Free Web NovelChapter 410: Chapter 408: Soul-Loss Gu
"Master Bian, and where might you be off to?"
A teasing voice, thick with amusement, came from behind him.
Bian Hongxuan’s face darkened, and his entire body froze as if he’d been struck by lightning. The corners of his mouth twitched into a bitter smile that looked worse than crying.
Bian Hongxuan turned around, only to find to his embarrassment that everyone’s eyes were fixed on him.
The mocking, gloating stares made Bian Hongxuan feel as if he were sitting on pins and needles. It was utterly humiliating. He forced a bitter smile. "I... I... I just needed to use the restroom."
"The restroom? I don’t think that will be necessary!"
"Exactly. You’re about to be dog food anyway, so what’s the point?"
"Remembering how smug that old bastard was before, and then seeing him now... it’s just so satisfying!"
The powerhouses of the Purple Wind Clan all sneered.
The experts from the Cloud Sea Business Alliance wore mixed expressions, but no one spoke up for him.
Throughout their journey, Bian Hongxuan had maintained a cold, unapproachable air, offending many people in the process.
Cold sweat dripped down Bian Hongxuan’s forehead. He looked at Zhao Hongluan and pleaded, "Young Miss, for the sake of my loyal service to the Cloud Sea Business Alliance, please, help me!"
A flicker of conflict crossed Zhao Hongluan’s face. With a bitter smile, she looked to the Purple Wind Clan Leader. "Clan Leader, Bian Hongxuan is a retainer of our Cloud Sea Business Alliance and has made significant contributions. I wonder if you might spare him just this once?"
"Spare him?"
The Purple Wind Clan Leader chuckled. "Little lass, whether he is spared is not my decision to make. You should ask Friend Jiang."
Zhao Hongluan turned to Jiang Chen.
Bian Hongxuan scrambled over to Jiang Chen and fell to his knees with a THUD. He hugged Jiang Chen’s leg and wailed, "Hero Jiang! Uncle Jiang! It was I who was blind and failed to recognize your greatness! I was so foolish to have offended you. I’m begging you, please spare me this one time! Please..."
Snot and tears streamed down his face as he wiped them all over Jiang Chen’s pant leg.
Everyone was utterly dumbfounded.
Who could have imagined that a lofty Fourth-Grade Alchemist could be so utterly shameless?
’But then again...’
’...even a Human Emperor Powerhouse from the Celestial Venerable List would probably cast aside all dignity in the face of death!’
Jiang Chen looked at Bian Hongxuan with a wry smile. "Master Bian, what is the meaning of this? Didn’t you just say that I ’don’t know a damn thing’?"
"No, no, no! It’s I who doesn’t know a damn thing! No, I don’t even know that much! Before you, sir, I am an illiterate fool who knows nothing..." Bian Hongxuan stammered. "Young Master Jiang, please, just let me go, as if I were nothing but a fart in the wind! Oh, right! In here are all the treasures and wealth I’ve accumulated over the years. I only ask that you spare me this one time!"
As he begged, Bian Hongxuan held out a Storage Ring with both hands, offering it to Jiang Chen with a tremor.
A gleam flashed in Jiang Chen’s eyes.
’The entire fortune of a Fourth-Grade Alchemist... that’s enough to rival even the wealthiest Human King Realm Powerhouse. This Bian Hongxuan is really willing to give up everything to save his own skin.’
With a sweep of his hand, Jiang Chen accepted the Storage Ring. "Seeing as you are so sincere, I’ll spare you this once," he said coolly. "In the future, remember to keep a low profile. Don’t always act so high and mighty. You never know how many people in this world are stronger than you."
"Young Master Jiang’s lesson is well-received. I understand. I will be sure to conduct myself with humility from now on!" Bian Hongxuan was practically weeping with gratitude.
Jiang Chen nodded.
He glanced up and saw Zhao Hongluan looking at him. She gave a slight nod, her eyes filled with gratitude.
Jiang Chen smiled. If not for Zhao Hongluan and the Cloud Sea Business Alliance, he never would have let Bian Hongxuan off so easily for his earlier behavior.
’Gaining the entire life’s fortune of a Fourth-Grade Alchemist and repaying my debt to Zhao Hongluan at the same time... this was killing several birds with one stone!’
"Friend Jiang, have Little Jun and Hanshuang made a full recovery?" the Purple Wind Clan Leader’s voice asked.
The surrounding Purple Wind Clan powerhouses all stared at Jiang Chen, their eyes filled with anticipation.
Jiang Chen glanced at the Purple Wind Clan Leader and nodded. "The issue affecting them has been resolved, but they are still very weak. I’ve just given them a Concentration Pill. I believe they will wake up in a day or two. In the meantime, you just need to ensure they can rest and recuperate."
