Ling Chenglie's figure disappeared at the end of the palace road before Shen Qianyue withdrew his Divine Sea Realm aura.
The suffocating pressure in front of the palace gates dissipated.
Ling Xueyao glanced at Chu Yunfei's sleeve, which had been torn by the palm strike, and only after confirming that he was unharmed did she loosen her grip on the sword sheath.
"My second brother is impulsive by nature, and he has the support of Attendant Sun. He's suffered such a great loss today, he won't swallow this insult easily."
She paused, staring at Chu Yunfei.
"If Elder Shen hadn't intervened, were you still planning to draw your sword?"
Chu Yunfei released the hilt of the Abyss-Devouring Sword and chuckled, "He's going to kill me anyway, I can't just stick my neck out and let him chop it off, can I?"
Ling Xueyao glared at him.
"This is the royal palace."
"If you really kill the Second Prince, even if I step in to protect you, someone will still use it as an excuse to cause trouble. In the future, if you encounter something like this, tell me first, don't try to shoulder everything yourself."
As soon as she spoke, she realized that her tone was too concerned.
Ling Xueyao looked away and added coldly, "Father's poison still depends on you. Before Father wakes up, I will not allow anything to happen to you."
Chu Yunfei's lips curled into a slight smile.
"Understood, my life is temporarily in Her Highness's care."
"It's good that you know."
Ling Xueyao turned around, a faint blush creeping up her ears.
Shen Qianyue took in their reactions but didn't say anything.
He looked in the direction Ling Chenglie had left and said in a deep voice, "Your Highness, the Second Prince's appearance was too coincidental."
"We entered the city without delay, but the news still reached his ears first."
The embarrassment on Ling Xueyao's face faded.
"He has people inside the palace gates."
"However, he only wants to stop Chu Yunfei from entering the palace today, and may not know the true situation of the Emperor."
Chu Yunfei glanced at the palace road in the distance.
" The Cloud-Chasing Boat was just attacked, and the Second Prince happened to appear just as we entered the palace. This is indeed worth investigating."
"However, we cannot yet conclude that the ambush is related to your second brother."
Ling Xueyao seemed to be deep in thought.
"If he really is the person behind it all, his reaction just now was too hasty."
Do you think he was being used?
"Or maybe they just don't like me."
Chu Yunfei said casually, "You publicly declared me to be the future prince consort, so it's understandable that he, as the elder brother, would come to test the waters."
"We'll investigate the details once your father wakes up."
Ling Xueyao nodded and did not linger.
The three of them passed through the inner palace and walked deeper into the imperial palace.
The further in you go, the fewer guards there are, but the more densely packed the hidden formations become.
Several times when passing through the array nodes, Chu Yunfei could sense a subtle divine sense sweeping over him.
Within this short stretch of palace path lay three killing formations powerful enough to threaten even those at the Divine Sea Realm.
Several powerful figures could be seen lurking in the shadows.
Even the weakest of them had reached the Late Stage of the Heavenly Origin Realm.
Chu Yunfei calmly withdrew his senses.
The fact that the Great Qian Imperial Family could stand alongside the seven major sects for a century demonstrates that its foundation is indeed far superior to that of a second-rate sect like the Azure Mystic Sect.
Half an incense stick later, the three stopped in front of a black palace.
There were no servants in sight around the palace.
A semi-transparent array enveloped the entire palace, within which billowed large swathes of gray-black poisonous mist.
The poisonous gas struck the array barrier, immediately producing a series of fine, corrosive sounds.
Sizzle...
The jade surrounding the palace has turned dark gray.
The surrounding vegetation was completely withered and dead, showing no sign of life.
After arriving here, Ling Xueyao noticeably quickened her pace.
She took out a white jade pendant from her storage ring and handed it to Chu Yunfei.
"Father is inside."
"This formation was personally set up by the clan elders; it can both isolate the poisonous fog and prevent outsiders from breaking in."
"The jade token can temporarily open a passage. Once inside, don't let it leave your side, otherwise the formation will treat you as an intruder."
Chu Yunfei accepted the jade token.
The jade pendant felt slightly cool to the touch, and inside was engraved a mark unique to the Great Qian Imperial Family.
