Chapter 31- The Zombie Land

As Juanxiu and Alchemist Lai Xiaoli returned to the office, the alchemist remembered that he had yet to bestow an award to Juanxiu for his victory in the alchemy refinery contest. But before he could do that, Juanxiu asked him why he was keeping a Hibernating Mortal Bloom in his garden.

Lai Xiaoli's expression grew serious, "I don't trust anyone in the Alchemy Union, especially the other members of the Five Poison," he explained. "I've been looking for ways to counter their poisons, just in case. They are known to be ruthless and will stop at nothing to achieve their goals."

With that, Lai Xiaoli took out a vial from his space wristband and showed it to Juanxiu. Juanxiu immediately noticed the potion. It was an antidote against the powerful venom of the Imperial Basilisk, the Rainbow Antidote. However, it has higher impurity and lower concentration than the one they concocted.

"This is a rare and powerful antidote that can neutralize the venom of Imperial Basilisk. I've been working on it for years and it's one of my most prized possessions. It will help me defend against one of the Five Poisons," Juanxiu couldn't bring himself to tell the Alchemist that he has a better version of this antidote after seeing how proud the alchemist was.

Nonetheless, Juanxiu was impressed on the thorough preparation and consideration of Lai Xiaoli. First, while he had no way of knowing how to extract the properties of Hibernating Mortal Bloom, he knew about the cleansing properties of it and how it counters the spores of Cui Bai. Lai Xiaoli had greatly benefited from their exchange. He has witnessed how to handle the delicate petals of the Hibernating Mortal Bloom.

In fact, Lai Xiaoli think that it would be too much for him to take the Bronzeberry seed that Juanxiu had offered. But Lai Xiaoli couldn't bring himself to part with it due to his love and interest in plants.

"I understand the value of the Bronzeberry seed, but I couldn't in good conscience take it without offering something of equal value in return," Lai Xiaoli said. "I propose a trade, an information. Consider this as a prize for winning the competition."

Lai Xiaoli then went on to share information that he had gathered in recent days.

"One month from now, the acting head of the Alchemist Union, Master Feng, is expected to invite all the members of the Union and proclaim himself as the leader of the Union," he said. "If he becomes the official leader, there will be no way to stop him. Even the king of the empire won't be able to do anything with him, as the Union is treated as a separate entity."

He went on to explain that based on his investigations, there have been noticeable changes in the Union since Master Feng took over as acting head alchemist. Men in black robes have been seen coming and going from the facility at night, bringing in several crates. All previous supporters of Grandmaster Zhang have been removed from their positions, and others have been imprisoned for unclear and forged reasons. He was shocked to find out that the case of Grandmaster Li Wei was not isolated.

Lai Xiaoli then opened a drawer in his desk and took out an inconspicuous bottle. He handed it to Juanxiu, "Inside is the Corruption of the River toxin, the same poison that affected Li Jing," he said. "I have been trying to find a way to counter its effects for the pst few days, but I am unable to. Since I have seen Li Jing, healthy, I assume your group was able to find a solution for this,"

Juanxiu was impressed by Lai Xiaoli's foresight. However, Juanxiu knew that the situation was far more serious than he had initially thought. He knew that he had to act fast to stop Master Feng.

Alchemist Lai Xiaoli sat at his desk, deep in thought as he considered the reasons for providing Juanxiu with the information about the upcoming grand convention of the Alchemist Union. He knew that it was not just because he was indebted to Juanxiu after witnessing his incredible refining technique using the Frostfire Aura.

He wanted Juanxiu and his team to succeed, not only because it would be such a waste if this prodigy of alchemy were to die at the hands of Master Feng, but also because he believed in the betterment of the field of alchemy as a whole.

As a member of the Poison faction, Lai Xiaoli understood the importance of caution and secrecy, but he also believed that alchemists should strive to be honest and true to their craft. He desired for the alchemy community to be filled with individuals who shared his demeanor and personality.

With this in mind, he knew that he needed to be sure that Juanxiu and his team were capable of making the situation favorable during the grand convention, before he would put his name and life on the line to support them. And so, he provided Juanxiu with the information, knowing that it was up to them to prove themselves worthy of his support.

As Juanxiu left Lai Xiaoli's office, he couldn't help but feel a sense of urgency. One month was not a lot of time, but he knew that every second counts. He immediately gathered his team and discussed the information that Lai Xiaoli provided them. They meticulously planned their next steps and strategized on how to gather more information and evidence to support their claims. They knew that they needed to be thorough and precise in their actions to avoid any mistakes that could jeopardize their mission.

***

Juanxiu, Du Hong, Li Jing, One-Eyed Lily, and Alchemist Zhou were all gathered in a small inn located in the border of District 3 and 4. The five people talked about the information they obtained from Alchemist Lai Xiaoli about the plans of Master Feng and the true state of District 4. The group listened intently, their expressions growing more and more solemn as Juanxiu spoke.

"We already have an antidote, the powder from the Hibernating Mortal Bloom," Juanxiu said confidently. "But, it's not just the spores that we have to worry about. The people in District 4 are being controlled by Cui Bai, the zombie are just the tip of the iceberg."

The group nodded in agreement and set out to face the challenges that lay ahead in the 4th District.

