The Blood Spirit Technique, divided into nine levels, correlates each level with the corresponding layer of Qi Refining. The first three levels of Qi Refining are considered the early stage, the fourth to sixth levels the middle stage, and the final three levels the late stage.

Chu Xuan, having mastered the fourth level of the Blood Spirit Technique, was in the midst of the Qi Refining middle stage. Advancing to the fifth level would mark another step forward and grant him access to new spells.

More importantly, zombies are not ordinary humans. Slaying zombies does not invoke the celestial retribution that typically befalls those who kill fellow humans—a fortunate oversight!

Chu Xuan suddenly realized that he had stumbled upon an excellent opportunity. Not only could he continue advancing his blood arts without concern, but he could also utilize gu, poison techniques, or even refine corpse puppets without needing a traditional alchemical furnace.

These were numerous zombies natural sources and readily available materials, weren't they?

"Moreover, with my current cultivation level, returning to the Mystic Azure Realm would still pose numerous dangers," he pondered. "Yet on this planet, I wield the power of life and death—a formidable force!"

Chu Xuan smiled. He could well utilize the zombies here to diligently cultivate his demonic techniques. Once he had amassed sufficient power, returning to his home would not be too late. "Let's continue collecting zombies," he decided.

Walking along the city streets, Chu Xuan soon chose a five-story shopping mall as his temporary base.

"Walmart..." he muttered, glancing at the sign before striding into the mall. On the first floor, numerous zombies roamed aimlessly, growling without purpose. Chu Xuan's presence quickly drew their attention, and in the next moment, they charged at him.

Chu Xuan laughed joyfully, "No rush, no rush, there's enough for everyone."

Moments later, on the fifth floor, Chu Xuan looked at the six bathtubs filled with blood before him. His face, initially weary from the bloodletting, now bore a satisfied smile. Such an abundance of blood would sustain his cultivation for a long time.

"However, constantly collecting blood is too tedious. Time to refine a few corpse puppets to work for me."

Chu Xuan scoured the mall but failed to find a suitable zombie. Refining a corpse into a corpse puppet required a body inherently strong, ideally muscular, and filled with deep resentment, which would make the corpse puppet incredibly powerful and vengeful, giving it an advantage against enemies.

However, the zombies in this mall hardly fit that description—they were emaciated and feeble, their roars lacking any vitality.

"Such feeble noises, they really zombies? Never mind, I'll rest for now and look around the area later; there must be some robust targets nearby."

Chu Xuan pulled over a lounge chair and laid down, not worried about zombie attacks. The Blood Steel Wire was always ready to protect him, reacting even faster than he could to any potential threats.

Throughout the past year, each day and night had been spent in perpetual fear, evading the relentless pursuit of the righteous sects. Others perceived him as poised and unflappable, yet this demeanor was nothing more than a carefully crafted facade.

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In such dire circumstances, one needs supreme rationality and calm to survive. At last, granted a brief respite, Chu Xuan could no longer contain the exhaustion that gnawed at his spirit. He succumbed to sleep.

Elsewhere, outside the Walmart Mall, two figures approached stealthily. The leader, a man with muscles coiled like dragons, was followed by a gaunt companion. In a hushed tone, the slender man said, "Brother Hu, command me as you will. If it will cure my mother, I'll do anything!"

A flicker of mockery crossed Tang Hu's eyes as he replied with a smile, "Rest assured, I won't send you to your death. There's still some food in this mall. You distract the zombies, I gather it. If you find yourself surrounded, do not fear; I will rescue you."

The gaunt man nodded emphatically, "Alright, I trust you." With that, he cautiously entered the mall, armed with a hose. Moments later, he had attracted a horde of zombies.

Seizing the opportunity, Tang Hu strode into the mall, hastily stuffing cans and medicines into his backpack—items with a long shelf life and still useful if unspoiled.

Suddenly, a panicked voice rang out from nearby, "Brother Hu! There are too many zombies! Help me!"

Surrounded by a swarm of zombies, the gaunt man's face was etched with terror. Hu, however, laughed sinisterly and continued to pack various resources into his backpack, making no move to assist.

"Brother Hu! Save me!"

The gaunt man's eyes were filled with desperate fury.

Tang Hu chuckled darkly, "I forgot to tell you something. Your mother died yesterday. The Spirit Hounds Gang won't waste medicine on a sixty-year-old woman."

The gaunt man's eyes widened in shock. A zombie seized the moment to pounce, sinking its teeth into his chest.

"I lured you here precisely to exploit you one last time," Tang Hu sneered. "After all, I've used you many times before; this won't make much difference. Thank you for drawing the zombies away with your life. Oh, and you have a sister, right? I'll take care of her for you."

By then, the gaunt man was overwhelmed by a mass of bloodthirsty zombies tearing flesh from his bones. With his last ounce of strength, he screamed, "Tang Hu! I will haunt you even in death!"

Tang Hu laughed heartily, "Very well, come find me when you become a ghost."

As the commotion drew more zombies, Tang Hu swiftly made his way to the second floor. Many scavengers had risked the first floor of the mall, but few dared venture to the second or higher floors, where more zombies and presumably more resources awaited.

"Yes!"

Tang Hu, eyes gleaming with avarice, scoured his way up, his gaze practically shooting green beams.

Thump, thump!

Some zombies even leapt from higher floors, plummeting straight toward the commotion caused by the gaunt man. Greed surged within Tang Hu at the sight, and he headed straight for the fifth floor. Indeed, he encountered almost no zombies along the way.

However, upon reaching the fifth floor, Tang Hu froze. Numerous zombie corpses lay scattered about. Judging by the dryness of the blood, they had died not long before.

Had someone reached the fifth floor of the mall before him?

Scanning the area, Tang Hu's eyes quickly landed on a lounge chair in the middle of an open space. A young man in strange attire lay upon it, deeply asleep. Around him, six bathtubs brimmed with blood.

This bizarre scene made Tang Hu involuntarily swallow his saliva.

"So much food!"

His eyes then fell on the dozens of canned goods near the young man, and his greed intensified. He hurriedly began stuffing the cans into his backpack.

"You have a nice build," a calm voice suddenly sounded.

Startled, Tang Hu swiftly drew his machete and swung around to strike.

Clang!

A metallic ring echoed, sending a numbing shock through Tang Hu's wrist, nearly causing him to drop his blade. He turned to see the young man already standing, looking at him with keen interest. The gaze was peculiar as if he didn't regard Tang Hu as a person but rather as an object.

What frightened Tang Hu even more was the sight of a blood-red worm wriggling in the young man's palm. He swallowed hard. Since the outbreak of the zombie crisis, the world had become filled with too many unknown mysteries. A person who could symbiotically live with a worm was no ordinary being!

Sensing the gravity of the situation, Tang Hu wisely set down his backpack and raised his hands above his head. "Hey, man, all these belongings are yours. My brother-in-law is Zhao Hong, the Boss Zhao. Let's talk this through."