"What? Giving up so soon? Looks like I overestimated you after all, haha!"
Seeing the undisguised worry in Yang Xiao's eyes, Xuan Tianzhan burst into a smug laugh.
He assumed Yang Xiao was worried about his own predicament.
Xue Yi, on the other hand, gave him a rather surprised glance. 'Would this guy, who seems unfazed by anything, really be worried about his own situation?' she wondered.
Of course, she wouldn't voice this question.
"Brother Yang, what do we do now?"
It was Hanx Ziye who sounded anxious.
Seeing Hanx Ziye anxiously appear before him, still in control of the Heaven-Fighting Divine Palace, Yang Xiao just smiled. "It's fine. You and Little Purple stay inside the Divine Palace and enter my Sea of Consciousness. I'd like to see if Xuan Tianzhan and the rest of these clowns dare to follow me in!"
Yang Xiao gave a mocking smile.
He had come up with an idea amidst the crisis.
And that was to continue exploring.
To keep advancing into the depths of Poison King Valley.
So, after recalling the Heaven-Fighting Divine Palace, Yang Xiao strode forward.
He paid no mind to Xuan Tianzhan and the crowd of Barbarian Beast Kings outside.
This move absolutely infuriated Xuan Tianzhan.
"You rotten Yang Xiao! You're at death's door and you still dare to put on airs! I'd like to see how long you can keep up that tough talk! Golden Wing Roc King, you promised me you'd kill him."
Xuan Tianzhan looked toward the Golden-winged Roc.
He certainly didn't have the courage to chase after Yang Xiao himself.
He could only pin his hopes on others.
"Don't worry. That brat is only acting so arrogant because he thinks we don't dare to go in. Poisonous Flood Dragon, you're the most familiar with poisons, and your ancestor was a Poison Dragon under the Celestial Poison God King. The task of forcing this kid out falls to you. Don't get greedy for glory; just force him out. This Peng will handle the rest personally. Understand?"
The Golden-winged Roc summoned an ugly, humanoid Barbarian Beast King.
"You got it! Don't you worry, Peng King."
The humanoid Barbarian Beast King gave a sinister chuckle, flicked out a long, forked tongue, and transformed into a massive Poisonous Flood Dragon, slithering toward the Poison King Valley.
Its body was covered in a poisonous mist that formed a natural protective layer, blocking any external toxins from entering.
It moved through the intensely toxic valley as if it were completely unimpeded.
"Peng King, that Poisonous Flood Dragon fellow is truly impressive. I bet it won't be long before he can take that guy..."
A Barbarian Beast King with a pig's face and two large tusks stepped forward to speak, but before it could finish its sentence, a bloodcurdling scream echoed from the distance.
"It hurts! Damn you, Celestial Poison God King! Harming me even after you're dead... No, I don't want to die! Peng King, save me!"
In the distance, the Poisonous Flood Dragon Barbarian King, who moments ago had been brimming with confidence that he could easily catch Yang Xiao, suddenly collapsed beside a small pool of liquid, his entire body festering as his flesh corroded away.
He melted into a pool of blood.
The expressions of all the Barbarian Beast Kings present changed drastically at the sight.
"Th-this..."
Xuan Tianzhan also jumped in fright.
Originally, although he had heard this was Poison King Valley, the residence of the Celestial Poison God King, he saw Yang Xiao strolling through it as if it were a leisurely walk in a garden.
He had thought it was no big deal.
But now, he was stunned.
That was a Tier Six Barbarian Beast King! Any one of them would be an Overlord Level existence in the Celestial Cloud Region. Even his own ancestor, Xuan Tianxin, might not have been its match.
It died just like that.
How was this even possible?
But soon, endless jealousy welled up in Xuan Tianzhan's heart.
'Even a Barbarian Beast King was poisoned to death, but that little bastard Yang Xiao is still alive. No wonder the Golden Wing Roc King said he might have obtained the Celestial Poison God King's inheritance. No, this can't be!'
