Chapter 65: The Truth of the Poisoning, A Clowning Buffoon

Inside the main hall of the Blood Demon Sect, the atmosphere was so oppressive it was suffocating.

Zhao Gang knelt on the ground, his back almost touching the floor, cold sweat soaking through his clothes.

He tremblingly reported the news of the failed assassination of Ye Chen at the Asking Immortal Tower, as well as the intelligence that both Zhou Chen and Ye Chen had reached the fifth level of the Dao Foundation.

The blood mist on the high seat surged violently, and a crimson light suddenly flared up, making Zhao Gang's eyes sting with pain.

"Useless!"

An angry shout exploded, making Zhao Gang's head buzz, and his Divine Soul felt as if it were being torn apart.

At that moment, a paper crow suddenly appeared, circled once, and landed on Zhao Gang's shoulder; it was a unique communication method of the Blood Demon Sect.

The paper crow quickly shot out a ray of spiritual light into Zhao Gang's mind. Zhao Gang closed his eyes, quietly deciphering the message sent back by the scout.

"Sect Master, a great opportunity! Ye Chen has left the Wenxian Sect, heading toward Baishi City!"

Zhao Gang opened his eyes, suddenly overjoyed.

A palm shrouded in blood-light reached out from the blood mist and slammed hard toward the Third Elder of the Blood Demon Sect from across the room.

"Boom!" The Third Elder flew out like a broken sack, crashing into a hall pillar. Blood mixed with fragments of internal organs sprayed out, and his aura instantly withered.

"Third Elder Chen Zhi, as of today, the authority to mobilize the Blood Demon Guards is transferred to the Grand Elder, and one year of cultivation resources within the sect is docked!"

Xue Lou's voice was bone-chillingly cold. "I will give you one last chance—bring me Ye Chen's head, or else your entire lineage will be cast into the Blood Demon Cauldron for refinement; there will be no need for your existence."

"As the Sect Master commands!"

The Blood Demon Third Elder, Chen Zhi, struggled to crawl up and prostrated himself to give thanks, but deep in his eyes were resentment and profound fear.

"Li Kun!" Xue Lou's voice echoed through the hall.

A gaunt, black-robed old man emerged from the shadows, surrounded by Death Qi, his cultivation having already reached the third layer of the Nascent Soul stage.

"Your subordinate is here."

"You have been lurking in the Wenxian Sect for many years; it is time for you to be useful. Take Wang Ming and Zhao Gang, and assemble ten hidden guards at the ninth level of Foundation Establishment or higher. There must be hidden hands from Liu Qingtian around Zhou Chen; you must act quickly and decisively to slay Zhou Chen! Ye Chen is alone, which is a heaven-sent opportunity. Third Elder Chen Zhi will lead a team to ensure he is ground into dust!"

"We obey the Sect Leader's decree and will surely present Zhou Chen's head!"

Li Kun cupped his hands and took the command expressionlessly.

"Dismissed."

Blood-light circulated within the hall, and the figures of Li Kun and the Third Elder gradually vanished.

The blood mist surged, and Xue Lou's whispers echoed in the empty hall.

"Liu Qingtian… Wenxian Sect… I shall see just how hard your bones are…"

In the Wenxian Sect, inside Zhou Chen's Immortal Cave.

The Myriad Manifestations Treasure Cauldron floated in mid-air, ancient runes slowly swimming across it, emitting a heavy and profound aura.

Zhou Chen forced a drop of essence blood from his fingertip and dabbed it onto the core of the Myriad Manifestations Treasure Cauldron, leaving a spiritual mark. A faint spiritual connection then linked to Zhou Chen's Sea of Consciousness.

Sensing it carefully, he found that this Earth Rank top-grade Myriad Manifestations Treasure Cauldron was indeed very useful, integrating both offense and defense. Even an attack from the Early Stage of the Nascent Soul could be blocked for a moment or two.

Zhou Chen attempted to channel a wisp of the Golden Emperor Glazed Flame into the cauldron.

Buzz.

The treasure cauldron emitted a clear hum, and the runes were instantly lit up. The golden flame became even more condensed and pure, and even the main body of the Glazed Flame within Zhou Chen's Dantian shuddered in response.

"The Golden Emperor Glazed Flame is actually so compatible with this cauldron? Not only can it refine spiritual power, but it can also bring a ten percent boost to the Golden Emperor Glazed Flame. It is quite a treasure."

Zhou Chen understood and put away the Myriad Manifestations Treasure Cauldron.

With this item on him, even if he encountered an old Nascent Soul monster, he would have some capital to maneuver.

Three days later, dark clouds hung low.

