This statement may have some truth to it...

　　But it must be based on the assumption that I am just an ordinary old man.

　　One knows one’s own affairs best.

　　I am not an ordinary old man, so what exactly is the reason that this zombie monk of Xu Hai is so close to me, even emotionally regarding me as an elder or ancestor of his family?

　　Brian Cooper originally thought that his old body was able to return from death to life because of the instant rotation of the Wheel of Life and Death of the heavens.

　　But if he is a living person, why would a zombie be drawn to him?

　　Perhaps, this body has always been dead...

　　It’s just that the rotation of the Wheel of Life and Death of the heavens brought it a trace of vitality, making it appear as if it were someone at the end of their lifespan.

　　Brian Cooper’s eyes flickered as he moved his body slightly.

　　His always-straight spine gave a faint crack.

　　Beneath his clothes, the vertebrae on his back protruded under the skin, each segment of the spine covered in barbs, with purple patterns climbing along the bone spurs across Brian Cooper’s entire back.

　　The patterns intertwined, resembling scales and armor.

Chapter 11 Riding the Wind

　　“You are in an environment where spiritual energy manifests. You can sign in repeatedly. Would you like to sign in?”

　　The faint morning light filtered through the window lattice, spilling into the room.

　　Brian Cooper sat against the wall, looking even more aged.

　　He had taken Five-Defeat Decoction for three consecutive days, and the aura of the five defeats had already circled his body three times. Anyone who saw his appearance today would associate him with a flickering candle in the wind, suspecting he might collapse and pass away at any moment.

　　However, Brian Cooper’s true condition was much better than it appeared.

　　The Five-Defeat Decoction caused the aura of the five defeats to dissipate outward, reducing its disturbance to himself, making his body lighter and healthier, his appetite increased, and even his energy became more vigorous.

　　Unfortunately, after taking the decoction for several days, its effect on removing the aura of the five defeats from Brian Cooper’s body had reached its limit.

　　Taking more would have no further effect.

　　Instead, he would risk being poisoned by the medicine.

　　A few doses of decoction to make the body feel more comfortable is, after all, a good thing.

　　Brian Cooper did not expect a few doses of decoction to restore him to his prime.

　　Hearing the cold male voice in his mind, he silently recited in his heart, “Sign in.”

　　“Sign-in successful. You have obtained Ghost Spirit Pills.”

　　As expected, a chill welled up in Brian Cooper’s chest. He reached into his robe and pulled out a palm-sized pill bottle containing three round Ghost Spirit Pills.

　　Ever since he had settled in the layman’s courtyard, he had received Ghost Spirit Pills every day upon signing in.

　　He had already accumulated three bottles.

　　Ghost Spirit Pills could be put to full use in his hands; no matter how many he got, he would not mind.

　　Brian Cooper poured out the pills from the bottle and lined them up in his palm.

　　He picked one up and swallowed it, immediately feeling a cool sensation sweep down his throat, making his mind much clearer.

　　After that, he opened his left palm, facing outward toward the open space, and shifted his thoughts.

　　Woooo— As soon as his mind moved, a gust of yin wind suddenly arose in the room, stirring up some dust on the ground.

　　On the patch of open ground facing his palm, a thick layer of fresh blood appeared out of thin air, surging and collapsing inward, forming a vortex.

　　A dog spirit with dark golden fur, covered in purple-blue patterns, and blood dripping from its four limbs crawled out of the vortex!

　　“Zhi—Zhi!”

　　The dog spirit’s sharp ears pressed back against its head, its tail wagging happily, its head resting on the edge of the bed against Brian Cooper’s knee, making coquettish sounds from its mouth.

　　Compared to when Brian Cooper first saw it in reality, the dog spirit’s form was now fully solidified. If one ignored the blood dripping from its limbs, it would be a majestic yellow dog from the real world.

　　“Good, good, sit.”

　　Brian Cooper’s face was full of smiles as he pressed down on the dog spirit’s head, which kept nuzzling him, and casually gave a command. The dog spirit obediently sat, its pair of bronze-gold eyes staring at him, bright and spirited.

　　“This is today’s ration.”

　　He picked up a Ghost Spirit Pill and tossed it.

　　The pill traced an arc through the air, and the dog spirit leapt nimbly, catching it and swallowing it down.

　　A strong scent of blood emanated from the dog spirit, the patterns hidden beneath its dark golden fur faintly glowing, a subtle blood-red light swirling around it.

　　Its form became even more lifelike, every hair clearly visible.

　　In the pool of blood beneath its feet, mysterious symbols floated up.

　　Brian Cooper saw this and nodded in satisfaction.

　　Most of the Ghost Spirit Pills he had recently obtained had been fed to the dog spirit; he himself only took one per day.

　　Now, taking the Ghost Spirit Pill brought him little benefit.

　　Other than making his senses sharper and his mind clearer, it had no other effect.

　　But giving the pill to the dog spirit could continuously increase its combat power.

　　Brian Cooper thought to himself, if he were to encounter the snake demon simulated by Monk Xuyun again, even if the dog spirit couldn’t kill it, it would at least be enough to help him escape.

　　Thinking of this, he looked at the dog spirit sitting upright and smiled, “Let me see how your training has gone lately.”

　　“Awoo!”

　　The dog spirit suddenly howled.

　　The pool of blood beneath its feet bubbled like boiling water.

　　Segments of mysterious symbols darted out from the blood, suddenly entwining with the blood-colored wind swirling around the dog spirit—its half-human-tall body instantly vanished without a trace.