Chapter 598 - 440: Elder Zheng’s Infallible Stratagem (Part 2)

At the same time, Zhan Xinrou also made her move. The two Golden Core Cultivators of the Nether Spirit Race didn’t even understand what happened before their bodies suddenly exploded into two heaps of green mist, perishing instantly.

Only at this moment did the remaining two Nether Spirit Cultivators realize what was happening.

However, facing two Divinity Transformation Stage elders from the Star Sea, they couldn’t even put up any resistance.

Jiangg He, Qiu Ming, and Qiann Wanrong followed closely behind and immediately began arranging a simple defense array to withstand the fierce assaults from the Qingzhu Mountain cultivators who noticed there was something wrong.

After dealing with the enemies, Yue Ping gave Zhan Xinrou a meaningful look, "Elder Zheng told me before that they might need my help over there."

"Are you okay handling things here alone?"

Zhan Xinrou nodded slightly, "It’s just setting up an array. Unless Ouyang Qi, the Sect Leader of Qingzhu Mountain, comes personally, no amount of people will be able to break my defenses."

"Alright then, I’ll go support Elder Zheng. All of you, be careful." After advising everyone, Yue Ping sprang up and quickly flew away.

While arranging the array, Jiangg He and the others engaged in some casual conversation.

"There might be trouble on Elder Zheng’s side, considering Elder Yue had to personally go support them," Qiann Wanrong said worriedly.

"Not necessarily." Qiu Ming smirked, "Knowing his temperament, he might just be trying to be extra cautious."

Qiann Wanrong nodded, "Rumor has it that Elder Zheng is incredibly wise, and few in the world can escape his calculations. It should be as Brother Qiu said, it’s just a precautionary measure."

Qiu Ming replied coldly, "Ultimately, we cultivators have to rely on our own strength. Constantly trying to use clever tricks might work for the moment, but sooner or later, one will suffer a big loss."

Then, recalling that Zhan Xinrou was still on the battlefield, Qiu Ming quickly changed his tone, "That’s what my teacher always says, and he’s never wrong."

Normally, Qiann Wanrong would echo Qiu Ming, but this time, he shook his head, "Though the elder’s words make sense, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with Elder Zheng’s approach."

"It’s just like doing business; you can never truly be fully prepared. If things turn out different from what you expected, there’s no way you would just accept defeat, right?"

"You definitely have to come up with a way to minimize losses or even turn things around."

"In such situations, whether it’s relying on one’s abundant resources or some other means, as long as the final result is good, that’s what matters."

Seeing Qiann Wanrong dare to refute him, Qiu Ming’s face turned cold, "What, you think my teacher’s words are incorrect?"

Qiann Wanrong habitually smiled apologetically, "Brother Qiu, you misunderstand. How could I doubt the elder’s words? I just think Elder Zheng’s approach is fine too."

"Isn’t that saying my teacher is wrong?" Qiu Ming glared angrily at Qiann Wanrong.

Although somewhat apprehensive, Qiann Wanrong didn’t back down this time, unlike before.

Seeing the hostility between the two intensifying, it seemed like a fight could break out at any moment.

At this juncture.

A clear cold voice suddenly sounded, "I didn’t expect you to truly be the traitor."

The two Qiu Ming and Qiann Wanrong froze at the same time, turning their heads to see a sapphire blue long sword already poised at Jiangg He’s throat.

Zhan Xinrou held the sword, her face full of disappointment. Even she approved, unable to believe everything happening before her eyes.

Jiangg He said fearfully, "Elder Zhan, it’s a misunderstanding, truly a misunderstanding. Please let me explain."

Qiu Ming and Qiann Wanrong hastily ran over.

"Elder, let’s talk about this calmly. Please don’t harm Fellow Daoist Jiangg."

"Elder Zhan, calm down. If Fellow Daoist Jiangg made a mistake out of momentary confusion, I’m willing to apologize on his behalf."

"Stop!" Zhan Xinrou’s eyebrows rose, and she shouted sternly.

