Chapter 318: Foreign Lands |
Chen Qing carefully traversed the depths of Ten Thousand Poisons Marsh, following the map Li Baichuan had given him.
The map's markings were clear, allowing him to avoid several powerful toxic creature lairs and natural death zones, saving him considerable trouble.
The occasional poisonous snakes and insects that sprang out along the way were turned into pulp before they could even approach, as the thick True Origin circulating around his body gave a light tremor. They couldn't hinder him in the slightest.
His objective was clear, the Nine Curve Grass.
This grass grew in supremely yin and toxic places, yet had a peculiar form. Its stalk meandered through nine turns like a coiled dragon, and its leaves were a deep blue color.
In a place like Ten Thousand Poisons Marsh, where toxic creatures were everywhere and the environment was harsh, searching for one specific spiritual herb was like looking for a needle in a haystack. If not for Old Li's map marking several areas where it might grow, Chen Qing would never easily venture into such a dangerous place.
Following the map's guidance, he arrived at a gorge called Ten Thousand Serpents Den.
Before even approaching, a thick stench assaulted his face, and the air was filled with a nauseating odor.
The gorge's rock walls on both sides were steep, covered with caves of various sizes. Colorful snake shadows could vaguely be seen writhing within.
Just then, sounds of intense combat and the rumbling of True Origin collisions came from one side of the gorge.
"Hmm? Skilled fighters!" Chen Qing's gaze sharpened as he keenly perceived that the True Origin fluctuations coming from ahead were quite powerful.
He immediately restrained his own aura and silently crept toward the source of the sounds.
Hidden behind a massive rock, Chen Qing looked down.
In a relatively open space below the gorge, three pythons far larger than their kind were fiercely battling three people.
Of the three giant pythons, one was entirely crimson red with a fleshy crest on its head, spewing scorching toxic flames. Another had pitch-black scales that gleamed with metallic luster, its tail sweeping with howling wind and tremendous force. The third had the most vivid coloring, moved like lightning, and its forked tongue flickered in and out, clearly possessing the most potent venom.
The leader was a middle-aged man wearing blue-gray martial attire. True Origin surged around his body, clearly an expert who had completed three True Origin refinements!
His palm technique was fierce and explosive. Each palm strike carried surging force like ocean tides, forcing the crimson python to retreat repeatedly with scorched scales.
The other two were at the vigorous energy cultivation level. One wielded a blade, its light like silk, entangling the black python. The other used fist techniques with agile movement arts, circling with the vividly colored venomous snake.
Though these three giant pythons were fierce, under the lead of that three-refinement True Origin realm expert, they had clearly fallen into a disadvantage. Defeat was only a matter of time.
Chen Qing's divine sense spread out like invisible water ripples, cautiously sweeping over the battlefield, assessing that True Origin realm expert's strength. He thought to himself, "Three refinements! This person's True Origin is condensed... which faction is he from?"
While he was puzzled, his gaze inadvertently swept past the edge of the battlefield. In a crevice near the rock wall, a peculiar plant caught his attention.
"Nine Curve Grass!" Chen Qing's heart stirred. Truly, what he sought came effortlessly after wearing out iron shoes searching for it.
This object was indeed as the texts described, growing in places of great malevolence and toxicity, with a distinctive form that was easy to recognize.
At the same time, those three giant pythons had already been beaten until they were on their last breath, near death.
Chen Qing hesitated no longer. The True Origin within his body circulated quietly at unprecedented speed.
"Whoosh!"
His figure suddenly moved!
Like an arrow released from a bow, yet also like a shadow melding into the wind, his speed was so fast it left only a faint afterimage in place.
His footwork was profound. In a few flickers, he had already crossed several dozen zhang, charging straight for the Nine Curve Grass in that rock wall crevice!
"Audacious!"
Just as Chen Qing arrived before the Nine Curve Grass, the blue-clothed middle-aged man battling the crimson python had already noticed.
With the corner of his eye catching sight of someone daring to steal food from a tiger's mouth, his heart filled with rage.
Especially seeing that Chen Qing's target was the Nine Curve Grass he had already been watching, murderous intent swelled in his chest.
