Chapter 455: Wasteland God's Poison and Star Domain Disease Theory Zhao Xing Can Only Live for One More Month?

"Tianningzi, what did you see?" Wei Tianchen suppressed his emotions, making his tone calm.

"The Seven-Star Chest of Drawers," Zhao Xing replied without hiding anything. "I saw a gray chest inlaid with seven stars, corresponding exactly to the seven giant stars: Celestial Boat, Accumulated Water, High Minister, Left Guardian, Celestial Yin, Accumulated Corpse, and Da Ling."

"Where is it?!" Wei Tianchen grew agitated again. "Tell me quickly!"

"Old Imperial Physician, don't rush. I didn't get a good look just now. Let me see again."

Wei Tianchen took a deep breath, scrutinizing Zhao Xing from head to toe, as if trying to see through him.

Just moments before, the instant he seized Zhao Xing, he had attempted to extract Zhao Xing's memories.

Wei Tianchen had viewed Zhao Xing's memories from the past few tens of seconds through a first-person perspective.

However, he gained no useful information.

From the first-person perspective of the memory read, Wei Tianchen still saw only emptiness.

Yet, Zhao Xing had described the appearance of the Seven-Star Chest of Drawers.

If Zhao Xing wasn't lying, it proved that his memories, or at least certain hidden parts, could not be read by Wei Tianchen.

"Keep looking, and don't hide anything!"

Wei Tianchen, unwilling to give up, fiddled with the jade thumb ring on his finger, which had a black eye embedded in it, pointed directly at Zhao Xing.

At this moment, Zhao Xing was already looking around again, truly needing a closer inspection.

This was because the panel information hadn't fully displayed before Wei Tianchen interrupted him and grabbed him.

Furthermore, he found this panel display somewhat strange.

Normally, the detection panel could only view living organisms.

Non-living objects couldn't be viewed; for instance, if a Rainstorm Stone were thrown in front of him, the panel wouldn't display anything.

But just now, he had seen a Seven-Star Chest of Drawers.

Could it be that the Seven-Star Chest of Drawers was a living organism, or possessed life characteristics?

Focusing his gaze intently in a certain direction, something indeed appeared shortly after.

However, it seemed somewhat distorted, as if deliberately hiding, causing the panel to waver slightly.

After staring for a while, the panel finally stabilized. He saw a blurry box, and its related information simultaneously appeared.

Name: Seven-Star Chest of DrawersQuality: Divine Object (Living)Description: A living seal crafted by Imperial Physician Commander 'Fan Qianrou' during the Five Emperors era, using her seven hearts to suppress the 'Wild God Poison'.Remaining Lifespan: 3.5 Epochs.Seven Apertures Divine Seal: Under the long-term influence of the Wild God Poison, only the Da Ling heart and the secret art 'Seven Apertures Heart Sealing Technique' remain from her seven hearts.True Spirit Celestial Poison: A secondary poison source evolved from the Wild God Poison.Taiyi Celestial Annihilation Poison Source Body: A secondary poison source evolved from the Wild God Poison.Wild God Poison: Unknown

"It really is a living entity?" Considering the diverse forms of 'life' in the universe, Zhao Xing accepted the fact that this box was a living entity.

"Hiss, this thing actually contains something even more formidable? It can even generate two terrifying poison source bodies?"

"Truly frightening—"

Zhao Xing was incredibly shocked. He had never heard of the Wild God Poison; he used to think that the True Spirit Celestial Poison was the strongest.

The True Spirit Celestial Poison could kill demigods, and even divine beings couldn't cure it.

The Wild God Poison that had now appeared seemed even more powerful; even the Physician God was helpless and could only suppress it with her own body.

Moreover, it was only 3.5 epochs away from breaking free.

Wei Tianchen frowned, as he still couldn't see anything.

However, he perceived Zhao Xing's shock and heard his inner thought: "Truly frightening."

It was too strange; even holding a divine object, he still couldn't eavesdrop on Zhao Xing's thoughts, as if everything Zhao Xing saw and thought was encrypted at this moment.

"Tianningzi, what exactly did you see?" Wei Tianchen demanded. "Why are you so flustered?"

"Old Imperial Physician, perhaps we should leave?" Zhao Xing urged. "A thing that even a Physician God had to seal—taking it out would only cause harm."

