Chapter 963: Not an End, But a Beginning
Old Master Wu stepped out of the spatial rift, his gaze first falling upon the Black-Robed Person trapped within a mass of chains.
His expression was grim, his eyes radiating a chilling killing intent. Yet, he didn't immediately attack the Black-Robed Person. After a single glance, he turned his attention to Yang Haoran, not forgetting to bow.
"Boss, my thanks."
Old Master Wu bowed to Yang Haoran and expressed his gratitude, though not a trace of joy could be seen on his face. To be precise, his complexion was severe, and his tone low.
Yang Haoran naturally understood Old Master Wu's reaction. Anyone facing an enemy they had yearned to kill day and night would surely not have a pleasant expression. The fact that Old Master Wu hadn't immediately moved against the Black-Robed Person was already quite rational.
Yang Haoran nodded, then with a wave of his hand, he cast a restrictive barrier, similar to the one the Black-Robed Person had used earlier, enveloping the entire mountain hollow.
"Do you need me to cripple him first before you step in? " Yang Haoran asked.
"No need. I will rely on my own strength to kill him with my own hands! " Old Master Wu replied in a deep voice.
"Go on, let loose and do what you must. I've got your back."
Yang Haoran's words were, of course, a reassurance to Old Master Wu: no matter how big the issue, he would bear the burden. Old Master Wu needed no psychological baggage; he could simply unleash the full fury of his heart.
Old Master Wu thanked him again, then prepared to open his Heaven Soul and move against the Black-Robed Person. However, just at that moment, a violent spatial fluctuation erupted nearby again. Clearly, someone was about to tear through space to arrive here.
The area was now enveloped by Yang Haoran's restrictive barrier. Without absolute power, it was impossible to forcibly tear space within such a barrier. To achieve that, one would need to be at least at Yang Haoran's level.
At the sudden appearance of this scene, everyone's expression changed, except for Yang Haoran's, which remained utterly unperturbed. They all knew very well what tearing space within a restrictive barrier signified.
Old Master Wu abandoned his immediate attack on the Black-Robed Person, watching the violently fluctuating spatial anomaly with a wary expression. Bai Xue also appeared at Yang Haoran's side at this moment, equally vigilant, and secretly mobilizing her Demon Power.
Upon seeing this, a glimmer of hope sparked in the Black-Robed Person's heart. He wished the newcomers were Yang Haoran's adversaries, for then he might have a chance to escape.
However, when the spatial rift opened and two figures emerged, his heart sank as he recognized who they were.
The two who stepped out of the spatial rift were none other than the Gold Talisman Master, and Han Fushi, the head of the An City Talisman Order.
"Heh heh, it seems my disciple and I have arrived just in time."
The Gold Talisman Master chuckled. He merely spared Yang Haoran a glance before his gaze settled on the Black-Robed Person.
At this moment, the Black-Robed Person's attacks on the chain barrier were growing faster and more powerful. It seemed he was already using his full strength.
His desperate struggle was born from the clear understanding that if he didn't escape this place soon, he would truly have no chance left.
"Two Talisman Masters, quickly save me! If you're willing to help, I will surely offer you a generous reward!"
Xiang Chuan, trussed up like a dumpling by the chains, struggled violently on the ground as he bellowed at the two Talisman Masters.
The Gold Talisman Master's gaze fell on Xiang Chuan. With a smile on his face, he spoke.
"Heh heh, rest assured. With me here, no one can harm you. As long as you're willing to follow me, not only will I guarantee your safety here, but you'll never need to worry about your safety again. Anyone daring to harm you, I'll tear out their guts!"
Without a second thought, the Gold Talisman Master guaranteed Xiang Chuan's safety, his tone brimming with certainty. Although he recognized that Yang Haoran was the one who had bound Xiang Chuan with chains, he paid it no mind. In his eyes, Yang Haoran was nothing more than a slightly larger ant. Thus, when he spoke or acted, he naturally saw no need to consider Yang Haoran's feelings.
As for why he would make such a promise to Xiang Chuan, it was, of course, due to Xiang Chuan's identity. Xiang Chuan was a Pharmacist, and Pharmacists were highly sought after. Who wouldn't want another Pharmacist under their command? The Gold Talisman Master was no exception.
