill by crushing the windpipe directly; don't make such a bloody mess."

The wolf-dog, silent, sprang forward in a swift motion and severed Ling Tao's throat with its teeth, finally indulging in its feast.

Zhao Hong's expression turned to one of satisfaction. The two women by his side had already lost control, nearly collapsing to the ground.

"No need to worry. With your slender arms and legs, Dahei couldn't possibly be satisfied," Zhao Hong sneered casually. Upon hearing this, the two women fainted in fright.

Zhao Hong nonchalantly pressed a nearby bell. Ding, ding, ding. Soon, a burly man hurried up from downstairs. He bowed respectfully, careful not to stare at the wolf-dog reveling in its meal.

"Boss, what do you need?"

Zhao Hong offhandedly said, "Bring Daho and Erho, get the car, and head to the Walmart."

"Right away, sir," the burly man nodded respectfully.

Moments later, outside the Haotai Hotel, two strong men struggled to push open the grand doors. A van sped away, its entirety reinforced with sturdy iron mesh. Spikes of steel adorned the front and roof.

As it moved, ordinary zombies were simply flung aside. Unless it met tens of thousands of zombies, it was the most dazzling presence on the streets!

The Haotai Hotel was a mere three kilometers from the Walmart. Yet, this journey was no longer through a society with flowing traffic, but rather through a city at the end of the day, overrun with zombies.

The streets were cluttered with abandoned vehicles and toppled billboards, and the path was anything but clear, fraught with myriad obstacles. It took a van a full two hours to finally reach the supermarket.

The car door swung open with a whoosh.

Zhao Hong alighted swiftly, followed by three dogs: Dahei, Daho, and Erho, the most loyal, cunning, and ferocious of his spirit hounds.

Zhao Hong cast a skeptical glance around. His vision and hearing, far superior to that of ordinary men, easily discerned something unsettling near the supermarket: an eerie quietude, devoid of even the faintest growl of zombies, with only the occasional scurrying of rats.

He was no stranger to territories ruled by high-level zombies, but such desolation and silence were unprecedented.

"Let's go in and have a look," he suggested, pointing towards the Walmart Supermarket. At his command, the spirit hounds growled softly and advanced into the supermarket via three different paths. Shortly after, their howls echoed through the building.

Zhao Hong furrowed his brow. Experienced in the nuances of canine sounds from his days in the dog business, he knew these barks signaled no danger.

"Leave someone with the car, and come up with me," he said casually.

"Yes," replied a sturdy man, stepping out of the car with bolstered courage to lead the way.

Soon, Zhao Hong and his companion reached the fifth floor of the supermarket unimpeded. The scene before him made his heart skip a beat. Five years had passed since the outbreak of the zombies, and he had grown accustomed to sights of gore.

However, this bizarre spectacle was new to him. Throughout the supermarket, from the first to the fifth floor, were scattered bits and pieces of zombie flesh. It was the height of summer when flies should swarm, yet none dared approach this place.

The sight on the fifth floor was particularly dreadful. Several large bathtubs lay there, each containing only a layer of dried, black-red blood filled with impurities.

In a nearby corner, two desiccated, emaciated zombies lay, their bodies riddled with holes from which red plants sprouted, though now these plants were all dead, having seemingly sucked dry all the nutrients from the zombies.

A tightness gripped Zhao Hong's chest at this chilling discovery.

"Boss... what should we do now?" The stalwart man beside him trembled visibly.

"Are you cold?" Zhao Hong suddenly asked.

The man shivered, "Cold, very cold. The temperature here is very low."

A sense of dread inexplicably rose in Zhao Hong's heart. The outside temperature was at least thirty degrees. Yet, inside the Walmart, he felt chilled to the bone. This was utterly abnormal.

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Zhao Hong knew well that one must not linger in places that defy normalcy! "Let's go." He dared not stay any longer and turned to leave.

Once back in the car, he slowly regained his composure. "Did you bring gasoline?" Zhao Hong, lighting a cigarette and exhaling rings of smoke, suddenly asked.

"Yes, Boss. Your orders?" Both men nodded.

"Burn this shit place down," Zhao Hong said calmly.

"Yes!"

Moments later, thick, black smoke billowed above the Walmart. The piercing chill seemed to dissipate with the flames. Zhao Hong's anxiety finally eased.