Although he didn't know what it was yet, it clearly looked like something extraordinary, and taking it out wouldn't be a good idea.

"This old man doesn't need you to teach him," Gu Tianchen said. "Quickly tell me everything you've seen—unless you want to experience my poison torture?"

"I've already said what needed to be said," Zhao Xing said, pointing in the direction of the Seven-Star Chest of Drawers. "The object is in that direction; it's approximately ten zhang high, three zhang long, and two to four zhang wide."

"As for its distance, I don't know. This place is a void, and space changes are unfathomable; I cannot perceive distance."

Wei Tianchen immediately dispatched four clones, sending them flying in the direction Zhao Xing indicated.

His living corpse clones stopped moving as soon as they jumped off the ship, as if frozen.

This was actually an illusion; Wei Tianchen had been moving the entire time. It was just that the spatiotemporal changes in this place were so profound that they created a false visual, making Zhao Xing believe he hadn't moved at all.

At this point, Zhao Xing's gaze seemed to trigger a change in the Seven-Star Chest of Drawers.

It suddenly swayed, a small drawer opened, and countless strands of light and shadow burst forth from within.

Zhao Xing was filled with doubt and surprise; his panel scan could actually cause such a change?

The myriad strands of light and shadow formed the figure of a black-haired woman wearing white ceremonial robes.

She began to speak towards Zhao Xing's direction, while also pointing to several parts of the Seven-Star Chest of Drawers, seemingly explaining something.

She spoke for a long time, and Zhao Xing listened for a long time.

Unfortunately, he couldn't understand a single word.

Finally, the white-robed woman bowed to Zhao Xing, then dissipated and returned to the drawer.

After waiting approximately three years, the first living corpse clone dispatched by Wei Tianchen suddenly dissipated from Zhao Xing's perspective. In the fifth and sixth years, the remaining three clones also dissipated.

Wei Tianchen once again lost four generations of cultivation without achieving anything.

Zhao Xing glanced at it; the Seven-Star Chest of Drawers was still in its original place.

However, the white-robed woman did not reappear.

Having lost another four generations of cultivation, Wei Tianchen was in an extremely foul mood.

He could now confirm that a Da Ling giant star had once suppressed space-time here.

As long as he was here, with the aid of a divine object, he had high hopes of taking the divine being's Seven-Star Chest of Drawers.

But the Da Ling giant star had vanished, leaving only the Seven-Star Chest of Drawers!

Retrieving it had become extremely difficult.

At this moment, Zhao Xing suddenly began to walk around the ship. Noticing this, Wei Tianchen's gaze hardened with killing intent.

Zhao Xing knew he had to demonstrate his usefulness; if he had no value, the old man would likely act against him.

"Old Imperial Physician, don't rush to kill me yet."

"Since I can see it and you cannot, it proves that my value here is higher than yours."

"We have no mortal enmity. If I help you and you let me go, isn't that better than returning empty-handed or wasting time here?"

Wei Tianchen considered it carefully and surprisingly agreed: "Alright, I swear by Emperor Li: if you can help me obtain the Seven-Star Chest of Drawers, I will grant you a path to survival."

"Should I violate this oath, I shall forever lose hope of reaching the divine realm!"

Zhao Xing didn't believe in oaths at all; there were too many ways to break them.

However, at this moment, Zhao Xing only wanted to stabilize Wei Tianchen for a while, awaiting rescue.

"Alright, I trust you!"

"I saw some things on the chest, but I can't describe them," Zhao Xing said, looking at a pavilion on the ship. "Old Imperial Physician, since you've lived since the Five Emperors era, you must have preserved some ancient texts."

"Perhaps you could let me see them? I might be able to help you translate."

"If you feel comfortable, you can just let me see some unimportant texts, languages, and historical records."

Wei Tianchen scrutinized Zhao Xing, then nodded: "Alright, there's a library on the ship; you can go in and look. Anyway, I don't plan for Zhao Xing to live, so letting him see my library won't matter."

Wei Tianchen had already lost over a dozen generations of cultivation; continuing to waste it like this was not sustainable.

Randomly searching without a method, how many lives would it take to suffice?

Wei Tianchen agreed on one point: he couldn't see it, but Zhao Xing could. At this moment, the other party's value was indeed greater.

