Chapter 16: Level 3 Psionic Core
Within the Haotai Hotel, a bloody banquet unfolded. Hu, Bao, and two spirit dogs, all possessed strength to completely overpower ordinary humans. Where they passed, a storm of blood and carnage ensued. Screams were incessant.
Chu Xuan pondered thoughtfully. Zhao Hong had once mentioned the term "high-level zombies." According to him, zombies were categorized into ranks. High-level zombie was merely a general term. Above ordinary zombies were level one zombies, within whom a solid Psionic core had condensed. Their strength was comparable to that of a level one Superhuman. Further above, were the level two zombies, equivalent to level two Superhumans.
However, Zhao Hong had only encountered a few level one zombies, and had never seen a level two zombie.
"Psionic core? If a comparison must be made, would that refer to a Golden Core or a Corpse Core? The Golden Core is only formed by cultivators during the Golden Core phase. A Corpse Core also requires a corpse general equivalent in strength to a Golden Core cultivator. My two corpse puppets are still far from forming a Corpse Core. According to the Superhuman system here, what level of zombie would they be considered?"
Chu Xuan chuckled softly, reluctant to dwell on the matter. After all, they were not part of the same system and could not be directly compared.
Moments later, Hu arrived at the rooftop with six robust men in tow. These men trembled uncontrollably. One of them had even wet himself in fear.
Hu, with a human finger still hanging from the corner of his mouth, swallowed it before roaring a few times to indicate that he had completed his task.
Chu Xuan nodded slightly. During this time, he had prepared six batches of the corpse-refining elixir. With a grand gesture, he directed Hu to throw them into the bathtubs to begin the corpse-refining process.
Meanwhile, he took to the skies on his flying magic tool, circling the Haotai Hotel, in search of areas densely populated with zombies. He had not forgotten his primary objective. That was to set up the Blood Refining Array and sacrifice a massive number of zombies!
Whoosh!
Chu Xuan soared through the sky on his flying sword. With human industrial activities absent, the skies of Blue Star were exceptionally clear.
Chu Xuan looked down at the desolate landscape below. High-rises were overrun with lush vines. It was unclear how these vines had managed to climb hundreds of meters up the buildings. Perhaps, like animals, plants had also been affected by Psionic energy, resulting in slight mutations.
Chu Xuan flew around, occasionally examining the situation below and shaking his head. He was dissatisfied. In many areas, the zombies were too sparsely scattered. Using the Blood Refining Array in such conditions was not cost-effective.
After all, activating the Blood Refining Array required spirit stones! The spirit stones he had could at best sustain the Blood Refining Array for about half an hour.
"Hmm? That place looks promising."
Chu Xuan's eyes brightened. He suddenly discovered a horde of over a thousand zombies gathered in an unfinished building. Moreover, these zombies were relentlessly surging upward as if something was drawing them.
Chu Xuan immediately steered his flying sword closer.
At this moment, in the upper floors of the unfinished building, two robust men in black casual wear were escorting an elderly man, rushing towards the top floor. The elder was drenched in sweat, nearly being carried as they sprinted. Yet, despite this, he clutched tightly to a large box, never loosening his grip.
Moments later, they reached the rooftop. The two men in black produced a walkie-talkie and sent out a distress signal. They dragged all available furniture to barricade the rooftop door, hoping to delay the zombies from breaking through.
The elder collapsed on the ground, gasping for air. After a while, he spoke, "Gentlemen, I'm just a burden. With me, your chances of survival are slim. Take this level three Psionic core, and leave me here. This was obtained at the cost of many lives; it must not be lost." Saying this, he solemnly passed the large box to them.
Both men in black immediately shook their heads. One of them, named Zhuang Qiang, said earnestly, "Professor Zheng, you are the chief of the Life Science Research Institute of Linjiang Province. Your life is more precious than ours. Even if we perish, you must not."
The other, named Sun Meng, reassured him, "Don't worry, before coming here, we contacted Black Blade Security in this area. They will send a helicopter to pick us up. The distress signal has been sent; they should act swiftly. As long as we can hold on, we can survive."
Professor Zheng sighed softly, "The world is unpredictable, I fear we cannot depend on them..."
Minutes later.
Thuds and roars of the zombies clawing and shrieking suddenly filled the air. Clearly, the pursuing zombies had caught the scent of living beings and were desperately pushing aside the furniture.
Zhuang Qiang and Sun Meng's faces paled as they rushed to reinforce the barricade with their own strength. But how could two men withstand the force of thousands of zombies?
With a loud bang, the furniture was violently shoved aside. Scores of zombies surged out, causing the pupils of Zhuang Qiang, Sun Meng, and Professor Zheng to constrict. Surrounded by so many zombies, their survival seemed impossible.
Just then, the sound of a sword's hum filled the sky. The next moment, a youthful figure descended from the heavens.
With a sweep of his long sleeves, a fierce wind erupted. Then, to the amazement of the three men, the zombies suddenly became like headless flies. Even with several living beings right before them, the zombies could neither see nor smell them.
The youth flicked his finger lightly, sending a wisp of Qi hurtling down the corridor. Like starving wolves catching the scent of meat, the zombies charged after it. In an instant, all the zombies had rushed into the corridor.
With a casual wave of his hand, the rooftop door slammed shut. He stepped forward, took out a yellow talisman, and affixed it to the door. After these preparations, the youth then casually approached the three men.
The two men gaped, feeling as though they were in the presence of a celestial being descended from the heavens. Professor Zheng scrutinized the youth.
The young man's attire was reminiscent of the cultivators described in novels of immortal cultivation, making it hard for him to believe that such a person could exist in reality.
"May I ask, what did you just do? Why aren't the zombies attacking us anymore?" Zhuang Qiang couldn't help but inquire.
Chu Xuan replied nonchalantly, "Just a minor spell to conceal our Qi."
Concealment Spell, a minor technique from the Qi Refining stage, could completely hide one's Qi. Zombies, with their poor eyesight, rely solely on their sense of smell to attack the living.
By using the Concealment Spell, he had completely hidden their Qi, rendering the zombies effectively headless flies. Then, by releasing a strand of human Qi, he lured the zombies away.
Zhuang Qiang was about to ask another question when the rooftop door was struck again. The ensuing roar of numerous zombies made the trio instinctively step back.
However, they were astonished to find that the door had become extraordinarily sturdy. Despite the relentless pounding by countless zombies, it remained undamaged.
"No need to worry, I've applied a Solid Rock Talisman to the door. They won't be able to break through it," Chu Xuan said casually.
The Solid Rock Talisman, a minor talisman from the Qi Refining stage, when applied to any object, could reinforce its durability. It not only strengthened the hardness but also extended its endurance.
The strength of these ordinary zombies, even a thousand of them attacking together, might just manage to break it. However, in such a confined space, at most only a dozen could attack at once. A single Solid Rock Talisman was more than sufficient to handle them.
The three men felt completely bewildered. Solid Rock Talisman? What was that?
Chu Xuan looked over the trio, finally focusing on the box in the elder's arms. "What is in here that the zombies are chasing it?" He pointed to the box and asked.