338: Unexpected disaster

Jiang Donghua administered the pill to Xie Ying and circulated his Dou Qi, using its endless power to help the medicine dissolve and force out the poison.

Xie Ying's body trembled violently, and a putrid, dark green, viscous liquid seeped from his skin; that was the poison being expelled.

This process lasted for several hours.

When the last trace of poison was forced out, the dark green on Xie Ying's face completely receded. Although he was pale and weak, his breathing was now steady, and the chaotic Dou Qi within his body began to slowly gather.

After another half day, Xie Ying's eyelashes fluttered, and he painstakingly opened his eyes.

The moment his consciousness returned, the first thing he saw was the young face by the bedside, wearing a faint smile.

"Are you awake, Xie Ying?"

Xie Ying's pupils constricted, and his weak voice carried an unbelievable shock.

"Jiang... Jiang Donghua?! How is it you? Wasn't I poisoned?"

The memory of being sent flying by a punch during the Jia Nan Academy Inner Academy Grand Competition instantly flooded his mind, but at this moment, there was more of the bewilderment and gratitude of surviving a great calamity.

"It's me. You were poisoned, and I happened to pass by."

Jiang Donghua briefly explained.

Xie Ying struggled to sit up and express his thanks, but Jiang Donghua held him down.

"The toxins in your body have just been cleared; you still need to rest. Tell me, who poisoned you? And where?"

At the mention of this, a flicker of fear and anger flashed in Xie Ying's eyes. He took a deep breath and recalled.

"It was in an abandoned mine pit on the edge of the Black Marsh. I found a piece of dark jade ore core containing strange energy there. Just as I was about to collect it, I encountered two Dou Zong experts fighting a life-and-death battle there."

"Both of their cultivation techniques were extremely bizarre and sinister. When they fought, poisonous mist permeated the air, and the entire mine pit was enveloped in various colors of poisonous miasma."

"I merely hid in the distance, hoping to find an opportunity to leave after they both suffered injuries. But somehow, I still inhaled a small amount of colorless and odorless toxic gas that drifted over. At the time, I only felt my body go soft and my Dou Qi circulation become sluggish, so I desperately fled."

Xie Ying said with a bitter smile.

"After returning home, at first I just felt tired, but soon the poison erupted, and I became like I was before."

"Now that I think about it, those two Dou Zong experts were probably masters of poison, and the residual effects of their poison arts were not something I could withstand."

After listening, Jiang Donghua pondered for a moment and asked.

"Did you see the origins of those two people clearly? Or hear them say anything?"

Xie Ying tried hard to remember, saying uncertainly.

"The distance was too far; I couldn't see their faces clearly. I only remember that one of them wore a Black Robe, and when he attacked, he brought with him a foul smell, and the poisonous mist was dark green. The other seemed to be wearing a gray-white long gown, and his poisonous mist was dark purple, carrying an extremely corrosive acidic smell."

"When they were fighting, I think I heard the Black Robed Man roar, 'How dare you snatch something the Five Poisons Sect has set its eyes on! You're courting death!'"

"Five Poisons Sect?"

A hint of understanding flashed in Jiang Donghua's eyes.

The name of this sect matched the characteristics of the Soul Corroding Gold he had investigated.

Xie Zhen and the Third Elder, who had been waiting by the side, instantly turned pale upon hearing the words 'Five Poisons Sect,' their eyes filled with extreme fear.

Xie Zhen's voice trembled as he explained.

"Master Jiang, this Five Poisons Sect is a notorious evil sect in the Northern Region of Central State! Their poison arts are impossible to guard against, and they are extremely vengeful! Rumor has it that their Sect Master is a true Dou Zun Expert!"

He looked at his weak son on the bed, then at Jiang Donghua, his face filled with despair.

"Ying'er was actually caught in the struggle of the Five Poisons Sect and affected! This is simply a disaster! How can my Xie Family endure the wrath of a Dou Zun sect?"

The atmosphere in the secret chamber instantly dropped to freezing point because of the words 'Dou Zun'.

Jiang Donghua looked at the frightened expressions of the Xie Family members, his own expression remaining calm.

He gently tapped the edge of the bed, drawing everyone's attention back, his tone flat but carrying a strange, calming power.

"It was merely two Dou Zong experts fighting over resources, affecting bystanders. If the Five Poisons Sect truly wanted to vent their anger, they wouldn't have waited until now. This matter is most likely already concluded."

He looked at Xie Ying.

"You've recovered your life, which is good luck. This poisoning was also an unprovoked disaster for you!"

Xie Ying could only give a pale, bitter smile.

A few days later, Xie Ying's complexion had improved significantly. Although still weak, he was able to walk.

He insisted on personally seeing Jiang Donghua off.

The entire Xie Family expressed their gratitude, especially the Patriarch, Xie Zhen.

"Master Jiang, words cannot express our gratitude! This is a small token of appreciation from my Xie Family. Besides the previously promised remuneration, there is also a piece of our ancestral Clear Heart Jade inside. Wearing it can ward off common poisonous miasma, which might be useful for venturing deep into the marsh."

