The Undead Menace

Du Chen was stunned. Philip using himself as a test subject—what did that even mean? Could he truly resurrect?

“What on earth is happening!?” Ted exclaimed anxiously. “I don’t understand alchemy! But I overheard Philip and a long-nailed individual near him discussing it. He isn’t so easily killed! However, the cost of his resurrection is immense, yet his power afterward is terrifying! At least, far greater than mine at my peak!”

Damn it. Ted was a super-expert himself. For him to utter the word ‘terrifying’ meant Philip harbored even more dreadful secrets! This alchemical genius truly commanded both hatred and grudging admiration!

Du Chen lowered his head, rapidly calculating for a moment, then immediately instructed them: “Roland will arrive soon. You must leave at once; I’ll handle the aftermath!”

Ted frowned slightly, thinking, ‘Who is this man? He possesses not an iota of a mighty expert’s aura, not even the faint presence of battle qi. Yet he dares address me with such imperiousness?’ Although he was now in dire straits, he had once been a renowned figure, unmatched across the lands. Even Roland would have to show him due respect!

At this thought, he scoffed and stiffened his neck, remaining silent.

Du Chen took in Ted’s expression entirely, knowing he possessed extraordinary power and an equally formidable pride. But now, Ted had to obey him!

Clutching a lotus flower covertly in his hand, Du Chen said in a deep voice, “Are you just going to stand there? Scram, now! What are you waiting for!?”

Ted was about to open his mouth to reprimand him when he suddenly felt an immensely powerful, explosive force erupt within his abdomen. He hastily channeled his meager remaining battle qi to suppress it, but it proved entirely ineffectual. Forced to unleash his core Battle Soul power, he resisted with all his might, yet to little avail. ‘Could Philip have tampered with my body!?’ Just as this thought of despair began to bloom, the terrifying explosive force vanished as suddenly as it had appeared, as if it had never been there at all.

Its sudden disappearance astonished Ted even more. Its initial emergence could have been attributed to a sneak attack, but for the attack to vanish precisely when he was resisting with all his might, and for him to never detect who was attacking him—such an enemy was simply too terrifying, their power too dreadful!

Du Chen, facing him, sneered, “I can save you with a flick of my hand, or kill you in an instant! That was punishment for your disrespect. You won’t get a second chance. Now, take your daughter and leave Battle God Isle immediately!”

Although Helen didn't understand what had transpired between the two, she knew her father’s temperament and had seen his dismissive gaze. More importantly, Du Chen’s declaration, “kill you in an instant,” had terrified her. She quickly grasped her father’s hand, knelt respectfully, and said, “Esteemed Lord, please forgive my father’s insolence. He is unaware of your extraordinary power. I represent my father in offering you our most sincere apologies!”

Du Chen maintained a facade of solemn dignity, remaining silent as if deeply angered. In truth, his heart was already blossoming with delight. ‘Little lass, how could you know?’ he mused internally. ‘I merely sent the Lotus directly into Ted’s abdomen and detonated it. Though, I must admit, Ted’s power is indeed formidable; he managed to endure for a moment using his last vestiges of Battle God battle qi, even activating what appeared to be his far more potent Battle Soul. I couldn’t sustain the attack, so I naturally withdrew. Heh heh…’

Ted was stunned by the recent confrontation. For experts of their caliber, a clash of masters often decided victory or defeat, life or death, in a mere instant. He had just walked the precipice of death and was still trembling with lingering fear, naturally concluding that Du Chen’s power far surpassed his own.

He bowed slightly to Du Chen, a gesture of concession without loss of dignity. However, he immediately shook his head again. “Mighty friend, I know my current strength might only cause you trouble, but I cannot leave yet. Sulan is still on Mount Tianshan. I will never abandon my Divine Pet, nor the Divine Pet my mother, Helen, left behind!”

Du Chen’s thoughts raced: ‘This is not bad at all. A starved camel is still larger than a horse; even at his weakest, Ted will be an asset!’ Du Chen reached into the collar of his robe at the back of his neck, pulling out several sets of clothing which he handed to the pair. “Considering your respectable background, and your daughter’s deference towards me, I agree to let you stay. However, you must immediately disguise yourselves. When Roland arrives, he must not recognize you! After all, your current identities are not suitable for exposure!”

