Poison Venerable Dugu Qi

Sensing the aura emanating from the white-haired old man before him, Lin Langtian's pupils shrank to the size of pinpoints, for he felt a sense of familiarity within that aura.

This familiarity was exactly the same as the demonic energy in the Ancient Battlefield, the Evil Demon Abyss —eerie and malevolent, devouring the life force of heaven and earth...

"Could this old man have been severely injured by Evil Demon?"

Upon seeing this, Lin Langtian was startled, then guessed what it was and murmured.

No wonder this person's peak strength was comparable to that of the Sect Master of the Eight Great Super Sects, yet he was willing to hide here and could only exert the strength of the Life Profound Stage. It turns out that this was related to the Evil Demon.

And only Evil Demon could force such a powerful being into such a predicament.

As Lin Langtian pondered, the evil aura emanating from the old man began to slowly condense, eventually transforming into streaks of black patterns.

Lin Langtian glanced at the black patterns on the old man's body. These black patterns seemed to be quietly wriggling, as if they possessed a kind of intelligence.

Moreover, this appearance strongly suggests that the old man is suppressing that thing, except that the thing also shows signs of trying to corrupt the old man.

Buzz!

Just as Lin Langtian was staring at those strange Black Mark, the old man suddenly trembled violently. The Black Mark on his body seemed to come back to life at that moment, and countless Black Mark rose up and frantically drilled into the old man's body.

Furthermore, as those Black Mark climbed, faint wisps of Black Qi emanated from them. Wherever the Black Qi passed, an evil and emotionless fluctuation spread out, and some of the Black Qi even rushed towards Lin Langtian at high speed.

Upon seeing this, Lin Langtian's expression changed slightly, and he quickly retreated.

Although these Black Qi were extremely small, they had caused even the old man such a miserable state that Lin Langtian dared not venture into danger.

"Snort!"

Lin Langtian let out a cold snort, and then a dark golden light surged down from his body, an indescribable power spread out, and fiercely suppressed the Black Qi that tried to invade him.

"Hehehe..."

As the Black Qi was suppressed, Lin Langtian could hear what seemed to be an extremely sharp laugh, a laugh filled with an unusually cold evil.

At the same time, seeing that Lin Langtian was able to suppress this sinister Black Qi, the old man who was being entangled by evil Black Mark was also taken aback. Then, looking at Lin Langtian, a look of surprise and delight flashed in his old eyes.

"Help... help me."

The old man looked at Lin Langtian, his previous composure and condescension gone, replaced by a pleading tone.

Although he didn't know how Lin Langtian, at such a young age, had managed to drive away the evil Black Qi, the old man had no choice but to try anything and place his hopes on Lin Langtian.

"Oh, you want me to help you?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Langtian was also taken aback. At the same time, after the danger was over, the powerful force that Spirit Aunt had transmitted slowly faded away, making Lin Langtian feel as if his body had been drained of energy, and the feeling of bursting inside his body also disappeared.

After taking a moment to catch his breath, Lin Langtian looked again at the old man who was struggling to survive, his eyes narrowed slightly, and then he pondered, "I still don't know your name Black Mark, sir?"

Lin Langtian was still debating whether to save the old man. After all, he didn't want to repeat the mistake of the farmer and the snake. What if the old man had a free moment and wanted to kill him first?

Of course, Lin Langtian would not take advantage of the old man's distress. After all, the old man in front of him had been seriously injured in the battle against the Evil Demon. If Lin Langtian were to take advantage of this opportunity to kill him, wouldn't that be too wicked?

Upon hearing Lin Langtian's question, the old man remained silent for a moment, then stared at him and said, "As you know, my original strength should have reached the level of the Eight Great Super Sects of the Eastern Xuan Region, right?"

"Mm." Lin Langtian nodded.

"Then do you know who I am?" the old man asked again.

"I don't know."

Seeing Lin Langtian shake his head, the old man also shook his head helplessly, but then a proud look appeared on his face and he said, "My name is Dugu Qi. You may not have heard of this name, but I think you should have heard of my other name."

"Poison Venerable!"

Upon hearing the words "Poison Venerable, "Lin Langtian was first taken aback, then his expression changed noticeably, and he looked at the somewhat miserable old man in front of him with a strange gaze.

Although he had always stayed in the Great Yan Dynasty, since joining the Yuan Sect, Lin Langtian had learned about some of the top experts on the continent, including the Poison Venerable.

