181: Chapter 181 Zhong Yuan exploded!!

Swoosh!!!

The sensation of the world spinning surged like a tide and then abruptly receded.

Everyone felt their vision go black before realizing they had returned to the ancient teleportation formation in the valley from before.

Beneath their feet were the familiar, intricate formation patterns, and around them was the quiet valley. Occasional birdsong could be heard, forming a sharp contrast to the tragic and fierce slaughter in the Tianqi Secret Realm just moments ago.

"Whew... We're back... Finally back..."

The members of the Xuanwu Army collapsed to the ground one by one, gasping for breath.

Some were wounded, and some had shattered dharma robes.

But their eyes sparkled with the relief of having survived a disaster, and the looks they directed toward Chu Feng were filled with gratitude.

If it hadn't been for Chu Feng, many of them would have died.

Mu Xuanyin walked quickly to Chu Feng's side and asked with concern, "Junior Brother Chu, are you alright??"

Chu Feng waved his hand. "I'm fine, I just consumed a bit too much energy."

He was naturally unharmed.

After all, with the Spiritual Artifact five dragon spirit armor, he wouldn't be hurt unless he actively chose to be.

While the two were talking...

Thud!!!

Suddenly, a muffled sound rang out.

Everyone looked toward the sound.

They saw Zhong Yuan, the captain from the Tianyang Sect who had become almost a lone survivor, unexpectedly collapse to his knees without warning. His eyes were tightly shut, his lips were purple, and he had fainted.

At the same time, streaks of eerie purple-black light, like living things, were rapidly spreading upward from his right leg at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Wherever they passed, clothing melted and skin quickly necrotized, emitting a faint, foul stench.

"He's been poisoned!!"

Mu Xuanyin's beautiful eyes instantly narrowed.

Although she was used to life and death, she couldn't help but be alarmed by this eerie speed of spread.

The next instant.

Zhong Yuan's eyes suddenly snapped open.

Those eyes, which were originally clear black and white, were now occupied by pure pitch-black.

There were no whites, no pupils—only a bottomless darkness.

A hoarse low growl came from his throat; the sound didn't seem human, but more like the roar of a wild beast.

The corners of his mouth twisted to the sides, revealing a hideous and terrifying smile. In an eerie tone, he slowly said, "You... won't escape..."

"Not good! Get back!!!" Chu Feng's expression changed, and he grabbed Mu Xuanyin, retreating rapidly.

At the same time, he manifested the five-finger mountain to block in front of them.

The moment they had just retreated over a dozen zhang...

Boom!!!

Zhong Yuan's body suddenly exploded!

Flesh flew, bones shattered, and he was blown to pieces.

In his place, only a clump of purple-black Demonic Qi and a somewhat cracked Golden Core remained.

The Demonic Qi churned violently in mid-air, writhing and deforming constantly like boiling water.

Gradually, it actually condensed into a hideous and terrifying image.

Eight long legs, a pair of giant pincers, a high-arched scorpion tail, and six blood-red compound eyes.

It was none other than a miniature version of the Blazing Poison Scorpion!

The phantom floated in mid-air, surrounded by dense Demonic Qi. Its six compound eyes stared fixedly at Chu Feng, filled with playfulness.

It seemed to be saying: you won't escape.

Chu Feng snorted in disdain at this.

To be honest, even if he faced the original body of the Blazing Poison Scorpion, Chu Feng could kill it, let alone a mere Clone.

The reason he chose this method was simply that he didn't want to risk his life, and he especially didn't want to expose too much in front of everyone.

And now, the Blazing Poison Scorpion was actually putting on an act???

You've really got some nerve.

"Insignificant tricks!" Chu Feng raised his hand and struck with a Palm Lightning.

Rumble!!!

Thunderlight exploded, purple radiance shot into the sky, and a bolt of purple lightning as thick as a bucket blasted out from his palm, striking the Blazing Poison Scorpion fiercely.