Xuan Tianzhan's expression instantly turned venomous.
He glanced around.
He was looking for the next target to send to kill Yang Xiao.
At the same time, the Golden Wing Roc King was also getting a headache.
Seeing the Poisonous Flood Dragon King's gruesome death, even the sycophantic White Pig King shrank back.
The other Barbarian Beast Kings were even more hesitant.
They wouldn't even meet its gaze.
Even with its immense authority, forcing its subordinate Barbarian Beast Kings to their deaths was something the proud Golden Wing Roc King couldn't bring itself to do.
Just as it was considering taking action itself...
Xuan Tianzhan suddenly spoke up. "Xue Yi, you go."
"Her?"
The Golden Wing Roc King was startled for a moment, but then it laughed. "Yes, she's the most suitable. If this Peng is not mistaken, she should be on the verge of death but used a Desolate Divine Fruit to preserve her physical body, correct? The Desolate Divine Fruit is filled with the Power of Time. Ordinary poisons can't kill her. But... what about her strength?"
Xuan Tianzhan didn't even glance at Xue Yi, speaking directly to the Golden-winged Roc as if to himself. "Back outside, her strength was likely on par with Yang Xiao's. As for now, who knows? Still, it's good to have her test the waters. If the Desolate Divine Fruit's effect on the body can truly resist the poison's invasion, then I can give the Peng King a Desolate Divine Fruit. As long as we can kill that brat, it's a small price to pay."
He had become ruthless.
Although the Desolate Divine Fruit was extremely valuable and would be a great help to him in comprehending the Celestial Desolation Swordsmanship and becoming the master of the Northern Wilderness Sword Mansion, killing Yang Xiao was the most important thing right now.
Although Xuan Tianzhan felt the sting of it, he was willing to part with it.
"Good, very decisive. But treating your own subordinate this way... is she willing?"
Ironically, even as a Barbaric Beast, the Golden-winged Roc would consider the feelings of its subordinates and not force them to their deaths.
But Xuan Tianzhan, a human, clearly had no such compunctions.
Instead, he sneered, "Now I understand why you agreed to the Ancestor's request to help me once. It was for the Desolate Divine Fruit all along, hehe. A single Desolate Divine Fruit can let someone on the verge of death live for another thousand years. That's quite a bargain, isn't it!"
"Now, I won't force you. As long as you help me this one time, your debt to my Profound Celestial Sect will be cleared. How about it? Xue Yi, don't tell me you're scared?"
It was both a taunt and a dare.
At the same time, he directly exposed Xue Yi's secret.
At this moment, Xuan Tianzhan was truly using every trick up his sleeve, holding nothing back.
But Xue Yi only gave him a detached look. "I promised the Profound Celestial Sect I would do one thing for them, and I will see it through."
After speaking, Xue Yi said no more.
She strode into the Poison King Valley.
Without a hint of hesitation, without pausing for a single step.
Seeing her determination and fearlessness, even the Golden-winged Roc was inwardly shaken.
It couldn't help but feel a trace of admiration for Xue Yi.
As for Xuan Tianzhan, whose eyes held only smugness and calculation, its opinion of him fell even lower.
'A person who would even scheme against his own subordinate... Such a person is unworthy of being called a living creature.'
'But what does that have to do with this Peng?'
It sneered inwardly.
The Golden-winged Roc saw that Xue Yi had already walked past the spot where the Poisonous Flood Dragon King had died.
Although poisonous gas swirled around her, it showed no signs of invading her body.
Its eyes lit up.
'The Desolate Divine Fruit is truly miraculous! This way, even if this woman can't kill that brat, this Peng will personally take action. We'll see what ability that brat has to withstand this Peng's pursuit then!'
The Golden-winged Roc's heart was set at ease.
And far in the distance, Yang Xiao stared at the thick fog before him, his expression grave.
It was as if he had encountered an insurmountable problem.