As they walked through the streets of District 4, Juanxiu couldn't help but feel a sense of dread wash over him. The people here were nothing like the lively and bustling crowds of District 3. They moved like zombies, their eyes glazed over as they worked tirelessly, regardless of their own well-being. An old man, frail and hunched over, was laboriously pushing a cart full of goods, while a mother disregarded the cries of her hungry baby who is just a few days old as she focused on propagating a fungus for Alchemy Cui Bai.

Juanxiu and his team were horrified by the sight. "We need to do something,"

Juanxiu exclaimed. "These people are being controlled by Cui Bai's spores."

As they walked, Juanxiu pulled out the container of Hibernating Mortal Bloom powder. "We need to take it now, before it's too late."

One by one, they each inhaled a tiny amount of the powder, their expressions etched with a mix of hope and fear. Just as about Juanxiu will approach the old man, who might die from exhaustion, Du Hong stopped him. "We have to be careful," he said, "We don't know if someone is watching us."

Juanxiu reluctantly returned the container to his spatial pouch, his heart heavy with disappointment. "We need to find a way to distribute this powder to the people of District 4," he said, determination in his voice. "We can't let Cui Bai continue to control them like this."

As they walked deeper into the district, the sight of people working tirelessly under the scorching sun made them feel uneasy. The once lively and bustling streets were now replaced with a ghostly silence, only broken by the sound of shuffling feet and the occasional cries of cats and dogs. The group couldn't help but feel a sense of dread as they saw the people of District 4, their eyes glazed over and their movements robotic.

"This is horrible," Du Hong muttered, her hand instinctively going to her sword hilt.

"They're like slaves, working for the Zombie Alchemist."

One-Eyed Lily shook her head, her expression grim. "This is the true face of the Zombie Alchemist. He doesn't care about the people, only his own power and control."

Alchemist Zhou looked around, his eyes filled with sadness. "We have to do something to stop this. We can't just sit back and watch as these people suffer."

As Juanxiu and his group entered the lodging house, the first thing they noticed was the eerie silence that hung in the air. The people inside were all moving sluggishly, their eyes glazed over as if they were in a trance. The innkeeper, a middle-aged man, didn't even bother to greet them, simply pointing towards the stairs without a word. The group exchanged worried glances as they made their way upstairs to their rooms.

As they were about to rest, a voice called out to them from the bar area. "Hey, you there! You're not from around here, are you?" The group turned to see a man, who appeared to be in his late thirties, sitting at the bar with a cup of wine in front of him. He had a rough, unkempt appearance and a mischievous glint in his eye. "I can tell you're not affected by the spore," he said, gesturing towards the other patrons. "Come, have a drink with me."

Juanxiu and his group cautiously approached the man, their guard up. They couldn't help but feel a sense of relief that there was someone here who was not under the control of the Zombie Alchemist.

Chen Wei took a sip of his drink before turning to Juanxiu and his team. "You all seem normal. Perhaps, it hasn't been that long since you entered the district?" he whispered with a hint of suspicion in his voice.

Chen Wei gave them a meaningful look before changing the subject. "You all have to be careful," he warned. "Eyes are everywhere in this district." He then gestured for the group to follow him, leading them to a secluded corner of the inn.

As they followed Chen Wei, Juanxiu and his team couldn't shake the feeling that something was off about this stranger. They couldn't help but wonder what his true intentions were, and if they could trust him. They were on high alert as Chen Wei began to explain the situation in District 4, and the true nature of the Zombie Alchemists.

Soon as Juanxiu and his team followed Chen Wei down the narrow, dimly lit staircase, they could hear the muffled sounds of people talking and moving about. As they reached the bottom of the stairs, they were greeted by the sight of a large, underground chamber. The air was thick with the scent of alchemical herbs and potions, and the walls were adorned with various talismans and charms that glowed with a soft, ethereal light. The chamber was bustling with activity, as men and women of all ages and walks of life bustled about, working on alchemical experiments or tending to the sick and injured.

Juanxiu could see that most of the people here were cultivators, their bodies radiating with powerful Qi. They were all dressed in simple, practical clothing, and their faces were etched with determination. They were all working tirelessly, their eyes focused intently on the task at hand.

Juanxiu and his team looked around. they could see that the basement was protected by a Sky-Grade Talisman that burned the spores before it even enters the place. The talisman was situated at the entrance of the chamber, and it radiated a fierce, blue flame that seemed to consume the toxic spores before they could even enter the chamber.

As they walked deeper into the chamber, Chen Wei gestured for them to follow him to a quiet corner. There, they saw a group of people sitting in a circle, surrounded by stacks of books and papers. They were all deep in discussion, and as Juanxiu and his team approached, they could see the intensity in their eyes.

Juanxiu and his team looked around the room, taking in the sparse furnishings and the musty smell.

"Why are you still here?" Alchemist Zhou asked, breaking the silence. "Why haven't you left this place?"

Chen Wei's expression grew somber. "We can't leave our families," he said. "They're still out there, suffering from the spores. We can't abandon them."

Juanxiu could see the pain and determination in Chen Wei's eyes, and he felt a pang of empathy. He knew all too well the feeling of being torn between duty and loyalty.

"We'll help you," Juanxiu said, looking at his team. "We'll find a way to cure the spores and save your families."