Chen Zheng was unaware of Yue Gao's astonishment. He had already reached the outskirts of the stockade and swiftly dashed into the mountain woods.

Shan Mu and his two companions suddenly stopped in their tracks.

Ahead, Chen Zheng slowly descended.

All three felt a surge of fear.

"Kill him!" Shan Mu ordered, his voice sharp. Chen Zheng's very presence was a grave threat. He knew with certainty that if they didn't take Chen Zheng down immediately, they wouldn't even have a chance to escape. The other two understood the severity of the situation just as well.

They opened their mouths, and bizarre Gu insects shot out, heading straight for Chen Zheng. Three streaks of blood-red light ripped through the air, aimed at his vital points.

Yet, Chen Zheng stood unflinching. "Freeze," he whispered.

An extreme cold erupted instantly. In a flash, the crimson streaks halted mid-air before dropping to the ground less than a meter from Chen Zheng. Three fist-sized chunks of ice crashed down, the Gu insects within frozen solid.

PFFT!

Shan Mu and his companions spat out mouthfuls of blood.

Immediately after, they felt an invisible force being wrenched from their bodies. Like falling leaves, all three plummeted to the ground.

THUD! THUD! THUD!

With three muffled impacts, they landed face-down at Chen Zheng's feet, still and silent.

A Lifespan Gu was a Gu Master's most powerful weapon, an extension of their very life. If a Gu Master fell in battle, their Lifespan Gu and other Gu insects would perish with them. The death of other Gu insects had little impact on a Gu Master. However, if their Lifespan Gu was destroyed, the master, while not killed, would be severely wounded.

This was precisely what had happened to Shan Mu and his companions. Their bodies convulsed as if invisible hands were tearing at their souls, the agony so intense they couldn't even pass out.

"Since you're here, you might as well be guests at Nanhai Stockade," Chen Zheng's voice echoed in their ears.

Helplessness and defiance warred within them, but they were powerless against his immense strength. Chen Zheng's True Qi erupted like a tempest, binding the three of them tightly.

The next moment, with them in tow, Chen Zheng shot into the sky and returned to Kuang Nie's home in Nanhai Stockade.

THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! Chen Zheng tossed them onto the ground like old sacks, the impact forcing them to spit up more blood.

"Tell me, where is the Gu Chi lineage's lair?" Chen Zheng's voice was calm and cold.

"You won't get any information from us!" Shan Mu said defiantly.

[Ding! Congratulations, Host, for successfully triggering a selection mission.]

[Option One: Interrogate for the location of the Gu Chi lair. Reward: Upgrade Sky Control.]

[Option Two: Slay the three men. Reward: Lifespan Gu x1.]

Hearing this, Chen Zheng immediately selected Option One. Although Option Two was tempting, he held Gu techniques in low regard. He found them too cumbersome and didn't want to rely on Gu insects to enhance his strength. Besides, he had already stayed in the Southern Wilds long enough and had achieved his goal.

His primary mission now was to root out the lurking threat of the Gu Chi lineage. Otherwise, his supply of medicinal herbs would be in jeopardy. He couldn't possibly journey to the Southern Wilds every time he needed them; it was far too much trouble.

Chen Zheng knew that in the future, he would need far more than just Yuan Pei Pills. Given the abundance of medicinal herbs in the Southern Wilds, he was determined to eliminate this potential problem once and for all.

His decision made, Chen Zheng's gaze fell upon Shan Mu and his companions once more. They stared back at him, their faces resolute, clearly determined not to reveal their hideout.

Chen Zheng didn't press them further. He already had a plan in mind and was just waiting for things to conclude on Kuang Yuanyuan's side before he put it into motion.

Why isn't he asking any more questions?

Chen Zheng's silence was as disquieting as the dead of night, leaving the three of them perplexed. They exchanged glances, confusion flickering in their eyes. Deep down, however, they breathed a quiet sigh of relief. They had already prepared for the worst. If Chen Zheng had persisted, or used some method they couldn't resist, they would have let their own Gu poison consume them from within. The Gu Chi lineage was as ruthless to its own as it was to its enemies—that was how they had survived for so long.

Time ticked by. Chen Zheng remained silent, simply waiting. The mood of Shan Mu and his men grew heavier with each passing moment. They truly couldn't fathom what he was planning. So much time had passed, yet the man hadn't said a single word.

Has he given up? The question echoed in their hearts.

SQUEAK!

At that moment, the door to Kuang Nie's house slowly swung open.

Kuang Yuanyuan emerged, having successfully cured the people of Nanhai Stockade of the Quanhuang Gu Poison. Kuang Nie and the others enthusiastically invited her and Yue Gao inside.

Their gazes immediately fell upon Chen Zheng and the three men lying on the ground.

"The Gu Chi lineage!" A flicker of shock passed through Yue Gao's eyes. She recognized their clothing and confirmed their identity at a glance. A storm raged in her heart as she suddenly recalled the scene of Chen Zheng using Sky Control.

Could it be he left to capture these people? But how did he even find the Gu Chi lineage? Yue Gao's heart was filled with confusion and curiosity.

In the eyes of Kuang Nie and his people, everything Chen Zheng did was astounding. They had grown so accustomed to such shocks that they almost felt like a normal part of life.

"Brother Zheng, you're a true miracle worker!" Kuang Yuanyuan's voice was filled with excitement and reverence. Her True Qi had surged to an unprecedented level, making her feel like a phoenix ready to take flight.

Chen Zheng smiled, a knowing light twinkling in his eyes.

Huang Hua spoke up to remind him about the water source, but Chen Zheng simply waved a hand, indicating the problem was already solved.

"Thank you, Lord Chen Zheng!" Kuang Nie said, his voice thick with emotion as he bowed deeply.

Meanwhile, Shan Mu and his men looked utterly bewildered, completely unable to comprehend what was happening.

What are they whispering about? Did they really neutralize the Quanhuang Gu Poison? This… how is this possible? The Quanhuang Gu Poison… can it even be cured by mortals?

"Did you… did you really neutralize the Quanhuang Gu Poison?" Shan Mu finally couldn't stop himself from asking the question burning in his mind.

Before Chen Zheng could speak, Huang Hua looked over at him. "Was it… difficult?" Huang Hua asked, a hint of genuine puzzlement in his voice.

Shan Mu was stunned. Not difficult? The Quanhuang Gu Poison is concocted from the venoms of countless Gu insects. The process is so complex even its creator might not remember every single ingredient. And he's asking if it was difficult?

But seeing the confident looks on everyone's faces, Shan Mu started to believe them. His gaze, as if drawn by a magnet, shifted to Yue Gao.

Her clothing was distinctive, allowing him to instantly recognize her identity: an heir of the Guqing lineage.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.