Chapter 454 - 285: Dragon of the Darkness Flame

This incident caused a huge stir, far too big for the Purple Cloud Association to suppress.

And so, news spread like wildfire that an Inner Sect Disciple named Wang Rui, a core member of the Purple Cloud Association, had been killed while trying to make advances on a certain female junior disciple.

Before long, it became a running joke in both the Inner and Outer Sects.

’Wait, while I was using the side effects to mess with Brother Wang, he was planning to go after some junior disciple?’

For Zou Feng, this was undoubtedly good news.

Since the story had already gotten out, it meant Wang Rui’s death had most likely been classified as such, and there probably wouldn’t be a more detailed investigation.

It was likely a coincidence—the side effects must have flared up just as Wang Rui was making his move, leading to him being killed in self-defense by that heroine.

’Now I can only hope that with Wang Rui’s death, the Purple Cloud Association will leave me alone for a while...’

Unfortunately, however, Zou Feng’s hope was quickly dashed.

Although Wang Rui had died suddenly, the trap he had set for Zou Feng was already in place.

He had originally planned to visit the Taian Mountain Dining Hall in person, both to meet Zou Feng and to see how he would react after the incident.

Just after the lunch hour, more than a dozen disciples from the last group to eat suddenly clutched their stomachs, their faces contorted in pain. One after another, they collapsed, wailing and writhing on the ground.

And the one thing they all had in common was that they had all paid for the Celestial Dao Comet Fried Rice, made personally by Zou Feng.

As the Head Chef, Zou Feng immediately left the kitchen to investigate.

He quickly discovered that they weren’t faking it—they were genuinely poisoned.

Seeing the half-eaten plates of Celestial Dao Comet Fried Rice at their seats, Zou Feng instantly realized something was wrong.

The next moment, two Inner Sect Disciples who were "coincidentally" on business at Taian Mountain and had stopped by for a meal, stepped forward at just the right time.

These two, it turned out, were disciples from the Inner Sect’s Law Enforcement Hall, and upon encountering such a situation, they could justifiably launch an immediate investigation.

And so, after a brief investigation and some questioning, the two Inner Sect Law Enforcement Hall disciples stood before Zou Feng.

"Zou Feng, you’ve seen it yourself. They were all seriously poisoned after eating your Celestial Dao Comet Fried Rice..."

"We’ll need you to cooperate with our investigation!"

Zou Feng couldn’t help but think, ’The Purple Cloud Association really has a long reach. They actually got more than ten Outer Disciples to willingly poison themselves in a setup just to frame me...’

’Someone from the Purple Cloud Association must have studied the ingredients of my fried rice.’

’Then, they had those dozen or so disciples ingest something beforehand that would react with those ingredients in their stomachs and create a toxin.’

’Of course, this is all a "coincidence." Once the investigation clears things up, I should be fine.’

’But the problem is, there’s no way these two from the Law Enforcement Hall don’t have another trick up their sleeve...’

"Cooperate with the investigation?"

"That’s right. Come to the Law Enforcement Hall for questioning. As long as we determine their mass poisoning wasn’t your fault, you’ll be released immediately!"

’I’d have to be an idiot to go with them to the Law Enforcement Hall.’

Zou Feng’s expression was calm as he said, "The Celestial Dao Cauldron oversees all things. If you want to know whether this was my fault, we can apply for its judgment. Why is there any need to go to the Law Enforcement Hall?"

One of them sneered. "You think the Celestial Dao Cauldron handles every trivial matter? Besides, get this straight: an Outer Disciple doesn’t have the right to request the Celestial Dao Cauldron’s intervention. Now, if someone had *died*, that might be a different story!"

’So they’re exploiting a loophole...’

’It’s true that over ten people were poisoned, but since no one died, I can’t get the Celestial Dao Cauldron to intervene.’

"Zou Feng, enough nonsense. Let’s go!"

"Like I said, if their poisoning wasn’t your fault, then you have nothing to worry about at the Law Enforcement Hall!" the disciple urged impatiently.

As a Spiritual Energy Realm Cultivator, the faint fluctuations of Spiritual Qi he was emitting already created an immense sense of pressure.

Zou Feng didn’t respond, his mind racing to find a way out of this.

’First off, going to the Law Enforcement Hall with these two scumbags who are clearly in cahoots with the Purple Cloud Association is out of the question.’

’After all, since they’ve gone to the trouble of setting this trap, they must have a way to make sure it’s a no-win situation for me.’

