The Zanpakuto sliced, leaving a faint bloody streak in its wake, like fire or flowing water – this streak of blood crossed the neck of the red-eyed zombie guardian!
There were only two ways to destroy a zombie: sever their head or burn their body with fire.
Yan Shouyi's tactic of cutting off the roots from under the pot was something Zhong Qi and the two zombie guardians had not anticipated, thus the surprise attack was highly effective. The zombie guardian's head was immediately severed by Yan Shouyi!
The round head fell to the ground, bouncing twice like a ball before rolling to Zhong Qi's feet.
The massive body then collapsed, like a small mountain crumbling.
"Thirty-six Heavenly Spirits, Great Heavenly King. Emperor Yan cleaves ghosts with blood, bestow upon me true emperorship.
Seven Lords, Eight Primes, drive away calamities for me. True Qi transforms into thunder and fire, the Old Master subdues the celestial flames."
Even after decapitating the guardian, Yan Shouyi was not entirely at ease. He immediately cast the Heavenly Thunder Fire Control Spell, reducing the zombie guardian's body to ashes, leaving it no chance to recover!
The two zombie guardians were Zhong Qi's greatest reliance, but now one of his pillars of support had been effortlessly dealt with by Yan Shouyi. This caused Zhong Qi to feel a tremor of fear.
Had all his grand efforts, the carefully constructed Hundred Coffins Array, and the two red-eyed zombies been insufficient against this young Lu Ban descendant?!
Why was there such a vast difference between them, both belonging to folk sects?!
Having dealt with one zombie guardian, Yan Shouyi pointed his blade at Zhong Qi and said coldly, "If you surrender now, we can discuss everything. Do not be stubborn and push yourself into a dead end!"
Zhong Qi gritted his teeth, but he did not falter. Instead, he quickly began to shake the corpse-herding bell!
Ding-ling-ling!
The bell rang, and all the zombies received the command, becoming even more frenzied!
But even this was not enough!
Zhong Qi cut his palm, letting his blood flow into the bell. The bell's chime became louder and more intense, and the zombies' strength and speed noticeably increased!
Lin Zhitong, who had been fighting and retreating, holding her ground against the zombies, suddenly found herself under immense pressure. She brought out all her magic treasures, yet she was still overwhelmed. Several times, she narrowly avoided being bitten by the frenzied zombies!
"Blood-burning stimulation of corpses?" Yan Shouyi's gaze was piercing. "Feeding the zombies with your essence blood greatly enhances their power, but it will also shorten your lifespan by decades… Why are you doing this?"
He had merely foiled Zhong Qi's plan once. Even if Zhong Qi harbored hatred towards him, it shouldn't be so deep that he would sacrifice his own lifespan to kill someone.
This corpse herder, Zhong Qi, likely had other motives!
Zhong Qi did not respond, but a sense of urgency appeared in his eyes.
By the time Yan Shouyi regained his senses, the other zombie guardian had already appeared behind him!
The zombie guardian, its potential awakened by Zhong Qi, had visibly grown larger. Its already formidable muscles had become monstrous, with veins bulging and bursting, spewing nauseating, foul blood!
"Roar!!!"
The zombie guardian lunged at Yan Shouyi!
Yan Shouyi quickly dodged and, using his familiar tactic, aimed for the zombie guardian's neck.
However, the zombie guardian was already prepared. It caught the blade of the Zanpakuto with its bare hands and then punched Yan Shouyi in the chest!
The zombie guardian's strength amplification far exceeded Yan Shouyi's expectations. Taking a direct hit from the zombie guardian, Yan Shouyi was sent flying back more than ten meters, crashing into a support column before stopping!
Immediately, blood began to seep from the corner of Yan Shouyi's mouth.
That punch had likely broken several of his ribs!
"Big idiot!"
"Yan Shouyi!"
Lin Zhitong and Xia Zhi's faces changed drastically, both wanting to help Yan Shouyi. However, Lin Zhitong was struggling to protect herself, while Xia Zhi couldn't leave Luo Ning. Neither woman could reach Yan Shouyi quickly!
"I… I'm not dead yet."
Yan Shouyi, sitting on the ground, spat out a glob of blood and covered his chest with a trembling hand, whispering.
Seeing that Yan Shouyi was still alive, the zombie guardian strode towards him, preparing to finish him off!
Just as the zombie guardian raised its great saber, a gunshot rang out. A smoking bullet hole appeared on the zombie guardian's head.
The zombie guardian turned to see Xia Zhi, holding a pistol, having ambushed it from behind.
But even with a hole in its head, this red-eyed zombie was not dead. Furthermore, Xia Zhi's shot only enraged the zombie guardian.
It no longer heeded Zhong Qi's commands, leaving the severely injured Yan Shouyi alone and charging towards Xia Zhi!
