The Terrifying Gray Figure

Although the Woeful Poison Body had virtually no limit to its growth and only needed to keep consuming poison to become stronger, every advantage naturally came with a disadvantage—and that flaw was nearly an irreversible fate for those with the Woeful Poison Body.

Once the poison accumulated to an extreme threshold, those with the Woeful Poison Body could no longer restrain the poisonous Dou Qi within them. At that point, they had no choice but to endure the agony of countless poisons devouring their bodies, eventually dying slowly amid unbearable torment.

Throughout countless years, no matter how feared this constitution had become, those who possessed it inevitably suffered poison backlash, endured endless torture, and ultimately exploded to death.

Xiao Yi Xian mulled over everything Mu Chen had told her about the Woeful Poison Body in the little valley. According to Mu Chen, there was a way to break the tragic fate of the Woeful Poison Body.

It was the "Poison Core Method," also known as the "Control Method."

Once the poison core was formed, the owner of the Woeful Poison Body could control the poisonous Dou Qi within their body as they wished, without fearing that the poison would run out of control and lead to a tragic end.

However, condensing a poison core required three rare treasures scarcely seen in the world.

The first requirement was three different Heavenly Flames! This was also the most difficult condition, one that was almost impossible to fulfill.

Everyone knew that if an ordinary expert could refine even one Heavenly Flame, their combat power would soar, enough to let them fight opponents above their level.

And if an alchemist obtained one, their success rate when refining pills would increase by several tenths. Thus, Heavenly Flames held an extremely high status on the Dou Qi Continent.

Any Heavenly Flame could stir up a bloody storm across the continent, driving countless people mad with competition for it, even to the point of slaughtering thousands of living beings without hesitation.

Yet the rarity of Heavenly Flames was equally well known. Obtaining even one was already a heaven-sent blessing, let alone three.

The second rare treasure was no less throat-drying.

The Heavenly Poison Scorpion Dragon Beast was an ancient magical beast with formidable strength. A seventh-tier Heavenly Poison Scorpion Dragon Beast could even take human form, and its combat power was terrifying. Few could rival it at the same level. To obtain its Magic Core, one could only kill it, making the task even more difficult.

As for the final rare treasure, it was Bodhi Body-Transformation Saliva.

From its name alone, Xiao Yi Xian could tell that it was some kind of heavenly treasure. Yet if Mu Chen had not told her about it, she would not even have heard the name Bodhi Body-Transformation Saliva before.

"Big pervert, where did you learn about the method for curing the Woeful Poison Body? You didn't just guess it, did you?" Xiao Yi Xian asked, blinking her sparkling beautiful eyes.

"For now, it's a secret. You'll naturally find out someday," Mu Chen said with an awkward laugh.

Xiao Yi Xian rolled her eyes at Mu Chen but sensibly chose not to press further. Since Mu Chen had made it clear that he wanted to keep it secret, she would not foolishly do something annoying.

"The Tagor Desert lies east of the Jia Ma Empire. It is the territory of the Snake-People Tribe ruled by Medusa. The desert Snake People utterly despise humans. They are naturally fierce and cruel, and their sinister snake-controlling techniques are widely known. We need to prepare carefully before going there.

"After all, some poisons are not known for their toxicity. Without the proper precautions, they could still be troublesome."

Xiao Yi Xian reminded him. Though she possessed the Woeful Poison Body, she had only just awakened it. If the poison was strong enough, it could still threaten her life.

Mu Chen shrugged and chuckled. "When it comes to poison, you have more say than I do. I'll listen to you on what we should do."

Xiao Yi Xian rolled her eyes at him. Would a dignified alchemist not know how to prepare poison? This guy just liked slacking off.

Xiao Yi Xian pondered for a while, gazing toward the small town ahead. "Once we pass several nearby towns, we'll reach Black Rock City, the largest city within a hundred miles.

"There are many markets in a large city, and the goods are more complete. We may need to stay in Black Rock City for two days. I need to prepare some unusual poisons and antidotes."

