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.
"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.
- End of Chapter -
