Chapter 38: Tracking Across a Thousand Miles, Is There an Expert Helping from the Shadows?

"This..."

Wufeng and Daoist Priest Bai He were instantly dumbfounded.

"It seems this zombie truly has a formidable expert behind it, having shielded its aura so completely. Even my Thousand-Mile Tracking Spell cannot pinpoint its location."

Feng Yang frowned slightly, a playful glint flashing in his eyes. He loved challenging such difficult tasks. If it were merely an ordinary毛僵 (Furry Zombie), it would be far too dull. Ever since he learned that Qin Feng had mastered footwork techniques and martial arts, he had vaguely suspected the presence of a master behind him. Otherwise, how could a simple zombie possess such knowledge? The failure of his tracking spell only served to confirm his suspicions. Without the guidance of an expert, no matter how high a zombie's intelligence, it would be impossible for it to grasp the methods required to conceal its own aura.

"Senior Feng Yang, what should we do now?" Wufeng asked, looking at Feng Yang with a grave expression. That monstrous zombie was simply too terrifying, especially the speed at which it improved its strength—it was truly chilling. If they didn't lock down its location and eradicate it soon, and should the zombie grow even stronger, he feared that even Feng Yang would be unable to handle it. It wasn't that he intended to dampen their morale, but Qin Feng had left him with such an overwhelming sense of dread. Never before had any demon or ghost exerted such immense pressure upon him; if he hadn't fled quickly back then, he would have been killed by Qin Feng.

"Do not worry. I have plenty of methods at my disposal," Feng Yang replied, completely unbothered.

With those words, he produced seven red candles. After lighting them, he placed them in seven different positions, forming the configuration of the Seven Stars. He then took out a Meridian Compass and three strands of hair, winding the hair around the red candles. Holding the compass, he formed hand seals, paced the ritual steps, and began chanting.

In an instant, the Big Dipper appeared in the sky, ten thousand meters above. Seven rays of divine starlight descended from the constellation, connecting with the seven red candles. Feng Yang shifted his hand seals, manipulating the compass to draw the divine starlight into it.

*Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!*

The two needles of varying lengths on the compass began to spin wildly. Finally, the longer one locked toward the southeast—the very direction where Qianyuan Cave was located.

"Hmph, even if you shield your corpse aura, what use is it? Before me, you are nothing." Feng Yang sneered, then departed quickly, accompanied by Wufeng and Daoist Priest Bai He.

***

Meanwhile, in a desolate, primeval forest outside Qianyuan Cave, Qin Feng was still absorbing the essence of the moonlight. Suddenly, two auras intruded upon his senses.

They were two demonic auras. One was quite familiar—the Peach Tree Demon he had encountered before. The other was entirely strange; based on its aura, it was a demon at the Transformation Stage. Those at this stage were capable of taking on human form. This creature was in hot pursuit of the Peach Tree Demon, who appeared to be fleeing for its life.

Moving with extreme speed, the two demons arrived outside Qianyuan Cave in moments. The moment the Peach Tree Demon spotted Qin Feng, its face lit up with joy, and it rushed toward him.

"Brother Zombie, save me!" the Peach Tree Demon cried out excitedly.

Unlike their previous encounter, the Peach Tree Demon had now taken human form. It appeared as a beautiful woman in a white, cinched-waist long dress adorned with vivid peach blossom patterns. Following closely behind her was a burly, middle-aged man in black robes with a powerful build.

*Whoosh!*

The Peach Tree Demon flashed and quickly hid behind Qin Feng. The middle-aged man stopped less than three meters away, wielding a mace and looking fierce. It was an ordinary mace, not a refined demonic weapon, as a demon could not forge such a weapon until reaching the Demon Soldier Stage.

"A zombie?" The middle-aged man stared fixedly at Qin Feng, his eyes filled with deep suspicion. This zombie seemed different from the rest. Looking at those intelligent eyes, it appeared to have gained sentience?

"Fellow demon, may I ask why you are hunting this Peach Tree Demon?" Qin Feng asked, his voice human.

"You can actually speak?" The middle-aged man’s eyes widened in shock. Once he regained his composure, he pointed his mace at the Peach Tree Demon and snarled with murderous intent: "It stole the Auspicious Beast Fruit that I have painstakingly guarded for a hundred years! It takes one hundred years to grow, one hundred years to blossom, one hundred years to set fruit, and one hundred years to ripen. A single tree produces only one fruit. It requires four hundred years in total. A century ago, by a stroke of luck, I discovered this tree and waited for it to ripen. It was only half a year away from maturity, yet this wretched Peach Tree Demon stole it!"

"No wonder your injuries have recovered so well that you've even attained human form. Aren't you a Demon Soldier? Can you not even handle a demon at the Transformation Stage?" Qin Feng turned to look at the Peach Tree Demon.

"Although I recovered, I only reached the early stage of transformation. That is a Tiger Demon at the mid-transformation stage; it is very strong. Besides, I gave my demonic weapon to you, so I have no weapon to fight it," the Peach Tree Demon explained.

"You ate the fruit and brought a powerful enemy upon yourself, and now you want me to save you just because you called me 'Brother Zombie'? There is no such thing as a free lunch in this world," Qin Feng sneered.

"I even gave you the demonic weapon I spent so much effort refining, so won't you please help me?" The Peach Tree Demon tugged at Qin Feng’s clothes, acting coy. "Will you? At the very least, I could serve you for the night."

"Pah!" The Tiger Demon spat on the ground, his face full of disgust and disdain. "To save your own skin, you've shamed all of us demons."

The Peach Tree Demon ignored the Tiger Demon and continued to fawn over Qin Feng, batting its eyelashes and even employing a charm technique. This was a common tactic for female demons—using charms to beguile strong men and then draining their life force and souls. However, the trick was utterly useless against Qin Feng. At best, the Peach Tree Demon’s charm only made it seem a bit more alluring; it was nowhere near enough to make Qin Feng willing to intervene.

"You should be clear: I took your demonic weapon by my own ability, not because you gave it to me. I already showed you mercy by not killing you back then. Now, don't even think about me helping you," Qin Feng said, his attitude firm. He had no desire to meddle in such affairs. A Tiger Demon at the mid-transformation stage was quite powerful, a full major realm above him; it would be difficult to deal with.

"How about this, let's make a deal," the Peach Tree Demon said, its expression turning serious, dropping the coy act. "I know of a hidden treasure cave filled with many riches. Help me, and I will take you there."