"Furthermore, if Master has any requests in the future, my Xie Family will not shirk our duty!" Xie Zhen spoke earnestly, bowing deeply.

Jiang Donghua did not refuse. He nodded and looked at Xie Ying.

"Take good care of yourself, stabilize your cultivation. This ordeal may not be without its benefits, a kind of tempering."

Xie Ying nodded solemnly, cupping his fists and saying.

"Brother Jiang, I will never forget your life-saving kindness! If you ever need me in the future, through mountains of swords and seas of fire, I will not refuse!"

Jiang Donghua smiled faintly, said no more, and with a flicker of his figure, transformed into a green rainbow and vanished into the sky.

Half a day later, an endless swamp area, shrouded in gray-green miasma, appeared before Jiang Donghua.

The Black Marsh.

Even before getting close, a pungent, sweet smell, a mixture of rotting vegetation and highly toxic substances, assailed him.

Above the marsh, the year-round poisonous miasma was like a thick curtain, with sunlight struggling to penetrate, making the entire environment dim and oppressive.

On the muddy ground, poisonous bubbles constantly gurgled up, releasing wisps of colorful mist when they burst.

The surroundings were eerily silent, with only some strange insects adapted to the toxic environment making rustling sounds.

Jiang Donghua hovered in mid-air at the edge of the marsh and took out his treasure seeking ruler.

The ruler's body warmed slightly, pointing towards the depths of the marsh.

He did not immediately delve deeper but hung the Clear Heart Jade gifted by the Xie Family at his waist. A cool sensation spread, quietly pushing away the surrounding poisonous miasma by about a foot.

Immediately, he circulated his Dou Qi, forming a faint green light shield on his body surface, especially around his mouth and nose, filtering the air. Ordinary poisonous miasma posed no threat, but he still took precautions for caution's sake.

He lowered his altitude, flying slowly just above the surface of the marsh, his Spirit Realm Soul power spreading out like a tide in all directions, carefully sensing any abnormal fluctuations.

After flying for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, his Soul Power detected faint energy remnants and a familiar, pungent toxic aura coming from his front left—the same source as the poison in Xie Ying's body!

He immediately changed direction, and a moment later, a half-collapsed mine pit entrance, located behind several dead giant trees, appeared before him.

There were obvious signs of battle at the entrance: scorched earth, corroded rocks, and several broken pieces of cloth stained with dark green and dark purple smudges.

"This is it." Jiang Donghua landed and walked into the mine pit.

The inside of the tunnel was dark and damp, with even more obvious signs of fighting. Deep palm prints and corroded pits were left on the rock walls.

The residual toxic aura in the air, though faint, still carried an uncomfortable chill.

Jiang Donghua carefully investigated.

Based on the traces, the strength of the combatants was indeed at the Dou Zong level. Their techniques were ruthless and they were skilled in using poison.

He picked up the pieces of cloth. Touching them with his fingertips, he could feel the residual toxicity slowly corroding the fabric.

"Hmm?"

Just as he was about to investigate further, his Soul Power sensed a faint but exceptionally pure, cold energy fluctuation in an inconspicuous corner deep within the mine pit.

He walked over, pushed aside the damp moss and loose stones, and found a small plant, about three inches tall, entirely dark blue, with leaves as translucent as ice crystals, growing quietly in a rock crevice.

No other vegetation grew around the plant, which emitted a faint, cold aura.

"yin condensing grass!"

A hint of joy flashed in Jiang Donghua's eyes. This was an extremely rare poisonous herb, and also a valuable auxiliary ingredient for refining high-grade detoxification pills or certain precious medicines that required balancing extreme medicinal properties.

It usually grew in highly toxic places, absorbing the essence of myriad poisons to grow, yet itself contained an extreme cold purifying power.

"It seems those two Dou Zong experts from the Five Poisons Sect were probably fighting over more than just the ore. It's highly likely they were also after this yin condensing grass, which might not have been fully mature at the time, or was overlooked during their fierce battle."

He carefully dug out the yin condensing grass along with a small clump of soil and sealed it in a specially made cold jade box.

After collecting the yin condensing grass, Jiang Donghua stood in the mine pit, lost in thought.

The appearance of the Five Poisons Sect members here was no accident.

Deep within this Black Marsh, there were probably their strongholds or something even more important.

The poison Xie Ying contracted, as well as this yin condensing grass, all pointed to this sect.

"Five Poisons Sect~"

He murmured the name, his gaze directed towards the deeper, denser miasma of the marsh.

The treasure seeking ruler's sensing in that direction also seemed to have intensified slightly.

"Very well, since I've come this far, I might as well explore this dragon's pond and tiger's den. Perhaps, a certain crucial item needed to balance the medicinal properties for refining the supreme venerable pill is near their lair."

Having made his decision, Jiang Donghua no longer lingered. His figure transformed into a blurry green shadow, silently disappearing into the terrifying, thick miasma deep within the Black Marsh.