Chapter 287: Poison Toad Transforms Into Dragon
Three people from the Three Flames Divine Palace appeared, totaling three individuals. The leader appeared to be in his prime, with a stern gaze, a man with a gaunt face.
The two behind him were one old and one young. The old one had white hair, and the wrinkles on his face seemed deep enough to trap flies.
The young one was only five feet tall, with a tender face, but his eyes glinted with a sharp, fierce light.
“Nangong Yu”
Yu Lingbo of the Sword One Sect stared intently at the approaching individuals, his eyes sharp as swords.
The newcomers were all demonic path martial artists who had made a name for themselves on the battlefield. Nangong Yu, a martial artist of the Copper Mountain, was unrivaled in hardening techniques, an anomaly within the Three Flames Divine Palace.
On this battlefield, with his strength just entering the All Stars Heaven, he had no idea how many righteous path martial artists he had slain.
The martial artists beside him, Cang Xiao Zhou Hesheng and Chi Tong Zhang Acheng, were both experts of the Third Heaven. Especially their refinement of the Greed, Anger, Ignorance Three Beasts was particularly exquisite and adept at bewitching people’s hearts.
With the appearance of the three of them, plus Baihua Po Gu Yunshang of the Hundred Caves Witch Sect, and the three Dan Qiao Realm Martial Artists behind her.
Even with the Sword One Sect’s sword cultivator background, they would likely be outmatched.
“Find the person who ambushed us, humph.”
Gu Yunshang sneered, her eyes sweeping over everyone: “If Fellow Daoist Nangong could find them, would things have come to this?”
Everyone moved in groups. While they might not necessarily fear the unseen assailant in terms of strength, if they were separated, they would inevitably be ambushed.
The tattoos on the bodies of Gu Yunshang’s three subordinates moved like living creatures, surrounding Yu Lingbo and his companions.
“It would be better to kill the experts of the Sword One Sect first, lest they seize the inheritance of the Poison Dragon Valley.”
As the words fell, Baihua Po Gu Yunshang had already made her move. A phantom image, like a Ghost Face Butterfly, directly assaulted Yu Lingbo.
Yu Lingbo’s long sword let out a dragon’s roar, and he slashed it out, repelling this true intent.
At this moment, Nangong Yu’s body was a strange coppery yellow, with bizarre red patterns covering him. He did not manifest his true intent; instead, the Greed, Anger, Ignorance Three Beasts moved like ghostly tattoos on his body.
He charged straight towards Yu Lingbo, throwing a punch.
This blow was fierce. Yu Lingbo blocked it with his sword, and with a clang, he was forced back.
“Go!”
Yu Lingbo dared not linger here. Waves of pressure emanated from Poison Dragon Peak. If they could withstand the pressure and ascend step by step, they might be able to comprehend the true intent of the Dharma Aspect and advance further.
But now, staying alive was the most important thing!
Yu Lingbo’s Natal Spiritual Artifact, the Splitting Light Water Wave Sword, carved out a long river of light, heading directly for Baihua Po Gu Yunshang and the Copper Mountain martial artist Nangong Yu.
“Yu Lingbo, your sword light is nothing more than this.”
Nangong Yu’s arms manifested ox-head armguards, transforming into menacing fists, and he struck out.
This blow shattered most of the sword light. The scattered sword light, sharp as knives, fell upon Nangong Yu, but it only produced a series of ear-piercing clangs.
Nangong Yu’s physical body cultivation was truly not weak to have reached this point.
It was precisely because he started with hardening techniques that he, with his cultivation just entering the All Stars Heaven, chose to enter the Poison Dragon Valley while his lifespan was still abundant to seize the inheritance.
The Poison Dragon Daoist of the past, and later the Poison Dragon Tuo, were renowned Dharma Aspect body cultivators in Lingnan Prefecture.
Baihua Po Gu Yunshang was not as domineering as Nangong Yu. A swarm of Ghost Face Butterflies fluttered around her, like countless petals falling, with continuous fine collision sounds.
The Ghost Face Butterflies continuously devoured the sword light, effectively dissipating the hundred-zhang sword light completely.