He looked up at the poisonous mist within the formation.
The aura it emitted alone was enough to poison and kill an ordinary Heavenly Origin Realm martial artist.
Ling Zhantian had been suffering from a strange poison for many years, and the toxins that leaked from his body alone had polluted the entire palace.
The situation was more serious than Chu Yunfei had anticipated.
Shen Qianyue stood outside the formation and said in a deep voice, "I tried to get close to His Majesty, but this poisonous fog can erode the protective spiritual power."
Even those at the Divine Sea Realm can only sustain this for a dozen or so breaths if they force their way in.
"Over the years, the princess has secretly invited many alchemists. They can't even get through the outer layer of poisonous mist, let alone treat His Majesty."
Ling Xueyao gripped the golden slender sword tightly.
"After Father fell into a coma, the poisonous fog grew thicker year by year."
"The elders said this formation can only last for a year at most. If the poisonous fog continues to spread, the entire palace will be affected."
She paused for a moment, then lowered her voice.
" Chu Yunfei, you previously said you could cure Father Emperor's poison."
"But the situation here is completely different from what Wen Jiao went through. If you're not confident, then step back. I won't blame you."
Chu Yunfei looked at her.
Ling Xueyao did not avoid his gaze.
She never loosened her grip on the sword sheath, clearly fearing both that he wouldn't be able to cure Ling Zhantian and that something else might happen to him after he went inside.
Chu Yunfei tied the jade pendant to his waist.
"Rest assured."
"There is no poison in this world that I cannot cure."
Looking at his calm expression, Ling Xueyao slightly loosened her grip on the sword.
Chu Yunfei was clearly only at the First Level of the Heavenly Origin Realm, yet he didn't even pause in his steps when standing before this Poison Palace, which was powerful enough to stop even those at the Divine Sea Realm.
It was as if what awaited him was not a deadly poison accumulated over many years, but just an ordinary palace.
"I'll be waiting for you outside."
Ling Xueyao reminded him again, "If anything seems amiss, immediately crush the jade token, and the formation will send you out."
Chu Yunfei nodded and walked towards the array screen, holding the jade token.
White light emanated from the jade plaque.
The array slowly parted to the sides, revealing a gap just wide enough for one person to pass through.
Dense poisonous fog poured out from the gap, and as soon as it came into contact with the array light surrounding the jade tablet, it emitted a series of soft sounds.
Chu Yunfei stepped inside.
The array behind him closed rapidly.
Ling Xueyao subconsciously took half a step forward.
Shen Qianyue raised his hand to stop her.
"Your Highness, we trust Young Master Chu."
"Since he dared to go in, he must have his own reasons."
Ling Xueyao did not respond.
Her gaze remained fixed on Chu Yunfei until his figure was completely engulfed by the gray-black poisonous mist.
The palace was dimly lit.
Chu Yunfei had only walked a few feet when poisonous mist pressed in from several directions.
Fine black spots quickly appeared on the surface of the robe.
Even the protective spiritual energy was corroded, causing ripples to appear.
Chu Yunfei did not continue to use his spiritual power to resist.
With a thought, the Myriad Poison Tyrant Body activated.
Dark gold patterns spread from the chest to the limbs, quickly climbing up the sides of the neck and the backs of the hands.
The moment the poisonous mist touched the skin, it was drawn in by an invisible suction force and flowed into the body through the pores.
Once the toxins entered the meridians, their ferocity was immediately suppressed by the Myriad Poison Tyrant Body.
The poisonous power it contained was gradually refined, transforming into a subtle warm current that blended into the dark gold patterns.
Chu Yunfei continued forward.
Wherever he passed, the nearby poisonous fog noticeably thinned out.
The area, which was originally pitch black, gradually revealed the outlines of the ground and walls.
Xiaoxiao Dragon's voice came from his sea of consciousness.
"These are just poisonous gases that have escaped from the bodies of the poisoned individuals."
"It took many years of accumulation of formations to reach its current scale; the real trouble lies within."
Chu Yunfei gazed into the depths of the palace.
"The mere release of poisonous gas is enough to kill someone at the Heavenly Origin Realm."
"This poison is of a high grade."
Xiaoxiao Dragon's tone also became more serious.
