Chapter 275 - 196: Honored Guest Elder

’No wonder I felt a strange sense of panic when I passed through a certain part of Qifeng Mountain before...’

’So it was the Biyou Palace Master, personally stirring up trouble in Qifeng Mountain.’

’The deadliest part was, although I didn’t kill that Giant Spider, I was the one who personally performed the Refinement on the Toad King.’

’I wonder if the Biyou Palace Master has already targeted me because of it.’

’But that shouldn’t be the case. So many days have passed. If the Biyou Palace Master had locked onto me, I shouldn’t have been able to leave Qifeng Mountain so smoothly.’

’But why would the Biyou Palace Master go to Qifeng Mountain to practice her skills? Cloud Mist Mountain, where the Biyou Palace’s main gate is, should be far more suitable for the Cultivation of High Grade Martial Artists like them, right?’

’Or was she just there to raise some pets for fun?’

"Thank you for the reminder, Teng Cave Master!" Zou Feng expressed his gratitude and immediately decided that the Hongxing Gang could indeed no longer stay in Qifeng Mountain.

After a pause, Zou Feng asked tentatively, "I wonder why your Palace Master would go to Qifeng Mountain to practice her skills? I feel like that place isn’t even as good as Cloud Mist Mountain here, is it?"

"I am not sure myself. Do you believe me, Doctor Zou?"

Zou Feng could only manage a smile. "I do!"

After all, there was nothing he could do even if he didn’t believe him. Either Teng Cave Master truly didn’t know, or he knew but couldn’t tell him.

Teng Cave Master was very straightforward and helpful. Right then and there, in front of Zou Feng, he arranged for people to go and assist the Hongxing Gang.

In short, he was going to see his help through to the end, leading the people from the Hongxing Gang through Qifeng Mountain and helping them settle down here in the Southern Border.

This was more reliable than Zou Feng leading them himself. After all, with the Demon Slaying Order on him, he could be ambushed at any moment. Traveling with the members of the Hongxing Gang would only endanger them.

Not to mention, the Biyou Palace Master was still stirring up trouble in Qifeng Mountain. It would certainly be more appropriate for disciples of Biyou Palace to handle this.

Besides, since Zou Feng had previously confiscated the corresponding Communication Jade Talisman from Yuwen Boxi, he had long since left it with Tian Yun.

Therefore, he could pretty much settle the matter by just sending a message to notify Tian Yun.

As for how to arrange for the Hongxing Gang after they entered the Southern Border...

That was actually the least of his worries. They were all Martial Artists, and with two Gang Qi Realm experts like Tian Yun and Bian Yixia, they could temporarily settle on any random mountain.

If worst came to worst, the City Lord of Qingchuan City and his son were desperate for talent and had a deep friendship with him as well. At that point, they could all just move into Qingchuan City.

"I wonder what your plans are next, Doctor Zou?" With the matter settled, Teng Cave Master proactively changed the subject.

Zou Feng’s decision to return to the Southern Border was only partly due to settling the Hongxing Gang.

The other reason, naturally, was that he coveted the resources of Biyou Palace.

Biyou Palace’s predecessor was the Five Poison Sect, and the Five Poison Palm he cultivated upon entering the Martial Dao was originally a part of the Five Poison Skill.

Even the Third Young Master of the Yang Family from the Yang Mansion, who wanted to raise a Human Gu, hadn’t cultivated the complete Five Poison Skill.

Zou Feng even suspected that Yang Yanpeng himself was just a Human Gu being casually raised by some disciple of Biyou Palace.

This wasn’t some wild fantasy. Yuan Guang County was too close to Qifeng Mountain, and Biyou Palace disciples had a penchant for raising poisonous creatures in Qifeng Mountain.

So, it would be perfectly normal for a Biyou Palace disciple to be secretly stirring up trouble in Yuan Guang County.

Hearing Teng Cave Master’s question now, Zou Feng took the opportunity to say, "As a Poison Cultivator, I have a great interest in many of your Sect’s Cultivation Skills..."

Teng Cave Master’s eyes lit up. "Hearing you say that, Doctor Zou, it seems you’re interested in joining our Biyou Palace?"

"I wonder if I might have that opportunity?" Zou Feng had considered this long ago. To get his hands on Biyou Palace’s resources, he needed a pretext to stay for a while.

It would also be a way to avoid the heat from the Demon Slaying Order.

A Poison Skill expert like him would be warmly welcomed in any of the Evil Sects.

Although joining halfway through meant he certainly wouldn’t have any real power and would basically never be truly trusted.

’But that doesn’t matter. I’m just here to fleece them for a short time anyway. I could up and leave whenever I want.’

’But while the plan sounds great, this sheep won’t be so easy to fleece...’

"For a great master of the Poison Dao like you to join our Biyu Palace is something we couldn’t ask for more, Doctor Zou, but..." Teng Cave Master’s tone shifted. "There is one thing I hope you’ll understand. After all, you weren’t nurtured by our Biyou Palace. If you join now, the most you can be is an Honored Guest Elder."

’Becoming an Honored Guest Elder comes with a great deal of freedom. That’s exactly what I want.’ Zou Feng was thrilled, but he knew the truly harsh conditions were yet to come.

"Additionally... if you are to join Biyou Palace, Doctor Zou, you must be placed under the Five Poison Heart Devouring Curse!"

Just from the name "Five Poison Heart Devouring Curse," he knew this thing was far more potent than a Heart Demon Poison Oath, and its effects would likely trigger incredibly fast.

Not all disciples of Biyou Palace were placed under the Five Poison Heart Devouring Curse, but for an Honored Guest Elder, the curse was mandatory.

In the future, if they were to part ways amicably, and provided that Zou Feng made his contributions to Biyou Palace on time during his tenure as Honored Guest Elder, and didn’t harm any disciples or betray the Palace Master, the Five Poison Heart Devouring Curse would be lifted.

Of course, there was also a way for it to be removed automatically.

That was to become a Second Grade expert. At that point, the curse would lose its suppressive effect and deactivate on its own.

After hearing Teng Cave Master’s explanation of the Five Poison Heart Devouring Curse, Zou Feng felt no pressure at all.

’Never mind that my future promotion to Second Grade is a sure thing.’

’The main thing is my ability to transfer side effects. Even if the curse activates, at worst I’ll just start cultivating on the spot and let one of the big shots on the list take the fall for me.’

’To put it bluntly, just like the Heart Demon Poison Oath, it has no binding power over me at all.’

But Zou Feng definitely couldn’t agree so readily. The Five Poison Heart Devouring Curse was another of Biyou Palace’s infamous specialties. For him to accept it so cheerfully without any pressure would seem far too abnormal.