At this moment, Medusa swayed her serpentine waist, her gaze fixed on Yun Yun. Pure and holy—these were words Medusa could never possess. The most desired things in the world are those that can never be obtained, and besides, a woman's heart is forever unfathomable.
At this moment, Medusa's gaze towards Yun Yun was blatant provocation, like that of a woman consumed by jealousy.
Yun Yun looked at Medusa and slowly looked away, her gaze as ethereal and uncertain as the clouds in the mountains, yet with a sense of calm and detachment: "Dou Zong? It's not that easy to achieve. It might take me ten or twenty years to break through!"
"Submit like me, and you will immediately possess power beyond your imagination!" Medusa suddenly said, her eyes fixed on Yun Yun, revealing an unfathomable light.
Yun Yun ignored Medusa and instead looked into Jiang Liu's eyes, saying, "I know you are very strong, much stronger than my master. What I see in you is a bottomless abyss, which even the vast sea of clouds cannot fill."
As she spoke, Yun Yun brushed aside the stray hairs that had been ruffled by the mountain peaks, and continued, "My disciple, Yanran, broke off her engagement with the Xiao family in order to have her own happiness and the right to choose her own destiny. How will my fate unfold..."
Gazing at the sea of clouds, a hint of sadness appeared in Yunyun's eyes.
"When I arrived just now, I saw that Yunlan Sect was decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, and the whole mountain was filled with a festive atmosphere. Are you getting married?"
Jiang Liu suddenly recalled the scene he saw through the mist when he arrived on his sword.
"I'm going to marry Gu He. It's a deal of interests. Perhaps my master was training me for this day. He needs me to win over someone who can help the Yunlan Sect advance further, and Gu He, the Pill King, is the best choice in his eyes!"
Medusa gave a pitying look and said, "You're a Dou Huang too, don't you know how to resist? If you don't like him, why did you marry Gu He? Speaking of Gu He, that guy fell into my hands a few days ago, he doesn't have any strength at all! Yun Shan is really short-sighted!"
“How can the clouds and mist in these mountains so easily break free from the mountain’s shackles! Fine, I’ll be unrestrained today… Abbot, I know you are unfathomable. If you can help me reach the Dou Zong realm within three years, I am willing to acknowledge you as my master!” Yun Yun said, looking directly at Jiang Liu.
"Three years, Dou Zong! You underestimate me."
As he spoke, an invisible and colorless flame appeared in Jiang Liu's hand, reflecting on Yun Yun's body and immediately igniting her inner fire, which burned from the inside out.
With a wave of his hand, Jiang Liu sent a burst of inner fire into Yun Yun's mind. Burning her heart and tempering her consciousness, Yun Yun groaned after ten seconds. With another wave of his hand, Jiang Liu pulled the inner fire away.
At this moment, although Yun Yun's clothes were soaked, her eyes lit up, clearly indicating that she had gained a great benefit in just over ten seconds.
Chapter 158 Sweeping Them All in One Wrap
Just then, a vast and powerful aura suddenly erupted within the main hall of the Yunlan Sect. Jiang Liu's use of Heartfire Burning Heart was tantamount to igniting a fire right under his nose, and as a Dou Zong powerhouse, the former sect master of the Yunlan Sect naturally noticed it immediately. Instantly, the Dou Zong aura reached its peak, like a giant dragon awakening from ancient times, descending with unparalleled pressure!
Without Jiang Liu giving any instructions, Medusa's eyes flashed with seven-colored light, and an aura no weaker than Yunshan's shot straight into the sky.
Although the two Dou Zong experts had not yet made a real move, they had already begun to clash. The hundreds of miles of clouds and mist around Yunlan Sect were instantly stirred up by the two forces, causing the wind and clouds to change dramatically, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of a great wind rising and clouds flying.
Yun Yun struggled to her feet and looked towards the direction of the Yunlan Sect's main hall. Her beautiful face, as delicate as an orchid in a secluded valley, was now filled with shock.
"Teacher, he's here!"
"Who dares to trespass on my Yunlan Sect!" As soon as Yun Yun finished speaking, a clear whistling sound suddenly rose from the direction of the main hall. Under Jiang Liu's gaze, a white figure stepped into the void and rushed towards the back mountain.
