Chapter 286: Foggy Battle Royale Escape
The Two-headed Fierce Poisonous Snake only had Third-order early stage strength. Although it launched a sudden attack, under Su Yan’s suppression, it was still unable to resist. Its entire body was flipped over, exposing the wound on its abdominal inner side.
That wound no longer had blood flowing, the huge crevice completely dry, its essence blood devoured clean.
Just a glance, and Long Qiushui immediately reacted: “The Qing Family Brothers are in the mist.”
Su Yan pierced through the snake head of the severely injured Two-headed Fierce Poisonous Snake, took out its demon core, stored its corpse in the Insect Realm Space, and handed the demon core to Long Qiushui.
Long Qiushui was stunned for a moment. Su Yan said, “The Mysterious Frost Sky Centipede can use it.”
Long Qiushui had entered the Poison Dragon Valley this time precisely to obtain the Poison Dragon Daoist’s inheritance and complete the metamorphosis using the Poison Dragon Pool.
This metamorphosis was not just the Mysterious Frost Heavenly Centipede True Intent. If her contracted beast could also metamorphose together, it would undoubtedly be the greatest boost to her.
Long Qiushui did not refuse and slightly nodded as she took the demon core.
“The Qing Family Brothers have plotted so much in secret. They are probably going to act against those Dan Qiao Realm Martial Artists here.”
Cold intent flashed in Long Qiushui’s eyes. Su Yan pondered briefly: “There are probably no less than twenty or thirty Dan Qiao Realm Martial Artists who could reach this place. Using the Five-Colored Poisonous Mist as the miasma, not many will be traveling together with others. For those two, this is a rare opportunity.”
Su Yan sneered: “However, if we let them succeed like this, we will be in danger.”
Not to mention plotting against the Poison Dragon Valley with the Dragon Transformation Lineage, just betraying the Beast King Sect, setting an ambush to scheme against Su Yan and Long Qiushui, plus Qing Yunqian’s grudge—both sides were eager to grind the other to dust and scatter their ashes.
Long Qiushui said, “The poisonous mist erodes continuously. The pressure is somewhat weaker, but the powerful feral beasts here all have Third-order strength. Finding them won’t be easy.”
However…
At this point in her words, Long Qiushui thought of her disciple’s methods.
She looked at Su Yan and asked, “What do you plan to do?”
“Cause a big commotion.”
As he spoke, Insect Armor emerged around Su Yan’s body. His entire person was enveloped like an iron fortress in the ferocious and cold Insect Armor, his true appearance completely indiscernible.
Malevolent energy gathered on his body, and faintly, a dragon-shaped phantom appeared behind him.
This was not his original True Intent, but the Blood Flood Dragon form evolved by the Dragon-Eating Worm, blended with some Green-scaled Poisonous Flood Dragon True Intent form, transforming into this ink-black Blood Flood Dragon appearance.
Long Qiushui watched in shock. Moments ago, Su Yan had the aura of a righteous sect, but now he seemed like an old demonic head, exuding a perfectly natural malevolent energy.
The Troop Devouring Ghost Moth appeared in Su Yan’s palm, now shrunken to the size of two fingers, like a piece of black jade.
Su Yan placed it in Long Qiushui’s palm. Long Qiushui sensed the power contained within the Troop Devouring Ghost Moth, a strange glint in her eyes, shock in her heart.
“I remember you once had a fierce insect called the Gold-Eating Demon Insect. Could it have transformed into this form?”
Long Qiushui knew the state of the Gold-Eating Demon Insect and had fed it plenty of special metal back then, yet she never expected such a drastic change. If not for her familiarity and sensing that faint aura deep within, she probably wouldn’t have recognized it.
“The Troop Devouring Ghost Moth can control numerous weapon phantoms, their forms and shadows somewhat similar to the Sacred Weapon Path’s True Intent phantoms.”
Long Qiushui understood immediately, her lips curving slightly: “You plan to disguise as Demonic Path Martial Artists?”
“Naturally.”