Though he was entangled with the crimson python, how vast was the True Origin from three refinements?
His reaction was as fast as lightning!
Facing the toxic flames the crimson python spewed, he actually didn't dodge or evade. His left palm fiercely struck forward, and his vast True Origin was like angry waves striking the shore, forcibly scattering the toxic flames. At the same time, borrowing the recoil force, his figure twisted at even greater speed. His right hand formed a claw with five fingers, True Origin condensing at the fingertips and emanating a ghostly blue cold light. With a piercing shriek that tore at eardrums, he clawed through the air toward Chen Qing's back!
This claw technique was called Sea-Splitting Wave-Parting Claw, vicious and ruthless.
Before the claw wind arrived, that bone-chilling, cold force that seemed capable of tearing through protective True Origin already reached his body, causing Chen Qing's robe to flutter tight against his back, and his skin felt needle-prick pain.
Some venomous snakes below that couldn't dodge in time, struck by the dissipating claw wind, instantly burst apart and turned into clouds of blood mist, showing how terrifying its power was.
Wei Shanze's eyes were ice-cold. This claw strike was made in anger, holding nothing back. His intent was obvious, not only to stop Chen Qing from seizing the Nine Curve Grass, but to kill him on the spot!
The decisiveness of his attack showed he was no benevolent person.
However, Chen Qing's speed was even faster than he anticipated!
In the split second before that fierce claw wind touched his back, Chen Qing's hand had already precisely reached into the rock crevice. True Origin gently pulsed out, wrapping around the Nine Curve Grass's roots, extracting it complete with a small clump of earth, instantly stowing it in his bosom.
The item was obtained!
At the same time, as if he had eyes in the back of his head, at the instant he collected the Nine Curve Grass, the qi and blood that had been lying dormant within his body suddenly erupted!
The fifth layer of Dragon-Elephant Prajna Vajra Body fully circulated. Low dragon roars and elephant trumpets faintly emanated from within his body. His skin instantly took on an ancient bronze luster, and his qi and blood were like a volcanic eruption or a furnace burning, radiating scorching and masculine aura.
He twisted his waist and turned, facing that ghostly blue claw shadow already so close at hand. Without dodging or evading, he simply and directly threw out a punch!
This punch had no fancy flourishes, only the most pure, most domineering power!
Where the fist edge passed, the air was forcibly blasted apart, producing a dull sonic boom!
Vast dragon-elephant force mixed with condensed and heavy True Origin all gathered on the fist surface, as if it could shatter mountains!
"BOOM—!!!"
Fist and claw collided fiercely!
Like two ten-thousand-pound giant hammers brutally smashing together, producing an ear-splitting explosion!
Violent energy rippled outward from their point of contact like substantial waves, forcibly scraping three inches off the surrounding ground. Shattered stones shot out and dust filled the air!
Wei Shanze only felt an indescribable terrifying force transmit up his claw arm. That power was heavy as a mountain, explosive as thunder, and carried a supremely yang and masculine scorching qi and blood that seemed capable of burning everything!
The cold True Origin he had condensed at his fingertips actually melted rapidly like ice and snow meeting intense sunlight before this domineering force!
"Thud, thud, thud..."
Wei Shanze's figure shook violently. His feet uncontrollably staggered backward. Each step left a deep footprint in the hard rocky ground. Qi and blood churned unceasingly within his body, and his entire right arm was sore, numb, and painful, almost losing all sensation.
A trace of incredulous shock flashed across his face as he stared intently at that rock-steady figure in the dust.
"Martial Uncle!"
"Martial Uncle, are you alright!"
The other two vigorous energy experts were greatly alarmed at the sight. They quickly forced back their respective opponents and flashed to Wei Shanze's sides, nervously watching Chen Qing.
Wei Shanze forcibly suppressed his churning qi and blood, took a deep breath, and steadied his form. The shock on his face was quickly replaced by a feigned calmness.
He cupped his fists and said in a deep voice, "What fierce and powerful fist technique! I am Wei Shanze of the Heavenly Star Alliance. May I ask who you are, sir?"