Yu Lingbo had no time for verbal sparring with Nangong Yu. He retreated rapidly, covering his three junior brothers and sisters as they prepared to withdraw from this troublesome place.
Cang Xiao Zhou Hesheng released the true intent of the Greed, Anger, Ignorance Three Beasts, which approached like ghosts, and he wielded a pitch-black soul-striking rod.
“Friends of the Sword One Sect, you will not escape today.”
Chi Tong Zhang Acheng remained silent, merely shooting blood threads from his fingertips, which formed a terrifying blood net, blocking the path ahead of everyone.
Yu Lingbo’s junior sister, Feng Yuxiao, her face frosty, directly slashed out with her long sword.
With one sword strike, she broke through the blood net’s obstruction. However, after this strike, the sword body was immediately covered in dirty red marks, sizzling and becoming extremely dim.
The group quickly fled, pursued by the Hundred Caves Witch Sect and several Dan Qiao Realm Martial Artists from the Three Flames Divine Palace.
Sword light, witchcraft, the beasts of Greed, Anger, Ignorance… various techniques clashed in a chaotic vortex of true essence.
The Sword One Sect wanted to escape from Poison Dragon Peak and enter the Five-Colored Poisonous Mist, but there were only four of them, and without paying a price, they could not break through.
Yu Lingbo’s sword light was imposing. With the combat power of a Great Accomplishment martial artist in the All Stars Heaven, he communicated with the spiritual power around him, each sword light being dazzling and formidable.
On the other hand, Baihua Po and Nangong Yu, though only at the Minor Accomplishment stage of the All Stars Heaven, possessed unparalleled physical bodies. Nangong Yu was the least suppressed existence in this secret realm.
Their attacks were incredibly domineering, relying on his Ox Demon Armguards, often directly intercepting and shattering sword light.
Baihua Po Gu Yunshang was not as overbearing as Nangong Yu, but her witchcraft was endless. Whether it was Gu Worms or curse techniques, they were all aimed at taking Yu Lingbo’s life.
If Yu Lingbo were not a sword dao martial artist with extremely keen senses, and his attacks were not so sharp and decisive, he would likely have been defeated by their combined efforts within a few rounds.
The three groups fought fiercely. After about thirty exchanges, Yu Lingbo’s fellow disciple, Wei Mengbai, was careless and was bitten on the arm by a five-colored centipede wielded by Peng Xu of the Hundred Caves Witch Sect.
Instantly, his arm turned black and blue. Even after taking pills, half of his hand had become completely numb.
“Not good!”
Yu Lingbo’s heart sank. He indeed saw Cang Xiao Zhou Hesheng and Chi Tong Zhang Acheng attacking him, with the clear intention of taking advantage of his predicament.
‘If this continues, we’ll all die. Where are the people from the Nine Peaks Sect and the Beast King Sect?’
Yu Lingbo felt a deep sense of dread, knowing he could no longer delay. He immediately took out three spirit tool swords from his storage ring and shot them out.
One went straight for Nangong Yu, and another attacked Baihua Po Gu Yunshang.
The sword light was sharp, but neither Nangong Yu nor Baihua Po Gu Yunshang showed any concern.
“Explode!”
Just as Nangong Yu was about to shatter the spirit tool long sword, unexpectedly, a blinding light instantly struck.
With a thunderous roar, the entire mountain trembled.
Not only him, but even Baihua Po Gu Yunshang beside him was in a sorry state, barely managing to dodge the self-destruction of the Third Tier Spirit Tool.
Their powerful abilities allowed them to evade to some extent.
However, the third spirit tool was directly aimed at Cang Xiao Zhou Hesheng.
Although Zhou Hesheng dodged immediately, the attack was incredibly swift. With a thunderous roar, he was completely engulfed.
Yu Lingbo forcibly suppressed the backlash and dragged his junior brothers and sisters away, and this time, no one blocked them.
When the light dissipated, Cang Xiao was pierced through the body by hundreds of spirit tool fragments and had lost all signs of life.
Nangong Yu roared in fury, his voice a cold, deep growl: “Chase!”
The two groups, one behind the other, like hyenas attacking, clung tightly to Yu Lingbo and his companions.
