Chapter 296: Playing with Poison Before Xiao Yi Xian and Playing with Fire Before Lu Bu
Above the sky, dazzling flashes of lightning and deafening thunderclaps roared as streaks of azure and silver thunderbolts descended from the heavens. Like sharp blades, they tore through the dense, ink black sky.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Atop the tallest peak of the Yi Snake Mountain Range, the She Clan ancestor and clan leader, She Yu, repeatedly soared into the air, gritting their teeth as they resisted one azure silver thunderbolt after another. Each strike of the pill thunder was no less than a life and death trial for them.
By the time the final thunderbolt was resisted, both men were as pale as paper, their Dou Qi entirely depleted. They looked like flickering candles in the wind, ready to be extinguished at any moment.
In their current state, even a Dou Shi could easily decapitate them.
"No wonder back then Xiao Yan and Yao Chen went to such lengths to trade for a Diabolic Beast Puppet from me," Lu Bu muttered with a wry smile, realizing that the two men's current state was the "normal" outcome for most people when facing pill thunder.
Not everyone could rely on a Heavenly Monster Puppet to absorb the thunder or have a Void Ancient Dragon lend their aid like Lu Bu.
Bang!
In front of him, the lid of the Myriad Beast Cauldron emitted a clear ring as a faintly red rabbit suddenly leaped out. It curiously surveyed its surroundings for a few breaths before being struck by alarm. Its powerful legs tensed, and in an instant, it turned into a streak of red light, shooting into the distance.
Its speed was so astonishing that there was no time to react, and the sound waves it generated were as powerful as its aura, which was not inferior to that of the She Clan ancestor, a two star Dou Zun.
"Quick…!" The She Clan ancestor's pale face turned even whiter as he finally understood that the test of an eighth tier pill wasn't just the deadly pill thunder but also the incredibly powerful pill beast that came with it.
However, just as the red rabbit was about to flee, it suddenly froze in midair. The space around it rippled and solidified, encasing the rabbit as if it were a piece of amber.
The rabbit let out a shrill cry, struggling desperately as surging energy from its body slammed against the solidified space. But it was all in vain.
The next moment, its fluffy body trembled violently, shrinking at an alarming rate. A flash of light enveloped it, and in just a few moments, it transformed into a faintly red pill, its strange medicinal fragrance instantly permeating the mountaintop.
The He Qiong Tian Shen Pill, also known as the Heart Pill, had one primary function: to serve as a replacement for a human heart. Originally developed as a supplementary pill for refining the Bodhi Heart, it was one of the eighth tier pill recipes Lu Bu had acquired from Yao Chen. However, obtaining the Bodhi Heart was far from easy, so over countless years, the He Qiong Tian Shen Pill had been improved and repurposed into a purely healing medicine.
It could heal heart injuries and replenish vitality. Simply put, consuming this pill could make an old man feel young again, with a vigor rivaling that of a youth like Lu Bu.
Recalling the effects of the He Qiong Tian Shen Pill, the She Clan ancestor's eyes burned with desire. Though he was utterly exhausted, his eyes gleamed with renewed hope.
"She Clan elder, where is the item I requested?" Lu Bu asked, shaking the jade bottle in his hand with a faint smile.
Hearing this, the She Clan ancestor's face twitched, the joy in his eyes fading significantly, replaced by a bitter expression on his weary face.
"Sigh… as expected of Medicine Venerable's disciple. Very well, I'll tell you," he said, his voice tinged with helplessness.
…
Half an hour later, a piercing cry echoed through the Yi Snake Mountain Range. A massive azure bird spread its wings and soared high into the sky, carrying Lu Bu and Xiao Yi Xian with it.
"So the Jade Capital Snake Abyss is in such a place…" Lu Bu murmured as he flipped through a worn, yellowed book in his hands. Its edges were jagged and moth eaten, exuding a faint musty odor.
"What kind of place is it? It sounds interesting," Xiao Yi Xian asked with a soft laugh, her snowy white hair fluttering as a light fragrance wafted around Lu Bu, leaving him somewhat intoxicated.
This trip had been quite fruitful not only had they subdued a Dou Zun from the Hall of Souls, but they had also obtained a Seven Colored Primordial Stone and even stumbled upon clues to a hidden treasure trove.
"You might be overestimating it," Lu Bu said, wrapping an arm around Xiao Yi Xian's delicate waist and resting his chin on her smooth shoulder with a sigh. "Do you see how old this book is? That's because the Jade Capital Snake Abyss is in such a remote and barren place. There's no reputation, no rare heavenly treasures. In fact, few people in the Central Plains even know of it."
"That place… is a forgotten land. Even the Hall of Souls, which loves to scour deep forests and mountains, has never set foot there."
This information came from the mouth of Qinghai Zun Zhe, the Dou Zun from the Hall of Souls they had captured. When Lu Bu had mentioned the name "Jade Capital Snake Abyss," Qinghai Zun Zhe admitted that not only had the Hall of Souls never established a branch there, but it was also his first time hearing the name.
