Chapter 693 Death Energy

However, Ye Xuan found a small metal box hidden beneath the central table.

The box contained twenty-four crystal cores.

All of them were above level seven, and each one had thin black lines inside.

There was also a black stone the size of a thumb.

Unlike the crystal cores, it didn’t contain ability energy. It gave off the same oppressive feeling as the death energy near the ancient gateway’s projection.

Chu Miao reached for it, but Ye Xuan caught her wrist.

"Wait."

She stopped.

Ye Xuan wrapped the stone in spiritual energy before lifting it from the box.

The moment it left the container, a layer of frost appeared over the table.

The room’s temperature dropped.

Even Lei Ying, who stood several meters away, felt uncomfortable.

"What is that?"

"Condensed death energy," Chu Miao said.

She had absorbed death energy during cultivation, but it had always been mixed with other forms of energy. This stone was different.

The energy inside was highly concentrated.

An ordinary ability user might have their energy core damaged just by holding it for too long.

A low-level cultivator could also be affected if the energy entered their meridians.

Ye Xuan placed the stone inside a jade box and added several seals before giving it to Chu Miao.

"The Zombie King might be using these stones to strengthen intelligent zombies."

"That would explain the black lines inside their cores."

The intelligent zombies probably absorbed the death energy slowly under the Zombie King’s guidance. Most would fail and die, but those that survived would become much stronger.

Chu Miao stored the sealed box separately.

"We need to find out where these stones come from."

"City K," Ye Xuan said.

The realm scar was located there. If it released both immortal energy and death energy, the Zombie King could collect what leaked through and condense it.

That might also be why it had chosen City K as its stronghold.

With an endless supply of strange energy, it could create more generals while controlling zombies across the country.

The situation was becoming clearer.

Unfortunately, it was also becoming more troublesome.

After checking the last cabinet, Chu Hao walked over with a handheld radio.

"This still has power, but I can’t find any normal channels."

Ye Xuan took it and adjusted the frequency.

Static filled the room.

He tried several channels before a low scratching sound came from the device.

Scrape...scrape...

Then silence.

A few seconds later, the scratching came again.

Three short sounds, followed by one long sound.

It repeated twice.

"That isn’t random," Chu Miao said.

"It might be a signal," Ye Xuan replied.

The intelligent zombies couldn’t speak properly, but they could still produce sounds. With a simple code, they could communicate over long distances without needing human language.

Chu Hao looked at the radio in Ye Xuan’s hand.

"Can they hear us?"

No one spoke.

Ye Xuan immediately turned off the device.

At the same moment, a red light flashed beneath the battery cover.

He opened it and found a small transmitter attached to the back.

"It sent something," Lei Ying said.

"Yes."

"Did we just tell the Zombie King that City S has fallen?"

Ye Xuan removed the transmitter and crushed it between his fingers.

"It would have found out soon anyway."

Tens of millions of zombies had disappeared. Even if the generals in other cities couldn’t communicate with City S, the sudden silence would attract attention.

The only difference was that the Zombie King might now know someone had entered this command room.

Chu Miao didn’t appear worried.

"Let it know."

Everyone looked at her.

She glanced at the map of City K before rolling it up.

"We know where it is now. It should be allowed to worry too."

The saber-toothed tiger nodded in agreement.

"Make it lose sleep."

"Zombies don’t sleep," Lei Ying reminded it.

"Then make it regret not sleeping."

This time, Lei Ying had no response.

After making sure they hadn’t missed anything, they returned to the surface.

The sky outside had darkened, and the ruins of City S looked even more desolate beneath the fading light.

Chu Miao sent everyone into the Soul Ring before entering with Ye Xuan.

They could return to the sect immediately, but Ye Xuan needed a little time to stabilize his cultivation. Chu Miao had also advanced recently and shouldn’t continue rushing around without rest.

There were still six days before the first planned attacks.

That was enough time to prepare, as long as they didn’t waste it.

The moment they appeared near the villa, Mother Chu walked toward them.

"Did you finish collecting the crystal cores?"

"We collected most of them," Chu Miao replied.

"And did you find anything else?"

Chu Miao took out the rolled map.

"A headache."

Mother Chu looked at the many markings and dates after it was spread across the table.

Her expression changed.

Grandpa Chu and Father Chu came closer as well.

Within a short time, the entire family had gathered around the map.

Grandpa Chu examined it for several minutes before looking at Ye Xuan.

"How soon can we return?"

"Tomorrow morning."

"Good. Contact Commander Shen as soon as we leave the Soul Ring. Tell him to call an emergency meeting."

Chu Miao pointed at the first three bases marked for attack.

"We should warn these places tonight."

"Will they believe us?" Chu Hao asked.

"They don’t need to know where the information came from," Grandpa Chu replied. "Tell them a large zombie movement has been detected. If they refuse to prepare after receiving a warning, that will be their decision."

The apocalypse had taught everyone to be cautious.

Most base leaders would rather waste a few resources strengthening their defenses than risk ignoring such information.

Chu Miao looked at the dates again.

The Zombie King had made a careful plan.

It had probably spent months preparing its armies and studying human bases.

Unfortunately for it, one unexpected lightning tribulation had exposed everything.

Thank you for your support guys. I hope you are all doing well ?????