Martial Saint with Passives

"That’s the entrance to the Abyss of Ten Thousand Poisons," Chen Jiayu said, his expression grave.

However, as they approached the valley entrance, they found the area had already been sealed off tight by troops of soldiers clad in Heavy Armor and wielding Long Halberds.

The military formation was imposing, its killing intent soaring to the heavens. It was none other than the Qilin Army, which stood guard over Cangzhou.

The Defender General leading them had an imposing build and a stern face. He was clad in Profound Iron Armor, a Giant Sword as large as a door plank hanging from his waist, and his aura was unfathomable.

He was, in fact, a top-tier expert at the Fourth Layer of True Master Realm!

"Halt!" the Defender General’s voice boomed like a great bell. "This area has been designated a restricted zone. No unauthorized personnel are allowed entry!"

Jiang Che’s brow furrowed slightly. ’This is bad,’ he thought.

’With a True Master Realm expert and an army standing guard, this is going to be difficult.’

Unexpectedly, Chen Jiayu stepped forward calmly, cupped his fist toward the Defender General, and smiled. "So it is General Long Xiang. I trust you have been well."

Upon seeing Chen Jiayu, the coldness on Defender General Long Xiang’s face eased slightly, but he only nodded. "Ah, it is Young Master Chen. This place is treacherous and no spot for leisure. Please turn back."

Fanning himself with a folding fan, Chen Jiayu spoke unhurriedly, "General Long, you misunderstand. We are not here for leisure. We have come on my father’s orders to find a medicinal ingredient for the Lord General’s antidote."

As he spoke, he presented a Token representing the Patriarch of the Chen Family.

Long Xiang took the Token. After examining it, his brow furrowed. He mused for a moment before finally relenting. "Since it is on behalf of the Lord General... very well. But this place is exceptionally dangerous; even my soldiers and I dare not venture deep inside. You have two hours at most. After two hours, you must withdraw immediately, whether you have succeeded or not! Furthermore, everything you bring out must be personally inspected by me!"

"Thank you for your accommodation, General Long."

Hearing this, everyone was overjoyed and hurriedly expressed their thanks.

Following behind Chen Jiayu, Jiang Che couldn’t help but be more impressed by his influence.

’It seems the title of Young Master of the top Noble Family is truly a golden seal of approval in Cangzhou Prefecture.’

...

「Inside the Abyss of Ten Thousand Poisons.」

The moment they passed through the entrance, they were hit by a nauseating stench, a mixture of rot and a sickening sweetness that made one want to retch.

The toxic miasma around them was so thick you couldn’t see your hand in front of your face. Underfoot was an ankle-deep bog of rotten mire that squelched with every step.

The surrounding trees were twisted into shapes resembling writhing ghosts.

A black, foul-smelling sap oozed from their bark.

From time to time, colorful venomous snakes and centipedes would poke their heads out from beneath the dead leaves, making HISSING sounds.

Not daring to be careless, the group quickly took the Antitoxic Pills they had prepared.

Although Jiang Che’s Black Armor Transformation could neutralize poisons, he clearly had no opportunity to transform at the moment, so he took a pill along with the others.

They hadn’t gone far when the mire ahead suddenly began to GURGLE, sending up a series of bubbles!

"Careful!" Qing Ling bellowed, thrusting his Long Spear forward fiercely!

"CROAK!"

Several mutated poison toads, each as large as a calf and covered in green pustules, leaped violently from the mire!

They opened their cavernous maws, their long tongues shooting toward the group like poisoned arrows, while simultaneously spraying highly corrosive venom from the pustules on their backs!

"Courting death!" Qing Ling’s Long Spear moved like an angry dragon bursting from the sea. With a flash of its shadow, it instantly pierced through all the toads’ tongues!

Xiao Qingge, meanwhile, played her Suona. A fierce sound wave spread out, scattering the splattering venom in mid-air and turning it into puffs of acrid green smoke.

Lin Qingyun’s figure flickered, her sword already drawn. A few cold glints of sword light flashed, and the toads were decapitated, black, venomous blood spurting from their necks.

In the blink of an eye, the entire group of poison toads was annihilated.

However, unlike other Black Beasts, the poison toads did not rapidly decompose after death; their corpses remained intact.

"These things aren’t Black Beasts, but they don’t look like normal animals either. What are they?" Qing Ling asked doubtfully.

"They’re said to be a type of natural Exotic Beast, mutated from Black Beasts," Jiang Che explained as he collected venom from the toads.

He had previously read many miscellaneous books in the Scripture Pavilion, some of which contained information about this.

"Natural Exotic Beasts?" Qing Ling was stunned.

Exotic Beasts were created by crossbreeding Black Beasts with ordinary animals.

In the past, they had always been artificially bred. To think there were natural ones here!

"Mm, the Abyss of Ten Thousand Poisons is very strange; all the Black Beasts inside have mutated. Everyone, be careful," Chen Jiayu said, confirming Jiang Che’s explanation.

After collecting the venom, the group continued forward.

Along the way, the five of them displayed their individual Divine Abilities, cooperating seamlessly to slay all sorts of mutated Exotic Beasts.

Jiang Che also found an opportunity to use his Star-Chasing Bow, shooting down a ghostly Poisonous Python that launched a sneak attack from the treetops above.

The others were quite surprised to see that he also knew how to use a bow.

Qing Ling even praised him, saying, "Nice archery."

As they ventured deeper, they collected many precious, poisonous herbs that were rare in the outside world.

Moreover, the corpses of the Exotic Beasts they killed were not wasted.

The Poison Sacs, Tusks, Beast Hides, and so on were all stripped and collected in their respective Storage Bags.

After all, these were excellent materials for crafting Elixir Pills, Weapons, and Armor!

Just then, a sharp shriek that seemed to tear at the eardrums came from the dense fog overhead!

Everyone looked up to see a giant eagle with a wingspan of over ten meters, its black feathers like forged Profound Iron and its sharp talons glinting with a cold metallic light, diving straight for them!

"It’s a Shadow Iron Eagle! An Exotic Beast at the Peak of the Refining Organ Realm! Be careful, everyone, it can turn invisible!" Chen Jiayu exclaimed in alarm.

This type of Exotic Beast was a mutated version of the Black Beast known as the Iron-Feathered Eagle.