Wei Tianchen's library was a world unto itself inside, with rows of standing cabinets floating in space, arranged in layers, stretching almost endlessly.

As a figure from the Five Emperors era, his collection of books was astonishing. After Zhao Xing entered and saw the mountains of books, he couldn't help but exclaim that the collection here could rival the first three levels of the Academy City's Dharma Realm.

"Boom~"

Numerous bookshelves separated and disappeared.

Wei Tianchen didn't want Zhao Xing to waste time, so he directly concealed all books from the new generation, leaving only ancient texts from the Mesozoic Era's Cretaceous period.

Zhao Xing's divine sense rapidly scanned, and he began to flip through and learn extensively.

He also wanted to understand what Fan Qianrou, the Physician God, had said.

The written and spoken languages of the Five Emperors era differed greatly from the present, but Zhao Xing quickly mastered over a thousand variations. Still, he couldn't understand the passage Fan Qianrou had spoken.

He continued to read and learn.

Suddenly, his eyes narrowed. Just now, he had come across an ancient medical text.

It seemed to mention knowledge related to the Barren Realm.

Zhao Xing believed the Wild God Poison might be connected to the Barren Realm, so he examined it closely. Unexpectedly, it didn't mention the Wild God Poison at all, but rather offered a unique insight into the process of becoming barren.

"Diseases of cultivation, such as a flawed Golden Body Dharma Form; chaotic five elements and six energies; confused soul and intellect, or a dao heart going astray—all these pathologies follow the principles of the Great Dao and have discernible traces. To perceive the pathologies of the human body is to perceive the impermanence of the Great Dao. To transform the impermanence into a tangible principle is to practice medicine."

Up to this point, Zhao Xing still found it quite normal.

Among the Physician's professional skills was one called "Pathology Perception." Physicians believed that the structure of all living beings in the world should be perfect and flawless. If significant damage occurred, this state of imperfection would appear to a Physician's perception like a bright moon in the night.

However, upon turning the page, a passage immediately followed that somewhat surprised Zhao Xing.

"However, humans suffer from incurable diseases, where pathology is untraceable and a hundred medicines fail. The Heavenly Dao also reaches the extreme of impermanence; with every great epoch, there are natural disasters and terrestrial changes that destroy all living beings. Could the Great Dao of the universe also be flawed? Now the Barren Realm spreads, unstoppable, and the imperial court's path is in disorder. Is this perhaps a pathology of the Dao?"

"Hmm?"

Zhao Xing checked the book title and found that this ancient text was called "Xuanling Barren Realm Pathology Theory." It had no author's name, only a date: "Emperor Li, Third Epoch, Seventh Yang Year."

Comparing it with history, it was approximately the end of Emperor Li's era.

"'Barren Realm Pathology Theory'? Interesting. So this is how physicians from the Five Emperors era viewed natural disasters, terrestrial changes, and the phenomenon of the Barren Realm."

The author of this medical text believed that human pathology arose from the elemental disorder of the five elements and six energies within the body.

The six energies within the human body were: wind, cold, heat, dryness, dampness, and fire. The six energies in the universe were: Yin, Yang, wind, rain, dimness, and brightness.

And the Great Dao of Yin and Yang nurtured living beings; living beings cultivating the five elements and six energies attained the Dao. The onset of human illness had a strong correlation with changes in the Heavenly Dao.

Conversely, it could also be argued that an unsuitable environment for survival was a pathology of the Heavenly Dao.

This theory was not particularly rare; Zhao Xing knew that each school had its own set of theories to explain the Dao and cosmic phenomena.

However, what this medical text stated next was somewhat alarming.

"The healing of living beings, whether by collecting celestial elixirs or cultivating the methods of the five elements and yin-yang, fundamentally involves eliminating foreign elements. But how does one heal the heavens? Cultivating the Dao and practicing methods is like maggots infesting the bones, parasitizing heaven and earth, stealing the spirit of heaven and earth. If one wishes to cure the illness of the Barren Realm, one must kill the spirits who cultivate the Dao!"

"My goodness, what kind of lunatic wrote this?" Zhao Xing's eyelid twitched involuntarily.

The author of this book actually believed that the birth of the Barren Realm was due to too many lives cultivating the Dao, which led to the emergence of this "Barren Realm" as a pathology of heaven and earth.

