roccoschili Chapter 711 711: Southern Territory, Biochemical Crisis_1
Chapter 711 711: Southern Territory, Biochemical Crisis_1
"How could this be... these Ghost Corpses... no, not Ghost Corpses, it's some kind of poison..." Du Jian sighed in relief after finally escaping the Dust Removal Sect.To think, he was the Sect Leader of the Dust Removal Sect, an Immortal Emperor Realm Cultivator for many years, yet he had rarely encountered such a humiliating situation.
At first, when the unrest broke out in the inner sect area, he hadn't taken it seriously, considering it a minor disturbance caused by some Inner Sect Disciples.
However, when the entire inner sect area fell and swiftly consumed the outer sect area as well, even causing problems for the Tributes and Guest Elders in the Sect, this ultimately led to his hasty escape.
"Anyone who gets injured will become a living corpse. This kind of poison... the local devilish cultivators couldn't concoct something like this."
It seems like something similar happened not too long ago. Du Jian began to search his memory, quickly recalling an incident in the Photo God Sect in the Northern Territory. But he didn't know much about it; the Southern and Northern Territories were too far apart.
He knew about it simply because it was a scheme devised by an Immortal Venerate Realm Cultivator from the Ten Thousand Nether Sect—one of the three great Demon Path Sects—which was how he had heard some whispers.
However, that incident involved Ghost Corpses, quite different from the living corpses he encountered this time.
I need to find a place to hide first... Du Jian thought. Seeing the mountain entrance shattered, he could only leave reluctantly, primarily because he couldn't save anyone.
He had a hunch that there was more to the obliteration of his Dust Removal Sect than met the eye; there had to be some hidden conspiracy targeting the Southern Territory. Therefore, escaping is the priority. What? This is my foundation? If I die, I'll lose everything, never mind my foundation. I could even abandon my wife and children. Well, my wife and children have also become living corpses. But I'm not the least bit upset. I've outlived several of my own sons, let alone wives.
As he sped away, his body released a large amount of undetectable, tiny viruses, which quickly covered his tracks.
These were a new variant formed from the Crusty Shark Virus combined with the Ghost Corpse Virus, catalyzed by Sin-force, and further synthesized into a new living corpse virus using the Biochemical Crisis Divine Power.
In the beginning, like zombies, it could only spread through biting.
But once it bonded with a Cultivator's body, it would begin to evolve further, coordinating with the host's physiology.
As an Immortal Emperor Realm Cultivator, Du Jian provided a fertile breeding ground, allowing the living corpse virus to undergo a completely new kind of change: symbiotic evolution.
The infected person would become a living corpse, but their mind and consciousness would be eroded by Wang Linchi's contamination, ultimately twisting them into a crazed, mutated form.
By taking advantage of the Cultivator's body, the originally harmful living corpse virus became integrated, rendering it undetectable by the Green Nether Fairyland.
Then, just like the Guixiu that proliferated in the Northern Strange Domain, the Southern Territory would witness the emergence of a new cultivation system—be it Corpse Cultivators, Poison Cultivators, or Plague Cultivators. Whatever the name, it would soon develop rapidly.
It would quickly rise to reach the same level as orthodox Cultivators and Guixiu.
Since the Southern Territory lacked resources, a profession that required no resources was needed, one that relied entirely on self-mutation.
As the saying goes: the rich rely on technology, the poor rely on mutation.
The Southern Territory abounded with the poor. To elevate this impoverished populace to the level of the Central Territory gentry, they needed to mutate, and mutate often.
However, mutation wasn't something that could just start spontaneously; it required a suitable environment.
The Dust Removal Sect was not suitable; it could only be a beginning.
"Who's there!" A booming voice interrupted Du Jian's advance.
"Friend Zhan, don't attack! It's me," Du Jian hurriedly responded, then asked, "Don't you recognize me?"
"Strange. My Divine Sense couldn't identify you, Friend Du." Zhan Shang looked puzzled. When he had first perceived Du Jian with his Divine Sense, he had appeared as an ink-black mass. Now, it seemed that had been a misperception.
Never mind, it was probably just an illusion, Zhan Shang thought.
He didn't dwell on it, instead asking, "Friend Du, what brings you to my Shaking Mountain Sect?"
The two considered each other friends. Although both were sect leaders, the external pressure from the Demon Path Sects meant they rarely squabbled and instead maintained a relatively united front.