"Let's go back." He casually flicked his unfinished cigarette out of the car window, propped up his legs, and said.

The van started again and soon vanished into the streets.

...

In the lush forests outside Green River City in the Mystic Azure Realm of Yu Country, the empty space suddenly twisted. In the blink of an eye, a figure appeared out of nowhere, startling the birds atop the trees and scaring away the squirrels on the branches.

"I'm back." Chu Xuan surveyed his surroundings, took a deep breath, and smiled. The air here was filled with Spiritual Qi, far fresher than that of the apocalyptic planet.

"First, I need to ascertain whether the flow of time is consistent between the two realms," he mused. "The second task is to acquire materials for corpse refinement and seeds for numerous spiritual plants. The third matter is to locate the covert trading hubs of demonic cultivators from the Infinite Sect and the Corpse Puppet Sect, to purchase the Blood Refining Array.

Having formulated his plan, Chu Xuan immediately donned a human-skin mask and transformed his appearance from a stern-looking young man to a formidable, bald-headed fellow.

Although facial transformation was considered an unconventional art, Chu Xuan had escaped many perils using it. Now, disguising himself had become second nature.

"I recall that three hundred miles south of Green River City, there is a canyon rich in Spiritual Qi, where a marketplace is situated," Chu Xuan mused. He drew forth a flying sword and set off toward the south of Green River City.

This flying sword, a lower-grade flying magical tool, traveled at a speed of three hundred miles per hour, consuming one small spiritual stone for every thousand miles traveled. It was a second-hand magical tool he had once purchased from the Infinite Sect. Both its speed and consumption were mediocre. Should he acquire surplus spirit stones in the future, he certainly intended to invest in a superior flying magical tool.

An hour later, Chu Xuan arrived at the marketplace.

"Peace Market," he announced as he strode into the market. A thousand miles further south of Peace Market lay the mountain gate of the Divine Star Sect, one of the five major orthodox sects of Yu Country.

Naturally, the small marketplace was not directly controlled by the Divine Star Sect but was managed by cultivating families under the sect, mostly established by Foundation Establishment stage cultivators from the Divine Star Sect who had little hope of advancing. Offspring born into these families, once identified as having spiritual roots, were immediately sent to the Divine Star Sect for cultivation, thereby strengthening their families.

Peace Market was controlled by the Wu family, whose patriarch was a nearly two-hundred-year-old Foundation Establishment stage cultivator. The cultivators who came here to sell and trade were mostly at the initial or middle stages of Qi Refining; even those at the later stages were rare.

Chu Xuan was well aware of all this intelligence before he arrived. As a demon cultivator often targeted by others, venturing blindly into unknown territories without such information could lead to dire consequences.

Upon arriving at Peace Market, Chu Xuan did not rush to purchase the items he needed. Cultivators, with their extended lifespans, knew well how to overcharge newcomers. His unfamiliar face appearing for the first time would surely prompt the sellers to inflate their prices. Thus, he decided to stay for a few days. For the initial days, he adopted a strategy of looking much and buying nothing.

Chu Xuan found a teahouse catering to cultivators, ordered a pot of spiritual tea, sat, and quietly sipped, listening to the conversations around him. Cultivator discussions were not like those of ordinary people, who speak without restraint. Some were quite cautious, even using Spiritual Qi to mask their speech.

As a Qi Refining stage cultivator, eavesdropping on others' conversations was challenging, but Chu Xuan had a unique advantage—each of his ears harbored a Listening Insect. These tiny creatures amplified his hearing, allowing him to catch much of what was said around him.

Chu Xuan's ears twitched, and he glanced towards a nearby table where two Qi Refining stage cultivators were sitting opposite each other. The lean cultivator inquired, "...Fellow Daoist, are there any bounty tasks in Peace Market? I'm a bit short on spiritual stones."

The burly cultivator replied, "Yes, there's one helping the Divine Star Sect find remnants of the Infinite Sect. Finding one yields three hundred small spiritual stones. By the way, Elder Sun from the Divine Star Sect mentioned that if anyone finds Chu Xuan from the Infinite Sect, who is at the Qi Refining stage, they'll give four hundred small spiritual stones."

"Still not found? It's been six days already."