Su Yan smiled and said, “Since most Beast King Sect disciples aren’t coming, the Dan Qiao Realm Martial Artists in this secret realm don’t need much consideration. If we encounter any unpleasant ones, we can deal with them together.”
In a secret realm, seizing treasures means everyone who enters is a competitor unless they are close friends—forget any talk of respect or friendliness.
Especially now, with the great war stirring up thoughts of coveting the Poison Dragon Valley in many people, it was a real mix of fish and dragons.
“Sure.” Long Qiushui had no psychological burden at all. Their lineage had no bleeding-heart do-gooders.
She placed the Troop Devouring Ghost Moth on her shoulder. The next moment, the Troop Devouring Ghost Moth released Netherworld Power that fused with her True Essence, a pitch-black Spirit Tool armor phantom enveloping her body.
Long Qiushui’s appearance changed drastically, her aura now like that of a Demonic Path Martial Artist.
With both their appearances changed, Su Yan opened the Insect Realm Space, and tens of thousands of Fiend Bees surged out.
The Fiend Bees spread continuously, vanishing into the Five-Colored Poisonous Mist in an instant.
“Let’s go.”
……
“What’s going on? We’ve been heading straight toward Poison Dragon Peak, so why has it taken so long?”
In the mist, groups of poisonous creatures continuously attacked. Among them, one with Third-order early stage cultivation was strikingly an ink-colored giant lizard.
“Junior Brother, hold off these vile beasts. I’ll go slay that poisonous lizard.”
Amid the group attack of poisonous creatures, there was strikingly a male and female pair of Sword Dao Martial Artists.
The woman in white robes, her Green Sword humming like a dragon in her hand, flew straight toward the poisonous lizard.
“Got it!”
The man responded, sacrificing his long sword from his hand. It split into seven streaks of Sword Light, sweeping like falling rain over the poisonous creatures ahead.
With one strike, hundreds and thousands of poisonous creatures were sent flying. Wherever the Sword Light passed, the poisonous creatures were bisected, filthy blood everywhere.
Both were Sword One Sect Martial Artists. The man was named Li Lingxu, one of Sword One Sect’s newly advanced Dan Qiao Realm experts. The woman was both his Senior Sister and his Dao Companion, named Snow Sword Liu Mannning.
Li Lingxu cleared the path with one sword. The poisonous lizard relying on the poisonous creatures’ siege was greatly startled and dodged the Sword Light.
Suddenly, a sword of white snow shot from Liu Mannning’s hand. The Sword Light was piercingly cold, chill like snow, instantly piercing the poisonous lizard’s head.
With the poisonous lizard dead, the poisonous creatures quickly dispersed.
Liu Mannning flicked her sword to pry open the poisonous lizard’s head and took out the inner core inside, her face lighting up with joy.
Li Lingxu came to her side, surprise also in his eyes: “Worthy of Poison Dragon True Person’s secret realm. Even this poisonous lizard faintly shows signs of dragon transformation. Using such a demon core to temper Sword Intent and physical body, breakthrough to the next realm is just around the corner.”
“Not bad.”
Liu Mannning nodded: “Even if Nine Peaks Sect and Beast King Sect are most likely to obtain the inheritance, it doesn’t mean there are no other treasures in the secret realm. Just Third-order resources alone are enough to boost us.”
“This mist is a bit strange, probably one of the trials. We’ll search along the way, head to Poison Dragon Peak first, then…”
“Whoosh.”
A fierce wind assaulted from behind, the poisonous mist roiling. Liu Mannning whipped out her Snow Sword to block behind her, clanging loudly, barely stopping a streak of Sword Light.
“Who is it?!”
“Worthy of Sword One Sect’s experts. Your perception is far superior to those rogue cultivators.”
A sinister voice came. Two pitch-black shadows walked out from the left, right, and rear.
Qing Yunke and Qing Yunheng emerged one after another, their eyes pitch-black like evil ghosts.
This is bad!
Liu Mannning and Li Lingxu’s hearts sank sharply. Their auras were too powerful—at least Third Heaven, even Starry Sky Martial Artists.
