The Poisonous Hand of Annihilation

Upon making his move, he immediately found himself at a disadvantage.

After unleashing that strike, Nan Xuanjin soared into the air, golden streams of light illuminating his hands.

“Flowing Light Transforms into Sword Rain, Golden Haze Binds Heaven and Earth.”

He first conjured countless golden flying swords, unleashing a barrage into the poisonous mist ahead. Simultaneously, he manifested another spell, weaving golden chains that plunged deep into the mist, searching for Yan Yun.

Even Yan Yun found this move difficult to counter with ease; she was forced to escape the poisonous mist barrier, evading both assaults. While the golden sword rain was manageable, the relentless pursuit of the chains proved particularly irksome.

“Corrosive Poison.”

After a few evasive maneuvers, Yan Yun spun and swept her hand, unleashing streams of purple venom that struck the chains, dissolving them instantly.

Such direct toxic attacks, expelled from the body itself, possessed far greater lethality than mere poison energy.

However, Nan Xuanjin had never intended for this move to capture Yan Yun; his sole purpose was to force her out of the poisonous mist.

“Young lady, this must be a poison cultivation technique, wouldn’t you agree?” Nan Xuanjin inquired, discerning the nature of Yan Yun’s abilities. “I’ve heard that a millennium ago, the successor to the infamous Heavenly Poison Maiden appeared, even publicizing the Heavenly Poison Sutra, allowing everyone in Jiang Country to cultivate it. Our Ji Country also acquired and studied this sutra. I wonder if you have any connection to that successor?”

Yet, his assault did not cease. Immediately after speaking, he conjured a massive golden hand from shimmering light, lunging towards Yan Yun’s position.

While a Cavern Heaven Realm Great Perfection cultivator’s combat prowess could rival a Spirit Transformation Realm Great Accomplishment expert, this applied only to offense; their defensive capabilities were undoubtedly inferior to a Spirit Transformation Realm Great Perfection.

Observing the enormous golden hand reaching for her, Yan Yun swiftly retaliated with a poison spell.

“Poison Dragon Drill: Shatter!”

The purple drill struck the palm of the colossal hand, spinning with furious speed, instantly piercing through it.

On his end, Nan Xuanjin felt a sharp pain in his palm, forcing him to retract his hand.

“Hehe, I didn’t realize I was so renowned already?” Yan Yun chuckled, admitting her identity without the slightest hesitation. “Indeed, I am the successor of the Heavenly Poison Maiden, Yan Yun.”

Only after confirming Yan Yun’s identity did Nan Xuanjin appear to grasp the situation fully.

“No wonder your cultivation technique is so formidable,” he mused. “To think you are the successor of the Heavenly Poison Maiden from a thousand years ago. In that case, even if I lose, I shall have no regrets.”

Nan Xuanjin let out a hearty laugh.

Outside, upon learning Yan Yun’s identity, the cultivators from Ji Country immediately furrowed their brows.

“The Heavenly Poison Maiden?” one exclaimed. “Is she the successor of that demoness from a millennium ago? I recall that demoness was branded a demonic cultivator by the Dao Alliance, wasn’t she? How can your Jiang Country so openly allow her to appear here?” An Old Ancestor from a prominent sect in Ji Country couldn’t help but glance at Shangguan Jinyang and the others.

Shangguan Jinyang immediately responded.

“We reported this matter to the Alliance long ago,” he explained. “The Alliance stated that the Dao Alliance judges whether someone is a demonic fiend not by the cultivation technique they practice, but by their character. While the Heavenly Poison Maiden was indeed ferocious and caused countless deaths in her time, Yan Yun has committed no transgressions since her emergence. Therefore, she cannot be classified as a demonic cultivator.”

With that pronouncement, the people from Ji Country fell silent, for this rule had been established at the very inception of the Dao Alliance.