"That guy is as slippery as an eel; not so easy to catch. Elder Sun once led a group of Qi Refining disciples to surround him, and he still managed to escape."

"I heard he's only at the fourth level of Qi Refining; I could easily crush him in a one-on-one fight."

"Don't underestimate him. I've heard that although Chu Xuan has mediocre talent, he's a master of poisons and gu insects. Two cultivators at the fifth level of Qi Refining from the Divine Star Sect have already fallen to him."

"...Maybe I should change my target then; he's too slippery to catch."

"Ha, just say you're scared."

The lean cultivator's face reddened, veins bulging on his forehead as he retorted, "Nonsense! Those who wish to tread the way of cultivation must be alive. How can a cultivator be called fearful?"

What followed was a series of profound utterances about the "Way of Caution" and "Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Disaster," prompting laughter from the burly cultivator. The atmosphere around was filled with mirth.

Chu Xuan, overhearing this, wore a bizarre expression.

Six days! It had been only six days since he killed He Liang and escaped the encirclement of the Divine Star Sect cultivators. By such estimates, the time flow ratio between the Mystic Azure Realm and the apocalyptic planet was about one to ten.

That meant, in the eyes of the cultivators here, he had advanced from the fourth to the sixth level of Qi Refining in just six days—a miraculous feat of cultivation! Even daily immersion in medicinal baths couldn't achieve such rapid progress.

"Blood Mirror, truly a precious treasure!" Chu Xuan sipped his tea broadly smiling.

Two more days passed. Chu Xuan had thoroughly explored Peace Market, becoming familiar with every stall owner. Only then did he approach a large shop.

Hundred Herbs Pavilion, specializing in spiritual plants. After comparing several shops, Chu Xuan found this one to offer the best value for money. Before long, he walked out of Hundred Herbs Pavilion, satisfied with the variety of spiritual plant seeds he had purchased. He also mixed in some materials for corpse refining. The shopkeeper, seeing his substantial purchases, even threw in some extras.

Chu Xuan wondered if the shopkeeper would have recoiled in horror and retracted the gifts had he known he was dealing with a demon cultivator.

After acquiring various items, Chu Xuan made his way to a nondescript stall in the marketplace with practiced ease. Setting up a stall here was straightforward: just spread a cloth on the ground and lay out the wares. Those who were more particular might use a wooden sign to mark prices next to their items. The goods on this stall were nothing special, hardly worth a second glance, except for a withered white herb that caught Chu Xuan's eye.

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Bonegrass.

This spiritual plant demanded extremely harsh growing conditions. It thrived only in the Burial Bone Cave of the Infinite Sect, withering immediately if transplanted elsewhere. After the fall of the Infinite Sect, its disciples scattered, and Chu Xuan agreed on secret signs and tokens with a few close peers for future contact. Bonegrass was one of these tokens.

Chu Xuan squatted down in front of the stall owner, picking up one item, then another. The stall owner, an experienced cultivator, quickly grew impatient. "Buy if you're going to buy, otherwise get lost and stop touching everything."

Chu Xuan picked up a fruit and smiled, "Fellow Daoist, how much for this Pool Dragon Fruit?"

The stall owner replied nonchalantly, "Two small spiritual stones each."

Chu Xuan smiled slightly, "Is the skin made of gold, or is it the flesh?"

The stall owner paused, then shook his head, "There are no Pool Dragon Fruits around anymore. These I picked up from the ruins after the Infinite Sect was gone. If you think it's expensive, so do I."

Chu Xuan's smile widened, "Are these fruits guaranteed ripe?"

The stall owner's eyes brightened, "These are of average quality, but if you're willing to pay a higher price, I have better ones."

Chu Xuan nodded, "Good, lead the way."

The stall owner quickly packed up his worn cloth and items into his storage bag and led Chu Xuan away. Although Chu Xuan followed, he remained alert, watching and listening to everything around them.

The two left Peace Market and soon reached a secluded spot under some trees. The experienced cultivator lowered his voice, "Which senior brother are you?"

Chu Xuan replied calmly, "He Liang."

The cultivator was startled, "He Liang? That traitor has been dead for a while."

Chu Xuan then relaxed and nodded, "Chu Xuan."

