mtl008 Chapter 410 Snake Gallbladder Infused Wine
Chapter 410 Snake Gallbladder Infused Wine
Under the inspiring light of the demon race, no demon was afraid of death. They lined up, and whoever's turn it was, they went to the battlefield to die.
The sun rose, but the battle continued. Zheng Qian didn't let anyone take his place; he fought silently, killing one by one as they came.
A long, resonant bell rang out above the Huaxu Cliff Fortress, echoing through the air.
Lie Yi raised his head, his eyes bloodshot, his heart filled with endless sorrow. Almost all the demon-transforming realm prodigies from Youfeng Rift Valley had arrived, and unsurprisingly, they were all killed by Zheng Qian.
Before reinforcements from the demon realm arrived, the battlefield of the Demon Transformation Realm in the Ghost Wind Rift Valley was dominated by the human race, and the three-race alliance could only take the beating.
Da da da……
The sound of iron hooves pounding the ground, like the beating of war drums, thundered behind the allied forces of the three races. Each heavy blow struck precisely the rhythm of the heartbeat of every demon warrior; it was not merely a tremor in the ground, but a shock to the very soul. The demon warriors' hearts involuntarily quickened, a mixture of awe and unease emanating from the depths of their blood. They quickly parted to the sides, clearing a wide path for the approaching being.
At this extremely tense moment, Lie Long, a powerful warrior from the Flame Leopard Clan's Zen Demon Realm, stepped forward fully armed. He wore gleaming golden armor, held a sharp spear, and his eyes revealed fearlessness and determination. As the leader of the Flame Leopard Clan's early Zen Demon Realm, he deeply understood the importance of this battle and the responsibility he bore.
Meanwhile, the elites of the Yuren and Youying Snake tribes followed closely behind, equally well-equipped and in high spirits. The three-tribe allied forces, led by Lielong, faced a formidable opponent they both feared and yearned to challenge—Zheng Qian.
The three-ethnic coalition assembled this time precisely to challenge Zheng Qian, end his gate-blocking battle, and ultimately, his life.
"You are very strong!" Lie Long's voice was deep and magnetic, with a strong penetrating power, and he said with no attempt to hide his killing intent: "After a hundred years, the gate-blocking battle has once again taken place in Youfeng Rift Valley. And you are different. You fought your way up to Huaxu Cliff alone and completed the gate-blocking battle all by yourself. I know that even without your two companions, you could have fought this far. You are a worthy opponent."
"But, when you encounter me, Lielong, you will only be a stepping stone." Lielong proudly raised his head. He had only one mission: to defeat Zheng Qian and do everything in his power to kill him.
Zheng Qian gave a noncommittal sneer and asked, "What realm are you in?"
"Early stage of the Zen Demon Realm, the Zen Enlightenment Realm of the Demon Heart."
As soon as Lie Long finished speaking, Zhao Minghang clenched his fists, unable to contain his excitement, and roared, "Long live the human race!"
"Long live humanity!" the human geniuses roared, equally excited.
The ringing of the bell signifies that the gate-blocking period has reached twenty-four hours. The appearance of a demonic prodigy at the early stage of the Zen Demon Realm indicates that the demon race acknowledges that the gate-blocking battle has lasted for one day, and they will send a demonic prodigy of a higher realm to defend the gate.
The rules for the gate-blocking battle are as follows: on the first day, it is a battle between prodigies of the same realm; on the second and third days, it is a battle between prodigies of one realm higher; on the fourth to sixth days, it is a battle between prodigies of two realms higher; and on the seventh and ninth days, it is a battle between prodigies of one realm higher.
Zheng Qian is now in the late stage of the Dragon Shaping Realm and the Dragon Transformation Realm. After successfully blocking the gate for a day, he was no longer fighting against a monster in the Demon Transformation Realm, but against a monster in the early stage of the Zen Demon Realm.
