Ten days later, the Blood Steel Wire successfully emerged from its cocoon. Chu Xuan inspected it closely and noticed that after its transformation, it had grown larger and its outer skin had become even tougher. He casually picked up an iron rod and with a flick of his hand, the Blood Steel Wire shot out, slicing the rod into two with ease. Chu Xuan nodded in approval.

"Let's see what innate spell you've acquired," he said, prompting the Blood Steel Wire with a thought. Instantly, the Wire shot forward, binding Hu, tightening so fiercely that even Hu's colossal strength couldn't break free.

"Blood Binding!" Chu Xuan exclaimed, recognizing the control type spell. It was one of the best possible spells the Blood Steel Wire could have learned after its transformation.

Originally, the Wire wasn't known for its strength or lethal capabilities but rather for its defensive talents. Chu Xuan hadn't expected it to become an offensive powerhouse; the acquisition of the Blood Binding was exactly what he had hoped for—his skill tree had evolved correctly.

"Alright, that's enough, come back," Chu Xuan said with a smile, and the Blood Steel Wire swiftly returned to rest in the palm of his hand. Hu, now wary of another binding, kept a respectful distance, fearful of being ensnared once again.

Chu Xuan affectionately patted the small head of the Blood Steel Wire, pleased with its performance. "It's been almost two months since I arrived on this planet," he mused. "I've used up all the corpse puppet refining materials I had, and I need to return to the Mystic Azure Realm to gather more."

He contemplated further strategies. "It would be wise to refine a few more corpse soldiers. After I leave this place, I should have several to guard this area."

Additionally, he considered the possibility of acquiring a set of array disks and flags for the Blood Refining Array—a formation ideally suited for demonic cultivators to perform large-scale blood sacrifices.

The simplest Blood Refining Array could even be managed by a Qi Refining stage cultivator, while more advanced versions required deeper knowledge in array formations.

Chu Xuan recalled that the leader of the Corpse Puppet Sect had once used a city's worth of 300,000 souls to perform a Soul-Stealing Blood Refining Array, creating a powerful blood pearl. Consumed by the Sect's young master, it dramatically accelerated his cultivation: Qi Refining in a day, Foundation Establishment within a hundred days, reaching the ninth level in just three years—a prodigy who overshadowed even the most talented cultivators at the Foundation Establishment stage.

However, such grievous acts did not go unnoticed and soon brought destruction upon the Corpse Puppet Sect from the five major righteous sects.

"If I could deploy a Blood Refining Array here on this planet," Chu Xuan thought, "my cultivation would skyrocket!"

While reaching the Foundation Establishment within a hundred days was perhaps an exaggeration, doing so within a year seemed entirely feasible.

After having Hu tidy up the area, Chu Xuan went to the rooftop of the Walmart Mall to activate the blood mirror.

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"After months away, it's finally time to go back."

Chu Xuan's face was marked by a wistful expression, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. The last time he had left, he was merely at the fourth level of Qi Refining, and his only possession had been a single Blood Steel Wire.

In less than two months, he had advanced to the sixth level, his Blood Steel Wire had undergone its first transformation, and he now commanded a fifth-level corpse soldier. With such combat prowess, he could easily crush cultivators at the seventh level of Qi Refining and even had a seventy to eighty percent chance of victory against those at the eighth level.

Chu Xuan took a deep breath and connected his thoughts to the blood mirror. In the blink of an eye, he was absorbed into the mirror. To any onlooker, it would appear as if he had vanished into thin air, evaporated from the mortal realm.

...

In East Lake City, Haotai Hotel once ranked among the finest hotels in the city. Several years after the zombie outbreak, it had become the stronghold of the Spirit Hounds Gang.

Atop the highest floor of the Haotai Hotel, a lean, dark-skinned man lay on a sun lounger on the rooftop, soaking up the sunlight. This was Zhao Hong, the leader of the Spirit Hounds Gang. Flanking him were two voluptuous women who were carefully massaging his legs and shoulders.

In a nearby cage, a formidable black-backed wolfhound sat coiled. Even in a sitting position, it measured over three meters in length, its physique more robust than a bull. Menacing light flickered in its eyes, and drool flowed from its mouth, indicating its hunger.

Beneath the lounger, a burly man knelt trembling, barely daring to breathe loudly. Zhao Hong rolled over and said calmly, "Ling Tao, you assured me that you would find out how Tang Hu disappeared within half a month. It's nearly two months now."

Ling Tao hurriedly spoke, "Boss, Brother Hu disappeared at the Walmart Mall, which has become very dangerous, possibly due to the emergence of high-level zombies. I've lost two men already who were sent to scout the area. Boss, you can't blame me... I never imagined that high-level zombies would be there..."

Ling Tao crawled closer to Zhao Hong, clutching at his legs and weeping bitterly, "Only you can handle a high-level zombie, Boss!"

Zhao Hong sat up slightly and reached out to gently caress Ling Tao's face, smiling slightly, "It's not your fault, nobody knew there would be high-level zombies there."

Ling Tao was deeply moved, "Thank you, Boss! Thank you!"

"Feed Dahei for me, he's been hungry for a long time," Zhao Hong said casually.

"Yes, yes!"

Ling Tao hurriedly walked to the side, fetched a large bag of dog food, and was about to pour it into that wolf dog's food bowl.

The black-backed wolf-dog remained utterly still, drool streaming freely from its mouth.

Zhao Hong snapped his fingers crisply, "Dàhēi, eat."

With a howl, the wolf-dog burst forth from the iron cage, clamping its jaws around Ling Tao's arms. A sharp crack resounded as Ling Tao's arms broke cleanly at the elbows, blood spurting wildly.

"Ah! Ah! Boss!" Ling Tao screamed in agony, the severe pain of losing his arms clouding his ability to think.

Zhao Hong frowned, "How many times must I say it? Kill by crushing the windpipe directly; don't make such a bloody mess."

The wolf-dog, silent, sprang forward in a swift motion and severed Ling Tao's throat with its teeth, finally indulging in its feast.

Zhao Hong's expression turned to one of satisfaction. The two women by his side had already lost control, nearly collapsing to the ground.

"No need to worry. With your slender arms and legs, Dahei couldn't possibly be satisfied," Zhao Hong sneered casually. Upon hearing this, the two women fainted in fright.

Zhao Hong nonchalantly pressed a nearby bell. Ding, ding, ding. Soon, a burly man hurried up from downstairs. He bowed respectfully, careful not to stare at the wolf-dog reveling in its meal.

"Boss, what do you need?"

Zhao Hong offhandedly said, "Bring Daho and Erho, get the car, and head to the Walmart."

"Right away, sir," the burly man nodded respectfully.

Moments later, outside the Haotai Hotel, two strong men struggled to push open the grand doors. A van sped away, its entirety reinforced with sturdy iron mesh. Spikes of steel adorned the front and roof.

As it moved, ordinary zombies were simply flung aside. Unless it met tens of thousands of zombies, it was the most dazzling presence on the streets!