Chapter 195: The Ninefold Yang-Nurturing Array

The Ninefold Yang-Nurturing Array

Lothe said nothing after revealing his suspicion.

Even Seana widened her eyes. The idea sounded simple, but its implications were terrifying.

Zombies surviving the apocalypse was one thing. Building a settlement, developing a hierarchy, and obeying a supreme leader was something else entirely.

How powerful was the being capable of controlling them all?

And what did it mean that they had transformed an underground industrial facility into a functioning city—a city where zombies could cultivate like humans?

The chains around their wrists already proved that the undead had advanced beyond ordinary monsters. Their cultivation had been suppressed, their Soul Manors sealed, and their weapons confiscated.

Seana drew a slow breath.

She understood living bodies better than most cultivators. Through continuous experimentation, she had learned that any creature capable of interacting with Spiritual Qi could potentially cultivate. As cultivation advanced, the body could strengthen, adapt, and even develop greater intelligence.

Zombies might not be exceptions.

But understanding something in theory was different from seeing its consequences.

When the brain permanently ceased functioning, the body lost the systems responsible for memory, reason, and conscious thought. Ordinary zombies were driven by simple instincts, seek the living, consume their flesh and blood, and spread the infection.

Yet these zombies had survived the transformation, awakened abilities, and learned to cultivate.

If cultivation restored some of their intelligence, what happened to the instincts left behind?

"Let’s assume your theory is correct," Seana said. "Suppose zombies can cultivate until they recover part of their former intelligence. That still leaves the rest of their bodies."

Everyone turned toward her.

"Spiritual Qi strengthens the flesh, repairs injuries, and changes the body over time. In humans, that process works alongside an intact brain and nervous system. Zombies are different. The transformation damaged the very systems that once controlled them."

She glanced at the chains around her wrists.

"Cultivation might restore their ability to think and understand commands without repairing everything that was destroyed. Their minds could return while their instincts remained."

Caelan’s expression grew thoughtful. "So their intelligence may return without their hunger disappearing?"

"Exactly." Seana nodded. "They may learn to suppress their instincts, but that doesn’t mean the instincts are gone."

Oren frowned. "And the stronger the temptation, the harder it becomes to remain rational?"

"That’s my assumption. I can’t confirm it without examining one of them, but think about what happened earlier. The masked guard behaved normally until his body suddenly changed. If his intelligence had simply vanished, the change wouldn’t have been so sudden."

Elder Rowan lowered his gaze. "Their minds may remain stable only while their instincts are under control."

"Possibly," Seana said. "Or something may trigger those instincts. Fresh blood, strong life force, or concentrated Spiritual Qi could make them lose control."

Lothe remembered the guard’s reaction.

The change had begun almost immediately after he entered the prison corridor.

Seana’s explanation fit the evidence.

The zombies could think, obey commands, and maintain a society. But the instincts left behind by their transformation still threatened that order.

"We need to get out of here," Caelan said. "Once we’re free, we must warn the sects and gather enough cultivators to eliminate this place."

"Agreed," Nyren said coldly. "If an entire city of cultivating zombies exists beneath Country B, this is no longer just a missing-child case. It’s a threat to humanity."

"But we can’t simply walk out," Darian reminded them.

He looked at his own chains restraining him.

"Our cultivation is sealed. Our cores and meridians are locked, and we can’t access our Soul Manors. Whatever methods we normally rely on, we can’t use them properly."

Silence filled the prison.

Darian was right. They couldn’t warn anyone while trapped in the Nine-Lock Prison.

Lothe, however, seemed less troubled.

"Did everyone forget why we came here?"

Oren blinked. Then understanding crossed his face. "The missing children."

"What do they have to do with this?" he asked.

"That’s precisely what we should be asking." Lothe’s expression became serious. "How did an investigation into missing children lead us to an underground zombie city? And why would zombies want children?"

"Perhaps it’s a coincidence," Oren suggested.

Lothe gave him a sideways look.

Oren reconsidered. "I’m only saying we don’t have proof that the two incidents are connected."

"There’s a difference between lacking proof and ignoring an obvious possibility," Lothe said. "We followed the trail of missing children and found a hidden facility, an organized population of cultivating zombies, and a city concealed from the surface."

He glanced at the chains around his wrists.

"Now we’re prisoners, and our captors are powerful enough to suppress several accomplished cultivators. Which part of that suggests we should dismiss the connection?"

Oren fell silent.

Lothe leaned back against the cold stone.

"This is an age of survival. Powerful beings rarely build something on this scale without a purpose."

His eyes narrowed.

"Believe it or no. I suspect the missing children are here."

The prison fell silent.

They had no direct evidence, but if Lothe was right, the investigation had led them to the very place they were searching for.

And the children might already be in danger.

——————————

Deep within the underground city, a rocky clearing surrounded an enormous stone platform.

