Chapter 261: Whose General Is This? So Fearless and Fierce!
A few days later, in the northern region of the Pill Domain, within a city called Sibu!
Lu Bu had traveled south, passing through multiple spatial wormholes before entering the boundaries of the Pill Domain. With his keen perception, he was certain that there were no spies from the Medicine Clan tailing him, nor were there any observers from the Wind Lightning Pavilion or the Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan.
At this moment, aside from his striking appearance, Lu Bu seemed like nothing more than an ordinary one star Dou Zong. While many were surprised by his youthful looks and formidable strength, they didn't pay him much mind.
After all, this was the Pill Domain. Many powerful individuals preferred to use medicinal pills to restore their youthful appearances, making it a common sight.
Upon arriving in Sibu City, Lu Bu found an inn to settle in and then went out to purchase a map of the Falling God Gorge.
He didn't rush into the gorge right away. That place was the territory of the Heaven Poison Scorpion Dragon Beast. Even though Lu Bu was strong and his puppets were formidable, he still had to locate his target first. Careful planning was necessary.
Falling God Gorge was no ordinary place it was a peculiar region, consisting of vast mountain ranges shrouded in mist and perpetually damp with cold humidity. That, in itself, wasn't too unusual.
However, what made the region truly bizarre was the countless deep ravines that crisscrossed the mountains, as if the entire range had been hacked apart by a massive axe. These cracks ran through valleys and peaks alike, and combined with the naturally damp and chilly climate, the area became a breeding ground for countless venomous creatures poisonous insects, serpents, and even deadly magical beasts lurking unseen.
Because of this, Falling God Gorge became a coveted destination for alchemists. The presence of so many venomous creatures also meant an abundance of rare medicinal herbs. Many alchemists sent people to collect what they needed, leading to the rise of several settlements around the gorge. These towns were chaotic, filled with all sorts of characters, making them highly complex and dangerous places.
Inside the inn, Lu Bu descended to the first floor, which was essentially a large restaurant filled with people eating, drinking, and making trades. The atmosphere was lively and noisy.
Finding a seat, Lu Bu ordered a pot of wine, sipping it leisurely while keeping his ears open.
Those who lived on the edge of life and death often needed a way to vent. Bragging to friends and basking in their admiration and awe gave them a deep sense of satisfaction.
Under such circumstances, Lu Bu could easily gather useful or interesting information.
"Did you hear? Something happened to Blackfire Sect."
"Oh? Tell me more, what happened to them?"
"Heh… one of their Dou Zong elders led a group out to gather medicinal herbs, but they ran into a Phantom Demon Flower… heh heh…"
"Damn… a Phantom Demon Flower? Hopefully, they're okay!"
"Oh, they're fine. That Dou Zong personally killed all his subordinates, then kneeled before the flower and committed suicide, becoming its nourishment… Tsk tsk!"
"Shit… that thing's terrifying…" Someone wiped sweat from their forehead.
"The Phantom Demon Flower is just one danger. If we're talking about the deadliest creatures in Falling God Gorge, it has to be those venomous magical beasts!"
"Exactly! I once encountered a Heaven Poison Scorpion Dragon Beast. Damn thing was a full seven star rank, reeking of blood, ridiculously strong. If I hadn't run fast enough, I wouldn't be here talking!"
"Tch… you're lucky! Encountering that thing and surviving? That beast isn't just highly venomous it has an incredibly tough body. A same rank Dou Zong wouldn't stand a chance."
"That's not necessarily true."
"Oh? You have a different opinion?" The first speaker furrowed his brows, displeased.
"Heh heh… you're ignorant!" A lean, middle aged man smirked smugly. "There's been a monstrous figure rising in the northern region recently. A mere one star Dou Zong, yet he managed to kill a four star Dou Zong and a five star Dou Zong with a single strike! His combat strength is absolutely terrifying!"
"Bullshit!" Another person scoffed. "At the Dou Zong level, each star is a massive hurdle. Even with powerful techniques and battle skills, at most, one might barely manage to jump a rank or two. But a one star Dou Zong killing both a four star and a five star? That's absurd!"
"Impossible! Totally impossible!"
"Heh heh… that's where you're wrong!" The lean middle aged man chuckled. "This guy claims that his elder brother, Xiao Yan, has the potential to become a Dou Di the first since the ancient Emperor Tuoshe! He even says that his brother dares to challenge the Soul Hall!"
"What?! A Dou Di's potential? The successor of Emperor Tuoshe? That Xiao Yan guy must be completely insane!"
"The Heavenly Nether Shura Hand? Isn't that the signature skill of the Heavenly Nether Sect? Is he from that sect?"
"No way! The members of the Heavenly Nether Sect hate each other like sworn enemies. They'd rather see each other dead than acknowledge a brotherhood."
