Chapter 276: Chapter 196: Honored Guest Elder (2)

At that, Zou Feng put on a conflicted expression, as if a fierce struggle was raging within him.

Seeing this, Teng Jun didn’t press him, allowing him to continue considering.

After quite some time, Zou Feng finally let out a long sigh. With an air of someone throwing all caution to the wind, he said, “I specialize in Poison Skills. If I ever want to reach a High Grade, joining Biyou Palace is my best option…”

“Besides, I have absolutely no intention of harming Biyou Palace, so what does the Five Poison Heart Devouring Curse matter!”

Upon hearing this, Teng Jun regarded Zou Feng for a few moments with an appreciative gaze.

After all, in her eyes, the Five Poison Heart Devouring Curse was indeed very difficult to accept, but Zou Feng was ultimately a self-taught Loose Cultivator.

One shouldn’t be fooled by his recent promotion to the Fourth Grade and his consistently terrifying rate of progress; advancing to a High Grade to become a True Qi Realm Martial Artist was another matter entirely.

The reason why the Major Sects could stand above the Great Yan Dynasty was actually quite simple.

These Sects simply had more High Grade experts.

Everything, from the Cultivation Skills that offered a higher chance of reaching a High Grade, to the various cultivation resources, and even the very environment where their Sects were located, was monopolized by these Major Sects.

Take the Celestial Essence Sword Sect’s Nine Revolutions Primordial Energy Pill and the Xuanhuang Sect’s Cyan Emperor’s Hundred Herbs Pill, for instance. Despite mobilizing the full power of the nation, the Great Yan Dynasty Royal Family could not concoct elixirs with similar effects.

This wasn’t just a matter of secret formulas or refinement methods; first and foremost, they lacked the unique geographical advantages that the Celestial Essence Sword Sect and the Xuanhuang Sect possessed.

That’s right. Without those specific, special geographical environments, it was impossible to concoct those two elixirs.

As a Major Sect of the Evil Dao in the Southern Border, Biyou Palace naturally had its own exclusive elixirs and special cultivation environments.

Teng Jun’s Silk Cave was one such place.

Other than this place, where else could one find a similar environment to cultivate the Spider Poison Skill?

The moment Zou Feng stepped into Cloud Mist Mountain, he had sensed that the Spiritual Qi here was far more abundant, making it perfectly suited for cultivation.

Later, as he walked all the way into the Silk Cave and witnessed Teng Jun’s unique, natural Practice Room, he had, in fact, long since solidified his resolve to infiltrate Biyou Palace first.

“Excellent! It is an honor for my Silk Cave that Doctor Zou is willing to join Biyou Palace!”

“However, Doctor Zou, you must be exceptionally careful. Biyou Palace is, after all, not one of those so-called Righteous Sects that are at least amicable on the surface.”

“The recent struggle for the position of True Inheritor of the Silk Cave, for instance…”

This statement was, in effect, a reminder to Zou Feng that after joining Biyou Palace, it would be best for him to align himself with her Silk Cave.

They had a decent relationship, after all, so they wouldn’t have to expend so much effort being wary of each other.

Zou Feng naturally had no objection to this.

“Teng Cave Master, I was wondering, what happened to the previous Cave Master…?” Zou Feng nodded, then asked casually.

Rumor in the Jianghu was that the previous Cave Master of the Silk Cave had encountered a mishap while cultivating her Skill and died suddenly.

He hadn’t expected that his casual question would cause the smile on Teng Jun’s face to suddenly freeze.

A flicker of fear then crossed her face.

But she quickly composed herself, shaking her head. “Actually… Master… she… probably did have a mishap during her cultivation…”

But from the way she said it, it was clear that even Teng Jun herself didn’t quite believe it.

Zou Feng was tactful enough not to press the issue.

With a cough, Teng Jun once again took the initiative to change the subject. “I wonder, Doctor Zou, what kind of Cultivation Skill do you plan to practice after joining Biyou Palace?”

“I can’t make any promises about other Skills, but as for any that the Silk Cave can provide, you are free to choose, Doctor Zou.”

Zou Feng answered without hesitation, “I want to learn the Silk Cave’s Dual Cultivation Skill!”

Teng Jun was taken aback for a moment, then gave him a seductive smile. “You want to learn? I can teach you!”

Zou Feng let out a dry laugh before his expression turned serious. “You jest, Cave Master…”

Teng Jun shrugged helplessly. “I’m afraid I’ll have to disappoint you, Doctor Zou. What my Silk Cave has is only a Replenishing Skill, not a Dual Cultivation Skill that benefits both parties.”

