Yu He and Sha Liwen, two elders of the Myriad Poisons Sect, based on the current situation, were likely no match for Wan Xiongjie, Gong Ba, and Ba Gejiu. The news of Qu Le’s demise in the Central Plains had reached them to some extent. After Ji Changkong’s return, Feng Jue and Sha Li figured his restrained approach was due to his inability to fully assert control.
When Ji Changkong summoned the Five Great Elders to the Poison Valley, Feng Jue and Sha Li secretly speculated that he urgently needed Celestial Poison to restore his strength after his physical body was destroyed and he underwent possession and rebirth. In the past, Feng Jue and Sha Li might have felt completely confident.
But now that they believed Ji Changkong was indeed reborn through possession, they were even more uncertain.
After rebirth through possession, one's original strength would be severely diminished, perhaps not even reaching thirty percent of the former power. Even if he obtained Celestial Poison, it would take years to recover peak strength. Feng Jue and Sha Li doubted that the current Ji Changkong could keep Wan Xiongjie, Gong Ba, and Ba Gejiu in check.
Gong Ba spoke with earnest sincerity, constantly persuading Feng Jue and Sha Li, trying to convince them to also settle down and behave. Although Feng Jue and Sha Li knew that Gong Ba's grand pronouncements about the Southern Yi were somewhat disingenuous, they were cornered. With grim expressions, they hesitated, unable to commit to a decision.
“Ba Gejiu, Wan Xiongjie, why have you visited the Dragon’s Pool several times, and what were your intentions?” Ji Changkong’s gaze was calm as he suddenly spoke again.
Ba Gejiu, along with the experts from the Fei Yi tribe, and Zaxi, the son of Wan Xiongjie, had all been seen lurking near the Dragon’s Pool. They clearly had designs on the place, and Ji Changkong decided this was the perfect opportunity to get to the bottom of the matter.
The faces of Ba Gejiu, Gong Ba, and Wan Xiongjie flickered slightly. They had kept this matter quite secret, believing no one could know about it. Ji Changkong mentioning it so casually startled them, and they couldn't fathom how he had obtained this information.
“Lin, how did you know I went to the Dragon’s Pool?” Ba Gejiu asked in a deep voice.
Ji Changkong merely offered a sinister smile and offered no reply, appearing completely self-assured.
Ba Gejiu snorted coldly. “It seems you have people on the side of our Fei Ling tribe as well.”
After a pause, Ba Gejiu glanced at Gong Ba. Seeing Gong Ba nod slightly, Ba Gejiu continued, “The Dragon’s Pool is teeming with rare flora and exotic herbs. Legend has it that the bottom of the pool holds Black Jade Essence Crystal. It is a treasure trove for anyone, and even the ferocious beasts inhabiting the Dragon’s Pool are themselves treasures. Naturally, we want to claim such a place.”
“Furthermore, we spread the rumor that the bottom of the Dragon’s Pool contains ‘Star River Divine Water.’ It is rumored that ‘Star River Divine Water’ flows from extraterrestrial meteorites and is highly effective for Eight Trigrams Heavenly Masters in breaking through to the Nine Palaces Heavenly Realm. The God of Arrows, Gong, is desperate to reach the Nine Palaces Heavenly Realm while Ancient Ju is injured. After we spread this news, what do you think he will do?”
Ba Gejiu asked Ji Changkong this question, unable to completely mask his smugness.
Frowning, Ji Changkong said gravely, “He will certainly try to obtain the ‘Star River Water’ at any cost. However, that ‘Star River Water’ might cost him his life?”
Wan Xiongjie burst into hearty laughter, raising the vessel containing the Celestial Poison high. “This is the ‘Star River Water’ we prepared for him. The Sect Master is indeed clever!”
These people had planned this long ago. Naturally, there was no Star River Water in the Dragon’s Pool. They spread the rumor purely to hand the Celestial Poison over to the God of Arrows Gong under a plausible pretext. Since no one had ever seen the “Star River Divine Water,” if the God of Arrows Gong ingested the Celestial Poison, death would be his only outcome.
Wan Xiongjie, Gong Ba, and the others had plotted everything long ago. Now that the Celestial Poison was secured, as long as Ba Gejiu presented it, the God of Arrows Gong was doomed. Once the God of Arrows Gong died, Ba Gejiu would surely find a way to take his place. As for the Myriad Poisons Sect, Gong Ba would take control. This meant that both the Divine Archer Sect and the Myriad Poisons Sect would be controlled by these two brothers. The day the conflict in the Southern Yi ceased would be the day the Water Cloud Nation suffered disaster.