“Go!”
The two were perfectly in sync, decisively retreating. As their figures exploded backward, they had already sacrificed Spirit Tools to block.
Yet someone was faster than them.
Qing Yunke moved like a ghost, his figure charging straight at them. The hundred-meter distance was crossed in a blink, his elderly, cold, evil ghost-like face appearing before Liu Mannning.
Black energy gathered in his claws, like ghost claws.
Qing Yunke slammed his palm on Liu Mannning’s head, pressing her straight to the ground. With a booming crash, even the hard ground was smashed into a huge deep pit, cracks spreading around.
“Starry, Starry Sky?!”
The immense power directly shattered all of Second Heaven Liu Mannning’s True Essence body protection. Her originally beautiful face was now covered in blood.
Rolling True Essence was continuously entangled and devoured by the black energy. Her whole body trembled uncontrollably, as if plunged into sub-zero gale winds.
“Senior Sister!”
Li Lingxu flew over, seven streaks of Sword Light aimed straight at Qing Yunke.
Such Sword Light, yet Qing Yunke didn’t dodge a bit. Qing Yunheng rushed out from his side, his figure turning into an Azure Wood Dragon, claws like blades, clashing with the Sword Light in resounding clangs.
Qing Yunheng flew in, striking down Li Lingxu and breaking his arm.
“Want to save your Senior Sister?”
Qing Yunke lifted the pale-faced Liu Mannning, his ghost-hand-like, withered palm grasping only skin grabbing her fair slender neck.
Liu Mannning let out a pained groan. This sound of pain crushed Li Lingxu’s resistance.
“What do you want?”
“One question: Have you seen anyone from Beast King Sect?”
“N-no.”
Li Lingxu shook his head. A cracking sound rang out immediately, his eyes splitting with rage.
“Then you’re useless.”
Qing Yunke expressionlessly snapped Liu Mannning’s neck, then devoured her Golden Core clean.
His eyes darkened, then he said to Qing Yunheng, who was still digging out the Golden Core nearby, “Next place. These Dan Qiao Realm Martial Artists have realized something’s wrong.”
……
The Five-Colored Poisonous Mist swept continuously. Poison Dragon Peak was clearly within reach, and in the past, they could have stepped onto it early to comprehend the true Poison Dragon True Intent.
But now, a full hour later, even Dan Qiao Realm Martial Artists surprisingly couldn’t approach Poison Dragon Peak.
The poisonous mist acted like it was alive, constantly interfering with their perception, sealing them in this mountain valley.
More and more Dan Qiao Realm Martial Artists realized something was wrong—someone was deliberately trapping them here.
At the same time, more and more dry corpses appeared, whether feral beasts or humans, all identically drained.
Someone was hunting Dan Qiao Realm Martial Artists.
Panic spread continuously throughout the poisonous mist mountain valley. Rogue cultivators banded together, while Sword One Sect, Nine Peaks Sect Dan Qiao Realm Martial Artists now sought out their fellow sect members.
“Bang.”
Before a crimson poisonous demon lotus, a ferocious ugly Blood Jade Toad was directly blasted away by Su Yan.
Beside it, Long Qiushui held a banner in one hand, summoning several Blood Ghosts, forcing a white-haired old man to retreat step by step.
Su Yan punched the Blood Jade Toad’s head, immediately beating it severely injured.
“Fellow Daoist, stop. I admit it was wrong of me to try seizing the treasure. I’m willing to compensate.”
Blood Toad Old Ancestor saw his treasured feral beast beaten like this, his heart anxious beyond measure.
But the female demonic head’s Blood Ghosts were truly hard to deal with; he couldn’t break free at all.
He had never heard of such two experts emerging in the Demonic Path.
Su Yan didn’t stop at all, punching the Blood Jade Toad’s head repeatedly.
The next moment, the Blood Jade Toad was beaten to death outright. Blood Toad Old Ancestor suffered backlash and was torn apart by the Blood Ghost Phantom the next instant.
