Rushing to Green Stone Town

The Water Gathering Pearl's ability to gather Water Spirit Qi was even better than he had imagined. If he cultivated in a place rich in spiritual energy, the Water Gathering Pearl could increase his cultivation speed by roughly one-fifth.

To obtain the Water Gathering Pearl, he had even traded away the life-saving Soaring Talisman his mother had given him. He had been somewhat reluctant at the time, but now it seemed he had made the right deal.

"Squeak, squeak!"

Several strange cries rang out as the Twin-Pupil Spirit Rat burrowed out from Wang Changsheng's robes.

Wang Changsheng extended his right palm, and the Twin-Pupil Spirit Rat climbed along his arm onto his hand.

The Twin-Pupil Spirit Rat squeaked, conveying to Wang Changsheng that it was hungry.

"You little fellow, there isn't even enough Azure Moon Spirit Rice for me to eat. Where am I supposed to find so much Spirit Rice to feed you? Just eat some ordinary ginseng." Wang Changsheng took out a blood-red ginseng root and placed it on the ground.

Crimson Blood Ginseng was an ordinary medicinal herb that could disperse bruising and replenish one's blood and vitality. Those who practiced martial arts inevitably suffered bumps and injuries, so they often took Crimson Blood Ginseng to treat themselves.

Wang Changsheng's purse was tight. He could not afford to feed the Twin-Pupil Spirit Rat Spirit Grain every day, so he could only use medicinal herbs to raise it.

Wang Qiusheng's family ran a medicinal herb business, and their warehouse was full of herbs.

When Wang Qiusheng learned that Wang Changsheng wanted medicinal herbs, he immediately sent a Carrier Pigeon message and had his steward deliver a cartload of herbs.

The Twin-Pupil Spirit Rat did not disdain it. It leapt down from Wang Changsheng's hand and devoured the Crimson Blood Ginseng in a few bites.

Wang Changsheng smiled slightly. Just as he was about to tease the Twin-Pupil Spirit Rat, Wang Qiusheng's voice suddenly rang out. "Ninth Uncle-Grandfather, this is bad! Something terrible has happened! A zombie has appeared in Green Stone Town, and several clansmen have been bitten to death by it!"

At those words, the smile on Wang Changsheng's face froze. With a thought, the Twin-Pupil Spirit Rat darted back into his robes.

When he opened the doors of Azure Lotus Pavilion, he saw Wang Qiusheng standing outside, panic written all over his face, two sheets of letter paper in his hand.

"Ninth Uncle-Grandfather, these are letters sent by Carrier Pigeon from the Clan Elders in Green Stone Town."

Wang Changsheng took the two sheets of paper. After sweeping his gaze over them, he frowned deeply.

Some Wang Family clansmen lived in Green Stone Town. Their numbers were not particularly large, but since a zombie had appeared there, he definitely needed to make the trip.

Ordinarily, zombies did not appear without reason unless someone had deliberately raised them. However, the letter was vague, and he had to reach Green Stone Town and investigate before he could draw any conclusions.

If some Heretical Cultivators were causing trouble and using mortals to raise zombies, he would have to report it to the Lineage at once and leave the matter for the Lineage to handle.

"Go bring me the carrier pigeon used to communicate with the Lineage." After thinking carefully, Wang Changsheng instructed Wang Qiusheng.

For the sake of caution, it was better to notify the Lineage. If Heretical Cultivators truly were causing trouble, then going alone would be like a sheep entering a tiger's mouth. After all, he had no experience in magical combat. His killing Xiaofeng had been purely because Xiaofeng possessed no real means of attack.

If no Heretical Cultivators were causing trouble, the Lineage would not blame him either. After all, no one could guarantee that this was not the work of Heretical Cultivators. It was better to be cautious.

Zombies were different from Ghosts. Under normal circumstances, after someone died, their corpse would gradually rot away, and it was difficult for a zombie to arise. Ghosts were different. If someone harbored Resentful Qi before death, their soul lingered without dispersing and was nourished by Yin Qi, they could easily turn into a Ghost.

Peaceful County was quite far from Azure Lotus Mountain, and he had no communication Talismans on him. Those things were too expensive. A single Communication Talisman cost at least a hundred Spirit Stones and was a one-use item. Only clansmen sent out to transport goods or gather intelligence could possess one.

