We are facing a force that can be classified as an A-grade threat by the Dao Alliance.
Yet now, our small team, composed of two elders and three youngsters, is tasked with stealthily infiltrating it.
More than that, we are to steal the Soul Stone from the center of the Demon Palace, from the Corpse Ghost Celestial Embryo.
Such an action, to others, would seem a sure death, but we are currently undertaking it...
We evade three patrolling specters.
We continue to advance towards the western woods of the Demon Palace. The collapsed city walls there connect with the forest, providing a natural cover.
After advancing another hundred meters or so.
Yunxia Gu, among the group, suddenly speaks, "Halt!"
Yunxia Gu's voice is very soft.
Hearing her, we all freeze in place.
Instinctively, we crouch down.
Following this, we sense wisps of corpse odor drifting through the air.
Then, waves of corpse qi assault us.
The sound of footsteps, "thump, thump, thump," also begins to ring out...
Through the gaps in the trees, we can vaguely see.
In the nearby woods, three zombies are hopping towards us, inch by inch.
Judging by their attire, they seem to be villagers from the vicinity of Blackwater Mountain.
After falling victim, their bodies were transported into the Demon Palace and refined into zombie slaves, controlled and driven by others.
The zombies' skin is slightly shriveled and blackened, but they have not yet grown white fur.
"It's just these three, everyone prepare yourselves," Uncle-Master says in a low voice.
Everyone nods and takes out their respective corpse-suppressing talismans.
Uncle-Master further instructs, "The front two, myself and Yunxia. The one behind, the three of you take on together.
Remember, make it quick. Do not let them make a sound or cause any major disturbance."
Uncle-Master's voice is very quiet and serious.
We all understand.
I immediately agree, "Uncle-Master, I understand. There will be no mistakes."
A fierceness glints in my eyes.
This is a matter of life and death; how can I be careless?
We will strike once those zombies get closer.
Once they are subdued, we will scrape off their corpse skin.
At this moment, everyone remains hidden, masking their presence.
All are sharpening their blades, eager to begin.
The three zombies form a line.
Hopping forward with outstretched arms, "thump," "thump."
Thirty meters, twenty meters, ten meters...
Just as these three zombies are less than three meters away from us.
As everyone is about to pounce and engage the three zombies.
A change occurs...
In the woods not far away, a clear "ding, ding, ding" sound of a copper bell suddenly rings out.
The sound is crisp and carries far.
It continues to echo through the woods...
Hearing this sound, our faces change. For a moment, we dare not move.
We look towards Uncle-Master and Yunxia Gu in the center.
Uncle-Master and Yunxia Gu exchange a glance, perhaps not expecting an unforeseen development.
Then, they make a gesture for silence, signaling everyone to remain still.
The three hopping zombies, upon hearing the bell, stop directly.
We look in the direction from which the bell sound originates.
In the woods, two figures in black robes slowly emerge.
The bell sound is coming from a bell held in the hand of one of the black-robed figures.
As these two draw nearer.
We can see them more clearly.
Both are men, wearing black and red ceremonial robes.
On their chests, a large red character, "黑" (Hēi - Black).
The Black Demon Cult.
These are demonic cultivators of the Black Demon Cult.
Everyone's pupils contract. After this journey, we finally see them in person.
These two, around thirty years old, chat as they walk towards us.
They are completely oblivious to us hidden in the bushes.
A tall and thin demonic cultivator speaks, "Brother Niu, the quality of this batch of zombies produced by the Celestial Embryo is very high!
Look how quickly these three corpse slaves hop."
He then glances at the three zombies stopped not far in front of us.
The shorter, fatter demonic cultivator beside him nods and replies, "They are indeed good, nurtured by the earth veins here.
It's just that their maintenance period is still too short, less than a week.
We still need the Daoist friends from the Longevity Society to continue improving them..."
The tall and thin demonic cultivator sighs, "Alas! I don't know when this life will end.
Ever since our cult joined forces with the Netherworld Cult.
I haven't had a single happy day.
Back when we were out in the world.
Apart from routine tasks.
With our Daoist arts, we could indulge in debauchery and do as we pleased!
Last year, the big incident in Beishan City, thirteen people wiped out in one night.
That was me.
Look, ever since I was summoned to this old mountain.
Every day, I just walk the zombies, I haven't even killed a chicken, my hands itch.
I don't know what the higher-ups are up to..."
The short, fat demonic cultivator, however, his expression changes drastically, and he hurriedly stops the tall, thin demonic cultivator, "Brother, keep your voice down.
Before I was summoned, I had girls to play with every day.
And after playing, they didn't even know who I was.
That feeling was so good.
Now, apart from female zombies, there's no meat at all, I'm almost becoming a monk.
But this kind of talk, we should only say amongst ourselves, don't let it out.
If the higher-ups find out, tomorrow we'll be the ones being driven to hop in front."
"..."
The two walk and talk.
All their conversation is clearly heard by us.
Demonic cultivators are demonic cultivators.
These two are not good people.
One is bloodthirsty and has committed countless atrocities.
The other is lustful and has ruined countless girls.
Xia Qiu Xi bites her teeth lightly, Old Mo clenches his fists.
They endure, but they also wish they could rush out and cripple these two demonic cultivators.
Kill them twice.
But at this moment, the mission is paramount.
We focus even more on Uncle-Master's instructions.
Uncle-Master, seeing the two approaching, narrows his eyes slightly.
He makes a gesture to us.
The gesture is simple, signaling the three of us to take down these two demonic cultivators.
My expression turns cold, and I immediately nod.
Looking at the approaching demonic cultivators, there is no pity in my eyes, only killing intent.
Because some people are human, but some people are worse than ghosts...