Changes in Chu Yun

Changes in Chu Yun

The power structure of the Chu Yun Empire was actually rather similar to that of the Gama Empire.

The Chu Yun Imperial Family and the Alchemist Guild naturally both existed.

But unlike the Yun Lan Sect, which stood alone and supreme in the Gama Empire, the Chu Yun Empire had two top-tier forces. One was Centipede Sky Mansion, located in the Chu Yun Imperial Capital, and the other was the Ten Thousand Scorpion Gate in the Sky Scorpion Mountains.

Both possessed more than one Dou Emperor-level expert, so across the entire Northwest Continent, they could be said to dominate their own regions.

And today, these two great forces, which might not have been all that harmonious on ordinary days, had each sent a Dou Emperor expert to gather in the Chu Yun Imperial Capital—to be precise, at the Alchemist Guild within the Chu Yun Imperial Capital.

Inside the Alchemist Guild, the president of the Chu Yun Alchemist Guild, the Rank 5 Alchemist and Dou Wang expert You Li, wore a face full of smiles as he welcomed the guests from the two top forces.

"Brother Xie Shan, Brother Wu Ya, it has been a long time."

"Hehe... President You Li is truly too courteous."

The old man with a centipede scar on his face, Centipede Sky Mansion Master Wu Ya, said with a smile, "Since it was President You Li's request, how could this old man dare call it a request for help?"

"Brother Wu Ya speaks very rightly."

An unattractive smile appeared on Xie Shan's face, as though he were merely mechanically forcing his already paralyzed facial muscles to bunch together.

"Since it was President You Li's request, the two of us naturally needed no further words. We would certainly come to assist."

Among the three people currently addressing one another warmly as brothers, both Xie Shan and Wu Ya were peak Dou Emperor experts, yet at this moment, they were chatting and laughing cordially with You Li, who was only at the peak Dou Wang realm.

From this, it could also be seen that even in the Chu Yun Empire, where Poison Masters roamed everywhere, the status of the Alchemist Guild had not been affected in the slightest. In fact, there were faint signs that it was rising even higher.

After all, among all things in the world, between medicine and stone, something could be medicine, and it could also be poison. How it was used depended entirely on the person.

Medicine could be used to poison others, and poison could naturally also be used to cure illnesses and save people.

Between the two, there was actually no overly clear boundary.

Alchemists could already refine medicinal pills to increase cultivation, and in the Chu Yun Empire, the Alchemist Guild also handled almost ninety percent of all poisonous substance transactions. It could be said to hold both medicine and poison in its hands. Even top forces like Centipede Sky Mansion and the Ten Thousand Scorpion Gate, which could run rampant through the Chu Yun Empire, similarly did not dare offend it. Instead, they had to speak politely and treat it with great courtesy.

This was also why a mere Dou Wang Rank 5 Alchemist could, with a single request, call over the leading figures of two powerful forces to help him.

You Li smiled and said, "You two, the matter for which I called you here has already been explained clearly in the letters. Have you come today to accompany me to the Netherworld Poison Swamp?"

It turned out that half a year earlier, after he had happened to obtain news that the Netherworld Poison Flame, ranked twentieth on the Strange Fire Ranking, might very likely be born within the Netherworld Poison Swamp, You Li had decided that he had to seize this opportunity no matter what.

Thus, he had sent invitations to both the Ten Thousand Scorpion Gate and Centipede Sky Mansion, requesting that each dispatch a Dou Emperor expert to help him go to the Netherworld Poison Swamp and obtain the Netherworld Poison Flame.

After half a year, the two great forces had finally given their replies, and they had completed this request and transaction in a manner that almost left You Li unable to believe it.

After all, even You Li had not expected that the leaders of both great forces would actually be willing to come and help him obtain the Netherworld Poison Flame. The gloom and resentment born from his letters sinking without a trace at first had, in an instant, vanished along with his excitement.

After all, that was a Strange Fire!

An existence enough to make countless alchemists flock to it like ducks to water!

What was more, it was the Netherworld Poison Flame, which could be said to be the Strange Fire in this world most suited to Poison Masters like them.

How could You Li possibly not covet it?

If he could obtain the Netherworld Poison Flame, then advancing to Dou Emperor and becoming a Rank 6 Alchemist would become inevitable.

At that time, the status of the entire Alchemist Guild would rise another level within the empire, and they would no longer need to fear Gu He of the Gama Empire.

The moment he thought of this, You Li's heart burned with heat.

"Hehe, since we have come today to assist, how could there be any reason to disappoint President You Li?"

Xie Shan laughed loudly.

"Good, good! With the Gate Master and Mansion Master assisting me today, once I obtain the Netherworld Poison Flame, I will certainly present you both with the most satisfactory thanks."

"Haha, President You Li is too courteous."

Wu Ya said, "There is no time to lose. Let us first make a trip to the Netherworld Poison Swamp!"

"Brother Wu Ya speaks very rightly. Let us go!"

The moment the words fell, above the Chu Yun Imperial Capital, three streaks of light flashed past, flying toward the Netherworld Poison Swamp in the southern part of the Chu Yun Empire.

The Netherworld Poison Swamp located in the Chu Yun Empire was in truth merely a fragment of the Ancient Netherworld Poison Swamp, a portion that had yet to evaporate and disappear.

It was said that the former Netherworld Poison Swamp spanned ten thousand li in every direction, with poisonous insects and venomous snakes everywhere. Even Dou Zong-level experts could not remain there for long periods of time.

And with the passage of time and the great changes of heaven and earth, the Netherworld Poison Swamp of old, which had stretched unbroken for ten thousand li, gradually became its current scale and appearance.

Although for those Poison Masters who cultivated poison, this was practically a matter comparable to the sky collapsing, after the poison in the swamp weakened, so long as one was properly protected, even a Dou Zhe could remain here for a brief while.

Above the boundless Netherworld Poison Swamp, two streaks of light cut across the gloomy sky.

Yao Wan and Xiao Yan circulated their Qi Methods together. Fire-attribute Qi Methods naturally gave one stronger resistance to such sinister, poisonous places than those who cultivated other attributes.

Before the toxins in the air could get close to Yao Wan, they were burned completely away by the Dou Qi flames circling around her.

"The ruins of the Netherworld Poison Swamp... the toxin intensity is quite a bit lower than I initially guessed."

Yao Wan looked at the vast, endless poison swamp and spoke subconsciously.

Only, as a Dou Wang, she did not need to worry too much... As she pondered this, she subconsciously turned her head and glanced at Xiao Yan.

"Xiao Yan, are you all right?"

Yao Wan said, "This poison swamp is, after all, a perilous land passed down from ancient times. Your cultivation is too low. If you feel any discomfort, tell me at once."

"Mm... my limbs are a little numb..."

Hearing Yao Wan's words, Xiao Yan subconsciously raised both hands and lowered his head to take a look.

Who would have thought that strands of black meridians had already slowly climbed up Xiao Yan's fingertips like a spiderweb?

"Uh... I seem to have already been poisoned, Wan Guniang..."

Xiao Yan drew a breath. Although the Dou Qi inside his body was clearly already circulating, it seemed unable to completely block the poison that was everywhere in this place. In the end, it only served to slow it down.

"What?"

Yao Wan's heart tightened, and she had no choice but to stop their journey for the moment, then examine the abnormality on Xiao Yan's body.