Chapter 288 - 202: Overwhelming Domination (2)

The surrounding terrain was no longer a rugged, rocky landscape, but a field of craters.

A glance over his shoulder revealed that Ding Gang had already fled so far she was just a tiny black dot on the horizon.

He could only see that tiny dot because his eyesight was exceptionally sharp; in truth, Ding Gang was already a great distance away.

Seeing this, Zou Feng remained unhurried. He dropped to the ground with a THUD and activated the Toad Stance.

CROAK—CROAK—

After his cheeks puffed out twice, his strength was fully gathered.

The next moment, with a thunderous BOOM, Zou Feng shot toward Ding Gang.

Ding Gang’s Qinggong was truly superb. It was why Zou Feng hadn’t been able to close the distance earlier, even with his Drunken Immortal Moon Chasing Step.

But that was only because he hadn’t activated State Two.

Now, with his True Man State fully engaged and the explosive burst from the Toad Stance...

On the other side, Ding Gang was using every last ounce of her strength, desperate to escape the monster that was Zou Feng.

’The word "monster" is usually what other people call *me*,’ Ding Gang thought. She never imagined she’d be the one calling someone else that.

’Especially since this monster is clearly in the same Realm as me, yet he has the power of someone in the True Qi Realm. It’s simply incomprehensible.’

’Good thing I got away quickly. Judging by his previous speed, he shouldn’t be able to catch up... right!?’

The thought had barely formed in her mind when a scorching presence descended from above.

Ding Gang’s face fell in terror. She scrambled to the side, rolling away in a desperate dodge.

"BOOM—"

Amid the explosive sound, Zou Feng landed, looking like a demon incarnate.

"You... You..."

Ding Gang was scared out of her wits. She didn’t dare fight Zou Feng again; she knew it would be pointless.

"You mentioned a way to advance the Five Poison Skill to the level of Extraordinary to Saint." Zou Feng watched her coolly as he spoke, slowly closing the distance. "Tell me about it."

Ding Gang was a smart woman. She knew trying to bargain with Zou Feng—demanding he let her go in exchange for the information—was completely and utterly pointless.

So, without a moment’s hesitation, Ding Gang blurted, "It’s dual cultivation. You have to dually cultivate with the Biyou Palace Master!"

Zou Feng’s brow furrowed slightly at her words.

"With your power and looks, if you offer yourself to her, she’d never refuse another concubine!"

"But you have to be careful... she can suddenly go into a frenzy..." As she spoke, a look of terror filled Ding Gang’s eyes.

The fear wasn’t for Zou Feng; she was clearly lost in a horrifying memory.

Zou Feng pressed on. "You called her a Mad Lady. What exactly happens when she has one of these frenzies?"

Ding Gang immediately looked like she wanted to speak, but hesitated. With a pained expression, she said, "I... I can’t say. If I do... I’ll die!"

’Another Restriction, like the Five Poison Heart Devouring Curse?’

’And was it placed by the Biyou Palace Master herself?’

’It seems this Ding Gang really does have a close connection to the Biyou Palace Master.’

"The Poison of the Gu King. Hand it over."

Since she couldn’t talk about that, he certainly wasn’t going to miss out on the other condition she’d offered: the Poison of the Gu King.

However, Zou Feng’s demand only made Ding Gang look confused.

"The... the Poison of the Gu King? How could I possibly carry something like that with me!?"

From her expression alone, Zou Feng knew he must have made some kind of elementary mistake.

’Can’t be helped. I’m just a self-taught Poison Cultivator, and I haven’t been in Biyou Palace long enough. My knowledge base is still incomplete.’

Apparently, the Poison of the Gu King was too volatile to be carried around.

"Where is it, then?"

Ding Gang had calmed down considerably. "I’ll talk. I’ll tell you everything. Just let me live!"

"Fine."

"Then... then you have to swear a Heart Demon Poison Oath. Otherwise, no one would just..."

Zou Feng chuckled softly and, to her surprise, readily swore the oath.

Ding Gang was suspicious, but the Heart Demon Poison Oath he swore sounded legitimate. Besides, she had no other choice.

"I only know the locations of two of the five types of Poison of the Gu King, and I’ve only managed to obtain one of them."

"The one I have is the Scorpion Gu King Poison. I’ve hidden it in a graveyard just twenty miles east of Qingchuan City.