"Let's see the person first."
"Based solely on this poisonous mist, it's impossible to confirm whether it's the Soul-Devouring Nether Poison."
Chu Yunfei passed through the outer hall.
The lamps on both sides had long been extinguished, and the pillar walls were covered with dark stains caused by the corrosion of poisonous gas.
There were no remains or scattered objects inside the hall.
It was clear that the place had been completely cleared out before the palace was sealed off.
The deeper they went into the inner palace, the thicker the poisonous fog became.
The dark gold patterns on Chu Yunfei's body surface also became increasingly bright.
The Myriad Poison Tyrant Body can absorb this poisonous mist, but that doesn't mean it consumes nothing.
A large amount of toxins rushed into the meridians at the same time, and a burning pain gradually came from between the flesh and blood.
Refining the poison also takes time.
We can't waste too much time here.
Chu Yunfei quickened his pace.
After passing through a screen blackened by poisonous fog, a faint golden light finally appeared ahead.
A large dragon throne was placed in the center of the inner hall.
Nine ancient bronze lamps were placed around the dragon bed.
Each lamp burned with a golden flame, and the nine lamps were connected to each other, forming a pale golden curtain that barely blocked the surrounding poisonous fog.
A middle-aged man lay on the dragon bed.
He wore a dark gold robe, his face was resolute, and his brows still held the authority of someone who had long held a high position.
Even though he had been in a coma for many years, the Divine Sea Realm Ninth Level within his body was still operating on its own, pushing away the poisonous mist that was approaching the dragon bed inch by inch.
This was the Great Qian Emperor.
Ling Zhantian.
Chu Yunfei walked to the dragon bed and slowed his pace.
Ling Zhantian's face was ashen, his lips were black, and the veins on his forehead bulged from time to time.
His hands were clenched into fists, his nails already digging into his palms.
Even while unconscious, the body was still experiencing intense pain.
Chu Yunfei extended two fingers and placed them on Ling Zhantian's wrist.
A wisp of spiritual energy probed into the meridians.
The spiritual energy had barely penetrated half an inch when a wisp of gray-black toxin coiled around it, eroding it in the opposite direction along the connection between the two.
The dark gold patterns on the back of Chu Yunfei's hand lit up.
That wisp of toxin was instantly swallowed up by the Myriad Poison Tyrant Body.
He didn't stop, continuing to control his spiritual energy to penetrate deeper.
Ling Zhantian's meridians have been largely infected by the toxins.
The once broad and resilient walls of the meridians are now covered with black spots, and the internal organs have lost their normal color.
The poison gas is no longer just on the surface of flesh and blood.
It had already become entangled with Ling Zhantian's physical body.
The soul is even more troublesome.
When Chu Yunfei's spiritual power touched the edge of his sea of consciousness, a chilling aura surged towards him.
Countless gray-black threads coiled around Ling Zhantian's soul, like tiny living creatures, slowly wriggling.
With each wriggling movement, a wisp of power is torn from his soul.
Chu Yunfei finally understood why Ling Zhantian had been unable to wake up for so many years.
If this continues, even if his physical body can still hold on, his soul will be gradually devoured.
Chu Yunfei withdrew his spiritual power, his gaze darkening.
"The poison has penetrated deep into the five internal organs, bone marrow, and consciousness."
"The person who poisoned him never intended to leave him a way out."
Xiaoxiao Dragon remained silent for several breaths, seemingly still trying to discern the thin, gray-black threads that were entwined around his soul.
A moment later, her voice rang out again, this time with a more serious tone.
"That's right."
"This is the ancient and wondrous poison— the Soul-Devouring Nether Poison."
"This poison should have been eradicated long ago."
"The fact that someone could insert it into the body of a Divine Sea Realm Ninth Level expert and allow the poison to accumulate to this extent is definitely not just a matter of skillful methods."
Chu Yunfei looked at Ling Zhantian again.
A dark golden luster slowly flowed in his eyes.
"Toxins can be eliminated."
"It can detoxify, but that's only the first step."
Ling Zhantian's meridians, internal organs, and even his soul have been eroded by the Soul-Devouring Nether Poison for many years.
Removing the toxins alone cannot repair these injuries.
The person just won't wake up.