Poison Dragon Cave

In recent years, Wugu Dao's demonic cultivators had run rampant throughout Chu State, and everyone knew the methods they used.

If these Poison Corpse Bombs exploded, every living thing within several hundred meters would be tainted by the poison.

In the past, Bai Zhuozhuo had lost an arm to Wugu Dao's Gu Poison. Even after reaching Foundation Establishment, she still shuddered with fear whenever she thought back on what had happened.

If she hadn't severed her arm decisively, she would likely have lost her life.

"Have Wugu Dao's demonic cultivators really started targeting Bashui Immortal City?"

Zhou Er hadn't expected Bashui Immortal City, isolated on the border of Chu State, to come under attack from Wugu Dao as well.

Still, the signs had been there.

Over the past few years, Wugu Dao's demonic cultivators had run amok like madmen, harassing all three of Chu State's great sects.

As Chu State's fourth-greatest power, Bashui Immortal City had always been likely to attract their attention sooner or later.

"I'm afraid there's more than one Poison Corpse Bomb nearby. You should all go back first. I'll scout the area."

Bai Zhuozhuo glanced at the swollen-bellied corpses drifting slowly in the distance, mounted her Flying Sword, rose into the sky, and began surveying the area.

By the time Bai Zhuozhuo returned, she had finished scouting the Poison Corpse Bombs within a five-li radius.

"There are three more corpses nearby."

Bai Zhuozhuo told Gu Fan and Zhou Er.

They then began discussing what to do about the corpses.

Since the Poison Corpse Bombs weren't headed toward their Fanhua Island, they could simply leave them alone.

But if they drifted near the fishing grounds and exploded, the losses would be severe.

"We should harvest the fish early to minimize our losses."

In the end, the three of them settled on this plan.

Fortunately, Zhou Er had bought a Lingyuan Jar earlier, so they could temporarily store all the Spirit Fish inside.

Its water storage space of one hundred cubic meters was just barely enough to cram in most of the fish.

However, with so many different kinds of Spirit Fish packed together, they fought among themselves, and many died every day.

Zhou Er could eat his fill of Spirit Fish every day.

With explosive corpses floating on the water like sea mines, Zhou Er couldn't go into the water. He spent the next few days on the island, while Gu Fan went around gathering information.

From time to time, Bai Zhuozhuo flew over to check on Bashui Immortal City. All she saw was countless Poison Corpse Bombs gathering at the city's base and exploding each day.

After several days of accumulation, Poisonous Miasma had completely sealed off Bashui Immortal City.

"Bashui Immortal City has been sealed off. The grand formation is active, and dark clouds blanket the sky."

Bai Zhuozhuo returned that day with the latest news.

Gu Fan had also sent a message to her Lineage. Several close elders told her that the Old Ancestor had emerged from seclusion, and that a great calamity loomed over Bashui Immortal City. They warned her not to return for the time being.

For now, the three of them could only stay on Fanhua Island and watch how things developed.

Zhou Er was already thinking of backing out. He was about to urge Gu Fan to leave the next day when she received a message from her Lineage.

Of Chu State's three great sects, Yunmeng Sect had been wiped out by Wugu Dao, while Qingsong Temple had ceded half its territory in compensation. Only Lihuo Sect had managed to survive intact.

After deliberating, Bashui Immortal City's Four Great Families had all agreed to submit to Wugu Dao's newly risen Devil Lord, the Bone-Eating Devil Lord.

At the same time, Wugu Dao had changed its name to Poison Dragon Cave and established itself in Chu State.

Before long, an expert from Poison Dragon Cave would come to take back Bashui Immortal City's islands.

Fanhua Island was among them.

Zhou Er was stunned by the news.

He hadn't expected even the seemingly impregnable Bashui Immortal City to surrender to the demonic path after only a few days.

Still, it was hard to blame Bashui Immortal City.

No one could have imagined that within just a few years, half of Chu State would fall into the demonic path's hands.

The three of them gathered on Fanhua Island to discuss where to go next.

"Poison Dragon Cave's people will be here soon. We still have a choice to make."

Zhou Er said.

"Poison Dragon Cave's Demonic Persons are devious and quick to anger. We can't become lackeys of the demonic path."

Bai Zhuozhuo said. She had dealt with people from Poison Dragon Cave before. They were all addicted to poison, each one more deranged than the last, and nearly impossible to get along with.

Working alongside demonic cultivators like them was extremely dangerous. One careless move, and you could lose your life.

"Does that mean we have to leave Fanhua Island?"

Gu Fan had lived on the island for nearly twenty-six years. All her memories were there, and now that she had to leave, she couldn't bear to part with it.

But with demonic cultivators in power, she had no choice.

After quickly packing their belongings, they prepared to flee.

Bai Zhuozhuo flew ahead to scout the way, with Gu Fan and Zhou Er close behind.

Suddenly, a streak of black light flashed across Bai Zhuozhuo. Her head was severed from her body before anyone could react.

"Sister Bai!"

Gu Fan cried out, shocked and terrified.

