Chapter 347: Into the Mountains, Poison Lair

Wangchuan had learned his lesson.

Back in Huishui County, all sides had joined forces to deal with the Blackwind Stronghold, only for Qingyi Sect Master Feng Shaoguang to betray them. As a result, Instructor Yu died, Escort Leader He Han died, and the Yulong Gang suffered grievous losses.

He would not make the same mistake again!

Who knew whether this batch of hired, unidentified second-rank martial artists might stab him in the back?

If he was going to do it—

he would do it himself!

Seeing the resolve in Wangchuan’s eyes and the firmness in his expression, Divine Physician Shen hesitated again and again before finally deciding to trust him. He handed over a medicine chest filled with detoxifying powder.

Then he revealed the secret passphrase used between the people of Medicine King Valley.

“Hall Master Wangchuan, I leave this to you!”

“Mm.”

After leaving the infirmary, Wangchuan ordered Chen Ergou to stay behind and guard the hall. He himself, together with Zhao Heiniu, disguised themselves, boarded a boat, left Sanhe Commandery, and headed for the Sanjiang Branch Helm.

He did not move the men at the hall.

There were people at the Sanjiang Branch Helm.

As soon as the boat reached the Sanjiang Branch Helm, Wang Yuehui—already having received a carrier pigeon message—arrived with Hong Kaibao, Yang Feiyue, Li Qing, and others, with their men fully prepared. One hundred and twenty first-rank martial artists boarded in succession, put out into the middle of the river, and joined up with Wangchuan’s boat.

A force of one hundred and thirty men in total, fully armed, set out for Huishui County.

The boat did not dock at the pier, but instead moored nearby.

A few disciples were left behind to watch over the vessel. The rest crossed the official road and plunged into the mountains.

Zhao Heiniu was already a seasoned second-rank martial artist. With detoxifying powder smeared over his body, he took point and opened the way.

The disciples of the Sanjiang Branch Helm had not known the purpose of this operation before, but only after entering the mountains and applying the detoxifying powder did they suddenly understand.

This was clearly the prelude to striking the Five Poisons Sect branch helm.

Everyone felt both nervous and excited. Men were raised for a thousand days for the sake of one day’s use!

Zhao Heiniu knew this mountain region very well and quickly found a path that was often traveled.

The entire group immediately began using their movement skills and rushed deep into the mountains.

Around noon, they approached the Blackwind Stronghold.

The Blackwind Stronghold had long since gone cold. There was no one inside.

“From here on, we’re entering the territory of the Five Poisons Sect branch helm. We may come into contact with them at any time. Everyone, stay alert.”

Wangchuan gave the order.

The men all nodded and heightened their vigilance.

This was when Wangchuan’s 《Xuanwu Art》 truly came into its own.

As the team advanced, more and more venomous insects, snakes, and centipedes appeared nearby.

Wangchuan could sense these threats from a great distance. Without changing expression, he silently drew arrows from his quiver…

《Five-Finger Rapid Flick Technique》!

Centipedes, venomous snakes, poisonous toads, venomous scorpions…

Every single one of them.

The moment he raised the bow, he shot.

Three quivers were quickly emptied.

At that moment, Zhao Heiniu discovered that the Hall Master’s perceptive ability had surpassed even his own. Wangchuan could always detect the hidden threats long before he did, and Zhao Heiniu was overjoyed.

The team pushed forward several more li.

Ahead, the number of venomous insects, snakes, and poisonous centipedes only kept increasing.

The advance began to feel increasingly difficult.

“So the Five Poisons Sect branch helm truly deserves its reputation.”

“This place really is one giant poison lair.”

“No wonder their branch helm leader dared to leave without staying behind to oversee it…”

An ordinary person would have fled in terror long before ever reaching the vicinity of this poison lair.

Wangchuan, however, did not care at all.

With 《Xuanwu Art》 protecting him, his five senses had been greatly enhanced, and none of these venomous creatures could escape his awareness. They were perfect targets for training 《Five-Finger Rapid Flick Technique》…

As the number of poisonous creatures grew,

Wangchuan also began directing Zhao Heiniu, Wang Yuehui, and the others to strike together, accelerating the clearing of every poisonous creature they encountered along the way.

The experience points for 《Five-Finger Rapid Flick Technique》 were practically increasing in jumps of three at a time.

Before long,

Wangchuan had already emptied dozens of quivers.

“Ding!”

