As everyone was gathered at Taiji Palace to discuss matters, an unexpected disturbance was brewing outside Wanfa Peak.

Not far from Wanfa Peak, ripples spread across a quiet, secluded pond as the water churned, suggesting that some enormous creature was rising from the depths.

"Splash—"

Water sprayed everywhere as a massive object burst through the surface, stretching its form in the air with abandon.

"Hiss—"

There was a head half the size of a human body swaying, with cold vertical pupils showing no emotion. The mouth, closed tight, was flicking out a long snake tongue.

It was a snake, or more accurately, a python.

An incredibly thick water python surged out from beneath the tranquil pond.

The giant python flicked its tongue, sensing the temperature around it. Apparently not detecting any warm-blooded creatures nearby, the python slowly lowered its head down onto the muddy earth beside the pond.

Then, its enormous mouth opened wide to the extreme, and its robust body rhythmically writhed as a dark figure slowly crawled out of the python's mouth.

"Splash—"

Another splash, but this time it was some particularly disgusting mucus that was scattered.

The dark figure slowly climbed up from the ground, True Qi automatically repelling the revolting mucus to prevent any of it from soiling its body.

The figure slowly raised its head, and after briefly adjusting to the light, it looked towards the top of Wanfa Peak, "So, is it here? That white-haired Daoist, and..."

.......................

Atop Wanfa Peak, Qing Yu, who was reading, suddenly furrowed his brows, "An inauspicious premonition, yet it seems there's no danger."

While reading, he had an impulsive feeling, as if someone was posing a threat to him. But after calculating with his fingers, it seemed there was no danger.

"Hmm?" Instinctively, Qing Yu used the Heavenly Son's Qi Observation Skill to scan for various energies and sensed a black Qi slowly spreading upwards from below.

"This energy isn't any righteous Dao symptom. Could it be that someone from the demonic path has infiltrated Zhenwu Sect?" Qing Yu was somewhat surprised as he raised his eyebrows.

The protective formation of Zhenwu Sect, the "Zhenwu Seven Tribulations Formation," wasn't always active, but it had an invisible Qi Mechanism that spread throughout the area.

Those who weren't from Zhenwu Sect would trigger this mechanism and set off an alarm unless personally escorted through the main entrance by someone from Zhenwu Sect.

This setup, while not particularly threatening, was extremely discreet and rarely detected by anyone.

"Tch, I have a feeling someone is up to something."

Qing Yu's figure flickered, appearing beside the motionless Xuanfeng, grabbing him, and stuffing him into the ground.

Yes, stuffing. The ground rippled like water as it enveloped Xuanfeng's form.

"With my guidance to automatically circulate the True Qi within his body, Xuanfeng has shifted from external to internal breathing. With his level of True Energy, he could stay underground for a whole day without any problems."

"Hmm...just to be safe, let's hide him a hundred meters below."

A full hundred meters down—if he were still to perish, it would simply mean Xuanfeng was fated to do so.

"So, which esteemed guest is seeking this poor Daoist?"

Sharp eyes immediately locked onto one side, forcing the person who wished to sneak in to show himself reluctantly.

Disheveled hair, draped in a black robe, and a jet-black Ghost mask covering the face. At first glance, here was a figure apt for skulking about.

However, Qing Yu judged people primarily by their Qi, not their faces.

"Combining Blood Poison with Poison Sand, the characteristics of Blood Soul Sand are quite distinct, Lin Qiuxuan, your mask is quite useless here," Qing Yu said with a soft chuckle.

"The one who has cultivated Qi Poison is indeed extraordinary," Lin Qiuxuan lifted his hand and removed the mask that wasn't really useful at all. "Daoist Qingyu, you sure made me look hard for you."

After parting with Xuan Shang and Xuanzhen at Tianzhen Temple in Shu Province, Qing Yu directly mounted the White Phoenix and returned to Northern Zhou. This made Lin Qiuxuan, who was secretly monitoring, very anxious.

Lin Qiuxuan had wanted to wait until Qing Yu and Xuan Shang and the others had parted before secretly attacking and capturing this Taoist, to interrogate him on how he had cultivated Qi Poison. But what was he to do when the Taoist simply flew away?

After losing track of Qing Yu, Lin Qiuxuan still hadn't given up and secretly dispatched people to search for this white-haired Taoist.

Logically, with such a distinctive aura and a head of eye-catching white hair, this Taoist should have been a well-known figure in worldly society. In reality, although Qing Yu was quite famous in Northern Zhou, he was still truly a nobody in Daqian.

Lin Qiuxuan racked his brains, pursuing persistently but never finding a trace of this white-haired Taoist. Until...

He received the help of a willing person.

"Did you really come just to find me?" Qing Yu revealed a smile with deep implications.

Qing Yu knew that Lin Qiuxuan wanted something from him. Back then during their encounter at Tianzhen Temple, Lin Qiuxuan thought he was hidden, undetected by others, but Qing Yu completely saw through his spying efforts. It was just that the Qing Yu of that time did not know what Lin Qiuxuan's intentions were.

Now, hearing Lin Qiuxuan's words, Qing Yu knew he had come for the item known as "Qi Poison."

But was Lin Qiuxuan really just looking for Qing Yu?

When he appeared, Lin Qiuxuan discreetly used his Divine Sense to sweep the thatched cottage behind Qing Yu, as well as the surrounding areas. Though the movements were hidden, they couldn't escape Qing Yu's perception.

Lin Qiuxuan would never expect that whom he thought a weak Qing Yu would notice his search.

No, not only did he notice his search, but Qing Yu could also...

Take his life.

Suddenly, the ground violently erupted, with four dirt sword edges thrusting out beside Lin Qiuxuan, aiming straight for his chest and abdomen.

"Hmph."

The Blood Soul Sand appeared outside his body, enveloping Lin Qiuxuan completely, forming a sand armor that kept the sword edges from piercing him.

At the same time, numerous small and big blood-colored whirlpools formed on the sand armor, grinding the sword edges to dust.

"Qing Yu, you..."

Lin Qiuxuan wanted to say more, but the subsequent attack from Qing Yu forced him to keep silent, giving up on the idea of speaking.

"Zzzzz—"

It was as though countless swords were being unsheathed, with innumerable Sword Qi shooting from all directions.

Sword Intent·All Things Become My Sword.

It wasn't executed with Xuanyin Sword Energy, but rather with his own Sword Qi to perform the Xuanyin Third Sword. Whether it was the air or the ground, countless Sword Qi were formed using various mediums, shooting towards the layers of Blood Soul Sand.

Lin Qiuxuan didn't wish to speak; he was unable to speak.

To defend against the countless Sword Qi, he could only cover his entire body with Blood Soul Sand, including his face.

Overlord Sword·Drilling Edge Breaking Light.

Within the five realms of Innate Breaking Body Invisible Sword Qi, Qing Yu had reached the Sword Energy Realm. A lift of his brow, a blink of an eye, were all Sword Qi. No need to use his hands; countless unyielding Overlord Sword Qi materialized and shot forth, causing the Blood Soul Sand to scatter in all directions.

"Ah!"

Lin Qiuxuan finally couldn't bear it, loudly calling out his move, "Sand Soul Blood Shout."

The Blood Soul Sand explosively increased, surging forth, clashing violently with the Overlord Sword Qi.

"Qing Yu, you've brought this on yourself. Don't die now," Lin Qiuxuan gave a final warning.

If Qing Yu died, he wouldn't be able to find another person harboring the secret of Qi Poison.

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