The Secret of the Magical Core (Part 1)

Ye Han, accompanied by Ming, returned to the Apocalyptic Prison. After absorbing so much death qi, resentment, and negative spiritual fluctuations, both needed time to refine and integrate these energies with their own. Once back in the Apocalyptic Prison, Ye Han let Ming find a place to cultivate, while he appeared before the five hundred zombie slaves.

"Master," greeted the five hundred zombie slaves, now more bloodthirsty and brutal than ever after a battle. Their eyes constantly emitted a red glow, and the different colors of fighting spirit they originally possessed due to various attributes were also gradually turning red. The killings were changing their souls.

Ye Han quietly observed his carefully nurtured five hundred zombie slaves, his soul feeling everything about them. After a massacre, under the guidance of three god-level powerhouses and the blood essence given by Ye Han, their overall strength had greatly improved.

Ye Han was particularly pleased that twelve of these five hundred zombie slaves had successfully tamed wyverns and become dragon knights.

"Master," Corti and two other god-level zombie slaves also approached Ye Han.

"I want them to completely tame the wyverns within half a year, or else they die," Ye Han commanded before heading to the blood pool to start refining the energy he had absorbed.

The energy emitted by a million people was immense and unimaginable. Ye Han sat cross-legged above the blood pool, wrapping himself in his huge purple wings, resembling a giant egg burning with purple fire from outside the blood mist.

As Ye Han sat in meditation and circulated the Fan Shi Jue, the calm blood mist began to surge wildly, like a calm lake disturbed by a thrown stone. Visible red energy flowed out of the blood mist, swirling around Ye Han before disappearing.

The Fan Shi Jue rapidly circulated, and the corpse pill also began to operate. A vast amount of freshly refined death qi and other energies flowed wildly through his meridians, fiercely impacting Ye Han's fragile channels.

The pain in the meridians was something Ye Han was already accustomed to and ignored. In the continuous refinement by the Fan Shi Jue and the corpse pill, purer energy was extracted, merging with the blood-colored energy from outside, forming a more domineering energy inside Ye Han.

Time quietly passed. The huge energy inside Ye Han was finally completely refined, although what remained was less than half of the original amount. However, Ye Han was delighted, as this was the energy he wanted – pure, completely compatible with him, and easier to use.

The massive energy in the meridians was all absorbed by the corpse pill, which slowly began to show a hint of blue. Ye Han knew that when the corpse pill turned completely blue, he would reach the level of a third-level zombie, significantly boosting his strength. Then, the saint level would no longer be a threat.

After dealing with the complex energies, Ye Han began to focus on his soul. The existence of a zombie was tied to its soul, and once lost, a zombie would become a mere undead, only regaining its own thoughts by reassembling its soul. Therefore, not a single mistake could be made.

Ye Han's consciousness transformed into a small figure and sank into the soul space. The soul space had become like the last time, only more intense.

A sea of blood churned under a sky covered with red clouds. Black thunder and lightning roared and struck furiously, filling the space with resentment and death qi.

"Sigh, although killing can quickly improve a zombie's strength and level, the consequences are indeed enormous," Ye Han said slowly while floating above his soul space.

Zombies are killed upon emergence and sleep for centuries because their killings disrupt the world's harmony, and they absorb too much death qi, needing long periods of sleep to refine it. But unlike others, this energy flows into Ye Han's soul, making him even more dangerous.

A huge "Fan" character appeared in the sky, and enchanting purple fire instantly spread throughout the soul space. With his previous experience, Ye Han easily managed the process. With no sense of time in the soul space, Ye Han didn't know how long it had been until he finally restored the soul space and exited it.

"Sigh," Ye Han let out a long breath, gazing at the blood pool below him. The blood in the pool was significantly less than when he had first arrived, and the blood mist had also lightened considerably, indicating much of it had been absorbed.

Closing his eyes, Ye Han examined his body. Everything was the same, except his meridians were now full of blood-red energy, the most refined energy from the blood, the blood energy that zombies need to refine after absorbing blood.

Ye Han slowly opened his wings and stood up, his gaze falling on Xiaoya, who lay still as if asleep. A flicker of killing intent passed through his eyes. "Xiaoya, rest assured, I will soon increase my strength and awaken you," Ye Han said softly, his tone only gentle when speaking to Xiaoya.

"Baires," Ye Han called out while standing above the blood pool, his voice faint but carrying far.

A dragon's roar answered from the distance, and a black dot rapidly approached through the blood mist.

"Boom," with a whirlwind of sand, the Abyssal Nether Dragon Baires landed outside the blood mist.

"Master."

"Where are the three of them?" Ye Han suddenly remembered the three people, Evelyn and her companions, whom he had captured earlier.

"They are with Lord Ersula," replied Baires. As a newly ascended saint-level, Baires was not yet capable of guarding the three captives, so he had handed them over to the god-level powerhouse, Ersula.

Soon, Ersula arrived with Evelyn and her two companions. Their injuries had healed significantly, and their strength was mostly recovered. Upon seeing Ye Han, they released their saint-level aura in fury.

"Presumptuous!" Ersula waved his hand, and the three were flung far away, their faces alternating between red and white. Evelyn, being in the late stage of saint-level, fared better, but the others spat out blood.

This was the power of a god-level being. A casual wave inflicted serious injuries on three saint-level powerhouses. Evelyn and her companions looked at Ersula in shock and confusion, their faces paling further when they looked at Ye Han.

"Master," Ersula landed, respectfully addressing Ye Han, showing none of the arrogance typical of a god-level powerhouse. Evelyn and her companions trembled even more, their years of composure shattered by this confirmation.

"Hehe, very good," Ye Han said, amused. Ersula didn't react much to his words, but Evelyn and her companions trembled even more violently.

With a wave of his hand, Ye Han sent three dark red blood drops towards Ersula. "They are yours now. I need three obedient dogs."

"Yes, Master, I know what to do," Ersula replied, taking the terrified trio away. "No matter how many zombie slaves I have, they are no match for my own strength," Ye Han murmured, standing above the blood pool.

A ninth-level magical core appeared in his hand. "Now, I must rely on you," Ye Han mused, knowing that once he ventured out again, no one would underestimate him. Those who wanted to kill or capture him would use their full strength.

But as Ye Han lamented his strength, the magical core in his hand began to melt under the purple flame. He paid it little mind, having thousands more in his ring. However, as the core completely melted, a faint, tiny energy emerged, capturing Ye Han's attention. His soul power immediately covered the surrounding area.

An obscure, ancient, and primitive aura emanated from this energy, exerting a pressure that made Ye Han's soul submit. Astonished by this discovery, Ye Han was about to study it further when the energy dissipated into the space, leaving no trace behind.