Chapter 1208 - 1208 1207 Gathering

Chapter 1208: Chapter 1207: Gathering Chapter 1208: Chapter 1207: Gathering Due to the lack of private residences in the Imperial City District, even Chen Xinying, as a Dragon View Cultivator, resided in an outside area.

Just like Xu Zhengyang.

As a Taoist Master, Chen Xinying owned a mansion in the Talisman District. It was larger in scale than Xu Zhengyang’s, and she even employed dedicated Corpse Servants to manage the interior and exterior of the large estate.

However, unlike him, she did not create any Corpse Puppets, nor did she engage in slave cultivation; instead, she devoted herself entirely to Taoist Skills.

Staring at the large amount of tools, Talisman Paper, and numerous texts related to Taoist Skills inside the mansion, Han Dong asked curiously,

“Miss Chen, were your original abilities also Taoist Skills?”

“They belong to a large category, but they are not the same.

After I fused with Corpse Country, I gradually integrated my own system with the special traits of Taoist Skills.

After all, ‘Taoist Skills’ are more effective against zombies and monsters… and since Black Tower severed ties with me and my companions have died one by one, I have no plans to return.

Therefore, I can only try to reach a higher boundary by following the ‘Taoist Skills path.'”

As she spoke, Chen Xinying took out a common Clear Heart Talisman from a drawer, rolled it with some high-quality tobacco on the table, and made a ‘Talisman Smoke.’

Such smoking could effectively relax the mind and body.

“List all the ingredients you need for Pill Condensation, and let the Corpse Servants go check in the warehouse.”

Before she finished speaking, Han Dong had already passed a detailed list over to her.

The list used a common script from Black Tower.

It was a language system implanted into the brains of individuals associated with Black Tower.

Chen Xinying took it and browsed through the information quickly, with an indifferent face showing no reading difficulty.

Her expression changed from calm to a frown and then to surprise.

“What the hell is this?”

Upon finishing the list, Chen Xinying almost cursed out loud.

She had researched various Corpse Collections and had many materials in stock at home, but the list Han Dong gave was exceedingly extravagant; apart from two common materials, the rest were all rare and valued, with some even deriving from monsters.

“What’s wrong? Are the materials not enough?”

“It’s not a matter of not being enough; the materials you’re asking for are too rare… For some, we may have to try our luck at the markets and auctions, and others need to be pre-ordered from large specialty stores.”

Han Dong spoke without any politeness, “I don’t have any money on me, can you think of a solution?”

Chen Xinying gritted her teeth and threw her Silver Dragon Waist Card to Han Dong.

With this card, one could freely enter and exit the mansion and enjoy the same treatment as the master.

“To become a Black Zombie, you must take two steps.

‘Qi Refining’ and ‘Dan Condensating’

These materials correspond to the Pill Condensation process.

To become a Black Zombie, you first need to purify the Corpse Energy in your body until it all turns black.

‘Qi Refining’ does not require materials; it only needs the assistance of ‘Corpse Element’ in conjunction with the circulation of the inner sutra.

I will go and try to collect these materials for you, which will take some time… Meanwhile, you can stay in the mansion and do ‘Qi Refining’, using the Corpse Element required for cultivation, which you can directly ask the steward for.”

“Thank you, Miss Chen.”

“Also, I have a large number of Clear Heart Talismans here that can help you eliminate external distractions or mental irritations, allowing you to calmly cultivate… You can also ask the steward to get them for you.”

Han Dong merely made an OK gesture and watched as Chen Xinying left.

At least as far as the current situation was concerned, this Miss Chen seemed quite reliable… even though she accepted the task of gathering so many valued materials.

Flipping the Silver Dragon Waist Card in his hand, Han Dong went straight to the steward of the place.

A white-bearded old zombie who seemed very dependable.

“Could you show me the reserves of Corpse Element here?”

“Follow me…”

In an area akin to a wine cellar.

“The large barrels are filled with ‘corpse oil,’ used to entertain guests or as a supplement of Necro-element during special occasions.

The small glass bottles contain ‘Corpse Element’ purified through top-level techniques, all meeting the standards for cultivation.

Since you hold the master’s waist card, you are free to use anything here.”

Han Dong continued to inquire, “What kind of zombies do these corpse oils or Necro-elements come from?”

“They are all chosen from Soldier Division Zombies who died in battle, with 20% of Green Zombie quality and 80% of White Zombie.”

“Isn’t there any corpse oil extracted from Black Zombies?”

This question from Han Dong caused the butler to pause, wondering if Han Dong had lost his mind.

“Black Zombie corpse oil is reserved for the royal court, and even a ‘Dragon View Cultivator’ like the master can only receive it as a gift from the court after making significant contributions.

Black Zombies are inherently very powerful, scarce, and seldom die.

It’s explicitly forbidden for any institution not directly under the court to extract Black Zombie corpse oil, and all corpses of Black Zombies must be sent to the Imperial City District for centralized processing.”

“Understood.”

Having heard this, Han Dong turned and was about to leave.

“Mr. Han, don’t you need any?”

“No need, I will find some higher quality corpse oil myself. As for my friend here, please supply him with the Necro-element necessary for his cultivation.”

Han Dong’s so-called friend was none other than Zhang Xiliang, whom he had been nurturing along the way.

Hearing that he could freely use such stock of corpse oil and Necro-elements, he was so excited that several Green Snakes slithered around on the surface of his body.

…

Han Dong’s thought process was straightforward.

The quality of the Necro-element had a significant impact on cultivation; there was a sentence on the first page of the “Float Corpse Sutra. Black Chapter”:

“The Necro-element is like water; clear it runs through, murky it sinks with difficulty.”

Since syringes could directly extract ‘Corpse Element’ from a zombie’s body, he might as well take the initiative himself.

And as for where to find a Black Zombie’s corpse, naturally, it would be the Ministry of Punishment.

“Are you… Han Dong?”

As soon as he approached the Ministry of Punishment, the officers there recognized the young man who had been released from prison not long ago.

Han Dong slammed the Silver Dragon Waist Card down on the table, indicating his identity, “Do you have a room that specifically houses ‘wanted notices’?”

“I’ll take you there.”

Led by one of the officers, he arrived at an old room in the backyard that stored the wanted notices.

The Ministry of Punishment was more than happy to have someone volunteer to help capture fugitives.

“That will do, let me stay here alone; it might take quite a bit of time.”

With the Silver Dragon Waist Card on him, the ministry staff had no reason to object.

Han Dong stayed there for a whole day and night, and the next day, he awoke amid the disorder to note down all the potential Black Zombies on a small notebook—especially those who were still up to no good in secret.

Han Dong planned to use himself as bait to lure out the targets because who wouldn’t want a bloodthirsty convict plumped with the flesh of a Green Zombie?

More than ten days passed.

Just after pre-ordering materials from a certain shop in the street, Chen Xinying was fretting over her wallet while preparing to return to the Talisman District when she unexpectedly ran into an acquaintance from the Ministry of Punishment on the street.

The person was extremely friendly and approached her:

“Taoist Master Chen truly has vast magical powers, having executed several high-ranking criminals recently. It’s amazing to see you strolling unharmed through the market here,” said the person with admiration.

“Huh?”

Chen Xinying paused, then immediately quickened her pace to go home.