Xia Zhi fired several shots at the zombie guardian, each hitting its head, even blasting half of its skull apart. Yet, even this failed to bring down the red-eyed zombie.
In the blink of an eye, the red-eyed zombie had reached Xia Zhi!
"Hurry and dodge!" Yan Shouyi was extremely worried and wanted to intervene, but moving even an inch now caused him such pain that he nearly fainted.
Facing the threat of the red-eyed zombie, Xia Zhi knew she was no match for it and quickly tried to flee. But the red-eyed zombie merely stomped its foot, and the ground beneath Xia Zhi shattered, sending her tumbling to the ground!
"Die..."
The red-eyed zombie raised its great saber. With its strength, it could likely split Xia Zhi in two, and might even injure Luo Ning beside her!
Xia Zhi gritted her teeth and shoved Luo Ning away, intending to face the red-eyed zombie alone.
The pushed-away Luo Ning looked at her with complex emotions, seemingly surprised that Xia Zhi's first instinct in a moment of crisis was to save her.
At this critical juncture, two golden threads, like serpents, suddenly wrapped around the red-eyed zombie's arms, firmly binding it and preventing it from moving!
Following the golden threads, the other end was held by Lin Zhitong!
What she held was the Xuan Can Golden Silk. This silkworm had to consume the tenderest mulberry leaves and could only spin silk once every sixty years. The silk it produced was incredibly tough, unbreakable even by a blade!
This was also one of the treasures of the Lu Shan Sect!
Lin Zhitong pulled on the Xuan Can Golden Silk with all her might, shouting, "Officer Xia Zhi, escape quickly!"
Xia Zhi, having recovered her senses, quickly put distance between herself and the red-eyed zombie.
Enraged, the red-eyed zombie exerted immense force, dragging Lin Zhitong towards it!
Lin Zhitong, already somewhat exhausted from fending off a large number of zombies alone, found herself struggling against the powerful red-eyed zombie.
She had many magic treasures, but she needed strength to use them!
The red-eyed zombie's scarlet pupils emanated intense killing intent. It even dropped its great saber, grabbing Lin Zhitong by the body with both hands and lifting her into the air!
Lin Zhitong struggled in agony, but her efforts were futile!
"You wretched girl..."
Yan Shouyi gritted his teeth and, enduring the pain, stood up.
He would rather die himself than witness Lin Zhitong perish before his eyes!
"Zhong Qi!!!"
With a loud roar, Yan Shouyi, spitting blood, charged at Zhong Qi!
Zhong Qi, not expecting Yan Shouyi to still be standing, was directly hit and sent sprawling to the ground. His head struck loose stones, causing him to bleed and appear utterly disheveled.
As if Yan Shouyi's disruption had broken Zhong Qi's spell, the red-eyed zombie's movements suddenly paused, and its strength waned significantly.
This gave Lin Zhitong a brief respite.
"You damn fool!"
Zhong Qi, enraged, scrambled to his feet, grabbed Yan Shouyi by the collar, and dragged him towards the strange coffin!
"Most of our lineage of corpse herders are born with disabilities, leading solitary lives, spending their lives with corpses. Even so, we are plagued by the 'five disabilities and three deficiencies,' and still cannot reach old age! I don't understand why I, Zhong Qi, was born with such a fate! I refuse to accept it, and therefore, I will defy fate and change it!"
Zhong Qi dragged Yan Shouyi, spewing nonsensical words, and walked step by step towards the coffin.
Yan Shouyi was also utterly exhausted, compounded by his severe injuries. He wanted to resist but lacked the strength.
Reaching the coffin, Zhong Qi actually pushed open the lid and threw Yan Shouyi inside!
Yan Shouyi was on the verge of fainting, but his instinct for survival kept him fighting to stay conscious.
Lying inside the coffin, he suddenly saw that the interior was carved with countless talismans.
Among the talismans were his birth characters!
This coffin was not a means of intimidation Zhong Qi had set up, but one meticulously prepared for him!
Why prepare a coffin for him?!
What was the meaning of the talismans within this coffin?!
Suddenly, a thought flashed through Yan Shouyi's mind, and he exclaimed in shock, "Zhong Qi, you want to refine me into a corpse?!"
"Hehehe, you only realize it now, it's probably too late!"
Zhong Qi chuckled coldly and slammed the coffin lid shut!
Subsequently, a thudding sound echoed from around the coffin. Zhong Qi was nailing the coffin shut!
Once the coffin nails were driven in, even with immense strength, Yan Shouyi would be unable to break free from the coffin. He would have no choice but to resign himself to waiting to be refined into a corpse puppet by Zhong Qi!
"Damn it!!"
Yan Shouyi endured the pain and repeatedly kicked at the coffin lid. However, the lid was already heavy, and with his injuries, he had no chance of kicking it open!
Could it be that Yan Shouyi, truly, would be refined into a corpse puppet by this wicked corpse herder?