The Demonic Cultivator In Zombie World
Chapter 403: Melee

"Looks like the cultivators from Yellow Spring Island are quite clever," Chu Xuan mused with a faint smile. "They've probably spread the news of True Master Yin's injuries in secret, getting White Bone Island and Black Wind Island to fight amongst themselves. Meanwhile, they can hide in the back and reap the benefits."

"All Nine Yin Island fleets, gather around my flagship, and break through southward!" True Master Yin's voice echoed through the sound transmission jade at Chu Xuan's waist. "I will activate the Black Mirror Formation!"

As soon as the command was given, black light erupted from the Nine Yin flagship. In the blink of an eye, a massive protective shield formed around the ship. This was the Nine Yin Island's defensive formation, the Black Mirror Formation, which could reflect about 30% of incoming attacks, especially effective against Spiritual Qi light beams.

"Follow close behind, towards the White Cloud Ship," Chu Xuan ordered immediately.

"Yes!" his subordinates responded without hesitation. Although they didn't understand the reasoning behind it, as their leader had commanded, they did not dare to question.

The Flowing Wind Ship immediately adjusted its course to follow closely behind the White Cloud Ship, which was already positioned near the flagship, the Nine Yin Ship. Together, they now fell under the protection of the Black Mirror Formation.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Once again, the Black Wind Island fleet fired a barrage of Spiritual Qi light beams.

The ship carrying the Fifth Leader, however, failed to reach the Nine Yin flagship in time. It was caught in the full force of the beam barrage, splitting the ship in two. Those on board, unless they had reached Deity Transformation, had no hope of survival. In the void of space, no one could survive without the protection of powerful cultivation.

Seeing Nine Yin Island's fleet break through southward, the White Bone Island and Black Wind Island ships immediately quickened their pace, chasing after them. The Spiritual Qi light beams and the Black Mirror Formation clashed violently in the starry void, exploding and canceling each other out.

At that moment, one of the Golden Core bandit cultivators beside Chu Xuan suddenly shouted in alarm, "Leader! There's a wreckage ahead!"

Chu Xuan's brows furrowed as he focused his gaze. A mass of wreckage lay directly in the path of the Nine Yin Island fleet's southward escape route.

If they charged straight ahead, their ships would suffer severe damage, possibly even exploding outright. But if they attempted to dodge, their speed would be greatly reduced, and the pursuing fleets would catch up quickly.

"Turn the ship to face the enemy, prepare for close-quarter combat!" True Master Yin's deep voice roared from the sound transmission jade.

The sudden appearance of two attacking fleets, combined with the wreckage blocking their path, meant one thing: their retreat route had been exposed. There was a traitor within their ranks!

But right now, True Master Yin had no time to focus on identifying the betrayer. Continuing to flee would only deplete their strength. Turning back and fighting for their lives might still offer a chance at survival.

Chu Xuan immediately gave orders for his subordinates to ready their magic treasures and magic tools, preparing for battle. His gaze remained fixed on the approaching enemy fleets.

The enemy clearly didn't intend to destroy the ships outright. To bandit cultivators, every ship was a valuable asset. And with the Nine Yin Island fleet known for its speed, capturing a few ships would allow their forces to grow even stronger.

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The fleets from White Bone Island and Black Wind Island targeted the Nine Yin flagship directly, while the other ships chose their targets accordingly. One ship, in particular, seemed to have locked onto the Flowing Wind Ship, making a beeline toward it.

"I don't understand ship cannon duels, but when it comes to gang fights, I'm all in," Chu Xuan said with a cold smile, watching as the White Bone Island cultivators on flying magic treasures darted toward the Flowing Wind Ship's deck.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Several figures leaped onto the Flowing Wind Ship, their movements swift and practiced. These bandit cultivators were clearly experienced in gang fights. As soon as their feet hit the deck, each immediately summoned a small shield magic treasure to protect themselves while clutching two talismans in their hands.

"Heh heh, Chen Jin, didn't expect it to be me, did you?"