"It’s really been resolved?"
"Wonderful! This strange illness has plagued the Purple Wind Clan for over half a year, and now it’s finally over!"
"Thank the heavens! The heavens have blessed the Purple Wind Clan..."
The Purple Wind Clan powerhouses were overwhelmed with excitement and gratitude.
The Purple Wind Clan Leader also looked visibly moved. He looked at Jiang Chen and said, "Friend Jiang, were you able to determine the exact nature of Little Jun and the others’ illness? Many others in my clan have contracted the same strange sickness. I was wondering if you might be able to treat them as well?"
"An illness?"
Jiang Chen shook his head. "They aren’t sick. They’ve been poisoned by something called a Soul-Loss Gu."
"Poisoned?"
"A Soul-Loss Gu?"
"What is that?"
The powerhouses of the Purple Wind Clan were all stunned.
The Purple Wind Clan Leader also looked stunned. A moment later, a cold, murderous intent flashed in his eyes. In a heavy voice, he said, "Friend Jiang, please elaborate. What exactly is a Soul-Loss Gu?"
Jiang Chen said, "The Soul-Loss Gu is a potent poison that was thought to be lost for many years. It’s actually a venomous insect. This insect is extremely rare; as far as I know, it only lives in the roots of a plant called the Thousand-Branch Hundred-Leaf Flower. Normally, the Soul-Loss Gu feeds on the roots of this flower. One shouldn’t be able to contract this poison unless they ingest a Thousand-Branch Hundred-Leaf Flower contaminated by a Soul-Loss Gu."
"The Thousand-Branch Hundred-Leaf Flower?"
The Purple Wind Clan Leader’s expression changed dramatically.
The group of Purple Wind Clan powerhouses behind him also stared wide-eyed, their gazes filled with rage and cold, murderous intent.
A clan elder gritted his teeth. "It must have been them! This strange illness started appearing in our clan half a year ago, right after the young miss’s birthday, when those bastards from the Royal Family sent over some flowers."
"That’s right, it must be the Royal Family! I saw the gift list back then, and there was an item on it called the Thousand-Branch Hundred-Leaf Flower!"
"You mean that gorgeous flower? I saw it, too. I even thought it was beautiful."
"Damn it! Those bastards from the Royal Family have been planning this for a long time! They’re trying to use the Soul-Loss Gu to wipe out our Purple Wind Clan!"
The Purple Wind Clan powerhouses were filled with righteous fury, their anger boiling over.
From their words, Jiang Chen and the others pieced most of it together. It seemed this so-called strange illness was actually a long-planned conspiracy by the Royal Family. Their goal was to use the Soul-Loss Gu carried by the Thousand-Branch Hundred-Leaf Flower to poison the powerhouses of the Purple Wind Clan, then launch an attack to annex them.
’No wonder the Royal Family knew the secret the Purple Wind Clan guarded so strictly,’ Jiang Chen thought.
"Quiet!"
The Purple Wind Clan Leader snorted, and the crowd fell silent. He stared at Jiang Chen with a fiery intensity and said in a grave voice, "Friend Jiang, this is a matter of utmost importance. It concerns the very survival of my Purple Wind Clan. I implore you to help us resolve this crisis. If you can see the Purple Wind Clan through this ordeal, then from this day forward, for generations to come, the Purple Wind Clan will be your most loyal ally."
The moment he spoke,
everyone gasped, their faces filled with shock.
This was the Purple Wind Clan, one of the three great clans of the Profound Celestial Ice Field!
The number of powerhouses in their clan was comparable to several of the strongest Upper Grade Dynasties in the Eastern Continent.
With them as allies, it would be like having an entire Upper Grade Dynasty at Jiang Chen’s back!
Jiang Chen’s heart stirred. Under the Purple Wind Clan Leader’s intense gaze, he said gravely, "There is a solution. However, there are far too many poisoned members in your clan. To cure them all at once is beyond my current strength. Moreover, I will need some special materials and will have to prepare a certain Secret Technique..."
Hearing this,
the Purple Wind Clan Leader fell silent for a moment before saying, "Fine. Name whatever materials you need, and I will mobilize the full power of my clan to procure them for you. Furthermore, given your current cultivation at the Union Palace Realm Third Stage, I can grant you access to our clan’s Forbidden Land for three days. That should be enough time for you to increase your strength."
The full power of the clan!
Those words alone showed the Purple Wind Clan Leader’s determination and sincerity.
Jiang Chen nodded. "Very well. I will not disappoint you, Senior."
[Check out Yao Yueye’s completed novel: Undying Martial Venerable!]