Bai Zhuozhuo was a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, yet she had been beheaded in an instant.

A short distance away, a Giant Spider moved toward them through the air. It reached Gu Fan and Zhou Er in no time.

Zhou Er swept the area with his Spiritual Sense and spotted the Spider Silk that had beheaded Bai Zhuozhuo.

Spider Silk covered the area, blocking their path completely.

The Giant Spider before them radiated an incredibly terrifying pressure.

Its lower half was that of an eight-legged spider, while its upper half was a voluptuous woman with four arms. Only a thin ribbon covered her ample chest.

"You two, where do you think you're going?"

Spider Woman asked with keen interest.

Gu Fan's eyes brimmed with tears as she prepared to curse Spider Woman, but Zhou Er stopped her.

They didn't dare say a word. They could only stare at Spider Woman from afar.

"You, come with me. Otherwise, I'll kill your little wife."

Spider Woman shot out a strand of Spider Silk, caught Zhou Er, and reeled him in.

Feeling that Spider Woman's strength far surpassed Foundation Establishment, Zhou Er didn't act rashly.

"If you obediently become my Cauldron, I'll let your little wife go."

Spider Woman turned her four pairs of eyes toward Zhou Er and spoke with a smile.

Hearing Spider Woman's eerie laugh, Zhou Er swallowed and said,

"If you let my wife go, I'll come with you."

"Brother Er, don't!"

Gu Fan shouted toward Zhou Er, who was held nearby.

"I'm taking your little sweetheart with me. You can go back the way you came!"

Spider Woman shot Gu Fan a cold glance.

Then, following a web too fine for the naked eye to see, Spider Woman took Zhou Er to a nearby lair.

Zhou Er looked at the lair, wrapped in soft Spider Silk, then at the several shriveled skeletons nearby. Their skin had been sucked dry, and he was astonished.

But there was no escape. He could only become Spider Woman's plaything.

"Baby, don't be scared. Those others were all useless. They lasted just a few nights before they couldn't go on. I'm sure you'll keep me company for a long time."

As Spider Woman spoke, she tossed the skeletons away.

At last, Spider Woman placed Zhou Er in the center of the lair. Two hands began undressing him, while the other two gently caressed his face.

The only thing Zhou Er could be grateful for was that there were no other men here. Otherwise, it would have been even more awkward.

"Senior, I still don't know your name. May I ask your honored name?"

Zhou Er asked.

"Baby, if you want to call me Senior, then just call me Senior."

Spider Woman leaned close to Zhou Er's ear and whispered.

Zhou Er felt a strange, fragrant breath, but his mind remained entirely free of improper thoughts.

Perhaps sensing that Zhou Er wasn't quite up to the task, Spider Woman pressed her lips to his and slipped him a pill, stirring her tongue around a few times as well.

Then Spider Woman patted Zhou Er several times, helping him refine the pill.

Only when Zhou Er's blood and energy surged downward did Spider Woman smile and say,

"That's more like it."

After a day of intense activity, Zhou Er was completely exhausted. He also felt that the magic power throughout his body had been drained away.

[Name: Zhou Er]

[Cultivation: Foundation Establishment Early Stage (4.97%)]

[...]

Looking at the panel, Zhou Er realized that decades of painstaking cultivation had been drained away as well.

Spider Woman was truly too domineering.

"Baby, you're so much better than the others. I like you so much!"

Spider Woman wrapped all four arms around Zhou Er and spoke with deep satisfaction.

Zhou Er didn't want to say anything. Thinking of the miserable state of the bodies he'd seen earlier, he realized that if this continued, not only would he lose his cultivation, but Spider Woman would play him to death.

His mind raced as he began thinking of a way to deal with the situation.

Things had come to this. He could only try to change his circumstances and stay alive a few more days. Looking at Spider Woman, he said,

"I'm hungry."

Seeing this, Spider Woman took a pile of bugs from her Storage Ring and asked,

"Do you want to eat?"

"Feed me."

Seeing that they weren't severed limbs or body parts, Zhou Er had no trouble accepting them.

Spider Woman smiled and fed them to Zhou Er one by one, watching with satisfaction as he ate.

Zhou Er ate the bugs until he couldn't manage another bite, then said,

"That's enough."

Refining the food through his Taotie Attribute would help restore some of his energy.

"Baby, if you get hungry, just tell me."

Spider Woman smiled and licked her fingers, her eyes full of seductive allure.

Zhou Er remained imprisoned like this, constantly searching for a way to survive.

Before long, an idea suddenly struck him: if Spider Woman became pregnant, she wouldn't be able to keep using him as a Cauldron.

That would at least give him some time to rest.

And he could pass an attribute on to his descendants.

After thinking it over, he realized that the completed attribute from the Five Animals Health Technique was already useless to him.

So, when Spider Woman came to have her fun with him for the second time, Zhou Er transferred the attribute.

After Spider Woman had indulged herself for a few days, the affairs of Bashui Immortal City were settled. A Hunchbacked Old Woman came looking for her, shouting her name outside Spider Nest.

