Chapter 12：Zombie gathering place

"Exactly, I think the same!"

Sun Yueying nodded in agreement with Li Yunyang's words. Tianfan, observing their reactions, furrowed his brow slightly. He had read extensively and had some knowledge about zombies.

When someone dies, it is common in folk tradition to consult a geomancer to choose an auspicious burial site. If the location is chosen wisely, it will bring fortune to future generations. If not, misfortune may follow. The worst scenario is to bury the corpse in a cursed ground, where the body will not decay. Over time, it will mutate and eventually become a zombie.

This, according to legend, is the origin of zombies. But typically, even a zombie king can only kill and cannot enslave those it slays. However, in this case, it's clear that Zhang Gu, after death, has fully transformed into a zombie. His soul is no longer in his body, as if it's under someone else's control.

"Zombie?" The mere mention of the word sent chills down the spines of the simple villagers. Terrified, they pleaded with the trio, "Immortals, please, you must save us!"

"Yes, great immortals! We are good people and have never harmed anyone. Please, save us!"

Seeing their distress, Sun Yueying stepped forward. "Dear elders, please don't address us as immortals. We are merely ordinary people."

Hearing this, some villagers grew anxious, thinking the three "immortals" were refusing to help. Sensing their unease, Sun Yueying reassured them once more, "Though we are not immortals, we will certainly assist you. Rest assured, we will not leave until this matter is resolved."

At these words, the villagers finally relaxed. Tianfan observed all of this and thought to himself how kind-hearted Sun Yueying truly was, without a trace of arrogance.

Afterward, Sun Yueying dismissed the villagers, and that night, the three of them headed out of the village together.

"Li Yunyang, if you don't wake up soon, you won't have any meat for a month after we return to the mountain!" Sun Yueying, seeing Li Yunyang dozing off, grew increasingly frustrated. How could he sleep at such a critical moment?

"No, no! Little Sister, I'm awake, completely awake!"

The moment he heard about the lack of meat for a month, Li Yunyang's eyes snapped open, his face breaking into an ingratiating grin as he pleaded with Sun Yueying. After all, she controlled the sect's finances, and in the past, she had denied him meat for a week because of his laziness in training. That week alone had been unbearable. The thought of going a month without meat? He couldn't even imagine it.

"Focus, we've arrived."

At that moment, Tianfan spoke to the others. He sensed an ominous energy up ahead. A cave loomed in the distance, with waves of malevolent aura emanating from within.

"This is it," Li Yunyang said, fully alert now as he regarded the cave with caution.

"Alright, let's go in. Be careful, everyone. Especially you, Little Brother Tianfan, your cultivation level isn't very high yet, so take extra care."

Sun Yueying addressed Tianfan, unaware that his cultivation had already reached the peak of the Condensing Spirit stage. He had always maintained a calm demeanor, never displaying any overpowering aura. As the newest member of their group, she naturally assumed he was still at a lower level of training. Even Li Yunyang, who had been with him for days, didn't know the truth.

Tianfan touched his nose with a wry smile. Weak? Him? Back in the Phantom Forest, when the word "God" had imprinted itself upon his brow, he had already reached the pinnacle of the Condensing Spirit stage. At that moment, a cultivation method—"The Celestial Divine Heart Sutra"—had appeared in his mind. He had been practicing it every night since. He could clearly feel his strength increasing, and with his current power, even ten Sun Yueyings wouldn't be his match. He was on the verge of breaking through to the Cloud Heaven realm.

The cave's entrance was covered in spider webs, many of which had been deliberately torn down. Footprints could be seen on the ground. The trio carefully pushed aside the webs and entered. The ground was unexpectedly dry, as if scorched by fire. The deeper they ventured, the drier the terrain became, resembling a desert. A sinister heat emanated from the cave's depths.

"Be cautious, this zombie seems incredibly strong, likely possessing the cultivation of someone at the early Condensing Spirit stage. Beware of its corpse poison," Sun Yueying warned the others as she sensed the strange atmosphere.

"Impossible, Little Sister! It's just a zombie, how could it possibly have reached the Condensing Spirit stage?"

Li Yunyang was skeptical, and his doubt was understandable. According to legend, zombies exist outside the cycle of reincarnation. They possess extremely powerful bodies and, barring any accidents, are nearly immortal. However, this invincibility also makes them incredibly slow to cultivate.

Many zombies had appeared on the Divine Martial Continent in the past, but the most powerful was the Zombie King from five hundred years ago. Its cultivation had reached the early Condensing Spirit stage. A zombie at that level couldn't be fought by an ordinary Condensing Spirit cultivator. It had slaughtered countless beings before a Cloud Heaven realm elder finally defeated it. But even that elder couldn't kill the Zombie King—he could only seal it away.

"I'm merely speculating. I hope I'm wrong, otherwise, we're in serious trouble," Sun Yueying said, her tone laced with concern. The three of them continued to move forward with utmost caution. As they ventured deeper, the air grew hotter, and the ominous energy became even more intense. Silently, they activated their inner energy, forming faint protective auras around their bodies to shield them from the oppressive atmosphere.

Tianfan's heart grew heavy. Sun Yueying's speculation seemed increasingly likely. Despite his peak Condensing Spirit cultivation, he could still feel a slight pressure from the malevolent energy.

A gust of cold wind, tainted with the smell of blood, swept through the cave, and the passageway gradually widened. Faint red light flickered ahead as they cautiously pressed forward.

Soon, an expansive chamber came into view, as though the heart of the mountain had been hollowed out by human hands. Crimson, eerie light filled the space, and the scent of blood became overwhelming. As they drew nearer, the full scene revealed itself.

"Damn it, what the…!"

All three of them turned pale at the sight before them. Li Yunyang, in particular, burst out with a string of curses. Before them was a massive blood pool, exuding a sickening stench. A hole in the mountain's ceiling allowed moonlight to stream directly into the blood pool, and around its edges stood... hundreds of zombies!