He believed that heaven and earth originally possessed self-healing abilities. As long as foreign elements were eliminated, just as one treats human diseases, by killing some Dao cultivators, the Barren Realm would naturally disappear through the self-healing of heaven and earth.

"He saw Dao cultivators as viruses? And clearing these viruses was healing heaven and earth?"

"Truly anti-human rhetoric," Zhao Xing thought to himself. "I wonder who wrote it."

Turning to the very last page, a name finally appeared: Grand Physician Wei Tianchen.

"Good heavens, no wonder Qingyuzi said this person was a lunatic." Zhao Xing finally understood.

In his previous life, Wei Tianchen sought the Taiyi Celestial Annihilation Poison Source Body and later found people to use as test subjects. He wasn't researching any good remedies at all; he was developing poisons!

Developing poisons for what? To kill people.

"No, he wasn't even satisfied with the Taiyi Celestial Poison Source Body level. It seems his goal wasn't just to kill people, but rather... to kill gods."

As Zhao Xing speculated on Wei Tianchen's intentions, he suddenly shivered.

"Too insane!"

Ancient Physician Tianchen was even crazier than Scholar Bowei.

Bowei merely thought of creating gods, whereas Ancient Physician Tianchen wanted to research a poison capable of killing gods.

The key point was that both their original intentions seemed to be to save the world.

However, in later versions, he hadn't heard any news about the Ancient Physician, nor was he the protagonist of the version, indicating that he likely hadn't succeeded.

Come to think of it, Bowei, who only wanted to create a god for himself, might not pose much of a threat to other divine realms. Wei Tianchen, however, harbored deep malice towards divine realms; as soon as he acted, he would surely be eliminated.

He had thought Wei Tianchen wanted to restore his country or become a god himself. He never expected the other party to have such a goal.

"The phenomenon of barren transformation has driven so many people mad," Zhao Xing sighed slightly as he closed the ancient text.

After glimpsing Wei Tianchen's true intentions, he began to accelerate his learning.

Wei Tianchen seemed somewhat nostalgic; among the books he showed Zhao Xing, most were written by himself.

Among them were texts from other professions, even those of the Minister of Agriculture. This person had reincarnated multiple times and had not been solely a physician.

When he was the Minister of Agriculture, he had also written some treatises related to terrestrial changes, from which Zhao Xing benefited greatly.

In one book, he also mentioned the Primordial series within the "Straw Man Technique."

The method created by Gu Tianyang, up to the Grand Void Straw Man stage, still had some substance, but the Primordial Straw Man was purely a pipe dream.

All members of the Gu family were obsessed, always indulging in unrealistic dreams.

Gu Luohe was like this, and so was Gu Tianyang.

After reading, Zhao Xing inwardly grumbled: "You call others' dreams pipe dreams, but you don't feel the same about your own."

He quickly searched, and whenever a book mentioned Gu Luohe or Gu Tianyang, he swiftly memorized it.

Soon after, he found Wei Tianchen's commentary on the Straw Man Technique in another piece.

"—After Gu Tianyang's death, another disciple, Zuo Qiyi, inherited his methods, and Gu Luohe became one of the founders of the Primal Realm.Time truly flies. In the ancestral land of Emperor Yu, another vast nation, the Red Star Empire, was established.However, I always felt that Gu Tianyang did not die in the Black Heaven Realm. If what I suspect is true, that young man's heart is truly dark..."

"Are you finished yet?!" Wei Tianchen's urging suddenly interrupted Zhao Xing's immersive reading.

"Not yet," Zhao Xing shook his head.

In fact, he had already finished. After studying for so long, he finally understood the words:

