Word Count: 2,755 Words
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It didn't take long for the Snake-People Tribe to launch a counterattack with the help of the Amethyst Winged Lion King. Countless soldiers from the allied forces of the three empires were forever left on this battlefield.
Once the fighting concluded, Xiao Yan and the others gathered in the fortress's main hall.
"This Demon Poison Spot is quite a bit more formidable than the Branding Poison and Medusa's seal. Even the power of the Nihility Devouring Flame requires some time to completely refine it."
Meow! (Wait until I become stronger, then I can do it faster and faster.)
Xiao Yan fiddled with a token in his hand. This wasn't the Soul Command Token but rather the Poison Sect's sect token that he had stopped Mao Wu from devouring along with Liang Zhongsheng's flesh and blood.
Xiao Yan glanced at other items like storage rings and weapons and let Mao Wu devour them all as cat food. In any case, it wasn't a picky eater.
"Are you really alright?" Yun Yun looked at the poison spot on the back of Xiao Yan's hand, her face showing concern.
"It's just a minor poison, rest assured. I am the champion of the Alchemist Grand Meeting, after all," Xiao Yan replied confidently.
Yun Yun gave him a sidelong glance before expressing her gratitude, "Thank you for saving me just now."
"We are both leaders of the Yan Alliance; helping each other is expected."
"Is it only because of the Yan Alliance..."
Yun Yun's voice was very soft, but Xiao Yan naturally heard it with his cultivation level. The atmosphere between the two became somewhat subtle for a moment.
Thud!
Just then, Zi Yan swaggered in from outside, still gnawing on a large lamb leg.
"Xiao Yan, when are we going to the Chu Yun Empire?"
This amount of food was naturally insufficient for her terrifying appetite; it was merely to satisfy a craving. To truly eat her fill, she still required heavenly treasures.
"You're leaving?" Yun Yun's beautiful eyes turned to Xiao Yan as she asked.
After a moment of silence, he nodded. "Mm, we'll leave when night falls. I came here this time intending to enter the Chu Yun Empire from the border. I have some matters to attend to in the Chu Yun Empire."
A fleeting trace of gloom flashed across Yun Yun's eyes.
"Huh? Xiao Yan, what's that thing on your hand?" Zi Yan quickly finished the entire roasted lamb leg and reached toward Xiao Yan with greasy hands.
"Aiya, can't you wash your hands first!" Xiao Yan pushed her face away with a look of disgust before continuing, "This is bait, something I'll use to fish."
"Ah? This can be eaten?" Both Zi Yan and Yun Yun looked puzzled. Wasn't the thing in Xiao Yan's hand just a sect token?
"Leaving the Poison Sect around is a threat. This three-empire alliance was likely a probing entry initiated by the Poison Sect trying to capture Little Fairy Doctor. It's a menace that cannot be left alone." A fierce glint flashed in Xiao Yan's eyes. Some things shouldn't wait until they happen before retaliating; one must prepare beforehand and strike first.
Yun Yun's face showed concern as she said, "It's rumored that the Sect Leader of the Poison Sect is already a Dou Ancestor... Even the weakest 1-star Dou Ancestor is far stronger than a peak Dou Emperor."
Xiao Yan was currently only a 7-star Dou King; the gap between him and a Dou Ancestor was too vast. A single misstep could lead to disaster, not to mention the Poison Sect specialized in poison. Poison was something exceedingly difficult to guard against; one could be poisoned with a moment's carelessness.
"I'm going to the Chu Yun Empire this time precisely to find ways to increase my strength. Besides, I still have medicinal pills to boost my strength. I will wait until I reach the Dou Emperor realm before seeking out the Poison Sect." Although Xiao Yan was a 7-star Dou King, he was actually just a step away from the Dou Emperor realm.
Speaking of medicinal pills, he retrieved two brocade boxes from his storage ring and handed them to Yun Yun. "Here are two Mighty Huang Pills. You probably haven't used them before, right?"
The Mighty Huang Pill was different from the Dou King Pill; the Mighty Huang Pill could be used twice.
Yun Yun slowly opened the brocade boxes, and instantly, a rich medicinal fragrance filled the entire hall. Her face showed astonishment as she looked at the pale-gold pills and then at Xiao Yan.
She hadn't expected he could already refine Mighty Huang Pills, and he had taken out two at once!
"This is too valuable; I cannot accept it." Yun Yun shook her head, closed the brocade boxes, and handed the Mighty Huang Pills back to Xiao Yan.
"Give them to me! I want them!" Zi Yan jumped directly onto the table. Anyone who didn't know better might think Zi Yan's true form was a monkey, not an Ancient Void Dragon.
"Don't mess around. Mighty Huang Pills aren't for magical beasts. Eating them won't directly increase your cultivation."
Xiao Yan looked at Yun Yun and said, "You are the Sect Leader of the Misty Cloud Sect; the Yan Alliance still needs you. Having too low a cultivation level isn't good. Besides, how can these Mighty Huang Pills be as precious as the Green Lotus Core Flame?"