The prodigies of the Heavenly Vein Sect remained silent. They had lost a brother, and unlike the geniuses of the Dawn Barrier, they were not excited, but filled with endless heartache and sorrow.
Zheng Qian's eyes burned with raging fury, his grief and indignation overflowing. He gripped his longsword tightly, its tip pointing directly at the majestic dragon before him, his voice hoarse yet resolute: "So what if he's from the Zen Demon Realm? He'll still die by my sword! I will use this slaughter to console Xiong Haichang's spirit in heaven!"
Upon hearing this, Lie Long's lips curled into a cold smile, his voice as cold as frost: "Hmph, you are quite capable in combat, I admit that. However, what you are about to face is a Demon Heart Zen Enlightenment Realm cultivator at the early stage of the Zen Demon Realm. There is only one outcome for you: death."
"Enough with the nonsense. If you've got the guts, go to the battlefield and settle this once and for all." Zheng Qian looked at Lie Long. He had never fought against a prodigy from the Zen Demon Realm before and was eager to test his own combat prowess.
"Heh, you're not worthy to challenge me." Lie Long sneered. He was the great demon's own son and held a noble position in the clan. He could do the showing off, but the fighting and killing were left to others.
Before Lie Long could finish speaking, a powerful demonic aura erupted from behind him, sweeping over like a storm. A demon warrior dressed in black robes with a ferocious face emerged from the shadows, his eyes gleaming with bloodlust. He was clearly a henchman carefully chosen by Lie Long, sent specifically for this decisive battle.
"Hmph, why would I need to personally deal with an ant like you?" Lie Long stood leisurely to the side, his hands behind his back, adopting a superior posture.
"He alone is enough to show you what true despair is."
Zheng Qian's eyes narrowed slightly, his fighting spirit intensifying. The black-robed figure exuded a demonic aura; he had transformed into a human, and Zheng Qian still didn't know his race or his attack methods.
The Zen Demon Realm possesses the ability to transform into humans.
"Come on, no matter who you are, I will surely kill you with my sword!" Zheng Qian's body trembled, and spiritual energy surged around him, forming a faint protective shield. In order to test the combat power of the early-stage Zen Demon Realm prodigy, he decided to adopt a defensive strategy.
The man in black robes slightly raised his hand, his fingertips lightly tapping, and a ghostly green light streaked through the air, like a venomous snake flicking its tongue, sending chills down one's spine. His deep, hoarse voice echoed in the air: "Insects, prepare for your doom."
The battle was about to erupt. The black-robed man moved like a ghost, appearing instantly in front of Zheng Qian. He swung out a claw, accompanied by a sharp, demonic wind. Zheng Qian dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding the attack. At the same time, he swung his sword backhand, the sword light as sharp as a dragon, aiming straight for the black-robed man's heart. The black-robed man snorted coldly, his figure blurring again, easily avoiding Zheng Qian's counterattack.
"Interesting, but this is just the beginning." The black-robed man's voice carried a hint of amusement, as if he were toying with Zheng Qian like a cat playing with a mouse.
"The Shadow Serpent Clan is a clan that can't stand the light of day. Although their venom is potent, they dare not engage in close combat. The entire clan is cowardly, selfish, and greedy." Li Ming's voice suddenly rang out, filled with disdain for the Shadow Serpent Clan.
Zheng Qian immediately understood that Li Ming was reminding him that the black-robed man was from the Shadow Serpent Clan, whose venom was extremely potent, but whose body was fragile and whose defenses were weak.
Li Ming was a True Core Realm expert, two whole realms above Zheng Qian and one whole realm above the Black Robe, so he could naturally tell at a glance what race the Black Robe was.
The leap from the Demon Transformation Realm to the Zen Demon Realm is a qualitative breakthrough, not only transforming spiritual energy into spiritual power but also granting the ability to transform. That's why Li Ming reminded Zheng Qian, fearing that Zheng Qian might suffer at the hands of the black-robed figure.
