Cloud Empire Disturbance

The power structure of the Cloud Empire was quite similar to that of the Jia Ma Empire.

It naturally had both the Cloud Empire Royal Family and the Alchemist Association.

However, unlike the Misty Cloud Sect, which dominated the Jia Ma Empire alone, the Cloud Empire possessed two top-tier factions: Wu Tian Mansion, spread throughout the Cloud Empire Capital, and the Wan Xie Sect, located in the Sky Scorpion Mountain Range.

Both possessed multiple Dou Emperor-level experts, making them powers that held sway over their own territories across the entire Northwest Continent.

Yet today, the two major factions, which were usually perhaps not on particularly good terms, had each sent a Dou Emperor expert to gather in the Cloud Empire Capital—or, more precisely, at the Alchemist Association within the Cloud Empire Capital.

Within the Alchemist Association, You Li, president of the Cloud Empire Alchemist Association, a fifth-tier alchemist and a Dou Wang expert, welcomed the guests from the two top factions with a smile plastered across his face.

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

"Hehe... President You Li is too polite."

The old man whose face bore a centipede-shaped scar, Wu Ya, master of Wu Tian Mansion, smiled. "Since President You Li has asked, how could this old man dare speak of any refusal?"

"Brother Wu Ya is quite right."

An unpleasant smile appeared on Xie Shan's face, as though he were merely forcing his already paralyzed facial muscles into a clump.

"Since President You Li has asked, there is naturally no need for the two of us to say more. We will certainly come to assist."

Of the three men now warmly addressing one another as brothers, both Xie Shan and Wu Ya were peak Dou Emperor experts. Yet they chatted enthusiastically with You Li, who was merely at the peak Dou Wang realm.

This showed that even in the Cloud Empire, where Poison Masters ran rampant, the status of the Alchemist Association had not been affected in the slightest. If anything, it seemed to be rising even higher.

After all, among all things in the world, medicine could also be poison. How it was used depended entirely on the individual.

Medicine could be used to poison others, while poison could naturally be used to cure illnesses and save lives.

There was not truly any distinct boundary between the two.

Alchemists could already refine medicinal pills to improve cultivation, while in the Cloud Empire, the Alchemist Association controlled more than ninety percent of all poison transactions. With both medicine and poison in its grasp, even top factions like Wu Tian Mansion and the Wan Xie Sect, which could strut through the Cloud Empire unimpeded, dared not offend it. Instead, they had to speak courteously and treat it with great respect.

That was why a mere fifth-tier alchemist at the Dou Wang level could summon the leading figures of two powerful factions with a single word.

You Li smiled. "The matter for which I called you here was already clearly explained in the letters. Are you both prepared to accompany me to the Netherworld Poison Swamp today?"

It turned out that half a year ago, after accidentally receiving news that the Netherworld Poison Swamp was highly likely to produce the Nether Poison Flame, ranked twentieth on the Heavenly Flame Ranking, You Li had decided that he had to seize this opportunity no matter what.

Thus, he sent invitations to both the Wan Xie Sect and Wu Tian Mansion, asking each to dispatch a Dou Emperor expert to help him enter the Netherworld Poison Swamp and obtain the Nether Poison Flame.

After half a year, the two major factions had finally responded. Moreover, they had fulfilled this request and transaction in a manner that You Li could hardly have imagined.

After all, even You Li had not expected the leaders of both factions to be willing to personally come and assist him in obtaining the Nether Poison Flame. The frustration and resentment born from his unanswered letters vanished in an instant, swept away along with his excitement.

After all, it was a Heavenly Flame!

Something that countless alchemists would scramble after!

What was more, it was the Nether Poison Flame, a Heavenly Flame practically made for Poison Masters like them.

How could You Li not covet it?

If he could obtain the Nether Poison Flame, then advancing to Dou Emperor and becoming a sixth-tier alchemist would be inevitable.

By then, the Alchemist Association's status within the empire would rise another level, and they would no longer need to fear that Gu He of the Jia Ma Empire.

The thought alone set You Li's heart ablaze.

"Hehe, since we came today to help, how could we possibly disappoint President You Li?"

Xie Shan laughed loudly.

"Good, good! With the Sect Master and Mansion Master helping today, once I obtain the Nether Poison Flame, I will certainly offer the two of you the most satisfactory reward."

"Haha, President You Li is too polite."

Wu Ya said, "Time is of the essence. Let us first make a trip to the Netherworld Poison Swamp!"

"Brother Wu Ya is right. Let us go!"

As soon as the words fell, three streaks of light flashed across the skies above the Cloud Empire Capital, flying toward the Netherworld Poison Swamp in the southern region of the Cloud Empire.

The Netherworld Poison Swamp in the Cloud Empire was actually only a fragment of the Ancient Netherworld Poison Swamp, a portion that had not yet evaporated and vanished.

It was said that the Netherworld Poison Swamp had once stretched for tens of thousands of li, filled everywhere with poisonous insects and venomous snakes. Even Dou Zong-level experts could not remain there for long.

But as time passed and the world underwent great changes, the Netherworld Poison Swamp that had once stretched endlessly for tens of thousands of li gradually became its current size and state.

Though this was practically as devastating as the sky collapsing for Poison Masters who cultivated poison, after the swamp's toxicity weakened, so long as one took proper precautions, even a Dou Zhe could linger here briefly.

Over the boundless Netherworld Poison Swamp, two streaks of light cut through the gloomy sky.

Yao Wan and Xiao Yan circulated their cultivation methods together. Fire-attribute cultivation methods naturally granted greater resistance to such sinister and poisonous places than methods of other attributes.

Before the toxins in the air could approach Yao Wan, they were burned completely clean by the Dou Qi flames swirling around her.

"The remnants of the Netherworld Poison Swamp... the toxicity is much lower than I initially expected."

Yao Wan looked over the vast, boundless poison swamp and spoke instinctively.

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

"Xiao Yan, are you all right?"

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

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

Hearing Yao Wan's words, Xiao Yan instinctively raised his hands and lowered his head to look at them.

To his surprise, thin black veins had already slowly crawled across his fingertips like a spiderweb.

"Uh... I think I've already been poisoned, Miss Wan..."

Xiao Yan took a breath. Though he was already circulating his Dou Qi, it seemed unable to completely block the poison that permeated every corner of this place. At most, it merely slowed it down.

"What?"

Yao Wan's heart tightened. She had no choice but to temporarily stop traveling and examine the abnormalities on Xiao Yan's body.