Running through this chain of thought, Ji Changkong finally understood the full scope of this group’s conspiracy and calculations. Now, with Feng Jue and Sha Li wavering, Wan Xiongjie, Gong Ba, and Ba Gejiu formed a subtle ring around him, clearly not intending to let him leave alive.
At this moment, the situation was extremely disadvantageous to him.
“Sect Master, we’ve told you everything, so you must die today.” Gong Ba exchanged a look with Ba Gejiu, signaling him not to show any mercy later. He glanced back at Feng Jue and Sha Li, then smiled slightly at Gong Ba, saying earnestly, “With the Sect Master’s physical body destroyed, coupled with his tyrannical nature, the two of you should understand he is long past fit for this position.”
Feng Jue and Sha Li remained silent, merely frowning in deep thought. Perhaps they needed to confirm whether Ji Changkong’s physical body was truly destroyed before they could finalize their decision on whether to betray him alongside Wan Xiongjie.
Qu Le had been with the Myriad Poisons Sect for many years, and his authority was deeply ingrained. Until they were certain Qu Le was incapacitated, Feng Jue and Sha Li could not bring themselves to commit.
Gong Ba, being a member of the Myriad Poisons Sect and somewhat familiar with Feng Jue and Sha Li, seemed to sense their hesitation. He smiled and nodded lightly toward Ba Gejiu, signaling him to strike first.
Gong Ba nodded to Ba Gejiu, but he and Wan Xiongjie did not move, remaining cautiously vigilant toward Feng Jue and Sha Li, wary that the two might suddenly turn against them midway.
Ba Gejiu let out a sharp cry. Initially, he did not employ the special arrows reserved for the Sun, Moon, and Star Radiant Bows. Instead, he nocked an iron arrow onto the Radiant Bow and drew it back with lightning speed, firing instantly.
Ba Gejiu was extremely close to Ji Changkong. Theoretically, at such short range, archery should offer no advantage. However, the speed at which Ba Gejiu drew and loosed the arrow was faster than lightning, quicker than the movement of an average person waving their hand.
In virtually an instant, an arrow imbued with immense sharp energy flew toward Ji Changkong, unstoppable. Ba Gejiu unleashed this arrow with full force simply to ascertain whether the enemy before him was truly reborn through possession!
As Ba Gejiu loosed his shot, the gazes of Gong Ba, Wan Xiongjie, Feng Jue, and Sha Li were all fixed unwaveringly on Ji Changkong. The four shared one thought: they needed to see if the person before them was indeed the possessed Qu Le.
Boom!
The arrow burrowed like a serpent into the iron-hard stone wall, causing a deafening roar. The target Ba Gejiu aimed at had already moved away with ghost-like swiftness, dodging the probing iron arrow.
The ghost-like movement was so rapid that Ba Gejiu and Gong Ba and the others could not perceive any change in Ji Changkong’s aura. Thus, they still couldn't confirm if the person present was a possession. Gong Ba frowned and suddenly sneered, “Close combat!”
Without hesitation, Ba Gejiu held the Radiant Bow and launched himself toward Ji Changkong, becoming the arrow himself.
The Radiant Bow was raised casually, and dazzling rays of light spilled from the curved bow. In the somewhat dim stone cavern, the light from the Radiant Bow was brilliantly piercing, falling upon Ji Changkong like another volley of arrows.
Ba Gejiu attacked with unparalleled ferocity, yet Ji Changkong seemed timid, avoiding confrontation and retreating steadily.
Gong Ba and Wan Xiongjie, while subtly watching Feng Jue and Sha Li, coldly observed Ba Gejiu pressing Ji Changkong. Seeing Ji Changkong continuously fall back, Gong Ba and Wan Xiongjie grew more convinced their judgment was accurate. According to Qu Le’s former temperament, he would never retreat even if it meant death.
Feng Jue and Sha Li exchanged a look and sighed faintly. From the current situation, it was clear Ji Changkong was willing but unable, which was why he kept retreating. Feng Jue and Sha Li were now certain: the current Ji Changkong was merely Qu Le reborn through possession, lacking the power to command the situation.
“Feng Jue, Sha Li, why aren’t you helping this Sect Master deal with these traitors!” Ji Changkong cried out in apparent panic while evading.
Feng Jue and Sha Li exchanged a look and finally lost faith in Ji Changkong. The former Qu Le would never beg others for help. Ji Changkong’s current actions proved only one thing: he couldn't even handle Ba Gejiu.
“Only the wise adapt to circumstances, Sect Master, I apologize,” Feng Jue sighed softly. Sha Li said nothing, merely shaking his head gently.
Clearly, the two had sided with Gong Ba and Wan Xiongjie.
