Poison King Valley lay nestled deep within the Heaven Desolate Mountain Range, nearly 30,000 li north of Yanhuang City.
The valley was perpetually shrouded in miasma. Not even the most skilled cultivators could enter without being reduced to cripples.
Towns and villages that had once thrived in the Heaven Desolate Mountain Range now lay as mass graves, their inhabitants consumed by the valley's toxic presence.
The landscape was a grim tableau: scattered corpses, poisonous weeds covering the hillsides, and swarms of venomous insects—the true face of this desolate, silent mountain range.
Within Poison King Valley, the air was filled with the wails of the damned.
A group of young cultivators, driven by chivalrous ideals and a misguided attempt to eradicate this blight on the Cultivation World, had stepped into the valley's embrace. Now, they were mere lambs awaiting slaughter, bound to vines as experimental subjects for the Netherwheel Gu King's new drug.
Long-term poisoning had warped their bodies and minds. Their hunched frames, emaciated and blackened skin, and hollow, numb faces bore witness to the dual torment of body and spirit.
"Heh heh heh... This is my new formula. Administer it to them."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The Netherwheel Gu King, a dark-skinned figure in black robes, handed a vial emitting an eerie green glow to a Poison King Valley disciple.
The disciple immediately forced the liquid down the throat of a female cultivator.
In the next instant, her eyes widened in madness, her gaze becoming demonic as she let out a guttural roar.
In moments, green liquid flowed from the seven orifices of the female cultivator, her body erupting in black flames. In an instant, she was reduced to a ghastly white skeleton.
"Hahaha! My Corpse Transformation Gu is finally complete! Even Empress Ziwei herself would have to retreat three steps upon witnessing its power."
The Netherwheel Gu King let out a chilling, maniacal laugh, sending shivers down the spine.
For this day, he had poured decades of effort into developing this devastating new Gu.
Overwhelmed with excitement, he immediately rushed to the summit of Poison King Valley and let out a triumphant roar to the heavens, as if celebrating the vindication of his years of toil.
"Who in this world can surpass my mastery of the Poison Arts? Hahaha! I will prove to all that by embracing poison as a path, one can forge a completely new way for the Cultivation World! Hahaha!"
As his mad laughter echoed, thunder rumbled across the sky, as if responding to the Netherwheel Gu King's triumph.
But in the very next moment...
*Hoo—*
A long, piercing cry split the heavens.
The Netherwheel Gu King's eyes narrowed as he immediately looked up.
A figure wreathed in azure flames descended from the sky with proud majesty, landing steadily on the opposite peak.
"Who dares trespass upon my Poison King Valley?"
The figure's voice boomed with a powerful, resonant battle cry:
"When the war drums sound, the might of armies will shake mountains and rivers!"
"When the war songs rise, the ranks will break, and peace will settle upon the land!"
As Shen Zhao landed, the Netherwheel Gu King's imposing figure came into view.
"Netherwheel Gu King, today I will bring an end to your reign of terror!"
With a thunderous shout, the air exploded, and all the plants and trees within several dozen feet of Shen Zhao were instantly obliterated.
The Netherwheel Gu King immediately activated his defensive stance, channeling his qi.
"Why have you sought me out?"
"I desire two things. I hope you will part with them, Gu King."
"What things?"
"The Seven-Colored Cloud Gu... and your head."
"Aaaargh!"
A furious roar echoed through the valley. Knowing the attacker meant business, the Netherwheel Gu King immediately unleashed his full cultivation, instantly releasing a cloud of Poison Mist that surged toward Shen Zhao.
Yet Shen Zhao remained as steady as a mountain in the face of the Gu King's assault.
He flicked his cloak behind him, and at the moment the Poison Mist closed in, he casually waved his hand.
Instantly, the air currents reversed, and the Poison Mist veered sharply, sweeping back toward its origin.
"Hmm?"
The Netherwheel Gu King hadn't anticipated this move. Using the mist as a conduit, he condensed it three feet in front of him into a shield.
Blocking the backlash, the Gu King frowned and demanded, "Who exactly are you?"
Shen Zhao's expression remained cold as he replied, "Dead men don't need to know such things."
"Arrogant fool!"
The Gu King's fury ignited. He channeled his poisonous techniques again, and three ten-zhang-long centipedes of condensed toxic gas soared through the air toward Shen Zhao.
"Five Venom Corpse Gu? Ridiculous!"
With a sneer, Shen Zhao waved his hand again. The Southern Bright Fire within him erupted, instantly reducing the centipede to nothingness.
