For a moment, the people of Nanhai Stockade were filled with endless panic.

Kuang Nie's expression turned grim as he hastily circulated his True Qi and bellowed, "Qiu Fu, you're going too far!"

The words had barely left his mouth when he gathered his True Qi and shot out from beside Kuang Long like a bolt of lightning. Kuang Hu and the others followed behind him. Frowning, Chen Zheng went out after them as well.

He knew Nanhai Stockade could not be destroyed yet, as he still needed Kuang Nie and his people to gather medicinal herbs.

Moving like a swift breeze, Kuang Nie arrived outside and was confronted by a dark, burly man. A black and red venomous snake was coiled around the man's shoulder, flickering with an ominous red light.

This man was none other than Qiu Fu!

The snake on his shoulder was a Snake Gu raised by Chi Mu. Though small, it was incredibly fast and highly venomous. Even a powerful expert like Kuang Nie had once been thwarted by its attacks.

At that moment, Qiu Fu was frowning, a look of shock on his face. When he saw Kuang Nie appear, his brows furrowed even deeper. "Kuang Nie, you shouldn't be…"

Before Qiu Fu could finish, Kuang Nie cut him off. "Are you disappointed? Did you think I was dead?"

Kuang Nie sneered, his eagle-like gaze fixed on the snake coiled around Qiu Fu's shoulder. "Do you really think this tiny creature poses any threat to me?"

Just then, Chen Zheng and his companions appeared outside the stockade like phantoms.

As Chen Zheng's figure emerged, the snake on Qiu Fu's shoulder, as if compelled by some force, coiled gently to his side, rubbing against him as it flicked its tongue several times.

Qiu Fu's expression changed slightly as he stared intently at Chen Zheng.

Animal instincts were terrifying. The Snake Gu had relayed a message: Chen Zheng posed a great threat to it.

"Kuang Nie, did he heal you?" Qiu Fu asked. This man was not from Nanhai Stockade.

He knew Nanhai Stockade inside and out. In his mind, no one in this world could have saved Kuang Nie from the Snake Gu's clutches.

However, Kuang Nie just laughed coldly, certain that Chen Zheng had indeed pulled him back from the brink of death.

Ignoring Kuang Nie, Qiu Fu kept his gaze locked on Chen Zheng.

Kuang Nie's expression changed, and just as he was about to rebuke Qiu Fu, Chen Zheng stepped forward. His gaze was calm and deep as he looked at Qiu Fu and asked indifferently, "What's your move?"

Qiu Fu was stunned for a moment before letting out a sinister laugh. "The Great Snake thinks you're dangerous, but I enjoy challenging danger. Other than you, I won't spare anyone in Nanhai Stockade!"

Chi Mu had already issued a ruthless order: everyone in Nanhai Stockade was to be annihilated. She had ruled Yuanqian Mountain for years, making it her territory.

Normally, if others sneakily gathered a few herbs, he wouldn't bother with them, so as not to attract Chi Mu's attention. This time, however, Kuang Nie had entered the mountains twice and gathered nothing but the Luo Huang Di, an herb Chi Mu desperately needed. How could he tolerate this?

In his eyes, these villagers had forgotten the terror of a Gu Master. He didn't want this happening again, so he decided to make an example of them to assert his authority. Naturally, his target was the entire Nanhai Stockade. He wanted to send a message to the world: Gu Masters were not to be trifled with.

[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for successfully triggering a selection mission.]

[Choice One: Slay Qiu Fu. Reward: 10 pieces of 50-year-old Luo Huang Di.]

[Choice Two: Severely injure Qiu Fu. Reward: First-Level Alchemy Realm.]

Chen Zheng paused for a moment and, without much hesitation, chose the second option. Although ten pieces of 50-year-old Luo Huang Di were incredibly tempting, he was only 80% confident he could refine them into medicinal powder. This was merely the first step; what he urgently needed was alchemical experience.

After Chen Zheng made his choice, Qiu Fu spoke again. "I'll make this quick. In your next life, remember to mind your own business!"

The moment he finished speaking, Qiu Fu took a step forward, charging toward Chen Zheng like a tiger descending a mountain. The Snake Gu instantly coiled its body, tensed, and shot forward like an arrow.

Qiu Fu and the Snake Gu closed in on Chen Zheng like two bolts of lightning, striking at almost the same instant.

A bizarre True Qi gathered in Qiu Fu's palm, coalescing into a dark green handprint that shot toward Chen Zheng like a meteor. The handprint was imbued with a potent toxin, and the air sizzled as if being corroded by its very presence.

At the same time, the Snake Gu opened its gaping maw, spewing a cloud of venom with a sickeningly foul stench.

Kuang Nie's face turned deathly pale at the sight, and he cried out, "Lord Chen Zheng, be careful!"

He had personally experienced the horror of this toxin and nearly died from it.

Yet, facing this sudden crisis, Chen Zheng showed no fear.

Suddenly, a deafening ROAR echoed as a dazzling energy barrier materialized in front of Chen Zheng.

Qiu Fu's dark green handprint crashed against it and shattered into countless fragments, dissipating into nothing. The sprayed venom froze in mid-air before Chen Zheng, unable to advance another inch.

Kuang Nie let out a long sigh of relief, inwardly mocking himself for his excessive worry.

At this moment, Qiu Fu stared at Chen Zheng in shock, while the Snake Gu's crimson eyes revealed a hint of human-like astonishment.

"Did you think you could conquer this stockade with such pathetic power?" Chen Zheng's voice was as calm and deep as an abyss.

A primal fear welled up in the hearts of both Qiu Fu and the Snake Gu, as if they were being pulled in by an invisible force.

Just then, a black energy surged around Chen Zheng, like a dragon emerging from the abyss, emitting a suffocatingly sharp aura. The very air seemed to be cut by an invisible blade, leaving behind gashes like cracks in ice.

Run!

It was the only thought left in the minds of Qiu Fu and the Snake Gu as they turned to flee the terrifying scene.

But they were not fast enough. A pitch-black beam of Sword Qi shot out like lightning in the dead of night, piercing the silent air.

With a series of sickening squelches, the Snake Gu was instantly sliced into pieces, its remains scattering across the ground like a bloody tapestry.

Although the Sword Qi had pierced his body, Qiu Fu scrambled forward madly. Blood gushed from his mouth and oozed from his wounds, but he didn't dare to stop, his eyes wide with terror.

"Don't even think about escaping!" Kuang Nie, still reeling from the shock of Chen Zheng's power, saw Qiu Fu attempting to flee and immediately moved to give chase.

"Let him go." Chen Zheng waved his arm casually, and an invisible force immobilized Kuang Nie.

Filled with confusion, Kuang Nie asked, "Lord Chen Zheng, why are you letting him go? He's the chief of Shanhuang Stockade and is controlled by a Gu Master! Letting him leave is like releasing a tiger back into the mountains!"

"I have my reasons," Chen Zheng stated indifferently, feeling no need to explain himself to Kuang Nie.

[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for successfully completing the selection mission. Reward received: First-Level Alchemist's Experience.]

A torrent of information flooded the depths of Chen Zheng's consciousness, as if transporting him to a new world where he was an alchemy grandmaster. Countless insights into alchemy took root and sprouted in his mind like seeds. For the past few days, he had been exploring the mysteries of alchemy, and problems that had once troubled him were now suddenly crystal clear.

Now, I can definitely succeed in refining the Yuan Pei Pill.

However, he had already used up all the Luo Huang Di.

Thinking of this, he looked at the resentful Kuang Nie and asked, "Haven't you collected the Luo Huang Di yet?"

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