A Tall Order

"I wonder if my aunt will notice something's wrong and call for help!"

In this grotto called the Swamp of Ten Thousand Poisons, the Golden Toad Dharma King thoughtfully provided Zhang Xuezhou with a stone slab to lie on his side.

As a tool for healing and curing diseases, whenever Zhang Xuezhou regains his Law Power, he needs to get up and suppress the injuries of the Golden Toad Dharma King.

His Supreme Purity True Technique was undoubtedly a drop in the ocean in terms of healing the Golden Toad Dharma King's injuries; it was difficult to repair the damage, and it couldn't even suppress the worsening of the injuries.

However, as the Golden Toad Dharma King's lifeline, Zhang Xuezhou brought him hope every time he used the Golden Toad Dharma King Supreme Purity True Technique.

The Golden Toad Dharma King firmly believed that as long as Zhang Xuezhou continued to use the Supreme Purity True Technique, his skill level in this Technique Method would inevitably continue to improve.

By combining his own abilities, the Golden Toad Dharma King will eventually achieve a balance with the injuries within his body.

This time may be long or short.

This also temporarily prevented Zhang Xuezhou from leaving.

Having survived, Zhang Xuezhou could only pin his hopes on Rong Li seeking help.

The Golden Toad Dharma King is severely injured and has little fighting power left. Jin Wanliang's demonic treasure has been destroyed, so his strength is also limited.

Zhang Xuezhou believed that Rong Li had the ability to rescue him as long as he could enter this grotto.

The only problem is that Rong Li and the others need to be able to enter the Ten Thousand Poison Swamp from the outside.

There were no sun, moon, or stars in the cave, and the hazy sky made it difficult to perceive the passage of time. However, the very regular sleep state that Zhang Xuezhou entered and exited still gave him an accurate sense of time.

He has been trapped in this swamp of poison for seven days.

Zhang Xuezhou also saw the ox that Jin Wanliang had stolen, which prevented them from starving to death in this muddy area.

During those days, Zhang Xuezhou cursed the Hibiscus City government a thousand times in his heart.

Jin Wanliang and his demon thieves would never allow the Northern Border Governor to compensate them with money for stealing the cow, which means that the information the government had previously received was false or not entirely true.

This false information almost brought Zhang Xuezhou to his doom.

If Zhang Xuezhou hadn't happened to possess the Supreme Purity True Technique, his fate would have been no different from Wang Baoli's.

As time passed, Zhang Xuezhou's heart sank deeper and deeper.

The hidden cave is indeed very secluded, making it difficult for outsiders to find the entrance and enter.

"Ancestor, those humans have dug up all the places where we have a foothold in the outside world. Could they have dug through our cave heaven?"

"A hidden paradise that contains Mount Sumeru within a mustard seed is a rare treasure in the world. How could it be easily dug up and searched for? Even Jin Chang couldn't find where I was hiding. What ability do they have to uncover the secrets of the Ten Thousand Poison Swamp!"

"If we own this cave, we can hide whenever we want and leave whenever we want. Wouldn't we be invincible?"

"A grotto-heaven grants the confidence to live a carefree life, but it's far from invincible. You must understand that the ruler of a power..."

Both Jin Wanliang and the Golden Toad Ancestor frequently mention things related to grotto-heavens.

Upon hearing that only a few sect leaders and local power leaders could decipher the secrets of the cave realm, Zhang Xuezhou had essentially given up on external assistance.

Hibiscus City is not a large city, and the number of cultivators is limited, so it's unlikely that any top-tier figures would come to carry out such a rescue operation.

Ignoring the possibility of survival from the outside world, Zhang Xuezhou could only shift all his focus to himself.

He also started to chime in from time to time, and while trying to ease tensions with Jin Wanliang, Zhang Xuezhou also worked to cultivate a relationship with the Golden Toad Dharma King.

He was well aware that this relationship was unreliable, but Zhang Xuezhou could hardly find any other way.

He could only hope that the Golden Toad Dharma King would keep his word and let him leave once his injuries stabilized.

"It seems a big shot has arrived from the Northern Border Military Region. I saw a general wearing a military cap and hat come in outside!"

On the fifteenth day, Zhang Xuezhou heard one of the few pieces of good news.

He didn't know how Jin Wanliang saw the outside world, but Zhang Xuezhou understood the importance of official rank.

During this period, Rong Li may have already caused a scene at the yamen, forcing Lord Bao to report the incident and request assistance.

The general in the military cap and hat was probably one of the reinforcements that had come.