"Just consider it as me repaying a bit of the favor I owe you."
Seeing Xiao Yan's resolute manner, Yun Yun knew she couldn't argue with him and accepted the Mighty Huang Pills.
After discussing some matters concerning the Yan Alliance, Xiao Yan left with Zi Yan, preparing to head toward the Chu Yun Empire.
Yun Yun watched his departing figure, gently stroked the brocade boxes, and murmured, "I never asked you to repay me..."
…
Little Fairy Doctor finished absorbing all of Liang Zhongsheng's poison mist in barely half a day. Her strength surprisingly soared directly to a 4-star Dou Emperor, leaving even Xiao Yan speechless. Having a special physique was like having a cheat code. However, this was also related to Little Fairy Doctor constantly suppressing herself from consuming poisons, resulting in such a significant increase all at once.
Finally, after bidding Yun Yun farewell, the group swiftly departed the Snake-People Tribe's fortress and began flying toward the border of the Chu Yun Empire.
Between the borders of the two empires lay a vast buffer zone. Even at the speed of the Amethyst Winged Lion King, it was deep into the night when they finally arrived.
Atop a mountain peak on the Chu Yun Empire's border, two streaks of purple light flashed from the distance, appearing on the summit. They were, impressively, the large and small Amethyst Winged Lion Kings. A man and two women sat on the backs of the two magical beasts.
"Ahead is the Chu Yun Empire. Poison Masters run rampant within this empire, so we must act carefully," the Amethyst Winged Lion King said to Zi Yan and Xiao Yan. The first time the three of them entered the Chu Yun Empire, they had suffered quite a few setbacks. This place was entirely different from other empires.
"Mm, we'll be counting on you and Little Fairy Doctor for this trip to the Chu Yun Empire," Xiao Yan said.
The Amethyst Winged Lion King nodded with a small smile. "We should hurry. The Profound Nether Valley is situated on the outskirts of a city in the empire's center, and we've still got quite a distance to go."
"Mm."
The territory of the Chu Yun Empire was much more expansive than that of the Jia Ma Empire. However, compared to the latter, this empire was undoubtedly much more chaotic.
Poison Masters, a profession almost universally despised in the Jia Ma Empire, had developed exceptionally well in the Chu Yun Empire. In any city, one could see people wearing Poison Master robes everywhere. In the Chu Yun Empire, there was a scene rarely seen in the Jia Ma Empire: the open sale of poisons.
Moreover, apart from the Alchemist Association, the Chu Yun Empire also had a Poison Master Association of equal standing.
Because of this, although the Chu Yun Empire had stronger alchemists, their abilities were actually weaker compared to those of the Jia Ma Empire. Back when Xiao Yan competed for the championship in the Alchemist Grand Meeting, his rival Yan Li was the Deputy Chairman of the Chu Yun Empire's Alchemist Association.
Shops specializing in various poisonous items existed in every city of this empire. Anything related to poison could be purchased in these places. The more potent the poison, the higher the price.
According to Little Fairy Doctor's introduction, there were two major factions in the Chu Yun Empire. One was naturally the Poison Sect, a relatively new faction renowned because its Sect Leader was a Dou Ancestor. They controlled one-third of the empire's territory.
The other was the Ten Thousand Scorpion Gate, a sect with a long history. Although its Sect Leader was only at the peak of the Dou Emperor realm and not as strong as the Poison Sect, it was rumored that the previous Sect Leader had not died and had broken through to become a Dou Ancestor. Therefore, the Poison Sect and the Ten Thousand Scorpion Gate had always been evenly matched and hostile toward each other.
Precisely for this reason, the Chu Yun Empire was not ruled by powerful sects like the Luo Yan Empire or the Mulan Empire. Instead, it was ruled by the Chu Yun Empire's imperial family, making it somewhat similar to the Jia Ma Empire in this regard.
It took Xiao Yan's group nearly seven days of long travel before they finally arrived at the city closest to the Profound Nether Valley: Dark Poison City.
Along the journey, Xiao Yan gained some understanding of the chaos within the Chu Yun Empire, especially after witnessing poison mists being scattered everywhere during some brawls. His awareness of the dangers within this empire increased considerably.
Thanks to Little Fairy Doctor's presence, Xiao Yan and the others were able to proceed so smoothly without encountering any mishaps along the way.
This city was not under the control of any single faction; rather, it was jointly managed by the Poison Sect, the Ten Thousand Scorpion Gate, and the Chu Yun Imperial Family.
To ordinary cultivators, the Profound Nether Valley was a land of great peril, but to the Poison Masters of the Chu Yun Empire, it was an unparalleled treasure ground.
Undoubtedly, this place was abundant in poisons and various poisonous creatures!
Every time the poison barrier of the Profound Nether Valley receded, numerous Poison Masters would come to gather poisonous herbs or cultivate inside to enhance their abilities.