"True. That Blood Shura, Yi Chen, is notorious for his brutality killing people and drinking their blood, devouring their flesh. He's downright terrifying…"
"Wait a minute! We're getting off topic! We're not talking about Yi Chen we're talking about the guy who used the Heavenly Nether Shura Hand to defeat his enemies. What's his name?"
"He… uh, his elder brother is Xiao Yan, the first successor of Emperor Tuoshe, a man with the potential to become a Dou Di!"
"I know who Xiao Yan is! I just want to know who this guy is!"
"He's… uh, I don't know. That guy never revealed his name… actually, the Wind Lightning Pavilion elder didn't even get the chance to ask before he was slapped to death!"
"And… what about this Xiao Yan? Who the hell is he? Daring to claim to be the next Dou Di does he have a death wish?"
"Xiao Yan… uh, I don't know either!"
"Tch… what an arrogant brat! Xiao Yan, is it? I'd love to slap that mouth of his crooked and show him that there's always someone stronger out there! Not just anyone can claim to be a Dou Di's successor!"
"Well, Xiao Yan supposedly dares to take on the Soul Hall. If you think you're stronger than him, why don't you go provoke the Soul Hall yourself?"
"Hah… his claims about fighting the Soul Hall are just words. Where's the proof? Which guardian did he kill? What Soul Hall branch did he destroy? Which Elder did he defeat?"
"There's no proof, right? Sounds completely fake to me!"
At his table, Lu Bu listened to the noisy chatter in the hall, unable to suppress a chuckle. Gossip and rumors truly spread faster than light. He had barely arrived in the Pill Domain, yet the news from the Northern Region had already reached here.
But… why was the information so vague?
They only mentioned the battle in Tianbei City? What about his storming of the Wind Lightning Pavilion and the assault on the Wind Thunder Mountains?
As Lu Bu continued listening, he realized that the discussions were indeed limited to the Tianbei City incident. Could it be that the Wind Lightning Pavilion was deliberately suppressing information
Hm?
Before the thought fully formed, Lu Bu's instincts flared. He turned his gaze toward the northern side of the hall, where two men one fat, one thin sat at a table.
The fat one was round like a ball, his neck almost invisible. The thin one resembled a bundle of dried twigs, his deep set eyes giving him the look of a malnourished scavenger.
Sensing Lu Bu's gaze, the fat man froze for a moment. Then, he lifted his wine cup, offering a friendly smile as he toasted in Lu Bu's direction.
Lu Bu raised an eyebrow, then smiled and nodded slightly in return before lifting his own cup in acknowledgment.
"Fat Rat, we have important matters to attend to. Don't cause trouble..." The thin man beside him ground his teeth slightly, speaking in a special tone and method.
To others, the sound was nothing more than the faint creaking of a shifting table, completely unremarkable. However, its meaning was transmitted clearly to Fat Rat's ears.
"Heh… I smell something unusual on him!" Fat Rat also ground his molars slightly as he spoke.
"What?" The thin man was puzzled.
"The thing our boss told us to find the scent is on that pretty boy. It's faint, barely detectable, but Dry Monkey, you know my nose..." Fat Rat replied confidently.
"Are you sure?" Dry Monkey's sunken eyes lit up slightly.
"About eighty percent sure!" Fat Rat grinned. "The scent on him is already extremely weak he hasn't been in contact with that thing for at least half a year, maybe even a year. But that particular poisonous scent isn't easy to get rid of..."
"Heh... Your nose is impressive. This time, you've really made a great contribution!" Dry Monkey's narrow eyes gleamed with excitement, his voice carrying a hint of thrill.
"Then what are you waiting for?" Fat Rat urged. "Hurry up and send word to the Domain Lord!"
"Lu Bu, you've been marked..." A playful voice echoed in his mind Heavenly Flame Venerable speaking with amusement. "How interesting… You're always the one hunting others, and now someone's got their eyes on you?"
"Ha... I noticed," Lu Bu chuckled. His soul perception was strong, and he had naturally picked up on the silent exchange between the fat and thin duo.
Their method was unique it wasn't through soul power, nor was it vocal communication. He couldn't decipher the content, but it was obvious they bore no good intentions.
But putting that aside, who exactly were these two? Lu Bu frowned slightly. He had just arrived and hadn't offended anyone in the Pill Domain or any faction, for that matter.
After thinking it over for a moment, Lu Bu found no possible connections. Since he had no leads, he decided to drop the matter for now. Finishing his wine, he stood up, dusted himself off, and strolled leisurely out of the inn, casually wandering the city streets.
Inside the inn, the fat and thin duo didn't immediately follow him. They waited a full incense stick's time before getting up, then slowly tailed Lu Bu from a distance, carefully tracking his movements.