Ted was surprised again. Could one person hide so many things behind their back? Truly, a master acts in enigmatic ways!

Time was pressing, and Du Chen’s dominant presence left no room for further thought. At that moment, Du Chen tossed another lotus flower before the father and daughter. It expanded, and he commanded, “Get on! I’ll take you to Mount Tianshan! You can disguise yourselves along the way!”

As the three ascended the lotus, the entire world seemed to expand exponentially. Helen, accustomed to Du Chen’s extraordinary nature, was merely surprised. Ted, however, was utterly astonished. “This… this is…”

Du Chen had no energy to explain; his entire focus was on manipulating the lotus. Yet, in the eyes of the father and daughter, this conduct was perfectly normal—the very demeanor expected of a supreme expert!

Du Chen could ignore others, but Flaying could not suffer any mishap. He had to rush there to warn him! If there was an unpredictable danger, he would abandon everyone else and immediately escape with Flaying on the lotus!

Helen helped Ted disguise himself while saying, “Father, there’s no need for such surprise. This Lord’s power far exceeds your imagination. Just now, with a mere flick of his hand, he broke Roland’s seal and unbound your shackles!”

Ted’s mouth gaped slightly, and he exclaimed in awe, “Lord, you can so easily break Roland’s seal?! My apologies, Ted was disrespectful just now!” Although Ted was also an expert of the Battle God rank, he knew full well he could never break Roland’s seal, let alone “with a mere flick of a hand” or “easily.”

Du Chen impatiently waved his hand.

Helen continued, “Moreover, at Antwerp Port, he even forced Zigurd’s Cloud Mist Chains to acknowledge him as master, saving me!”

“Gulp,” Ted’s Adam’s apple bobbed. ‘Heavens, does such a mighty existence truly walk this world!? What kind of figure is this!’ The confrontation just now was likely merely a lesson. If… Ted dared not think further. He was now thoroughly gripped by fear.

He had truly been a frog in a well before!

However, with such a powerful being by his side, even if Philip resurrected with immense power, there was no need for excessive worry. After a long moment, he calmed his turbulent emotions and bowed from the lotus. “Lord, our father-daughter pair will never forget your immense kindness. We will surely repay you in the future!”

“Hmph, repay me?” Du Chen again adopted the guise of a mysterious master, scoffing, “What could you possibly possess that would pique my interest? Your daughter has already repaid me!”

Ted paused, recalling his daughter’s appearance, and wondered inwardly, ‘Aside from her beauty, what else could my daughter offer to impress such a supreme expert?’

“Father, don’t misunderstand!” Helen, detecting his thoughts from his expression, blushed slightly and whispered, “At Antwerp Port, although your daughter sincerely offered herself, the Lord unfortunately showed no interest. Your daughter secured the Lord’s assistance through Sulan’s intelligence capabilities! The Lord is truly a kind elder!”

Ted seemed lost in thought, then nodded slightly. “So that’s it. Lord, the lives of my daughter and I are far more valuable than mere intelligence…”

‘Damn it, what is this guy implying?’ Du Chen waved his hand, cutting him off. “Enough nonsense! We’ve arrived. You go warn them first!” Then, silence fell. The father and daughter now dared not contradict Du Chen in the slightest.

…At Mount Tianshan, with Philip’s death in a spout of blood, the situation had taken a bizarre turn. Philip’s assistants, seeing their master dead, furiously sought revenge for him, while the Holy Church experts battling them were delighted to see their opponents in disarray and fighting desperately. With Philip dead, Bairu’s mission was largely complete. He stood shoulder to shoulder with Mas, their expressions relaxed. These reactions seemed appropriate for everyone present.

However, Tendon-Severing and Corpse Dissolution were hastily fleeing.

“Old friend, what’s the rush? We haven’t decided a victor yet! Don’t tell me you’re scared!” Flaying wondered inwardly. Those youngsters from the Holy Church weren’t enough to scare off Tendon-Severing and Corpse Dissolution, and they weren’t afraid of him and Deboning. Why were they scrambling to flee the moment Philip died?

