Chapter 54

News came from Xianyun Peak that Xun Ye was in a life-or-death seclusion at Eagle Beak Rock, and the disciples of Qi Yunhe's lineage were entrusted to Deng Yuantong for supervision. The former piece of news was expected, but the latter caught everyone off guard.

Wei Shizhi vaguely felt something was amiss. The impression Deng Yuantong gave him was as if he were playing a grand game, and although he was in the game, he could see nothing clearly. Fortunately, Xun Ye had arranged a way out for him. He remembered a saying, something about being inside and perishing, something about being outside and surviving. In short, the best strategy was to leave this place of trouble as soon as possible.

The only thing that troubled him was Qin Zhen.

In the days that followed, Wei Shizhi was very busy. On one hand, he explained the key points of forming a Dao embryo to Qin Zhen, acting as a half-hearted master. On the other hand, he took time to hunt in the mountains, gathering demon flesh and wild game to prepare for the journey.

One day, the blue wolf encountered a blood-red giant python in the deep mountains. They fought to the death. The blood python, several dozen feet long, moved like the wind. Although the blue wolf had already become a spirit, it could not withstand such a fierce opponent. It tried to escape several times but was always blocked by the python's poisonous mist. In the struggle, the blue wolf inhaled a small amount of the mist, slowing its movements. The blood python seized the opportunity, lunging forward and wrapping itself around the blue wolf.

Wei Shizhi arrived just in time. Seeing the blue wolf in danger, he pulled out an iron rod from his sword pouch, and a yellow light suddenly shone. The blood python sensed a great threat and clung tightly to the blue wolf, but its head turned toward Wei Shizhi, baring its fangs, as if facing a formidable enemy. The blue wolf took the opportunity to twist its head and bite the blood python's neck, sucking the foul-smelling python blood while growling. The blood python, in pain, sprayed toxic mist but, with its vital points injured, could not move freely. It tightened its body, trying to crush the blue wolf.

A sword light came from the south, circled briefly, and landed in the forest, emitting a green glow. It was clearly the Green Bee Sword of the Xiandu Sect. The flying sword hummed with excitement, and a shadow of a green iron queen bee suddenly rose, sucking away all the toxic mist in one breath. The blood python, as if encountering its natural enemy, loosened its body and tried to escape, but the blue wolf held on tightly.

The green iron queen bee, like a ghost, flapped its wings and flew to the top of the blood python, stinging it lightly, killing the massive creature. It then sucked out all the remaining toxins from the blood python's venom sacs, and the shadow became slightly more substantial. Satisfied, it flew back into the Green Bee Sword and went back into hibernation.

With no threat to its life, the blue wolf released its bite, limped to Wei Shizhi's feet, and collapsed, unable to open its eyes, falling into a deep sleep. Wei Shizhi reached out to touch its head, his face grave, and looked around cautiously.

A man slowly stepped out of the forest, gestured, and retrieved the Green Bee Sword. He lightly tapped the sword, which made a clear sound. "I wondered what powerful venomous creature could make the green iron queen bee so eager, but it turns out to be just a blood python!"

The green iron queen bee was fond of venom, which could nourish its damaged soul. It had sensed the toxic mist from the blood python from several miles away, like a gourmet encountering a delicious meal, becoming restless. Deng Yuantong had no choice but to let the Green Bee Sword fly out to feed.

Wei Shizhi's heart suddenly skipped a beat. He bowed and addressed the third disciple of the sect leader, Deng Yuantong, as "Uncle Master."

Deng Yuantong sized up Wei Shizhi and said coolly, "I underestimated you before. With just a single innate acumen, you managed to master the Mad Demon Staff Technique to this level. Indeed, you are a formidable young talent."

"Uncle Master, you flatter me. I do not deserve such praise."

"There's no need to be modest. I never speak in flattery. Xin Laoyao's acumen far surpasses yours, and he works hard, yet he still lost to you. That is an undeniable fact. However, it's a pity that you are poisoned by a pill, and your life is not long."

Wei Shizhi inwardly scoffed but said, "Master also said the pill poison cannot be resolved. For now, I can only endure it, hoping for a turn of events."

"The effects of the pill poison become more severe each time. When your internal organs rot into pus, there will be no saving you. Do you know that before Xun Brother entered his life-or-death seclusion, he came to Wuxie Waterfall to find me, begging me to secretly detoxify you without the sect leader's knowledge? I did not agree. I have already reported this to the sect leader, who, out of pity for your hard work and potential, agreed to take the risk. Are you prepared?"

Wei Shizhi sensed a strong odor of conspiracy. He could not tell which parts of Deng Yuantong's words were true and which were false—since he could not tell, he chose not to believe any of it. Just as he was about to decline, Deng Yuantong suddenly flicked his sleeve, and a thin piece of talisman paper stuck to Wei Shizhi's chest, burning without wind. His body stiffened, losing control, but his mind remained unusually clear.

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