This answer didn’t surprise Zou Feng. After all, if the skill benefited both parties, the Silk Cave wouldn’t be filled exclusively with female disciples.

“No matter. I happen to practice a Dual Cultivation Skill myself. This is a good opportunity to compare them and see if I can modify it to better suit me.”

If anyone else had said this, Teng Jun probably would have laughed out loud.

Those self-taught skills were one thing, but a Biyou Palace Cultivation Skill? How could it possibly be modified so easily?

But Zou Feng was an “Evil Genius,” after all. Perhaps he really could find some unique way forward.

“Alright, then there’s no time to waste. Let’s go see the Vice Palace Master first.”

Next, Teng Jun personally led the way, guiding Zou Feng out of the Silk Cave and toward the peak of Cloud Mist Mountain.

Along the way, they detoured through Hundred-legged Ridge.

As far as the eye could see, enormous, colorful centipedes were coiled everywhere.

The disciples of Hundred-legged Ridge, who appeared from time to time, moved about not just on their legs, but by crawling on all fours.

Because their hands and feet moved so quickly, the resulting afterimages made these disciples look like “Multi-legged Monsters” from a distance.

Zou Feng had little interest in these Hundred-legged Ridge disciples imitating “Multi-legged Monsters.”

’He coveted those giant centipedes!’

’There must be even bigger ones within Hundred-legged Ridge.’

’If I could refine them as I please, the feeling would be absolutely incredible.’

’I just wonder if these centipedes from Hundred-legged Ridge can compare to the pets the Biyou Palace Master is raising on Qifeng Mountain…’

Before long, in a grand and magnificent yet inwardly gloomy and sinister great hall, Zou Feng met the Vice Palace Master of Biyou Palace.

To his surprise, the Vice Palace Master was a man who appeared quite young.

Logically, anyone who could be the Vice Palace Master of Biyou Palace had to be a High Grade expert and should possess an extraordinary, intimidating aura.

In reality, however, this Vice Palace Master, named Bai Chen, while indeed a High Grade Martial Artist, had a decaying aura, listless eyes, and looked utterly exhausted.

He was clearly in a state of having his vitality completely drained.

Having to handle the affairs of Biyou Palace in such a state was truly asking a lot of him.

’Considering the Biyou Palace Master is an expert in the Replenishing Skill, I’m afraid Bai Chen will sooner or later…’

’But if he knows his essence is being drained, why does he remain so loyal and continue to work for Biyou Palace?’

’After all, if he weren’t so dedicated to Biyou Palace, the Palace Master wouldn’t have been able to leave for Qifeng Mountain with peace of mind, entrusting all Sect affairs to Bai Chen’s care.’

Teng Jun, however, was long accustomed to Bai Chen’s half-dead appearance, showing not a hint of surprise in her eyes.

’This means Bai Chen has been in this state for a long time; it’s not a recent development.’

This naturally made Zou Feng even more puzzled.

In fact, Teng Jun had already sent someone to inform Bai Chen of Zou Feng’s situation and purpose before they arrived.

Therefore, Bai Chen only sized Zou Feng up for a few moments before agreeing to let him join Biyou Palace as an Honored Guest Elder.

He agreed so readily for two reasons. First, Zou Feng carried a Demon Slaying Order, and the reason behind it was sound—he wasn’t some lunatic who killed indiscriminately in a state of dementia.

Second, of course, was his willingness to accept the Five Poison Heart Devouring Curse.

Since the curse couldn’t be resisted without becoming a Second Grade Martial Artist, he was naturally all the more trustworthy.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, the listless Bai Chen slowly walked over to Zou Feng.

“Zou Feng, have you thought this through? It’s not too late to back out now.”

“Once the Five Poison Heart Devouring Curse is cast, you will be an Honored Guest Elder of Biyou Palace. You will have to serve for at least a few years and make certain contributions. Otherwise, whether you stay or go will no longer be up to you!” Bai Chen said, his voice weak.

Zou Feng replied readily, “Feel free to cast the curse, White Palace Master.”

Bai Chen nodded, then slowly reached out and pressed his palm against Zou Feng’s chest.

A moment later, a five-colored Qi Force suddenly erupted from Bai Chen’s body.

At the same time, his mental state and even his facial features changed dramatically.

His previous listlessness, that state of being utterly drained, seemed to have been an illusion. Standing before Zou Feng now was a handsome, well-built man with an overbearing, domineering aura.

His presence and the True Qi surging around him were absurdly powerful, far stronger than the Gongsun Jinghong whom Zou Feng had previously encountered.

At the same time, Zou Feng faintly felt a sensation on the surface of his heart, as if some sort of insect were slowly crawling across it.

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