Yue Gao seemed to have seen through his thoughts. When her gaze met Shan Mu's, she smiled faintly and nodded. "It's resolved!"

Shan Mu felt as if a bolt of lightning had streaked through his mind, leaving him momentarily stunned.

Chen Zheng paid no heed to their conversation and turned directly to Kuang Yuanyuan. "Yuan Yuan, I need your cooperation with something!"

A glint of joy flashed in Kuang Yuanyuan's eyes. "Brother Zheng, just tell me what to do!"

However, just then, Chen Zheng's brow furrowed, and everyone's expressions turned grave. A suffocating, terrifying pressure had surged above Nanhai Stockade, where two figures now appeared, soaring through the sky like divine eagles.

Among the two figures, one young man shone like a brilliant star. He had handsome features and looked to be about twenty-eight years old. Accompanying him was an elder with a full head of silver hair, his face crisscrossed with wrinkles. However, the aura emanating from the elder inspired awe, and the young man was advancing under his guidance.

"Great Elder, Yue Gao is over there! My Gu has already sensed her presence!" the young man pointed toward the Kuang Nie residence within Nanhai Stockade, his tone resolute.

The elder nodded slightly, then sped downward with the young man, arriving at the Kuang Nie family's courtyard. At the same time, the gazes of Chen Zheng and the others converged on the newcomers.

Chen Zheng's gaze was deep. He immediately recognized the elder as a Heaven Merging Realm cultivator, his attire similar to Yue Gao's. Without a doubt, they were all from the Guqing lineage.

"Great Elder!" Yue Gao stepped forward quickly, bowing respectfully with her hands clasped.

"Yue Gao, you sent a message about the Quanhuang Gu Poison outbreak. What is the situation now?" Elder Gu Qing asked.

Yue Gao paused slightly, as if organizing her thoughts, then said softly, "Respected Great Elder, Nanhai Stockade has successfully neutralized the Quanhuang Gu Poison."

"Alas… the Quanhuang Gu Poison is incurable. The people of Shanyun Village…" Elder Gu Qing sighed and shook his head, but his eyes suddenly flashed with surprise. He stared intently at Yue Gao. "Yue Gao, what did you just say? The Quanhuang Gu Poison has been neutralized?"

"Yes, it has been neutralized!" Yue Gao answered without hesitation.

"This… this… How is that possible?" Elder Gu Qing found it unbelievable. Yet, he knew Yue Gao never lied. Even so, he could not comprehend how anyone could neutralize the Quanhuang Gu Poison.

"Then… who was it?" Elder Gu Qing's voice trembled as he asked, still profoundly shocked.

"It was an outsider named Chen Zheng, the one who defeated the Red Mother!" Yue Gao said.

Elder Gu Qing's gaze shot toward Chen Zheng like a sharp sword, but Chen Zheng remained as impassive as a rock. His eyes were firm and deep, as if his gaze held only Kuang Yuanyuan and their plan, which was as simple and direct as a blade aimed straight for Shan Mu's heart.

The Toxic Scripture was not just a tome for controlling poisons; the True Qi it cultivated was infused with endless lethal toxins. Kuang Yuanyuan's body naturally contained this poison, which was kept in check by the Toxic Scripture. Once released, its power was enough to shake the heavens and the earth. Chen Zheng intended to use the Toxic Scripture to compel Shan Mu to divulge the information they wanted.

"Do you understand?" Chen Zheng asked, looking at Kuang Yuanyuan.

"I understand, Brother Zheng!" Kuang Yuanyuan nodded, her eyes glowing with determination.

"Then let the show begin," Chen Zheng's voice was as warm and bright as the morning sun.

Kuang Yuanyuan began walking toward Shan Mu and his two companions.

At this time, Elder Gu Qing's gaze swept over the crowd like a hunting falcon. "People of the Gu Chi lineage!"

When Elder Gu Qing spotted the trio, his astonishment rippled out like waves on a lake. He momentarily suppressed his shock over the Quanhuang Gu Poison's cure, because the most pressing matter was to deal with the people from the Gu Chi lineage.