Dozens of zombies stood around it in orderly rows. Each wore a black robe and mask.

At one side of the platform stood Leon, his hands hidden inside his sleeves.

Beside him stood the mysterious man in dark-blue robes. A small silver-jade crown rested on his head, its design resembling those worn by ancient royalty.

Neither spoke.

Before them, nine unconscious children lay in a spiral formation. Their heads hung forward, their faces hidden beneath their hair.

Beneath them, intricate inscriptions covered the stone platform. Blue light moved through the array in slow pulses, gathering around the children before sinking into their bodies.

Another platform stood nearby.

A second group of children had been placed upon it in the same arrangement, surrounded by another network of glowing inscriptions.

Leon’s fingers tightened inside his sleeves.

"They’re children for goodness sake." he said at last.

"They are also the reason your people may regain control of themselves," the man replied. "Without this arrangement, how long do you think your remaining sanity will last?"

Leon’s jaw tightened.

"The children won’t die. Their Yang energy is only useful while they remain alive."

The man glanced at the glowing inscriptions.

"As planned, the Ninefold Yang-Nurturing Array will preserve their vitality and prevent them from feeling pain. The Yangbane Locusts will extract their pure Yang energy."

His tone was calm, as if he were discussing an ordinary cultivation method.

Leon stared at the children.

"So Young Master Gong Sihe has planned everything."

The man smiled faintly. "I’m only ensuring that our agreement proceeds as arranged—and that neither of us forgets who benefits from it."

Leon gave a quiet snort.

After a moment, he raised his hand, signaling for the ritual to begin.

Gong Sihe lifted his palm.

Before he could activate the array, a voice rang out from the edge of the clearing.

"Wait!"

The wolf-masked zombie rushed into the area, dragging a struggling subordinate behind him. The creature’s limbs jerked violently as guttural growls escaped its throat.

"My lord!" the wolf-masked guard reported. "This subordinate lost control while I was inspecting the prison."

Leon’s expression changed.

He immediately released his spiritual will.

A powerful mental command swept across the clearing and entered the unstable zombie’s mind.

The creature staggered, clutching its head as it struggled against the pressure.

Leon maintained the command until its movements slowed.

Keeping his people sane had become increasingly difficult. Every day placed more pressure on his mind, and even he wasn’t immune to the instincts threatening to consume them.

Gong Sihe watched with visible displeasure.

"Why wouldn’t it lose control?" he said. "It was exposed to several powerful cultivators carrying rich life force. Their presence alone is enough to aggravate the problem."

Leon shot him a dark look.

After several moments, the zombie finally stopped struggling. Its body relaxed, and the wildness in its movements faded.

Leon released a slow breath.

"I hadn’t considered how strongly their presence might affect the others."

He sat down and began absorbing the Spiritual Qi drifting through the clearing, replenishing the energy he had spent suppressing the zombie.

The inscriptions beneath the children continued to pulse.

For a short while, no one spoke.

When Leon’s energy stabilized, he opened his eyes and looked at Gong Sihe.

"But killing the prisoners was never part of our agreement."

"Perhaps not," Gong Sihe replied. "But more of your people will eventually smell their blood. Their instincts will grow stronger, and the number of those losing control will increase."

He gestured toward the surrounding zombies.

"You’re already struggling to keep them stable. What will you do when your commands are no longer enough?"

Before Leon could answer, several guttural growls rose from the crowd.

Multiple zombies began to tremble. Their masked faces turned outwards, and their bodies strained as if hunger had seized their limbs.

The scent of fresh blood and powerful Spiritual Qi filled the clearing.

Then the weakest lost control.

One zombie lunged towards another zombie. Another threw back its head and roared. Several more began thrashing violently.

The orderly gathering descended into chaos.

"Hold them down!" the wolf-masked zombie shouted.

But the situation was already slipping beyond control.

Leon released his mental command, sweeping his spiritual will across the clearing. Several zombies collapsed beneath the pressure, their instincts temporarily suppressed.

Others continued to struggle.

Leon gritted his teeth and poured more power into the command. The effort drained his reserves, and tension appeared across his pale face.

There were simply too many.

At last, Gong Sihe sighed.

He raised one hand.

Blue Spiritual Qi flowed from his palm and spread through the clearing like a calm tide. It passed over the struggling zombies one by one.

The growls faded.

The trembling stopped.

Within moments, the chaos subsided.

Silence returned.

Leon stared at the restored order, his expression unreadable.

Gong Sihe lowered his hand. "Are you still hesitating?"

Leon remained silent. Then he turned toward his two strongest subordinates. His jaw clenched.

"Eliminate the prisoners immediately."

The two zombies bowed.

Leon paused before adding, "And make sure that my Desciple don’t learn what happened here."

A faint smile appeared on Gong Sihe’s lips.?