Chapter 149: Farewell, Luo Xiaohu

The Corpse Witch, the Skeletal Lich King, the Phantom Lord, the Zombie King, and the Corpse Dragon—standing side by side before him, these five legendary undead beings filled Landor with a deep sense of satisfaction.

After forming a contract with the Corpse Dragon, Landor’s mental realm felt a peculiar sensation of fullness—not the kind of being overly stuffed, but a simple, contented eighty percent full. Comparing the required capacity for newly ascended legends like the Corpse Witch and the Skeletal Lich King as “one,” the Corpse Dragon demanded at least “five,” a testament to its overwhelming power.

Had Landor not meticulously arranged and strategized this time, allowing the Corpse Dragon to unleash its full might, even with his current strength, he would have had no choice but to flee in panic.

The only regret was that, in pursuit of caution, Landor held no mercy during the battle, leaving the Corpse Dragon severely wounded. If it were to recover on its own through slumber, it would likely take decades. After all, undead creatures were not known for their regenerative abilities.

However, with the innate talent of Nurturing the Dead (Purple) at his disposal, everything changed.

When Landor linked the nurturing energy to the Corpse Dragon, not only did its physical wounds begin to mend, but even the scars upon its soul and spirit started to heal. The dragon distinctly felt a pure current gently flowing through its fractured soul, gradually closing the wounds. At this rate, it would only take a few months before the Corpse Dragon could return to its peak condition.

Watching the dragon’s expression of relief and comfort, Landor couldn’t help but smirk—hard to imagine an undead being could express such feelings.

With this newfound rapport, the Corpse Dragon no longer resisted communication, and Landor cautiously realized the full extent of its power. Besides being bound by Landor’s seals that restricted its limbs and wings—thus preventing its formidable close-combat and aerial abilities—the Corpse Dragon was also hindered by interference from the Zombie King and Phantom Lord, suppressing its dragon breath and inherited draconic magic.

More importantly, having dwelled for years within the Corpse Dragon Mountain, its aura was intrinsically linked to the volcano, granting it the power to trigger volcanic eruptions that would massively amplify surrounding fire elements, thereby greatly enhancing its fiery capabilities. Thankfully, Landor had inadvertently avoided this devastating ability.

After transferring the Corpse Dragon’s treasures into his mental realm and, following its reminder, gathering numerous pure fire elemental stones from the molten lava of Corpse Dragon Mountain, Landor departed happily under the reluctant gaze of the dragon.

With this, all of Landor’s plans set before venturing into the wilderness had been successfully completed.

Now, it was time to see how the impromptu plan would unfold.

Returning to the Zombie King’s cavern, Landor released the Zombie King and the group of ninth-rank zombies from his mental realm, then sent a message to his newly recruited subordinate, summoning him to meet. Given the man’s strength, crossing the Zombie Plains would be no trouble. As for the simpler option, Landor decided to go meet him directly.

Ha! Isn’t that what a true boss should do?

Within a day, Landor received a report from the outside zombies: Luo Xiaohu had arrived.

Immersed in studying the Demonic Seed, Landor was pleased with the newcomer’s efficiency. He immediately went out and found Luo Xiaohu surrounded by the Zombie King and numerous high-level zombies.

Luo Xiaohu looked tense, his eyes darting nervously as if searching for an escape route, ready to bolt at any moment.

“Don’t be nervous, you’re among friends,” Landor said with a light laugh.

Hearing Landor’s words, the Zombie King growled once, and the high-level zombies around promptly dispersed.

Landor gestured for Luo Xiaohu to come forward, who cautiously approached.

Once brought into the mental realm, Luo Xiaohu’s eyes widened in amazement, repeatedly marveling at the prowess of an arcane master.

Inside the magic tower, Landor poured a cup of tea for Luo “Hillbilly” Hu and asked, “What’s the situation on your end?”

“Following your orders, I contacted the slaves who couldn’t survive anymore after returning. Unexpectedly, they’ve grown significantly. It’s no longer just those original people—now there are idlers from villages and towns, bandits from the forests, mercenaries looking for a quick payday, deserters, and of course, the majority are still those struggling to make ends meet.”

Taking a sip of tea, Luo Xiaohu continued, “I also sensed the presence of many nobles among them. The weapons of the rebels are too refined—definitely military-grade. Hmph, they must have some well-thought-out plans.”

“As the instigator of this rebellion and recognized by Brock as its leader, I do have some influence among them. However, I never intended to unify that scattered group before. Upon returning, I shared this idea, and it quickly gained support, forming a Rebel Army Alliance. Naturally, it didn’t lack those wanting to stir the waters for their own gain.”

“Regardless, you’ve achieved the initial goal I set. But such an alliance can’t last long. Once the various factions have reaped their benefits, the alliance will crumble, becoming a battlefield for others to gain glory. Ultimately, the bottom tier always suffers.”

At these final words, Luo Xiaohu’s eyes dimmed, as if haunted by unpleasant memories.

Landor listened quietly, then smiled slightly and said, “Tiger King, interested in playing the big game?”

Luo Xiaohu blinked in surprise, asking, “Big game? How big?”

“To take down Brock and become the King of the Southern Empire!”

“You mean... the Zombie Legion?” Luo Xiaohu was no fool and immediately grasped Landor’s implication. He then said, “Relying solely on them won’t cut it. The Zombie Legion led by the Zombie King has tried attacking Brock more than once. Even with my scattered forces, it’s impossible.”

“Then... what if we add this?”

A window suddenly appeared on the wall, revealing the scene inside the mental realm: the contrast between the gray clouds rolling overhead and the green grass below was striking.

A hoarse dragon roar echoed from the horizon. The gigantic Corpse Dragon descended with overwhelming majesty from the gray clouds. All the undead trembled beneath its draconic presence. (At least from Luo Xiaohu’s perspective; in truth, the other undead only glanced briefly at the Corpse Dragon before returning to their tasks.)

“This... this is the Corpse Dragon? The one from the center of the wilderness?!” Luo Xiaohu asked in disbelief. He had only heard legends of the Corpse Dragon before, but witnessing its might firsthand was even more awe-inspiring. What shocked him further was that the dragon’s presence here meant it had clearly been tamed by his mysterious boss. This was the very same Corpse Dragon that had plagued the empire for centuries—rampaging unchecked and only pacified by handing over treasures.

Landor casually lifted his teacup and took a sip, inwardly pleased at Luo Xiaohu’s astonished and admiring gaze.

To be continued. Goodnight, brothers!