The Ferocious Power of Poison

The extraordinary talents were not limited to cultivators from Jiang Country; indeed, the combat prowess displayed by cultivators from Ji Country demonstrably surpassed that of Jiang Country.

Within this half-hour, many had risked everything to vie for treasures, a gamble that, more often than not, cost them their lives.

Even the referees could not ascertain with absolute certainty the precise moment a combatant’s life hung in the balance.

For instance, a Divine Mark Realm cultivator from Ji Country effortlessly struck down a Spirit Transformation Realm cultivator.

Although the strike’s power was theoretically restrained, it still proved fatal to the Spirit Transformation Realm cultivator, who perished instantly.

The reason was quite simple: the judgment of Divine Venerable cultivators was often ambiguous.

They might assume that, given one’s cultivation level, a strike should be withstandable, yet many cultivators lacked profound foundations, having perhaps rushed through earlier realms without proper cultivation before breaking through.

Thus, a formidable Spirit Transformation Realm cultivator would likely triumph over a particularly weak Divine Mark Realm cultivator, and could even contend with an ordinary Divine Mark Realm cultivator, but would be no match for a Divine Mark Realm expert.

Those who had only cultivated the Cavern Heaven Realm to Minor Accomplishment before breaking through to the Spirit Transformation Realm would, even upon reaching Spirit Transformation Realm, be utterly incapable of withstanding an attack from a Divine Mark Realm cultivator.

These were the unpredictable variables; cultivators of the same realm could exhibit vastly different combat strengths after breaking through, all due to the varying depths of their foundations in previous realms.

The Immortal Alliance of Jiang Country was powerless to intervene when disciples died under such circumstances.

After all, if one recklessly sought treasures without understanding their own limits, they had only themselves to blame.

However, the vast majority of Jiang Country cultivators exercised considerable restraint.

Having already showcased her formidable background, other cultivators kept their distance from Yan Yun.

Following her, in fact, was arguably the safest course of action.

Whenever she approached something they desired, others would readily step aside.

After all, vying for treasures also depended on one’s qualifications; if the disparity was too great, to press forward meant certain death.

Such an act would be nothing short of courting disaster.

After circling for a few rounds, with her implicit assistance, most other cultivators had acquired their desired items.

As for her, finding nothing she particularly favored, she merely collected some medicinal herbs.

However, when she arrived at an area where a Divine Mark Realm cultivator from Ji Country guarded a treasure, her eyes lit up.

There, embedded in the mountain behind the Ji Country cultivator, was a slender, exquisite longsword, seemingly forged from amethyst.

Upon it, she distinctly sensed the energy fluctuations of poison.

‘Old Ancestor, look at that sword. Are those poison energy fluctuations I’m sensing on it?’

Having spotted the sword from afar, Yan Lingyun, residing within her, immediately took a look.

‘Hahahaha,’ Yan Lingyun chuckled. ‘How interesting.

Haven’t you been complaining about lacking a weapon? This sword would be perfect for you.

It’s forged from Purple Blood Demonic Crystal, a material inherently used in crafting poison artifacts.

While not specifically made for poison cultivators, this treasure can both carry and naturally emanate poison.’

Upon seeing anything purple, Yan Yun found her gaze utterly captivated.

“Wait here for a moment, everyone. I’ve found a treasure I fancy; I’m going to retrieve it.”

She announced to those behind her, then soared towards her destination.

Guarding the sword was an ominous-looking young man clad in black.

Sensing an approaching presence, he immediately opened his eyes.

‘Is that the woman who used the fifth-tier talisman treasure earlier? Why has she come to my spot?’

The ominous young man’s expression shifted drastically.

He had been guarding this spot for nearly half an hour, fending off over a dozen challengers.

Two Spirit Transformation Realm cultivators had fallen to his blade, while the rest were simply eliminated, after which no one dared to contend for the treasure.

This individual was Nan Xuanjin, a disciple of the Xuanling Sect, one of Ji Country’s ten great sects.

He possessed an early-stage Divine Mark Realm cultivation, having cultivated the previous three realms to Great Perfection, thus marking him as a formidable Divine Mark Realm cultivator.

Upon reaching Nan Xuanjin, Yan Yun remained surprisingly courteous.

“Fellow Daoist from Ji Country, I presume? I desire this sword. Would you kindly step aside?”

Yan Yun stated forthrightly.

Nan Xuanjin’s brow furrowed as he stared at Yan Yun.

Had it been anyone else daring to demand an item so directly, he would likely have slapped them to death on the spot.

After scrutinizing Yan Yun for a moment, Nan Xuanjin offered an inexplicably sinister smile.

“I observed your performance from afar, young lady.

To be able to repel an enemy using a fifth-tier talisman treasure in such circumstances, truthfully, not even our Ji Country cultivators could achieve such a feat.”

Yan Yun merely smiled.

“Thank you for the compliment.

My cultivation is too low, so I must rely on treasures to make an impression.

Fellow Daoist, might I take this sword?”

Yan Yun inquired again.

Nan Xuanjin knew he couldn’t stop Yan Yun, yet he was unwilling to simply let her take the item.

After all, being coerced by a powerful treasure and forced to concede was an unpleasant sensation.

After a moment of deliberation, he offered a suggestion.

“Young lady, you are fully capable of taking it directly; I cannot stop you.

However, since you have asked, I shall boldly offer a suggestion: I presume you are a Cavern Heaven Realm cultivator.

I can suppress my power to the same realm, and we can engage in a battle.

Regardless of the outcome, I will allow you to take this Purple Jade Spirit Blood Sword afterward.

How does that sound?”

Yan Yun could have refused, but she sensed that the man before her was likely a battle enthusiast, and such individuals rarely backed down easily.