Zhou Chen had just learned the miraculous uses of the Myriad Manifestations Treasure Cauldron and was preparing to go to the Scripture Pavilion to look up information related to the Yanhuo Holy Land.

Suddenly, a figure abruptly appeared within his perception, followed at a distance by several Disciples from the Law Enforcement Hall.

"Nephew!"

The visitor had a face full of fawning smiles, but deep in his eyes hid an imperceptible trace of greed.

Zhou Chen stopped and looked at him with a calm gaze: "Oh? It's Second Uncle."

The smile on Zhou Fu's face grew even wider as he lowered his voice.

"Nephew, you are so successful now, bringing glory to our Zhou Family's name! I have decided to propose to the clan that you should preside over this year's Zhou Family Ancestral Hall Assembly!"

The Luocheng Zhou Family held an Ancestral Hall Assembly every year to sacrifice to ancestors, while also encouraging outstanding juniors to challenge each other, with the winners receiving more resource support.

Before Zhou Chen's cultivation was crippled, he had won the first-place reward almost every year. Being allowed to preside over the ancestral hall sacrifices was a supreme honor for every member of the Zhou Family.

However, Zhou Chen gave a cold laugh, took a step closer to him, and his gaze became bone-chillingly cold.

"I have no interest in sacrifices. But does Second Uncle still remember the farewell banquet after I joined the Wenxian Sect a few years ago? How did that bowl of Qi-supplementing and essence-nourishing meat porridge personally brewed by Second Aunt taste?"

Zhou Fu's expression changed drastically, his head feeling as if it had been struck by a heavy hammer.

In an instant, his mind went blank, his whole body turned cold, and a wave of fear immediately enveloped him, his blood seemingly freezing.

"How… how did you know?"

Now that Zhou Chen was a distinguished Disciple of the Wenxian Sect, and especially the Sect Master's Disciple, Liu Qingtian had already had the matter of his previously crippled cultivation re-investigated thoroughly.

It was precisely Zhou Fu, from the second branch of the Zhou Family, who, out of jealousy for Zhou Chen's talent and a desire to ruin the first branch to seize control of the Family, had secretly poisoned him with Demon Boiling Powder, causing Zhou Chen's talent to gradually disappear.

It was no wonder the truth couldn't be found back then; after all, Zhou Fu was a minor Outer Sect Deacon, and making such arrangements was far too easy for him.

However, Liu Qingtian was very good to Zhou Chen, not only investigating the truth for him but also letting him handle the matter. Even if he wanted to wipe out the entire Zhou Family, Liu Qingtian wouldn't even blink.

"Go down and ask the King of Hell; be more careful in your next life."

"Zhou Chen, I was wrong, your Second Uncle is not human, I didn't want to do it, it was all instigated by your Second Aunt, blame her if you must, please don't kill me, I am your Second Uncle!"

Zhou Fu suddenly fell to his knees, weeping bitterly before Zhou Chen.

Zhou Chen showed no mercy. With a flick of his finger, a tiny wisp of golden flame leaped out, the terrifying temperature making the air sizzle as it vanished into Zhou Fu's Dantian Qi Sea.

"Arghhh!"

Zhou Fu let out a shrill scream, his body arching as he rolled on the ground. His Dao Foundation and cultivation were instantly incinerated under this terrifying flame.

Before long, only a pile of black ash remained on the ground.

Looking at the filth on the ground, Zhou Chen couldn't help but frown.

"Clean it up."

Zhou Chen calmly instructed the nearby Law Enforcement Hall Disciples.

Following this, the Disciple took out a black token and said to his fellow Law Enforcement Hall Disciples.

"This person plotted against a fellow Disciple. According to Sect Rule 17, his cultivation should have been crippled, his position as Outer Sect Deacon revoked, and he should have been sent to the Black Gold Mine as a slave, never to leave the mining area for eternity. However, considering that Zhou Fu has turned over a new leaf and voluntarily paid with his life, this matter will no longer be pursued."

The other Law Enforcement Hall Disciples took the command solemnly and quickly cleaned up the remaining black ash.

If Zhou Fu could still hear these words, he would surely vomit blood from anger. What do you mean 'voluntarily paid with his life'? Are you all blind?

Zhou Chen nodded slightly; these Law Enforcement Hall Disciples were very professional, and their procedures were very thorough.

However, Zhou Chen's grudge over the poisoning was not yet over. Once his affairs at the Wenxian Sect were settled, he would have to make a trip to the Luocheng Zhou Family.

After all, Zhou Chen was a very meticulous person. If you don't pull up the roots when cutting the grass, who knows what trouble might sprout up again; the second branch of the Family should be kept together.