Upon hearing Feng Jue and Sha Li’s words, Gong Ba and Wan Xiongjie’s expressions lit up with joy. Gong Ba laughed heartily, “Excellent! The prosperity of the Myriad Poisons Sect cannot be achieved without the support of you two elders. Rest assured, under my leadership, the Myriad Poisons Sect will become even more flourishing.”
“Good! Good! Since you have all betrayed me, then don't blame this Sect Master for showing no mercy,” Ji Changkong nodded, speaking with a sinister tone, and suddenly pulled back, leaving behind streaks of ghost-like illusions.
Ba Gejiu’s expression shifted slightly. Faced with the several illusions that suddenly appeared, he seemed momentarily at a loss, unable to distinguish the real from the fake.
He released his divine soul, sending threads of spiritual energy to wrap around the illusions formed by the Thousand Nether Shadow Technique. Ba Gejiu did possess the cultivation of the Eight Trigrams Heavenly Realm, and upon releasing his soul, he managed to distinguish the illusory forms created by the Thousand Nether Shadow Technique.
Just then, the formed illusions vanished without a trace. Ji Changkong appeared near a corner of the stone wall and lightly tapped the rock face.
Rumble!
The cavern instantly erupted with a deafening roar. From the smooth, flat stone ceiling above, dozens of thumb-sized openings suddenly cracked open. A pale green smoke instantly poured out of these openings, filling the entire cavern and enveloping everyone within.
As the Sect Master of the Myriad Poisons Sect, Qu Le understood the Poison Valley far better than any other member. He had long hidden means to deal with rebellious elders within this secret location that housed the Poison Codex. These methods, if not used, were fine, but once deployed, they were certain to be effective.
Gong Ba, Wan Xiongjie, and Feng Jue were all masters of poison cultivation. Their ability to move freely within the Poison Valley indicated profound expertise in toxic arts. As elders specializing in the toxic lineage of the Myriad Poisons Sect, they should have been immune to all manner of poisons and toxic mists.
However, the moment the pale green smoke enveloped them, Gong Ba, Wan Xiongjie, Feng Jue, and the others realized this pale green vapor was terrifyingly potent. Even though they immediately sealed their pores, the mist managed to permeate their bodies through skin contact; the smoke was simply impossible to defend against. In a flash, these experts deeply versed in poison cultivation found tiny traces of toxins—toxins they couldn't even identify—spreading rapidly within their bodies, paralyzing their limbs and constricting their internal vital energy.
In an instant, Ba Gejiu’s charging speed slowed dramatically. Having tightly covered his mouth and nose in an attempt to block the poison mist, Ba Gejiu watched in vain as his efforts failed, then shouted fiercely, “This poison is potent! We must stop him quickly! Only by working together can we capture him before the poison takes full effect. Only he can provide the antidote!”
“This place is where the Poison Codex is kept and the Celestial Poison is nurtured. How could I not have arrangements here to deal with outsiders? These measures are known only to each successive Sect Master. I brought you here naturally with plans in mind. Alas, I never expected the measures meant for outsiders would be used against our own kin today. What a pity.”
“Don’t bother trying. This poison is not one you know. It is one of the secret poisons known only to the lineage of Sect Masters. Despite your mastery of poison arts, you are all helpless against this secret toxin,” Ji Changkong shook his head and sighed, feigning deep distress.
“Sect Master, we were wrong! We never intended to betray you. What we did just now was merely a temporary measure. We were looking for an opportunity to serve you!” Feng Jue suddenly changed his tune upon seeing the situation turn dire, pleading desperately with Ji Changkong.
Gong Ba, Wan Xiongjie, and Ba Gejiu's expressions shifted. They suddenly realized that while they were plotting against Ji Changkong, they were being plotted against by him. Now that they were all poisoned, if Feng Jue and Sha Li joined forces with Ji Changkong at this moment, they might still manage to subdue him quickly.
However, if Feng Jue and Sha Li stood opposite them again, with those two obstructing them, they knew this attempt would end in total defeat.
“Feng Jue, Sha Li, you know Qu Le’s ruthlessness. If you show even the slightest hint of resistance, he will not spare you. You should know that even if he doesn’t kill you now, he won’t give you the antidote; he will only use you to make everyone else kill each other!” Gong Ba roared.
“We are elders of the Myriad Poisons Sect! How could we be misled by your deception!” Sha Li sternly rebuked Gong Ba. He and Feng Jue suddenly knelt down and began moving toward Ji Changkong using only their knees.
“Sect Master, please be magnanimous and give us the antidote!” Sha Li and Feng Jue cried out together.
Using their knees for propulsion, Sha Li and Feng Jue laboriously crawled to Ji Changkong’s proximity, then suddenly leaped up like lightning, lunging straight at him!
“Gong Ba, Wan Xiongjie, Ba Gejiu, hurry up!” Feng Jue and Sha Li bellowed.
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