He was determined to find the resurrected Wuy Luochuan and eliminate him for good, so he had remained in the city, taking up residence in this inn.

But he soon came to regret it. Luoxia City’s control measures were stricter than ever before. Not only was there a curfew, but even daytime movement was restricted. He was basically confined to the inn, with no opportunity to search for Wuy Luochuan.

Failing to achieve his goal was one thing, but if the battle for Luoxia City became critical, those who remained, like him, would surely be conscripted to fight the Demon Beasts.

Frustrated, he had no choice but to ask Zhuang Yuechan to help him find news of Wuy Luochuan.

"Fellow Daoist Zhuang, is there any news?" Xu Yunhe asked eagerly.

Zhuang Yuechan shook her head. "Still nothing. Could he have already fled the city? After all, there’s no benefit for him to stay here."

"Perhaps. I don’t know either. All we can do is our best and leave the rest to fate. If Fellow Daoist Song were here, we wouldn’t be running around like headless chickens."

As he spoke, a hint of envy flashed in Xu Yunhe’s eyes. The Ten Thousand Miles Tracking technique that Song Changsheng cultivated was just too convenient for finding someone.

"Alas, Fellow Daoist Song is probably overwhelmed by the Beast Tide himself right now. I just received word that the Silver Moon Grey Wolf clan has bypassed Luoxia City and headed to our rear." Thinking of the man who so often brought surprises, a touch of emotion showed in Zhuang Yuechan’s eyes.

"With such a massive force entering our territory, the people of Bian and Ling Provinces are going to suffer again."

"Yes..."

As the two were talking, they failed to notice a figure emerging from a dark corner not far from the patrol team outside the inn.

He wore a tattered black cloak, revealing only a bloodless face. His dead-fish eyes scanned back and forth over the dozen or so people, and a dangerous aura emanated from him...

"AHH—"

"Ambush! We’re under attack!"

Just as they were talking, a loud commotion erupted from downstairs, immediately followed by the sounds of a fierce battle.

Zhuang Yuechan and Xu Yunhe exchanged a look and immediately burst through the window.

The moment she landed, Zhuang Yuechan saw a dozen patrol disciples surrounding a single person. Horrified screams rang out periodically. In just a few moments, four people were already lying on the ground, silent and still.

Her martial brothers, men she saw day in and day out, were now just corpses. Grief mixed with a greater fury in Zhuang Yuechan’s heart. She shouted, "He’s a Foundation Establishment Cultivator! All of you, use an Array Formation to block his escape route! I’ll deal with him!"

With that, she took the Jade Zither from her back and charged straight into the fray.

Upon receiving her command, the remaining disciples, led by another Foundation Establishment Cultivator, immediately began to set up a Battle Array, sealing off the battlefield.

Xu Yunhe stood to the side with his sword, not making a move. He frowned, watching the figure in the tattered black robe. A faint sense of familiarity pricked at his mind.

Suddenly, his expression changed drastically. He roared, "Fellow Daoist Zhuang, be careful! That’s Wuy Luochuan!"

The instant he shouted his warning, a wicked smile spread across Wuy Luochuan’s deathly pale face.

The aura of a Late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator erupted from him. Two sharp fangs protruded from the corners of his mouth, and his dead-fish eyes turned a ghastly, shimmering green.

His withered hands grew black nails over an inch long, which radiated a dense Corpse Qi.

"He’s really a zombie?" Zhuang Yuechan’s expression turned ugly. ’What is going on with the city gate’s security? How could they let something so dangerous in?’

SCREEECH.

Wuy Luochuan said nothing. His jet-black nails scraped across the Jade Zither, sending a shower of sparks into the air.

"Fellow Daoist Zhuang, I’ll help you!"

Xu Yunhe was both shocked and delighted. Shocked that Wuy Luochuan was truly a zombie who had not only been hiding in the city but had even tracked him to his inn.

Delighted because after searching high and low to no avail, his target had delivered himself right to his doorstep. With his own strength, plus Zhuang Yuechan and the other patrol disciples, it would be more than enough to kill him!

In an instant, ten thousand slivers of Sword Qi filled the air, enveloping Wuy Luochuan. His already tattered robe was shredded to pieces in a flash.

But as the sharp Sword Qi struck Wuy Luochuan’s body, it only produced a shower of sparks.

