Contrary to what mortals thought, cultivators were not always riding spiritual beasts or flying on their swords. Even the winged men did not always fly; flying in any form consumed a lot of energy, and most of the time, monks and cultivators traveled on foot or on horseback. Although using spiritual tools was another matter, due to their high cost, few people possessed such valuable items.
This was a fantastical image of cultivators that mortals had created. Superhumans who did not set foot on the lowly ground and were revered alongside the gods. This status was so high that people considered some sect leaders as demigods.
Among the demigods, there was an unspoken hierarchy. At the top of this chain were the Heavenly Kings, who oversaw the cultivators and all mortals from "Heaven."
However, people could not worship just anyone; they chose a suitable deity based on their status. Many people praised the cultivators of their region and placed them alongside ancient deities. They never turned to worship stronger cultivators, as they considered it an insult to their status.
Therefore, insulting those positions was considered blasphemy because cultivators were messengers from the great gods who brought peace and progress.
This sanctity ultimately led to much corruption, and many cultivators freed themselves from the bonds of morality. Those who had power adjusted morality to their liking and removed anything they found undesirable.
Bai Mo stood atop a hill overlooking the forest. A cool breeze blew. For miles around, there was no sign of human activity. He adjusted his new clothes and tightened his sword.
"I originally planned to wait for the vanguard groups to arrive; although I expected it, the zombie hunters reached this area sooner." he thought.
Then he stroked his chin and stared into the distance.
"Maybe it's better to leave … I've gathered a lot of thoughts so far… staying here will make me burn through many thoughts."
He then considered various possibilities.
"If I go alone and attack small villages, there won't be a problem, but I'll just get mortal thoughts… if I can kill immortals, I'll get better thoughts. Now that I've become a zombie, I shouldn't delay obtaining thoughts for a moment."
But attacking members of a sect would put him in greater danger.
"It's true that to gain great profit, one must take risks; but assessing the situation is also important… with my current power, I might be able to infiltrate the vanguard caravan and hunt them one by one, but I'm not sure I can handle the consequences afterward…"
He sighed and looked at the tall green wall to the west.
He knew nothing about the location of the Zombie Alliance, but by chance, he had obtained the identity of a zombie hunter.
"Having the identity of a zombie hunter allows me to collaborate with various associations and track the Alliance… in the meantime, I can form smaller groups under the pretext of hunting zombies or raid villages under attack… villages that normally fall victim are less suspicious."
But now that he had become a zombie hunter, he needed an identity. He had been going by Bai Mo until now. He could continue with the same name, but he decided otherwise.
"I can't live with my old name because, for years, people have thought I'm dead and buried… immortality only kept me alive for a longer time, for the one-day flowers, humans are immortal, but this immortality also has its limits and is not eternal. Now that I've taken over someone else's body, it's better to go by his name, Bai Mo has become a legend, his time has ended, but the sun of Fang Yuan has just risen… I will be that sun, I will become Fang Yuan."
Then he moved west and left the red plain behind.
He stepped onto a path that passed through birch and wild alder trees. It was narrow and sometimes wound around the ups and downs. Occasionally, it rose and then kissed the low ground. Although the weather was clear and the sharp sunlight pierced through the cotton clouds, the forest's arched canopy was safe from its reach. The intertwined branches wove a wooden ceiling, with only a few thin strands of that golden light.
Fang Yuan did not eat or rest. This allowed him to move faster than others, but since he still kept his brain somewhat intact, he couldn't ignore mental fatigue. He was neither an ordinary zombie nor a complete zombie; it was like a tightrope walk where one wrong move would cost him dearly.
He relied more on his instincts than his mind. He didn't want to waste his thoughts unnecessarily. Besides, there weren't many things that could threaten a zombie. This gave him some peace of mind, and he chose paths with fewer people. He targeted narrow paths, deserted routes, and any place where no one passed.
The mountain slope was covered with diverse vegetation. The higher he went, the less dense it became, and shorter trees grew. The path he took wound behind small and large rocks and disappeared; and sometimes he saw movement under the rocky ground that quickly vanished.
Two days passed in this manner. The weather constantly changed, sometimes a cold wind blew, slowing his movement; and sometimes heavy clouds settled among the steep slopes, blocking his view. Nevertheless, he kept moving and continued on his way.
Now, on the fifth day of his journey; dark clouds quickly passed over the jagged peaks, and the drizzle settled on his hard skin. The wind had picked up, and a legion of clouds was charging above him. Heavy raindrops, like a herd of wild horses trampling the meadows, fell on the rocky slope.
Many streams formed, causing landslides. Large and small rocks rolled and fell from the low and high parts. After a while, passing became almost impossible. The tall mountain standing before him descended upon him like a massive barrier of calamities. Fang Yuan stumbled several times but continued on his way.
The mountain weather was unpredictable, and even if it weren't for the tall lightning, water currents, landslides, and strong winds, he would still be cautious. Fang Yuan saw a black spot under a porous rock.
"A mountain raven?"
Mountain ravens were birds that flew in large flocks. They were not ordinary birds; that's why Fang Yuan hid as soon as he saw a black spot in the sky and waited for them to leave. He did this instinctively. The mountain was an unknown territory filled with many dangers. From bandits to natural disasters, he had to consider everything. However, the danger that scared him the most was neither natural disasters nor a band of bandits; he feared something beyond these, the masters of these ravens.
A sound like an explosion came from the heart of the mountain, setting many rocks in motion. From a very tall mountain on the other side of the path, a loud roar echoed, stopping the heart of any living being.
Fang Yuan stared at the dark clouds around that mountain, and then his legs trembled. The fear he felt was beyond any other sensation…
With his rough voice, he said haltingly, "They have awakened…"
Suddenly, a massive rock fell from the clouds, directly targeting Fang Yuan.
Fang Yuan fled to higher ground with all the strength he had left. The rock fell rapidly and exploded.
For a brief moment, he saw a giant hand in the midst of those dark rocks, separating from the slope and then returning to its place.
Fang Yuan immediately climbed higher up the mountain and took refuge in a cave. After that, the weather worsened, and the roars grew louder.
Fang Yuan preferred to stay in that cave and fall into a deep sleep until the weather conditions changed; and at the same time, gather his thoughts to prepare for the continuation of his journey.