Chapter 87 The Demise of the Five Venoms Sect

Xu Boqing did not take the main road leading out of Xiyu Valley but instead headed straight through the dense forest. His body seemed utterly weightless, the rugged mountain paths unable to hinder him in the slightest. Though his feet trod on fallen branches and withered leaves, he left not a single footprint, nor did the brittle leaves make a sound beneath him. The miasma that lingered in the woods dispersed before it could even touch his skin, unable to approach him at all. The venomous snakes and scorpions of the forest, too, behaved as if they could not see him; even as he passed right by, they remained oblivious.

He drifted along, untouched by the dust of the mortal world. When he finally caught sight of the sprawling buildings nestled within Xiyu Valley, he knew at once that this must be the headquarters of the Five Poisons Sect. His eyes flickered with some unspoken thought before he set off toward the cluster of buildings. It had nothing to do with whether there were women here, nor was he yearning for the luxurious life of the palace. The place was simply too barren and inhospitable for him to waste any more time.

…

Xiang Shao looked out over the assembled sect members, his brow throbbing with anger. He knew that the Five Poisons Sect had operated in these lands for centuries, earning considerable renown in the martial world. The disciples below him were accustomed to throwing their weight around, placing no one above themselves. He also knew that Huikong, the abbot of Prajna Temple, was one of the five who attempted to assassinate Emperor Yonghe that night.

According to rumor, Prajna Temple was exterminated by General Xuanwu because their actions were too brazen, provoking public outrage and drawing the attention of the imperial court. On the surface, this explanation made sense, but when connected with the assassination attempt, the reasoning seemed less solid. Was it perhaps Emperor Yonghe’s retribution?

He had pondered this question, but what of it? The Five Poisons Sect had been rooted here for centuries; could he truly disband the sect and send everyone away based on a mere suspicion? Yet the current state of the sect reminded him all too much of Prajna Temple before its destruction.

At that moment, a woman of enchanting figure and captivating beauty entered the side hall, carrying a tray of tea. As the sect members inside caught sight of her, a fiery hunger lit their eyes. Her looks were exquisite, and though the poison arts she practiced had left her lips a faint shade of purple, this only added to her allure. Most striking of all was her slender, snake-like waist, accentuated by the exposed-midriff attire of the southern frontier, making her every movement irresistibly seductive.

She approached Xiang Shao, poured him a cup of tea, and then began to knead his shoulders from behind, her tone coy and playful. “Husband, you just came out of seclusion—how could you not inform me?”

“There were matters to attend to…” Xiang Shao, seeing his lovely wife, could not help but smile, patting her hand as he replied, “You must have had a hard time while I was away.”

“Nonsense…” she chided, pinching him coquettishly, her eyes brimming with affection.

“Hahaha…”

---

Xiang Shao burst into hearty laughter. If there was anything in life more satisfying than marrying a charming wife late in life, it was that she was both understanding and truly loved him.

Just as he was reveling in her affection, he suddenly sensed something amiss. His laughter faded as he looked toward the main entrance, his face full of surprise and suspicion. At some point, a young man in a pale moon-white robe had appeared at the door. Xiang Shao was certain that this newcomer was not a disciple of the Five Poisons Sect.

“Tut, tut…” Xu Boqing clicked his tongue as he stepped into the main hall. Surveying the crowded room, he remarked with a casual smile, “Quite a gathering—saves me the trouble of searching.”

The sect members all noticed the uninvited guest. The elders and protectors frowned deeply, but before they could speak, a group of disciples already began to shout angrily.

“How dare you!”

“Who are you?”

“To trespass into our council hall unbidden—let’s see how many lives you have to lose!”

Some, driven by impatience or a desire to impress the sect leader, leapt forward—some wielding toxic palms, others flinging poisoned darts—attacking the intruder. Their faces twisted with rage or malice, but when they saw him brush his sleeve with ease, their expressions shifted at once to terror.

The gleaming darts flew back, embedding themselves in the roof beams. The attacking disciples spat blood, sent hurtling across the hall until they crashed into the walls and slumped to the floor.

