The Number One Demonic Path

However, under the relentless assault of these scorching streams of light, the ice barrier swiftly developed cracks.

“It’s giving way so quickly?” Yan Yun observed the rapidly spreading fissures, a look of embarrassment clouding her face.

Before long, the ice shattered completely, and beams of light descended upon Yan Yun.

Observing this scene, everyone outside the arena believed Yan Yun was about to be eliminated, for how could a mere Perfected Cavern Heaven Realm cultivator like her withstand an attack that even a low-grade Divine Mark Realm magic treasure failed to block?

Following several explosive sounds, a thick white mist billowed across the arena.

This was the steam generated by the shattering ice barrier.

Ji Yunfei, too, ceased his assault, his gaze sweeping the area outside the arena, yet strangely, Yan Yun was nowhere to be seen beyond its boundaries.

This implied that Yan Yun had not been eliminated.

“She wasn’t eliminated?” Ji Yunfei muttered softly, then turned his attention to the swirling steam.

Indeed, as the steam dissipated, Yan Yun’s position was revealed, enveloped within a thick mound of earth.

This, too, was a defensive magic treasure.

Inside, feeling the energy dissipate, Yan Yun retracted the magic treasure’s power, causing the earthen mound to transform into a yellowish-brown energy that coalesced into a magic treasure resembling a stone statue.

“Oh my! You startled me. Good thing I have so many magic treasures,” Yan Yun exclaimed, patting her chest with a look of genuine fright.

Ji Yunfei narrowed his eyes.

“You are indeed extraordinary, to be able to use two Divine Mark Realm defensive magic treasures consecutively. Yet, even if you withstand this wave of my attack, what then? Young lady, I advise you to concede.”

“Enough talk, it’s my turn to attack.” Yan Yun immediately unleashed the toxins within her body, which transformed into a poisonous mist surging towards Ji Yunfei.

Ji Yunfei was forced to dodge, for as soon as the poisonous mist neared him, it was melted away by a surge of scorching energy.

“Your cultivation realm is still too low. Though your poison cultivation technique is potent, it cannot penetrate my Blazing Sun Physique. Stop struggling; it’s simply your misfortune to have encountered me.”

Ji Yunfei declared, gazing forward.

However, his response came in the form of numerous poison needles, condensed from energy, which, veiled by the mist, instantly struck Ji Yunfei’s body.

Alas, despite their silent approach, they were still melted away by the energy emanating from Ji Yunfei’s body.

Immediately after, a beam of purple light shot forth, spiraling like a drill, and fixed itself upon Ji Yunfei’s glabella; it was a purple energy drill.

This drill was not instantly melted by the energy on his body; instead, it persisted for a moment before gradually dissipating, still unable to breach Ji Yunfei’s defenses.

“No matter how many times you try, it’s useless. The disparity between us cannot be bridged by cultivation techniques or abilities, especially since this place restricts the use of treasures exceeding the low-grade Divine Mark Realm.” Ji Yunfei chuckled.

Yan Yun’s attack followed swiftly, yet this time, the venom that assailed him instantly drenched Ji Yunfei to the bone.

The potency of this venom far surpassed her previous attacks, corroding his defenses into a pockmarked surface from which black smoke still billowed.

“What is this? Poison? It can actually corrode my protective spiritual power?”

Ji Yunfei no longer foolishly met the attacks head-on; instead, upon sensing the incoming assault, he immediately began to dodge.

Arrows of venom, condensed from the toxic liquid, ceaselessly shot towards him.

After dodging more than a dozen times, his eyes flared with golden light. With a wave of his hand, a surge of scorching energy spread outwards, incinerating the venom along with Yan Yun’s poison arrows, leaving nothing behind.

“Enough. If you had cultivated to the Spirit Transformation Realm, I might fear you somewhat in a battle. But with your current cultivation, it’s utterly impossible to defeat me.” Ji Yunfei’s patience seemed to have worn thin.

