Both Lu Yun and Qing Han were nonplussed by the flying sword wobbling their way. Radiating an energy unique to zombies, it was a zombie sword!

“How is this… even possible?” Befuddled, Lu Yun searched through the memories of all four of his envoys, but found nothing about zombified swords. This was too strange an occurrence.

“Uooahh!” snarled the Black Tortoise, the enormous soundwave destroying the flying sword. Smoke left in the destroyed sword’s wake slowly dissipated.

Lu Yun remained tense, and the Black Tortoise’s two eyes settled somewhere ahead; there was still something there. The sword zombie had been a scout, testing the waters for whatever terrible thing lurked in that far corner. The sacred beast didn’t dare advance without knowing what it was.

Lu Yun and Qing Han looked on with matching solemness. Once again, silver starlight flickered about Qing Han as he channeled the power of starstones.

“Don’t.” Lu Yun stopped his friend. “The thing’s gone.”

Qing Han dismissed his starlight.

“Recall the Black Tortoise,”...