"My name is Fan Qianrou, a divine physician under Emperor Luo Mo'er. Since you, fellow Daoist, have crossed seven barriers to reach this place, you must have attained a realm similar to mine, or perhaps even surpassed it. This chest contains the 'Wild God Poison,' which you may or may not have heard of. Its danger is immense; once it spreads, realms other than our Emperor's will find it difficult to resist. After its release, it will mutate to a higher level within 100,000 immeasurable hours. If allowed to spread unchecked, even our Emperor will be unable to resist it after three world-star years. I, Fan Qianrou, born with seven exquisite hearts and having attained the Dao of medicine, could not completely eradicate it. I could only seal it and bring it back for our Emperor to handle. Unexpectedly, on my return journey, I encountered an unforeseen event that shattered my Ten Thousand Splendor Treasure Vase. Left with no choice, I had to use my own seven hearts to seal it here. If you are seeing these words, fellow Daoist, it means a long time has passed. I only have the power of my last exquisite heart remaining, and can only seal it for approximately three more epochs. It is a world-destroying object, of no benefit to you. I have used my last strength to activate the Seven Seals method; you may take it by following your intuition. Fan Qianrou implores you, fellow Daoist, to return this object to our Emperor for disposal. If you can spare my Xuanling people from utter annihilation, not only will your merits be immeasurable, but our Emperor will surely bestow a generous reward. If you are unwilling to risk it, I also humbly request you to spread the word. Fan Qianrou bows in gratitude."

With that, Fan Qianrou bowed from a distance.

"I can only give you one more year," Wei Tianchen's voice remained cold, but Zhao Xing detected a hint of weariness in it.

"If you cannot prove your value to me within a year, I will have no choice but to destroy you."

"Old Imperial Physician, I was just beginning to admire you, and now you speak of killing me. It's truly disheartening."

"Have you forgotten the oath you just made?"

"You're merely trying to buy time, waiting for people from the Primal Realm and Tai'e Ancient Mound to come for you," Wei Tianchen said indifferently. "Why bother with these words?"

Zhao Xing said, "You don't need to kill me. We have no fundamental grudge. I even led you to the Seven-Star Chest of Drawers. Settling our karmic debt might not be a bad choice."

"Tianningzi, if you were merely Zhao Xing, I might not kill you," Wei Tianchen said. "But you are too strange. I cannot guarantee that I can make you forget certain things, so I have no choice but to kill you."

"If you wish for an easier death, quickly tell me what you know. My patience is almost at its limit."

"Old Imperial Physician, you really shouldn't have brought me in," Zhao Xing shook his head. "If you hadn't brought me in, you would have had a chance to take the Seven-Star Chest of Drawers."

"But now it's different. Without me, you can't take the Seven-Star Chest of Drawers."

"Oh?" Wei Tianchen extended a hand, and Zhao Xing, who was in the library, immediately appeared outside.

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh." Three needles pierced Zhao Xing's head and also struck his soul in the Sea of Consciousness.

Pain! Extreme pain!

Zhao Xing felt something attempting to invade his soul, scratching at it with a knife, thereby prying into the secrets deep within his soul.

But it stopped very quickly.

"How does it feel?"

"It hurts a lot," Zhao Xing said, his face pale.

"I cannot perceive your memories, but don't forget, I can use primitive torture to force you to speak. If necessary, I can also control your body and make you retrieve it." Wei Tianchen said, "While I still have a trace of mercy, make your choice."

Zhao Xing said calmly, "The Physician God you are looking for is called Fan Qianrou, isn't that right?"

"Yes," a light gleamed in Wei Tianchen's eyes.

"If I become insane, foolish, or dead, you will never succeed," Zhao Xing said. "I believe you will grant me a way out."

"I cannot give you a way out."

Wei Tianchen shook his head, not believing Zhao Xing could withstand it, and immediately began to use torture to extract information.

Screams echoed as Zhao Xing's consciousness began to blur from the excruciating pain, but soon another needle was inserted, quickly reviving him and restoring his vitality.

Just as Wei Tianchen interrogated Zhao Xing, at the Accumulated Corpse Giant Star.

Experts from Tai'e Ancient Mound and the Primal Realm had already found this place through continuous attempts.

"Accumulated Corpse Star, at this point, it's impossible to determine," a demigod from Tai'e Ancient Mound shook his head. "It's pure qi, without any earth veins, so the path cannot be discerned."

"Or should I try?" Zuo Qiyi asked.

"No need," Gu Luohe waved his hand. "I can already sense Zhao Xing's life fluctuations."

Zhao Xing had stayed in his inner world for so long that his life fluctuations were deeply familiar to Gu Luohe.

As the distance between them closed, he sensed faint life fluctuations emanating from Zhao Xing through the vast expanse of death qi.

"I'll bear the dead qi region; you all quickly pass through," Gu Luohe said. "He's in danger."

