The Third Dou Huang

"Haha, then I have to say that Old Ancestor's methods are truly heaven-defying," Chen Ye said with a hearty laugh.

"Old Ancestor placed some kind of restriction within our bloodline. Generation after generation, we cultivated the Source of Deadly Poison, further strengthening the power of our bloodline. If someone with a special physique appeared among the descendants, there was a high chance it would be the Calamity Poison Body. As we cultivated the Source of Deadly Poison generation after generation, we also passed down the origin of this poison to the next generation. As long as the Calamity Poison Body appeared again among our descendants, our bodies would be able to control it completely, without having to worry about the poison body's backlash," Chen Ye said.

Chen Ye was extremely pleased inwardly.

Chen Ye was only at the ninth star. Relying on his Cultivation Method's suppressive effect against poison masters, he could still dominate a place like the Izumo Empire. However, his limit was merely a Nine Star Dou Huang. Once he left the Izumo Empire, he would only be able to deal with Dou Huang-level opponents. If he encountered a Dou Zong, he would be powerless. It would be difficult for him to continue developing.

But if Chen Cheng possessed the Calamity Poison Body, raising his potential beyond the Nine Star Dou Huang level and allowing him to reach an even higher realm, the Chen Family could reclaim its former glory.

"Cheng'er, come with me."

Chen Ye rose from his seat and headed out of the room, with Chen Cheng following closely behind.

"Jianghai." Chen Ye called over the Dou Wang who had brought Chen Cheng inside earlier.

"What are your orders, Master?" The man bowed deeply, keeping an extremely low profile before Chen Ye.

"Guard this place. Do not let anyone disturb me," Chen Ye instructed.

"Yes," the man answered.

After giving his orders, Chen Ye led Chen Cheng through the courtyard, winding this way and that. Along the way, Chen Cheng asked Chen Ye a question.

"Grandfather, that man just now was...?"

Chen Ye smiled. "His name is Duan Jianghai. He has followed me for a very long time, around forty years, I suppose. He is utterly loyal to me."

"The Chen Family has an eighth Dou Wang?" Chen Cheng asked doubtfully.

Yet the moment Chen Cheng said that, Chen Ye abruptly stopped walking. Looking at Chen Cheng in surprise, he asked, "You can see through his cultivation?"

"Uh?" Chen Cheng realized that he seemed to have let something slip. After a brief hesitation, he quickly concealed his expression and said, "Perhaps it is because of my physique. I can sense energy fluctuations very directly, so I can easily distinguish other people's cultivation."

Chen Ye stared at Chen Cheng, scrutinizing him. Only after a while did he say, "Is that so?"

Chen Cheng's explanation was rather far-fetched, but Chen Ye did not wish to pry into Chen Cheng's secrets. He only needed to know that, no matter how extraordinary the person before him was, he was still his grandson.

"That ability is indeed quite remarkable. In that case..." Chen Ye looked at Chen Cheng as he spoke. Yet his final few words merely moved across his lips without making a sound.

Those final words were not meant for Chen Cheng, but were some kind of method similar to Soul Transmission.

Soul Transmission was a method used by alchemists. In truth, as long as one's soul power was sufficiently strong, one could also use this method.

About ten seconds after Chen Ye sent out his Soul Transmission, a mass of black mist suddenly gathered beside him and took the shape of a human figure.

The man wore a black robe, and even his face was concealed, making it impossible to see what he looked like.

This person had appeared far too suddenly for Chen Cheng to react. Chen Ye, however, smiled and said to Chen Cheng, "His name is Nie Shan He. He is also one of my old subordinates. His attribute is the exceedingly rare Dark Attribute, and he excels at hiding himself. Even your father might not be able to see through his cultivation. What about you?"

Chen Cheng looked at the black-robed man who had appeared before him. He gave Chen Cheng a very strange feeling.

He was clearly standing right in front of him, yet Chen Cheng could not hear his breathing or even sense the man's presence.

"Summoning System, inspect his information," Chen Cheng communicated with the system.

Name: Nie Shan He

Cultivation: One Star Dou Huang

"A Dou Huang?" After inspecting the black-robed man's information, Chen Cheng was deeply shocked. It was difficult for him to maintain a calm expression.

In the Izumo Empire, a Dou Huang was no insignificant figure, but a true top-tier expert.

There were only seven Dou Huangs openly known throughout the entire empire.

Two belonged to the Chen Family, one to the Myriad Scorpion Gate, one to the imperial family, one to the Hundred Poisons Sect, one to the Alchemist Guild, and the last was unaffiliated.

These were the Dou Huangs known to the public. Every Dou Huang was the head of a major force.

Chen Cheng had always believed that the Chen Family only had two Dou Huangs: Chen Yuan and Chen Ye. Only today did he learn that the Chen Family had actually hidden a third Dou Huang.

This was a Dou Huang completely unknown to outsiders. Even within the Chen Family, few people knew of Nie Shan He.

According to Chen Ye, Duan Jianghai and Nie Shan He had followed him for forty years. After so many years without any thought of betrayal, they would basically never betray him in the future. It was already certain that they were absolutely loyal to Chen Ye.

The fact that Chen Ye could make a Dou Huang swear loyalty to him was enough to show that he possessed exceptional personal charisma.

Nie Shan He and Duan Jianghai were not under the Chen Family's authority. They obeyed only Chen Ye. Their relationship with Chen Ye was similar to that between Huang Yaoshi and Chen Cheng.

They were private forces, which was why their identities had not been announced within the Chen Family. Only a few people of extremely high status knew of their existence.

"Haha, your ability truly is incredible. Shan He's concealment methods are exceptionally brilliant. He only broke through three months ago. Even your father does not yet know that he has advanced to Dou Huang, yet you saw through him at a glance." Chen Ye looked at Chen Cheng with great praise.

"Oh, right. It is fine to display this special ability before us, but do not let outsiders know about it," Chen Ye reminded him.

"Mhm, I understand," Chen Cheng said with a nod.

"Good. Shan He, withdraw. Do not let anyone disturb us. Cheng'er, come with me." After saying that, Chen Ye continued onward with Chen Cheng.

Only when they reached a rockery did Chen Ye stop.

Chen Ye stepped forward, fixed his eyes on a stone on the rockery, knocked on it three times, then turned it. Afterward, Chen Ye quickly stepped back.

Once Chen Ye had retreated, the rockery gave a slight tremble, shaking off all the dust upon it. Then it split in two and moved apart to either side. Beneath the rockery, a stone path leading underground was revealed.

Chen Cheng stared at the stone path in astonishment, equally shocked in his heart.

The very fact that it had a hidden chamber showed that the Chen Family still had quite a few secrets.

"Cheng, come with me."

After saying that, Chen Ye took the lead and headed into the stone passage. Knowing that Chen Ye would not harm him, Chen Cheng followed closely behind.

There were no messy traps in the tunnel. In truth, anyone capable of passing through the Chen Family's layers of Guards to reach Chen Ye's private courtyard would not be greatly hindered even if there were traps in the tunnel.

Moonstones illuminated both sides of the passage. Perhaps these moonstones had not been recharged for a long time, as their light was rather dim, lending the entire stone corridor a somewhat eerie atmosphere.

After walking through the passage for about five minutes, the two arrived before a stone chamber.

The chamber's stone door was shut. At the point where the two doors met was a recessed groove.

Chen Ye took an ancient-looking token from his Storage Ring and placed it into the groove.

At that moment, a purple pearl suddenly emerged above the stone door. Two beams of purple light then shone separately upon Chen Cheng and Chen Ye.