115. The Zombie Dog

Whether it was the sheer thoroughness of the ancient catastrophe or the immense passage of time, most of the artifacts within the ruins of this sunless, subterranean world had long since rotted into decay.

During their search, however, the group did manage to uncover some mundane metal objects, such as copper lamps, steel rings, metal locks, shattered swords, and broken knives, as well as common jade pieces like pendants, ruyi, and teapots. Chen Fengyun scanned every item found with his divine sense, but they were merely ordinary trinkets devoid of any special energy. Of course, he had not touched everything himself, and it remained possible that some truly extraordinary items had escaped his detection. Aside from the few salvaged weapons that remained functional, these finds were largely useless; they held no value for enhancing one's cultivation and served only as potential currency once brought back to the surface.

"Woo..."

Because the group was searching with such meticulous care, their progress was slow. It had taken half a day to cover a radius of five kilometers, though they had pushed deeper into the underground palace. Chen Fengyun heard a series of wailing sounds ahead, resembling both the whistling of wind and the cries of some unknown beast.

"Tell everyone to be careful. We are now deep within the palace; dangerous areas are likely to appear soon," Chen Fengyun said, his heart tightening. He immediately sent a telepathic message to Feng Tianbao, who understood at once and urged everyone from the Southern Faction to proceed with extreme caution.

"Boom..."

Hardly had the words left his lips when a loud explosion erupted from the side. Master Wei Zhifu of the Southeastern Faction had triggered something during his search. A blood-red ring of light suddenly burst forth before him, clamping firmly onto his left hand and pulling it inward.

"Ah..."

As the others turned their gaze toward the commotion, Wei Zhifu let out a harrowing scream. Acting with ruthless decisiveness, he brought his hand down hard upon his own left shoulder, severing the arm clean off before stumbling backward.

"Howl..."

From within the blood-red ring came a bestial roar, followed by the sound of rhythmic chewing, as if something were devouring the arm Wei Zhifu had left behind.

"What is inside there?" someone shouted, questioning Wei.

"I don't know... a monster. It has immense strength and razor-sharp teeth," Wei Zhifu stammered after retreating to a safe distance. He had quickly stanched the bleeding from his shoulder, but the severity of his injury left his face deathly pale.

"Hmph, it’s just a monster. I shall slay it," declared Wan Jianlin of the Northern Faction. He stepped forward, drawing his ancient sword and advancing toward the blood-red ring.

"Jianlin, be careful," Hong Zhongshan said. He did not object, but stepped forward to a position near the ring, ready to intervene if necessary. Ma Dingdang followed with the rest of the Northern Faction, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Hong Zhongshan, her eyes burning as she stared at the light ring, her brows furrowed in deep thought.

"Mr. Chen, what is this devilish thing?" Chu Wangshu asked, standing beside Chen Fengyun and staring at the bizarre light ring.

"There is a zombie beast inside. Its power is not to be underestimated. It was awakened by the blood of the Southeastern master, Wei Zhifu. I fear the Northern Faction is in for a fierce battle," Chen Fengyun whispered with a faint smile.

Even as he spoke, his divine sense remained locked onto an object beneath the red light: a fist-sized, blood-red metal hoop that emanated a faint, wicked aura. It seemed that when Wei Zhifu was rummaging through the ruins, his hand had been cut, and his blood had happened to drip onto a dull metal hoop. The hoop had instantly turned blood-red, transforming into an aperture that seized his hand.

*The zombie beast must have been trapped within that hoop,* Chen Fengyun mused silently. *When it came into contact with Wei Zhifu’s blood, the ring activated, and the beast awoke to bite his arm. That metal hoop appears to be a fine treasure; it is capable of containing living creatures. Though it is tainted with malevolent energy, that will be no problem once it is in my hands.*

"Boom..."

"Howl..."

At that moment, Wan Jianlin swung his sword at the blood-red ring. The ring shattered instantly, revealing a canine creature. Its body was a sickly green, but its eyes glowed with a blood-red hue. Saliva dripped from its jaws, and strands of flesh still clung to its razor-sharp teeth.

"Clang..."

As soon as the zombie hound emerged, it lunged at Wan Jianlin’s blade. Its claws struck the steel with a sharp metallic ring, sending sparks flying.

"Jianlin, watch out!" Hong Zhongshan cried out. Wan Jianlin had used the momentum to retreat two steps, but the fighting spirit in his eyes only grew more intense.

"Do not engage it head-on! It is a zombie hound—endlessly strong and incredibly fast. Its waist is its weak point," Ma Dingdang called out from the sidelines.

The zombie hound had lost all sapience; it was driven solely by a hunger for flesh. Sensing Wan Jianlin’s retreat, it lunged forward again, accompanied by a wave of foul, metallic stench.

With the red ring shattered, the metal hoop on the ground had returned to its dull, grey state. Most people were so focused on the hound that few noticed the object. Chen Fengyun, however, stood back; with so many eyes on the scene, it was not the time to retrieve the hoop with his flying sword. He would have to wait. Besides, if he took the hoop while the hound was still alive, he would likely become the target of its fury.

"Howl..."

"Die!"

In an instant, Wan Jianlin and the zombie hound were locked in a fierce struggle, both unleashing roars and cries. Wan Jianlin’s swordsmanship was refined, but his strength could not match that of the beast, forcing him to give ground step by step. The hound abandoned any sense of agility, relying entirely on brute, savage attacks, desperate to tear its opponent apart and feast. It slammed its body repeatedly against the sword, uncaring of the wounds it sustained; as a mindless zombie, it felt no pain, its relentless aggression forcing Wan Jianlin into a desperate retreat.

"Wan Jianlin is trying to use the pressure of this beast to achieve a breakthrough. How daring," Feng Tianbao remarked as he watched the fray.

"If he continues like this, he will suffer a great loss," Chen Fengyun murmured, shaking his head. Even a master like Wei Zhifu had been bested by the creature; Wan Jianlin was not yet a master. He might be able to hold his own for a short time, but he would inevitably collapse under the strain.

"Uncle Hong, intervene now!" Ma Dingdang, seeing the same thing, shouted. She quickly formed a hand seal, her fingers dancing like blooming flowers before her chest.

"Jianlin, fall back!" Trusting Ma Dingdang implicitly, Hong Zhongshan surged forward, slashing his palm through the air. A powerful blast of energy surged toward the zombie hound as he roared the command.