With that said, an boundless dense forest appeared before Gu Luohe.

"Boom!"

Rows of towering trees within his inner world began to emit majestic life force, bombarding the stagnant death qi region.

Large numbers of trees withered and decayed, their life essence extracted to form a spiral passage ahead.

Gu Luohe forcibly drilled a small opening in this stagnant death qi region.

Compared to the immense inner world, the opening now forged was like a mouse hole.

However, for the others, it was enough to pass through.

"Whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh!!"

The two demigods immediately led their people into the life passage. The vortex ahead drilled forward, and following Gu Luohe's guidance, everyone quickly passed through the Accumulated Corpse Star.

At this moment, three years had passed.

It was also two years after Zhao Xing had been tortured and interrogated by Wei Tianchen.

"Over there!"

Diviner Fuyue immediately pointed in a direction.

The two demigods from Tai'e Ancient Mound immediately summoned a green mountain peak, which was filled with mysterious runes. With a single thrust, it revealed Wei Tianchen's boundary ship.

"Hmm?" Wei Tianchen frowned when he saw the Five Poisons, Zuo Qiyi, and others appear. "Why are they here so early?"

Wei Tianchen had twice accelerated his actions, denying Zhao Xing the chance to stall, precisely because he possessed a divine object that provided warnings.

After winning the karmic battle, he had gained insights into the various time nodes and future directions of this journey.

Logically, the two groups from the Primal Realm and Tai'e Ancient Mound should only have found this place after he had done what he needed to do.

"How could this be?"

"Ancient Physician, is that you?!" A demigod from Tai'e Ancient Mound was somewhat surprised. Above his head, air currents enveloped a miniature mountain peak, and qi flowed down around him, like a majestic canopy covering his entire body.

Ancient Physician Tianchen's reputation was so stellar that this demigod instinctively addressed him as "Your Excellency."

"Old Imperial Physician, you are highly respected, why would you suddenly abduct a disciple of my Tai'e Ancient Mound?!" Another demigod was also surprised. "Did he offend you in some way?"

Only Emperor Five Poisons, upon sensing Zhao Xing's weak aura, immediately roared.

He shook his sleeve, and numerous vines emerged from the void, wrapping around the mausoleum ship: "Old geezer, quickly release my disciple!"

Emperor Hongshan and Lord Lushan followed closely, quickly taking their positions.

Four great mountains surrounded Wei Tianchen's boundary ship, cooperating with Five Poisons.

Wei Tianchen immediately woke Zhao Xing.

Zhao Xing looked at the people outside the ship and forced a faint smile. "I said it, you'd better give me a way out."

Wei Tianchen looked at Zhao Xing, speechless.

He had tortured Zhao Xing with a secret technique for two years, aiming to break his will and obtain the Seven-Star Chest of Drawers as desired.

But he couldn't kill him, nor could he allow Zhao Xing to completely break down.

He couldn't die, go mad, or become foolish, so the torture he could use couldn't be excessive. He had to grasp the limit and could only constantly push Zhao Xing's boundaries.

After enduring for over two years, he still hadn't succeeded.

This was because Zhao Xing also knew that if he spoke, it meant certain death. Not speaking, on the other hand, offered a path to survival.

"If they had arrived one year later, you wouldn't have been able to hold on," Wei Tianchen said.

"Yes," Zhao Xing nodded. "Unfortunately, you didn't have that much time."

Wei Tianchen nodded. "It seems you were right; I may not have truly won that karmic battle."

"Whatever I do next might be within my opponent's predictions."

Zhao Xing said, "How about you consider letting me go?"

"The situation is different now; a third party has appeared. You and I can truly reach that agreement."

Wei Tianchen began to ponder seriously.

Originally, he and Zhao Xing were in a stalemate. Zhao Xing could not help him obtain the Seven-Star Chest of Drawers before seeing hope of survival.

Nor could he prove that he would let Zhao Xing go afterward, and Zhao Xing would never believe him!

Now, with the arrival of the people from the Primal Realm and Tai'e Ancient Mound, there were truly conditions for achieving a balance.

"Boom!"

Emperor Five Poisons' attack had no effect whatsoever. The boundary ship didn't even shake slightly, and all the poisonous vines were repelled.

