章 104: Zombie

As Zhongli spoke, he glanced at Ghost a couple of times and fell into deep thought.

The second awakening of an innate martial soul requires hovering on the edge of life and death to comprehend the true essence of the human body.

Ghost had already died once, and his martial soul, amplified by immortal herbs, technically had already undergone a second awakening, but it was stuck at a certain point.

It was similar to how, when Yu Xiaogang awakened his martial soul, the power of his bloodline transcended, but due to his own limitations, his martial soul failed to awaken completely.

It had awakened, but not fully.

Thinking of this, Zhongli touched his chin and said calmly, "From a general standpoint, your situation is a bit more complex."

As soon as he said this, both Ghost and Yue Guan trembled, their faces turning somewhat pale. They exchanged glances, and a sense of despair welled up in their hearts.

A bit more complex?

Does that mean it's impossible to achieve the second awakening?

A second awakening of his martial soul was Ghost's chance to significantly enhance his combat power and strength. It was an opportunity for both Ghost and Chrysanthemum to truly rise.

Could it be that this opportunity was shattered before it even began?

Before the two could say anything, Zhongli continued, "You will find it easier than other innate martial soul masters to achieve the second awakening."

Upon hearing this, Yue Guan and Ghost were utterly bewildered, their eyelids twitching uncontrollably.

Their mouths opened slightly as they looked at Zhongli, wanting to speak but hesitating.

If it weren't for the fact that they needed his help and couldn't defeat him, they would have jumped up and slapped Zhongli.

Why did he have to be so scary!

Could he just speak faster?

Could he, please!

He had really scared them out of their wits...

"Grandpa Yue Guan, why do you look a bit unhappy?"

Paimon, holding a piece of osmanthus cake in both hands, looked up and asked Yue Guan with a puzzled expression.

Isn't it a good thing to be easier?

Of course, she was accustomed to Zhongli's slow speech, so she listened carefully to what he said and then thought it over.

What bad intentions could such a little creature have?

Ghost's face was hidden under a black robe, so Paimon couldn't see it.

If she could see Ghost's face, she might be scared and start trembling, but only that much.

From a human perspective, Ghost's face was not at all human.

Yue Guan's eye twitched, and he immediately forced a smile that looked worse than crying. "Little Paimon, you've misunderstood. I'm just too happy!"

Isn't that the truth?

At this moment, both Ghost and Yue Guan were very happy.

They just hadn't yet recovered from the fright they received earlier.

Easier to achieve the second awakening than other innate martial soul masters?

This meant a tremendous fortune had fallen upon Ghost!

"Happy?"

Paimon took another bite of the osmanthus cake, still filled with confusion.

Can happiness look worse than crying?

Zhongli saw this and simply smiled, saying nothing more.

Ah, at their age, why are they still so restless?

Can't everyone be a bit calmer?

Thousands of years of cultivation are not something Yue Guan and Ghost could compare with.

"Please, Lord, could you tell me what I should do?"

Specter cupped his hands again, speaking sincerely.

No spirit master could refuse the chance to become stronger, especially those who had reached the peak. They would never reject such a temptation.

Even if they knew there was a risk of death, they would still go and explore it.

Since he, Ghost, had more advantages than others, how could he back down?

"Ghost, as I understand it, you can no longer be considered fully human."

"You are more like half-human, half-undead, with one foot already in the door of becoming a zombie."

Upon hearing this, Yue Guan and Ghost were stunned. A zombie?

"What a zombie?"

Paimon was also taken aback, but she showed no signs of fear.

Zombies, to her, were quite adorable, so responsible, and even helpful to others. They weren't some terrifying creatures.

That Hu Tao was the truly annoying one! Qiqi was so nice, yet Hu Tao still wanted to bury her!

P.S.: Everyone here is skewed toward Qiqi! Qiqi is a Zombie in a sense in Genshin as for Hu Tao here she is a character who causes trouble in a sense for Qiqi.

Ghost was indeed only considered half-human and half-zombie, as he still had a limited lifespan.

Zombies were different—they had no lifespan limitations.

They existed beyond the Three Realms and outside the Five Elements.

A zombie nurtured on Douluo Continent might be much weaker, but for Douluo Continent, it would be an epic-level disaster!

Once a zombie matured, it would be impervious to swords and spears, invulnerable to water and fire, immune to spells, and leave scorched earth in its wake...

There was no way the people here could withstand such a creature.

If Ghost became a true zombie, his power would increase significantly. However, the Douluo Continent plane would ultimately limit his development.

Shaking his head, Zhongli dismissed the strange thoughts in his mind and continued, "If you want to become a true zombie, you would need to be sealed for hundreds of years and buried underground…"

Before Zhongli could finish, Yue Guan and Ghost's old habits flared up.

Though they didn't know the exact nature of a true zombie, being sealed for hundreds of years?

Wouldn't that be the same as being dead?

After finally coming back to life, how could Ghost be willing to "die" again like that?

Besides, after being buried underground for hundreds of years, his bones would have turned to dust!

"Lord, I don't want to become a zombie; I just want to achieve the second awakening!" Ghost quickly shook his head, and Yue Guan nodded vigorously after hearing this.

Hundreds of years?

Even the yellow flowers would be cold by then!

Ghost didn't realize what kind of opportunity he was refusing at that moment!

That would have meant undying and immortal, as long as he wasn't killed!

Even the gods of Douluo had a lifespan limit, but zombies didn't!

"Yes, Lord, if Old Ghost were buried for a few hundred years, I…" Yue Guan was equally speechless. They had come here to become stronger, but if Old Ghost were buried, how would he manage alone in the Spirit Hall?

Zhongli blinked, somewhat stunned, but he did not argue.

This was a human decision. He was merely guiding them along a path.

To do or not to do was entirely up to the humans themselves.

Since Ghost was unwilling to become a zombie, Zhongli naturally wouldn't force him, sealing him and burying him underground.

"Alright then…"

Zhongli nodded and began to explain the key information about the second awakening of an innate martial soul, as well as what Ghost should do.

The best time for the second awakening of an innate martial soul was at the Soul Emperor or Soul Saint level.

Of course, those with outstanding talent could achieve the second awakening earlier.

But Ghost was already at the Title Douluo level, and making him feel a genuine threat to his life would be rather difficult.

No matter how powerful a Title Douluo was, they were still human. However, if all their soul power was sealed and they went to fight against nature, they could still feel the threat of death.

After a while, Ghost and Yue Guan finally nodded, but their faces were extremely serious.

Seal their soul power and throw themselves into the sea?

No foothold, relying solely on swimming, while also facing sea soul beasts?

This was somewhat inhuman...

Moreover, things like climbing mountains barehanded or meditating under waterfalls were also terrifyingly intense.

"The main thing is energy?"