Zheng Qian calmed himself down and carefully observed the black-robed man's movements and attacks, searching for his weaknesses. However, the black-robed man's speed and agility were too unpredictable; each attack was as elusive as a ghost.
As time passed, fine cracks began to appear on Zheng Qian's protective aura. The black-robed man's power wasn't particularly strong, but his spiritual energy carried poisonous gas, which corroded Zheng Qian's protective aura, causing the cracks to appear.
"The Zen Demon Realm is nothing more than this!" Zheng Qian shouted, his spiritual energy instantly surging, and a powerful aura emanated from him. He leaped up like an arrow, rushing towards the black-robed man, his longsword flashing, the sword light weaving together to form a dense net of swords.
"Hmph, you ant, your struggle is futile." The black-robed man sneered as he saw this. His figure blurred again, easily passing through Zheng Qian's sword net, and at the same time, he swung his claw straight for Zheng Qian's heart. Zheng Qian dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding the attack, but the black-robed man's claw left a deep scratch on his protective aura.
Zheng Qian hadn't used any sword techniques. His spiritual energy shield was a move from "Cang Qiong Bian". The black-robed man was the first Zen Demon Realm cultivator he encountered, and also the one he was trying to probe.
"Zheng Qian, come on!" Ma Haoli shouted, feeling extremely anxious as he saw Zheng Qian constantly at a disadvantage.
“The spiritual energy of the Zen Demon Realm is transformed into spiritual power. Zheng Qian may seem to be only one small realm lower, but he is actually at a huge disadvantage.” Lei Ruichen also sighed. Zheng Qian has been fighting since yesterday. Although he looks like he has a lot of spiritual energy, blood energy and physical strength, he is actually exhausted.
After Zheng Qian slew the three demonic races and recovered his strength, he did not fully reveal that it was the mysterious liquid that restored him. He would take the medicine every once in a while, so that people could not tell that he recovered his energy and spirit because of the mysterious liquid, but rather that he relied on taking medicine to support the battle.
Li Zun and Feng Ying watched the battle calmly. They were geniuses among geniuses, far more powerful than Ma Haoli and Lei Ruichen, so they could naturally see that Zheng Qian was sensing the difference between the Zen Demon Realm and the Transformation Demon Realm.
Knowing yourself and your enemy is the key to victory in every battle. Every prodigy understands this principle. If Li Zun and Feng Ying were on the field, they would also be cautious in the first battle and keep fighting to adapt to the battle against the prodigies of the Zen Demon Realm as soon as possible.
After offering a reminder, Li Ming remained silent. He had only spoken out of concern that Zheng Qian might be harmed by the black-robed figure's poison. Judging solely by their fighting prowess, he could tell at a glance that Zheng Qian was a formidable opponent.
Zheng Qian's expression turned solemn. He had already grasped the difference between spiritual energy and spiritual power. Spiritual energy condensed into liquid, forming liquid spiritual power, which was extremely concentrated. Every attack with spiritual power was sharper than an attack with spiritual energy, and its destructive power was far more profound. He focused his mind even more intently, observing the black-robed man's every move.
Regardless of the creature, every attack has a recovery animation, a brief pause between exerting and retracting force, and the Zen Demon Realm is no exception. He suddenly noticed that the black-robed man paused briefly after each attack. Although this pause was extremely subtle, it presented Zheng Qian with an excellent opportunity.
"Die!" Zheng Qian roared, his figure leaping up like lightning. The Dragon Scale Void-Piercing Sword transformed into a dazzling sword light, piercing straight into the heart of the black-robed man.
The man in black robes clearly hadn't expected Zheng Qian's sudden attack. He was caught in the moment between exerting and retracting his strength, and his body faltered, failing to dodge the blow in time. The sword's edge flashed like lightning, instantly piercing through his black robes and penetrating his chest.
The man in black robes stared wide-eyed, filled with resentment and astonishment. He never imagined that he would be defeated by a human who seemed like an ant.