“To be able to contend with the successor of the Heavenly Poison Maiden, this journey to Jiang Country has not been in vain,” Nan Xuanjin declared. “Next, I shall employ my most potent technique and attack with all my might. Consider it my utmost respect for you.”

Nan Xuanjin raised his hands, forming a circle above his head. A golden orb of energy rapidly converged between his palms, growing steadily larger.

The energy orb swiftly expanded, reaching a diameter of three to four meters, transforming into a colossal sphere of power.

“Sacred Light Art: Radiance Illuminates Heaven and Earth!”

Should this energy orb erupt, its power could, at a minimum, unleash the might of the Divine Mark Realm. This implied that even without directly utilizing Divine Mark Realm power, he could still perform exceptionally, much like Jiang Yao and others, primarily due to the formidable cultivation technique he practiced.

“So immense? What ferocious energy!”

Yan Yun’s expression shifted.

She currently possessed no poison spell of such overwhelming power.

“Don’t panic, I’ll teach you a move.”

Yan Lingyun immediately spoke to steady Yan Yun, simultaneously transmitting a powerful poison spell to her through divine sense.

This poison spell was not recorded in the Heavenly Poison Sutra; rather, it was a unique creation of Yan Lingyun herself, named the Annihilation Heavenly Poison Hand, requiring an immense amount of power to unleash.

In Yan Yun’s current state, she could likely just barely manage to execute it.

“Such a formidable technique, Old Ancestor, why didn’t you teach it to me sooner? It’s outrageous, hoarding your skills from your descendant and disciple!”

Yan Lingyun immediately retorted.

“Did you ever need it before?” she quipped. “Even if I taught it to you, where would you use it? Besides, you couldn’t possibly have performed this move previously. I only thought you might be able to now, seeing the immense power you’ve been unleashing.”

Yan Yun simply gave a wry smile, wasting no further words.

“Then let’s do this, full power!”

Yan Yun immediately formed hand seals, and from the vast Cavern Heaven above her, even more ferocious poison energy erupted, surging violently under her guidance.

The very ground trembled and swayed from the tumultuous energy.

Purple energy swiftly gathered before Yan Yun, gradually coalescing into an enormous purple hand.

The energy emanating from this colossal purple hand was even more intense than the spell energy fluctuations released by Nan Xuanjin.

“Is that the Annihilation Heavenly Poison Hand? It seems Yan Yun truly has inherited the complete legacy of the Heavenly Poison Maiden!”

Several Jiang Country powers who had once clashed with Yan Lingyun revealed looks of utter shock.

For, back then, Yan Lingyun had used this very move to slay several Divine Venerables, making it one of her signature killing techniques.

“Excellent! Radiance Illuminates Heaven and Earth, go!”

Observing Yan Yun unleashing a powerful spell as well, Nan Xuanjin, with a determined gaze, immediately hurled the energy orb above his head.

The colossal energy orb, resembling a setting sun, plummeted towards Yan Yun.

Yan Yun’s Annihilation Poison Hand Seal was also ready, but this single move had almost completely drained her strength; after this, she feared she would have no more power left to fight.

“Annihilation Heavenly Poison Hand!”

Yan Yun extended her hand, and the enormous purple hand instantly seized the descending golden energy orb, holding it firmly and resisting its descent.

This move was indeed more potent than Nan Xuanjin’s technique, yet a disparity in cultivation levels existed between them, so neither spell was immediately overwhelmed.

“Hah!”

Nan Xuanjin roared, once again increasing the downward pressure.

This formidable energy relentlessly suppressed Yan Yun’s poisonous hand.

Yan Yun felt as though she held a mountain in her grasp, a mountain poised to crash down at any moment, subjecting her to immense pressure.

“I don’t care anymore! Drain all my power, and I’ll fight back with madness!”

With a fierce glint in her eyes, Yan Yun channeled more energy. The Annihilation Heavenly Poison Hand began to clench, causing the golden energy orb to tremble wildly.