"His body is as tough as a Tier Two Spiritual Artifact! Normal attacks won’t hurt him! Fellow Daoist Xu, hold him off and let me try something!"

With a light tap of her foot, Zhuang Yuechan retreated from the fight.

Seeing this, the green light in Wuy Luochuan’s eyes flared. He opened his mouth and spat out a cloud of foul-smelling gas.

"Get back!"

Just as the gas was about to reach Zhuang Yuechan, Xu Yunhe flashed in front of her. With a single swing of his sword, he forced all the Corpse Qi to recede like a tide.

"I’ll hold him! Do what you need to do, Fellow Daoist!"

Wreathed in Sword Qi, Xu Yunhe charged forward to engage Wuy Luochuan directly.

Having left the melee, Zhuang Yuechan levitated the Jade Zither in front of her. She placed her ten slender fingers on the strings and began to play, a pleasant melody filling the air.

The music was pervasive; even if one were to block their hearing, it would still echo in their mind and soul.

Watching the endless sound waves spread toward him, a mocking glint appeared in Wuy Luochuan’s eyes. With a powerful leap, he shot directly toward a patrol disciple on the rooftop.

"Damn it, he’s trying to escape! Stop him!"

The Luoxia City disciples all activated their Cultivation Techniques in unison. Golden threads shot out, instantly wrapping around Wuy Luochuan and binding him in mid-air.

"I seem to have underestimated you," a grim, raspy voice emanated from Wuy Luochuan’s throat.

"Everyone, this is our chance to kill him!"

Xu Yunhe raised his Cyan Blade. Endless Sword Qi converged on it, erupting in a dazzling light.

At the same time, Zhuang Yuechan and the other Luoxia City disciples erupted with a multi-colored radiance, forming what looked like a rainbow suspended in mid-air.

This was a Combined Attack Skill that Luoxia City disciples began practicing the moment they joined the sect. It was incredibly powerful; if it hit, not even Wuy Luochuan’s zombie body could withstand it.

"Heh heh heh... Today is just the beginning. You and I will settle our score sooner or later." Facing the incoming radiance and Sword Qi, Wuy Luochuan showed no fear, instead looking at Xu Yunhe with a cold sneer.

A bad feeling instantly welled up in Xu Yunhe’s heart.

Sure enough, in the next moment, the golden threads binding Wuy Luochuan snapped. He transformed into a streak of light and shot into the distance.

BOOM—

The Sword Qi and the rainbow radiance collided, releasing a tremendous amount of energy and blasting a crater over a hundred feet wide in the ground.

Zhuang Yuechan and the others looked grim. They had been thoroughly played by a mere zombie.

"Send the signal! He must be killed today!"

With that, Zhuang Yuechan turned into a streak of light and gave chase in the direction Wuy Luochuan had fled.

The remaining few collected the bodies of their comrades while sending messages to nearby patrol teams to help encircle Wuy Luochuan.

Xu Yunhe’s expression flickered, but in the end, he gritted his teeth and followed.

According to the city’s rules, his status forbade him from moving around freely. But Wuy Luochuan was clearly after him, so he couldn’t just stand by. Besides, Zhuang Yuechan had gone after him alone.

Under the night sky, figures rose into the air from all directions, frantically chasing and intercepting the streak of light that sped through the air.

But Wuy Luochuan’s Escape Technique was incredibly fast, and his physique was powerful. He actually managed to brute-force his way out of the encirclement, causing widespread destruction in the process.

In no time at all, he had thrown nearly half of Luoxia City into utter chaos.

More and more patrol teams were drawn in, setting up an inescapable net. With this kind of deployment, forget a zombie—even a Purple Mansion Great Cultivator would be crushed!

Just as most people’s attention was fixed on Wuy Luochuan, a figure wearing the uniform of a Law Enforcement Team disciple appeared in a corner in the northern part of the city.

He watched coldly as Wuy Luochuan stirred up trouble, an enigmatic smile on his face.

’I didn’t expect this guy to be so capable. It looks like the plan can begin ahead of schedule.’

Although he was clearly a man, his voice was so seductively charming it could make one’s bones melt, giving rise to the thought that ’maybe a man wouldn’t be so bad after all.’

The man himself seemed oblivious, taking out a blood-red Waist Token and stating coolly, "Begin the plan. At any cost."

...