The final strand of miasma—
Was pulled away.
Then—
Gone.
Only scorched earth remained.
And a suffocating silence.
At the same moment—
The watches on their wrists trembled.
[Natural Energy +10]
[Biological Energy +15]
[World Exploration: 2%]
Silence.
Uchiha Mo and Uchiha Hideki—
Looked at each other.
A flicker of realization passed between them.
Biological energy—
Came from killing.
That much—
They already knew.
But this—
Was different.
A single zombie—
Produced two types of energy.
And in different amounts.
"…So this kind of creature…"
Mo's voice was calm.
"…is a hybrid resource."
Hideki nodded.
"If stronger ones exist…"
He didn't finish.
He didn't need to.
Because both already understood.
This—
Was efficient.
Very efficient.
The Main God rewarded energy accumulation.
But the thresholds?
Unknown.
Which meant—
Gather everything.
As much as possible.
Uchiha Mo's eyes flickered.
If this had been the original Main God Space—
Such "farming" would never be this easy.
But now—
Everything was broken.
And he—
Held authority.
The system—
Couldn't regulate.
Couldn't balance.
Because all energy—
Was being used to repair it.
"…Before that."
Mo's gaze shifted.
"We need information."
"How these things form."
"And more importantly—"
"Where to find more."
Hideki adjusted his glasses.
"…I'm curious as well."
At the same time—
Both turned.
Toward the bushes.
Naturally.
As if it had always been obvious—
That someone was hiding there.
———
Uncle Jiu stepped out.
His last bit of concealment—
Gone.
They had known.
From the beginning.
Qiu Sheng followed—
Eyes wide.
His gaze darted—
Between the two youths—
And the corpse on the ground.
Uncle Jiu glanced at the remains.
His expression darkened.
Then—
He cupped his hands.
"This humble one is Lin Jiu of the Maoshan Sect."
"Young friends… your skills are impressive."
"This creature—"
"Is called a zombie."
"It forms after death."
"Either from resentment…"
"Or from absorbing yin energy over time."
"It feeds on the blood of the living."
Then—
He shifted.
"You both possess great strength…"
"…yet seem unfamiliar with such things."
"May I ask—"
"Where do you come from?"
"And why are you here?"
Uchiha Mo didn't answer.
Instead—
He asked.
"Places rich in yin energy…"
"Produce more of these?"
Uncle Jiu paused.
"…In theory, yes."
The conversation continued.
Uchiha Hideki remained silent.
Watching.
Analyzing.
The language—
Was unfamiliar.
And yet—
He understood it perfectly.
The Main God.
Translation.
Direct.
Absolute.
But what interested him more—
Was Mo.
Fluent.
Natural.
As if he belonged here.
Hideki's thoughts deepened.
So… everything he said… was true.
———
Uncle Jiu frowned.
They avoided revealing their origin.
Yet showed keen interest in zombies.
Suspicious.
Very suspicious.
After a moment—
He answered.
"Mass graves."
"Yin pools."
"Corpse-nurturing grounds."
"Places where miasma gathers…"
"Those produce zombies most easily."
"And those who die with resentment…"
"May transform as well."
He pointed deeper into the mountain.
"This area…"
"…is not normal."
"Yin energy gathers here."
"Graves disturbed."
"Bodies missing."
"I suspect—"
"This is no longer a single zombie."
"But—"
"A corpse-nurturing ground."
"And possibly…"
"Something far more dangerous."
———
Silence.
A test.
Uncle Jiu watched them carefully.
Fear?
Retreat?
Hesitation?
None.
Uchiha Mo's lips curved slightly.
"Something more dangerous…"
His tone—
Calm.
Curious.
Almost—
Excited.
Qiu Sheng blinked.
"…Master."
"Why do they look happy?"
"Silence."
Uncle Jiu snapped.
Then turned back.
"You intend to go deeper?"
"Of course."
Mo's expression changed instantly.
Serious.
Righteous.
"There are evil entities harming the people."
"We cannot ignore it."
"It is our duty…"
"To eliminate evil."
Uncle Jiu paused.
If these words—
Came from a Taoist—
He would believe them.
But them?
Moments ago—
They dissected a corpse like researchers.
Now—
Righteous?
Doubt lingered.
But—
He made a decision.
He couldn't let them go alone.
"Then I will guide you."
"But understand—"
"This place is dangerous."
"Be careful."
"Much appreciated."
Mo nodded.
Uncle Jiu said nothing further.
But his eyes—
Shifted slightly.
A silent signal.
Qiu Sheng understood.
Watch them.
Closely.
"No time to waste."
"Let's move."
A compass appeared.
Talismans were handed out.
The group advanced.
Mo signaled subtly.
Hideki followed.
Distance maintained.
Eyes sharp.
Because this cooperation—
Was never trust.
Only—
Temporary alignment.