A faint green mist rose before the two men.

It seemed powerless, yet no matter how Qiu Ming and Qiann Wanrong exerted themselves, they couldn’t move forward another step.

After blocking the two, Zhan Xinrou looked coldly at Jiangg He, "Since you betrayed humanity, Yingxing Valley has likely become our enemy as well, hasn’t it?"

Jiangg He hastily refuted, "Elder, I don’t know who you heard slander from. But I can swear, Yingxing Valley absolutely hasn’t betrayed humanity."

"At death’s door, and still so stubborn." The sword in Zhan Xinrou’s hand was swift as a rainbow, directly striking Jiangg He’s wrist.

With a crisp sound.

A pitch-black crystal stone fell to the ground, rolled twice, and then stopped.

The crystal stone exuded a faint black aura.

Even Qiu Ming and Qiann Wanrong, in the Crystal Stage, could clearly feel it shared the same origin as the Soul-devouring Smoke emitted from the pill furnace.

"Jiangg He!" Qiu Ming yelled furiously, "How dare you betray us?"

Qiann Wanrong looked unbelieving, his eyes wide, "No... that’s absolutely impossible."

Zhan Xinrou exuded killing intent, "Boy, what do you have to say for yourself?"

Jiangg He sighed gently, "I’m curious, how did you discover me?"

"I believed my actions hadn’t exposed any flaws. I even intentionally let you find Zhang Hua, that useless fool, so you wouldn’t suspect me."

"Logically, since you found an infiltrator, we who are close to the infiltrator should be cleared of suspicion immediately afterwards."

"Could it be..." Jiangg He suddenly asked in surprise, "Is this what that guy Zheng Yi told you?"

Zhan Xinrou didn’t answer Jiangg He, merely said with killing intent, "Traitor, prepare to die!"

The long sword, without hesitation, stabbed straight at Jiangg He’s throat, intending to kill him on the spot.

But just as Zhan Xinrou was about to succeed, Jiangg He laughed coldly, "Despite my utmost caution, it seems I still fell victim to Zheng Yi’s calculations."

"His Highness the Nether King was indeed correct, Zheng Yi is indeed our Nether Spirit Race’s greatest foe."

The next moment, Jiangg He was encased in armor as hard as steel all over.

Zhan Xinrou’s long sword barely managed to leave a small scar on his armor.

Jiangg He underwent a drastic transformation.

Although he still barely maintained a human-like shape, he no longer looked human.

His entire body was covered in a carapace, his head formed a downward triangle, and two huge black eyes occupied one-third the size of his head.

His limbs were covered in frightening barbs, and his mouth transformed into crab-like pincers.

Opening his mouth, he sprayed toxic liquid straight at Zhan Xinrou’s face.

"Not good! It’s poison!"

Fortunately, Zhan Xinrou was an expert in poisons and began detoxifying herself immediately after being poisoned.

If it had been any other cultivator, just that moment would likely have sealed their fate in waiting for death.

After gaining the upper hand, Jiangg He didn’t pursue further.

Instead, he sneered at Zhan Xinrou, appearing victorious, "Such a shame, such a shame. Zheng Yi may have planned it all, but he probably didn’t foresee one thing: leaving you behind was his greatest blunder."

"If it were Yue Ping, I might not be able to handle him. But when it comes to poisons, even a hundred of you cannot compare to us in the Gu Race."

Upon hearing his self-revealed identity, Zhan Xinrou was surprised internally.

Throughout the Canglan Realm, cultivators specializing in poison skills are not few.

Compared to sword cultivators, poison cultivators are weak in attack, have average self-defense abilities, and are at the bottom during direct battles among all cultivators.

Moreover, nearly every Poison Cultivator has health issues.

Additionally, the stronger the poison cultivator, the more serious their health problems.

Everyone is human; the toxins cultivated by poison cultivators work on enemies, obviously affecting themselves too.

But the Great Thousand Worlds are full of wonders; the Gu Race of the Nether Spirit Race is entirely unaffected by poison skills.