"There weren't many generals in the Han Dynasty who wore military caps and crowns. If it wasn't the Flying General Li Guang, then it must be that tortoise-shell general Cheng Bushi from the Western Mountains," said the Golden Toad Dharma King. "Although they couldn't break into the cave, they could definitely identify the relevant information. We must find an opening to leave, especially since that Cheng Bushi is very troublesome... And indeed it was him!"

The Golden Toad Dharma King used a trace of his Law Power and quickly identified the person who had come.

He transformed into human form and quickly waved to Zhang Xuezhou.

"Quickly cast a spell to suppress my body. I need to leave this area as soon as possible. Cheng Bushi is extremely meticulous and conservative. This kind of opponent is the most troublesome. Once Cheng Bushi has pinpointed the area and trapped me, and he summons several high-ranking civil officials, I'm afraid I won't be able to escape!"

After listening to the information recounted by Jin Wanliang and the Golden Toad Dharma King, Zhang Xuezhou's thoughts couldn't help but stir slightly.

But he was immediately reprimanded by the Golden Toad Dharma King.

"Don't think that someone coming is to save you," said the Golden Toad Dharma King. "They will inevitably fight for the right to refine this magical Law Treasure from my secret cave, and since you are in this cave, if I am no match for them, I will also be refined along with them!"

"Refine it?" Jin Wanliang asked doubtfully.

"Have you ever seen cattle and sheep being boiled in a giant cauldron?" Golden Toad Dharma King laughed with an ugly expression. "If we compare our secret realm to a cauldron, their refining process is like constantly adding fire to the cauldron until we're boiled to a pulp, thus turning the unclaimed cave into a precious pearl for them to seize!"

Ordinary people have no chance of finding a hidden paradise, nor do they have the ability to forcibly refine it.

But some people possess this ability.

The Golden Toad Dharma King once mentioned that the secret realm of the cave is not omnipotent, nor can it make him invincible. Leaders of a power or sect may possess the ability to break through the cave.

The Han Dynasty forces he currently faces fall into this category.

If confirmed, such a powerful force will act very quickly.

"Hurry and cast the spell on the ancestor, or all three of us will die!"

Having understood the consequences, Jin Wanliang no longer wanted to inquire about the whereabouts of the Golden Toad Robe.

He used to roam the Han Dynasty's territory, and although he had never met some important figures, he had undoubtedly heard of them.

Let alone anyone else, Cheng Bushi, who was searching outside at that moment, could crush him with one hand, and it would be an instantaneous death, just as easily as he killed Zhang Xuezhou.

"Young brother, rest assured, although I am a demon, I keep my word. If I say I won't harm you, I won't," the Golden Toad Dharma King assured him.

Although Zhang Xuezhou was mature in temperament, it was one thing for him to deceive Jin Wanliang with his petty tricks, but how could he possibly hide them from the Golden Toad Dharma King?

"Then you are not allowed to kill me with the help of others, nor are you allowed to maim me, and you absolutely cannot let me die by accident!"

Zhang Xuezhou's expression changed.

Only at this point did he acquire the ability to navigate and balance, giving him some bargaining power.

After more than ten days of repeated reflection, he felt that entrusting his life to external rescue was extremely unreliable.

If he wants to survive, he needs to rely more on his own abilities, rather than entrusting his life to others.

Upon hearing the Golden Toad Dharma King recount the related consequences, Zhang Xuezhou felt that the situation was even more so.

"Your requirements are very high," said the Golden Toad Dharma King, frowning.

"Let's die together!" Zhang Xuezhou shouted.

"Your request is quite high, but I enjoy fulfilling high demands!"

The Golden Toad Dharma King stroked his white beard and laughed heartily, thus agreeing to Zhang Xuezhou's unreasonable request.

Zhang Xuezhou's demands are no different from his role as a protector of the Ten Yin Holy Son.

However, he failed to protect the Ten Yin Holy Son, and even lost the Ten Yin Holy Son's aura.

So much time has passed, the fierce battle between the Ten Yin Holy Son and the Angri Star Official may have already ended.

If the Ten Yin Holy Son win a great victory, their opponents may have already returned to Xieluoschuan.

If the Ten Yin Holy Son suffer a crushing defeat, he will have no choice but to request a decree to travel to the Heavenly Court Holy Land in West Kunlun to redeem the demon.

After much deliberation, the Golden Toad Dharma King concluded that this was roughly the situation.

His encounter with Cheng Bushi further accelerated his desire to leave the Han Dynasty's territory.