After the poisonous mist dissipated, Yan Yun reappeared. No sooner had she revealed herself than a colossal purple poison hand descended from the heavens, slamming heavily towards Ji Yunfei.

“Annihilation Heavenly Poison Hand.”

Yan Yun unleashed yet another potent attack, one that Yan Lingyun had taught her. If even this strike failed to faze her opponent, Yan Yun knew she would have to concede.

Feeling the enormous hand descending upon him, Ji Yunfei furrowed his brow slightly. The power of this strike was clearly enough to pose a threat.

“A good move, this one.”

“Shattering Sun Finger.” Ji Yunfei raised a hand, concentrating his energy at his fingertip. With a final thrust, a golden stream of light tore through the air, striking the palm of the giant hand.

Ji Yunfei remained supremely confident, certain that this strike would pierce through his opponent’s attack.

However, just as he prepared to unleash even greater power, something unexpected occurred.

Ji Yunfei suddenly trembled, and streaks of purple patterns appeared on the surface of his body. As these patterns manifested, he seemed to be struck by poison, instantly spitting out a mouthful of purple toxic blood.

With that expulsion of toxic blood, his power instantly dissipated.

“What’s happening? My body?” Ji Yunfei’s face twisted into an expression of utter dismay. He was about to speak, but Yan Yun’s massive hand was already descending upon him.

He had no time to release defensive power. As the massive hand fully descended, he was instantly teleported out of the arena.

All of this happened so abruptly, in the blink of an eye, that not a single person outside the arena managed to react.

It was only after Ji Yunfei was teleported out that they realized the sparring match had concluded.

A profound silence fell over the entire venue.

“This? What just happened?” Yan Yun, still in the arena, was equally bewildered.

Ji Yunfei’s finger strike should have been able to pierce her attack, yet his power had suddenly vanished.

“How can this be? My body.” Ji Yunfei, having been teleported out, was about to speak when he spat out another mouthful of toxic blood. His eyes then rolled back, and he plummeted from the sky.

The Old Ancestor of Jinyang Sect, witnessing this scene, was utterly horrified. He instantly teleported before Ji Yunfei, catching him mid-fall.

“Yunfei, Yunfei, what’s wrong with you?”

Ji Yunfei had already lost consciousness, and even in his stupor, he continued to vomit toxic blood, his life force rapidly draining away.

“Poison?” The Old Ancestor of Jinyang Sect quickly detected a terrifying toxin eroding Ji Yunfei’s body from within.

He hastily unleashed his own power to resist the toxin, but even he found himself unable to fully suppress it. He could only bring Ji Yunfei to Chen Yingtian’s side.

“Alliance Master Chen, quickly, look! What has happened to the Ninth Prince? He seems to have been afflicted by a truly terrifying poison.” The Old Ancestor of Jinyang Sect urgently stated.

Chen Yingtian immediately performed an examination.

“This is… Nine Nether Soul Poison? How can this be?”

“You young girl in the arena, how could you use such a terrifying toxin in a sparring match?” Chen Yingtian’s gaze instantly fixed upon Yan Yun in the arena.

Yan Yun, however, wore a completely dumbfounded expression.

“Huh? Me? Senior, you must be mistaken. How could I possess such an ability? Furthermore, everyone watched my battle with him very closely; when did I administer poison?” Yan Yun quickly retorted.

The moment these words left her lips, Fairy Yunxia and the others also spoke up in quick succession.

“Indeed, Fellow Daoist Chen, you are mistaken. We observed the entire match, and Yan Yun’s toxins were completely fended off by your disciple’s defenses, not a drop getting through. Surely, you could see that?”

However, Chen Yingtian’s next statement left everyone stunned.

“But this Nine Nether Soul Poison was one of the Heavenly Poison Maiden’s most potent toxins back then. In recorded history, only the Heavenly Poison Maiden knew how to use it, didn’t she? And this young girl is a direct descendant of the Heavenly Poison Maiden, isn’t she? If not her, then who?”

Upon hearing the words ‘Nine Nether Soul Poison,’ Yan Yun herself was startled.

