Chapter 343 342: Life-taking Thousand-leaf Willow

"What's happening? My body..."

The moment Yang Xiao finished speaking, Ye Qinghan felt a deep sense of unease throughout her body, as if something was changing.

Then, she felt a numbness spreading everywhere.

It was especially intense beneath her skin, where it felt like something was pressing outward—a sensation both painful and itchy.

Suddenly, with a sickening RIP, a turquoise branch, like one from a willow tree, pierced through Ye Qinghan's skin.

Then came more.

One, two, three...

In just the blink of an eye.

Ye Qinghan's entire body was covered in these turquoise branches.

She tried to scream.

But an even larger branch burst from her mouth, silencing her.

Seeing this bizarre and terrifying scene, Ye Hongmei's expression changed dramatically.

Because she recognized these branches and knew just how terrifying this poison was.

All traces of her former seductive charm vanished. Trembling all over, she stared at Yang Xiao and stammered, "You... you actually have the Life-taking Thousand-leaf Willow, a poison with no cure! Who... who in the world are you?!"

At that moment, Ye Hongmei, who was always composed and unflappable, finally lost her cool.

As for the poisoned Ye Qinghan, upon hearing the four words "Life-taking Thousand-leaf Willow," she was so terrified she fainted on the spot.

This poison originated from Ancient Times, and as it happened, one such plant had appeared over six thousand years ago in the Eastern Domain of the Profound Sun Continent.

It triggered a calamity that lasted for over a thousand years.

Compared to that, the Evil Sword calamity in the Celestial Cloud Region three hundred years ago was mere child's play.

The moment this poison appeared in the world, it began feeding on the flesh and blood of living beings, taking them as hosts. Moreover, it could fragment its body; as long as a single branch remained, it could survive.

It would then use flesh and blood as nutrients to constantly grow stronger.

And split off even more branches.

It was practically endless and inexhaustible.

Back then, the members of the Ye Family Main Lineage were incredibly powerful and fearsome; there were even True God Level existences among them. Even the mighty Vast Heaven Immortal Sect did not dare send anyone into the territory of the Eastern Domain.

At that time, this place was a paradise for Martial Cultivators—the last sanctuary for them on the entire Profound Sun Continent.

But because of this Life-taking Thousand-leaf Willow...

The Ye Family Main Lineage, once presided over by a True God Level powerhouse, suffered a devastating blow.

Never mind ordinary Martial Arts Powerhouses—even that True God Level Ye Family Ancestor, in his bid to completely eradicate the Life-taking Thousand-leaf Willow, was forced to perish along with the poison's main body.

Only through his sacrifice did the living beings of the Eastern Domain—and indeed, the entire Profound Sun Continent—regain a sliver of hope for survival.

But in the process, the Ye Family Main Lineage—which had always insisted on cultivating the Martial Dao and claimed descent from the Profound Sun Emperor—was destroyed.

The branch now in charge of the Ye Family is the one that once favored the Immortal Dao.

That is to say, the branch of Ye Hongmei, Ye Qinghan, and Ye Qianhan.

Relying on the former prestige of the Ye Family Main Lineage, they established Immortal Dao City in this broken Eastern Domain, truly turning the entire Profound Sun Continent into a world for Immortal Cultivators.

Now, apart from those hiding in the shadows, there were no longer any Martial Cultivators.

Except, that is, for the Celestial Cloud Region.

Therefore, while ordinary people might not know about the Life-taking Thousand-leaf Willow, the key to the destruction of the entire Ye Family Main Lineage, those of the Ye Family's Direct Lineage would not forget it even in ten thousand years.

Their own ancestors had fought against the remnants of the Life-taking Thousand-leaf Willow.

That terrifying poison.

The mere mention of "willow" was enough to make many people turn pale.

That was why even a woman as mentally strong and composed as Ye Hongmei was trembling with fear.

And why Ye Qinghan, that outwardly cold and arrogant woman, had fainted from fright.

Their hearts were filled with immense regret.

And boundless terror.

In that instant, they both suddenly realized.

The person they were facing was no ignorant bumpkin from the Barbaric Region, but a terrifying Poison Master who held their very lives in his hands.

