Chapter 738

Ku Mu mountain is not really a mountain but a giant dead tree, old earth wood, reaching into the clouds. It has stood more than a million years, alive since Reckless Savage Demon Venerable’s era and still alive after Paradise Earth Immortal Venerable’s death. In its lush years the strongest Gu Immortals or forces in Northern Plains usually owned it, and countless forces once fought and died over it. Now its trunk is mostly dead, its branches shading only a small patch. ^{ch. 738}

Fang Yuan has not come to admire the tree; he wants the immortal zombie living atop it, a former wood path Gu Immortal named Gu Ye. Joining Northern Plains Zombie Alliance requires an immortal zombie’s recommendation. Fang Yuan, briefed by Fairy Li Shan, picked Gu Ye simply because he was nearest. ^{ch. 738}

Nearing old earth wood, Fang Yuan slows and sees no sign of Gu Ye, whose alertness strikes him as badly lacking. He calls out as Sha Huang, asking for Old Earth City Lord. A figure emerges, irritated, demanding to know why more people have come to bully him: Gu Ye, yellowish, tall and skinny, with wooden markings like the dead wood around him. ^{ch. 738}

Gu Ye is stunned at the sight of Fang Yuan, and his anger vanishes. Fang Yuan explains he has just turned into an immortal zombie and wants a recommendation to join Zombie Alliance. Relieved, Gu Ye welcomes him as a fellow sufferer and leads him deep into the tree, to a carved wooden city built on its branches. ^{ch. 738}

This is Old Earth City, once a popular gathering place Fang Yuan calls the heart of Northern Plains. Much of it is half destroyed, its houses collapsed and its yellow vine ladders too brittle to hold weight. Gu Ye laughs bitterly that the title Old Earth City Lord now rings hollow, since only the wood path resource wilted essence still draws interest. He would never have taken this Zombie Alliance guard mission had he known how barren it was, and warns Fang Yuan against the same mission. His own mission term is almost finished. ^{ch. 738}

Fang Yuan notices Gu Ye’s face swollen and cracked, and a long scar spiraling dark purple poison across his chest. Before Gu Ye can explain, a loud impact shakes the tree. A voice outside demands he come out for a transaction: Divine Lord Tian Du again. A second bang follows as another Gu Immortal, Shi Hou, shouts for Gu Ye to come out and talk. ^{ch. 738}

Gu Ye, resigned, goes out with Fang Yuan beside him. Outside wait two rank six Gu Immortals: bronze-skinned Divine Lord Tian Du and brutish Shi Hou. Divine Lord Tian Du, openly disdainful of immortal zombies, demands Gu Ye sell a hundred and fifty kilograms of wilted essence for a single immortal essence stone. Gu Ye calls it robbery, and Shi Hou snickers that robbery is possible too, that this is only a favor to his friend. ^{ch. 738}

Gu Ye is furious but helpless: two rank six Gu Immortals outmatch him, his blessed land is dead, and he has only a dozen-odd immortal essence stones. Winning would still bankrupt him, since a fight would spend his green grape immortal essence past what stones alone could replace. He looks to Fang Yuan. Fang Yuan feigns weakness and only asks why Zombie Alliance does not intervene. Losing hope, Gu Ye says the Alliance could interfere but he cannot afford it, that things were better when their leader was around. ^{ch. 738}

Divine Lord Tian Du and Shi Hou privately gloat that this newcomer only wants to join Zombie Alliance, and that Gu Ye can be extorted again. Gu Ye, as expected, sells the wilted essence for one stone, and the pair leave laughing, telling him to invite a living person next time he wants help. Gu Ye is left despondent, saying he cannot bear this place a moment longer. ^{ch. 738}