Chapter 1105: No Other Choice

The Soul Sect's sixty-four halls suffered heavy losses, and an unsettling atmosphere of panic permeated the entire sect.

Upon receiving the news, Lei Qianfeng returned like a storm. The moment he entered the sect, a faint scent of poison caused a jolt in his heart—this was clearly the aura of the same potent venom that had killed Lei Guangmo! He quickened his pace again, smashing through the door with a loud bang, and instantly, his eyes widened in horror.

Drifting crimson mist, mixed with a terrifying poisonous aura, permeated the entire hall. Lei Qiandu and two other elders were there, their faces rigid. Xiao Qingtong was slumped on the ground, crying disconsolately, tears streaming down her face. When Lei Qianfeng burst through the door, she remained unresponsive.

There were six people emitting the poisonous mist and aura. All of them were sprawled on the ground, completely unable to stand, their groans barely audible and incredibly weak. And these six people were shockingly his remaining six sons after Lei Guangmo's death.

All of them! Lei Qianfeng's mind buzzed, his entire head felt like it had suddenly exploded. His body swayed, and he nearly stumbled to the ground. The agony of Lei Guangmo's poisoning was still fresh in his memory. The terror of this moment plunged him into an endless abyss.

"What... what's happening? What's going on!!" Lei Qianfeng rushed to his six sons, shouting in a hoarse voice.

"Sect Master," Lei Qiandu approached, "The poison they've been afflicted with is identical to Guangmo's, but it's even more potent than the one Guangmo contracted. Ling Yun... he clearly infiltrated our sect and ambushed the six young masters one by one!" As he spoke, a chill still ran down Lei Qiandu's spine.

Lei Qianfeng's face twitched. He rushed to his eldest son, Lei Guangqian, and asked with a trembling voice, "Qian'er, what exactly happened? How did you get poisoned?"

Lei Guangqian's face was crimson. His lips moved several times before he finally managed to utter a painful, garbled sound: "Son... I don't know... just felt my vision... blur... woke up... and it was already... *cough*... Father... save me..."

Lei Qianfeng's body swayed, a chill piercing him to the bone.

The main sect not only had top figures in the entire Blackya Realm like Lei Qianfeng, the grand elders, and hall masters, but also eight million disciples guarding it. The area where Lei Qianfeng's six sons resided was undoubtedly the sect's core, guarded by countless individuals; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it the safest place in the entire Blackya Realm.

Yet, a single person had silently poisoned all of them with deadly venom! No one knew when he infiltrated, nor when he left. What was even more terrifying was that even the poisoned individuals had no idea how they had been poisoned!

A strong gust of wind swept by as Lei Tiangang and the Fifth Elder finally caught up. The scene before them instantly made their faces change drastically, filled with utter horror.

"This... this..." Lei Tiangang's scalp tingled. He looked at Lei Qianfeng, whose terrifying expression made him hesitant to speak for a moment.

Lei Qiandu glanced at them and transmitted a message: "Where are the Fourth Elder and the others? Why didn't they return with you?"

"They... died."

"What!?" Lei Qiandu exclaimed involuntarily, his already clouded face turning even more ghastly. "Could it be... Ling Yun? No... impossible..."

"We'll discuss that later!" Lei Tiangang stepped forward. "First, we must find a way to save the young masters!"

He had only taken two steps forward when he was startled and recoiled. How could he not see that the poison affecting these six was even more virulent than the one Lei Guangmo had succumbed to! And Lei Qianfeng himself had poured all his efforts and used every top-tier spiritual medicine in the sect, yet he couldn't save Lei Guangmo; in fact, it had been completely useless. He dared not imagine what the consequences would be this time.

"Ling Yun... you are ruthless!" Lei Qianfeng trembled all over, grinding his teeth. "Even if I have to chase you to the edge of chaos, I will tear you into a million pieces and grind your bones to dust!!"

Xiao Qingtong raised her head and said in a hoarse voice, "Lei Qianfeng! Before you curse Ling Yun, think about all the disgraceful things you've done these past years! Think about who brought Ling Yun here! Do you understand what retribution is now!! I've already lost Mo'er, and if anything happens to Qian'er... I will never forgive you in my life! Because they were all killed by you!!"

"You... shut up!" Lei Qianfeng roared, but then he clutched his head and sank weakly to the ground, muttering distractedly, "No... there must be a way, there must be a way..."

"Sect Master! That Blackhearted Poison Sage!" Lei Tiangang suddenly exclaimed loudly, "He might still be in Blackya City! If he's legitimate, he'll definitely have a way to save the six young masters."

"That's right!" Lei Qiandu echoed, "Sect Master, Guangmo's body is still warm... this poison is so terrifying that we are completely helpless. Whether that Blackhearted Poison Sage is real or not, this is our only option."

"Then hurry and have the Blackfeather Merchant Guild find the whereabouts of that Blackhearted Poison Sage!" Lei Qianfeng gasped, "Once he's found, agree to whatever exorbitant conditions he demands first! Bring him here as quickly as possible!"

"Sect Master," Lei Tiangang said, "Have you forgotten? Last time, when we went to invite the Blackhearted Poison Sage, he... he wanted us to bring the people to him ourselves."

"That scoundrel!" Lei Qianfeng said in a deep voice, "He's just a petty poison doctor, a stray dog hunted by countless star realms. What does he think he is? Does he truly believe I would personally go beg him? After you find him, it's best if he comes willingly. If he doesn't know his place, knock him out and drag him back!"