“Who the hell killed Philip? Bastard!” The long-nailed Tendon-Severing furiously brandished both his hands, roaring, “Damn it, if I don’t kill you, I can’t leave! Alright, I’ll stake it all! Sever!” His fingernails elongated several times, resembling ten sharp swords. With a furious roar, they grew even longer and more pliable, instantly fluttering before him like ten silver-white ribbons.

“Going for broke? Fine, I’ll humor you, Flay!” His Flaying Blade shimmered with a slender light, as he swiftly flew towards Tendon-Severing.

The two’s desperate clash, much like their usual methods, was silent yet exceedingly perilous.

With a crisp ‘ding,’ the two converged and then separated. A chunk of flesh was torn from Flaying’s chest, bleeding profusely, but Tendon-Severing across from him collapsed, gravely wounded.

“So many years, and not an inch of progress, hmph!” Flaying sneered disdainfully. He glanced at Deboning, who was in a similar predicament and seemingly wishing to die. He and Corpse Dissolution had also fought desperately, resulting in mutual heavy injuries, both now fallen to the ground.

Stepping slowly before Tendon-Severing, Flaying lifted him. “You…”

Tendon-Severing was still shrouded in black mist, though it was now much thinner. He hung his head, a wry smile on his face. “Do you know what an Anti-Spirit Seed is?”

“An Anti-Spirit Seed!?” Flaying was taken aback.

“Those implanted with a Spirit Seed cannot die. Philip used himself as a test subject. If he dies, he’ll resurrect as a mindless, super-undead Battle God to exact revenge. You wouldn’t let me leave, and now you’re injured yourself. Haha, looks like we’ll all die together!” Tendon-Severing finished with a cold laugh.

Just then, Du Chen arrived, driving the lotus. Ted flew out from the lotus, too preoccupied to notice his body suddenly growing larger, and bellowed, “Everyone, beware of Philip’s mutation!”

But it was too late. “Gaa, gaa, squeak…” With a series of strange sounds, Philip, who had just fallen, staggered to his feet.

Through the petals of the lotus, Du Chen saw Philip’s appearance and blurted out, “Damn it, a Resident Evil scenario!”

Philip had transformed into a zombie, with a hideous, terrifying face, a bloody, shredded body, and hollow white eyes that sent shivers down one’s spine. Most horrifying was his right arm, which continued to swell until it was the size of a man. On its shoulder, a vivid green eye had opened.

Everyone froze for a moment, Philip’s aura far exceeding their imagination!

“Master, what happened to you?” One of Philip’s assistants rushed forward, but the mutated Philip seemed not to recognize him. With a massive hand, he grabbed the assistant and, with a slight squeeze, “Pfft!”

“Roar!” Philip roared, his colossal fist striking the ground. “Boom!” The powerful battle qi fluctuation knocked out all those with weaker cultivation.

Du Chen quickly glanced at Tendon-Severing, who had fainted due to severe injuries and inability to resist Philip’s tremor. Flaying harshly threw him to the ground and fixed his gaze on Philip.

Du Chen enlarged the lotus, not daring to land, but hovering in mid-air. Standing on the lotus, he yelled, “Quick, get on! Don’t worry about anyone else!” As he spoke, Ted had already placed the severely injured and unconscious Sulan into his sleeve, then returned to the lotus.

Flaying looked back at Du Chen, shaking his head. “Philip must be utterly destroyed!” He had another thought he couldn’t voice in front of Ted and Helen: ‘Those implanted with a Spirit Seed cannot die. Francis, you also have a Spirit Seed in your body! I cannot let you suffer the same fate as Philip; I must capture Philip and thoroughly research how to break the Spirit Seed!’

At this point, Ted, standing behind Du Chen, anxiously said, “Lord, your friend is gravely injured; he’s no match for the undead Philip!”

Just then, a leisurely, long laugh echoed from the distant seaside. “Pied, Mount Tianshan today doesn’t seem quite suitable for guests! You go back first; I’ll handle this monster!”

Roland had arrived! He flew through the air above them, still in his shabby sailor’s attire. He glanced at the lotus Du Chen was seated on and chuckled oddly, “An interesting sacred artifact. What’s going on here?”