The older cultivator became excited, "Senior brother Chu! Is it really you?"

Chu Xuan nodded slightly, "And you are?"

The cultivator took a deep breath and quickly said, "Chen Ge, I entered the Infinite Sect in the same batch as you! This token and password were taught to me by senior brother Wei Hua."

Chu Xuan nodded. Wei Hua, ranked twelfth among the inner disciples, had always been on good terms with him.

"How is Wei Hua doing?" Chu Xuan asked casually.

Chen Ge spoke softly, "Senior brother Wei is still recovering from his injuries, and Uncle Master Liu and the others are all at the Wu family."

Chu Xuan chuckled silently. Among the Foundation Establishment stage cultivators of the Infinite Sect, only one bore the surname Liu—Liu Zhenxiong. Uncle Master Liu referred to Liu Zhenxiong himself.

Unexpectedly, these Infinite Sect cultivators were residing directly within the Wu family's territory. No wonder the Divine Star Sect had been unable to find them. They would never have imagined that right under their noses was the perfect hiding spot for demon cultivators!

Chen Ge earnestly said, "Senior brother Chu, why don't you join us? We, the cultivators of the Infinite Sect, must stick together to survive."

Chu Xuan shook his head, "Having many people makes us a big target. I just came to buy some items."

Chen Ge appeared somewhat disappointed, but he nodded, "What are you looking to buy, senior brother?"

"The Blood Refining Array."

Chen Ge was surprised, "The Blood Refining Array? What do you need that for? The five righteous sects are currently cracking down on any killings of mortals. You might barely activate the Blood Refining Array before the righteous cultivators come knocking."

Chu Xuan just smiled, "Do you have it?"

Chen Ge nodded, "I remember senior brother Wei has one, and it can be bought for a medium spiritual stone. Here's what we'll do: you wait outside the Wu family, and I'll get the item for you."

Chu Xuan gave a slight nod.

The two approached the Wu family's location quickly. Established in a valley rich in Spiritual Qi, with buildings every few steps—a veritable small kingdom—the Wu family's estate was formidable. Chu Xuan stopped at a distance and tossed over a low-grade storage bag.

"This contains one medium spiritual stone for the Blood Refining Array. Additionally, there are thirty blood pearls. Exchange them for spiritual stones at the old rate."

Chen Ge, delighted by the offer, quickly accepted, "Great, we are currently in need of blood pearls!"

He promptly stored the items, "Please wait here, senior brother, I will be back shortly."

With that, he hurried towards the Wu family estate.

Chu Xuan didn't linger at the original spot but immediately left, climbing up a nearby hill and hiding behind rocks. In such times, betrayal could come from anyone; the only person he could truly trust was himself.

Soon after, Chen Ge briskly walked out of the Wu family residence and returned to the original spot under the trees. However, there was no sign of Chu Xuan, and he couldn't help but look puzzled.

Chu Xuan did not reveal himself immediately but carefully observed his surroundings and listened for any slight sound.

Growing anxious, Chen Ge called out in a low voice, "Senior brother Chu, where are you?"

After waiting a while longer, Chu Xuan finally showed himself, causing Chen Ge to sigh in relief. He quickly understood why Chu Xuan had chosen to leave the original spot. Few demon cultivators who had survived the pursuit of the five orthodox sects were foolish enough to easily trust others.

Without much ado, Chen Ge pulled a formation plate and flags from his storage bag and handed them over.

Chu Xuan examined them briefly and nodded slightly. This was indeed the Blood Refining Array. The basic version of the array was just a mid-grade magical tool, manageable even by Qi Refining stage cultivators.

However, stacking additional layers to create complex formations like the Soul-Stealing Blood Refining Array or the Evil Condensation Blood Refining Array would catapult it into the realm of treasures, controllable only by Golden Core stage cultivators. The difficulty of setup and the materials required would increase a hundredfold.

"Senior brother Chu, are you sure you won't join us?" Chen Ge couldn't help but ask again. "Uncle Master Liu has been very good to us. When we last retreated to the Wu family estate, he covered our retreat."

Chu Xuan shook his head, "No." He then turned and left, showing no interest in lingering. The remnants of the Infinite Sect were thorns in the sides of the orthodox sects, and being associated with Liu Zhenxiong, though seemingly an advantage, actually painted a bigger target on their backs.

