“That’s right, how did you know, sister… Could it be that you’re already underground?!”
Ning Xuan’s surprised voice came through.
“Yes, we’re investigating the source of the zombie horde to see if there’s anything we can do in advance,”
Ning Yu replied, as the zombies below began to stir again.
More zombies emerged from the passageway where the previous group had come from. These zombies, however, were more like the ordinary ones.
Their bodies were draped with rotting flesh and decaying organs, their faces twisted and horrifying, mouths agape.
They moved chaotically in this direction, as if drawn by something.
The laborer zombies, who had been bathing in the black flames, stepped aside, almost as if they were finishing a soak in a hot spring and making room for others.
They moved back in an orderly manner, waiting for the newcomers to take their places.
“What’s the purpose of this?”
Ning Yu observed the bizarre scene below, feeling increasingly uneasy.
“This was originally prepared for the so-called final ritual, but Chen Xing tampered with it and corrupted it.”
“Right now, the only known effect is that it serves as a source of power for Chen Xing.”
“So, sister, you’ll need to find a way to destroy these corrupted mechanical altars.”
Ning Xuan explained, then added,
“I’ll head underground from here as well and assist you.”
Ning Yu noticed that the ordinary zombies bathing in the black flames were undergoing startling changes.
Their rotting bodies were slowly healing, though not in a healthy way, as their skin tone remained unchanged.
However, the decaying flesh and organs were returning to their original positions, and other damaged parts of their bodies were being repaired.
Most importantly, there was a shift in their gaze.
From a ravenous craving for flesh, to confusion, and then to a faint glimmer of clarity.
The zombies closest to the altar began to look around, observing their fellow zombie brethren.
“It seems its effects go beyond that,”
Ning Yu glanced at Shen Yiyue, who was equally stunned, and spoke to Ning Xuan.
“What’s going on, sister? Did you see something? Is there any danger?”
Ning Xuan grew tense upon hearing Ning Yu’s words.
“No, don’t worry. It’s just that the ordinary zombies, after being bathed by this altar, seem to be gaining self-awareness.”
Soon, more and more zombies below began to awaken, as if rousing from a long slumber. Though their bodies remained kneeling, they started looking around like the ones in front.
The laborer zombies, who already possessed self-awareness, approached them and began babbling in some kind of language.
It wasn’t human language, though. Ning Yu could hear the syllables but couldn’t understand them.
The ability to communicate through language was undoubtedly a hallmark of intelligent beings. Compared to the mindless, flesh-craving zombies, these self-aware ones were far more terrifying.
“How could this be? What is Chen Xing trying to achieve?”
Ning Xuan sounded astonished.
Ning Yu pondered the question for a moment before responding,
“I have a theory. Chen Xing might be trying to create a new species through these zombies.”
“Transforming humans into zombies, and then turning zombies back into a new kind of human—a new breed of humanity?”
“They will undoubtedly become Chen Xing’s loyal servants, and intelligent ones at that.”
Suddenly, the signal began to distort, a sign that the [Long-Range One-Time Communication Device] was about to run out of time.
“We’re out of time, sister. Take care. I’ll send you the map of the underground facility.”
Ning Xuan’s voice came through in fragments.
“You take care too. We’ll meet there.”
Ning Yu replied, and at the same time, an image was transmitted through the [Long-Range One-Time Communication Device].
The image was a map filled with intricate passages and square nodes, each labeled with a number.
If she wasn’t mistaken, these nodes represented the altars below, as they were all identical and needed to be distinguished by their numbers.
The coordinates Ning Xuan had sent earlier were in the same format as these numbers.
In other words, they needed to head to one of the countless altars to receive the ‘assistance’ provided by Lacy.
“Should we destroy the altar down there?”
Ning Yu looked at the horde of zombies below. Though they had gained intelligence, their combat abilities were still far inferior to a few mutated Gluttons.
“I’ll go down first. You stay up here and act according to the situation.”
Ning Yu instructed Shen Yiyue, who had set up a machine gun and sniper rifle above, ready to pick off targets or unleash a barrage of fire at any moment.
The two had already discussed hand signals, and as soon as Ning Yu made the corresponding gesture, Shen Yiyue would join her in the attack.
“Thud.”
A clear sound of footsteps landing echoed through the empty space.
The zombies still bathing in the black flames turned their heads, and the laborer zombies also shifted their gazes toward Ning Yu as she landed.
In her right hand, she held Blood Kite, which glowed faintly red, exuding a chilling aura of killing intent.
“Ugh…”
“Roar!!!”
The ordinary zombies on the outskirts of the altar, who hadn’t fully bathed in the flames, sensed the allure of fresh flesh and began howling, charging toward Ning Yu.
Interestingly, the zombies in the middle hesitated. At first, they turned around, seemingly tempted to attack Ning Yu, but halfway through, they seemed to wake up.