Although Yu Lingbo and his group had gained some distance, they had not completely escaped their pursuers.
Yu Lingbo sped along the foot of the mountain, with strange trees and rocks being thrown behind him.
“Why haven’t they arrived yet?!”
Yu Lingbo had already used his most desperate moves, though not his ultimate trump card. The cost of three spirit tools was too great.
Figures from the Dan Qiao Realm rushed over. They had heard the commotion and were drawn to the scene.
As everyone discovered the problem with the Five-Colored Poisonous Mist and continued to explore, they finally stepped out of it.
Upon emerging, Bian Taian, the Withered Wood Old Ancestor, saw martial artists from both the righteous and demonic paths engaged in combat.
His group consisted of six people, with only he possessing the highest cultivation of the All Stars Heaven. The remaining individuals were mostly at the initial stage of the Dan Qiao Realm.
“Withered Wood Old Ancestor, aid my Sword One Sect!”
Yu Lingbo immediately recognized the approaching group. A dark expression flashed in Bian Taian’s eyes, but he did not hesitate. He directly swung his Withered Wood Black Saber, unleashing a terrifying hundred-zhang saber light.
This saber light struck directly between the two groups. It did not harm anyone, but it was exceptionally sharp.
Nangong Yu and Gu Yunshang, who were pursuing, paused momentarily, and were already pulled apart.
Bian Taian clasped his fists, with several rogue cultivators guarding him.
“Fellow Daoists, please calm your anger. If the Poison Dragon Valley is only for inheritance and heavenly materials and earthly treasures, then engaging in battle here would likely be a waste of opportunity.”
Bian Taian did not wish to offend them irrevocably. He narrowed his eyes slightly and spoke words of persuasion.
At this moment, at the foot of Poison Dragon Peak, scattered rogue cultivators arrived, and even three people from the Nine Peaks Sect appeared, led by Qing Shi Peak’s Lou Baishan.
Lou Baishan carried a long spear on his back. The moment he stepped onto the battlefield, he sensed that something was amiss. His spear whistled, transforming into a dragon’s shape.
“What a grand display! Do you truly believe the righteous path has no one?”
The two groups stood in confrontation. Yu Lingbo of the Sword One Sect finally breathed a sigh of relief: “Thank you, Brother Lou.”
Gu Yunshang inwardly lamented, as a fight was no longer possible at this moment.
The demonic path had more people, but the righteous path was not few in number, not to mention three to five rogue cultivators hiding in the shadows, and Bian Taian’s group of rogue cultivators operating independently.
“You escaped this time.”
Nangong Yu showed a look of regret, his eyes filled with menace.
“Rumble rumble rumble.”
Everyone stood their ground when suddenly a dragon’s might emanated, and a dark green Poison Dragon phantom rose from Poison Dragon Peak, its eyes golden, looking down upon everyone.
A powerful pressure descended, making even Dan Qiao Realm Martial Artists feel their bodies sink.
Dharma Aspect!
“Gulp!”
A roar like a bull or a dragon, like a giant drum being struck.
A massive form suddenly appeared on Poison Dragon Peak. Its body was enormous, usually black, with only its eyes exhibiting golden-yellow patterns like flames. It was a ferocious and ugly Poison Toad.
As soon as the Poison Toad appeared, enduring the immense pressure of Poison Dragon Peak, it leaped directly towards the mountain. This leap caused its body to sink into the ground, and a terrifying pressure radiated from it, cracking the ground full of fissures.
“There is a pearl within the dragon, it is the inheritance of the Poison Dragon True Person!”
Someone exclaimed, suddenly noticing that the Poison Dragon’s phantom body was flickering, and at its heart was a pearl like jade.
“This beast wants to comprehend true intent and swallow the pearl to transform into a dragon.”
Someone recognized the Poison Toad King’s intentions, inwardly alarmed, but also felt a surge of greed.
Charge!
From the edge of the Five-Colored Poisonous Mist, two to three figures from the Dan Qiao Realm rushed out. They didn’t care about the battle between righteous and demonic paths; only securing treasures was safe.
They broke away from the crowd, each ascending the mountain using their own methods, all to snatch the suddenly appearing Dragon Pearl.