"This..." Lei Tiangang looked troubled.

"Lei Qianfeng!!" Xiao Qingtong stood up, shaking her sleeve. Having just suffered the pain of losing one son, and with another son now afflicted by the same deadly poison, her heart was filled with grief and fear. How could she care about Lei Qianfeng's reputation? She cursed loudly, "That Blackhearted Poison Sage has been pursued by countless Middle Star Realms for thousands of years and is still alive and well! Why should he even acknowledge you, a mere Sect Master from a Lower Star Realm? What does he amount to? Why don't you first ask yourself what *you* amount to! You can't even protect your own sons! For the sake of your own petty pride, you've already killed Mo'er, and now you're planning to kill all your remaining sons too!!"

"You..." This torrent of curses turned Lei Qianfeng's face ashen, then quickly deathly pale. Instead of cursing back, he suddenly roared, "What are you still standing around for! Go inform the Blackfeather Merchant Guild immediately! I'm only giving them three hours! Whether that Blackhearted Poison Sage is still in Blackya City or not, they must find him for me within three hours! Otherwise, I will make them regret it!"

"Yes, Sect Master." Lei Tiangang quickly acknowledged the order.

"Qiandu!" Lei Qianfeng gasped, "Begin preparations immediately! Within half an hour, take Qian'er and the others and depart with me for Blackya City! Bring as many profound stones as you can... That Blackhearted Poison Sage had better be real. He had better truly be capable of curing all poisons in the world as the legends claim. Otherwise, I will personally crush his bones first... Go quickly!!"

When Yun Che opened his eyes, it was already broad daylight.

Under the powerful Great Dao of the Buddha Sutra, his external wounds had healed on the surface, leaving no visible injuries or scars. His internal injuries were also seventy to eighty percent better, and his profound energy had mostly recovered. Only his spiritual energy had recovered merely thirty to forty percent.

The reason he was so eager to awaken was that there was something he absolutely had to do today.

While he was in meditation healing, he had kept a sliver of his consciousness active. He had noticed when Little Jasmine left, but she still hadn't returned.

Who exactly was she?

Yun Che stood up. Recalling his several "chance encounters" with her, and some of the things she had said last night, Yun Che suddenly had a subtle feeling... this girl was not only absolutely not as simple as she appeared, but also seemed to be deliberately approaching him with some kind of purpose.

But he hadn't known her before, and it was even less likely that he had any grievances with her. What exactly was she after...?

As Yun Che pondered, his transmission jade suddenly emitted a profound energy fluctuation.

He picked up the transmission jade, and Ji Ruyan's relieved voice came through: "That's wonderful... Young Master Ling Yun, the Soul Sect, just as you said, has once again asked us to find the Blackhearted Poison Sage, and they're much more urgent than before. I couldn't reach you earlier, I thought something had happened to you."

Calculating the current time, Yun Che replied, "There was a slight complication. I'm still in Black Soul Mountain, and it will take some time to return to Blackya City. Try to stall them for a few more hours."

After a long while, Ji Ruyan finally replied: "Alright... but Young Master, please hurry."

Straightening his breathing, dispelling the scent on his body, and changing his clothes, Yun Che no longer worried about Little Jasmine's whereabouts. He flew away from Black Soul Mountain, swiftly heading back towards Blackya City.

Blackya City, abandoned outskirts.

It was a house riddled with cracks, its doors and windows long broken, standing solitary on ground rarely trodden by people.

Yet today, this desolate place welcomed "distinguished guests."

A group of people arrived in haste. At the forefront was none other than Lei Qianfeng, the Great Realm King of the Blackya Realm. Beside him was his official wife, Xiao Qingtong, whose status in the sect was almost equal to his own. Following them were Chief Hall Master Lei Tiangang and Grand Elder Lei Qiandu, accompanied by the sect's chief physician, Lei Deyan.

Behind them, a group of disciples carefully carried the Lei Qianfeng couple's six sons, who had been severely poisoned.

After such a long time, the poison they had contracted had become even more virulent. All six bodies were enveloped in a thin, reddish mist, and the mere external emanation of the poisonous aura made the nearby Soul Sect disciples extremely uncomfortable.

The group descended and approached the small house indicated by the Blackfeather Merchant Guild. The moment they drew near, Lei Qianfeng, Lei Tiangang, Lei Qiandu, and the others' expressions drastically changed, and they simultaneously halted.

This was because they clearly sensed an incredibly dark and sinister aura.

This chilling sensation not only came from outside but also welled up from deep within their hearts, making their entire bodies turn cold, their hearts pound, and their hair stand on end. The dilapidated hut before them seemed enveloped in a ghostly aura from the depths of the Netherworld, sending shivers down the spines of even these supreme experts at the pinnacle of the Blackya Realm.

"Sect Master... this is..." Lei Tiangang showed a look of astonishment. He had never experienced such a terrifying aura in his life.

Just then, a hoarse, low chuckle came from inside: "Hehehehe, it seems a big business opportunity has arrived. Come in, then, obediently, hehehe..."

This suddenly appearing voice was as sinister as a giggling ghost's laugh. Coupled with the unusually chilling aura, it startled several disciples behind them, making them retreat several steps and feel a shiver run through their bodies.

Lei Qianfeng's expression subtly changed. Before he could react, Xiao Qingtong, who was beside him, quickly stepped inside. His brow furrowed, and he had no choice but to follow.