’In the end, even if I manage to survive, they’ll definitely cripple me.’

’Especially since I have no powerful background. Once something happens to me, the whole affair will just be swept under the rug.’

’Gongsun Jinghong and Teng County could raise a fuss and file a complaint?’

’They don’t have enough influence. It would be useless.’

’What about sending a message to He Wenxuan for help right now?’

’There’s no time. And these two won’t give me the chance.’

’At any moment, these two punks could use ’resisting arrest’ as an excuse to capture me and drag me off to the Law enforcement Hall.’

’I won’t even be able to stall for time.’

’In that case, I guess there’s only one way...’

"What did the Purple Cloud Association give you?" Having made up his mind, Zou Feng slowly raised his head, a smirk playing on his lips.

Hearing this, the two men’s expressions darkened further.

"Spouting nonsense is useless. I’ll ask you one last time: are you coming with us willingly, or are we going to have to drag you?!"

Ignoring the threat, Zou Feng continued, "Whatever Immortal Fate the Purple Cloud Association offered you, how about I double it?"

"Resisting arrest, slandering disciples of the Law Enforcement Hall... Zou Feng, you brought this on yourself!"

"Take him!"

The shout seemed to make the entire Dining Hall tremble.

The Outer Disciples couldn’t withstand the oppressive aura of a Spiritual Energy Realm Cultivator.

Seeing that a fight was about to break out, none of them dared stick around to watch. They all scrambled to get away.

This was exactly the situation Zou Feng wanted. He beckoned to the two Law Enforcement Hall disciples with his right hand, taunting, "Come on. You kill me, or I kill you. Either way, someone dies, and then the Celestial Dao Cauldron will have to intervene, right?"

An Outer Disciple telling Inner Sect Disciples he was going to kill them?

The two men, who had been about to capture Zou Feng, couldn’t help but look at each other as if they’d just heard the funniest joke in years.

One of them laughed, his anger turning to amusement. "A piece of trash like you isn’t even worthy of dying at my hands!"

"Don’t worry, you won’t die. But once you’re at the Law Enforcement Hall, you’ll confess to every crime you’re supposed to!"

Before the man could finish speaking, Zou Feng had already taken a heavy step forward. Profound and strange True Qi runes instantly materialized beneath his feet.

Great Universal Hand, Bursting Stance, Samsara Exorcism.

Zou Feng’s arms vanished. In their place, an endless, peerless Palm Force, formed from countless rapidly stacking strikes, blasted toward the two Law Enforcement Hall disciples.

Unlike Thousand Hands Exorcism, which attacked in all directions, Samsara Exorcism was a relentless, crushing force focused in a single direction.

Furthermore, facing opponents from the Spiritual Energy Realm, Zou Feng had no intention of underestimating them. He had already activated his True Man State, and the venom of his Five Poison Palm was laced into the Palm Force.

The two Law Enforcement Hall disciples never expected an Outer Disciple’s attack to be so ferocious. The sneers on their faces froze.

But they were Spiritual Energy Realm Cultivators, after all. As they scrambled to defend, they both unleashed their own Skills.

Their acceptance into the Law Enforcement Hall was proof enough of their outstanding combat prowess.

A "Qi Dissipation Talisman" instantly formed a defense that made the Palm Force vanish like a stone sinking into the ocean.

At the same time, a chain forged of ice crystals and a shackle made of flames materialized out of thin air around Zou Feng.

Before Zou Feng could react, he was bound tightly by the two instruments of torture—one of ice, one of fire—unable to resist.

Seeing Zou Feng bound, the two men breathed a small sigh of relief, though the sudden turn of events had left them a little flustered.

But now that he was bound by these two moves, forget breaking free—the boy’s True Qi would immediately begin to dissolve, and his meridians would suffer heavy damage.

"You’re overestimating your own strength. You have no idea how vast the gap is between a Spiritual Energy Realm Cultivator and an Outer Realm Martial Artist like you... Huh?"

The man’s taunt was cut short by the sudden sound of the ice chain and fire shackle shattering.

From Zou Feng’s right arm, which had been empty just a moment before, a black dragon with a soul-stealing aura materialized, growing larger in an instant.

It quickly transformed into a colossal dragon that seemed forged from black fire.

Then, Zou Feng thrust his right palm forward.

The Evil King’s Baleful Flame Black Dragon Wave roared out, instantly engulfing the two men, their faces a mask of horror and despair.