Free Web NovelChapter 67: Chapter 66: Chieftain of Black Cloud Mountain
Not far away, an old man with snow-white hair, dressed in a long robe, was hunched over several corpses, seemingly lost in thought. A fire pit was set up nearby, with some kind of food roasting over it.
The old man’s eyes suddenly twitched, and he turned his head toward Wen Qingye’s position.
"He’s found us," Wen Qingye said with a smile.
The old man smiled toward Wen Qingye and the others’ hiding spot and said, "Why don’t you young ones come on out?"
Wen Qingye’s group walked out slowly. Zhao Mei took a few deep sniffs, her eyes lighting up as she stared at the meat on the spit. "That smells amazing!"
The old man beamed at the four of them. "What brings you young friends to Black Cloud Mountain? This isn’t a very nice place, you know."
Zhao Xia frowned deeply at the old man, firing off a series of questions. "Whose bodies are these? Who are you? And why are you on Black Cloud Mountain?"
"No need to be so tense, little one." The old man saw Zhao Xia and waved his hand enthusiastically. "Come, sit. Let’s have a nice, long chat."
With that, the old man sat down by the fire pit on his own, picked up a piece of roasted meat from the spit, and started eating.
Zhao Mei’s eyes lit up again. She looked at Zhao Xia, tempted, and said, "Sis, I don’t think this old man means any harm. How about we ask him for some information?"
Hearing Zhao Mei’s words, Zhao Xia hesitated.
Wen Qingye gave a faint smile and pointed at the corpses. "We’re in the desolate wilderness. There are barely any beasts near Black Cloud Mountain. So where did the meat in that old man’s hand come from? Based on the smell and shape... now look at the bodies on the ground next to him. Doesn’t it look like meat from a thigh?"
’Human flesh!?’
At Wen Qingye’s words, Zhao Mei’s face changed drastically. She turned, pale as a sheet, to look at the corpses beside the old man.
The old man stopped, still chewing. He gave Wen Qingye a surprised look. "Kid, you’ve got sharp eyes. Care to try some? This human flesh is quite fragrant. The thigh meat is especially tender and delicious." fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm
As he spoke, he gazed at the roasted meat in his hand with a look of pure enjoyment.
Zhao Mei’s face contorted, and she nearly vomited. Her eyes fixed on the old man, filled with rage. "You lunatic! You actually eat human flesh? And you were going to have us eat it?"
Hearing this, the old man chuckled. "You’re still young. You don’t understand anything. I won’t hold it against you."
Wen Qingye’s gaze burned into the old man as he asked in a heavy tone, "It seems you must be the Chieftain of Black Cloud Mountain."
’This old man before us is actually the Chieftain of Black Cloud Mountain?’ the three Zhao siblings thought in shock.
"Oh? And how did you know that?" The old man raised an eyebrow, looking at Wen Qingye with curiosity.
Wen Qingye said slowly, "Your fingers are pale and delicate, suggesting you wear gloves year-round for Poison Refining. Your eyes are clear, yet they lack a divine glint, which means you’ve been in contact with poisons for so long that the toxins have already invaded your organs. Furthermore, the corpses next to you are emitting a black aura, clearly killed by poison. Yet you still dare to eat their flesh, which means you aren’t concerned about a little toxicity..."
The old man cut Wen Qingye off with a sinister laugh. "Kid, you’re pretty sharp. That’s right, I’m not concerned about these toxins, because my body has long since become immune to all poisons. A little snake venom like this is actually a great supplement for me."
Wen Qingye glanced at the Black Cloud Mountain Chieftain and scoffed. "No, your body isn’t immune to all poisons. It’s beyond cure."
The Chieftain of Black Cloud Mountain burst out laughing. "Kid, you’re discussing poisons with me? How ridiculous."
Wen Qingye looked at the Chieftain with a hint of pity. "When you wake up every morning, don’t you feel a throbbing pain in your Shenmen Acupoint?"
The Chieftain froze, his brows knitting together tightly.