"Heavenly Star Alliance?" Chen Qing's heart stirred.
This was the largest faction controlling the Seventy-Two Heavenly Star Islands, constantly in friction with Cloudwater Upper Sect, a dominant power occupying the outer seas.
Ten Thousand Poisons Marsh's location was not too far from the Thousand Reef Sea Domain. Encountering Heavenly Star Alliance people here wasn't too strange. He seemed to have vaguely heard Wei Shanze's name before. He should be a rather famous elder figure in Heavenly Star Alliance.
Chen Qing's thoughts raced as he took a deep breath and said indifferently, "Black Water Giant City, Chu Nan."
"Black Water Giant City?"
A trace of surprise flashed through Wei Shanze's eyes, then his face broke into a hearty smile, "I wondered who it was, turns out to be Brother Chu from Black Water Giant City! My respects, my respects! I never expected to encounter a young talent from Black Water Giant City in this Ten Thousand Poisons Marsh. What a pleasant surprise. It seems Brother Chu also came for this Nine Curve Grass?"
"That's right." Chen Qing's tone remained calm.
"Haha! Truly a case of allies clashing in ignorance!"
Wei Shanze let out a magnanimous laugh, appearing extremely generous, "Brother Chu's strength is formidable. Wei admires you greatly! A mere Nine Curve Grass stalk, since Brother Chu needs it, I'll yield it to Brother Chu! Consider it making a friend!"
He paused, his smile growing even warmer, "Today's matter was purely a misunderstanding. I hope Brother Chu won't take offense. If Brother Chu has time in the future, you must come visit my Heavenly Star Alliance. I, Wei Shanze, will certainly sweep the couch in welcome and properly entertain Brother Chu to fulfill the host's courtesy!"
"How could I accept such generosity?"
Chen Qing's face also showed a trace of embarrassed smile as he cupped his hands, "Elder Wei is so magnanimous, Chu is extremely grateful."
Wei Shanze displayed extreme enthusiasm and boldness, as if he were a broad-minded chivalrous warrior who enjoyed befriending heroes.
Afterward, he made an excuse that there were important matters in his sect requiring urgent departure, and took his leave from Chen Qing.
Chen Qing smiled and didn't obstruct him, merely standing in place watching as Wei Shanze led his two subordinates away. Their figures quickly disappeared around the gorge's corner.
However, the instant Wei Shanze's figure disappeared, the smile on Chen Qing's face instantly vanished, and his eyes became cold as blades.
He recalled the moment he seized the Nine Curve Grass, Wei Shanze's merciless, vicious claw strike aimed directly at his vital back. If not for his powerful physical body and quick reactions, he would likely be dead or severely injured by now.
That was definitely not a simple attempt to stop him, but a strike aiming to kill!
Yet in the blink of an eye, this person could display such righteousness and magnanimity, "yielding with cupped hands" the precious Nine Curve Grass, and even warmly inviting him to visit Heavenly Star Alliance...
When something seems unusual, there must be something sinister about it!
This kind of person with deep schemes who turned ruthless without care, how could his words be trusted?
He acted this way because he felt he couldn't win and temporarily endured.
Chen Qing naturally played along.
What kind of magnanimity truly existed in the jianghu?
There was only scheming and deception!
Launching a sneak attack now would be much easier than confronting them openly!
"Clang!"
A clear spear cry rang out. The Black Dragon Spear had already leaped from the Cosmic Myriad Manifestations Diagram into his hand, its azure-gold spear body flowing with cold luster in the dim gorge.
Without the slightest hesitation, Chen Qing moved, quickly pursuing in the direction Wei Shanze's group had left.
Wei Shanze led the two men hurriedly away, arriving several li away at a relatively hidden, hard earth mound surrounded by several twisted strange trees where they stopped.
This location had a relatively open view and wasn't easily detected.
The vigorous energy disciple who wielded a blade had just stopped when he couldn't help urgently saying, "Martial Uncle Wei! We've waited and searched in this godforsaken place for a full two months for this Nine Curve Grass, expending so much effort... are we just going to hand it over to that punk for nothing?"
His face was full of unwillingness and resentment.