Hearing this, Xiao Yi Xian's delicate face turned slightly red as she wriggled slightly in Lu Bu's embrace, adjusting to his playful hand. "It seems like a dangerous place… Hey! What are you doing?"
Her face flushed crimson as a soft gasp escaped her lips, her crystalline earlobe tinged with an enticing pink. She looked both adorable and alluring.
Without hesitation, Lu Bu chuckled and gently bit down on her delicate earlobe, which was like a pink gemstone.
"You rascal… stop fooling around!" Xiao Yi Xian shivered, biting her lip. Her thoughts inadvertently drifted to the time she had helped Lu Bu seal his Magic Poison Mark. Memories of that day sent her face aflame.
Her slender fingers reached out to brush against her flushed face as she shot Lu Bu a playful glare.
"This book's pages are too dry; I needed to moisten my fingers," Lu Bu joked, flipping through the ancient book as he brushed her cheek. Then, with a teasing smile, he added, "By the way, did you remember that dual cultivation technique I mentioned? How about we pick a good day to practice it together?"
"Shameless…" Xiao Yi Xian muttered, her slender neck flushing red as her mesmerizing eyes sparkled with shyness. She neither agreed nor outright refused his suggestion, instead gazing at him with a mixture of softness and coyness.
However, just as the atmosphere grew warmer, Xiao Yi Xian's body suddenly stiffened, and her expression shifted.
"What's wrong?" Lu Bu asked, sensing her change in demeanor.
"Lu Bu… the Nine Nether Earth Python people haven't left yet," she said softly, leaning against his shoulder. Her breath was fragrant, but her tone carried a subtle heaviness.
"Hmm?" Lu Bu's eyes narrowed, his expression darkening as a cold glint flashed through his gaze.
"These two are bold. They care more about treasure than their lives," he muttered, his face growing colder as he slowly withdrew his hand from Xiao Yi Xian's body.
Xiao Yi Xian let out a faint humph, her eyes momentarily betraying a hint of disappointment before sharpening with determination. The Nine Nether Earth Python Clan was courting death.
"How did you sense them?" Lu Bu asked, his brows furrowing as his immense soul power spread out. Yet, he detected no abnormalities. Still, he trusted Xiao Yi Xian's judgment without question.
"Hmph… I used a little trick back at the She Clan," Xiao Yi Xian said proudly, tilting her chin slightly with a faint smile.
During the earlier confrontation, she had subtly applied certain medicinal substances to the two members of the Nine Nether Earth Python Clan. Initially, she had intended them as preparation for poisoning, but they had unexpectedly allowed her to track their movements.
Hearing Xiao Yi Xian's words, Lu Bu froze for a moment before realization dawned on him. He finally recalled the small movements Xiao Yi Xian had made earlier, which he hadn't paid much attention to at the time. Unexpectedly, they had yielded such results.
"Xian'er, you're amazing!" Lu Bu chuckled and planted a quick kiss on Xiao Yi Xian's fair, delicate cheek.
"Ah…" Xiao Yi Xian's body trembled as she looked at him with a mixture of shyness and reproach. The faint blush that had just subsided immediately surged back to her face.
If they were alone, she wouldn't have minded, but she knew very well that two pairs of eyes were watching them from the shadows!
"What's the plan now?" Xiao Yi Xian took a deep breath and quickly composed herself. Though she had faith in Lu Bu, their opponents were both two star Dou Zuns, whose strength was not to be underestimated.
"Let's flush them out and deal with them this time," Lu Bu said, a cold gleam flashing in his eyes.
Back at the She Clan, he had spared these two for two reasons: first, he didn't want to create enmity with the Nine Nether Earth Python clan just yet; second, he wanted to avoid killing them in front of the She Clan and the people from the Falling Star Pavilion.
Killing members of the Nine Nether Earth Python in public would have put him in a disadvantageous position. Additionally, since they had no prior grievances with him, he had held back. But now… since they sought their own doom, there was no reason to let them live.
Whoosh!
Xiao Yi Xian's expression turned cold. With a soft cry, her powerful gray Dou Qi surged skyward, condensing into a sharp, streaking beam of light that shot forward with tremendous force.
The gray Dou Qi tore through the void like an arrow loosed from a bow, striking toward an unseen target with overwhelming momentum.
Boom!
A deafening explosion resounded, and two figures were sent flying from their hiding spot, their faces pale with shock as they stared at Xiao Yi Xian. A Dou Zun? This woman was actually a one star Dou Zun?
"That's impossible! How did you discover us!?" growled Yao Zhuo, his expression dark and shadowed with disbelief.
The Nine Nether Earth Python clan was renowned for its mastery of stealth and ambush tactics. With careful planning and deliberate concealment, not even an eighth tier alchemist should have been able to detect them.
And yet, this seemingly delicate woman and her companion had seen through their ambush. How could that be?
