Black Water Pavilion.

Shen Yuan held a letter as he ascended to the second floor.

Shen Wen'an, who was cultivating, opened his eyes: "Father, is there something you need?"

Shen Yuan nodded, handed over the letter, and said, "Chongming sent this, saying that he discovered a forest shrouded in toxic miasma in the mountain."

"A group of poisonous miasma centipedes lives inside, and it is suspected that there might be some Heavenly and Earthly Treasures."

Taking the letter for a glance, Shen Wen'an said solemnly, "I will go and see for myself."

The Shen Family's rise was too rapid, with a severely insufficient foundation, and now there was pressure from the Hundred Beasts Mountain and the Western Wilderness Barbarian Race.

Every opportunity that could enhance strength and increase foundation could not be missed.

"Be careful on this trip. If it's too dangerous, don't rashly attempt to take them."

"If you encounter cultivators from the Western Wilderness Barbarian Race, hold back and don't make a move."

Shen Yuan pondered for a moment before speaking.

The Hundred Beasts Mountain had already laid down the law, giving the Shen Family a respite.

If a strong practitioner from the Fetal Breathing Realm truly makes a move, then things would become troublesome.

"Worry not, Father."

Shen Wen'an stood up, cupped his hands, and then used Sword Control to fly towards the depths of Hidden Dragon Mountain.

When he reached the frontline within the mountain and met Shen Chongming, after clarifying the location of the Poisonous Miasma Forest, he directly proceeded to the place.

Looking at the dense toxic miasma before him that was so thick one couldn't see their fingers, Shen Wen'an frowned slightly.

Promptly, he retrieved an elixir from the Storage Bag and placed it under his tongue.

This elixir was the simplest Antitoxic Pill, which even an Alchemy Apprentice could refine, and every cultivator would typically carry some.

With the Antitoxic Pill, Shen Wen'an stepped towards the depths of the miasma.

Rustle!

Rustle, rustle!

While walking through the miasma, occasional slight rustling sounds could be heard around him as if something was swiftly crawling near the ground.

Shen Wen'an extended his Divine Sense to scan the surroundings and saw only some small centipedes not yet threatening, so he bothered not to make a move.

He had felt the cold, eerie aura Shen Chongming talked about and headed directly to that place.

As he delved further, the miasma grew thicker, even showing strange, multicolored hues.

Shen Wen'an frowned, Sword Essence Power welled up within him, immediately forming a cyan barrier over his skin.

The toxicity of the miasma here could already threaten cultivators, and ordinary Antitoxic Pills had limited effect.

To be cautious, he decided it was best to isolate the miasma using Sword Essence Power.

Tap!

Tap!

...

The decayed fallen leaves underfoot, having been eroded by rain and unseen sunlight for years, had long turned into mud, emitting a nauseating odor.

Shen Wen'an crushed a small centipede that had blindly rushed towards him, and a small mound blurred into view before him.

The small mound was roughly a few dozen feet in size, surrounded by hundreds of giant centipedes of varying sizes.

With his arrival, all those centipedes were staring coldly at him.

Scanning those centipedes, Shen Wen'an's gaze directly overlooked them to the top of the mound.

Atop it coiled a much larger centipede.

"Screech!"

Meeting Shen Wen'an's gaze, that massive centipede, four to five yards long, like a hunting dog guarding its food, immediately raised its head, letting out a shrill scream at him!

"Peak of Qi Cultivation…"

Sensing the aura of the giant centipede before him, Shen Wen'an whispered, slightly stirring his Heart Spirit.

Buzz!

The Three-inch Dragon Soul Magical Sword suddenly appeared in front, releasing strands of Sword Qi from the Magic Sword.

That giant centipede seemed to sense a bit of a crisis, its massive body turning restless, yet still unwilling to leave the top of the mound.

Seeing this, Shen Wen'an squinted slightly, looking toward where its giant body was coiled.

A strange plant flickered in and out in the miasma.

The plant stood only about a foot high, its stem showing purplish-red and white hues, its top holding just two thick leaves the size of a palm, without any flowers or fruits.