Wherever the thunderlight passed, the air was filled with a scorched scent; this was the natural suppression of lightning techniques against demons.

The thunderlight collided with the Demonic Qi, triggering a violent vibration. A large hole was blasted into the black mist, but it quickly writhed and healed.

The Blazing Poison Scorpion let out a piercing, hideous laugh. The purple-black demonic mist churned violently, instantly condensing into dozens of purple-black poisonous stingers.

Each of these stingers was about a zhang long, their tips flashing with an eerie blue cold light, clearly incredibly poisonous.

With a shrill screech, dozens of poisonous stingers shot toward Chu Feng and the others like a torrential rain!

"Watch out!!!"

Mu Xuanyin shouted, and the long sword in her hand instantly transformed into thousands of green sword shadows, condensing into an airtight sword curtain in front of her.

Cling, cling, cling, cling...

Chu Feng snorted coldly. His hands quickly formed seals, his ten fingers flying like butterflies through flowers, as the thunderlight around him surged.

Since ordinary lightning couldn't kill it, then he would use his ultimate move.

"Five Elements Earth Thunder, die!!"

The sky suddenly darkened.

Five bolts of lightning of different colors descended from the heavens.

Geng-Metal Earth Thunder, Yi Wood Earth Thunder, Gui Water Earth Thunder, Bing Fire Earth Lightning, Wutu Earth Thunder.

Amidst the earth-shaking explosion, the Blazing Poison Scorpion burst apart, turning into flying smoke.

This was the terrifying power of the Five Elements Earth Thunder.

The Blazing Poison Scorpion was completely dead.

On the teleportation formation, only Zhong Yuan's crack-covered Golden Core remained floating quietly.

Chu Feng naturally wouldn't make a move against Zhong Yuan's Golden Core; he was a Righteous Path Cultivator.

He squinted his eyes, watching and waiting.

Because at this moment, there was only one path left for Zhong Yuan, and that was to perform a Possession as soon as possible.

Otherwise, his life would soon come to an end.

Whom would he possess???

Chu Feng glanced at the people present.

Someone from the Duobao Sect?

Those were his own people, and they had followed him through life and death. If Zhong Yuan dared to even entertain that thought, Chu Feng would be the first to eliminate him.

Those four from the Tianyang Sect?

Possessing a fellow Sect member was a capital offense in the eyes of any Righteous Path follower, unless the person was willing to give their life to you.

But in this world, who could actually do such a thing?

No one could.

Therefore, Zhong Yuan didn't dare to move—not even an inch.

After a good while.

Chu Feng finally spoke: "Why don't you go into my tianyuan cauldron to warm yourself up first??"

"Wait until we contact the Seniors of the Tianyang Sect and let them figure out a way for you to find a suitable Physical Body."

This act of his was by no means out of pure altruism.

After all, even if he didn't act, the four from the Tianyang Sect would find a way.

But by acting himself, he could earn a favor from the Tianyang Sect and gain a good reputation.

To become the Saint of the Duobao Sect, a good reputation was very important.

Zhong Yuan's Golden Core trembled slightly, and only after a long time did a sigh emerge: "Thank you, Fellow Daoist Chu."

The flavor within that sigh was extremely complex.

There was helplessness, unwillingness, and loneliness, but the only thing missing was resentment.

He knew himself that this was already a stroke of immense luck.

Out here in the wilderness, even if you wanted to perform a Possession, you'd need someone to possess.

Besides, can Possession be done haphazardly?

You'd have to find someone with similar talent, right?

What had Zhong Yuan relied on to reach the Golden Core Perfection Realm?

It was his Earthly Spiritual Root!

So, how easy would it be to find a suitable target for Possession?

If one truly encountered a talented seedling, they would surely think first of bringing them into their own Sect to cultivate properly. Cultivating them would result in another Golden Core or even a Nascent Soul, which was much more cost-effective than letting Zhong Yuan possess them.

Therefore, Zhong Yuan's future was truly very bleak.

