Chapter 2441: Chapter 2441
As Ye Liuyun continued his exploration, he gradually realized that the dangers he faced were escalating in difficulty. Even ordinary ferocious beasts were becoming increasingly challenging to deal with.
Soldiers like Ye Tiandao and the rest of the elite vanguard were slowly finding it hard to keep up with such intense trials. Recognizing this, Ye Liuyun decided to release the martial cultivators under Liao Yunyang’s command, allowing them to train alongside him in combat. It was also an opportunity for them to grow stronger.
By now, Ye Liuyun no longer needed their protection as much as before.
One day, his divine sense suddenly detected two groups of martial cultivators locked in a standoff ahead, each consisting of over a dozen members.
Nearby was the entrance to a valley, and the two factions seemed to be arguing over who had the right to enter.
He immediately halted his group, stowing them away into his spatial world before activating his Xenocide Concealment Technique to stealthily approach the scene.
Judging by their attire, one group appeared to be soldiers, while the other was composed of royal descendants—easy enough to distinguish.
Ye Liuyun’s golden pupils also noted that the two leaders were no weaklings; their strength clearly surpassed anyone he had encountered before.
Every member of their teams was a formidable warrior at the second level of the Heavenly Realm, with no weak links among them.
As he drew closer, he finally caught their conversation. They were debating who should venture into the valley to explore and how to divide any rare herbs or treasures they might find.
Ye Liuyun peered into the valley and faintly spotted some medicinal plants within, but he also noticed poisonous fumes seeping out from its depths.
"Seems they’re afraid of the toxins and don’t dare enter," he mused.
With that thought, he stepped forward and revealed himself.
"Who dares to mess with us? Looking to die?" someone from the royal entourage immediately barked out.
The leader of the soldiers, however, chuckled, "Don’t scare him off. Let him come over. Isn’t this the perfect solution to our problem?"
Catching the hint, the royal leader motioned for Ye Liuyun to approach.
They then began a mix of threats and promises, pressuring Ye Liuyun to explore the valley for them.
Feigning fear and reluctance, Ye Liuyun agreed under their watchful eyes and started toward the valley.
The moment the toxic fumes touched him, he immediately activated the Ten Thousand Poisons Sutra, using the venomous air to cultivate his skills.
Yet, as Ye Liuyun disappeared into the valley, none of the others followed.
"Let’s wait here for him to come out," the soldier leader proposed. "We’ve scouted the perimeter—there’s no other exit. If he doesn’t emerge in a few days, he’s dead. If he does, we’ll seize him, learn what’s inside, and force him to guide us in. Until then, no one from either side makes a move."
"Agreed," the royal leader nodded.
But later, one of his subordinates whispered, "That kid walked in so easily. Could it be the poison can’t penetrate true essence shielding? If so, we can’t let those soldiers get the upper hand!"
"Very possible," the royal leader mused. "But they’re watching us now. How do we send someone in?"
"You still have two personal guards, don’t you? Release them after dark—let them test the waters," the subordinate suggested.
"Fine. We’ll try it tonight," the royal leader conceded.
The opposing soldier captain had the same thought after seeing Ye Liuyun enter, which was why he deliberately claimed they’d wait a few days to mislead the royal family.
Once night fell, both men quietly dispatched their personal guards.
But neither expected that shortly after entering, these men would succumb to the poisonous fumes, collapsing before they could even retreat. The toxins corroded their bodies, reducing them to pools of putrid blood before they had a chance to escape.
When Ye Liuyun ventured inside, he was stunned by the valley’s scenery.
Lush rare herbs and ancient trees thrived within—untouched precisely because the deadly miasma kept all living creatures at bay. It was this very barrier that had preserved these treasures.
Without hesitation, Ye Liuyun summoned Lei Ming, the Dragon Maiden, Ye Tiandao, Liang Xue, and the others. He had them cultivate the Ten Thousand Toxins Heart Sutra amidst the poisonous air while gathering medicinal plants to transplant into his spatial realm.
He and his doppelgänger stood guard, vigilant against any lurking venomous threats.
Yet the valley proved surprisingly safe—aside from a few small poisonous insects, no real dangers emerged.
They remained for days, scouring the place clean.
By then, their mastery of the Ten Thousand Toxins Heart Sutra had neared perfection, and they had amassed vast reserves of poison essence.
Strangely, the valley’s toxic source showed no signs of depletion.
Ye Liuyun eventually recalled them into his spatial world to investigate further. They soon discovered the origin—a blackened hot spring bubbling from a fissure in the valley floor. The scalding water continuously released the deadly fumes into the air.
"Perfect for poisoning our enemies," Ye Liuyun mused.
At this thought, Ye Liuyun immediately borrowed Bai Sha’s Formless Wooden Box and used it to collect all the black water from the spring. Only then did he discover several black stones beneath the spring, their condensed toxicity far surpassing even his own poison reserves.
Without hesitation, Ye Liuyun stored the stones in the Formless Wooden Box—these resources could be invaluable for others cultivating the Ten Thousand Poisons Heart Sutra.
After securing everything, he prepared to leave. Not far from the valley’s entrance, he spotted dried bloodstains on the ground and a few storage rings. A quick scan with his divine sense revealed they still contained plenty of resources.
Pocketing the rings, he guessed that the outsiders had grown impatient and sent people in after all.
A plan forming in his mind, Ye Liuyun strode out of the valley with deliberate nonchalance.
Outside, the waiting crowd had long grown restless, assuming he had perished inside. When he emerged, they were stunned and immediately surrounded him.
"What’s the situation in there?"
"Did you see anyone else?"
Questions flew at him from all directions, and some even demanded to inspect his Interspatial Ring.
Ye Liuyun’s ring was merely a decoy, containing nothing of value, so he let them examine it freely.
He spun his tale: "The entire valley is filled with toxic gas—even true essence barriers can’t hold for long. But there are plenty of medicinal herbs inside. Right at the center, there’s a secret realm portal.
"I was already on the verge of succumbing to the poison when I stumbled upon the portal and rushed in. But inside, I encountered terrifying beasts far beyond my strength. I had to hide until they let their guard down before seizing the chance to escape.
"As for the others... I didn’t see anyone."
"You’re sure you’re not lying to us?" The two leaders eyed him with suspicion.
"How would I dare deceive you?" Ye Liuyun feigned fear, his voice trembling slightly. "If you don’t believe me, I’ll take you in there myself!"