Immediately, Elder Gu Qing strode into the great hall, positioning himself at its center in an instant. However, no one seemed to notice him, and nobody came over to greet him. He felt a little awkward, but given his great self-cultivation, he said nothing.

The young man, however, could not hold back. "Hey! This is Elder Gu Qing! Aren't you going to greet him?"

Kuang Nie was startled by the young man's words. He hesitated, glancing at Chen Zheng before politely saying, "Respected Great Elder, please take a seat."

The youth was astounded. Was this their attitude? Rage flared in his heart. Yet, before he could retort, the Elder spoke.

"Young man, may I take these three off your hands?" the Elder's gaze fell upon Chen Zheng.

"On what grounds?" Chen Zheng replied indifferently.

The Elder was surprised, and the youth immediately grew angry. The Great Elder is a powerhouse in the Heaven Merging Realm! He's just taking a few people, does he really need to grovel? What infuriates me is that this fellow actually has the gall to question him! Who gave him that right?

"The Elder's command is a decree! You need only obey, what's with all the talk!" the youth shouted.

Chen Zheng's gaze was like ice as he stared directly at the youth. Are all these people from the Guqing lineage such arrogant, brainless fools?

*Ding! Congratulations to the host for successfully triggering a choice mission.*

*Choice One: Hand over Shan Mu and his companions to receive the following reward: +20 favorability with the Guqing lineage.*

*Choice Two: Refuse and receive the following reward: Upgrade Seal Ice.*

Hearing this, Chen Zheng immediately chose the second option.

In the very next instant…

BOOM!

Chen Zheng's aura erupted like a violent storm. In the blink of an eye, the entire hall was enveloped by an indescribable oppressive force, as if the very air had solidified.

"Ah!" The youth's eyes widened in terror. He felt as if a mountain was pressing down on his shoulders, rendering him immovable. His body slammed to the ground, and he knelt there, his face as pale as paper.

"A Heaven Merging Realm cultivator!" The Elder was shocked. That aura… if I'm not mistaken, that is definitely the aura of the Heaven Merging Realm! He was so awestruck by such a young master of this realm that he forgot to intervene and rescue the youth.

"Do you want to die?" Chen Zheng's cold voice sounded, like the whisper of the Grim Reaper.

In that instant, the youth felt as if he had plummeted into an endless, dark abyss. Cold sweat poured down his forehead and back like a waterfall. However, at the critical moment between life and death, the Elder regained his senses. His aura erupted like a volcano as a white shadow broke free from its restraints, standing proudly before him. The appearance of the white shadow instantly dispersed the heavy pressure on the youth. He let out a long breath, stood up, and looked at Chen Zheng in fear.

*Ding! Congratulations to the host for successfully completing the mission. You have received the following reward: Upgrade Seal Ice.*

*Ding! Congratulations to the host for acquiring Frost Cold for Miles.*

A massive amount of information flooded his mind, and Chen Zheng now knew everything about *Frost Cold for Miles* as if it were the back of his hand.

"Young friend, cough, cough, this is all a misunderstanding!" the Elder shouted, struggling to resist Chen Zheng's aura.

Chen Zheng glanced indifferently at the Elder, retracted his aura, and turned his gaze to Kuang Yuanyuan. "Begin, Yuan Yuan." His voice was like the stars in the night sky, profound and resolute, his gaze like the dawn's first light as it fixed on Shan Mu.

"Alright, Brother Zheng!" Kuang Yuanyuan's voice was like a clear mountain stream. Her steps were as light and elegant as falling cherry blossoms. Then, her fingers, like the catkins of spring, gently touched Shan Mu's body. A surge of True Qi, as gentle as a spring breeze on a lake, flowed into him.

"What are you doing?" Shan Mu's voice was as low and confused as rustling autumn leaves.

"Nothing much," Kuang Yuanyuan's voice was as succinct and steadfast as the summer cicadas' hum.

In a flash, a tremendous amount of True Qi, like swirling winter snowflakes, poured into Shan Mu's body.

"AH!"

Shan Mu's shriek was like a heart-shaking crack of spring thunder. Everyone was startled, but Kuang Yuanyuan remained as steady as the turning of the seasons, continuously channeling her True Qi.

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