Moreover, even if he couldn't bring the Pharmacist under his direct command, befriending him and putting him in his debt was still a good thing. Perhaps this favor might one day save his own life. It was a situation with a hundred benefits and not a single drawback, and the Gold Talisman Master naturally didn't want to miss such an opportunity.
Xiang Chuan didn't recognize the Gold Talisman Master, nor did he know Han Fushi. However, the Gold Talisman Master did know Xiang Chuan—or rather, he had heard of Xiang Chuan, the Pharmacist. He had long known that a Pharmacist named Xiang Chuan existed deep within the Xinyang Mountain Range.
This Pharmacist, Xiang Chuan, was actually part of their current plan. According to the scheme he had devised with Yang Haoran, after Yang Haoran sustained severe injuries, the Gold Talisman Master would wait for the opportune moment to spread news of a Pharmacist's existence deep within the Xinyang Mountain Range. Then, Yang Haoran would venture into the depths of the Xinyang Mountain Range to seek out this Pharmacist, thereby achieving their goal of "luring the snake out of its hole."
Although at the time the Gold Talisman Master couldn't be certain if a Pharmacist named Xiang Chuan truly existed deep within the Xinyang Mountain Range, that wasn't the main point. Yang Haoran didn't actually need a Pharmacist's treatment, so whether a Pharmacist truly existed in the Xinyang Mountain Range was irrelevant. Their sole purpose was to use this as a means to draw out the Black-Robed Person.
However, before the Gold Talisman Master could even spread this news, it had already circulated. Since it wasn't Yang Haoran or the Gold Talisman Master who did it, it was highly probable that the Black-Robed Person, lurking in the shadows, was responsible.
Therefore, after Yang Haoran and the Gold Talisman Master discussed it, they decided to simply go with the flow and came to the Xinyang Mountain Range.
What the Gold Talisman Master hadn't expected, however, was that there truly was a Pharmacist named Xiang Chuan deep within the Xinyang Mountain Range. For him, this was a pleasant surprise.
After the Gold Talisman Master finished speaking, his gaze fell on Yang Haoran. Although he was eager to bring Xiang Chuan under his command, he now had a more crucial matter to attend to.
This matter concerned the Black-Robed Person, for he was involved with the Lock Yin Talisman.
"Emissary Yang, the Black-Robed Person has been successfully lured out. Our cooperation ends here. So, next. . ."
The Gold Talisman Master hadn't even finished speaking when a voice suddenly rang out, instantly drawing the attention of everyone present.
"Even if my soul disperses, I won't let you succeed! Yang Haoran, don't think that eliminating me will solve everything. My death won't be an end, but a beginning!"
The one who suddenly spoke was none other than the Black-Robed Person trapped within the chains. As these words escaped his mouth, both Yang Haoran and the Gold Talisman Master realized something was amiss. However, before either of them could react, the Black-Robed Person suddenly spewed a mouthful of black blood, and then his entire body crashed to the ground.
Their expressions shifting, both rushed towards the Black-Robed Person's location. Along the way, Yang Haoran waved his hand, dispersing the barriers formed by the chains.
In the blink of an eye, both arrived at the Black-Robed Person's side. However, the scene that greeted them made their expressions change once more.
The Black-Robed Person no longer had any vital signs. The Soul Armament clutched in his hand shattered with a crisp sound, then transformed into wisps of Yin Qi that vanished completely.
A foul stench emanated from his body, and black liquid oozed from beneath his black robe. This nauseating odor originated from that very black liquid.
From the current situation, it appeared the Black-Robed Person had died from a potent poison. Yet, Yang Haoran hadn't observed him consuming anything, including any poison, from start to finish.
The Black-Robed Person's sudden death by poisoning, in Yang Haoran's view, might have been because he had consumed the poison much earlier, but it had remained sealed within his body, preventing its effects from manifesting.
Now, it seemed the Black-Robed Person had likely unsealed the poison within him, thus leading to his death.
However, the fact that he completely lost all vital signs in such a short span of time clearly demonstrated the extreme potency of this poison.
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