The night sky was a tapestry of starry wonders, with stars twinkling and shining in the deep, dark expanse. The full moon hung high in the sky, casting its ethereal glow upon the land below. Wisps of clouds drifted lazily across the sky, occasionally obscuring the moon, but never for long. The air was cool and crisp, with a light breeze blowing, rustling the leaves of the trees. The landscape was silent, except for the occasional hoot of an owl or the distant howl of a wolf. All in all, it was a peaceful and serene setting, with the only disturbance being the two men walking through it.
As Zuo Feng and Huang Wanjing walked the wilderness they could hear the rustling of the trees further ahead and the cries of zombies from far away. They soon came to a haunting tree with bodies hanging from it, a frightening and macabre sight. The tree, likely old and gnarled, has limbs heavy with the weight of the lifeless bodies dangling from ropes or nooses. Its twisted branches reached towards the sky, and from its limbs hung a countless number of lifeless bodies. They swayed back and forth in the wind, creaking in a haunting chorus that seemed to
mock the living.
But as they approached, they saw that there were words carved into the trunk of the tree, a warning scrawled in what appeared to be blood: "Trespassers will be strung up like the rest."
Zuo Feng and Huang Wanjing pause as they gaze upon the tree. Huang Wanjing shudders, fear evident in his eyes. "What is this place?" he whispers, his voice trembling.
Zuo Feng's expression is somber as he replies, "This is the Tree of Death, a place where the evil and the wicked are punished. It is said that the spirits of those who have been hung here still linger, seeking revenge on those who have wronged them."
As Zuo Feng and Huang Wanjing approached the tree, they could hear the rustling of the leaves, and the creaking of the ropes. The wind blew gently, but the swaying of the tree made the ropes creek even louder. It was a spine-chilling sound, and Huang Wanjing couldn't help but shiver.
As they walked deeper into the forest, they encountered more and more signs of the paranormal. Strange creatures lurked in the shadows, and they could hear whispers in the wind. Zuo Feng and Huang Wanjing had to rely on their senses to make their way through the forest.
Zuo Feng and Huang Wanjing walked through the dark, silent night, searching for their way back to the shelter. The only sounds that could be heard were the occasional rustling of leaves and the crunching of twigs underfoot.
"We must be getting close," Huang Wanjing said, sounding hopeful. "I remember that large boulder over there." He pointed to a large rock formation in the distance.
"I hope so," Zuo Feng replied, glancing around warily. "These ruins are filled with danger, and I don't want to run into any more Ancient Parasites."
After several days of roaming around, their luck seemed to be good as they finally reached Zuo Feng’s shelter.
Zuo Feng quickly opened the formation and as he knew that he needed a much-needed break. He sat down on the hard floor and took deep breaths. Zuo Feng then pulled out a flask of water and took a long drink, offering some to Huang Wanjing.
"We made it back," Huang Wanjing says, taking the flask gratefully. "But what was that place? And what were those creatures?"
"That place was a tomb," Zuo Feng explains. "And those creatures were Ancient Parasites. They are creatures that have parasitized the bodies of ancient cultivators. They feed on bodies of powerful cultivators and are incredibly dangerous."
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He swung his sword around and said, “Even the greatest cities and sects fell due to these little fucks and the thing that caused their calamity were their dead ancestors.”
Suddenly Zuo Feng noticed that Huang Wanjing's skin was beginning to take on a sickly pale hue and his eyes were becoming glassy and distant. "What's happening to you?" he asked, a note of alarm creeping into his voice.
Huang Wanjing clutched at his chest, gasping for breath. "I don't know," he said, his voice weak. "I feel like something is taking over me."
Zuo Feng quickly moved to Huang Wanjing's side, trying to assess the situation. He placed his hand on Huang Wanjing's forehead and closed his eyes, delving into the man's spiritual energy.
What he found was a dark and sinister energy that was quickly spreading through Huang Wanjing's body. "This is the virus," Zuo Feng said grimly.
Huang Wanjing replied, his voice strained. "I feel like there's something inside me, trying to take over."
Zuo Feng's eyes widened as he realized what was happening. "You were infected during the fight," he said. "The virus must have entered your bloodstream."
Huang Wanjing's face was filled with fear as he looked at Zuo Feng. "What do we do?" he asked.
“How can you ever have the virus! You were only having the passive type virus! You are special, aren’t you?” Zuo Feng was ripping apart his manuscripts and was taking some tools out of his special inventory.
As Huang Wanjing fell to the ground, clutching at his chest, Zuo Feng quickly sprang into action. He took out a small, red vial from his bag and poured its contents onto the ground, forming a large formation. He then began to chant and incantation in a language that Huang Wanjing could not understand.
"What's happening? What's going on?" Huang Wanjing asked, panic creeping into his voice.
"I'm using a special cultivation art that I've been developing," Zuo Feng explained calmly. "I've been working on it for years, ever since I discovered I was infected with the virus. I want to find a cure, and I believe that this cultivation art is the key."
Huang Wanjing watched as Zuo Feng continued to chant and perform hand gestures, his eyes closed in concentration. The formation on the ground began to glow and emit a soft, warm light.
"What is this cultivation art?" Huang Wanjing asked.
"I haven’t named it yet'. It's a unique art that allows me to manipulate the virus." There was a sense of assurance in Zuo Feng's words, which were cool and collected. Nearly as if he anticipated a day when something like this might occur.
“You see the virus is not self sufficient, in fact it requires constant support of a cultivators cultivation base and energy to actively work and propagate. That is the reason that commoners and some cultivators cannot sustain the virus and it just remains in their body passively. It only works with those cultivators having pristine talent or a high cultivation base.” The formation circle was glowing and Huang Wanjing felt piercing pain in every single cell of his body.
AAARRRGGHHH!!! AAARRRGGHHH!!!
Huang Wanjing clutched his chest, his body writhing in pain. "What's happening to me?"
Zuo Feng's face was serious as he moved quickly to Huang Wanjing's side. "Don't worry, I'm here to help." He placed his hands on Huang Wanjing's chest and closed his eyes, focusing his energy on the subject's heart which was beating like a drum by this point.
"My good man, I'm trying an experiment. I'm trying to figure out if we can turn this virus into a tool, an unrivaled weapon with the potential to rule the world.”
Zuo Feng was aware that his motives had evolved over time. He had higher aspirations for this dreadful plague than just trying to find a cure for it. Even if he managed to find a cure for this awful illness, he was aware that he would not be hailed as a hero but rather pursued by strong entities who enjoyed the taste of chaos and detested peace. With his talent, he was ineligible for the top of the cultivation world. He could only make one for himself.
Zuo Feng stood in front of Huang Wanjing, a sinister smile on his face as he spoke. "You see, my friend, this virus is not just any ordinary virus. It is an opportunity. It has the power to change the world, and I intend to harness that power. The world is in chaos, and the smart ones will survive. I will not let anyone stand in my way, and I will do whatever it takes to come out on top. With my talent there was no way I would have achieved anything noteworthy. "
"This virus is a tool, a weapon that can be wielded by those who are strong enough to control it. And I, Zuo Feng, am one of those people. I will not let the opportunity slip away, and I will not let anyone else get their hands on it. This virus will be mine, and the virus will be my greatest weapon."
Zuo Feng's eyes gleamed with passion and he tiptoed to the side as he watched with interest the transformation occurring on the man’s body.
The room was lit up by the flash of lightning, casting an eerie glow across the room. The sounds of the storm outside were muffled by the thick walls of the shelter, but the occasional thunderclap echoed through the room.
This fateful night seemed to be ordinary but the change happening in this remote shelter in the middle of nowhere was destined to change the world.