Before long, Wang Qiusheng brought over the carrier pigeon. Wang Changsheng rolled up the letter he had written, tied it to the pigeon's leg, and released it.

The letter was written in code. Only a small number of Wang Family members could understand the code, so even if someone intercepted the carrier pigeon, they would not know what the letter said.

"Qiusheng, come with me. We leave now."

After Wang Changsheng spoke, his lips moved a few times, and a White Cloud appeared beneath his feet out of thin air.

Seeing this, Wang Qiusheng hurriedly stepped onto it.

The White Cloud carried the two of them slowly into the air and flew toward the distance.

Green Stone Town, Wang Family Ancestral Hall.

More than a dozen Clan Elders sat in their chairs, their faces filled with worry.

Although Wang Tiande was the County Marshal, everyone else present was of a higher generation than him. He stood obediently to one side, a contemplative look on his face, as though he were pondering something.

Several straw mats lay on the ground, each covered by a white cloth.

Not long afterward, Wang Qingshan arrived late. The moment he appeared, the dozen or so Clan Elders immediately crowded around him.

"Eighth Uncle, how did it go? Have you contacted the Celestial Master from the main family?"

"Eighth Brother, has the main family's Celestial Master arrived?"

"Eighth Uncle, when will the main family's Celestial Master arrive? Can he subdue the zombie?"

The Clan Elders chattered away, all wanting to learn news of the main family's Celestial Master from Wang Qingshan.

Wang Qingshan waved his hand and instructed in a grave voice, "Stay calm. I have already sent a Carrier Pigeon message to the main family's Celestial Master. Once he receives the letter, I believe he will hurry over as quickly as possible. What we need to do is restrain our clansmen and wait quietly for the main family's Celestial Master to arrive. No more clansmen can be harmed."

As if recalling something, he looked toward Wang Tiande in the corner and said mildly, "Tiande, Green Stone Town has never had a zombie before. Now one has suddenly appeared. What are your thoughts? Speak boldly. We are all family here, so there is no need to hide anything."

Wang Tiande hesitated briefly before saying, "Eighth Uncle-Grandfather, then I'll speak. Based on this grandson's analysis, the zombie that bit our clansmen to death should have been Seventh Great-Uncle."

His words were like a single stone stirring up a thousand waves. The instant Wang Tiande finished speaking, the other Clan Elders immediately began refuting him.

"Tiande, what nonsense are you spouting? How could Seventh Brother become a zombie? You cannot speak recklessly about such things!"

"Exactly! Seventh Uncle's corpse was carried away by a dog. How could he have become a zombie?"

"Seventh Uncle never did a single shameful thing in life. You cannot dump this basin of dirty water on Seventh Uncle. You are slandering an elder, which is disrespectful to your elders."

Wang Qingshan frowned and shouted, "Enough! All of you, shut up! I told Tiande to speak. Without my permission, all of you keep your mouths shut. Tiande, continue."

Wang Tiande nodded. After pondering for a moment, he said, "My conjecture has its basis. First, Green Stone Town has never had a zombie. Why did a zombie appear shortly after Seventh Great-Uncle's corpse vanished? There cannot be such a coincidence in this world. Second, of the five clansmen who died, three were Seventh Great-Uncle's eldest son, grandson, and granddaughter. As far as I know, after a corpse becomes a zombie, it will harm its closest relatives. Third, there are so many households in town. Why did the zombie not bite anyone else, yet specifically choose Seventh Great-Uncle's eldest son, grandson, and granddaughter? It is truly strange. Based on these three points, I suspect that the zombie was Seventh Great-Uncle. As for why Seventh Great-Uncle became a zombie, I do not understand. Once the main family's Celestial Master arrives, we will presumably know."

Wang Qingshan nodded. Wang Tiande's analysis was logical and well-supported, but the truth of the matter would have to wait until the main family's Celestial Master arrived.

Half an hour later, Wang Changsheng and Wang Qiusheng slowly descended outside the Wang Family Ancestral Hall.

Wang Qingshan was initially stunned, but he quickly came to his senses and hurriedly rose to greet them. "This old man, Wang Qingshan, pays respects to the Celestial Master."

The others also came to their senses and said in unison, "We pay respects to the Celestial Master."

"Qing Generation! By seniority, you need only call me Ninth Uncle. There is no need to be so formal. I heard that a zombie has appeared here. Tell me everything that happened, and do not leave out a single word." At this point, Wang Changsheng's expression became exceptionally grave.