The Demonic Cultivator In Zombie World

At the central square of Heaven-Six City, the Nascent Soul cultivators gathered together. Chu Xuan counted, and there were eleven Nascent Soul cultivators in total. The Majestic Sword Sect included only Ximen Changqing and himself. The Feiry Sky Cloud Pavilion, with five cultivators, led by Bai Cangsong. The Red Flame Temple, with four cultivators, led by Xiao Xian.

Bai Cangsong cleared his throat and spoke solemnly, "Fellow Daoists, the top priority now is to understand what exactly is happening in the Heavenly Metal Battlefield. Why has the Spiritual Qi density suddenly decreased? Why have the ancient beasts gone mad and attacked the city? Now even the communication through the transmission jade is disrupted. We must send someone to other cities to seek assistance."

Chu Xuan's expression remained calm. During the second battle with the ancient beasts just now, the connection through the transmission jade had already weakened significantly. After the battle ended, the connection was completely cut off. This meant that every city and outpost had turned into isolated islands amidst the stormy sea. To gather intelligence about the current situation in the Heavenly Metal Battlefield, they would have to risk their lives and travel to other cities or outposts.

Xiao Xian spoke in a low voice, "Fellow Daoist Bai, didn't your Feiry Sky Cloud Pavilion send someone to Heaven-Nine City? Has there been any news?"

Bai Cangsong fell silent for a moment and took out a shattered jade token. "I had a deep bond with my junior brother. We both had life tokens with drops of our blood in them. This is the life token of my junior brother. If he dies, the token will shatter."

Upon seeing the shattered life token, Ximen Changqing, Xiao Xian, and the others fell silent. It was clear that the Feiry Sky Cloud Pavilion cultivator had met an unfortunate end.

Bai Cangsong's expression was bitter as he continued, "Now, we are isolated and helpless. Our Spiritual Qi and stored spiritual stones are rapidly depleting. At this rate, within a month, we will be reduced to Golden Core cultivators. If we don't break out, we will inevitably die. But where to break out to? That is a life-and-death decision. Fellow Daoists, who is willing to venture out to gather information?"

The Nascent Soul cultivators looked at one another in silence. After a long pause, one of them suddenly spoke, "Now that the ancient beasts are rampant, if we go out to gather information, we're likely to meet the same fate as Fellow Daoist Bai's junior brother." He spoke what everyone was thinking. No one was willing to take the risk and leave their hope of survival to others.

Chu Xuan noticed someone whose eyes were shifting, as if wanting to speak, but after a few moments of hesitation, they stayed silent. After thinking for a while, Chu Xuan figured out what they were thinking.

"I have an idea," Xiao Xian suddenly spoke, "There are still Foundation Establishment cultivators in the city, let them go out and scout."

Everyone turned to look at him. Chu Xuan couldn't help but laugh quietly to himself. Xiao Xian was the quickest to voice what everyone else had been too afraid to say.

Xiao Xian continued, "I believe everyone has noticed. These ancient beasts won't keep attacking forever. We just need to send out the Foundation Establishment cultivators while they rest. Whoever dies will prove that the path is impassable."

Bai Cangsong frowned, "Fellow daoist Xiao, how can you say that? If we do such a thing, what difference is there between us and the demon cultivators?!"

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Ximen Changqing, however, didn't speak. After all, the Majestic Sword Sect's Foundation Establishment cultivators were almost all gone. Once the city falls, they're as good as dead anyway. It would be better to make use of their final moments, allowing them to fight for a chance for the Nascent Soul cultivators to escape.

Xiao Xian sneered, "Don't talk to me about the distinction between righteous and demonic. We're all about to die, and you still care about that? My Red Flame Temple's Foundation Establishment cultivators will follow my orders!"

Bai Cangsong and Ximen Changqing both fell silent for a while, before sighing in unison, "It seems there's no other choice."

At this moment, a calm voice suddenly sounded. "Fellow daoists, I'm willing to go out and gather intelligence."

Everyone immediately turned their gaze towards the speaker. They soon realized that it was a Nascent Soul cultivator from the Majestic Sword Sect who had spoken. The name seemed to be... Gao Xuan?

Bai Cangsong and Xiao Xian were both surprised. They didn't know Gao Xuan very well. They only knew he was a Nascent Soul cultivator from the Majestic Sword Sect.

Ximen Changqing glanced at Chu Xuan in surprise, but after thinking for a moment, his expression softened and seemed to reflect some understanding.

Bai Cangsong spoke softly, "Fellow daoist Gao, the outside world is fraught with danger. You've just recently ascended to Nascent Soul, haven't you? If you go out there and fall into a horde of ancient beasts, it will be certain death."

Chu Xuan replied calmly, "If we remain trapped in this cage, we will still die in the end. It's better to take a risk and try for a chance!"

Xiao Xian seemed pleased, "He's willing to go, why stop him? Gao Xuan, your selfless spirit is admirable. However, since the transmission jade has already failed, how do you plan to relay messages to us?"

Chu Xuan threw out three stone pieces. "This is a pair of mother and child stones. If the mother stone is damaged, the child stone will shatter; conversely, if the child stone breaks, the mother stone will crack. If I meet an untimely end, I will crush the mother stone in advance, and you will know."

Xiao Xian nodded repeatedly, "That's good!" He had seen such stones before, but they could only relay pre-agreed messages. They weren't like the transmission jade that could directly convey voices.

Ximen Changqing's eyes flickered, and he suddenly coughed lightly, "My junior brother is relatively weaker. If he goes out like this, I wonder if he'll make it back. Seeing as junior brother Gao is making such a selfless contribution, shouldn't we fellow daoists at least provide some support in terms of treasures?"

Without waiting for a reply, Ximen Changqing took out a mid-Nascent Soul-level puppet beast. "Junior brother, this puppet beast is for you!"

Chu Xuan couldn't help but blink. "Ximen... not bad. He's getting the hang of it!"

Xiao Xian, Bai Cangsong, and the others clearly felt a bit embarrassed. After all, they saw this as a life-risking venture to create an opportunity for them, and if they didn't provide some support, it would seem utterly inhumane.

Everyone started pulling out treasures. There were great spiritual stones, Nascent Soul-level talismans, mid-grade magic treasures, and a few Nascent Soul initial-stage puppet beasts.

There wasn't a lot, but everything was high-quality. After all, these were all Nascent Soul cultivators, so they couldn't bring out anything too shabby. When Ximen Changqing had offered a mid-Nascent Soul-level puppet beast, they couldn't bring out anything of lesser value, either.

Chu Xuan even noticed a few Nascent Soul initial-stage cultivators showing expressions of pain. Clearly, they were reluctant to part with these treasures. But for the sake of face, they still handed them over.

Chu Xuan, on the other hand, couldn't stop smiling. Such an opportunity to get treasures for free? Why not take it!

A moment later, a large number of Foundation Establishment cultivators were sent out. Each of their faces carried a heavy sorrow. They certainly didn't want to leave the city, but staying meant certain death. Leaving might give them a chance to survive.

Chu Xuan watched the Foundation Establishment cultivators scatter in all directions like ants, his expression as calm as a still pond. If he were also at the Foundation Establishment level, stuck inside Heaven-Six City, he would likely be one of the forced participants as well. Orders would come from the stronger, and the weak would follow. To live freely, to live happily, the only way was to become stronger.

But for now... he was the one voluntarily going out.