The other fist-wielding disciple, though not speaking, showed the same emotion.
Wei Shanze didn't answer immediately. His face was so gloomy water could drip from it. His right arm that had clashed with Chen Qing's fist was still slightly trembling. A scorching, painful energy like maggots on bones was still flowing through his meridians.
He suddenly took a deep breath, but it triggered his internal injuries. His throat sweetened, yet he forcibly swallowed it back. Fine cold sweat instantly seeped from his temples.
He quickly retrieved a jade bottle from his bosom, poured out a pill, and swallowed it without looking.
The medicinal pill entered his stomach, transforming into a cool current that soothed his damaged meridians. The abnormal flush on his face finally receded slightly.
"Martial Uncle Wei! You..." The two disciples saw that Wei Shanze actually needed to immediately take healing pills. They were all shocked and alarmed.
They deeply understood this martial uncle's cultivation, three True Origin refinements, yet he had suffered such a great loss in a single exchange?
Wei Shanze took a deep breath, "That person's strength is unfathomable. His physical body is ridiculously strong, his True Origin even more condensed and heavy, definitely not an ordinary True Origin realm cultivator! That punch earlier... if I hadn't reacted quickly and shed some of the force, my entire arm would have been crippled!"
"What!?" Hearing this, the two disciples were thunderstruck, their faces filled with disbelief.
That youth looked quite young, yet possessed such terrifying strength?
Even Martial Uncle Wei admitted he couldn't match him?
"Then... that Nine Curve Grass..." The blade-wielding disciple was still unwilling.
"Hmph!"
A sinister glint flashed through Wei Shanze's eyes, "Don't worry. That punk was stabilized by my words. Does he really think I, Wei Shanze, am a clay Bodhisattva with merciful virtue?"
His tone suddenly became ice-cold and piercing, "You two, quickly fire the 'Starglow Arrow' signal! Be fast! Brother Chang is at 'Poison Dragon Pool' a hundred li to the northwest. Seeing the signal and with his speed, he'll definitely arrive within half an hour!"
He gritted his teeth, his face contorting, "That fucking bastard dares to steal food from a tiger's mouth and injure me! Once I rendezvous with Brother Chang, I'll definitely flay him alive and strip his tendons, making him beg for life but unable to obtain it, beg for death but unable to die! That Nine Curve Grass and everything on him will all be ours!"
"Yes! Martial Uncle!" The two disciples' spirits lifted, not daring the slightest negligence.
The fist-wielding disciple immediately pulled from his bosom an arrow about half a foot long, engraved with intricate star patterns, and channeled his vigorous energy into it.
Just then—
"Whoosh! Whoosh!"
Two extremely sharp piercing sounds almost simultaneously tore through the air, arriving at speeds nearly impossible for the naked eye to capture, shooting violently from the shadows to the side rear!
The hidden weapons came too fast, faster than sound. Not until nearing their backs did that deadly whistle drill into their eardrums.
Every hair on Wei Shanze's body instantly stood on end.
He wanted to open his mouth to warn, but that word "watch" had just rushed to his throat—
"Pfft!" "Pfft!"
Two hair-raising sounds of blades entering flesh rang out.
The fist-wielding disciple preparing to fire the Starglow Arrow, and his blade-wielding fellow disciple keeping watch beside him, both froze in their movements simultaneously.
At each of their throats appeared a blood hole the thickness of a finger, piercing from front to back. Blood spurted out like fountains.
The expressions on their faces froze in shock and bewilderment, their eyes bulging round, as if they still didn't understand what happened. Their bodies had already softly pitched forward, the signal arrow and long blade in their hands clattering to the ground with crisp sounds.
"Ugh..."
The two men's life force rapidly drained with the gushing blood, losing all signs of life in moments.
Wei Shanze's soul nearly fled his body. He sharply turned his head following the sound, the True Origin within his body circulating madly regardless of his injuries.
"It's you!?"
Without any wasted words, the instant Wei Shanze turned to look, Chen Qing moved!
He stepped out once. The ground beneath his feet cracked as his figure shot forward like an arrow released from a bow.