A Poison Master who possessed the Life-taking Thousand-leaf Willow.

The mere thought made Ye Hongmei tremble uncontrollably.

Yang Xiao swept his gaze over her.

She immediately collapsed to the ground, as if the gaze fixed upon her belonged to a prehistoric Fierce Beast.

"Er..."

Seeing this, Yang Xiao was rather speechless.

He had never imagined the Life-taking Thousand-leaf Willow would be this potent.

Originally, he had only planned to use a corrosive poison to ruin Ye Qinghan's skin, making her look incredibly old and ugly to teach her a lesson.

But just as he was about to act, the Bloodthirsty Sword Spirit sent him a piece of information.

It was a memory from Ye Qianhan.

It let Yang Xiao know that a poison like the Life-taking Thousand-leaf Willow had once appeared in the Eastern Domain.

After all, this thing was a very famous poison back in Ancient Times.

Much like the Bloodthirsty Celestial Cyan, it was something that gave flesh-and-blood creatures an extreme headache. However, compared to the Bloodthirsty Celestial Cyan, the Life-taking Thousand-leaf Willow had very low intelligence.

Therefore, the harm it could cause was not as great.

But it was still a very famous poison.

So, Yang Xiao decided to give it a try.

And with that one try...

The Original Poison Gas was truly impressive. It succeeded instantly, transforming into dozens of Life-taking Thousand-leaf Willow seeds that blossomed all at once inside Ye Qinghan's body.

Sprouting one terrifying, life-taking branch after another.

This was the scene that had just unfolded on Ye Qinghan's body.

And the effect...

'Looks like these two women won't dare to have any funny ideas about me anymore.'

With that thought, Yang Xiao's mood improved considerably.

He looked at Ye Hongmei and said coldly, "You see that? What I planted in your body is also the Life-taking Thousand-leaf Willow. If you don't want to end up like her, tell me everything you know."

"Yes, yes, I'll talk right now..."

If this had been Ye Qinghan, she might have had a more extreme reaction.

But Ye Hongmei was completely devoid of any other ideas.

She began to explain everything about the Eastern Domain, everything she knew, everything Yang Xiao wanted to know, leaving no stone unturned.

Gradually, Yang Xiao began to gain a deeper understanding of the entire Profound Sun Continent—or, to be more precise, the region of the Eastern Domain.

Among all the information, what concerned him most was the Profound Sun Secret Realm.

And regarding this point...

Ye Hongmei brought some rather bad news.

"You're saying that as early as thirty years ago, you used clues from the former Ye Family Main Lineage to find the exact location of the Profound Sun Secret Realm?"

Yang Xiao's expression changed slightly.

"Y-Yes. And... it's rumored that word came down from the family's upper echelons. They were planning to use some of the less talented Ye Family disciples for a Blood Sacrifice, to see if they could open the Profound Sun Secret Realm..."

As she said this, a trace of curiosity flashed in Ye Hongmei's eyes.

She couldn't understand why this man was so curious about the Profound Sun Secret Realm.

But at this moment, she didn't dare to ask.

Instead, she remained cautious, terrified that the slightest displeasure from Yang Xiao would make her end up like Ye Qinghan.

Looking at that body, pierced all over with turquoise willow branches, made Ye Hongmei's entire being shudder.

Even if she saw it a thousand more times...

She felt it was utterly terrifying.

Dread.

So when she saw Yang Xiao frown, her heart leaped into her throat.

Only when she realized he wasn't looking at her, but at Yue Lingxi, did she breathe a small sigh of relief.

"Lingxi, it looks like things with the Profound Sun Secret Realm have become troublesome!"

Yang Xiao sighed softly.

Yue Lingxi's expression also grew solemn.

If it was truly as Ye Hongmei said, then it wouldn't be easy for them to even get near the Profound Sun Secret Realm, let alone enter it. It would be very difficult and very troublesome indeed.

But just then, Ye Hongmei's eyes suddenly lit up, though she quickly lowered her head again.

However, Yang Xiao's Spiritual Power had already perceived it.

He looked over at her.

'Could it be that this woman has a way?'