Not only that, but a strange power emanated from the colossal hand, rapidly corroding the energy within. The edges of the golden energy orb surprisingly began to be eroded by purple energy.

This continuous erosion caused Nan Xuanjin’s power to steadily wane.

“It’s actually corroding my power?” Nan Xuanjin’s face grew increasingly grim.

However, he could no longer muster more power. To do so would exceed the Great Accomplishment level of the Spirit Transformation Realm, effectively shaming himself.

Yan Yun’s colossal hand continued to contract, and the energy orb visibly shrank.

Ultimately, the energy orb was utterly crushed by the massive hand, not even a wisp of energy escaping.

The Annihilation Heavenly Poison Hand, while attacking, could also use potent toxic energy to invade and corrode an opponent’s spell, breaking it down.

Nan Xuanjin gazed at his most powerful strike, which had vanished without even a spark, his face etched with unconcealed reluctance.

Yet, he did not launch another attack. Instead, he slowly descended from the sky, landing gracefully on the ground.

Looking at Yan Yun again, the power of that move was undeniable.

‘The power of an external technique might be satisfying, but nothing compares to wielding such might oneself,’ Yan Yun thought, laughing uproariously, captivated by the might, nearly collapsing from the drain. ‘Stop laughing, withdraw your power!’ Yan Lingyun’s voice resonated in Yan Yun’s mind, a sharp reminder.

Upon hearing this, Yan Yun immediately suppressed her laughter, drawing the released power of the spell back into herself.

As the grand Cavern Heaven absorbed, the Annihilation Heavenly Poison Hand began to collapse, ultimately transforming into a surge of pure toxic energy that Yan Yun drew back into her body.

However, she could only reclaim a third of the toxic energy. With that, the battle concluded.

Outside the arena, the Ji Country cultivators couldn’t help but nod in silent approval.

“What a formidable spell!” one murmured. “If a Divine Venerable Realm cultivator were to unleash that, they could probably kill cultivators of the same realm with ease. Yan Yun still held back, though this move clearly isn’t from the Heavenly Poison Sutra.”

Some of Ji Country’s powerful figures who had studied the Heavenly Poison Sutra muttered to themselves.

Nan Xuanjin calmly watched Yan Yun. Once her state stabilized, he raised his hand and, with a sweep, drew the Purple Jade Spirit Blood Sword from the mountain wall, presenting it to Yan Yun.

“Miss Yan, this sword is yours. I concede.”

Yan Yun took the sword, drew it, and with a single glance, the purple blade captivated her, making her unwilling to part with it.

“Many thanks.”

Yan Yun immediately nodded to him in return.

Though Nan Xuanjin possessed an air of sinister eccentricity, his character was beyond reproach.

“I look forward to an opportunity for us to fight with all our strength,” Nan Xuanjin stated. “Truthfully, your methods are indeed powerful, but there is still a gap in our cultivation realms.” After speaking, he soared into the sky and departed.

Yan Yun did not deny this.

After Nan Xuanjin left, she injected power into the sword and wielded it. The blade instantly unleashed a toxic purple sword light that effortlessly severed a thick tree nearby, its radiance laced with potent venom.

“A fine sword, a truly fine sword,” Yan Yun praised, thoroughly pleased. From its color and craftsmanship to its effects, this sword perfectly matched her desires.

With the battle concluded, the other cultivators rushed back over. Yan Yun’s battle had been one they couldn’t even hope to participate in.

“Pavilion Master, you are truly amazing!” someone exclaimed, praising Yan Yun while also posing a question. “That last move wasn’t in the Heavenly Poison Sutra, was it?”

Yan Yun shook her head.

“That technique was my Old Ancestor’s unique secret art,” she clarified. “It’s not recorded in the Heavenly Poison Sutra. But don’t worry, I won’t pass it on to outsiders. However, once you all have enough energy to perform this move, I will consider teaching it to you.”

Yan Yun’s words ignited excitement among them all; such a powerful technique was beyond their wildest dreams.