After a moment of hesitation, they turned back and knelt down, continuing to receive the black flames’ baptism, no longer interested in Ning Yu.
Facing the oncoming zombies, Ning Yu loosened her grip on Blood Kite.
The blade floated downward, then hovered in the air, emitting a faint hum.
“Swoosh!”
It moved too fast for the naked eye to follow, like a game of bingo, neatly slicing off the heads of all the approaching zombies in a single, precise cut.
Ning Yu’s control over Blood Kite was becoming increasingly refined.
The zombies driven by their hunger didn’t even get close to Ning Yu before they all collapsed to the ground.
Seeing this, Ning Yu turned her attention to the self-aware laborer zombies.
As expected.
They all began to retreat, almost pressing against the walls, looking at each other and babbling as if discussing something.
They chattered among themselves, but not one dared to attack Ning Yu.
ut it can buy an entire year of absolutely perfect training results! Su Yu stared at his empty wallet and decisively opened up various online loan platforms. “Borrow a thousand bucks! Recharge my vitality!” Boom! His vitality broke a hundred points, shattering the limits of the human body! “Borrow ten thousand bucks! Recharge my combat skills!” Boom! A basic punching technique so common it was everywhere instantly maxed out, revealing the ultimate assassination technique of Five Elements Unity—Inner Force! When a rich kid hired assassins for a midnight ambush, aiming to break both of his legs, they instead ran headfirst into a monster—a human-shaped tyrannosaur, brimming with dragon-like vitality. With just two fingers, Su Yu snapped a steel staff reinforced with alloy. Staring at the killer’s stash of stolen cash—a staggering quarter-million dollars—he showed a corporate-sincere smile: “Thanks for the pre-exam gift pack, Mr. Zhao! I’m gonna go re-invest this!” Three days later, at the National Martial Arts College Entrance Exam, while everyone else struggled just to reach the passing line, Su Yu threw a single punch—and more than a thousand vitality points literally detonated the entire arena!
+ Slow Paced + Main Character Thrives Together with His Disciples】 Transmigrated into a cultivation world, Chu Xingchen awakens a discipleship system that reveals the tags of his disciples! Starting from scratch, he builds the strongest sect. Disciple One: Li Yingling 【Gold Tag: Genius Cultivator】【Purple Tag: Extremely Lucky】【Blue Tag: Bewitchingly Beautiful】 Disciple Two: Li Hangtian 【Gold Tag: Reincarnated】【Purple Tag: Ruthless and Decisive】【Blue Tag: Loyal and Noble】 Disciple Three: ??? 【Orange Tag: Alluring Demoness】【???】【???】 Thus, in the cultivation world, an unremarkable little sect appears out of nowhere, but little do others know that each member of this sect is a powerhouse in their own right. The book is also known as: Cultivation? It's Exactly Like This!
ts me of treason?" "Correct. The host must return to the capital and gradually build up influence." "Wait—I have half a million soldiers, and you want me to go back to the capital to 'build influence'?" "Host, you are currently the Northern Garrison General, loyal to the Great Xia Dynasty." "Of course I am loyal to Great Xia! Absolutely loyal!" "But you keep referring to yourself as 'We'..." "Never mind the details! Summon all the regional commanders and military officers! We suspect treacherous officials are manipulating the court! They shall march with Us to the capital and purge the corrupt!" "......"
e bizarre and supernatural had descended. The previous emperor was a thoroughgoing tyrant; no longer satisfied with human women, he had set his sights on a stunningly beautiful supernatural entity. He met his end in his bedchamber, drained of all his vital essence. As the legitimate eldest son and crown prince, Wang Hao was thus hastily enthroned, becoming the young emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty. No sooner had he awakened the "Imperial Sign-In Intelligence System" than he was assassinated by a Son of Destiny—a classic villain's opening. The Great Zhou, ravaged by the former emperor's excesses, was in national decline. The great families within its borders harbored their own treacherous schemes, martial sects began to defy the imperial court's decrees, and border armies, their pay and provisions in arrears, grumbled incessantly against the central government. Fortunately, the central capital was still held secure by the half-million Imperial Guards and fifty thousand Imperial Forest Army who obeyed the court's orders, along with the royal family's hidden reserves of power, barely managing to suppress the realm. As the Great Zhou's finances worsened and supernatural activities grew ever more frequent, the court sat atop a volcano. Ambitious plotters everywhere dreamed of overthrowing the dynasty, and even some reclusive ancient powers emerged, attempting to sway the tides of the world. At the first grand court assembly, the civil and military officials nearly came to blows, fighting tooth and nail over the allocation of fifty million taels of silver from the summer tax revenues. The spectacle opened Wang Hao's eyes—the Great Zhou's bureaucracy was not only corrupt but also martially proficient, a cabinet of all-rounders. Some officials even had the audacity to suggest the emperor release funds from the imperial privy purse to address the emergency. Wang Hao suddenly felt weary. Let it all burn.