If danger came, Liu Zhenxiong might escape, but Qi Refining stage cultivators like himself would not have it so easy. He couldn't entrust his life to others.

With the Blood Refining Array in hand, Chu Xuan felt a surge of relief. His next task was to find a safe place to fully charge the Blood Mirror. Once he returned to the apocalyptic planet, he would set up the Blood Refining Array and rapidly advance his cultivation.

However, just over twenty miles away from the Wu family, Chu Xuan sensed something amiss. Indeed, several streaks of light appeared, swiftly blocking his path on both sides.

Three figures emerged, clad in snow-white robes with gold sword-shaped embroidery at the collar and sleeves—a uniform that Chu Xuan recognized all too well; they were Qi Refining stage disciples of the Divine Star Sect.

"What brings the three of you here?" Chu Xuan asked, his face clouded with confusion. The trio scrutinized him briefly. The middle-aged cultivator at the forefront spoke calmly, "By the command of Uncle Master Sun, it has been decreed that no one may enter or exit within fifty miles of the Wu family estate, lest remnants of the Infinite Sect are harbored therein."

Chu Xuan feigned astonishment, exclaiming, "Remnants of the Infinite Sect? But I am merely an honest loose cultivator!"

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The middle-aged cultivator replied impatiently, "I care not whether you're a loose or a demon cultivator; today, no one shall pass this junction. If you value your life, stay put. Once Uncle Master Sun has ascertained that the Wu family harbors no affiliations with the Infinite Sect, you, being uninvolved, shall remain unharmed."

With a placating smile, Chu Xuan nodded vigorously, "Very well, very well, I am willing to cooperate."

Seeing his submissive demeanor, the middle-aged cultivator smirked arrogantly, "That's right, loose cultivators like you ought to obey."

Chu Xuan gave an awkward smile. Just then, two streaks of light shot across the sky at a breathtaking speed. Lifting an eyebrow, Chu Xuan ventured, "Could that be the esteemed Sun Shi of your sect?"

With a sly chuckle, the middle-aged cultivator confirmed, "Indeed! With two Foundation Establishment stage Uncle Masters stepping forward, they will surely turn the Wu estate inside out."

Chu Xuan nodded. Sun Shi was the very person who had led the encirclement against him in Green River City. He remembered it vividly. Had he not been cautious and disguised himself with He Liang's face, he might well have been a corpse by now.

Suddenly, Chu Xuan spoke up, "Just the three of you? If there truly are remnants of the Infinite Sect within the Wu estate, can you three manage to hold this position?"

The cultivator scoffed, "The remnants of the Infinite Sect are but defeated soldiers. The three of us possess at least the strength of the fifth level of Qi Refining—ample to guard this pass and stop any Qi Refining stage demonic cultivators. As for any Foundation Establishment stage demonic cultivators, they shall be dealt with by Uncle Master Sun and the others."

Chu Xuan nodded again. The next moment, he suddenly pointed behind the middle-aged cultivator and cried out in alarm, "Watch out!"

Startled, the cultivator thought an attack from the Infinite Sect was coming from behind. He swiftly turned around, readying his magical tool for defense. The other two cultivators did likewise, spinning around in alarm.

However, there was nothing behind them—no sign of any Infinite Sect demonic cultivators.

A ghastly roar then tore through the air. One of the Divine Star Sect disciples grimaced in agony as he looked down to discover his chest grotesquely torn open by a dark, formidable claw, his heart gruesomely excavated.

The other disciple reacted swiftly, creating distance before immediately directing his Heavenly Star Sword at Chu Xuan. Every disciple of the Qi Refining stage at the Divine Star Sect was issued such a sword—a standard armament.

However, this disciple's swordsmanship was evidently lackluster. The Heavenly Star Sword zigzagged clumsily towards Chu Xuan, slow as an elderly man.

Chu Xuan did not even need to make a move himself; Hu charged forward in a flash and sent the Sword flying with a sharp clang.

The corpse's claw, swift as lightning, slashed across the neck of the cultivator in an instant. Blood spurted dramatically as a head was severed cleanly, its eyes still wide with confusion.

The middle-aged cultivator reacted more quickly, immediately summoning a small shield for protection.