The Poison Venerable is said to be one of the Ten Super Experts of Western Xuan Region. He is aloof and arrogant, and extremely skilled in poison. Once, in a fit of rage, he poisoned an entire city. At the previous Experts Assembly held by the Western Xuan Region and Eastern Xuan Region, he challenged Ren Yuanzi, one of the Three Grand Masters of Yuan Sect, and won by a narrow margin, astonishing the audience.

After that Experts Assembly, Poison Venerable gradually disappeared from the sight of countless people. Until now, the name of Poison Venerable has become a powerful figure in the memories of the older generation in the Eastern Xuan Region and Western Xuan Region, and some even believe that Poison Venerable has perished.

Lin Langtian never expected that the unassuming old man in front of him would be the Poison Venerable who had once defeated Ren Yuanzi. This dramatic outcome was truly astonishing.

"Well, thankfully my reputation hasn't faded with time; you've actually heard of me..."

Looking at Lin Langtian's astonished expression, Dugu Qi's face was solemn, but then he said with a hint of pride.

Taking a slow breath, Lin Langtian shook his head and said, "It is indeed a very surprising answer. I never expected that the super strong person who dominated the East and West Xuan Domains would actually live in seclusion in the Blood Horn Region as a map seller."

"Then, Elder Dugu, how did you end up like this? The strength you displayed earlier seemed to be only around the Life Profound Stage, right? Could it be because of this demonic energy?" Lin Langtian asked softly.

"Oh, demonic energy? You know about the Evil Demon?" Dugu Qi asked in surprise upon hearing Lin Langtian's words.

Even he only recognized the origin of the Black Mark on his body after reading countless ancient books. They turned out to be from the Evil Demon that were driven away by countless powerful human beings in ancient times.

"Well, I learned a little about it by chance," Lin Langtian said vaguely.

Upon hearing this, Dugu Qi glanced at Lin Langtian a few times in surprise, and then a hint of anticipation appeared on his face. Since Lin Langtian knew about the Evil Demon, he might actually be able to help him expel the evil Black Mark.

Immediately afterwards, Dugu Qi recalled the past, a bitter look on his face, and sighed, "After participating in the Experts Assembly in the Western Xuan Region and the Eastern Xuan Region, I came to the Blood Horn Region and obtained that Fragment Map by chance."

However, this Fragment Map also attracted the pursuit of a group of mysterious powerful figures. These people had strange methods and an evil and cold aura. Even I was defeated by them.

Although I managed to escape afterward, I was sealed by the Black Mark of one of the powerful figures. In the years that followed, I was constantly eroded by this evil Black Mark, and my strength could only be maintained at the Life Profound Stage Small Success.

"Just now, during our battle, I couldn't help but use my strength at the Life Profound Stage Great Success, which gave this Black Mark an opening to try and corrupt me."

Dugu Qi sighed, "For so many years, I have been hiding here studying the secrets of that Fragment Map, hoping to find something that can remove the Black Mark from it. But this Fragment Map is only a small part of the whole map. No matter how experienced I am, I can't possibly decipher it."

"So you think I can help you get rid of this Black Mark erosion?" Lin Langtian suddenly raised an eyebrow and asked, his eyes slightly narrowed.

"Um."

"Oh... Elder Dugu thinks too highly of me. I don't have that ability." Lin Langtian narrowed his eyes slightly, then shook his head.

The other party is the infamous Poison Venerable; I can't possibly shoulder this responsibility.

"I can give you this Fragment Map." Hearing Lin Langtian's refusal, Dugu Qi grasped at his last hope and hurriedly said.

"Elder Dugu, do you think you can still stop me from taking this Fragment Map in your current state?" Lin Langtian said with a smile.

Upon hearing this, the old man was taken aback, and his expression immediately turned extremely grave.

Indeed, it's fortunate that Lin Langtian isn't kicking him while he's down. If he were to use the Fragment Map as leverage to ask Lin Langtian for help, then he wouldn't have enough bargaining chips.

"Then tell me, young friend, what price do I need to pay to get you to help me?" Dugu Qi's expression changed, and then he gritted his teeth and asked.

He had had enough of the torment from these evil Black Mark. If Lin Langtian had a way to get rid of them, he was willing to agree to any of the latter's conditions.

"Oh, Elder Dugu keeps his word?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Langtian narrowed his eyes slightly and pondered.

