Chapter 178 Poisonous Mosquito Attack

The poison orchid is the core material for refining the Breaking Evil Pill; a single mature poison orchid can be worth several million federal currency.

This sea of flowers before them had at least several hundred plants, making its value practically immeasurable.

"Young Miss, let's start harvesting quickly!" Several subordinates couldn't suppress their excitement, bringing out specially-made jade boxes and preparing to step forward to harvest.

Uncle Fu reminded them, "The pollen of the poison orchid is also highly toxic. Be very careful when harvesting; do not touch the petals. Use the jade boxes to collect them directly. Also, it's getting late. The harvest must be completed before nightfall, otherwise, the miasma will become even thicker, and it will be dangerous then."

"I understand, Uncle Fu." Xiao Ya nodded. She was the first to take out a jade box, carefully reaching toward a poison orchid.

Her movements were gentle, with Origin Power enveloping the jade box to avoid direct contact with the petals.

The others followed suit, harvesting with great care.

Just then, several muffled thuds rang out, and over a dozen black water snakes as thick as buckets suddenly lunged out from the swamp's mud!

These water snakes were pitch black all over, their scales shimmering with a ghostly green luster. A sharp poisonous spike grew from the top of their heads—these were 6th-rank mutated beasts, Netherworld Water Snakes!

"Careful!"

A Martial Artist cried out in alarm, but because he was holding a poison orchid, he couldn't strike.

The Netherworld Water Snake was extremely fast and highly venomous; it snapped at the Martial Artist in an instant.

Just as he was about to be hit, a red blade glow flashed.

The Netherworld Water Snake's massive body was instantly severed into two.

The one who struck was, naturally, Chu Han.

Out of everyone present, he was the only one who reacted the fastest.

"Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh..."

Chu Han's figure was like lightning as he rushed beneath several water snakes. He swung his Battle Saber again, and with just one strike, over a dozen Netherworld Water Snakes perished under his blade!

"What incredible speed!"

Xiao Ya exclaimed.

She hadn't expected Chu Han's strikes to be so sharp. The fiercely aggressive Netherworld Water Snakes were as vulnerable as ants before Chu Han.

But then, even more Netherworld Water Snakes lunged out from the mud—at least a hundred of them—surrounding the group.

"Seeking death!"

A sharp glint flashed in Li Tian's eyes. With a shake of his long spear, he instantly pierced through the heads of two Netherworld Water Snakes.

Uncle Fu's expression darkened. Origin Power erupted from his body as he struck out with pale gray palm prints one after another, each strike killing several Netherworld Water Snakes.

Chu Han, meanwhile, moved through the snake swarm as if taking a leisurely stroll. Blade light flickered continuously, and every swing of his saber took the lives of several Netherworld Water Snakes.

Soon, the three of them had the situation under control. All the Netherworld Water Snakes were slaughtered, their black carcasses covering the mud's surface and emitting a pungent, fishy stench.

This sudden battle was entirely dependent on Chu Han's quick reactions, which prevented any casualties.

Furthermore, Chu Han was the one who had killed the most Netherworld Water Snakes.

Uncle Fu nodded to him, his eyes filled with approval.

Li Tian's expression, however, grew even gloomier. He hadn't expected Chu Han's normal combat strength to be so high, making his previous provocations seem like those of a clown.

Chu Han gave a faint nod without saying much. He turned and retreated to the side, continuing to observe the surrounding environment.

The group didn't dare delay and hurried to speed up the harvesting of the poison orchids.

After the battle just now, other mutated beasts in the Netherworld Miasma Valley didn't dare approach easily, and the harvesting process became much smoother.

Time passed bit by bit.

Just as the group had harvested most of the poison orchids and were secretly feeling relieved, the already thick miasma in the air began to gather frantically as if pulled by some force, its density increasing several-fold in an instant!

"Not good!" Uncle Fu's expression changed drastically. He snapped his head up to look around, his eyes full of shock and gravity.

"This isn't a normal change in the miasma! Why would the miasma in the Netherworld Miasma Valley suddenly become so dense?"

"Uncle Fu, what's happening?" Xiao Ya also noticed something was wrong. She stopped what she was doing, her pretty face tense.

"I don't know, but there's definitely a problem!"