Mu Chen wholeheartedly agreed to go to Black Rock City. Only large cities had civilian flying magical beasts. Who knew how far away the Tagor Desert was? If they relied solely on walking, they would arrive far too late.

However, just as Mu Chen and Xiao Yi Xian were about to enter the town, a dry, hoarse voice suddenly rang out.

"I had intended to find an inheritor, yet I never expected there to be a method to break the Woeful Poison Body's fate in this world. What a turn of events. Little girl, it seems you have quite the background."

Fine beads of cold sweat trickled down Mu Chen's cheeks, and his moving footsteps stiffened.

"Damn it, I didn't sense even the slightest aura. When did this person arrive? If they had launched a sneak attack from the shadows, I probably wouldn't even have had a chance to resist."

With a horrified expression, Mu Chen raised his head and looked around. The source of that voice was directly above him.

Upon the lush green canopy, a gray figure had appeared at some unknown time.

The figure stood with the blazing sun at their back. The sunlight streaming down from the heavens made Mu Chen narrow his eyes. Just as he tried to see the person's appearance clearly, the treetop swayed slightly, and the figure appeared like a ghost a short distance in front of them.

Before the person even arrived, a strange fragrance mixed with an intense stench rushed toward them. With just a faint sniff, Mu Chen's expression changed drastically. Purple-black spots rapidly appeared on his skin, and the world before his eyes began to blur and spin. Everywhere he looked, the gray figure ahead split into countless overlapping afterimages.

His ears and eyes went numb. Holding his forehead, Mu Chen felt an overwhelming dizziness in his mind, while all strength seemed to have been drained from his limbs. He staggered and nearly fell to the ground.

Biting down hard on the tip of his tongue, the intense pain and faint bloody sweetness finally made Mu Chen feel slightly better. He immediately realized that a violent poisonous vapor had invaded his body.

In his daze, Mu Chen seemed to hear a surprised exclamation.

"You truly are a strange little fellow. You merely have an ordinary constitution, yet after inhaling a wisp of my poisonous vapor, even an ordinary Da Dou Shi would be poisoned to death on the spot. Yet you can actually endure it. Could you be a core member of the Yao Clan among the ancient eight clans?

"Even if you are, it makes no difference. Little fellow, if you cannot withstand the erosion of this wisp of poisonous vapor, then dying here is simply your fate," the hoarse voice said coldly.

"Urgh..." Mu Chen suddenly braced both hands against the ground. His body trembled, his face entirely purple-black. The bulging veins on his arms and neck writhed hideously like coiling dragons, making him look exceedingly terrifying.

Black blood slowly seeped from his seven orifices. Mu Chen clenched his teeth tightly, but the excruciating pain within his body felt like being carved apart by a thousand blades, forcing agonized cries through his gritted teeth.

Mu Chen knew that he had encountered serious trouble. That wisp of poisonous vapor invading his body had actually split into countless portions again, continuously corroding his meridians and flesh along the way.

Even though Mu Chen promptly used the Xuan Huang Flame to lay down a net of fire within his body, he could only stop the poison from invading his internal organs and barely preserve his life. He could not spare the focus needed to open the Origin Space and absorb all the poisonous vapor into it.

"This poisonous vapor is terrifying. My meridians have already been ruined beyond recognition, and even my bones have been corroded. Even if I survive this, I'll need to recuperate for a long time before I can return to my peak.

"Damn it, who exactly is that gray figure? With such terrifying methods, are they a Dou Zong, a Dou Venerate, or perhaps even a Dou Saint!

"What kind of joke is this? How could such an expert appear in this backwater corner of the Jia Ma Empire?"

On the verge of tears, Mu Chen tried to use the Battle Emperor Power Card, but failed because he could not concentrate his thoughts.

"System, your host is about to die. Save me!" Mu Chen roared inwardly. At this point, perhaps only the system could save him.

"Not bad willpower. But do you think my, Jun Chenxi's, poison can be dispelled merely through strong willpower?"