However, a streak of blood had already traced across Chu Xuan's palm. Sensing danger, the cultivator attempted to dodge, but his speed was no match for the Blood Steel Wire.

With a crisp snap, his right arm was severed cleanly at the root. The shield clattered to the ground as blood gushed forth like a fountain.

The middle-aged cultivator screamed in agony and staggered back in terror, but Chu Xuan gave him no chance for recovery. Once again, he manipulated the Blood Steel Wire, while Hu pounced fiercely from behind.

Caught between attacks from front and back, he stood no chance. His heart was pierced by Hu, and his throat was slit by the Blood Steel Wire, culminating in his immediate death.

This scene, though described slowly, occurred in the blink of an eye. Within mere moments, three Qi Refining stage cultivators were slain by Chu Xuan.

Exhaling a heavy breath, Chu Xuan felt invigorated. Even he had not anticipated such an enhancement in his strength. His opponents were three Qi Refining stage cultivators, all at least at the fifth level of Qi Refining, with the middle-aged leader at the seventh level—higher than himself. Yet now, they had been effortlessly dispatched by him.

"There's no time to linger."

Quickly, Chu Xuan collected the storage bags and magic tools from the three, then vanished into the vast wilderness. He chose not to use a flying magical tool, which would make him too conspicuous, opting instead to travel on foot.

Elsewhere, within the Wu family estate, a courtyard held a figure of formidable stature seated in meditation on a daybed. This cultivator, who bore a wound on his left arm wrapped in lingering sword energy that refused to dissipate, occasionally grimaced in pain. He was Liu Zhenxiong, a Foundation Establishment stage cultivator of the Infinite Sect and the direct disciple of the third elder.

At a certain moment, his eyes snapped open, a glint of cold light flashing through them. "Have the Divine Star Sect's people arrived?"

Pulling out a token and channeling Spiritual Qi into it, he called out in a low voice, "Disciples of the Infinite Sect, gather to me."

The token not only identified one's affiliation but also carried the capability to transmit messages, though this function was limited to a range of no more than a thousand li.

Upon hearing his summons, Chen Ge, Wei Hua, and other disciples promptly converged at the small courtyard, quickly swelling the numbers to over a dozen Qi Refining stage cultivators. Liu Zhenxiong spoke in an undertone, "Two Foundation Establishment stage cultivators from the Divine Star Sect have appeared, likely targeting me."

The disciples gasped in alarm. Liu Zhenxiong continued gravely, "Xu Ming and Bai Feng, you two are the strongest among the Qi Refining stage disciples present. Take half of the disciples each and leave separately. I will stay behind momentarily to cover your retreat."

Touched by his dedication, the disciples immediately accepted the command, "Yes!"

Chen Ge and Wei Hua were among those assigned to Xu Ming's group. As they gathered their belongings, Chen Ge suddenly tensed, recalling something, "Senior Brother Chu just purchased the Blood Refining Array and left not long ago. He wouldn't have run into the Divine Star Sect's cultivators, would he?"

Wei Hua sighed softly, "Hard to say. Let's hope he's lucky enough to avoid them."

Xu Ming scoffed, "Wasn't he the one worried about being a large target and reluctant to follow Uncle Master Liu? Why worry about him? If he's dead, what does it matter to us?"

Frowning, Wei Hua rebuked, "Xu Ming, we're all in the same boat now; we should be pulling together. Why hold such a grudge against Chu Xuan, especially at a time like this?"

Xu Ming snorted dismissively, "My issues with him are none of your business. Didn't you hear what Uncle Master Liu just said? I'm leading this group!"

Wei Hua clenched his teeth but remained silent.

Back when the Infinite Sect was still intact, Xu Ming often competed with Chu Xuan for the tenth rank within the inner disciples, a position that could attract the attention of the elders for potential direct discipleship.

Although Xu Ming was slightly higher in cultivation level, he consistently lacked the strength to best Chu Xuan and remained perpetually one rank below him at eleventh, fueling his resentment.

This backstory was well-known to Chen Ge, Wei Hua, and others.

"Bai Feng and his group will head towards Wind Flowing Mountain through the east side gate," Xu Ming spoke calmly. "We will take the west side gate, circle past Red Lake, and hide in White Ray Mountain."

