The Demonic Cultivator In Zombie World

Chapter 237: Icy Fire

Atop a high mountain, within a cave that had originally been the dwelling of a nest of late-stage Golden Core pythons. Because Hu was injured and in urgent need of a tonic, Chu Xuan thought it fitting to offer the pythons as sacrifices to the gastric temple and then used a gust of wind to cleanse the cave of any impurities before settling down temporarily.

He had thoroughly examined the memories of the Golden Core demonic cultivator named Lin Fan, a member of the Myriad Souls Sect, a fourth-tier cultivation sect located in the Northern Cold, where the highest achievable realm for a cultivator was that of the Nascent Soul.

Due to the Feather Transformation Heaven Palace retreating to Central, restrictions were loosened, and the demonic cultivators' widespread slaughter of mortals ensued to enhance the realms. Lin Fan was tasked by his master to replenish the Myriad Souls Banner.

Chu Xuan discovered that Lin Fan's relationship with his master was not that of a typical disciple and teacher but rather more akin to that of a servant to a master. The true master of the Myriad Souls Sect was the Nascent Soul ancestor known as the Myriad Souls Elder.

Once disciples of the sect reached the Golden Core stage, the Myriad Souls Elder would place a restriction on their spirit, enslaving them to do his bidding.

Chu Xuan learned of this restriction while searching Lin Fan's memories. He chose not to break the restriction but instead threw Lin Fan's living soul into the Sky-Shielding Umbrella and wrapped it with his own divine consciousness.

In this way, Lin Fan was not dead, the restriction remained intact, and the Myriad Souls Elder would not detect any changes in Lin Fan.

With a simple gesture, Chu Xuan easily altered his appearance to match that of Lin Fan, the Golden Core cultivator from the Myriad Souls Sect.

The distance between Northern Cold and Southern Wilderness was vast, not easily traversed even by a Nascent Soul cultivator. Therefore, he would have to remain in the Northern Cold for an extended period. Assuming Lin Fan's identity was perfectly suitable for his needs.

"From now on, I am Lin Fan," Chu Xuan said with a slight smile. The mask worn for too long was no burden; he always remembered who he truly was. "Let's return to the Myriad Souls Sect."

"The Myriad Souls Elder still has some conscience; his Golden Core cultivators get to rest for a year after completing each mission," he mused. "The souls in Lin Fan's Myriad Souls Banner are sufficient; it's time to go back."

Chu Xuan, assuming Lin Fan's identity, took out the lower-grade flying magic treasure and flew towards the Myriad Souls Sect, located in the Northern Cold cultivation realm, within the borders of the Wu Kingdom and the Yin Soul Mountain Range.

Besides the Myriad Souls Sect, there were two other demonic sects within the Wu Kingdom. The orthodox sects outside the Wu Kingdom frequently launched attacks, forcing the three sects within to band together for mutual support.

Soon, Chu Xuan arrived at Dark Evil Peak in the Yin Soul Mountain Range, the very peak that had been awarded to Lin Fan upon his advancement to Golden Core. As soon as he landed, a large number of mortals were already waiting to serve him.

Following Lin Fan's usual habits, Chu Xuan immediately ordered these mortals to prepare exquisite delicacies. He then proceeded to the main peak of the Yin Soul Mountain Range, Myriad Souls Peak, to meet with the Myriad Souls Elder.

However, just as Lin Fan's memories indicated, he did not get to see the Myriad Souls Elder but only managed to kneel outside his stone chamber. Respectfully, Chu Xuan announced, "Master, your disciple has returned. The task you assigned has been completed; this time, six hundred thousand mortal souls have been collected."

An aged voice echoed from within the stone chamber, "Fan'er, well done. However, it has been three years since your breakthrough to the Golden Core stage, and you are still only at the first level. What kind of progress is this?

If you do not cultivate diligently, how can you hope to achieve longevity? I have always taught you to be diligent and steadfast, shunning laziness and negligence, only then can you achieve greatness! I will give you one more year of rest; make sure to cultivate well!"