Du Chen replied, “That monster is Philip. He’s transformed into a mindless creature, knowing nothing but slaughter!” As he spoke, Du Chen thought to himself, ‘Heh, the mask Flaying gave me really works wonders; Roland didn’t even recognize me or Helen and her father.’ He gestured for Helen to call her father back, having them sit quietly on the lotus to avoid detection.

Roland frowned, observing Philip, and muttered, “Damn this undead battle qi, it’s been ages since I’ve seen it. Hey, brother!” He nodded at Flaying. “The undead are quite troublesome. How about we deal with him together? It’ll be quicker!” At this moment, Flaying was practically the only one on Mount Tianshan’s ground who retained significant power—the force of Philip’s last strike was immense!

Flaying glanced at Du Chen, signaling with his eyes for him to fly the lotus higher. Then, he raised his Flaying Blade. “To fight alongside Roland—no regrets in this life! Where’s your sword?”

“I haven’t wielded a sword in years!” Roland produced a pair of sacred artifact gauntlets, donned them, and instantly lunged at Philip, saying, “Your Blade is good; it reminds me a lot of a friend of mine from back then!”

“Too bad I’m not him!” Flaying also flew forward. “Still, my Blade is not worthy of the title ‘King of Blades’!”

“You know who I’m talking about, don’t you?” After Roland spoke, Flaying didn’t respond, as the two had already trapped Philip, one on each side.

On the lotus, Du Chen wanted to leave but was worried about Flaying. He could only keep the lotus suspended in the sky, watching the battle with a blank expression, praying silently that these two supreme experts could handle Philip!

Behind him, Ted nodded slightly, thinking, ‘This man observes the life-or-death struggle of three supreme experts with an unmoved expression, as if watching children at play. This is truly the demeanor of a master!’ With this thought, he asked, “Lord, why do you not intervene?” He immediately regretted the question. What was the power and status of the Lord before him? How could he possibly team up with others?

Du Chen chuckled dismissively. “It’s not time yet!” ‘I’d love to jump in,’ he mused internally, ‘but do I truly possess the strength?’

Ted continued, “Then, may I personally dispatch Philip? That old scoundrel used me as a test subject; I must personally cleanse this humiliation! Rest assured, I won’t use my Battle God Lunar Affinity; Roland will never recognize me through my battle qi!”

Battle God Lunar Affinity? ‘That’s a high-level term I’ve never heard of!’ Du Chen nodded. “Go help then, eliminate Philip as quickly as possible! Helen will be safe!”

“Good!” Ted once again flew out of the lotus. Du Chen savored the thought, ‘Three supreme experts ganging up on a bio-zombie—surely there won’t be any problems?’

Indeed, there were no problems. In a one-on-one fight, the mutated Philip might have surpassed any single one of them, but with three against one… In less than a moment, Ted landed a punch on Philip’s chest. Roland, from above, struck Philip’s temples with his gauntlets. Seizing the moment of Philip’s tremor, Flaying’s Blade plunged into the giant eye on Philip’s right shoulder.

“Aoo… Sssss!” Philip let out an utterly bizarre gurgle, as if countless insects were crawling beneath his skin. He opened his mouth and mumbled incoherently, “Explode! You will all die!”

“What the hell!” Roland’s expression shifted. “Undead Self-Detonation! Let’s go! No need to get dragged down with him!”

Flaying sighed inwardly. ‘Alright, only by preserving my life can I seek a method to dispel the Spirit Seed for Francis!’ He also called out to Du Chen, “Quickly, flee!”

Du Chen grit his teeth, glancing at the unconscious people on the mountaintop. ‘I’m not skilled enough for this particular act of kindness; escaping is paramount!’

Suddenly, Philip’s massive right arm ruptured, and an aura of death instantly permeated the summit of Mount Tianshan. Almost instinctively, Du Chen abruptly hurled the newly acquired Lotus Shield, hoping to buy himself some precious time for escape. Then, he turned, stepping onto the lotus, and prepared to fly away.

But at that moment, everyone froze, utterly dumbfounded, staring at Du Chen with mouths agape. For in their eyes, Du Chen stood proudly on the lotus. Witnessing the three supreme experts forced back by the undead, he merely waved a hand casually, then, with a dismissive flick of his sleeve, turned away. Immediately, the self-detonation ceased. The tempest calmed.