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As a demonic cultivator who had survived to this point, Xu Ming was no fool. Upon arriving at the Wu family estate, he had anticipated that righteous cultivators might someday come knocking, and he had prepared escape plans accordingly.

Wind Flowing Mountain and White Ray Mountain were among the most remote and densely wooded areas in Green River Prefecture. Even if the Divine Star Sect cultivators mobilized extensive manpower, it would take them months to find any trace of them in these mountains.

Of course, if a Golden Core stage cultivator from the Divine Star Sect were to intervene, using their spiritual sense could instantly reveal every detail within the entire mountain range, leaving no place to hide. In such cases, they would have no choice but to accept their fate.

However, it was highly unlikely for a Golden Core stage cultivator to personally deal with a few Qi Refining stage juniors for two main reasons.

Firstly, it would be seen as beneath them—engaging directly with such low-level cultivators could be perceived as undignified.

Secondly, the benefits did not align; if a Golden Core stage demonic cultivator were to hide in the mountains, then indeed, righteous Golden Core stage cultivators would promptly pursue them.

"Let's go," Xu Ming gestured broadly, and Chen Ge, Wei Hua, and two others quickly followed. They had all disguised themselves and deliberately donned the attire of loose cultivators to blend in.

Not long after leaving the Wu family estate, the sounds of combat reached their ears from behind—clangs and clashes of magical tools in the sky.

Clearly, Liu Zhenxiong had engaged the two Foundation Establishment stage cultivators from the Divine Star Sect.

The battle sounded fierce.

"Move quickly, the sooner we leave, the sooner Uncle Master Liu can extricate himself," Wei Hua urged in a low shout.

Xu Ming nodded, and the group hastened their pace. However, they had only gotten seven or eight miles away from the Wu estate when Xu Ming abruptly stopped and signaled for the others to do the same with a fist in the air.

"What's wrong?" Chen Ge asked, his voice tinged with nervous suspicion. They were like startled rabbits, already on edge.

Xu Ming whispered, "My poison locusts saw that there are Divine Star Sect disciples guarding the path ahead. We must take a detour."

He had cultivated a type of gu insect called the poison locust, which looked indistinguishable from ordinary locusts at first glance. But in swarms of thousands, they could inflict severe damage on an enemy.

Poison locusts could also be used as scouts. Before departing, Xu Ming had released a swarm of his cultivated locusts to keep an eye on their surroundings, alerting them to any movements.

"Which way should we go?" Wei Hua asked.

Xu Ming gritted his teeth, "To the west, towards White Ray Mountain, there are three Divine Star Sect disciples on guard. We have no choice but to head south."

"South?" Chen Ge and the others were shocked. "That's the main gate of the Wu family estate—it's the main road! There might be even more Divine Star Sect disciples stationed there!"

Xu Ming clenched his jaw, "Right now, we can only take it one step at a time. If we have to, we'll just have to weave through them. Let's hope we don't get spotted."

"Follow me." Xu Ming gestured broadly and took the lead.

Chen Ge, Wei Hua, and the others exchanged glances, resigned to follow. Lacking in strength and without any powerful backing, they felt as vulnerable as rats crossing the street.

The group cautiously advanced for a while, gradually approaching the flat main road. Chen Ge whispered, "Senior Brother Chu must have taken the main road; I wonder how he's doing."

Wei Hua pondered for a moment, "Chu Xuan is a master of disguise; perhaps he's been detained by the Divine Star Sect disciples under the guise of being a loose cultivator."

Chen Ge's heart tightened, "If that's true, what should we do?"

Xu Ming scoffed, "Are you thinking of exposing ourselves to save him? You're overthinking it! We can barely protect ourselves, let alone someone else. To save others, save yourself first. Surely you understand that."

Chen Ge, Wei Hua, and the others remained silent.

"We're here." Just then, Chen Ge noticed that the landscape ahead opened up and quietly alerted the group.

"Keep quiet," Xu Ming hissed.

"Wait... why is there a smell of blood?" Wei Hua paused, surprised.

Everyone stopped, equally startled.

They then saw, up ahead on the ground, three bodies lying still. From their attire, it was clear these were Divine Star Sect disciples. Two of them were decapitated, their eyes bulging out as if they couldn't believe their own deaths.