Yunshan strode through the void, each step covering a hundred meters, his imposing aura like a towering mountain, crushing everything in his path. With each step, ripples spread through the void beneath his feet, and when the ripples dissipated, his figure had already appeared a hundred meters away.
First, he looked at Medusa. As a fellow Dou Zong, he was naturally extremely wary of her. Then he looked at his disciple Yun Yun, and seeing that she was unharmed, he felt slightly relieved. But when he looked at Jiang Liu, his brows furrowed slightly.
He naturally knew in great detail what Gu He had seen and heard among the snake people. He had even studied Jiang Liu's portrait carefully last night, and he never expected to meet him so soon.
However, he sensed no threat whatsoever. He could only perceive that the man standing beside Yun Yun showed no trace of battle aura, seemingly just an ordinary mortal without any cultivation. But how could that be? It could only mean that his strength far surpassed that of a Dou Zong, something he simply couldn't perceive!
Yunshan was sizing up Jiang Liu, and Jiang Liu was also looking at him. This former sect leader of Yunlan Sect was dressed in a very simple white robe. A gentle breeze blew, and the robe fluttered, giving him an air of otherworldly elegance. He didn't look very old. His face didn't have the wrinkles that old people should have. Instead, it was like a piece of warm jade that radiated light. If it weren't for his snow-white hair, one would think he was a young man.
Before Yunshan could speak, Yunyun stepped forward and said, "Master, please forgive your unfilial piety. I am to marry into Guhe and cannot comply. Today, I must go down the mountain for a long journey. Please do not stop me."
"Traveling far away? You might as well say you've betrayed your sect!" Yunshan sneered.
"Your disciple wouldn't dare!"
"What are you afraid of?"
Jiang Liu pondered for a moment, then suddenly interjected, "Is Gu He still here?"
"Guhe?" Everyone was taken aback, wondering what his intention was in suddenly asking about Guhe.
With a sweep of his divine sense, Jiang Liu transformed into a sword light and shot forward. Just as Yun Shan blocked it, a few strands of white hair fell from his forehead, startling him so much that he abruptly withdrew his hand. If that sword had struck his neck, it wouldn't have been as simple as a strand of hair.
A dozen seconds later, Jiang Liu returned, carrying a middle-aged man in his hand. His face was full of bitterness, but he was extremely tough, gritting his teeth, holding his head high, and his eyes showed a solemn expression.
"What is your purpose in capturing me? Why would a powerful figure like you make things difficult for a nobody like me?" As he spoke, he turned to look at Yun Yun, a hint of realization in his eyes, and said with a wry smile, "I already know your purpose, sir. I will descend the mountain now and never set foot in the Yunlan Sect again!"
Although he was polite and modest, he was cursing Yunshan in his heart: Yunshan, you old bastard! Yunyun has such an unfathomable old lover, and you want me to marry her? You're killing me!
"I think you're not going anywhere!" Jiang Liu said calmly.
"You jest, sir! I did nothing!" Gu He's expression had vanished completely. He then turned to Yun Yun and said, "Sect Leader Yun, say something! I, Gu He, don't want to die like this without knowing why!"
Jiang Liu released Gu He and said, "I heard you've already reached the sixth rank of alchemist. Do you want to reach the seventh rank, or even higher? Do you want a different kind of fire?"
As he spoke, a ball of azure flame rose from Jiang Liu's palm, blooming like a blue lotus.
"This is the Azure Lotus Earth Core Flame, the strange flame you've always wanted. I can grant you the right to use it."
"A strange fire?" Gu He swallowed hard and said, "What do you need me to do?"
"Work for me. This Jiama Empire is too small. Come with me to Zhongzhou, where true men can roam freely!"
"Zhongzhou?" Gu He's heart eased slightly. Looking at the lotus-shaped strange fire, he nodded and said, "Alright, I'll go with you."
A wise person naturally knows how to make choices. He believed that if he said "no," he would definitely be killed.
