Chapter Sixty-Seven: The Opening

"Something’s not right. Let’s act together."

The sudden commotion inside the county town left the corpse herders exchanging bewildered glances, each feeling a chill of unease.

"Agreed!"

They nodded in unison. The remaining four corpse herders simultaneously pulled out their instruments: skin drums, rattles, bone whistles, and other tools for controlling the undead.

In the next instant, with a rising chorus of sinister, malevolent sounds, stiff, icy figures began to leap out from the dense forest.

In just a few breaths, nearly ninety ghastly, decaying zombies appeared—horrific, putrid bodies from which white maggots dropped as they hopped. Though these zombies were clearly inferior in quality to those summoned by the head corpse herder, they were far greater in number.

With the addition of those towering ones, over a hundred zombies now gathered outside Baohua County. Thick corpse miasma condensed into swirling clouds of dark yellow fog, surging and writhing, reeking of death.

"These filthy cultists do have some skill," remarked Song Tingye from the city wall as he watched the horde of zombies summoned by the corpse herders. Pressing down his mounting anger, he raised his right hand slightly.

"The play has begun; let the armored soldiers take the stage."

With that, Song Tingye climbed atop the battlement, his garments billowing in the brisk night wind.

"You fiends, you dare invade by night! You intend to turn every citizen of my city into a zombie? Do you truly believe there is no law and order in this land?"

His voice rang clear and sonorous, echoing throughout Baohua County, amplified by some mysterious force.

The townsfolk, roused by the constables and now standing bewildered in the streets and alleys, heard his words with terror and astonishment. The horrors they had endured flashed through their minds in an instant.

The already chaotic city was instantly set ablaze with panic.

Panic, terror, anxiety, and despair swept over everyone, as this sudden calamity plunged all into the depths of helplessness.

Outside the city, the corpse herders exchanged glances.

The lead herder scratched his head with a strange expression. "Did I just say we’d turn the whole city into zombies?"

"No, you didn’t!" the four others replied in perfect unison.

"Is he mad?"

Frowning, the lead herder’s eyes narrowed. He took several steps forward and called out, "Listen to me! We are disciples of the Fifteenth Branch of the Blood Alliance. We have come only to retrieve a lost magical artifact of our order. If you cooperate, I promise not a single soul in your city will be harmed."

Song Tingye paused atop the city gate tower, his face contorting in feigned rage.

"You fiend! Now you even covet the women of my city, seeking to make them corpse puppets for your eternal pleasure! You—your kind are truly beyond all decency!"

The lead corpse herder was speechless.

With a look of resolve, Song Tingye drew the sword at his waist with a metallic clang and shouted sternly, "As long as I, Song Tingye, stand here tonight, even if my body is shattered, you will not harm a single one of my people!"

His ringing declaration resounded throughout the city.

Hearing their magistrate’s vow to protect them with his life, the people—elderly, women, children, and men—gathered together, bowing in the direction of the solitary figure atop the city wall.

Cries of anguish echoed over the rooftops and through the streets. The townsfolk gave voice to the depths of their emotion, their sobbing gratitude for their magistrate plain and heartfelt.

"I am old now, in my twilight years. If you monsters wish to kill, kill me. But if you dare harm Magistrate Song, I will become a vengeful spirit and haunt you forever!"

Leaning on his cane, a white-haired elder strode resolutely toward the city gate.

"Yes! Magistrate Song spent his fortune to feed us. Today is the day we repay him!"

"Let’s go! I refuse to believe our numbers can’t overwhelm these monsters!"

"Magistrate Song, we’re coming!"

"Whoever dares hurt our magistrate, I’ll skin them alive!"

In an instant, the townsfolk formed surging waves of humanity, shouting, roaring, and bellowing in defiance. Their unprecedented fervor seemed to dispel even the oppressive night.

The collective will of the people gathered in the air, weaving into golden threads of light that entwined and swirled, forming a golden vortex above the city wall—directly above Song Tingye.

Feeling the growing power surging within him, Song Tingye took a deep breath.

"As magistrate of Baohua County, I offer myself for the people. Heaven and earth bear witness—grant me a divine weapon to subdue these fiends!"

In that moment, a mighty voice echoed from the heavens and earth.

Figures clad in golden armor, wielding long swords, tall and imposing like divine warriors descended from the heavens, appeared on the city wall.

"We await your command, Magistrate!"

A hundred golden-armored celestial soldiers roared in unison, their voices resounding like thunder.

"Defend the people! Destroy the enemy!"

Song Tingye pointed his sword forward. The hundred golden-armored soldiers leapt from the wall, transforming into a golden torrent that charged with a battle cry toward the enemy.

"Very well, if you want to play this way…" The lead corpse herder ground his teeth, then laughed in rage as Song Tingye turned him into a farce. "Since you enjoy this drama, we’ll play along! Begin the formation!"

"Yes!"

Chanting ancient incantations, the five corpse herders formed hand seals, their fingers glowing with an inky green light. As they recited, twisted, writhing green characters flowed from their arms into the earth, spreading rapidly in all directions.

Before the city gate, the golden-armored soldiers and the zombie horde collided with a thunderous crash.

Battle erupted in an instant!

The divine soldiers, empowered by talismanic armor, possessed immense strength and were well protected; the zombies could not breach their defenses. At first, over a dozen zombies were torn apart and scattered across the ground.

But as the battle dragged on, the power of the talismanic armor began to wane. When the first celestial soldier was finally dragged down and devoured by a pack of zombies, the tide of battle began to turn.

Seeing his soldiers falter, Song Tingye frowned. The number of zombies the corpse herders commanded was greater than he’d anticipated—especially those towering ones, whose blows could shatter the talismanic armor in just three strikes. They were troublesome foes indeed.

"If it comes to it, I’ll have to act myself. But if I do, the Dragon Hibernation Technique will be disrupted, delaying my ascension for at least a year…"

Hesitating, Song Tingye glanced back at the city. By now, nearly all the townsfolk had gathered at the gate, their hopeful, worshipful, and trusting gazes softening his resolve.

"One year…"

He clenched his fist, indecision clouding his face. If he truly lost a year, he would never catch up to his companions—he could only watch their silhouettes fade into the distance.

"Corpse Asura Tri-Yin Formation! Activate!"

A guttural shout erupted outside the city. The lead corpse herder, face twisted with savage glee, slammed his palm to the ground.

With a thunderous rumble, venomous lines of formation patterns lit up across the land like writhing serpents. An ancient, sinister array surfaced, exuding a suffocating chill as inky green mist spread unrestrained through the air.

It was as if a ghostly realm had descended upon the mortal world.

With this Corpse Asura Tri-Yin Formation, the zombies became frenzied, howling at the sky. Veins bulged beneath their skin, and viscous, green blood sprayed as they tore through the remaining celestial soldiers like a scythe through grass.

"This is bad!"

Seeing his soldiers routed, Song Tingye narrowed his eyes, golden light beginning to glow within his pupils.

"Tonight, I shall grant your wish and turn every soul in this city into a zombie!"

The lead corpse herder chanted his spell with wild laughter.

"Oh? Is that so?"

A calm, indifferent voice sounded from behind the corpse herders. A chill ran down their spines as all five whirled around in panic.

Atop a towering tree behind them stood a burly man in black, hands clasped behind his back, his gaze cold and distant. His wild purple hair, dancing in the wind like a flame, radiated an oppressive, suffocating aura.

…