Therefore, the Profound Nether Valley was also a treasure ground and holy land for the Chu Yun Empire. Naturally, everyone coveted it, and just as naturally, no one could claim it entirely.
"Tsk tsk, this is truly the largest number of Poison Masters I've ever seen." Xiao Yan and his companions all donned black robes to conceal their faces as they walked through this city teeming with Poison Masters.
Here, not concealing one's face would actually make one stand out. Poison Masters were not well-regarded, so almost every Poison Master had a robe for concealment.
Although the large and small Lion Kings couldn't take human form, they could shrink their bodies. From a distance, it merely looked like Xiao Yan's group of three had brought mounts into the city.
"Legend says the Profound Nether Valley is the birthplace of the Chu Yun Empire," Little Fairy Doctor softly explained. "There was once a Dou Venerate level Poison Master who was besieged and ultimately perished in the valley because of his identity as a Poison Master. Before dying, that poison Dou Venerate released all his poison Dou Qi, cursing this land. That's how the terrifying poison barrier and this unique environment, rich in poisonous creatures, were formed."
"Let's find a place to stay first. There are still seven days until the poison barrier recedes, right?" Xiao Yan asked after calculating the time.
"Mm, it should be the seventh day. The poison barrier will weaken then, and we can enter the valley to search for the Heavenly Flame and the Clear Soul Nether Orchid," Little Fairy Doctor nodded.
Xiao Yan looked at the idle Zi Yan beside him and smiled. "Zi Yan, we're counting on you this time. As long as you can find those two things, you can have whatever medicinal pills or herbs you want."
Zi Yan's eyes immediately lit up as she nodded vigorously. Although she could now transform, her strength was still too weak. For magical beasts, however, there was no need to worry about issues like unstable Dou Qi; they could digest any amount of energy given to them.
Just as the group intended to find an inn to stay, Xiao Yan forgot he was a person with 'great fortune'; wherever he went, chaos followed.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Before Little Fairy Doctor had led them through more than a few alleys, the earth suddenly shook, and the sky swayed. The entire Dark Poison City began to tremble.
"What's happening?" The sudden shaking of the entire Dark Poison City startled even Zi Yan.
Little Fairy Doctor's expression changed as she felt the violent trembling beneath her feet. She flew directly into the sky, and the others followed closely behind.
In that instant, she looked toward a specific direction.
"The direction of the Profound Nether Valley!!" Little Fairy Doctor gazed afar toward the valley's location, her eyes narrowing.
Rumble!
A thunderous roar came from the direction of the valley, loud enough for all in Dark Poison City to hear. In the next instant, everyone watched as dense dark-green poison gas erupted skyward, forming a giant vortex that reached the clouds. Then, like a great fountain, it scattered in midair and rained back down, creating a terrifying spectacle!
This earth-shattering scene frightened countless people in Dark Poison City. Whether they were Poison Masters who had come from other parts of the Chu Yun Empire or local Poison Masters, they were all shocked by the scene before them.
Even Little Fairy Doctor and the large and small Amethyst Winged Lion Kings were dumbfounded.
Long after this astonishing phenomenon disappeared, many people still couldn't regain their senses. No one knew what had happened with this sudden anomaly.
Xiao Yan saw the dumbfounded, terrified residents around him, then looked at Little Fairy Doctor and asked with a grave expression, "There hasn't been such a phenomenon before… right?"
Little Fairy Doctor's fine brows furrowed slightly. She nodded solemnly and said, "The Lion King and I have entered the valley twice, and neither time did such a phenomenon occur… And I have never heard of such a phenomenon happening."
Sigh... Xiao Yan felt somewhat helpless. He had just arrived! This couldn't possibly be blamed on him, right? He hadn't done anything yet!!
Heaven above! I'm being wronged!
The Amethyst Winged Lion King asked, "Should we go to the valley to check?"
However, there was no need for them to go check the situation at the valley because soon, news spread throughout the entire Dark Poison City.
"The poison barrier of the Profound Nether Valley has completely disappeared!!!!"
An incredibly shocking piece of news arrived, instantly stunning the entire Dark Poison City. Many people were frightened, including the local residents who had lived in Dark Poison City for generations.
"The poison barrier of the Profound Nether Valley completely disappeared? That's impossible, right?!" Everyone who heard such news was greatly shocked; their first reaction was disbelief.
The poison barrier of the Profound Nether Valley would only recede; it absolutely could not disappear completely. For countless ages, they could only wait for the poison barrier to weaken, relying on their own poison skills to endure the barrier and enter to seek fortune.
Throughout the history of the Chu Yun Empire, the poison barrier of the Profound Nether Valley had always been incredibly fierce. During normal times, even Dou Ancestors wouldn't dare to enter.
"It's absolutely true! The Profound Nether Valley no longer has a poison barrier; it's no longer a perilous land. Anyone can enter without danger!" The young Poison Master who first brought back the news stated with absolute certainty.
"This… how can this be possible!"
Such news was truly difficult to believe.