C8 The Rank 1 Zombie Was Born!

The situation seemed like it was going to persist for a while. "I need to work fast and create more zombies," Jiang Loong mused.

He swiftly dragged and combined zombies. With a significant number of them eliminated, the space was soon ready for another upgrade. Having reached Level 4, the space now boasted 18 slots.

The 24-hour beginner grace period waived the usual upgrade requirements, a rule Jiang Loong found extremely helpful. Without it, he would have had to secure a Level 4 zombie to advance his space.

Eighteen slots in the space meant more room for Jiang Loong's maneuvers. He tirelessly placed zombies into the space, eliminated them, and fused them into higher-level undead.

In just over ten minutes, Jiang Loong had synthesized a Level 9 female zombie, a Level 9 male zombie, a Level 7 male zombie, and a Level 8 male zombie.

"I'm on the brink of having a Rank 1 zombie!" he exclaimed.

Jiang Loong merged the newly acquired Level 9 male zombie with another of the same level, and a Level 10 male zombie emerged. He then combined two Level 10 male zombies to create a formidable Level 11 male zombie.

A Level 11 zombie was significantly more powerful than its Level 10 counterparts. Only at Level 11 could a zombie be considered a true mutated zombie.

Jiang Loong released the freshly synthesized Level 11 zombie and examined it closely. Its eyes glowed with a blue light, and within its body was an origin crystal.

Even though Tongtong wasn't the first to reach Rank 1, Jiang Loong was genuinely elated.

With a Rank 1 mutated zombie in his possession, Jiang Loong now had a powerful ace up his sleeve.

"The zombies look like they're pulling back. I need to find a hiding spot fast. If the mutated ones spot me, it's game over!" he thought.

Jiang Loong observed the zombies starting to retreat, led by the mutated ones. Ordinary zombies lacked the instinct of fear. If only regular zombies were present, they'd be drawn to any noise or light, mindlessly surging forward.

But under the guidance of the thinking, mutated zombies, the horde knew when to back down. The mutated zombies' command had instilled a sense of retreat in the ordinary undead.

Upon realizing this, Jiang Loong quickly devised a plan.

He had a mutated zombie under his control, indistinguishable from the rest. His idea was to deploy this creature into the horde to aid in gathering more zombies. He would command it to lead the others to a new location, streamlining the synthesis process.

This method was far more efficient than capturing zombies and synthesizing them in his space.

Opportunities like today were rare for Jiang Loong, and he knew he had to make the most of it.

Had his luck not been so extraordinary, he wouldn't have dared to confront a horde led by mutated zombies.

He also needed more time to focus on his cultivation.

"What a brilliant idea!" Jiang Loong thought, beaming with satisfaction.

But for now, he had to steer clear of the retreating zombie army and be extra cautious to avoid any encounters with the mutant leaders.

During his search, Jiang Loong stumbled upon a long-abandoned house. His eyes sparkled with excitement, and without hesitation, he dashed inside.

The first floor was clear of danger, so he left a Rank 1 zombie at the staircase and ascended to the second level.

The retreating zombie horde was unlikely to scour such a place. Even if they did enter, they wouldn't linger. Despite its proximity to the horde, it was a sanctuary for him.

Unexpectedly, upon reaching the second floor, Jiang Loong encountered a blood-soaked figure, looking both pitiful and fearsome.

He seemed vaguely familiar.

Squinting, Jiang Loong recognized him—it was the Evolver previously pursued by the mutated zombie.

Without a word, he positioned Tongtong at the staircase and approached the man.

Closer now, he saw the unmistakable signs of zombification marring the Evolver's face, the affliction spreading across the majority of his features, a ghastly sight to behold.

Is this Evolver on the brink of turning into a zombie?

The zombie virus is notoriously fearsome. Even Evolvers aren't immune to its bite, with the risk of infection always looming. High-level Evolvers might devise a way to stave off the virus, but for those at the lower end of the spectrum, a bite likely means waiting helplessly for the infection to take hold, ultimately leading to zombification.

However, their transformation into zombies does tend to take longer than it does for ordinary people.

Jiang Loong stood at a distance, eyeing the Evolver. "How are you holding up?" he called out.

The Evolver stirred faintly.

In a flash, the corpse-like blotches on her face seemed to vanish. She lifted her weapon, aiming it towards Jiang Loong.

"Don't move!" the figure commanded.

To his surprise, the voice was feminine.

The Evolver was a woman!

Jiang Loong watched as she struggled to prop herself up. Now he could see clearly; she was indeed female.

And she was young—a teenager, no more than fifteen or sixteen.

Yet, she was older than Tongtong, who would forever be an eight-year-old in appearance.

Despite her apparent frailty, this Evolver could easily overpower an average person.

Jiang Loong was well aware of this, so he remained still. But discreetly, he had summoned the Rank 1 mutated zombie he'd left downstairs, instructing it to conceal itself at the top of the second-floor staircase.

Self-preservation was key for Jiang Loong. The young Evolver might look deathly and innocent, but there was no telling if it was all an act.

"Don't you need assistance? I can offer my help! The zombies have pulled back; I can get someone from Base City, or if you're willing, I can carry you there for treatment," Jiang Loong offered.

"No need," the young female Evolver responded icily.

Her words had barely left her lips when she groaned, the ghastly blotches reappearing and swiftly spreading across her face, twisting her once delicate features into something monstrous and horrifying.

For an ordinary person, becoming a zombie might not present such a stark transformation, but this was not the case for someone like Tongtong.

After Tongtong became a zombie, her skin merely shifted in hue, with veins protruding on the surface, yet she retained a human appearance.

However, the young woman before him was an Evolver!

The Evolver energy within her would engage in a standoff with the zombie virus. Through this continuous struggle, the process of corpse transformation would intensify dramatically.