Sensing their actions, Lu Bu raised an eyebrow and began making his way toward the outskirts of the city. He was curious just who were these people?
Meanwhile, in a mountainous region west of the Central Region, beyond the borders of the Pill Domain territory belonging to the Heavenly Nether Sect.
The Heavenly Nether Sect was an extremely powerful faction, second only to the Pill Tower and Soul Hall in the entire Central Region. It stood alongside the Flower Sect, with both sects collectively known as the "Twin Sects."
Below the main Heavenly Nether Sect were three subordinate sects Earthly Nether Sect, Profound Nether Sect, and Yellow Nether Sect. These factions, including the main sect, all cultivated sinister and ruthless techniques, acting with arrogance and cruelty.
Their infamous reputation throughout the Central Region was second only to the Soul Hall.
Twang!
A bowstring vibrated sharply, and a cold gleam shot through the air, piercing into the thickets where a white shadow had just darted.
Thud!
"Hahaha… Senior Brother Nie Yang, what impressive archery!" A white robed young man laughed heartily. With a purple folding fan tucked at his waist, his elegant white attire made him appear refined and noble.
"This Swift Lightning Snow Rabbit is incredibly fast even an ordinary Dou Zong might struggle to track it!"
"Heh… Junior Brother Chen Xian flatters me. It's just a minor skill, nothing worth mentioning. With your soul power, you'd probably do even better than I did." Nie Yang chuckled as he gently shook his longbow before stowing it away.
Behind them, several attendants swiftly retrieved the snow white rabbit that had been pinned to the ground. Though impaled, the rabbit was still alive, its four limbs twitching furiously, its vitality proving remarkably tenacious.
"Junior Brother Chen Xian, have you heard about the events in the Northern Region?" Nie Yang asked, smiling as he watched the attendants handle the prey.
"Oh?" Chen Xian chuckled. "Senior Brother Nie Yang, are you referring to that one star Dou Zong who claims his elder brother has the potential to become a Dou Di?"
"Heh… You've heard of it too? Apparently, this person also used the Heavenly Nether Shura Hand quite a formidable move."
At those words, a cold glint flashed in Chen Xian's eyes. The Heavenly Nether Shura Hand… Even as the Young Sect Master of Profound Nether Sect, he hadn't been granted the qualification to practice it. How had a mere one star Dou Zong obtained it?
"Heh… How about we take a trip to the Northern Region and meet this so called 'Dou Di's Successor'?" Nie Yang suggested playfully, his tone laced with amusement.
"This…" Chen Xian was momentarily tempted but quickly dismissed the idea. "Heh… Senior Brother Nie Yang, you know me. I'm currently preparing for the Pill Gathering. Engaging in battles isn't quite… suitable for me at the moment."
Although he coveted the Heavenly Nether Shura Hand, there was no way he would accompany someone from the Earthly Nether Sect. Who knew if they'd try to stab him in the back?
Within the Heavenly Nether Sect's domain, Earthly Nether Sect and Profound Nether Sect were somewhat evenly matched, maintaining a façade of mutual respect.
But beyond their respective territories… well, who could say what "accidents" might happen?
Besides, Nie Yang wasn't the kind of person who liked to share. If he got his hands on the Heavenly Nether Shura Hand, would he really lend it to me?
Seeing Chen Xian hesitate, Nie Yang sighed with feigned regret. "Heh… What a pity. I was hoping to explore together, Brother Chen Xian."
Who the hell ever explored with you? Chen Xian forced a wistful sigh. "Indeed… Damn that Pill Gathering. It's keeping me from going with you, Senior Brother Nie Yang."
"Yes, damn that Pill Tower!"
"Since Senior Brother Nie Yang is set on leaving, I must take my leave as well," Chen Xian chuckled. "A single day of neglect can set my alchemy back. Sometimes, I regret taking up the art of refining pills."
"Heh… Safe travels, Junior Brother." Nie Yang waved dismissively, entirely ignoring Chen Xian's nonsense.
"Senior Brother Nie Yang, farewell. I'll be going ahead." Chen Xian smiled, turned around, and left. But as he walked away, his face darkened Damn it… Was he supposed to just sit back and watch Nie Yang claim the Heavenly Nether Shura Hand?
No way!
That was a high tier Earth class battle technique! If Earthly Nether Sect got their hands on it, what would happen to Profound Nether Sect?
"Heh…" Nie Yang watched Chen Xian's departing figure, a hint of regret flashing in his eyes. If that brat had come along, my gains would've been even greater. What a shame...
"Let's go! To the Northern Region! Time to find that foolish brat who doesn't know his place!" Nie Yang sneered. "I want to see if this 'Dou Di's Successor' can withstand a slap from me!"
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