Moreover, she knew she couldn’t defeat him by relying solely on powerful magical artifacts, for her current power was far from sufficient to challenge a true Divine Mark Realm expert.

Had it not been for the fifth-tier talisman treasure, she likely wouldn’t have even been able to withstand a single blow.

Without employing powerful magical artifacts, she certainly couldn’t hope to defeat the man before her.

Yan Yun, however, did not hesitate.

She also wished to test precisely how much Jiang Country cultivators lagged behind those of Ji Country.

“Very well, I accept your challenge.

However, I suggest you suppress your cultivation to the Spirit Transformation Realm.

Otherwise, at the same Cavern Heaven Realm, you would be no match for me.”

Seeing his straightforwardness, Yan Yun did not deliberately try to trick him.

She merely stepped forward, unleashing her aura.

A massive purple vortex swiftly materialized above her head, growing larger and larger until it resembled a small black hole, suspended ominously above her.

The moment her Cavern Heaven appeared, the ambient cosmic energy from all directions surged uncontrollably towards it, generating an incredibly powerful suction.

This sight utterly astonished Nan Xuanjin.

“What? What is this? This is a Cavern Heaven? Such an enormous Cavern Heaven?”

Nan Xuanjin, who had been composed moments before, was utterly startled by Yan Yun’s colossal Cavern Heaven.

The Ji Country cultivators observing from outside the arena were equally stunned.

“A singular Cavern Heaven! Has this little girl also cultivated the Spirit Gathering Realm to Great Perfection?

Jiang Country truly holds many surprises for me.”

Chen Yingtian exclaimed in astonishment.

For among the six great realms of the lower world, the Spirit Gathering Realm was notoriously the most difficult to cultivate to Great Perfection.

This was precisely why, even with extraordinary talent like Jiang Yao’s, she had not chosen to cultivate the Spirit Gathering Realm to Great Perfection.

Previous attempts had shown that even after cultivating the Spirit Gathering Realm to Great Perfection and reaching the Cavern Heaven Realm, the power gained was only a slight increase.

However, Yan Yun’s singular Cavern Heaven was vastly different from the singular Cavern Heavens they knew.

“Strange, Alliance Master Chen, why is this little girl’s singular Cavern Heaven unlike any we’ve ever known?”

Someone inquired.

Yet, Chen Yingtian could not explain this phenomenon.

He merely stroked his beard repeatedly, his eyes fixed intently on Yan Yun.

Observing Nan Xuanjin once more, he slowly rose after a moment of stunned silence.

“I initially believed you were merely relying on treasures to assert your might, young lady.

It seems I misjudged you.

Cultivating the Spirit Gathering Realm to Great Perfection and then the Cavern Heaven Realm to Great Perfection—this is no ordinary talent!

Very well, I shall test your abilities with my cultivation suppressed to Spirit Transformation Realm.”

Nan Xuanjin did not overexert himself, immediately suppressing his cultivation.

Yan Yun chuckled softly.

“Then, Fellow Daoist, please be careful.

Your cultivation is higher, so I dare not hold back.

If you feel yourself in danger, you may immediately use your full strength.”

“Rest assured, I do not trifle with my life.

Young lady, please make your move.”

Nan Xuanjin eagerly anticipated Yan Yun’s attack.

Yan Yun immediately formed a hand seal.

“Corrosive Poison Mist, go!”

Yan Yun immediately unleashed her signature technique.

Poison mist—vast quantities of purple mist surged forth from her Cavern Heaven.

Wherever the mist touched, flowers, plants, and trees instantly dissolved into dust.

Nan Xuanjin watched the churning poison mist, utterly surprised.

“What kind of power is this?”

Nan Xuanjin promptly raised his hand, and golden streams of light coalesced around his body, forming a golden energy barrier that isolated Yan Yun’s poison mist.

While poison mist typically didn’t directly destroy an opponent’s defense, Yan Yun’s corrosive poison could indeed corrode everything, including an opponent’s magical power.

Under the assault of the poison mist, the energy barrier began to melt.

“Impossible? What kind of power is this, that it can even melt my magical power?”

Nan Xuanjin was repeatedly astonished.

Since this was a sparring match, neither of them could use treasures.

To use treasures would render the match meaningless.

Seeing his defense on the verge of dissolving, Nan Xuanjin hastily formed a hand seal.

“Golden Radiance Array Wall!”

He raised both hands, and the power within him surged forth, manifesting five thick golden barriers around his protective magical power.

This was clearly a defensive spell, far more resilient than his body-protecting divine light.

“Poison Hand Seal!”

Witnessing her corrosive poison spell rapidly dismantle her opponent’s defenses, Yan Yun swiftly changed her tactic, condensing the poison mist into a colossal purple hand seal that descended from the sky, striking the barrier with immense force.

This single strike possessed both destructive and corrosive properties.

Under the impact of the two forces, with a resounding bang, Nan Xuanjin was sent flying backward, propelled out of the poison mist, and crashed heavily against the mountain wall.

“So strong, even?”

Nan Xuanjin glanced at the poison mist clinging to him, immediately unleashing his magical power to force it away.

An ordinary Spirit Transformation Realm cultivator would absolutely not be able to so easily isolate Yan Yun’s poison.

That Nan Xuanjin could achieve this was testament to the profound depth of his power.

No sooner had Nan Xuanjin risen than purple poison needles burst forth from the mist, showering down like a torrential rain of flowers.

Nan Xuanjin immediately dodged.

This volley of poison needles struck the mountain wall, corroding the rock face into a pitted, uneven mess.

If such an attack were to land on a person, what would become of them?

“What kind of cultivation technique is this? It’s so vicious!”

After evading the attack, Nan Xuanjin surveyed the ravaged mountain wall, suddenly realizing that his opponent was far more formidable than he had initially imagined.