"Alright, let's go!" Jiang Liu didn't say a word to Yun Shan from beginning to end. After he finished speaking, he picked up the three of them and flew away on his sword.
Yunshan stood amidst the sea of clouds, watching the river flow disappear into the horizon. His fists clenched, his face contorted, and he uncontrollably threw a punch at the mountain peak beside him. In his rage, he smashed the mountaintop to pieces with a thunderous roar.
...
"Master, where did you obtain this cauldron?" In the palace of the Snake-People tribe in the Great Desert, Gu He stroked the huge medicine cauldron in front of him with both hands.
The medicine cauldron was quite large, covered with all sorts of strange patterns. On its body, lifelike images of ferocious beasts were carved. When their ferocious mouths were wide open, if one listened closely, one could faintly hear strange roars coming from the medicine cauldron. All these strange features showed that this crimson medicine cauldron was extraordinary.
"This is the Myriad Beasts Cauldron, obtained by Han Feng, the Medicine Emperor of the Black Corner Region. It also contains the medicinal formulas he collected and some alchemy materials. Take it with you!" With that, Jiang Liu tossed him a deep blue high-grade storage ring.
"Thank you, Abbot. When shall we go to the Central Plains?"
"Wait a little longer, they should be back soon!" Jiang Liu said, looking at the clear blue sky. "By the way, how's the pill research going?"
"The pills that the abbot gave me to study are indeed profound, but the only way to find substitute materials to refine them is to go to Zhongzhou. Among them, the Soul Nourishing Pill and the Yang Rejuvenating Pill are probably fifth-grade pills, and the Luo'e and Gathering Spirit Pills are about sixth-grade. However... I wonder if the abbot has a fully formed Soul Gathering and Body Refining Pill. The fine powder in that jade bottle is indeed difficult to analyze."
Jiang Liu shrugged and said, "I've consumed all the pills, only the powder remains. This pill is of great use to me, and perhaps it will be of great use to you as well. If you can refine a pill of the same type, even if its efficacy is only 30%, I will consider you to have made a great contribution."
Just as the two were talking, a seven-colored light came from the horizon, and Medusa landed in the hall, holding an unconscious little girl in her hand. She said, "Master, I have not failed in my mission. I have captured the Jade Serpent Three-Flower Pupil!"
As soon as she finished speaking, a streak of azure light flew in from the horizon. The sword light landed, revealing a figure. There was a woman standing next to Yun Yun.
"Little Fairy Doctor, I've invited her!"
Chapter 159 Clash between Shushan and Doupo
"Sister Yun said you can cure my afflicted poison body?"
Little Fairy Doctor looked at Jiang Liu and got straight to the point.
Under everyone's gaze, the little fairy doctor raised her chin and said, "If you can't cure it, then I'm leaving!"
Jiang Liu looked the stubborn woman up and down. She was wearing a light blue dress, and her slender waist, which was tied with a green ribbon, was so small that it could not be encircled by a hand. Although her appearance was not stunning, she was still a rare beauty. Her serene smile exuded a fresh and ethereal temperament, which was somewhat similar to Yun Yun, but also completely different.
Medusa looked at Little Fairy Doctor, then at the host of "Azure Serpent Three-Flower Pupil" whom she had captured, a strange look appearing in her eyes. She thought to herself: Could it be that the Abbot likes little lolis? I've heard that there's a type of human who particularly enjoy raising lolis. The Abbot wouldn't be that perverted, would he? In my Serpent-People race, if that were the case, it would be a minimum of three years, and at most the death penalty!
Jiang Liu laughed and said, "If you leave, there will be no hope of curing the poison. If you stay, there may still be some hope!"
"What is the Calamity Poison?" Medusa asked.
Little Fairy Doctor looked at the voluptuous Medusa Queen, then looked down at herself, feeling somewhat ashamed of her own immoral behavior.
Jiang Liu pointed at Little Fairy Doctor and explained, "The Calamity Poison Body is a strange poisonous body that can rapidly increase its strength by consuming poisons. The way to identify the Calamity Poison Body is that there is a thin, seven-colored hidden line on the lower abdomen. The seven-colored line will grow with the concentration of poison contained in the body. When the seven-colored line extends to the heart, it is the strongest moment of the Calamity Poison Body. At the same time, it will also suffer the pain of being devoured by all kinds of poisons."