One after another, Bian Taian also couldn’t hold back. His lifespan was nearing its end, and every additional opportunity meant a chance for a breakthrough.
“Everyone, this old man will go first.”
His companions began to ascend. However, the moment they took a step onto Poison Dragon Peak, their bodies immediately sank, their true essence suppressed by more than half, and their physical bodies bore the pressure of true intent, as if carrying a mountain.
The sudden turn of events disrupted everyone’s plans for battle. Nangong Yu’s eyes flashed with sharpness, and he immediately turned and charged towards Poison Dragon Peak.
He cultivated his physical body. Now that the Poison Dragon True Person’s inheritance was right before him, nothing was more important than this.
Baihua Po followed closely behind. Her situation was not much better than Bian Taian’s.
The thing on Poison Dragon Peak was not some ‘Dragon Pearl’; it was her future lifespan.
Everyone scrambled forward, and even the Sword One Sect and Nine Peaks Sect could not be exempted.
“Junior Sister, take care of Junior Brother Wei.”
Yu Lingbo and Lou Baishan went up first, while their remaining junior brothers and sisters followed slightly behind.
Under the immense pressure, even Dan Qiao Realm Martial Artists were not at ease.
“Something is wrong.”
Amidst the crowd, Su Yan and Long Qiushui concealed their figures, disguised as rogue cultivators, also covering their faces and suppressing their malevolent energy.
Long Qiushui’s expression was solemn, and she frowned: “Senior Uncle left true intent in three places: Poison Dragon Peak, Poison Dragon Lake, and Poison Dragon Pillar. But for it to manifest, one must resonate with it. Currently, no one has reached the summit. Even the Poison Toad King’s innate divine ability would not cause this. Unless something has changed…”
Her eyes gleamed, and she looked at Lou Baishan and the others from the Nine Peaks Sect, already forming an idea in her mind.
“The Dragon Transformation Lineage disappeared after entering. I fear they used a clever method to bypass the restrictions of Poison Dragon Peak and entered the Poison Dragon Lake or even the Poison Dragon Pillar.”
Long Qiushui’s analysis was sharp. Only a change in the subsequent true intent could lead to such a development.
“Let’s reach the summit first. That beast is about to transform into a dragon.”
The Poison Toad transforming into a dragon was an extremely rare event in the world, yet in the Poison Dragon Valley, it seemed to have a slim possibility.
The Poison Dragon Valley was permeated by the true intent power of the Poison Dragon True Person Tai Lingyue, and it also contained the Poison Dragon Pool, a Top-grade Fourth Tier Spirit Tool.
Over the years, it was not surprising that the Poison Toad had been tainted by dragon qi.
The Poison Toad King was constantly undergoing metamorphosis, and now it had the opportunity to transform into a dragon, showing no hesitation at all.
The two began to climb the mountain. The pressure on the mountain was exceptionally terrifying. Although Long Qiushui’s physical body was not weak, she still showed signs of strain.
She could only continuously circulate her cultivation manual to resist and absorb the power of the Poison Dragon True Intent, thereby climbing upwards.
At this moment, the Poison Toad King was the fastest. Its physical body was robust, and its strength had reached Third Tier Perfection. It climbed all the way to the mountainside.
Lou Baishan, Nangong Yu, and Yu Lingbo formed the second echelon, lagging hundreds of meters behind. Baihua Po Gu Yunshang was slightly behind them but still followed closely.
The remaining Dan Qiao Realm Martial Artists displayed their own abilities. The difference in cultivation was one factor, but more importantly, it depended on the robustness of their physical bodies and foundations.
They were all pulled apart to varying degrees.
“Pfft.”
A sudden sound caused some of the lagging Dan Qiao Realm cultivators to turn their heads. They saw a black-robed figure pierce through Wei Mengbai’s body, and his Golden Core was snatched out.
His junior sister, Feng Yuxiao, was already beaten to the ground, her Golden Core hollowed out, her appearance utterly tragic.
Su Yan looked back, his gaze meeting that of Qing Yunke and Qing Yunheng.
Qing Yunke’s eyes flashed fiercely, and he said to Qing Yunheng: “Kill them. Be quick about it.”