"Exploding Gu!"
Seeing his ultimate technique easily neutralized, the Netherwheel Gu King decisively channeled his True Essence. The surrounding Poison Mist converged, gathering entirely into his palms.
Gradually, a green flame materialized at the center of his palms.
Within the flames, a massive Gu worm seemed to writhe incessantly.
"Go!"
With a forceful push, the Exploding Gu shot towards Shen Zhao with lightning speed.
The Netherwheel Gu King was utterly confident in this move, believing it would instantly slay the arrogant young man.
"Shifting Stars and Changing Constellations."
However, Shen Zhao merely shifted his stance. A surge of majestic, righteous energy erupted, completely locking the Exploding Gu within his palm.
Then, with a mighty push, he sent the Exploding Gu hurtling like a meteor towards the gates of Poison King Valley at the mountain's base.
*Boom!*
A deafening explosion shook the valley, reducing the entire Poison King Valley to rubble.
"No... my..."
The Netherwheel Gu King's eyes bulged with fury. The culmination of his life's work had been utterly destroyed by this upstart who had appeared out of nowhere.
"The greatest pain in life is to suffer the consequences of one's own actions."
Shen Zhao's mockery completely enraged the Netherwheel Gu King.
"Boy, I'll turn you into a puppet and ensure your soul never finds peace for generations to come."
"You've got nothing left but your mouth."
Shen Zhao subtly formed a finger seal with his left hand, concealing it behind his back, his face remaining as calm and detached as ever.
"Then witness my ultimate technique."
With that, the Netherwheel Gu King raised both palms high, and the toxic miasma of the entire Heaven Desolate Mountain Range coalesced into a terrifying vortex that converged at his chest, gradually inflating into a pulsating sphere.
"Poison Dragon's Breath!"
"Candle Dragon... no, Heavenly Dragon's Roar sounds better."
Two sonic waves collided across the void.
Space-time warped, the heavens and earth trembled, and the mountains within a hundred-mile radius shook violently. The very ground, unable to withstand the onslaught, began to crack and split.
"Ugh~"
The ultimate Yang-aligned Brahma's Voice finally shattered the evil presence, instantly dispersing the Poison Mist. The residual force sent the Netherwheel Gu King staggering back several steps.
"Such profound cultivation..."
Seeing Shen Zhao's composed demeanor, clearly not exerting his full power, the Netherwheel Gu King felt a flicker of fear, knowing he was no match for his opponent.
Yet he remained defiant.
"The Seven-Colored Cloud Gu is fused with my meridians. If I die, you'll never obtain it."
Facing this threat, Shen Zhao's expression remained utterly indifferent.
Shen Zhao's silence led the Netherwheel Gu King to believe the youth was intimidated. He proposed a deal: "Kid, even with your heaven-defying cultivation, you stand no chance of extracting the Seven-Colored Cloud Gu from my body. Let's call it a day and part ways. What do you say?"
"Old fool, do you really think you'll live to see tomorrow's sun?"
Shen Zhao's eyes turned icy. His left arm, which had been behind his back, suddenly rose.
"Three-Point Divine Finger: Jade-Shattering, Gold-Splitting."
A fierce force tore through the air.
Before the Netherwheel Gu King could react, the finger's energy had already pierced his body.
As the force erupted from his flesh, it carried with it a five-colored silkworm. The worm, caught in the residual energy, spiraled toward Shen Zhao and landed in a storage pouch he had prepared.
"Ah~~"
A agonizing scream echoed across the sky.
With the Gu worm removed, the Netherwheel Gu King's internal spiritual energy turned against him. The residual force of the Heavenly Dragon Brahma Sound also reactivated, causing chaotic energy to surge through his Eight Extraordinary Meridians.
After a long while, the Netherwheel Gu King finally stabilized, clutching his chest.
"Tell me, who are you? At least let me die knowing."
"I've told you, dead men need no answers. Today's fate is entirely your own making."
Without looking back, Shen Zhao turned and soared into the sky.
Mid-air, the Golden-Winged Kunpeng received him instantly and veered sharply toward Yanhuang City.
"Ah~ I hate you~"
*Bang—*
Shen Zhao departed. The Netherwheel Gu King let out a furious, unwilling roar before exploding into a bloody mess.
At the moment of its death, all the venomous insects and poisonous plants in the Heaven Desolate Mountain Range instantly lost their vitality. The Poison Mist that had perpetually shrouded the mountains began to dissipate at a visible rate.
-----------------------
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