"Young Miss, have everyone stop harvesting and leave here immediately!"

Uncle Fu shouted anxiously.

Seeing this, Xiao Ya quickly called out, "Everyone stop, pack up, and prepare to evacuate!"

Everyone stopped immediately, preparing to leave.

But one of the 6th-rank Martial Artists was just about to finish harvesting a poison orchid, and his movements were a beat too slow.

Suddenly, the petals of the poison orchid in front of that Martial Artist bloomed instantly, and a cloud of pale blue pollen surged toward him like smoke!

This pollen was extremely bizarre; it actually penetrated the special gas mask on his face and entered his nose and mouth!

"Ah!"

A scream rang out instantly. The Martial Artist's body stiffened at a visible rate, his skin quickly turning a greenish-black. Black blood flowed from his seven orifices, and his eyes were filled with fear and resentment.

In just an instant, he fell straight into the mud, completely devoid of life.

"How can the poison orchid's pollen be this toxic?" a Martial Artist cried out in shock, his face full of terror.

Xiao Ya and Uncle Fu's expressions also became incredibly grave. They never expected that the poison orchid's pollen could actually penetrate their special gas masks.

"Run! The mutation of the miasma has caused the poison orchid's toxicity to increase greatly!"

Uncle Fu shouted loudly, leading Xiao Ya toward the valley's exit. "If we don't leave now, we'll all die here!"

Chu Han looked at the blooming poison orchid, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

He could feel that the poison orchid's pollen contained an extremely bizarre toxin.

"Interesting," Chu Han whispered. His figure blurred as he followed them.

Surrounded by miasma and pollen, the group fled frantically toward the valley's exit.

"Buzz, buzz!"

Suddenly, a piercing buzzing sound rang out ahead.

The group had only fled a few kilometers when a swarm of black insects emerged from the miasma ahead, with dense clouds of mosquitoes blanketing the sky.

Each of these insects was the size of a palm, pitch black all over, with needle-sharp mouthparts. Their sound could even affect a Martial Artist's Mental Energy.

"It's the Essence-Devouring Poison Mosquitoes! Why would they appear in the Netherworld Miasma Valley?" Uncle Fu's face changed abruptly, his eyes full of disbelief.

"This kind of poison mosquito only stays in the Rotting Blood Pool at the core of the Poisonous Swamp, feeding on a Martial Artist's Origin Power and essence blood. Why would they suddenly appear here?"

Not only were the Essence-Devouring Poison Mosquitoes highly venomous, but they could also absorb a Martial Artist's Origin Power. Ordinary attacks hitting them were not only difficult to kill but would instead have their Origin Power drained, making the mosquitoes even more ferocious.

Their sudden appearance here was extremely abnormal!

Upon seeing humans like Chu Han, these poison mosquitoes were like sharks smelling blood, frantically lunging toward the group.

A 6th-rank Martial Artist swung his saber, the blade light hitting several poison mosquitoes, but he failed to kill them. Instead, the mosquitoes absorbed the Origin Power from the blade, and their bodies even grew slightly larger.

"How can this be?"

Suddenly, several poison mosquitoes bit that Martial Artist's arm, their sharp mouthparts instantly piercing his skin.

The Martial Artist screamed as the Origin Power in his arm was sucked away like a tide. His skin quickly shriveled, and the toxin spread through his blood, turning his face a dark blue.

"Swish!"

Uncle Fu raised his hand and used a hand-blade to sever the Martial Artist's arm, saving his life.

"Martial Artists below the 7th rank, do not attack! Let us handle them!"

Uncle Fu moved quickly, repelling the poison mosquitoes.

Xiao Ya swung her sword, releasing several flashes of sword light to kill the approaching poison mosquitoes.

But there were too many poison mosquitoes, and her attacks couldn't spread outward. As soon as her Origin Power was released, it was targeted by dozens or even hundreds of poison mosquitoes, which absorbed it frantically.

Li Tian was in an even more pathetic state. As soon as he thrust his long spear, most of the spear glow was sucked away by the poison mosquitoes, its power drastically reduced.

Several poison mosquitoes took the opportunity to bite his shoulder, making him cry out in pain. He hurriedly circulated his Origin Power to force out the toxin, his face turning various shades of blue and white.

Suddenly, the situation became extremely grim.