"It’s deep inside the largest tomb in that cemetery." Ding Gang spoke rapidly, then added, "I can take you there! I guarantee you’ll get the Scorpion Gu King Poison!"

Zou Feng didn’t respond, pressing on, "Where’s the other one?"

"The Spider Gu King Poison... It’s in the deepest part of the Silk Cave in Biyou Palace..."

"You must have joined Biyou Palace recently. Normally, you’d have no chance of getting into the deepest part of the Silk Cave. But the previous Cave Master recently died, and the newly appointed one is only at the Fourth Grade Realm."

"With your strength, you might actually have a chance."

’At this point, Ding Gang shouldn’t be trying to trick me.’

’The conditions she offered weren’t just empty promises. She really can lead me to the Poison of the Gu King, she just failed to mention it was only one of them.’

’But the Spider Gu King Poison is in the Silk Cave?’

’Does that mean the other locations, like the Valley of Ten Thousand Snakes and Hundred-legged Ridge, correspond to the other Poisons of the Gu King?’

’It’s probably not that simple...’

’Still, getting this information is an unexpected bonus.’

’Especially the Scorpion Gu King Poison. I’m pretty much guaranteed to get my hands on it. So there’s no reason to keep Ding Gang alive and risk further complications.’

’Besides, my five minutes in the True Man State are almost up. I’ll inevitably be weakened afterward.’

’Ding Gang would definitely notice, and she’d try to run again. She might even get the deluded idea she could turn the tables on me.’

’And I’m still wary of the endless, vicious tricks this Old Witch has up her sleeve.’

’It was only because my State Two completely crushed her will that she gave up all hope.’

’Otherwise, who knows what other trump cards she’s still hiding.’

’So, she has to die!’

"Thanks!"

Before his voice faded, Zou Feng’s hand shot out like a bolt of lightning, clamping around Ding Gang’s throat.

Ding Gang stared at him in disbelief. She couldn’t understand why he would still kill her to silence her after swearing a Heart Demon Poison Oath.

With a sharp CRACK, Zou Feng snapped Ding Gang’s neck.

At the same time, his Poison Force surged into her body, rupturing her heart.

But Zou Feng still wasn’t satisfied. Keeping his grip on her neck, he checked the List of Gods.

Only when he saw Ding Gang’s name vanish completely did he finally let go.

Now it was time to collect his spoils.

But after searching her for a moment, he found that aside from some broken silver, Ding Gang had nothing of value on her.

’Are all Poison Cultivators this poor?’

’Then again, it makes sense. A Poison Cultivator’s body is their weapon. Unless absolutely necessary, they don’t need to carry anything else.’

’Besides, Ding Gang was in Disguise and infiltrating the City Lord’s Mansion. Carrying Magical Artifacts would have made it easier to expose her.’

’Since Ding Gang doesn’t have anything good on her, I might as well perform Refinement on her toxins.’

After a period of Refinement, however, Zou Feng shook his head in disappointment.

The Refinement did provide some benefits; for instance, the weakness from his five-minute True Man State vanished immediately.

The problem was, the benefits weren’t significant.

First off, he hadn’t practiced a Cultivation Skill that specialized in effectively devouring or refining an opponent’s poisons.

Furthermore, Ding Gang wasn’t a Gu he had raised himself, nor was she a creature with pure, unadulterated venom.

To put it bluntly, her poison was full of impurities. The effects of direct Refinement were far inferior to two people cooperating to let their poisons intermingle.

’Forget it. If you could just grab any Poison Cultivator and refine them for a major boost, then all Poison Cultivators would be mortal enemies. That’s obviously not how it works.’

’Even someone as powerful as the Biyou Palace Master probably has to gain benefits through dual cultivation first before trying other methods...’

Zou Feng didn’t linger. He picked up Ding Gang’s corpse and headed for Qingchuan City.

’I still need this thing to complete the mission.’

As for Ding Gang’s true identity, that would become clear once her body was brought back.

However, Zou Feng had no intention of returning to deliver the body himself.

There were other Biyou Palace disciples in Qingchuan City anyway. He just needed to use his Five Poison Token to notify the palace that the mission was complete.

He could have one of the other disciples take Ding Gang’s corpse back for him.

After all, his top priority was to retrieve that Scorpion Gu King Poison as soon as possible.