At the same time, his hands rapidly moved before his chest, forming a profound and ancient hand seal.
The Mixed Five Elements True Origin throughout his body surged and gathered, drawing the surrounding heaven and earth elemental energy into a mad spiral, as if embracing the momentum of mountains and rivers, heavy and condensed yet carrying majestic might!
True Martial Seal! Embrace Mountains and Rivers!
An invisible yet substantial vast seal instantly condensed, carrying the terrifying will to shake mountains, thunderously pressing down on Wei Shanze's head!
The air compressed with unbearable explosive sounds. The powerful pressure caused Wei Shanze's bones throughout his body to start creaking.
Wei Shanze's pupils contracted sharply, his heart filled with absolute terror!
The power of this seal was incomparably formidable. That profound method of drawing upon the momentum of heaven and earth, he had never seen before!
The True Martial lineage was once hailed as first among the four lineages. Their martial arts were naturally outstanding, and this True Martial Seal was even more of a world-renowned supreme martial art with extraordinary power.
However, this martial art had long been lost. Apart from some old monsters or Tianbao Upper Sect experts, very few people could recognize this martial art anymore.
At this life-or-death moment, Wei Shanze couldn't care about his internal injuries. Both palms struck out. The three-refinement True Origin within his body poured out without reservation, transforming into a surging, vast blue wave palm seal, fiercely meeting that suppressing seal technique!
"BOOM—!!!"
Two absolutely powerful forces violently collided like thunderclaps, shaking the entire earth mound.
The blue wave palm seal only held for an instant before shattering under that seal containing powerful pressure!
Violent energy rampaged like an out-of-control beast in all directions, lifting and pulverizing all surrounding strange trees and stones!
Wei Shanze was struck as if by a heavy blow. His chest tightened. The injuries he had forcibly suppressed instantly erupted. He violently spat out a mouthful of fresh blood. Borrowing the recoil force from the collision, his figure retreated in utter disarray, wanting to pull back the distance and regroup.
However, how could Chen Qing give him a chance to catch his breath?
Just as Wei Shanze's figure retreated and his center of gravity was unstable, Chen Qing, as if predicting all his movements, stuck to him like a shadow!
Mountain-Suppressing Style!
The True Martial Seal transformed again, changing from embrace to suppression!
The seal technique was simple and ancient, yet carried a will of supreme suppression as if ten-thousand-zhang mountains descended from the sky, fixing the four poles and eight directions!
The speed was even faster than lightning, not allowing Wei Shanze any chance to evade!
Wei Shanze only had time to hastily raise his left arm to block before him, condensing a thin layer of protective True Origin.
"Bang!"
The True Martial Seal struck solidly on his left shoulder!
There was no crisp sound of breaking bones, only a dull thud.
The next moment, Wei Shanze's left shoulder along with half his chest, flesh and bones instantly twisted and deformed.
"Pfft—!"
Blood mist mixed with shattered bone scattered everywhere!
Wei Shanze let out an extremely miserable shriek. His entire left arm was almost completely blown apart, and a shocking pit appeared in his chest.
His entire body was thrown backward like a kite with a broken string, his aura instantly declining to the extreme.
If it were an ordinary expert, they would already be unable to move. But the tenacious life force of a True Origin realm expert far exceeded imagination.
Wei Shanze's face twisted like a demon. His remaining right hand fiercely slapped a hidden pouch at his waist.
"Buzz!"
A ghostly blue stream of light shot out, growing with the wind and transforming into a large blue net covered with barbs, dropping down to envelop Chen Qing!
At the same time, he spat out a stream of essence blood mixed with True Origin, transforming into dozens of poison needles emitting a sickly sweet scent, shooting like a rainstorm toward Chen Qing's vital acupoints!
These were his trump card secret techniques, 'Dark Profound Poison Net' and 'Blood Shadow Poison Needles'!
Once caught in the net, True Origin circulation would become sluggish. If then struck by the poison needles, it was enough to instantly kill a three-refinement True Origin realm existence.
Chen Qing's eyes showed not the slightest ripple.
The qi and blood within his body suddenly surged like a great river, low dragon roars and elephant trumpets emanating from his resonating tendons and bones!