Spider Woman didn't stop what she was doing. Still crying out in pleasure, she said,

"Old woman, what do you want?"

"Zhu Yan, the Devil Lord ordered you to guard Bashui Immortal City. Go to the island at once!"

After delivering her message, the Hunchbacked Old Woman left.

The dark clouds over Bashui Immortal City slowly dispersed as well.

After absorbing some more of Zhou Er's cultivation, Zhu Yan dressed him and said,

"Baby, after today, you'll be the city lord of Bashui Immortal City. Are you happy?"

"Happy."

Zhou Er answered with a smile that didn't reach his eyes.

His cultivation progress was now close to zero. If Zhu Yan absorbed any more, he might fall below Foundation Establishment—or even lose his life.

"Good. I was going to give you a Heart-Eating Pill, but you're so adorable that I couldn't bring myself to do it."

Zhu Yan pinched Zhou Er's cheek, looking at him with appreciation.

He was the Cauldron she liked best.

"A Heart-Eating Pill? What is that?"

Zhou Er asked in confusion.

"It's a treasure of our Poison Dragon Cave. By now, I'm afraid everyone in Bashui City has taken one."

Zhu Yan produced a dark purple pill and spoke indifferently.

"Once you take it, whether you truly submit or harbor disloyal thoughts, you'll still have to submit to Poison Dragon Cave. Baby, I believe you won't betray me, so I won't make you take it."

Zhu Yan put the Heart-Eating Pill away.

[Heart-Eating Pill: Rapidly increases Poison Cultivation after consumption, but damages one's vital essence and is addictive. It cannot be quit for the rest of one's life.]

[Equipped Attributes: Hundred Poisons Immunity (Green).]

[Hundred Poisons Immunity (Green): Grants immunity to a small number of poisons and increases poison resistance by fifty percent.]

[Solidification Condition: Withstand one hundred types of poison.]

[Equip?]

Although Zhu Yan hadn't made Zhou Er take the poison pill, he had already seen what it did and felt a sense of foreboding.

Fortunately, Zhu Yan hadn't made him swallow it.

Afterward, Zhu Yan took Zhou Er back to Bashui City.

Now that Bashui Immortal City belonged to the demonic path, it could no longer call itself an Immortal City.

When the people saw Zhu Yan enter the city, their faces all turned ashen.

"Uncle-Master Zhu!"

Several Poison Dragon Cave disciples who had taken over Bashui City came forward to greet him.

Zhu Yan gave a slight nod and brought Zhou Er into the city. Before the people of Bashui City, she announced that Zhou Er would become the city's new lord and handle its affairs.

The people of the Four Great Families in Bashui City were all shocked to see Zhou Er, that pretty-faced man, cozying up to another powerful demonic cultivator.

The bitterness in Zhou Er's heart was hard to put into words. Living off someone else was no easy meal.

Besides, how many days he'd be able to keep it up was anyone's guess.

Fortunately, after Zhu Yan appointed Zhou Er city lord, she immediately went into seclusion, curling herself up inside a mass of spiderwebs.

Zhou Er finally got a chance to catch his breath.

But he had no chance to escape, either. The Poison Dragon Cave disciples kept a very close eye on him, and the atmosphere was tense.

Zhou Er was city lord in name only. The Poison Dragon Cave had taken over the city's administration completely.

Of the nine Golden Core True Persons from the Wang, Xie, Liu, and Gu families, three had died, two had fled, and the remaining four had submitted completely.

After the Poison Dragon Cave seized Bashui City, hardly anyone in the city went without swallowing a Heart-Eating Pill and cultivating Poison Cultivation.

Zhou Er knew that if he kept cultivating the Blue Sea Tide Rising Art step by step, he wouldn't make any real progress before Zhu Yan emerged from seclusion. He would still be doomed.

Zhu Yan hadn't fed him a Heart-Eating Pill because she wanted to keep him pure, so she could use him as a Cauldron.

If he wanted to live and avoid being drained to death by Zhu Yan, he had to become more poisonous than her.

Only then would Zhu Yan have reason to hold back, instead of continuing to toy with him as she pleased.

So Zhou Er gritted his teeth, swallowed a Heart-Eating Pill, and switched to cultivating the Poison Dragon Cave's Myriad Poison Heaven-Devouring Scripture.

The Myriad Poison Heaven-Devouring Scripture was the Poison Dragon Cave's cultivation secret art. It had originally been called the Witchcraft Gu Secret Art, and when cultivated to its final stage, it allowed the practitioner to merge with their Natal Gu Insect.

The reason Zhu Yan had become half-woman, half-spider was this cultivation method.

All the Poison Dragon Cave disciples knew the method, so Zhou Er could ask anyone for guidance.

Though the Poison Dragon Cave disciples were deranged and fond of eating Illusion Poison Pills, they didn't dare slight Zhou Er. Once they learned he wanted to practice Poison Cultivation, they taught him everything they knew.

In just half a year, Zhou Er reached the fourth layer of the Myriad Poison Heaven-Devouring Scripture, allowing him to house a Life-Bound Gu inside his body.