"Five Poisons, if you want him dead, keep attacking," Wei Tianchen warned once, then paid him no further mind.

Emperor Five Poisons indeed calmed down and stopped attacking. He also knew there was a gap between himself and Wei Tianchen; from the current situation, Wei Tianchen was at least a demigod. Moreover, several items with divine realm aura were floating on his ship!

"Five Poisons, stop," the demigod from Tai'e Ancient Mound also warned. "Now is not the time to act."

"Right, let's first clarify the situation," another demigod said. "Zhao Xing shouldn't have mortally offended him."

For many years, the Ancient Physician had only manifested a single Emperor-level body in the world.

But long ago, some had speculated that the Ancient Physician was a demigod.

After all, to have lived since the Five Emperors era, his accumulated wealth alone was terrifying.

Snatching someone from such a person while ensuring Zhao Xing's survival was too difficult; perhaps only a true divine being could achieve it.

"Old Imperial Physician, please show mercy," the demigod from Tai'e Ancient Mound spoke. "Any conditions can be discussed."

Inside the ship, Wei Tianchen looked at Zhao Xing and said, "If you help me get the Seven-Star Chest of Drawers, I will immediately let you leave."

Zhao Xing shook his head. "No, that won't do. How about you first release my true body back to Emperor Five Poisons, and my Grand Void Straw Man can go with you to retrieve it?"

"You have so many divine objects; even if I return to Tai'e Ancient Mound, you'd still have a strong chance of killing me. I wouldn't dare play tricks."

Wei Tianchen shook his head. "No, I cannot take that risk. If I only kill you, Tai'e Ancient Mound and the Primal Realm won't become my mortal enemies, because at best, you are just a rare genius, not a true powerhouse."

"But if I kill Five Poisons, Zuo Qiyi, or even the two demigods from Tai'e Ancient Mound, the karmic repercussions would be immense."

If a genius dies, divine beings would definitely not focus on him; after all, divine realms are 'detached from worldly affairs,' only intervening in situations like the Primordial Sea Dharma Assembly.

However, if two emperors or even demigods die, the concept changes.

The Red Star Emperor and the divine beings of Tai'e Ancient Mound would absolutely emerge.

The negotiations fell into a stalemate once again.

Zhao Xing clearly didn't want to retrieve the Seven-Star Chest of Drawers first, while Wei Tianchen didn't want to release him first.

At this moment, a single sentence from Emperor Five Poisons once again broke the stalemate.

"Old geezer, Senior Gu is about to arrive! If you don't want to die, quickly release Zhao Xing! Zhao Xing is his disciple!"

"Gu Luohe is entirely focused on breaking through; how could he truly consider Zhao Xing a disciple?" Wei Tianchen said indifferently. "Why would he act for Zhao Xing?"

"Buzz." No sooner had he spoken than Gu Luohe's illusory figure appeared directly in front.

"Old Imperial Physician, long time no see."

"Gu Luohe?" Wei Tianchen's eyes narrowed. "You actually came."

"I did indeed come," Gu Luohe nodded. "Let's discuss terms."

Wei Tianchen might not have regarded the other two demigods, but Gu Luohe's appearance made him take notice.

The title of "Strongest Demigod" was not one Gu Luohe bestowed upon himself!

Even if Wei Tianchen wasn't afraid, he still needed to plan his retreat. This was because Gu Luohe could truly persuade the Red Star Emperor to emerge from seclusion.

Wei Tianchen lowered his gaze to Zhao Xing again. The mist within the Stellar Coffin dispersed, and his true body gently pointed a finger at Zhao Xing.

A wisp of golden light entered Zhao Xing's body. His true body immediately fell unconscious, but the Grand Void Straw Man remained conscious.

Zhao Xing was somewhat stunned. His clone and true body had lost connection. What remained within the Grand Void Straw Man was only a wisp of residual soul.

Inside the coffin, Wei Tianchen's true body said hoarsely, "Tianningzi, I gave you the True Spirit Celestial Poison Pill. To this day, no one has been able to withstand the poison of this pill."

"Nor can you find another Physician God to help you cure it."

"That is to say, only I can remove it."

The Grand Void Straw Man looked at the unconscious true body and couldn't help but sigh, "Indeed."

