219: Killing the Red Snake Taoist

"A single Sinister Owl Inner Core... how could that be enough? Why don't you all become the nourishment for my Breakthrough to the Late Stage? Wouldn't that be wonderful..."

Crimson Serpent Daoist spit out the pinkish-white tongue from his mouth, his snake eyes cold and chilling.

"Villain!"

"You ungrateful worm!"

Several people cursed angrily, but their bodies were weak and soft, and the Dharma power within them, which they usually commanded like an arm, became sluggish and dim.

Beside them, Gu Changsheng's face twitched slightly, but his expression remained as calm as an ancient well.

'So this is the scene playing out...'

Upon inner inspection, strands of black and red poison spread within his body, polluting his Dharma power like venomous snakes, yet only occupying a small corner.

This was because Gu Changsheng's Dharma power was simply too abundant, ten times that of his peers, and coupled with his astonishing Body Refining strength, his resistance to poison was extremely high.

The poison, capable of contaminating all the Dharma power of a Profound Cave Middle Stage cultivator, only affected less than twenty percent of his Dharma power.

Hiss hiss—

Demonic patterns appeared on Crimson Serpent Daoist's face, his snake eyes locking onto Gu Changsheng.

Gu Changsheng's sharp sword art earlier had left a deep impression on him.

He had been placed on the kill list early on.

"Let's start with you..."

Scales emerged inch by inch, and his head suddenly mutated into a terrifying Crimson Serpent, opening its chilling maw, its fangs glinting with a cold light as it swallowed him whole.

'Am I being treated as a soft persimmon...'

Seeing the Crimson Serpent attack, Gu Changsheng's blood Qi surged, compressing the contaminated Dharma power into a corner, his five fingers gradually turning a bronze-jade color.

Slap!

He slapped out with a palm, and the powerful force struck the Crimson Serpent's head, instantly sending the several-hundred-zhang-long serpent flying several hundred zhang away, slamming heavily into the wall.

In an instant, everyone was dumbfounded.

"Daoist Li... this Body Refining strength..."

"Such astonishing power!"

Peach Blossom Fairy and the others gasped in amazement.

All this time, Gu Changsheng had always used Sword Cultivator techniques in battle and had never displayed his Body Refining cultivation. Who would have thought it was no less impressive than his sharp sword art?

The Crimson Serpent shook its head, dispelling the dizziness, and suddenly, a green-robed figure was reflected in its snake eyes, rapidly flying towards it.

"Damn it!"

Just as the Crimson Serpent was about to shift, a purple light shot out from Gu Changsheng's eyes.

The Dream Domain Law Realm opened, and immediately, the giant snake's eyes became blank and lifeless.

Tear—

Five claws gleamed with lightning, tearing through the Void Realm.

Supreme Bone Innate Divine Ability — Five Thunder Shocking Extremity Claw!

Accompanied by a strong smell of char, the huge snake body was torn into five segments, its ferocious snake head still baring its fangs, twisting and writhing madly.

After a long while, its snake eyes gradually turned gray, completely dead.

Gu Changsheng's claw tore open the snake's belly, extracting a fist-sized, jade-green snake gall.

Snake-type demonic beasts, unlike others, store most of their essence in their gallbladders. Consuming it can increase Dharma power and detoxify all poisons.

After a few sniffs, the red and black toxins in his body quickly dissipated, and his Dharma power circulated, once again becoming perfectly smooth.

"These fangs aren't bad either... they could be refined into a Spirit Treasure dagger..."

Gu Changsheng used the longquan sword to pry off a three-foot-long, bone-white poisonous fang, then extracted the venom gland behind the tongue.

Upon fanning it, a familiar scent wafted over him.

It was precisely the red and black poison.

In the distance, several people were already stunned.

"Daoist Li, in just one move..."

Alcoholic Hero and the others suddenly realized something.

Since the opponent could kill Crimson Serpent Daoist in one move, didn't that mean dealing with them would also require little effort?

Moreover... they were still afflicted with severe poison, and their Dharma power was sluggish.

Inevitably, worried expressions appeared on their faces, and they frantically swallowed various Spirit Pills to suppress the toxins in their bodies.

A shadow extended towards them. Gu Changsheng, having finished dissecting the Crimson Serpent, gradually approached.

With each step he took, everyone's heartstrings trembled.

"This Crimson Serpent and everything besides the Sinister Owl Inner Core belong to me. Everyone, surely you have no objections, right...?" Gu Changsheng smiled slightly, his pearly white teeth appearing particularly eerie under the dim light.

"Daoist Li, your Dao methods are profound, and you even eliminated this demonic beast, Crimson Serpent. We are eternally grateful, how could we have any objections?"

"That's right."

"It should be so."

Several people secretly circulated their Dharma power, clutching their respective Spirit Treasures, their foreheads unknowingly covered in sweat.

"Oh, that's good then..."

Gu Changsheng's words carried no emotion whatsoever.