Was this the thing that beast wanted to guard?

Shen Wen'an stepped forward slowly.

With each of his steps, the centipedes around the mound became restless and shrieked.

Yet, due to the Fetal Breathing Realm aura he emanated, they dared not launch an attack lightly.

As he came within a dozen yards of the mound, those giant centipedes had him surrounded, each fearful of his aura but seemingly at their breaking point.

Should he step forward one more time, they'd swarm over.

Atop the mound, the largest centipede leader now also raised its head, its body covered in strange patterns, screeching constantly, as if declaring its territory.

Shen Wen'an frowned, just about to make a move to slay those demons, but suddenly felt a strange Divine Sense trying to make contact with him.

Looking puzzled at the centipede leader, he finally confirmed that this weak Divine Sense contact came from it.

"Can you understand my words?"

Shen Wen'an said heavily.

The gigantic centipede leader immediately nodded frantically.

Seeing this, Shen Wen'an found it somewhat peculiar.

He heard from Master Pei Zhao that most spiritual demons lacked special opportunities and could only communicate with humans using Divine Sense after reaching the Late Stage of the Fetal Breathing Realm.

A few rare species or those enlightened by experts could refine their Transverse Bone at the Fetal Breathing Realm, speak human language, shed their fur, and take human form, but they would still retain some beast-like traits.

To fully transform into human form, one must achieve the Golden Core Dao.

This centipede leader before him, merely at Qi Cultivation Perfection, had already gained intelligence, knowing to use Divine Sense to communicate with him; that's truly peculiar.

"What kind of treasure is this item?"

Shen Wen'an thought for a moment before speaking.

The centipede leader gestured for a while, then accompanied by a chaotic description with Divine Sense, Shen Wen'an roughly understood what it meant.

It was a poisonous grass it had guarded for a hundred years.

This poisonous grass originally had seven leaves, five of which it had eaten, leaving the remaining two not yet mature.

The Centipede Leader's Divine Sense was frantically surging, essentially saying that this thing is of no use to Cultivators and pleading Shen Wen'an to show mercy.

Shen Wen'an would not easily believe its words, so he used his Divine Sense to carefully inspect the strange plant.

He found the aura emanating from it indeed chilly enough to make one uncomfortable.

Even if he were to seize it, it probably wouldn't be of much use.

More importantly, upon learning that the Centipede Leader can understand human speech and communicate, other thoughts began to form in his mind.

"If you want me to spare you, it's not impossible."

Shen Wen'an said calmly, "This forest belongs to the territory of the Shen Family. If you pledge your allegiance to the Shen Family, I can spare your life and allow you to guard this place with your descendants."

"If you agree, I will leave this treasure to you."

"Otherwise, I will flatten this place to eliminate future troubles."

While speaking, he released fierce Sword Qi from his body, instantly dispersing the surrounding colorful poisonous miasma!

Feeling this aura filled with pure killing intent, a trace of horror flashed in the compound eyes on either side of the Centipede Leader's head.

This Two-legged Beast's aura is too terrifying!

As a Demon Beast, it only gained intelligence by coincidence at the Peak of Qi Cultivation.

But this weak intelligence made it understand one simple truth.

The strong dominate.

Since the Two-legged Beast is stronger than itself, if it agreed, it and its descendants could not only live peacefully in this miasma, but also seek help from this Two-legged Beast if they encounter other enemies.

More importantly, it could keep that treasure.

If it did not agree... the Centipede Leader shuddered internally, seemingly afraid to consider what would happen if they refused Shen Wen'an.

While its simple mind was still weighing gains and losses, Shen Wen'an was already losing patience.

"Not agreeing?"

Upon hearing this, the Centipede Leader didn't dare hesitate anymore and hurriedly nodded its head.

Seeing this, Shen Wen'an nodded slightly.

"In that case, you will wait here, and if people from the Shen Family come seeking help, you must exert yourself to repel enemies."

Then, using Sword Element Power, he drew the Shen Family's seal emblem in the air and said, "Make sure your bugs and descendants see this clearly; this is the Shen Family's emblem, and you must understand it when you encounter it."

