“What’s the issue with these two peaks?” Elder Lu glanced at the two towering mountains but saw nothing unusual, asking with a hint of curiosity.
“From here, both paths converge at the Fire Toad’s lair. However, the left peak harbors a group of legendary Flying Purple-Striped Scorpions. Though only a dozen or so, each is extremely ferocious. If we pass through that area, we’ll almost certainly provoke them, and the consequences would be dire.” Marquis Nanlong hesitated before explaining.
“Purple-Striped Scorpions? The same vicious creatures that once wiped out the entire Lanhai Sect in Wangshui Kingdom?” Lu Weiying gasped, his voice trembling.
Han Li’s expression also darkened at the mention of the Flying Purple-Striped Scorpions, his heart pounding.
“Exactly. And the ones here are even more formidable—each has lived for tens of thousands of years, their bodies now deep purple,” Marquis Nanlong sighed.
“Marquis Nanlong, are you joking? Scorpions of that caliber are beyond our ability to handle. Two or three might be manageable, but a dozen? We’d be walking to our deaths!” Lu Weiying snapped, glaring at the Marquis.
“So, Brother Lu prefers the other route? That path is even more perilous. Between here and the other peak lies a zone riddled with invisible spatial rifts—too many to avoid or even detect. Crossing it would be just as dangerous as facing the scorpions.” Marquis Nanlong wore a helpless expression.
Lu Weiying froze. Invisible spatial rifts? That was no safer than confronting a dozen Purple-Striped Scorpions.
As the old man stood stunned, Han Li gazed into the distance, his eyes flickering with thought.
“It seems the Venerable Cangkun took the rift-filled path back then. His abilities allowed him to sense the hidden rifts,” Han Li remarked coolly, his tone unreadable.
Marquis Nanlong sighed. “Exactly. Unlike him, we lack such powers. That’s why I believe battling the scorpions is the lesser evil.”
“Absolutely not! I’ve personally fought these scorpions before—their terror is beyond your imagination. A dozen would mean certain death!” Lu Weiying shook his head vehemently.
His vehement opposition surprised Marquis Nanlong, who had assumed the three of them could handle the scorpions together. Now, doubt crept into his expression.
Meanwhile, Han Li frowned, recalling records of the Purple-Striped Scorpions from the Exotic Insect Ranking.
Ranked fourteenth, just below the Gold Devouring Beetles, these ancient insects were revered by the late Beast Taming Sect cultivator Han Li had killed. Had they reproduced more prolifically, they might have surpassed the Gold Devouring Beetles.
Though lacking the latter’s all-consuming ability, their near-indestructible bodies, wind-like speed, and lethal venom made them fearsome. The scorpions here, having thrived in the Fallen Devil Valley for millennia, had evolved into their ultimate dark-purple form—terrifying beyond measure.
Marquis Nanlong seemed only vaguely aware of their danger, while Lu Weiying, likely scarred by past encounters, was visibly terrified.
Watching the Marquis’s grim expression, Han Li smirked inwardly. Bringing up the scorpions only now, at this critical juncture, reeked of deceit—forcing them into a corner with no choice but to proceed.
Han Li pondered, searching for a way to exploit the scorpions’ weaknesses. Taking the rift-filled path would reveal his ability to detect spatial rifts—his greatest advantage in the valley, one he’d never disclose unless absolutely necessary.
As Han Li deliberated, Lu Weiying stood rigid with anxiety, while Marquis Nanlong stared at the scorpion-infested peak, his expression shifting uncertainly.
The three remained deadlocked, trapped between two deadly options.
After a long silence, Han Li’s eyes lit up, and he smiled faintly. Though the others appeared distracted, they noticed his shift immediately.
“Brother Han, have you thought of a solution?” Marquis Nanlong asked eagerly.
Lu Weiying also fixed his gaze on Han Li, who didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he retrieved a small green vial from his storage pouch.
“Have you heard of the Ten Deadly Poisons?” Han Li asked calmly.
“The Ten Deadly Poisons? I’ve heard they’re lethally potent, capable of killing even cultivators instantly. Fellow Daoist Wei Wuyue’s venomous techniques, for instance, harness the Corpse Viper’s toxin—anyone within ten zhang of him risks instant death. The others are rarely mentioned,” Lu Weiying said, surprised.
“But I’ve heard each poison has unique properties. Is that vial one of them?” Marquis Nanlong’s voice quickened as he eyed the bottle.
“Indeed. This contains the Green Plume Poison, refined from the saliva of the demonic Green-Beaked Plume bird. Its stench is unforgettable, and it’s irresistible to venomous insects,” Han Li said, holding up the vial.
“Brother Han, you mean…” Lu Weiying’s face brightened with realization.
“Why fight the scorpions when we can lure them away? A few puppets smeared with this poison should suffice,” Han Li said briskly.
“Ah! Of course—your puppet arts make this effortless,” Marquis Nanlong beamed.
Han Li’s expression remained neutral, but inwardly, he scoffed.
*”How convenient—shifting the burden onto me. His Thousand-Mile Larks could’ve done the job too. After losing several puppets to that ancient serpent last time, I’m not eager to sacrifice more.”*
Though annoyed, Han Li nodded calmly. This wasn’t worth a confrontation—not when he still needed the Marquis’s guidance. The Green Plume Poison had been among the treasures in Venerable Cangkun’s box.
As an alchemy expert, Han Li had recognized its potency instantly and stored it carefully. Now, he wondered: Had Cangkun left it specifically for these scorpions?
But the Venerable’s meticulous planning for future treasure-seekers felt suspicious—too generous, too calculated. The three-headed, six-armed demon statue in his ruins also hinted at deeper schemes. Since Marquis Nanlong claimed Cangkun as an ancestor, he likely knew more.
Regardless, once Han Li secured the Fire Toad’s demon core, he’d part ways immediately—avoiding any entanglement in their affairs.
With his mind set, Han Li summoned four or five ape puppets from his storage pouch. He prepared small jade vials, each with a drop of the viscous green poison, sealed them, and handed them to the puppets.
Under his mental command, the puppets sped toward the left peak, guided by Marquis Nanlong.
Once they were halfway, Han Li turned. “Let’s move. We can’t let the puppets get too far ahead. Who knows how long the scorpions will chase them? We must cross swiftly.”
The others agreed, following the puppets’ trajectory.
As the apes reached the peak and Han Li’s group closed within a few li, they masked their auras. Simultaneously, the puppets crushed their vials, releasing the pungent odor.
The scent spread instantly, and the apes bolted in another direction as white streaks of light.
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