Chapter 498 - 249: Entering the Poison Cave, Refining the Gu King

Chapter 498: Chapter 249: Entering the Poison Cave, Refining the Gu King

「The next day.」

After reaching an agreement with Lady Lan, she quickly fulfilled her promise, ordering Ouyang Ke to take Chen Sheng and Sun Yuzhi to explore the Poison Flame Cave.

Ouyang Ke didn’t refuse.

But there was barely a smile on his face—a stark contrast to the warm, cheerful demeanor he had shown when he first met Chen Sheng the day before.

The reason, of course, was their conversation from the previous night.

The reason Ouyang Ke had tried so hard to befriend Chen Sheng was largely in the hope that Chen Sheng would put in a good word for him with Nie Lingshan.

Chen Sheng’s fiancée, Nie Lingxi, was Nie Lingshan’s full sister. The significance of this connection was obvious.

He had held high hopes for this, the flame of anticipation in his heart burning brightly.

However, Chen Sheng’s few words the previous night had been like a bucket of ice water, chilling him to the core.

Chen had told him frankly:

He was better off not wasting his time on Nie Lingshan.

The eldest young lady of the Nie Family had long since made up her mind and had no interest in a marriage alliance. Furthermore, as the Great Elder’s own granddaughter, her status was so lofty that not even the family could easily force her hand.

Rather than fixating on her, it would be more prudent for both the Nie Family and the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect if he chose a different, more suitable partner for an alliance.

Ouyang Ke had naturally been indignant when he first heard this, his emotions in turmoil.

But after Chen Sheng methodically laid out the pros and cons, Ouyang Ke, despite his immense reluctance, had to admit that Chen’s advice represented the most rational path forward.

Nie Lingshan’s resolve was absolute. No matter how deep his infatuation, he could hardly hope to sway her in the slightest.

Unless his potential proved so astounding that it made the entire Nie Family sit up and take notice, only then might he be able to force a different outcome.

But that was clearly a fantasy.

Ouyang Ke knew his own limits. Although he was on the Dragon and Tiger List, he was ranked near the very bottom.

The Nie Family’s previous interest in an alliance had been partly due to his potential, but mostly it was a move to bring the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect into their fold as a key ally.

His own standing was far from enough to make the Nie Family change its mind.

But the problem was...

A knot of frustration was stuck in Ouyang Ke’s chest, and he had no way to release it.

He had fallen for Nie Lingshan at first sight, captivated by a single, breathtaking glimpse. Now, all the hopes and dreams he had nurtured since were nothing but an illusion.

For Ouyang Ke, who was used to getting his way and was incredibly proud, this was more than just a setback; it felt like a silent, personal rejection.

He had coveted this marriage, driven by a subconscious, obsessive need to prove himself.

Yet reality was so harsh.

Chen Sheng didn’t press the issue.

He had said what needed to be said. Whether Ouyang Ke chose to listen was up to him.

That was all he could do.

Fortunately, Ouyang Ke wasn’t the type to get hung up on things he couldn’t change.

After all, as the Young Master of the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect, he had his own pride.

He had simply been unwilling to face the truth before.

After Chen Sheng’s rational analysis, he had finally been forced to accept reality.

It was just that his feelings were still in turmoil, and he hadn’t had time to fully recover from the blow.

"Chen, this is the Poison Flame Cave."

The group stopped before a cave tucked into the mountainside, its stone door sealed shut.

Ouyang Ke composed himself and pointed to the cave to introduce it. Then, from a jade box held by an attendant, he took out an inch-long, ink-black stick of incense and handed it to Chen Sheng.

"This is called Hundred Poison Incense. It’s refined from the essences of a hundred high-grade, exotic poisons. Once lit, its fragrance will cause the vast majority of poisonous creatures in the cave to retreat."

"Thank you, Ouyang."

Chen Sheng took the black incense, which was cool to the touch, his gaze falling upon the heavy stone door.

Ouyang Ke forced a smile and said no more. With a flip of his hand, he produced a Restriction Token engraved with intricate insect patterns and channeled his True Essence into it.

The Token glowed faintly, and invisible ripples spread through the surrounding air.

RUMBLE—

A dull rumble echoed from within the mountain as the stone door, which had seemed fused with the rock face, slowly swung inward.

A blast of scorching, foul air erupted from within, like the breath of a great beast.

The heatwave swept across the ground outside, making a faint SIZZLE and leaving behind scorch marks—a testament to the virulence of the poison contained within the cave.

"Chen, Sun Zhenfu, please, be extremely careful."

Ouyang Ke’s expression grew serious.

"There are no fewer than ten thousand types of poisonous creatures in the Poison Flame Cave, many of them bizarre and dangerous. Even a Profound Mastery Cultivator cannot afford to be careless. If you feel anything is wrong, or if the incense is about to burn out, you must exit immediately."

"Thank you for the warning."

Chen Sheng nodded, exchanged a glance with Sun Yuzhi, and stepped into the cave without further hesitation.

The moment he stepped inside, Chen Sheng lit the Hundred Poison Incense.

A wisp of pale gray smoke, carrying a strange, pungent fragrance, rose and coiled around the two of them, lingering in a three-foot radius without dispersing.

The scene within the cave was instantly revealed.

The light was dim, with only a few fluorite deposits embedded in the rock walls emitting a faint, eerie green glow.

As far as the eye could see, the ground, the rock walls, and even the stalactites overhead were crawling and slithering with all manner of venomous creatures.

Eight-faced Ghost Spiders spun fluorescently glowing poison webs; two-headed vipers flicked their hissing tongues; crimson, fire-like Mangu Toads squatted on slick stones; and thousand-legged white centipedes scuttled about with a rustling sound...

These deadly creatures, so rare and feared in the outside world that the mere mention of their names made people pale, were as common as household pests here.

The arrival of the two intruders immediately disturbed these denizens.

Countless compound eyes and venomous pupils glinted in the darkness, all filled with cold hostility.

Several of the most ferocious-looking creatures reared up, poised to attack.

However, as the pale gray smoke from the Hundred Poison Incense drifted toward them, all the commotion and hostility vanished as if quelled by an invisible hand.

As if encountering a natural predator, the venomous creatures hastily recoiled, forming a bizarre, empty circle about ten feet around Chen Sheng and his companion.

"This Hundred Poison Incense truly is incredible."

Sun Yuzhi murmured, a flicker of amazement in her eyes, though her body remained unconsciously tense.