As spiritual energy revived, I, having acquired certain attributes, gradually ascended to immortalit

"So it's because I was too fast?"

Xie Chong held his phone, gazing blankly at the towering tree.

He spent half a day installing the dispersal device, just hoping to prevent the workers from returning, but it seems he dug a hole for himself.

"Bang!"

Before the two could continue their conversation, a muffled sound suddenly rang out, as if something had exploded in the ground in the direction of the big tree.

The two exchanged a glance and quickly ran over.

Behind the construction site, where a section of corrugated steel sheeting was originally enclosed, one of the sheets has collapsed.

Amidst the swirling dust, the thick roots of the ancient tree were revealed, and amidst the intertwined roots, a coffin, blown open from the inside, lay half-buried at an angle in the soil.

There was also a stiff figure standing inside.

coffin?!

Xie Chong pulled out a flashlight from somewhere and turned it on with a "snap".

The figure sensed something, turned around, and under the pale light, a face half-corroded suddenly appeared.

Its right side was so rotten that the bone was exposed, and its eyeballs were hanging out, staring straight at them, which was quite frightening.

"Holy crap!!"

After a scream, Shen Qing and Xie Chong drew their guns and fired without hesitation.

"Bang bang bang!!"

But the figure only swayed, splattering a few pieces of rotting flesh, before roaring and lunging forward.

"The pistol is useless?"

Shen Qing was closer and instinctively kicked out, sending the corpse flying backward and crashing back into the pit.

But the next moment he jumped up again, his chest was caved in and he could still move.

It was much weaker than I had imagined, barely reaching the ninth rank, but it was tough and thick-skinned, similar to a zombie in the Chronicles of Strange Things, only its limbs weren't as stiff.

"This damn stuff, cinnabar blood should work too, right?"

As Shen Qing watched the corpse lunging at him again, he bit his finger, which had just healed, and smeared the blood on his fist.

A delicate fragrance wafted through the air.

As far as he knew, ghosts and monsters, and monsters, referred to all abnormal things, including the resurrection of the dead.

As the corpse lunged forward again, Shen Qing used his right middle finger, index finger, and thumb to form an eagle claw shape, grabbing its shoulder and pulling it sharply forward.

Wherever the blood-stained fingers touched, white smoke instantly began to rise from the corpse.

"Cannon Fist!"

Then, Shen Qing made a defensive gesture with his right hand, lowered his center of gravity, and suddenly swung his left hand out, slamming it into the corpse like a cannonball.

"boom!"

The corpse's chest was smashed open, and pieces of dry, blackened material flew out, leaving corroded marks at the broken ends, sizzling as they flew.

[Slay demons and zombies to obtain the entry "Shadow Zombie (Green - Strange Tale)".]

[Yin Jiang: A body of Yin Jiang, like withered wood that does not decay. Skin is corroded by Yin energy, becoming as tough as withered wood, defense +50%, body stiff, pain sensation greatly reduced.]

[The host has already mastered a similar term; you can replace it or obtain double the Karma Points.]

"A walking corpse, not the same type of corpse as Wu Yuan?"

Shen Qing squatted down and examined the zombie's chest. Unlike Wu Yuan, who was half-human and half-zombie, this zombie's entire body had turned into a zombie, and its internal organs were no longer usable.

A pistol can cause injury, but it's not fatal unless there's overwhelming firepower.

After reading the new entry's description... stiffness, such an obvious side effect, he naturally wouldn't switch, it's not like it's a cumulative effect.

[Karma Severance Value: 57+5+10]

"It was solved so easily?"

Xie Chong walked over to Shen Qing, shone his flashlight into the pit, and said, "Didn't they just call for reinforcements for nothing?"

According to the bureau's teachings, places where yin energy gathers, such as ancient trees or ancient tombs, are where demons have been hiding for a year and are supposed to be gathering strength. People below the rank of captain should not touch them.

When they were at night, the old man taught them that if they saw a deserted place with no one else around, they should just run away and wait for reinforcements.

Is that all?

He shone his flashlight around, looking along the roots of the big tree, and suddenly stopped.

There seemed to be something else next to the partially exposed coffin. Upon closer inspection, Xie Chong was immediately startled to discover that it was actually the lid of another coffin.

Then, the lid moved.

"Be careful!"

Before Xie Chong could finish speaking, the coffin suddenly exploded, and pieces of wood and skin flew out like shrapnel.

Amidst the swirling dust, yet another zombie appeared, and there were even more; more coffins were hidden in the churned soil beside the original one.

The one in front of them, judging from its appearance alone, was clearly stronger than before.

Its face was withered, and its skin clung tightly to its bones, yet it remained intact without the slightest sign of decay.

Its movements were much faster; as soon as Shen Qing stood up, it pounced on him, and Xie Chong quickly used his innate ability.

"Fossils as soldiers!"

With a loud "bang!", the stone wall that had risen from the ground was instantly smashed into pieces, and dust filled the air.

Xie Chong's eyes widened, and his heart pounded wildly. This was not a talisman, but a stone wall formed from his power, which shattered instantly.

Taking advantage of this moment, Shen Qing managed to assume a defensive stance, but he was still sent flying backward.

With a loud crash, a neatly arranged row of hollow bricks collapsed, burying him under the rubble.

"Shen Qing!"

"Cough cough—"

Amidst the rubble, Shen Qing struggled to crawl out, swallowing the blood in her throat. "I... I'm alright."

He instinctively pressed his hand to his chest, and a sharp pain shot through him; his ribs might be slightly fractured.

Shen Qing's expression turned serious.

"Don't let it get close. This zombie has a strength of nearly three tons; it's an E-rank demon, and might even be close to D-rank!"

If he hadn't already broken through to the Refining Realm, and if he hadn't been protected by the Xuanjia armor and the earthen wall, he would have been finished.

The internal organs would likely be shattered.

"roar!"

Compared to Xie Chong, Shen Qing was either closer or more attractive, but the zombies pounced on him again.

"Fossils as soldiers!"

Ignoring her surroundings, Shen Qing rolled over on the spot.

Xie Chong's stone locks spread out from the ground and wrapped around the zombie's ankles, but with a single step, the stone locks snapped inch by inch.

The zombie's palm strike missed its target, and a large hole was smashed into the tank of the cement mixer truck next to it, from which some of the solidified dark gray cement slowly flowed out.

"Damn, this is impossible to fight!"

Xie Chong gritted his teeth, sweat beading on his forehead. This demon could easily break even precious talismans; he didn't have many of those.

The next level of magic talismans and spirit talismans are probably even less effective.

Seeing Shen Qing constantly dodging and already covered in a mess, Xie Chong felt very frustrated.

Damn it, he's only an E-rank and he can't even help?

"Fossils as soldiers!"

Another stone wall rose up, then shattered. A breath later, Shen Qing was sent flying again, this time even more badly, tumbling several times before finally stopping.

"No, this won't do, we're all going to die anyway."

Xie Chong shook his head, a resolute look flashing in his eyes. He could only use his talent a few more times, as it was too taxing.

It's at least an hour's drive from the city center, and by the time reinforcements arrive, it will be too late.

He rummaged in his pouch, emptied out all the talismans, and pulled out a syringe from the very bottom.

"Damn it, did killing his henchman make me my enemy?"

Shen Qing got up from the ground again, blood already spilling from the corner of her mouth. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Xie Chong holding something and about to stab himself.

"What are you going to do?"

"Go for it, or wait to die." Xie Chong gripped the syringe, his hand trembling slightly.

This is a potential-enhancing injection issued only to officially qualified personnel. It maximizes their innate abilities and lifespan, and is used for desperate last-ditch efforts.

They generally won't die, but they'll at least be crippled.

But this is the only option left.