Li Tan set up a simple formation at the current location to prevent any mishaps while he was away, and he instructed Zhang Xiucai to ensure that everyone stayed within the designated area.
This formation was a very basic defensive one, frequently used by Li Tan during his retreats. Now, hastily arranged using the general principles of the world’s natural forces, it was far from effective. However, it could still provide temporary protection against those living dead for a short period.
After leaving the caravan with Zhang Cong and arriving in front of a house’s main gate, Zhang Cong bravely asked, “What should I do now?”
Li Tan replied, “It’s simple: lie on the ground, close your eyes, and imagine you’re dreaming. No matter what happens, don’t open your eyes, make a sound, or move.”
“I understand!” Zhang Cong said and immediately lay on the ground.
Li Tan lightly jumped onto the opposite rooftop and threw a small stone he had picked up randomly toward the main door of the house where Zhang Cong’s head was facing. He used too much force, creating a large hole in the door. Nevertheless, the desired effect was achieved.
Soon, the main door opened, and a greasy, living dead man slowly walked out, likely a butcher.
The butcher stood motionless in front of Zhang Cong’s head for about five or six minutes, then suddenly crouched down and hoisted Zhang Cong onto his shoulder like a sack of sand, walking off in a specific direction.
Li Tan gently jumped down and carefully followed behind.
He could see Zhang Cong’s hanging head on the butcher’s back. Although he couldn’t see his expression, he was certain Zhang Cong was very nervous.
Li Tan, wanting to prevent any unexpected situations, kept watch on the butcher while constantly staying alert to the surrounding movements.
Fifteen minutes quickly passed, and the butcher stopped in front of an unremarkable house, hesitated for a moment, and then walked inside.
This house was likely where the evil cultivator resided. Li Tan hesitated briefly but decided not to follow directly in. Instead, he carefully used his spiritual sense to investigate.
Inside the house was a very ordinary arrangement, with no one other than the butcher and Zhang Cong who had just entered. As Li Tan was puzzled, the butcher provided an explanation: lifting up a section of the floor revealed a staircase leading to an unknown location.
The butcher walked down the staircase, and since Li Tan’s spiritual sense had limited range, he carefully followed at a cautious distance beyond the limit of his spiritual perception.
The tunnel was filled with a strong earthy scent, and the ground was scattered with a lot of loose soil, clearly indicating recent renovations. Soon, the staircase ended, and a thick, heavy door blocked the way. The butcher pressed a hidden mechanism, and the door opened, immediately letting out a cacophony of sounds.
Behind the door was a very spacious area. Within the visible range were about twenty living dead individuals standing in a neat semi-circle. In the center was a massive black cauldron and a mysterious figure wrapped in a black robe with an indistinguishable face, sitting cross-legged. The cauldron, as black as ink, was being heated by fierce alchemical flames. The powerful force of the steam occasionally lifted the cauldron’s lid, and every time this happened, a piercing scream, as if thousands of people were crying out in agony simultaneously, would echo.
These were the souls of those who had died at the hands of this evil cultivator.
What level of cultivation did this evil cultivator possess?
Li Tan cautiously extended his spiritual sense, but he couldn’t discern the cultivator’s level at all. At this moment, the butcher had already carried Zhang Cong to the side of the evil cultivator.
The evil cultivator glanced at Zhang Cong, suddenly furrowing his brows, and extended his claw-like hand.
Li Tan could wait no longer! He activated the Maya Steps, using the left and right walls to propel himself forward at high speed.
The evil cultivator’s hand trembled, and moments later, he revealed a sinister smile. He swiftly turned his body and flew toward the direction of the main gate. Almost simultaneously, sword lights flashed from both inside and outside, and that seemingly indestructible door shattered like tofu, scattering debris everywhere.
“A child?”
Evil cultivator and Li Tan both instinctively stepped back half a step and asked the question simultaneously, but the next moment, they shook their heads and dismissed their own guesses, “He must be a soul-stealing person.”
Li Tan was somewhat surprised that the opponent could instantly deduce this level of insight. He asked, “How did you figure it out?”
“Hehe, you were still a hundred meters away just now, yet you instantly appeared at the entrance. You must have used an extremely refined footwork technique, and your mastery of it is quite high. Hehe, the mastery of martial arts can only be improved through accumulated experience. You must be a soul-stealing person.”
This fellow was no simpleton, and Li Tan began to take him seriously, his gaze turning solemn. This was the first time since his rebirth that he had treated an enemy with such seriousness.
The opponent was able to think this deeply within a few breaths. The person before him was certainly no ordinary individual. If he underestimated him, he might waste this opportunity of rebirth.
Similarly, the evil cultivator also held Li Tan in high regard.
His thoughts were almost identical to Li Tan’s.
The two did not engage in any other unnecessary conversation. In this situation, the questions that should have arisen were already answered in their hearts.
For example, the evil cultivator instantly understood why Li Tan had come and how he had found this place.
Li Tan, on the other hand, still had some doubts, but those were questions he would only have the right to ask after winning.
The evil cultivator clapped his hands slowly and gradually stepped back, while the living dead surrounding him immediately sprang into action.
Previously, Li Tan had used his spiritual sense to probe and could only make out rough human shapes. Now, seeing them directly with his eyes, his heart was greatly shaken.
There were a total of fifty-four living dead individuals here. Except for three middle-aged men dressed as mercenaries, the rest were wearing the attire of the Tianlang Sect.
These were basically all the disciples of the Tianlang Sect who had died in the Zui Xian domain last time. Li Tan’s gaze turned icy and cold as he asked sharply, “Which organization are you from?”
The evil cultivator trembled slightly, nodding in surprise, though his answer was somewhat strange, “Yes, and no.”
“What do you mean?”
“Hehe, you’ll have the right to know only if you survive my hands.”
“Hmph, let’s see who among us is superior.”
Li Tan took a step forward, activated the Maya Steps, and in an instant, circled around to the middle of the living dead.
These slow-moving undead were practically useless against Li Tan, who easily dodged all attacks and maneuvered to the front of the evil cultivator, mocking, “It seems your puppets aren’t very effective.”
The evil cultivator raised his sword to block Li Tan’s attack, sneering, “Do you think I went through so much trouble to turn them into this state just for fighting with others?”
Li Tan slightly furrowed his brow, shifted his body to dodge a powerful strike from the evil cultivator, and decisively used his mental storm technique. Then, he leaped into the air, once again unleashing countless sword beams of the Tian Xu Luo Heng, as if pouring rain, to strike down upon the opponent. By the time the evil cultivator recovered from the brief dizziness, it was already too late to dodge.
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