"When non-Shen Family members come here, you must still fulfill your duty."

"Of course, if you encounter danger, I will also help you resolve it."

The Centipede Leader frantically nodded.

This was exactly what it wanted.

With a powerful human Cultivator protecting it, it felt a doubled sense of security.

Shen Wen'an reached out and took a rusty Broken Sword from the ground, infusing it with a wisp of Sword Qi sealed within.

"If you encounter danger, break this Broken Sword, and once I sense it, I will come to assist you."

Throwing the Broken Sword to the Centipede Leader, Shen Wen'an sighed inwardly. Back in Qiyun Valley, he had focused on cultivating the Sword Dao, forgetting to ask his master if there were any Spiritual Techniques similar to those in Hundred Beasts Mountain that could tame and subdue Demon Beasts.

For now, he could only resort to using his strength to intimidate the Centipede Leader. If it harbors any rebellious intentions later, he would have to eliminate it.

Leaving this area behind, Shen Wen'an returned to the mountain's frontline.

Shen Chongming hurriedly greeted him, asking, "Third Uncle, is there a treasure inside?"

Shen Wen'an nodded, "There is an unknown Poisonous Grass."

Poisonous Grass?

Shen Chongming's face showed some disappointment upon hearing this, as he thought there might be some powerful Heaven and Earth Spiritual Objects inside.

"Don't be discouraged; this trip was not without gain," Shen Wen'an said, "There is a Centipede Leader at the Peak of Qi Cultivation Realm in that miasma, along with dozens of Poisonous Miasma Centipedes also at the Qi Cultivation Realm."

"I have already negotiated with the Centipede Leader on this trip, and it has agreed to join our Shen Family."

"In the future, if we encounter trouble, we can ask for its assistance."

Shen Chongming was stunned upon hearing this.

He had witnessed firsthand the horror of those Poisonous Miasma Centipedes.

When over a hundred of them were mobilized, in just a few breaths' time, they gnawed a dozen Barbarian Race Cultivators into a pile of bones.

Who would have thought Third Uncle managed to subdue them?

"Go find some Jade Scrolls."

Seeing Shen Chongming looking at him with admiration, Shen Wen'an forced a smile and said.

"I'll be right back, Third Uncle!"

Shen Chongming hurried into the wooden house and brought some Jade Scrolls.

Shen Wen'an infused each one with a strand of Sword Essence Power, saying, "You carry the aura of the Shen Family, and the Centipede Leader should be able to sense it."

"If someone else wishes to ask it for help, they should take these Jade Scrolls, which contain my Sword Essence Power. It will recognize it upon seeing them."

Shen Chongming nodded repeatedly.

"Third Uncle is leaving. Take care of yourself."

Looking at his ten-year-old nephew, who had to guard the most dangerous place for the Shen Family, Shen Wen'an felt uneasy internally.

But for now, there was no feasible solution.

If he takes action, those at Hundred Beasts Mountain in the Fetal Breathing Realm will certainly all mobilize.

At that time, the Shen Family would be in greater danger.

The strength is still not enough.

At this moment, an unexpected thought surfaced in Shen Wen'an's mind.

Treading the path of cultivation for over a decade, he never practiced solely for the pursuit of strength, only progressing step by step in the Sword Dao, naturally breaking through to the Fetal Breathing Realm.

This sudden thought now made him feel slightly disturbed in his previously Sword Heart Clarity state.

Handing the Jade Scrolls to Shen Chongming, he said nothing, directly using Sword Control to leave the place.

In the Black Water Pavilion, Shen Wen'an returned to the second floor and sat cross-legged.

Inside his Dantian, a golden Sword Embryo quietly floated.

Inwardly viewing the Sword Embryo, his previously turbulent heart gradually returned to calm.

Pure...

Shen Wen'an suddenly gained an insight in his heart.

He needed a pure heart, as usual.

Otherwise, in the future, it may be difficult to achieve Flawless Sword Heart.

Thinking about this, he vaguely understood that perhaps this is the most challenging hurdle for a Sword Cultivator to overcome.

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