Chapter 272: Chapter 194: Bountiful Harvest

Clearly, Xiaolv was accelerating the “Corpse Transformation” of Kang Shixiang and Xu Tao, making them produce Corpse Poison faster.

The bodies of Fourth Grade Martial Artists were forged through countless trials, no longer those of mere mortals.

Therefore, the Corpse Poison produced after their deaths, though varying, was all incredibly potent.

Ever since Zou Feng started cultivating the Corpse Luo Heart Scripture, Xiaolv had also developed quite a taste for Corpse Poison. Now that it had such excellent material from Kang Shixiang and Xu Tao, it naturally wouldn’t let the opportunity pass.

Watching Xiaolv’s work, Zou Feng narrowed his eyes slightly.

His own cultivation of the Corpse Luo Heart Scripture wasn’t advanced enough to rapidly induce “Corpse Transformation” in the body of a Fourth Grade Martial Artist.

Yet Xiaolv could already do it…

In truth, another reason Zou Feng planned to go to the Southern Border to find Teng County was to obtain a more advanced Gu Cultivation Skill.

This would allow him to truly subdue Xiaolv.

’Otherwise, as this strange insect’s mutations become more and more incomprehensible, there’s no guarantee it won’t turn on me in the future.’

Cases of Gu Cultivators being devoured by their own Gu Insects were nothing new.

Now that Kang Shixiang and Xu Tao had produced Corpse Poison, he naturally had to refine it to cultivate his Corpse Luo Heart Scripture.

He hadn’t expected much, having been forced to practice it casually, but after just a short hour, Zou Feng opened his eyes in pleasant surprise.

Corpse Luo Heart Scripture (Integration and Mastery), Progress: 85%

’It jumped that much!?’

Zou Feng remembered that his Corpse Luo Heart Scripture progress had just been a little over 40%.

It couldn’t be helped. He had been focused on cultivating other skills recently and simply hadn’t had the right conditions to practice the Corpse Luo Heart Scripture.

But now, the gift from Kang Shixiang and Xu Tao had sent his cultivation progress skyrocketing.

’If only I’d been able to leave Chen Cang’s body intact and absorb his Corpse Poison, couldn’t I have brought the Corpse Luo Heart Scripture directly to the level of Refined Skill?’

Thinking of this, Zou Feng inwardly sighed with regret. But he hadn’t expected Xiaolv to have this trick up its sleeve, so there was nothing he could have done.

It was an unexpected bonus. Zou Feng didn’t dwell on it and immediately began searching for the Toad King as planned.

Another full hour passed before he finally made a discovery in a swamp pit.

But this swamp pit was too deep. Zou Feng dove in but couldn’t find the bottom after a long while.

In such a harsh environment, it was difficult to use his full strength. If the formidable Toad King were to launch a sneak attack, he’d likely be in serious trouble.

So, Zou Feng returned to the edge of the pit and activated “Love That Can Stretch and Contract at Will,” pouring a continuous stream of Gang Qi into the murky depths.

The web-like Gang Qi acted as an extension of his senses. After probing the pit for some time, it finally touched something big.

Zou Feng let out a sinister cackle and then yanked with all his might.

“CROAK—”

As Zou Feng had advanced to the Fourth Grade, the stickiness and elasticity of his “Love That Can Stretch and Contract at Will” had been maxed out. Caught completely off guard, the Toad King was forcefully dragged out.

This creature’s Spiritual Wisdom was quite high. It had long since sensed Zou Feng’s hostile intentions and had been hiding in the deepest part of the pit, abandoning any thought of ambushing prey.

In the end, however, it still couldn’t escape Zou Feng’s clutches.

Even after being dragged out, it struggled desperately, spitting viscous, green poison in attack.

Its tongue could even unleash the lightning-fast “Poison Dragon Impact,” a truly formidable move.

Unfortunately for it, against the current Zou Feng, this was all just a futile struggle. He finished it off in a few moves and instantly began its Refinement.

“Five Poison Fire Lotus Skill (Peak of Perfection) Progress: 51%”

’Finally broke 50%. I’ve taken another huge step toward the realm of Extraordinary to Saint.’

At the same time, Zou Feng knew without even trying that the power of his “Toad Stance” had risen by a large margin.

’If I’d had this much of a boost earlier, Xu Tao wouldn’t have just been severely injured by my charged-up Toad Stance; he would have died instantly.’

Of course, Zou Feng didn’t forget to take out his Treasure Bottle and have it absorb the Toad King’s venom.

He still didn’t know what kind of benefits absorbing all these Exotic Poisons would bring him.

But it was an “Immortal Treasure,” after all, so it was worth a try.