As Jiang Liu's fingers moved, Little Fairy Doctor suddenly felt as if his fingers were teasing her lower abdomen, and her face turned red and her body trembled slightly.
"How will you cure my poison?"
"I cannot cure this. Only you can cure this poison yourself. I have a cultivation method. If you can comprehend it, you will not only be able to cure your poison, but your strength will also greatly increase."
As he spoke, Jiang Liu took out a handwritten book with the four large characters "Hundred Poisons True Scripture" written on it.
"The Hundred Poisons Manual? Is it even more powerful than my Seven-Colored Poison Manual?"
As she spoke, Little Fairy Doctor casually flipped through the book. It contained a vast array of information, covering topics such as poison preparation, raising Gu worms, refining treasures, and even the Green Robe Ancestor's demonic arts. It was the foundation of the Southern Demonic Sect, and although Jiang Liu had only translated a portion of it, it was not something Little Fairy Doctor could fully comprehend with just a glance.
After glancing through it briefly, Little Fairy Doctor frowned and was about to return it to Jiang Liu. But for some reason, she started reading it word by word from beginning to end, her brows furrowing tightly.
At this moment, Guhe looked at Jiangliu with hopeful eyes, but hesitated to speak.
Jiang Liu knew exactly what he was thinking and said, "You haven't even mastered those twelve meditation methods, how can you expect to learn the later ones? You should focus on understanding them first! Haste makes waste. You don't need to fight anyway, so just focus on refining pills for me. One day, you will be able to look down on all living beings."
"The abbot's teachings are correct, Guhe has learned his lesson!"
Jiang Liu looked at Medusa and Yun Yun again and said, "Medusa, the Twelve Meditation Methods are the real mystery. You are focusing on the fighting methods of the Bear and Bird, which is putting the cart before the horse. If you are stubborn and do not understand, your future achievements will never be stronger than Gu He's. Don't be fooled by your current increase in strength. You will regret it in the future."
Medusa feigned a pitiful appearance and said in a coquettish voice, "Master, this meditation method is too boring and not suitable for me. Why don't you give me a different mental cultivation method?"
"Alright, then I will teach you the purification mantra. Don't bite off more than you can chew; I hope you understand!"
Yun Yun stood quietly to one side, holding the Azure Ox Sword, a mid-grade spiritual weapon, in her hand. Jiang Liu had taught her the sword-controlling technique of the Wudang Sect in Shu Mountain—the Thousand Swords Compendium.
"Master!" Suddenly, Little Fairy Doctor knelt down before Jiang Liu, kowtowing three times with a "bang bang bang" sound, and said, "Master, please take me as your disciple and teach me!"
"Take you as a disciple?" Jiang Liu stroked his chin and said, "I never thought about taking on a disciple! Get up first! I'll teach you the cultivation techniques, but let's forget about taking you on as a disciple!"
"Thank you, Master Xie!"
"Master of the Temple, everyone calls you Little Fairy Doctor, what's your real name?"
"I have forgotten my original name. Please, Master... Abbot, bestow upon me a new name!"
"The previous owner of this technique was called Green Robe, and everyone called him the Green Robe Ancestor... Since you are destined to be with him, then you shall call him Green Robe!"
"Green robes!" Little Fairy Doctor nodded, then held the book and began to study it word by word once more.
Medusa pointed to the unconscious woman with the "Azure Serpent Three-Flower Eyes" and said, "How will the abbot arrange this woman? The Azure Serpent Three-Flower Eyes is an extremely strange and powerful ability."
This woman doesn't seem to be very old; she looks even younger than Little Fairy Doctor. She's dressed in a light green, elegant outfit. Although she's petite, she's surprisingly well-developed, though she looks a little immature.
She has a lovely, delicate oval face, like a beautiful porcelain doll.
With a groan, she slowly opened her eyes, regaining consciousness. Her eyes scanned her surroundings, her timid appearance like that of a frightened little rabbit, which inevitably evoked a feeling of pity in one's heart.