"So what if you've discovered us?" sneered Yao Chi, a sinister glint flashing in his pale yellow eyes. His lips parted slightly, revealing sharp, venomous fangs that extended slowly. The air around him grew damp, carrying a sticky, oppressive humidity, as though they had been transported to a sweltering tropical jungle.
"You two really don't know when to quit!" Lu Bu tilted his head slightly, his purple black flames igniting with a soft roar. In an instant, the oppressive dampness Yao Chi had created evaporated without a trace, leaving only the searing heat of Lu Bu's flames.
"Heh… Do you really think our Nine Nether Earth Python clan is so easily dealt with?" Yao Zhuo smirked coldly as his figure blurred and became faint.
"You smug little brat, no matter who you are, crossing the Nine Nether Earth Python means you'll die!" Yao Zhuo's face twisted into a vicious snarl as an ominous, dark red flame coalesced into a blade in his hands. With a sharp slash, he aimed for Lu Bu's throat.
The fiery blade emitted an eerie hum, cutting through the air with such sharpness that even space itself seemed to crack, leaving faint fissures trailing its edge.
"Playing with fire in front of me? You'll die for that!" Lu Bu sneered. Purple black flames erupted around him, surging wildly. In an instant, the flames condensed into a massive, serpentine dragon spanning dozens of meters.
Roar!
The dragon lifted its head, releasing a thunderous roar. A stream of purple black dragonfire shot forth like a comet, streaking straight toward Yao Zhuo.
"What!?" Yao Zhuo cried out in shock. The destructive, searing flames barreled toward him with a terrifying momentum that seemed capable of annihilating everything in their path.
A flash of panic crossed his face before his expression hardened with savagery. The flame blade in his hand expanded, and countless arcs of dark red blade energy erupted from it. Each one was dozens of meters long, slashing through the air with a sharp, deadly force.
"Nether Blaze Tempest Slash!"
The countless arcs of fiery blade energy whirled together, forming a massive, rotating firestorm.
Boom!
Dark red flames clashed violently with the three thousand star Nether Flame, unleashing a chaotic maelstrom of heat and energy. Space itself was torn apart, revealing a deep, black void that stretched ominously beneath the combatants.
"Yao Chi! This brat isn't simple. I'll hold him off. Take down the white haired woman!" Yao Zhuo's snake like pupils contracted as he shouted. The moment he exchanged blows with Lu Bu, he realized how formidable his opponent truly was.
"Hold me off? Do you really think you have the strength?" Lu Bu sneered as the purple black dragon beneath him rose higher. The flames swirled around it, its form expanding rapidly until it reached a hundred meters in length, hovering majestically in the sky.
Simultaneously, two massive fireballs began to condense on either side of the flame dragon. Within moments, they morphed into a flaming lion and tiger, each lifelike and radiating an overwhelming, feral menace.
Grrr…
The lion and tiger prowled forward, their razor sharp claws glinting and their fangs gleaming as low growls reverberated like the deep rumble of an engine. Four glowing green eyes locked onto Yao Zhuo.
"What… what kind of Dou Technique is this!?" Yao Zhuo exclaimed, his voice trembling. The flaming lion and tiger were so vivid that they appeared to be living creatures, yet their bodies were unmistakably composed of purple black flames.
"Kill!" Lu Bu commanded with a cold smile. The flaming dragon roared as it charged forward, while the lion and tiger streaked after it like bolts of lightning, their monstrous flames roaring to life.
"Yao Chi! Take down that woman!" Yao Zhuo shouted in desperation. Dark red flames surged from his body as he transformed into a massive, hundred meter long black and red python. Its striped body exuded a ferocious aura as it slithered to meet the flaming beasts head on.
"I refuse to believe a one star Dou Zun like you can cause any trouble!"
Meanwhile, Yao Chi, glancing at the raging battle, sneered before his expression twisted into a sinister grin. "Woman, your life ends here!"
With a flick of his sleeve, dozens of dark blue water droplets formed in the air around him, spreading like a shimmering curtain of water.
The droplets shot forward and exploded one after another. In the blink of an eye, the explosion transformed into a misty blue haze, completely enveloping Xiao Yi Xian.
"Huh?" Xiao Yi Xian's slender brows arched slightly as she caught a faint, pungent scent. A peculiar expression crossed her face as she sniffed lightly beneath her veil.
Was this… snake venom?
"Hahaha! Foolish woman, this is the unparalleled venom of the Nine Nether Earth Python clan the Emperor Python's Heart Corroding Venom!" Yao Chi cackled maniacally. "Surrender now, and you might still have a chance to live!"
"Pretty boy, your woman's been poisoned! Hand over the Seven Colored Primordial Stone if you don't want her to die!" Yao Zhuo shouted gleefully, struggling under the relentless assault of the flaming beasts.
Lu Bu blinked, his expression blank for a moment. Then, he rubbed his ears and muttered, "What did I just hear? Poisoning Xiao Yi Xian? Are you kidding me?"
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