Wen Qingye continued, "That’s the result of your body trying to expel the poison but failing. The toxins in your system run too deep; you’re already past the point of treatment. The poisons are in disarray. In fact, the only reason you’re still alive is that the various toxins are counteracting each other. If not for that, you wouldn’t have more than a few years left."
"Nonsense!" the Chieftain of Black Cloud Mountain roared, leaping to his feet.
Anyone would become enraged upon hearing they didn’t have long to live, especially when the other person presented evidence.
Wen Qingye paid no mind to the Chieftain’s fury and said flatly, "I’m not particularly concerned with your affairs. I only want to ask two things. First, where are the villagers you captured? Second, where is the Purple Jade Flower you have?"
"Those villagers?" The Chieftain’s eyes widened, and then he smiled. "They’re all lying in the back. A few managed to escape... and they’re right in front of you now. As for the Purple Jade Flower, I’ve already consumed it."
Zhao Mei gritted her teeth in anger. "You bastard! You even kill innocent people!" ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com
The Chieftain of Black Cloud Mountain sneered. "Innocent? Who in this world is innocent? I was innocent, too! Why was I dispatched to a godforsaken place like the Celestial Martial Country? Was it all for some non-existent treasure at Qig Mountain Academy?"
"Treasure? You actually believe the stories about treasure at Qig Mountain Academy? That’s hilarious." Zhao Mei looked at the Chieftain as if he were a fool.
Wen Qingye ignored the talk of treasure, his eyes fixed coldly on the Chieftain. "If you had consumed the Purple Jade Flower, you would be dead. Don’t even think about lying to me."
The Chieftain’s eyes narrowed. "If you don’t believe me, that’s fine too. Kill me. Kill me, and the Purple Jade Flower will be yours."
SHING!
Zhao Hao’s sword shot from its sheath. He stated bluntly, "You don’t need to be in such a hurry to die. We came to Black Cloud Mountain to kill you."
The Chieftain of Black Cloud Mountain sneered. "Kill me? With just the few of you?"
Zhao Hao said no more, his grip on his sword slowly tightening.
"Torrential Rain Sword Technique!"
Zhao Hao thrust his sword forward. Specks of light floated around the blade, and the tip struck out ferociously, like raindrops in a downpour.
A cold glint flashed in the Black Cloud Mountain Chieftain’s eyes. With a sudden wave of his hand, a black stream of Primordial Qi shot out from his palm.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Zhao Hao’s sword struck the black Primordial Qi, creating a piercing sound before he was thrown back, his body trembling from the impact.
The Chieftain scoffed, "Kid, your strength is impressive. It seems you have the highest cultivation here, don’t you?"
"You dare look down on me?" Zhao Mei shouted, thrusting her own sword forward.
"Torrential Rain!"
Zhao Mei dipped low and lunged, her sword unleashing an azure light. A fifty-foot-long wave of Sword Qi slashed directly toward him.
"Five Poison Hand!"
The Chieftain of Black Cloud Mountain leaped into the air and thrust his palm forward. To the utter horror of the three Zhao siblings, he caught Zhao Mei’s Sword Qi directly in his hand. The wave of energy slowly turned black before dissipating completely.
Zhao Xia’s expression changed. "Such powerful corrosive properties! It can even poison Primordial Qi."
Wen Qingye’s brow furrowed slightly. "Be careful. Don’t let his hand touch you."
Zhao Xia and the others nodded, watching the Chieftain warily.
The Chieftain snorted coldly. "Hmph. My Poison Technique has long since reached the Transformation Realm. And with my cultivation at the Sixth Level of Refining Essence, dealing with a few brats like you is child’s play."
PFFT!
The Chieftain of Black Cloud Mountain flung his hand forward, and a cloud of black powder appeared from his palm, drifting toward the group.
Zhao Xia said hurriedly, "Careful! Use your Primordial Qi to seal your nose and mouth!"
Wen Qingye drew his Cyan Mist Sword. He swung the blade in a continuous blur. All the Chieftain could see were glints of cold light flashing as his powder was utterly dispersed by Wen Qingye’s Sword Qi, unable to get anywhere near him.