The leader of the group, a one-eyed man with a dragon tattoo, fixed his gaze on Chu Xuan with a vicious grin. "Last time you took out my eye, this time, I'll make sure to take revenge personally!"

This man was Hou Wang, a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator from White Bone Island. A few years ago, White Bone Island and Nine Yin Island cultivators had teamed up to explore an ancient cultivator's cave, only for things to turn violent when it was time to divide the spoils. During that fight, Chen Jin—Chu Xuan's current alias—had taken out Hou Wang's eye.

That battle had left Nine Yin Island's cultivators with a massive windfall, while the grudge between Nine Yin Island and White Bone Island had deepened irrevocably.

Chu Xuan looked at Hou Wang and chuckled lightly. "Looks like you've come to the wrong person."

Hou Wang sneered, "I'll turn you into a corpse puppet!"

With a wave of his hand, a massive corpse king emerged from the shadows behind him, charging toward Chu Xuan. The beast was enormous, its appearance gruesome and terrifying.

Chu Xuan's eyes scanned the creature, and he immediately saw that it was nothing special. It was far weaker than Hu or Long, and even compared to the Bao he had once unleashed against True Master Yin, this corpse king was pathetic.

This corpse king was at most at the second-tier level of a corpse king.

Hou Wang grinned maliciously, "This corpse king has devoured plenty of blood and flesh, and has already advanced to the second-tier level! Chen Jin, if I remember correctly, your corpse king is still first-tier, hahahaha..."

His laughter had barely finished when Bang! A powerful fist shot out from the shadows and smashed the corpse king's head in one blow.

The creature's brain matter, black blood, and bone fragments splattered in every direction. Some of the gore even landed on Hou Wang's face. He stared in disbelief at the decapitated corpse king as it collapsed to the ground with a heavy thud, completely destroyed.

Hou Wang's expression froze in shock. For a typical Nascent Soul cultivator, it took immense effort to cultivate even a single corpse king. Hou Wang had even sold several of his precious magic treasures just to acquire more and better flesh for his corpse puppet.

This was supposed to be a second-tier corpse king—how could it have been crushed so easily? Wasn't it commonly said that the physical body of a corpse puppet was stronger than that of a cultivator?

"This is a question worth thinking about. I'll give you plenty of time to think it over."

A calm voice suddenly echoed from behind him.

Hou Wang whipped around in surprise, but to his shock, Chu Xuan's figure had already disappeared.

Crack.

Instinctively, Hou Wang attempted to flee using his Nascent Soul. But before he could even react, an overwhelming force snapped his neck.

His Nascent Soul was snatched with a single hand and casually thrown into the Sky Shield Umbrella.

Chu Xuan had long since reached the ninth level of Nascent Soul and the thirty-ninth stage of body refinement—an expert. Dealing with a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator like Hou Wang was a trivial matter. What's more, Hou Wang had never suspected his true strength, mistaking him for someone of equal cultivation, such as Chen Jin.

With Hou Wang's death, the morale of the Golden Core cultivators he had brought with him plummeted. Within moments, they too were swiftly dealt with by Chu Xuan's subordinates.

"Leader! We should counterattack! We can seize Hou Wang's ship!"

A Golden Core cultivator spoke up, his eyes alight with ambition.

Chu Xuan glanced at him, his voice icy, "Who gave you the courage to make such a suggestion? Can't you see that we are in a disadvantageous position? Two more ships are heading our way, can't you see that? Immediately move toward the Nine Yin flagship!"

The Golden Core cultivator was silenced by the rebuke, shrinking back with a lowered head.

Chu Xuan's gaze swept toward the Nine Yin flagship. Three Deity Transformation cultivators had burst out of their ships and were locked in a fierce battle. The aftershocks from their fight were too powerful, threatening to damage their own ships, so they intentionally stayed far from the fray.

In the end, the outcome of this battle would hinge on the struggle between the Deity Transformation cultivators.