"The Zen Demon Realm is nothing more than this." Zheng Qian stirred the Dragon Scale Void-Breaking Sword, and a large hole was directly torn open in the chest of the black-robed man, from which blood flowed freely.
Zheng Qian sheathed his sword and stood there, his gaze cold and resolute. He looked at the leisurely Lie Long beside him and said with disdain, "Your lackey has been defeated. Now, it's your turn."
Lie Long's expression changed slightly; he clearly hadn't expected Zheng Qian to be able to injure the black-robed man. But he quickly regained his composure, a cold smile playing on his lips: "Hmph, interesting. But you think you've already won? How laughable."
As soon as he finished speaking, the black-robed man lying on the ground transformed into a snake. He seemed to be a terrifying creature from the abyss, hundreds of feet long, his scales shimmering with black light, like obsidian in the starry sky. His eyes were like gates to the abyss, devouring all the light around him, and each breath was accompanied by a thunderous roar that shook the earth.
"For allowing my black robe to reveal its true form, you will die with honor." The black robe stood with a huge snake head, and a bowl-sized blood hole pierced through its body, dripping with blood.
"Your snake gall is mine." Zheng Qian let out a clear whistle, his figure bursting forth like an arrow released from a bow, aiming straight for the Shadow Serpent's vital spot. The Dragon Scale Void-Piercing Sword drew a dazzling trajectory in the air, and wherever the sword tip passed, space seemed to be split in two, revealing fine cracks.
However, the Shadow Serpent was no pushover. It twisted its body and dodged the attack at an incredible angle. At the same time, its tail, like a whip, lashed out at Zheng Qian with a whistling sound.
Zheng Qian moved with the agility of a leaf in the wind, easily dodging the fatal blow. He then used the momentum to his advantage, and his sword flashed again.
"Dazzling Sword!" Zheng Qian roared. He didn't use the Devouring Heaven Sword Technique, but instead used the most basic heavy sword technique, the Dazzling Sword.
The first sword strike was a fierce slash, followed by five heavy slashes, and finally a dazzling burst of energy, aimed at the black-robed man's vital point.
The battle intensified. The black-robed figure, unwilling to back down, launched a final counterattack, spewing out thick black mist in an attempt to shroud the battlefield in poison and confuse the enemy.
But Zheng Qian was prepared. He closed his eyes and concentrated, and rings of blood-red light surrounded him—a natural defense formed by the boiling blood energy within his body. The mist that touched the light was instantly evaporated, unable to get close.
Fan Shuangqiang gave Zheng Qian only one page of the "Compilation of Poison Classics," and that page contained the complete chapter on the origins of poison. Zheng Qian was always wary of dangers such as poisoning and assassination, so he studied the chapter on the origins of poison in depth. His ability to transform spiritual energy into poison was not weak, and he was not afraid of the black-robed man's deadly poison at all.
The battle had progressed to this point not because Zheng Qian was unable to kill the black-robed figure, but because he was trying to gauge just how powerful the monstrous geniuses of the Zen Demon Realm truly were.
Zheng Qian's size increased dramatically, like a real dragon descending. The Dragon Scale Void-Piercing Sword shone with unprecedented light in his hand, and with a single swing, it pierced straight through the heart of the Shadow Serpent.
"Hiss..." With a shrill roar, the massive body in the black robe finally collapsed to the ground, the light in its eyes gradually dimming.
Clang. Zheng Qian sheathed his sword, stepped forward slowly, and retrieved the snake gall containing supreme spiritual power from the cold corpse of the Shadow Serpent. This snake gall was crystal clear, emitting a faint blue light. It was a treasure coveted by countless martial artists, capable of greatly enhancing cultivation and possibly even helping people break through bottlenecks.
Zheng Qian took out a bottle from his spatial ring, threw the snake gall into it, and grinned at Lie Long.
"Snake gallbladder soaked in wine is very nourishing."