Wei Tianchen waved his hand, and Zhao Xing's true body immediately flew out of the boundary ship, heading towards Emperor Hongshan and the others: "This is the last concession I can make."

"As you said, since I was supposed to obtain the Seven-Star Chest of Drawers, let everything return to its rightful course!"

"If you get the Seven-Star Chest of Drawers, I will give you the antidote. If not, you die. The price I will pay is, at most, hiding from now on."

"Believe me, with numerous divine artifacts protecting me, even if a divine being pursues me, it would be difficult for me to die."

Zhao Xing knew that Wei Tianchen's patience had completely run out; this was the final resolution.

"Alright, I accept this condition."

"However, at least let them know that I'm not dead yet."

"There's no problem with letting them know I'm safe, right?"

Wei Tianchen said, "You may, do as I say."

The boundary ship opened, and the Grand Void Straw Man transmitted a message outwards: "Teacher, esteemed seniors, I am merely poisoned, not dead. Please, teachers, take my true body and withdraw. Senior Gu and I will return shortly."

Zhao Xing's message and the return of his true body greatly puzzled the two demigods from Tai'e Ancient Mound.

Gu Luohe subtly glanced at Zuo Qiyi, then nodded: "Withdraw."

It was clean and decisive, without any dragging.

Soon, the surroundings were empty, with only Zhao Xing and Wei Tianchen remaining.

"Follow me," Zhao Xing's Grand Void Straw Man flew out of the boundary ship, and Wei Tianchen also dispatched all his living corpses to follow behind.

With the panel's detection display and positioning, they quickly bypassed numerous spatiotemporal traps and arrived at a stable spatiotemporal region. The Seven-Star Chest of Drawers appeared before Wei Tianchen's eyes.

The Seven-Star Chest of Drawers seemed to sense the arrival of a certain presence and began to flicker.

At this moment, a white-robed phantom flickered in the Grand Void Straw Man's eyes. Zhao Xing's expression changed, as he had actually obtained the method to open the deepest seal of the Seven-Star Chest of Drawers!

And Wei Tianchen, after the flickering, successfully obtained the Seven-Star Chest of Drawers as he wished.

"Old Imperial Physician, you have achieved your desire. Can you give me the antidote now?"

Wei Tianchen carefully put away the Seven-Star Chest of Drawers, then shook his head. "Tianningzi, you've learned too much by browsing those ancient records in the library."

"Don't say such an antidote is difficult to make; even if I had one, I wouldn't give it to you."

Zhao Xing was not surprised. "Do you truly believe that the Barren Realm pathology theory is viable?"

Wei Tianchen firmly replied, "Of course, Tianningzi. You are the Minister of Agriculture; making the Barren Realm disappear should also be your lifelong wish."

"Actually, no." Before Zhao Xing could finish speaking, Wei Tianchen burned his Grand Void Straw Man into nothingness.

Space-time distorted, and Wei Tianchen's boundary ship plunged into the perilous ancient Dao layer, vanishing from sight.

He didn't know, however, that he had only obtained the Seven-Star Chest of Drawers, while the secret method for activating the Wild God Poison had been left to Zhao Xing by Fan Qianrou.

And the scene of him giving Zhao Xing the True Spirit Celestial Poison Pill was precisely what Scholar Bowei had witnessed.

However, it would be a long time before Wei Tianchen realized this.

To tell both sides of the story: after Wei Tianchen disappeared, the entire space began to collapse, and Gu Luohe and the others immediately retreated.

This was because when Zhao Xing called out, he had not actually followed Wei Tianchen's instructions completely.

"Whoosh." After everyone had retreated, Zuo Qiyi suddenly summoned a Grand Void Straw Man, which then transformed into Zhao Xing's appearance.

"Zuo Qiyi, my disciple, what is this—" Emperor Five Poisons was momentarily stunned.

"I used the Grand Void Straw Man to exchange for a wisp of his residual soul," Zuo Qiyi said. "On this Grand Dao, only Zhao Xing and I can exchange with each other, and Wei Tianchen couldn't see it."

"Yes," Zhao Xing nodded. "However, this wisp of my residual soul can only exist for one month. Once the True Spirit Celestial Poison Pill's effect is activated, no soul can escape it."

"What?! Does that mean you can only live for one more month?!" Emperor Five Poisons' face instantly changed. "What exactly happened?!"