"Hmph, I, Dugu Qi, am a man of my word. If you don't believe me, go to the Western Xuan Region and ask around. When have I ever done anything so deceitful or cunning?"

Even when I poisoned the capital of the Star Luo Dynasty, the First Dynasty of Western Xuan Region, I notified the residents to evacuate beforehand, and only then did I release the poison to destroy the city." Hearing Lin Langtian question him, Dugu Qi immediately explained with an indignant expression.

"Is that so? I thought those who use poison were all ruthless, despicable, and unscrupulous villains..."

Upon hearing what Dugu Qi said, Lin Langtian rubbed his chin and curiously looked at the old man in front of him.

Unexpectedly, although the other party was skilled in using poison, he was an upright person who did not kill innocent people indiscriminately and acted with principles.

"That's a narrow-minded view. What's wrong with using poison? It's just a means of killing the enemy. Since it's a means, why distinguish between good and bad? Does killing someone with a knife make it much more noble than killing someone with poison?"

Upon hearing Lin Langtian's disdain for martial artists who used poison, Dugu Qi immediately retorted with dissatisfaction.

Upon hearing this, Lin Langtian was taken aback, his expression one of surprise, but he could not refute what Dugu Qi had said.

Lin Langtian could only nod with a wry smile and say, "Yes, Elder Dugu is right."

The Heavenly Profound Continent doesn't distinguish between good and evil; people respect the strong. Dugu Qi, the renowned Poison Venerable, actually managed to squeeze into one of the Ten Great Experts of Western Xuan Region using poison, which is indeed worthy of respect.

After this conversation, Lin Langtian developed a certain fondness for this eccentric old man.

"Elder Dugu, I can try to help you get rid of the evil Black Mark on your body, but I can't guarantee whether I can succeed."

After a moment's thought, Lin Langtian slowly raised his head, looked at the expectant old man in front of him, and spoke.

Seeing Lin Langtian nod, Dugu Qi breathed a sigh of relief and then said, "Don't worry, I know all too well the trouble caused by this evil Black Mark."

Even I, an old man, find this extremely difficult to handle. Even if you fail, I will not blame you.

Upon hearing Dugu Qi's words, Lin Langtian nodded, then his eyes flickered as he said, "As for my conditions for taking action, how about you serve as my bodyguard for ten years, sir?"

"What? Ten years as a bodyguard?"

Upon hearing this, Dugu Qi's eyes twitched, and he stared at Lin Langtian in disbelief.

He, one of the Ten Super Experts of Western Xuan Region, who once defeated Ren Yuanzi of the Yuan Sect, is now working as a bodyguard for a young man. If word gets out, wouldn't he be a laughingstock?

Lin Langtian smiled broadly but didn't speak, waiting for Dugu Qi to make his own decision.

Looking at Lin Langtian's smiling face, Dugu Qi frowned, his face full of displeasure. No matter what, he was also a super strong person, and he naturally did not feel honored to be Lin Langtian's henchman.

"Elder Dugu, you should know that relying on your own strength, without some extraordinary encounters, you will probably find it difficult to get rid of this evil Black Mark in your lifetime, and you may even perish."

"As long as you serve as my bodyguard for a period of time, you can get rid of this evil Black Mark. From then on, you will be free. I think you won't lose out in this deal." Lin Langtian's light voice kept hitting the fragile defenses in Dugu Qi's heart.

With a sullen face, Dugu Qi struggled internally, while Lin Langtian did not disturb him further, but found a chair to sit down and waited for his answer.

The atmosphere in the spacious shop was slightly somber and quiet. After a long while, Dugu Qi suddenly let out a muffled groan.

At this moment, Dugu Qi's face turned even paler. The extremely evil Black Mark frantically eroded into his body, leaving Dugu Qi in a sorry state for a while before he was able to suppress them.

Seeing this, Dugu Qi finally sighed helplessly, looked up and stared intently at Lin Langtian, and said in a deep voice, "I can be your bodyguard for ten years, but if we face enemies that I can't handle, don't even think about using me as a shield."

Furthermore, if you deceive me and fail to eliminate this Black Mark, even if it means mutual destruction, I will take you down with me!

"Hehe, no problem!"

Upon hearing this, Lin Langtian pondered for a moment, then smiled and nodded.

A fighter at the Samsara Stage level is extremely rare. If he might defect from the behemoth that is Yuan Sect in the future, having such a powerful and capable assistant by his side would naturally increase his sense of security.