“An innate realm master!” Xiang Shao stood up, shocked and uncertain. The woman behind him, too, covered her mouth in disbelief. The elders and protectors in the hall, upon hearing “innate realm,” all rose to their feet, their faces drained of color. The disciples drew their weapons or prepared to unleash their poisons—the atmosphere in the hall was tense as a drawn bowstring.

“Who are you?” Xiang Shao demanded harshly. “To intrude into our council hall without announcement, and to injure our disciples in public—”

“Who I am isn’t important…” Xu Boqing shook his head, his gaze sweeping the council hall as he asked casually, “Xiang Shao, are all your Five Poisons Sect members present?”

“Courting death!” Xiang Shao, furious at his arrogance, spat the words through clenched teeth and launched himself into the air, both palms striking at the unruffled young man.

Energy surged around him—his left palm coiling into a blue snake, his right turning into an ice silkworm—an awe-inspiring display. Seeing that the young man made no effort to dodge, Xiang Shao, feeling insulted, poured even more force into his strike. If you won’t dodge, then die!

---

Killing intent radiated from Xiang Shao as his twin palms descended. But his face changed in an instant—his mighty strike seemed to hit an invisible barrier, stopping several feet from the young man, unable to advance a hair’s breadth further.

Worse still, he found his body frozen in mid-air, as if seized by an invisible giant hand—no matter how he struggled, he could not break free from that overwhelming restraint.

Then, to his horror, he sensed the inner strength he had cultivated over so many years surging out of him uncontrollably, draining away as if a dam had burst.

Before everyone’s eyes, Xiang Shao’s face withered, wrinkles etching themselves visibly, his hair turning ashen and brittle. When his inner energy was fully depleted, he fell from mid-air, landing on the ground, his eyes clouded with bewilderment and pain.

In just a few short breaths, he had been reduced, before all present, from an innate realm martial master to a powerless, dying old man.

His trembling finger pointed at Xu Boqing, his lips quivering: “You… you…”

Xu Boqing did not spare him a glance. Instead, he reached out with both hands toward the sect members on either side of the hall. The elders, protectors, and disciples of the Five Poisons Sect now truly understood the meaning of terror.

Perhaps due to their cultivation of poisonous arts, or the impurity of their inner strength, the energy extracted from them shimmered with a myriad of colors. In an instant, the hall was filled with rainbow-like streams of energy, dazzling to behold.

Cries of agony echoed through the council hall. The young and weak, though their appearance barely changed, were left stunned and terrified.

Xu Boqing gathered the “rainbow” in his palm, absorbed it, then glanced around and pointed toward the door. “No one outside. You may leave.”

With that, his gaze shifted to the woman seated behind the main dais—there was still one more with inner strength.

The sect leader’s wife, having witnessed the Five Poisons Sect’s members reduced to cripples, was already shivering in fear. Now, seeing him look at her with interest, she felt a spark of hope. Years in the sect had taught her well the meaning behind such a look, and she was keenly aware of her own assets.

She forced a seductive smile, swaying her hips as she approached Xu Boqing. When she stood before him, her dewy eyes full of promise, she whispered, “Sir, spare my life… I can be of great use to you.”

“Of use?” Xu Boqing looked her up and down, his interest piqued. “And just how might you be useful?”

Utterly ignoring Xiang Shao, who still lay nearby, the sect leader’s wife licked her lips and drew even closer, her voice fragrant as she whispered, “Sir, I have practiced martial arts since childhood, and I have mastered the Art of the Lingering Tongue…”

“Oh?” Xu Boqing feigned surprise, sitting casually in a chair and saying, “I must admit I’ve never seen such a technique.”

He paused, then added, “But you have only half an hour to prove yourself.”

With a wave of his sleeve, a surge of energy swept the half-dead old men from the hall, slamming the doors shut behind them.

The sect leader’s wife caught his meaning at once, knelt gracefully at his side, her face a mask of alluring charm. “I will make sure you are satisfied…”