As for the excess venom, Zou Feng could only use Kang Shixiang’s elixir bottles to store some of it.

With that done, Zou Feng didn’t linger and quickly departed.

However, just as he was about to leave the swamp area, he spotted six figures in the distance, rushing over at high speed.

Judging by their flashy clothes, they didn’t look like disciples from the Xuanhuang Sect or the Celestial Essence Sword Sect.

Instead, they were dressed in the typical fashion of people from Biyou Palace.

’It seems Biyou Palace still found out about my involvement with the Giant Spider, even though Gongsun Jinghong was the one who killed it.’

’They’re probably here now to check on the Toad King’s safety.’

Fortunately, Zou Feng was still within the swamp, shielded by the dense, poisonous fog, so there was a high probability that these Biyou Palace disciples hadn’t spotted him.

So, Zou Feng quickly held his breath and silently slipped into a nearby swamp pit.

As expected, the group didn’t notice him. They entered the swamp and continued deeper without slowing down.

Once they were far away, Zou Feng re-emerged. He used his Gang Qi to shake the mud from his body and then sped away without a backward glance.

He had already sensed that these Biyou Palace disciples were not to be trifled with; there was no need to start a conflict with them.

After fleeing far from the swamp, Zou Feng got his bearings and prepared to cross Qifeng Mountain into the Southern Border, just as he had before.

As for the three remaining poisonous creatures raised by Biyou Palace…

The scorpion, snake, and centipede—for now, he would have to leave finding them to fate.

Qifeng Mountain had a strange quality that caused people to get inexplicably lost. Even though Zou Feng had been to the valley where the Giant Scorpion was raised, he had only stumbled upon it by accident.

Finding that place again would not be so easy.

And so, Zou Feng spent his time either traveling or cultivating. He didn’t panic even when he got lost; after a few detours, he would still be able to cross Qifeng Mountain and reach the Southern Border.

This was a perfect opportunity to train intensively in the Bone-Softening Palm and the Corpse Luo Heart Scripture.

Of course, he couldn’t neglect his cultivation of the Dragon and Tiger Kan and Li Skill Heart Skill either.

「Three days later.」

The news that Zou Feng had killed Xu Tao, Kang Shixiang, and the Xuanhuang Sect genius Chen Cang spread rapidly everywhere.

The upper echelons of the major sects were furious. They immediately raised the level of the Demon Slaying Order targeting Zou Feng.

Several High Grade Martial Artists who rarely made public appearances began to stir restlessly…

「At the Observatory in Su Jin City.」

Before the same pool filled with Demon Beast Blood, Gongsun Jinghong, who had been resting with her eyes closed, opened them with a look of mingled shock and delight.

Beside her, a subordinate was reporting news related to Zou Feng.

Gongsun Jinghong was both shocked and overjoyed that Zou Feng had managed to kill several formidable Fourth Grade Martial Artists, even taking out Chen Cang.

Realizing that Zou Feng’s potential was even greater than she had anticipated, Gongsun Jinghong began to tremble with excitement, her facial expression growing more and more unhinged…

The attendants around the blood pool, as well as the subordinate delivering the report, immediately sensed that something was wrong.

They hurriedly took a few steps back, turned, and lowered their heads. See no evil.

“AHAHAHA—”

Amidst the high-pitched shriek, the entire blood pool began to boil as if something was erupting from within.

As the beast blood surged upward, it faintly took the form of a giant dragon.

Gongsun Jinghong could no longer contain herself; she wished she could pluck the fruit right then and there.

Unfortunately, she knew the time was not yet right.

First, Zou Feng certainly hadn’t cultivated the Dragon and Tiger Kan and Li Skill to a sufficient level.

Furthermore, Zou Feng still needed some time before he could break through to the Third Grade.

Although she could no longer suppress her desire for the Dragon and Tiger Convergence, Gongsun Jinghong could only force herself to endure.

After becoming a High Grade Martial Artist, while one was powerful, the sparse Spiritual Qi also imposed great limitations.

For instance, Gongsun Jinghong cultivated not only the Royal Family Skill but also what the secular world would consider an Evil Skill.

If she couldn’t soak in this Demon Beast blood regularly, she would find it increasingly difficult to suppress her crazed thoughts.

And the solution to these hidden dangers was, naturally, the day of the Dragon and Tiger Convergence.

The stronger Zou Feng became, the better the effect of the Dragon and Tiger Convergence would be.

At the same time, from a psychological standpoint, Gongsun Jinghong would also feel more comfortable and grow even more excited.

She had no intention of protecting Zou Feng as if he were her ideal husband.

Only a being capable of resolving the trouble of the Demon Slaying Order was worthy of becoming her, Gongsun Jinghong’s, Dragon Knight.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep