Chapter 217: Chapter 217: A Book Thousands, Even Tens of Thousands, of Years Old

"You’re right, but you’re talking about Low Level zombies,"

"just as those four described me. I’m a high-level zombie."

The Earth Corpse chuckled, though his smile was grotesque and terrifying. "It’s like what you see in movies and TV shows about zombies.

"The stereotypical zombie is usually depicted as a Qing Dynasty soldier or official. Their bodies are stiff, their fingernails are black and sharp,"

"and they have green faces, long fangs, terrifying expressions, and pale skin."

"They can’t speak, only roar. During the day, they hide in damp, dark places like coffins or caves,"

"sucking the Yang Qi from the living. But they’re afraid of sunlight, sticky rice, and fire."

"The ones who fight them are usually Maoshan Daoists, who use Mao Mountain Magic to subdue them."

"The tools used against them include things like the Enlightenment Talisman, the Copper Coin Sword, and the Tai Chi Bagua Mirror."

"But those are all just Low Level zombies."

"Then what level of zombie are you?" Xia Chengli asked curiously.

"Yin Corpse, Corpse, Purple Corpse, White Corpse, Black Corpse, Green Corpse, Fur Corpse, Flying Corpse, and the highest level, the Ba."

"Those are the levels of zombies."

"I’m currently at the Fur Corpse level, not far from becoming a Flying Corpse."

"I had originally hoped to leave this place after I became a Ba, the highest level."

"But relying solely on this Demon Cave, even if it could help me achieve that, would take an eternity."

The Earth Corpse raised his stiff, dry hands and said helplessly, "A Ba is said to possess all the abilities of a Flying Corpse—proficiency with Magic, an indestructible body, the ability to move like the wind and travel anywhere between heaven and earth—and more."

"They’re also immune to all attacks related to yin, yang, and the five elements,"

"and can summon wind and rain, create mist and clouds, cause droughts, shapeshift, be omnipresent and omnipotent, and even kill immortals and devour gods."

"Wherever one goes, the land becomes barren for thousands of miles. They’re basically the king of all zombies."

"You’d be better off coming with me."

Chu He proposed. "I need an expert like you on my side right now."

"Besides, from what you’ve said, a zombie’s evolution seems to work on the same principle as an Evil Spirit’s."

"Evil Spirits evolve by devouring large numbers of living people."

"There aren’t any living people for you to eat if you just stay here."

"You’d let me eat living people?"

The Earth Corpse asked, bewildered. "I don’t know who you are, but you seem to be a pure human."

"And one with a very high standing in the outside world."

"I just heard those four call you the number one expert on Blue Star."

"You must be something like a guardian deity for humanity, right?"

"It’s a shame you hadn’t risen to prominence back in my time. Otherwise, I might have brought my child to seek refuge with you."

"I’ve never been any kind of guardian for humanity."

"Like you said, some humans are even more despicable than Evil Spirits."

"I won’t stop you from killing people like that, as long as you’re willing to fight the Evil Spirits invading this world and protect human civilization."

"Those people becoming your food wouldn’t be a problem, would it?" Chu He retorted.

"For those words alone, I’m willing to go with you."

The Earth Corpse gave a terrifying smile. It wasn’t his intention; he was just hideously ugly.

"What should I call you?" Chu He asked.

"Just call me Xu Ping’an."

the Earth Corpse replied.

The name sounded stiff and unfamiliar as it left his lips.

Even he didn’t know exactly how long he had been in this Demon Cave.

Within the Demon Cave, he had stumbled through countless perilous situations, stubbornly surviving against all odds,

until he finally became its one and only king.

Naturally, no one ever spoke his former name again.

At that moment, the four of them—Xiao Yu, Nanting Snow, Lin Zuoguang, and Ye Lingyun—

had finished refining the ball of Supreme Divinity that Chu He had brought.

The auras of all four had changed dramatically.

Xiao Yu, Nanting Snow, and Lin Zuoguang’s power successfully broke through to the King’s Realm,

while Ye Lingyun already had one foot on the threshold of the Emperor Realm.

This was the change and improvement the Supreme Divinity had brought them.

"I feel like I could level this entire Demon Cave by myself."

Xiao Yu clenched his fists, reveling in the feeling this new power gave him.

It was a wonderfully potent sensation he had never experienced before.

"Very good. In that case, I’ll give you three days to clean out this Demon Cave. If you don’t, you will be punished."

Chu He said calmly, then turned to Xu Ping’an. "Since you’ve chosen to leave with me, this whole Demon Cave will lose its balance without you here to keep it in check. That will bring disaster to the nearby towns."

"I know."

Xu Ping’an had been in this Demon Cave for so many years; no one knew the situation here better than he did.

When he first arrived, terrifying Evil Spirits rampaged everywhere. The place was a complete no-go zone for humans.

It was only after Xu Ping’an became a zombie and continuously grew stronger that he was able to exert a powerful suppressive force,

bringing a strange, temporary balance to the area.

He did this intentionally, hoping the Evil Spirits would stop invading the towns and prevent another tragedy like his own from occurring.

"Suits me just fine," Lin Zuoguang said eagerly.

"I just hope that when you run into an Evil Spirit you can’t handle, your first reaction isn’t to run away," Ye Lingyun taunted.

"..." Lin Zuoguang was left speechless.

Xiao Yu and Nanting Snow couldn’t help but laugh.

The two of them had known Lin Zuoguang longer, so they were well aware of his personality. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Lin Zuoguang had always been like that, fond of saying he preferred to solve problems with his brain.

To be fair, Lin Zuoguang really was quite clever at times.

But Ye Lingyun looked down on his personality.

But the two of them didn’t dwell on the issue. Instead, they plunged into the Demon Cave together,

and began to purge the Evil Spirits within.

Empowered by the Supreme Divinity, they could now suppress these ordinary Evil Spirits as higher beings.

"Now, let’s discuss your problem." Chu He’s gaze fell upon Xia Chengli.

"I suspect I’m caught up in a huge conspiracy."

"When I was very little, I showed some special abilities. A strange old man happened to be passing by, took a liking to me, and took me away. He said I was humanity’s hope."

Xia Chengli said.

"Speak plainly."

Chu He sat down on a nearby stone slab. "Who was this ’strange old man’?"

"I only know his name is Yan Wendeng."

Xia Chengli pouted. "But I gotta admit, the old man’s really strong."

"I’ve been out in the world for a while now, and I still haven’t met anyone stronger than him."

"And he never leaves that place."

"His house is filled with books. Some of them have been around for thousands of years."

"He even said some are over ten thousand years old."

"The knowledge recorded in some of those books is on par with the Secret Technique you cultivate."

"Books that are thousands, or even tens of thousands of years old?" Chu He was astonished. ’Just how far back would that be?’

"It’s entirely possible. Take the Corpse Refinement Secret Technique I obtained, for example."

Xu Ping’an didn’t doubt the truth in Xia Chengli’s words.