“Killed three, robbed four, and still haven’t encountered Qing Yunke…”
Su Yan plucked the Blood Demon Lotus and transplanted it into the Insect Realm Space, lost in thought.
Long Qiushui said, “The Five-Colored Poisonous Mist has been tampered with. Using the mountain valley’s earth vein to stir the Five-Colored Poisonous Mist into a seal. The formation eye is at the Poison Dragon Peak position.”
“Can it be broken?”
“Yes.”
Long Qiushui was concise. Their lineage already knew plenty about Poison Dragon Valley’s details. As long as they knew the earth vein’s path, breaking the formation would be quick.
Su Yan pondered. The poisonous mist here was now in complete chaos.
Almost all Dan Qiao Realm Martial Artists had gotten the news: a pair of Demonic Path thieves were specifically ambushing and killing in this poisonous mist.
Everyone was grouping up; even those not grouping had started hiding.
At this moment, someone was even angrier than Su Yan. After Qing Yunke and his brother hunted a few Dan Qiao Realm Martial Artists, they found the rest either banded together or completely masking their figures and auras, no longer coveting opportunities in the valley.
The two had no other methods and certainly couldn’t release Fiend Bees like Su Yan to act as scouts.
This way, they simply couldn’t find opportunities to strike.
“Go guard under Poison Dragon Peak and wait idly for them.”
Su Yan narrowed his eyes: “The Fiend Bees have limited range in the Five-Colored Poisonous Mist. I haven’t found the Qing Family Brothers, but now Sword One Sect, Nine Peaks Sect, Three Flames Divine Palace, Hundred Caves Witch Sect—the four groups are each gathered. We can’t find chances to strike, nor can those brothers. They’re definitely heading to Poison Dragon Peak.”
Su Yan had made his judgment. Long Qiushui nodded: “Good.”
The two settled on the plan. This time, Long Qiushui took the lead, tracing the earth vein paths in the mountain valley.
The two broke through the Five-Colored Poisonous Mist’s seal, step by step toward Poison Dragon Peak.
At this time, Sword One Sect, Nine Peaks Sect, and others had also figured out the strangeness of this mist, using their own methods to head toward Poison Dragon Peak.
Three Flames Divine Palace and Hundred Caves Witch Sect had brought quite a few people this time, including formation array experts. Though not enough to break the array directly, reaching Poison Dragon Peak was no issue.
Among the rogue cultivators, led by Bitterwood Old Ancestor Bian Taian, a group of Dan Qiao Realm Martial Artists with past ties now hurried toward Poison Dragon Peak.
In an instant, the Five-Colored Poisonous Mist saw far fewer fights as almost everyone rushed toward Poison Dragon Peak.
“Damn it. If I find out who’s scheming against us, I’ll split him with one sword.”
Sword One Sect’s Yu Lingbo suppressed his raging anger. He finally broke through the mist and saw the coiling dragon-like Poison Dragon Peak standing tall.
Three others were by his side: two men and one woman, swords on their backs.
“Senior Brother, be careful. Since those thieves set up the array, they won’t let us escape easily.”
The woman reminded him. Suddenly, a strange black shadow assaulted.
“Slash.”
Yu Lingbo slashed out with one sword. The black shadow split in two—it was actually a jade-green poisonous scorpion.
“Hundred Caves Witch Sect, come out!”
Seeing this method, Yu Lingbo’s face was full of fury.
“Sword One Sect truly has impressive skills.”
In the poisonous mist, several figures quickly appeared, silver ornaments jingling on their bodies, faint tattoos swimming on their arms—a total of four, two men and two women.
The leader was an old woman on the verge of death, yet her pair of sinister eyes made people not dare underestimate her.
“Three Flames Divine Palace’s Fellow Daoists, what are you waiting for? Let’s wipe out Sword One Sect together—not a wasted trip.”
The old woman called out Three Flames Divine Palace’s hiding. Another group now emerged from the Five-Colored Poisonous Mist.
“What’s the rush? Find that schemer first.”