He had originally wanted to open his mouth and beg Chu Feng and Mu Xuanyin to help him look for a Genius to possess, but the words died in his throat.

He understood that such a thing was simply impossible.

"All units, take orders! Return to camp immediately!" Mu Xuanyin commanded.

...

When they arrived back at the base, Chu Feng realized that the place was quite lively.

Though called a base, it was actually similar to a small market town.

Besides the Xuanwu Army station, it also welcomed Cultivators from all paths.

People were coming and going on the streets, and shops lined both sides, giving it a truly prosperous feel.

After the army returned to camp...

Chu Feng and Mu Xuanyin closed the door and began to discuss what to do next.

As for the matters regarding the Tianyang Sect, they had their own methods of contact, so there was no need to worry about that.

"Contact the high-level members of the Sect immediately and inform them of the matter regarding the Tianqi Secret Realm," Chu Feng said.

"Junior Brother Chu makes sense," Mu Xuanyin nodded. "The people from the Tianyang Sect also know about the Tianqi Secret Realm; they definitely won't let the matter rest."

Actually, to the Duobao Sect, the Tianqi Secret Realm was not that much.

Even though Chu Feng's harvest was bountiful, compared to the Duobao Sect's assets, it was simply not worth mentioning.

After Mu Xuanyin finished speaking, she suddenly changed the subject. "Junior Brother Chu, I know you want to vie for the position of Saint, and your combat power is sufficient."

"But, as far as I know, the position of Saint requires at least the Golden Core Realm."

"So, your immediate priority is to quickly increase your cultivation level."

"Hmm?"

Chu Feng was stunned. What did she mean?

Was Mu Xuanyin going to give up on the position of Saint?

"Senior Sister Mu, I know. If I used a single-attribute Spiritual Root, I could Breakthrough to the Golden Core now, but that isn't the kind of strength I want..."

Chu Feng didn't finish his sentence, but his meaning was already very clear.

"Heehee! You have ambition! Keep it up! I'm rooting for you."

Mu Xuanyin's eyes were full of expectation. "If you Breakthrough to the Golden Core with a Five Elements Spiritual Root, you'll probably be the number one person in the Golden Core Realm, right?"

"Haha, I wouldn't dare say that."

Chu Feng was rare enough to be modest for once. "Those who have a chance to charge into the Nascent Soul Realm all have peerless combat power. Facing them, I wouldn't dare say I'd definitely win."

“Giggle, giggle, giggle...”

Mu Xuanyin covered her mouth and laughed. "I didn't expect I'd actually hear the word 'modest' from your mouth!"

"Hehe! I never underestimate others, and I never think too highly of myself," Chu Feng answered seriously.

This was what he truly thought in his heart.

Many people had misjudged him.

Chu Feng had never been the kind of arrogant and domineering person.

Every action of his was based on basic judgment; he never blindly felt that he was invincible in the world.

Of course, some risks had to be taken. In the world of cultivation, how could there be anything without risk?

It was only because his strength was too great that every time he acted, he was invincible.

He even slew Golden Core Cultivators as a lower-ranked one.

This was what made outsiders think he held himself in high regard.

In fact, Chu Feng had never changed. Many of his friends were still stuck in the Qi Refining Realm, and he still associated with them as usual, helping them whenever he could. It was just that his halo was too large—so large that people ignored that beneath this halo was a heart that had never changed.

"Well, I don't know what my elders think."

Mu Xuanyin's gaze became firm. "However, I will support you with all my might."

It was as if she saw a different Chu Feng, and her heart stirred slightly.

Even though a formal Alliance hadn't been formed yet, she still stated her attitude decisively.

"Then, thank you, Senior Sister!" Chu Feng cupped his fists.

If Mu Xuanyin had agreed, could the massive power behind her still disagree?

Every top-tier Prodigy represented the future of their respective powers.

Their words carried weight within their respective organizations; their every word and action was not said lightly.