Whoosh—

A green light suddenly swept past the group, and a strong, foul smell assailed them, startling Alcoholic Hero into quickly getting up to avoid it. Yet, he felt strength gradually returning to his limbs, and the Dharma power in his body began to circulate on its own.

Upon inner inspection, the red and black poison, which had been like maggots on a bone, dissipated like snow meeting spring sunshine.

"This is... the essence of Crimson Serpent's gall..."

Everyone looked towards Gu Changsheng.

They hadn't expected him to actually help them remove the toxins from their bodies.

Gu Changsheng, however, looked innocent: "Why do you all have such expressions? Could it be that you have objections to the previous distribution?"

The group quickly waved their hands.

"Haha, I, Li, wasn't prepared with the Materials to refine a Breakthrough Pill, so I'm indebted to Fellow Daoist for gathering a portion..."

How could he not understand their thoughts? It was just that they had an unspoken understanding and chose not to expose it.

Alcoholic Hero was a local figure in Nirvana City's underground market, with good connections and well-informed.

Peach Blossom Fairy was suspected to be a descendant of the Spirit Flower lineage.

Keeping them alive was more useful than killing them for their treasures.

Most importantly, while they appeared to be of the same rank, in Gu Changsheng's eyes, they were just a few struggling individuals; even all of them combined wouldn't be as wealthy as a single Profound Cave Late Stage Great Saint.

A moment later.

Sword Qi carved out an Immortal Cave in the mountain.

A bronze cauldron flew in the air, purple flames surged, and a rich medicinal fragrance emanated from the cauldron.

Gu Changsheng's hands danced like butterflies, countless intricate spell seals flying out and merging into the alchemical cauldron.

In the distance, Lotus Fairy was already mesmerized, looking at Peach Blossom Fairy beside her and teasing, "No wonder, Sister, you are so smitten with this man.

Such Heart-Nature, character, and methods... tsk tsk, truly a good match."

Upon hearing this, Peach Blossom Fairy's face flushed with shyness, then the light in her eyes dimmed.

If... that day she had chosen to stay and fight alongside him, perhaps the situation today would be very different.

Alas, there is no medicine for regret in this world.

At this moment, a muffled sound came from within the cauldron, and the medicinal fragrance became intensely rich.

"The pill is complete!"

"What a rich medicinal fragrance, the Breakthrough Pill refined must be of extraordinary quality."

The group quickly snapped back to attention and went forward to greet him.

Gu Changsheng lifted the lid of the cauldron, and seven snow-white pills the size of Dragon Eyes rested at the bottom.

Nine pill patterns encircled them, and just inhaling a wisp of the pill's Qi caused a slight ripple in the Bottleneck within their bodies, like a great dam.

"Supreme-grade Breakthrough Pill!"

Lotus Fairy exclaimed.

The higher the quality of a Breakthrough Pill, the better its Breakthrough effect.

With a Supreme-grade Breakthrough Pill, after consuming it, anyone at the Profound Cave Late Stage Bottleneck, as long as their Aptitude isn't too poor, can almost certainly achieve a Breakthrough.

Alcoholic Hero nodded, stating solemnly, "Daoist Li exerted himself to slay the Sinister Owl and Crimson Serpent, and now he has refined Breakthrough Pills... his contributions far surpass ours.

The previous distribution plan should indeed be changed..."

"The three of us will only take one pill, and the rest will all belong to Fellow Daoist, how about that?"

As soon as these words were spoken, Peach Blossom Fairy and Lotus Fairy also lightly nodded their heads, their gazes allowing no room for Gu Changsheng's questioning.

'This person is quite sensible and discerning...' Gu Changsheng smiled slightly, cupped his fists, and said, "I, Li, shall not decline then."

With a pull of his palm, the seven pills flew into his hand, and he distributed them one by one to the three.

"Thank you, Daoist Li." Alcoholic Hero bowed gracefully and said, "With Fellow Daoist's Foundation, when the True Devil Pool opens in sixty years, there's a great chance you'll obtain some True Devil Qi."

'True Devil Pool... in sixty years...' Gu Changsheng secretly noted it in his heart.

The others left one by one, and Peach Blossom Fairy was the last.

A hint of guilt on her face, she approached Gu Changsheng and pulled out a pink petal, clear as jade, from her embrace.

"Fairy, this is..."

"This is a petal from my Peach Blossom's Natal Dual Cultivation, it has the effect of nourishing Origin Qi and calming the Heart-Nature.

It also carries a kind of hope... for safety..."

Her soft, warm hand withdrew, and by the time Gu Changsheng came to his senses, the pink figure had already vanished from his sight.

Gu Changsheng let out a wry smile: "This woman is quite interesting..."

In the depths of the Void Realm, a figure in a green dress suddenly appeared beside Peach Blossom Fairy.

"Sister, since you had this intention, why didn't you speak directly? Why be so coy?"

Lotus Fairy said.

"Alas, you don't understand. If you miss it, it's missed..."

Peach Blossom Fairy gave a self-deprecating smile, then departed.