‘Old Ancestor, what is going on? This certainly isn’t something I cultivated. Could it be you?’ Yan Yun, thinking Yan Lingyun had secretly intervened to ensure her victory, asked.

However, Yan Lingyun denied it without hesitation.

‘It wasn’t me, but I have a general idea of who it was. Little one, I fear you’ve been manipulated.’

The Nine Nether Soul Poison was indeed one of several toxins created by Yan Lingyun, but she was not the only one who knew how to wield it.

She had once shared several potent toxins she invented with someone, so it could only be that individual.

Chen Yingtian’s power could only slow the toxin’s erosion; it could not dispel it entirely.

“Young girl, whether or not you administered this poison, you should have a way to resolve it, shouldn’t you? Ji Yunfei is the Ninth Prince of Ji Country’s royal family. If he dies from your Old Ancestor’s poison, do you understand the consequences?” Chen Yingtian naturally questioned Yan Yun.

This match could truly be said to have taken an unforeseen turn.

The referee immediately deactivated the arena’s formation.

Yan Yun also quickly approached Ji Yunfei.

After conducting her examination, her expression turned somewhat grim.

“How is the poisoning so severe? He’s been poisoned for at least five days.” Yan Yun explained.

“What? Poisoned for five days?” The strong cultivators of Ji Country were perplexed.

The strong cultivators of Jiang Country also flew over.

“Is there any way to resolve this?” Fairy Yunxia inquired.

She understood the gravity of the situation; if the poisoner couldn’t be found, Yan Yun would have a difficult time explaining herself.

“In any case, I certainly didn’t administer this poison. This isn’t the power of a poison cultivation technique, but pure toxin. I’ve never even touched him. I’ll try to succeed, but I can’t guarantee anything.” Yan Yun stated upfront.

She took a deep breath, raised a finger, and tapped it on Ji Yunfei’s glabella. Then, she mobilized her own power, intending to draw out the toxins from within Ji Yunfei’s body.

Indeed, Yan Yun’s Heavenly Poison Sutra was the bane of all poisons. This immense toxic power immediately flowed into Yan Yun’s body.

‘This? Such vast toxic energy? Old Ancestor, I feel like I’m about to break through my realm?’ Yan Yun exclaimed excitedly.

However, Yan Lingyun’s expression instantly changed.

‘No, little one, stop absorbing it! There’s also someone else’s power mixed in there.’

Yan Yun was about to stop absorbing when, suddenly, her body began to move uncontrollably, furiously drawing out the toxins from Ji Yunfei’s body.

As all the toxins were absorbed, a surge of wild energy erupted from Yan Yun’s body, shooting towards the sky.

This energy fluctuation forced the cultivators from the surrounding two countries to retreat.

“This? What is this?” Even Chen Yingtian was startled by this power.

After this purple energy emanated from Yan Yun’s body, the previously clear sky was, for a moment, enveloped by vast purple poisonous clouds.

Looking at Yan Yun again, she was completely encased within this energy, utterly motionless.

Moments later, when she lifted her head once more, her demeanor and expression had utterly transformed.

Yan Yun gazed at the crowd, a sinister smile spreading across her face.

“Chen Yingtian, it’s been a long time, hasn’t it?”

Upon hearing this voice, Chen Yingtian instantly became wary, as if facing a formidable enemy.

“It’s you? Evil Emperor!”

The moment the words ‘Evil Emperor’ were uttered, the other strong cultivators nearby were all startled, including Fairy Yunxia and her companions.

For this Evil Emperor was none other than the foremost strong cultivator of the Demonic Dao today. Nominally, she was the Old Ancestor of the Blood Spirit Sect, but in truth, she originated from a background of rogue cultivation.

Moreover, she was an unparalleled strong cultivator at the Perfected Six Realms. Throughout the entire Righteous Dao Alliance, only the reclusive Daoist Taixuan could contend with her.

And the individual Yan Lingyun spoke of was none other than her.