Chen Zheng's senses unfurled, focusing intently on Shan Mu. Like a master painter, he perceived every minute detail of the man's body with perfect clarity.

Kuang Yuanyuan's True Qi, like a sharp sword, silently pierced into Shan Mu's body, beginning to devour his life force.

The flower of Shan Mu's life withered in seconds, his cellular vitality plummeting.

Chen Zheng said softly, "Withdraw."

Kuang Yuanyuan immediately retracted her True Qi.

At this point, Shan Mu could not make a sound, lying on the ground like an exhausted dog.

As the crowd watched in bewilderment, Chen Zheng extended his hand. Shan Mu, light as a feather, levitated into the air and floated before him.

Chen Zheng's True Qi surged like waves, causing Shan Mu to open his mouth involuntarily.

With a flick of his finger, a crystalline Yuan Pei Pill shot through the air like a meteor, landing precisely in Shan Mu's mouth.

Instantly, Shan Mu felt a powerful surge of life force churning within him. His corroded cells seemed to be reborn, buzzing with renewed vitality. He stared wide-eyed in astonishment, unable to comprehend what this man was doing. But he would soon understand.

Chen Zheng's perception was as sharp as an eagle's eye; he could feel Shan Mu's cells regaining their vitality.

Chen Zheng spoke again, "Yuan Yuan, continue!"

"Yes!"

Shan Mu's eyes widened. Even a fool could understand now. This man was saving him and tormenting him in the same breath. He refused to endure that terrifying, tearing agony any longer.

"You bastard! You won't get away with this!" Shan Mu roared, his body suddenly erupting with a powerful aura and a foul stench.

"He is wielding the sword of his own life to sever the Gu poison within him!" Yue Gao's voice resonated through the valley, shaking everyone to their core.

Shan Mu's resolve, sharp as a sword, pierced through their astonishment and sparked their admiration.

But just then, Chen Zheng's voice cut through the air, as cold and profound as a winter wind. "In my presence, do you think you can die?"

His words struck like lightning, tearing through the darkness and illuminating everyone's minds.

The next moment, Chen Zheng's hand shot out like a pouncing tiger, grasping Shan Mu tightly. A powerful flood of Nine Yang True Qi poured into Shan Mu's body, blazing like wildfire and instantly cleansing the Gu poison within him.

A scream whirled in Shan Mu's throat but was abruptly stifled. The Gu poison, like specters in the night, vanished. The bone-deep agony disappeared along with it.

"What... what's happening?" Shan Mu stammered, standing petrified as if struck by lightning.

The malicious Gu-insects inside me... they had been a rampaging storm, about to sweep through my body and reduce everything around me to nothing. Yet, at the very precipice of life and death, the poison was cleansed in the blink of an eye?

The two Gu Chi disciples beside Shan Mu were also dumbstruck. They knew better than anyone the predicament Shan Mu had just faced—a hopeless situation with no escape. And yet, Shan Mu had detonated the Gu poison in his Dantian, only to fail at achieving his wish.

Unable to live as he wished, unable even to die as he wished… was this truly his fate?

Chen Zheng's voice, like the first light of dawn rousing everyone from their fear, cut through the silence. "Yuan Yuan, continue!"

Kuang Yuanyuan stepped forward, her hands gently coming together. A stream of pure True Qi flowed from her fingertips into Shan Mu's body.

As Shan Mu groaned in agony, feeling as if his very soul were being torn apart, the members of the Gu Qing lineage watched with worried expressions, their hearts filled with terror for Chen Zheng. The young disciple in particular was as pale as paper, a wave of lingering dread washing over him. If the Grand Elder hadn't intervened, I would be a corpse right now. He stared at Chen Zheng, his eyes brimming with boundless terror.

After a moment, Kuang Yuanyuan withdrew her True Qi. Chen Zheng then gave Shan Mu another Yuan Pei Pill and used a gentle stream of his own True Qi to help him absorb its medicinal power.

"Please, just kill me!" Shan Mu's voice echoed in the air, his plea filled with despair.

However, Chen Zheng's gaze was as cold as ice, and he nodded gently towards Kuang Yuanyuan.

Kuang Yuanyuan understood, her actions decisive and swift. Shan Mu's screams tore through the air once more, followed by the bitter taste of another Yuan Pei Pill and his desperate pleas for mercy.

This cycle repeated itself over and over, like an endless nightmare.

Shan Mu's spirit was on the verge of collapse. His gaze toward Chen Zheng was one of utter fear and despair; in his eyes, the man was a cruel and relentless demon from hell. The Gu Chi lineage considered themselves vicious, but compared to Chen Zheng, they were like a swarm of harmless gnats.

Once more, Chen Zheng gave Shan Mu a Yuan Pei Pill, and his strength recovered slightly.

"I'll tell you everything, just please stop torturing me!"

Chen Zheng raised an arm, forming a barrier that stopped Kuang Yuanyuan's attack. His gaze then shifted to Shan Mu.

"The gathering place of the Gu Chi lineage is at the source of the miasma on Mount Insect King!" Having said his piece, Shan Mu squeezed his eyes shut. "Give me a swift end!"

He had despaired of life, as the pain of living far exceeded that of death.

BANG! Chen Zheng's palm slammed down, releasing a furious burst of True Qi like a raging storm.

Shan Mu's body was flung into the air like a fallen leaf, his flesh, bones, and organs instantly shredded. With a slight smile of relief on his face, his body fell heavily to the ground, his life completely extinguished.

Chen Zheng's gaze fell upon the other two. Was he telling the truth?

Their bodies trembled as if touched by an icy breeze, and they nodded as quickly as they could. They had no desire to follow in Shan Mu's footsteps and endure that unspeakable torment.

[Ding! Congratulations, Host, for successfully completing the task selection. Reward: Upgraded Sky Control.]

[Ding! You have obtained the Lightstream Technique.]

Endless information flooded Chen Zheng's mind like a tide, and his body felt as if it had become a stream of light, capable of traversing miles in an instant. However, he would need to test its specific effects in actual combat.

Chen Zheng wasn't overly concerned with that for now. He simply waved his arm, unleashing his ice skill—Ten-Mile Frost.

An extreme cold instantly erupted around the two Gu Chi disciples, their life force freezing in that very moment. A thick layer of ice completely encased them.

The Grand Elder's eyes narrowed slightly as his Life-Nourishing Heavenly Silkworm conveyed a feeling of coldness to him. This creature, born of mystic ice and fond of the cold, was actually telling him it felt... cold.

"Mount Insect King... that is a land abandoned by both humans and Gu Masters. There, countless unique Gu-insects proliferate, and a permanent miasma shrouds the land like an eternal veil."

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.