Dao of The Demonic Cultivator

The incident unfolded suddenly, and the incredible speed of the firearm caught even Hu off guard. Despite its instinct to protect its master, it was still a step too slow.

Chu Xuan saw the dark firearm and the flash of gunfire, yet he showed no fear. With a swish, a line of blood surged from his palm, appearing like a streak of crimson lightning.

Clang!

The bullet struck the blood line and, as if hitting a steel plate, veered off course dramatically, firing into the crowd. A man screamed as he fell backward, landing in a pool of blood. The bullet had precisely pierced his eye socket and penetrated his brain.

Zhao Hong's eyes widened in shock. What was that blood line that could stop a bullet?

He roared in anger and fired again.

Bang, bang, bang!

He discharged three shots in rapid succession. Each bullet was effortlessly blocked by the streak of blood, diverting their paths. None hit Chu Xuan, but three more members of the Spirit Hounds fell instead.

Zhao Hong was utterly astounded. He had only four bullets, and all had been deflected. He could now see clearly that the blood line was actually a large blood-colored worm!

This young man could not only control zombies but also worms! It was terrifying!

Chu Xuan extended his hand and gently caressed the Blood Steel Wire. He calmly asked, "Is this gun your last resort?"

Thump.

Zhao Hong collapsed, his body going limp as he fell to the ground, devoid of any will to resist.

"The Spirit Hounds is yours now… Spare my life," Zhao Hong swallowed hard, his voice earnest. He then knelt down, abandoning any pride he had as the leader of the Spirit Hounds. He had realized that the young man before him was a monster beyond his capacity to contend with. His life and everything he owned were now firmly in the hands of this formidable stranger.

Now, his only chance to survive was to show sincere submission.

Chu Xuan shook his head in response to Zhao Hong's offer of surrender and an alternative shopping mall. "I'm satisfied with your body, I'll take the Spirit Hounds, and I want you too."

Zhao Hong froze for a moment, then, as if suddenly realizing something, his eyes flashed with shock. "This… I… I'm not gay," he stammered awkwardly, "but if you insist, I guess I can't refuse…"

The surrounding gang members looked bewildered. This was their leader, Zhao Hong, always high and mighty. Yet now, to save his own life, he seemed ready to agree to anything.

Chu Xuan couldn't help but laugh silently.

Gay? That's not what I meant.

Calmly, Chu Xuan commanded, "Hu, tie him up and take him to the rooftop. Bao, you stay here with the two dogs and make sure no one leaves."

Hu and Bao roared in acknowledgment of their orders.

The Spirit Hounds members looked at each other, bewildered. With Zhao Hong kneeling and capitulating, they certainly didn't dare to flee. To them, this was merely a change of leadership. Regardless of who was in charge, they were still just underlings.

The young man couldn't possibly manage everything alone, could he? Thinking this, the gang members gradually calmed down and returned to their rooms to continue whatever they had been doing.

On the rooftop of the Haotai Hotel, Hu arranged a clean reclining chair, and Chu Xuan lay down comfortably. Zhao Hong kneeled before him, smiling nervously, "Big brother, what position do you want? I can do anything."

Chu Xuan's pupils flashed purple as he again deployed the Soul Capturing Gaze. "I ask, you answer."

Initially, Zhao Hong struggled, but within half a minute, he became as docile as a marionette, responding mechanically to Chu Xuan's questions. After a while, the influence of the Soul Capturing Gaze faded.

Chu Xuan had extracted all the information he needed from Zhao Hong's mind. "Psionic energy... a Level One Superhuman... Superhuman talent?" He mused, intrigued.

This planet, called Blue Star, was part of a centralized imperial nation known as the Han Dynasty, and this city, East Lake, was under the jurisdiction of Linjiang Province. East Lake City had two major forces: the Spirit Hounds Gang and the Black Blade Security.

The information about the outbreak not being caused by a virus but by psionic energy was sourced from Black Blade Security. Normally, ordinary people couldn't withstand this energy; their genes would collapse, their bodies would mutate, and they would turn into bloodthirsty monsters, also known as zombies.

Some people could endure the energy without awakening any talent, resulting in slightly stronger physiques, but still essentially normal humans. Others not only withstood the energy but also awakened Superhuman talents, resulting in exceptionally strong physiques. These were the Superhumans.

Before the outbreak, Zhao Hong was a dog meat seller, often loitering around the outskirts of East Lake City, stealthily stealing domestic dogs to slaughter for meat. Perhaps it was this that awakened his Superhuman talent, "Dog Mastery," a natural ability to suppress and control dogs.

Superhumans were categorized from levels one to nine. Having one psionic core made one a Level One Superhuman, and so on. Zhao Hong was a Level One Superhuman.

Zhao Hong felt a sudden wave of dizziness wash over him. He had no inkling of the events that had just unfolded.

Without further discourse, Chu Xuan turned and began to prepare the elixir for corpse refinement.

Being a level one Superhuman, Zhao Hong boasted an exceptionally strong constitution.

Therefore, only the finest elixir would suffice for the corpse-refining process; anything less would simply waste his gifted physique.

This time, Chu Xuan devoted even longer to the preparations. It took a full two hours before everything was in order.

"Proceed, place him inside," Chu Xuan commanded, gesturing dismissively.

Hu faithfully executed the order.

Zhao Hong looked into the bathtub, filled with a dark, ominous elixir, and his expression turned to one of fear. "Brother, didn't you promise to spare my life? What exactly is this for?"

Chu Xuan cracked a sly smile. "Just soak well, and you will emerge stronger. Hang in there."

Zhao Hong swallowed nervously. He had the unsettling feeling that Chu Xuan was merely amusing him.

With a plunge, Hu forced Zhao Hong's head down into the bathtub. Despite his desperate struggles to lift his head, Hu's overpowering strength kept him submerged.

After being forced to swallow several mouthfuls, Zhao Hong finally quieted down, evidently rendered unconscious.

Chu Xuan took a sip of his instant milk tea, nodding slightly in satisfaction.

Considering Zhao Hong's robust health, he had specifically added a soul-soothing herb to the elixir, a component known for its sedative effects.

It was particularly well-suited for Zhao Hong.

Holding his milk tea, Chu Xuan walked to the edge of the rooftop, from which he could survey the entire hotel.

He observed the members of the Spirit Hounds, who were listlessly congregating below.

Some were playing cards, others were chatting, and a few, with nothing better to do, were engaged in a brawl.

"Humans need to eat and drink every day," Chu Xuan mused aloud. "Human's hearts are hidden behind their stomachs, and there will always be those who bear ill will towards me. This Spirit Hounds engages in actions that defy moral and heavenly principles, with few good souls among them. Killing them would not diminish my virtue. If that is the case, it would be better to transform them all into corpse puppets. After all, the dead are far more compliant than the living."

Chu Xuan sipped his steaming milk tea, contemplating.

"Hu, make your choice. Keep the strong for corpse refinement, and use the rest as nourishment."

Upon hearing this, Hu roared excitedly.

Chu Xuan frowned. "Remember to save some for Bao, and some for Blood Steel Wire; don't consume them all yourself."

Hu nodded reluctantly, then rushed off, buoyed by excitement.