The fifth layer of Dragon-Elephant Prajna Vajra Body operated at full power!
His skin throughout his body instantly transformed to a deep ancient bronze-gold color. Ancient Sanskrit flowed beneath his skin.
The poison needles shooting toward him struck this ancient bronze luster, producing "ding ding dang dang" crisp sounds, bouncing off and shattering one after another, unable to even pierce his skin!
At the same time, Chen Qing's right palm rose again. The True Martial Seal technique operated smoothly, changing from Mountain-Suppressing Style to Evil-Breaking Style!
The seal carried a sharp edge that destroyed all methods, directly sealing toward that ghostly blue poison net dropping down!
"Riiip—!"
A sound like cloth being torn rang out. That seemingly incomparably tough ghostly blue poison net was actually forcibly torn open with a large hole by the True Martial Seal's Evil-Breaking Style edge!
Chen Qing's figure, like a flood dragon breaking through waves, passed through that opening in a flash, instantly closing in on Wei Shanze still in midair!
Wei Shanze's eyes filled with endless fear and disbelief. He opened his mouth, seemingly wanting to beg for mercy.
But Chen Qing gave him no chance.
A fist containing dragon-elephant tremendous force, wrapped in ancient bronze radiance, like a meteor impact, ruthlessly sealed on Wei Shanze's chest center, on that wound already sunken by the previous strike!
"BOOM!!!"
A dull sound like beating a giant drum spread out.
Wei Shanze's body shook violently. His eyes instantly bulged, filled with blood vessels.
The clothing on his back exploded with a "bang," a clear fist imprint penetrating through his body!
Violent force completely erupted within him, instantly shattering all his heart meridians, bones, and internal organs.
The divine light in his eyes rapidly dimmed, finally becoming completely lifeless and gray.
His broken body, like a tattered sack, softly fell into the dust, raising a cloud of dirt, and fell silent forever.
Heavenly Star Alliance Elder, three-refinement True Origin realm Wei Shanze, killed!
The battle from start to finish took only a short ten breaths.
Chen Qing's breath was stable.
With his current strength, ambushing a three-refinement True Origin realm expert was naturally an easy matter.
He quickly stepped forward, searching Wei Shanze and his two disciples' bodies, collecting all their weapons and valuables.
Immediately, he mobilized True Origin to wrap the three corpses.
In just moments, the corpses turned to ashes, even the blood traces burned clean by high temperature.
He then waved his palm to whip up a violent wind, scattering the ashes and thoroughly erasing all battle traces and auras from this place.
After finishing all this, he carefully sensed the surroundings, confirming there were no more oversights, then his figure flashed and disappeared into the dense toxic miasma, rushing rapidly toward the marsh's exterior.
About two hours after Chen Qing left.
"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!"
Three figures swept to this place at extremely fast speeds, having come to investigate after sensing faint aura fluctuations here.
The leader was a woman wearing foreign attire with her face covered by light gauze. Her figure was graceful, her exposed eyes clear as water, yet carrying a charm different from Yan Kingdom women.
Two elders followed behind her. One had an unfathomably deep aura, clearly a late True Origin realm expert.
That late True Origin realm elder's sharp gaze swept over the scene. Though Chen Qing had handled things very cleanly, he still keenly detected an extremely faint remnant of True Origin collision that hadn't completely dissipated, as well as a trace of blood scent.
"Dead."
The elder's tone was grave as he looked toward the veiled woman, "This place is not suitable for lingering. Wei Shanze perished here. Heavenly Star Alliance will definitely not let this go. Your identity is special and absolutely cannot be exposed at this moment, lest you be drawn into unnecessary disputes."
Her identity was top secret and absolutely couldn't be leaked in the slightest.
The veiled woman nodded slightly. Her cold gaze swept over the surroundings as she said softly, "Mm. To so cleanly and efficiently eliminate Wei Shanze's group of three, the one who struck has considerable strength and ruthless enough methods. Let's go first!"
As her words fell, the three figures flickered and, just as when they arrived, silently disappeared into the hazy toxic mist depths of Ten Thousand Poisons Marsh.