"Alas, Friend Zhan, you may not know. The Dust Removal Sect has been destroyed. I've come to seek refuge with you," Du Jian sighed, momentarily unsure what else to say.
Du Jian delivered the news calmly, but Zhan Shang was alarmed. He was completely taken by surprise by this revelation.
"Could it be the Soul Blood Path? That's impossible! If they made a move, it would surely..." Zhan Shang's first thought was that it must be the Demon Path Sects.
However, Du Jian shook his head and said, "No, it's actually..." before briefly summarizing the situation.
This caused Zhan Shang to lower his head in thought. Welcoming him? Of course, I'd welcome him. Du Jian isn't just an Immortal Emperor Realm Cultivator; he's bringing most of the Dust Removal Sect's assets. If I accept them, my Shaking Mountain Sect will undoubtedly reach new heights. However, there are significant risks. For instance, will those who plotted against his sect hunt them down to the last one? If that happens, my Shaking Mountain Sect will suffer as collateral damage. Moreover, his cultivation is close to mine. Might he get greedy in the future, kill me, and seize my foundation? He represents too many uncertainties. That's why, generally, a sect has only one true master, the one with the greatest power.
"Eh? Friend Du, what on earth...?" Zhan Shang, deep in thought, suddenly noticed something that puzzled him: Du Jian seemed to have a runny nose.
Du Jian quickly wiped his nose, his expression one of shock, "No, this is wrong. I wasn't bitten by any of those living corpses. How could I be infected?"
These words scared Zhan Shang so much his soul nearly flew out. He's infected too?!
"Huh, no, it was an illusion." Du Jian took another look; his nose wasn't running anymore. It seemed he had just been overly anxious.
"How can that be an illusion?! You're already changing!!!" Zhan Shang watched the still-denial Du Jian, wishing he could strike him down immediately.
He saw Du Jian's skin rapidly turn pale, taking on a deathly pallor. Furthermore, his epidermis began to writhe unnaturally, as if countless worms were crawling beneath.
The entire process, from the runny nose to the mutation, happened right before his eyes in less than a breath's time.
"Quiet! There's nothing wrong with me!" Du Jian roared irritably.
He hadn't lost his sense of self or sanity like the Disciples of the Dust Removal Sect. Instead, a flood of memories surfaced in his mind.
At first glance, these memories seemed insignificant, but a closer look revealed something terrifying: he could control this special entity within him called the Crown of Pearls and Jades, allowing him to become even stronger.
Du Jian swallowed hard, looking at Zhan Shang.
"Friend, I have a favor to ask of you," Du Jian said abruptly.
"No, let me ask you for a favor first."
Zhan Shang had barely finished speaking when his head suddenly split open, revealing a monstrous mouth that bit off Du Jian's upper body and began to chew it.
Clearly, Zhan Shang had evolved much faster than Du Jian. Although he was infected by Du Jian, such outcomes depended not only on who was faster or slower but also on factors like immunity and physical condition. Thus, Zhan Shang gained the upper hand and caught Du Jian completely off guard.
Cultivation Technique inheritance... Zhan Shang mused, looking at the stump of Du Jian's severed torso, which was wriggling as if trying to regenerate.
He didn't take another bite to devour Du Jian completely. Instead, he reverted to a humanoid form. Well, after devouring Du Jian's upper body, his mutation had accelerated further. His once-human head had transformed into a grotesque amalgamation of snake, goat, ox, and human features, looking utterly bizarre.
Become stronger. Eat.
"Is this similar to the Evil Cultivator Guixiu from the Strange Domain?" A smile spread across Zhan Shang's grotesque, distorted face.
"Then this Southern Territory is now the Evil Realm."
Through the inexplicably surfacing memories, Zhan Shang understood the key to their growth.
It was to make the environment of the entire Southern Territory more conducive to the growth of their kind—these cannibalistic Evil Cultivators. Eventually, the most powerful Evil King would arise, an existence comparable to the Ancestor Immortal Realm.
This was the Ancestor Immortal Realm they were talking about! Anyone would be willing to pay the price of sacrificing a mere domain.
And now, Zhan Shang was a step ahead. As long as he continued to be a step ahead, the position of Evil King would undoubtedly be his.
It should have been Du Jian's, but unfortunately, he was a step too slow, ultimately becoming Zhan Shang's stepping stone.
A long, thin tongue snaked out of Zhan Shang's grotesque mouth, flicking lightly over his lips, "Time to plant the seeds..."