Chu Xuan inwardly sneered. Cultivate more? More cultivation likely meant more dangerous assignments. Lin Fan was aware of this and had deliberately delayed for three years while secretly gathering the necessary techniques and elixirs for body refinement. Unfortunately for Lin Fan, he had encountered Chu Xuan.

"Master's teachings are correct; your disciple has learned his lesson," Chu Xuan bowed respectfully.

"Go then."

...

Returning to Dark Evil Peak, thousands of mortal servants had already prepared a feast under the guidance of a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Lin Fan was known for his indulgence in gastronomy—a habit he had not shed even after becoming a Golden Core cultivator. Having quirks was common among cultivators, and Lin Fan's penchant for food was hardly noteworthy.

Now that Chu Xuan was assuming this identity, he naturally had to act in a manner consistent with the character. "Excellent," he remarked as he devoured the table full of spiritual food, nodding in genuine approval.

The Foundation Establishment cultivator, grinning widely, said, "Thank you for your praise, Elder Lin!"

Chu Xuan nodded.

This cultivator, named Zhu Jie, was a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator who did not focus on combat but specialized in cooking spiritual food. It was for this reason that he had been brought here by Lin Fan to serve as his personal chef.

Zhu Jie's culinary skills were indeed impressive. The taste of the spiritual food was far from the bland and flavorless fare at the Infinite Sect and had a hint of modern industrial sophistication to it.

After finishing the spiritual food, Chu Xuan stood up and instructed, "I shall be entering seclusion. Let no one disturb me."

"Yes! I, Zhu Jie, swear to defend Dark Evil Peak to the death!" Zhu Jie pounded his chest with great reverence, like a drum.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Chu Xuan nodded in satisfaction. Originally, Zhu Jie was merely an outer disciple with a modest spiritual root. Without his culinary skills, he wouldn't have even reached the late Qi Refining stage, let alone the Foundation Establishment. His entire cultivation base was granted by Lin Fan, to whom he was unwaveringly loyal—a fact that Chu Xuan did not doubt.

Inside the cultivation chamber, Chu Xuan inspected everything and, as usual, set up the array. Only then did he use the Blood Mirror to return to Blue Star. Back on Blue Star, the oppressive sensation that weighed on him like Mount Tai finally vanished.

"What a terrible place that extraterrestrial battlefield is; I'm never going back!" Chu Xuan muttered to himself.

However, he then clicked his tongue, remembering that he might need to return there in the future if he had a chance to advance to the Deity Transformation phase and needed to find divine objects for transformation.

"Cough cough, let's focus on breaking the Life-Death Mystic Ice first," he decided. Commanding the Imperial Sky Mirror, Chu Xuan quickly flew towards the northwestern part of the Han Country's imperial territory, over a vast desert.

At the center of this desert lay the enormous block of Life-Death Mystic Ice, surrounded by more than twenty arrays. Long, Hu and Bao were guarding the site. Upon seeing Chu Xuan arrive, they immediately ceased their wrestling and bowed respectfully.

Hu, with the highest cultivation among them and standing at the forefront, respectfully reported, "Master, there has been no activity from the Life-Death Mystic Ice during this period."

Chu Xuan observed the large, still unhealed hole in Hu's chest with a pang of sympathy. "Does it still hurt?" he asked.

Hu shook his head, "Not much. Eating more flesh and blood should help."

Chu Xuan nodded, "Eat as much as you need. As long as your wounds heal, it's worth it."

Tears unexpectedly welled up in Hu's eyes as it knelt down, "Thank you, Master!"

Chu Xuan nodded slightly and then approached the Life-Death Mystic Ice. Since it was ice, applying flames should certainly melt it; it was just a matter of time. Moments later, as Chu Xuan watched the fiercely burning Corpse Refining Blood Fire, he began to smile.

"Icy fire?"