System prompt:

“《Five-Finger Rapid Flick Technique》 has advanced from ‘Integration’ to ‘Perfect Mastery,’ rewarding 2 points of Strength, 1 point of Agility, 1 point of Stamina, and 1 point of Spirit.”

“Detected: 《Five-Finger Rapid Flick Technique》 has reached ‘Perfect Mastery.’ Martial art transmission ability has been unlocked!”

“You may now consume 100 points of internal energy and three hours to create one manual of 《Five-Finger Rapid Flick Technique》. Limit: one martial arts manual per day.”

Wangchuan’s heart surged with excitement.

This mountain range was practically his blessed land. Every time he came here, he reaped huge gains.

Wonderful!

But very soon, he noticed traces of people ahead.

Two disciples of the Five Poisons Sect were hurrying through the forest.

One had a Bamboo-Leaf Viper coiled around his hand.

The other had a vividly colored venomous spider crouched upon his shoulder.

“Hurry, hurry.”

“Let’s go see what happened.”

“All those little things on the outer perimeter have become restless…”

“It had better not be some great venomous creature.”

Wangchuan heard their conversation.

The two of them were clearly coming toward his group.

The poisonous creatures of the Five Poisons Sect branch helm were not used merely to intimidate enemies. They also served as warnings.

Fortunately, they could not speak. Otherwise, Wangchuan and his men would already have been exposed.

Wangchuan did not hesitate. He silently raised the Yellow Dragon Bow…

Internal energy poured into it.

《Five-Finger Rapid Flick Technique》!

The whistle of a sneak arrow split through the forest.

By the time the two men heard it, it was already too late to evade.

Their bodies convulsed as though struck by lightning, and their throats and hearts were pierced clean through!

Two fatal strikes directly emptied the HP of the two first-rank martial artists.

Wangchuan then smoothly drew the bow again…

The spider and the Bamboo-Leaf Viper on the corpses were also nailed dead to the bodies.

“We’re close now.”

Wangchuan continued pushing forward in silence.

When they reached the two dead disciples of the Five Poisons Sect, they saw that many venomous insects had already gathered around the bodies.

A thought stirred in Wangchuan’s heart, and he drew out his Thousand-Forged Longsword.

A cold flash swept through the air.

With one strike, clear, watery ripples of moonlight-like sword radiance cut through several poisonous centipedes and venomous scorpions.

The experience for 《Water-Moon Sword Art》 actually jumped several points in one go.

Wangchuan’s eyes lit up.

With quick, broken footwork, he chased after the centipedes, scorpions, and venomous snakes, his sword light cutting through them one after another…

Every single one of these poisonous creatures was actually judged to possess the strength of a Quasi-Martial Artist, and killing them granted experience points.

Every one of them was a precious source of experience.

Kill!

When Wangchuan saw that the other corpse nearby was still crawling with poisonous creatures, he slashed out several more times, and his experience points rose without pause.

Wang Yuehui and the others also quickly reacted.

All the venomous insects in the surrounding area were slaughtered.

The next moment, Zhao Heiniu climbed a tree and gazed into the distance for a while before calling down:

“Hall Master!”

“I found it!”

“Up ahead is the cave entrance. There are Five Poisons Sect disciples guarding it.”

Wangchuan nodded and ordered:

“Everyone, keep the noise down.”

“I’ve heard the Five Poisons Sect branch helm has three exits!”

“Zhao Heiniu, take one team! Old Yang, you take another! I’ll make contact with Medicine King Valley’s people.”

Zhao Heiniu and Yang Feiyue both nodded.

The one hundred and thirty men quietly split into three groups, swiftly cleared away the poisonous creatures nearby, and then settled into ambush positions.

Without even realizing it, Wangchuan had already killed more than five hundred poisonous creatures…

“Ding!”

System prompt:

“《Water-Moon Sword Art》 has advanced from ‘Practice Makes Perfect’ to ‘Entry-Level Mastery,’ rewarding 3 points of Agility.”

The Five Poisons Sect truly was a fine place!

Wangchuan was in an excellent mood.

Then, as the sound of an owl echoed through the forest, someone quickly came out of the cave belonging to the Five Poisons Sect branch helm. A small bell of fine pieces hung at the person’s waist, ringing crisp and clear with every step.

“So it’s a woman.”

Wangchuan recognized her at once as the Medicine King Valley disciple whom Divine Physician Shen had said was lying low here.

She was not yet thirty, had an ordinary appearance, and cautiously approached the bushes.

“So it is Hall Master Wangchuan of the Caobang. ‘Xiumei’ greets Hall Master Wangchuan.”