Chapter 606 - 602: Dao Heart Demon Curse

Chapter 606: Chapter 602: Dao Heart Demon Curse

The banquet was a grand affair.

After the day’s contest with the Alchemist King, Madam Xishang seemed to hold Hong Yu in even higher regard.

Even some of the well-informed figures of power within the Xishang Tribe were falling over themselves to curry favor with Hong Yu, flattering him so relentlessly that he was somewhat overwhelmed.

Still, he understood their thinking.

He was now their greatest hope for curing the strange poison afflicting the Xishang King. The survival and prosperity of the Xishang Tribe were inextricably linked to whether the Xishang King lived, so it was only natural that they were desperate for him to succeed.

But where there was joy, there was also sorrow.

While Hong Yu was swamped with attention, the Alchemist King—who had always been the center of it—hadn’t said a single word throughout the banquet. He kept his head bowed, his eyes flickering with venomous resentment.

’All this attention and flattery should have been mine!’

’But Hong Yu’s arrival has stolen all the glory that was rightfully mine.’

’More importantly, because of him, Madam Xishang has postponed giving me that batch of Spirit Medicines she already promised.’

He shot Hong Yu a vicious glare, cursing him to fail at curing the Xishang King—and even make his injuries worse.

’That way, the Xishang Tribe’s hope would once again fall on me.’

’And I’ll be able to rake it in again!’

After the banquet, everyone departed.

That girl, Zhao Feng’Er, had drunk too much and thrown a drunken fit before being dragged off to bed by her brother.

Hong Yu, Xishang Ling, and Madam Xishang remained, sitting in the banquet hall.

After a long silence, Madam Xishang spoke. "Mr. Beichen, I believe Ling’Er has already explained the specifics to you?"

Hong Yu nodded.

Madam Xishang sighed. "This matter hangs over our Xishang Tribe like a dark cloud, leaving everyone in a state of panic. If my husband dies, then in the upcoming centennial competition, our tribe will fall to the lowest rank among the Four Great Tribes. We might even face annihilation."

Xishang Ling explained, "The Peacock Tribe’s problems are even more severe than ours. If we can’t find a solution, I’m afraid both our tribes will be devoured by the Lion Tribe and the Great Ape Tribe."

"The Four Great Tribes may seem harmonious, but in reality, it’s a turbulent world of undercurrents and hidden conflicts. The Peacock Tribe and ours form one camp, while the other two tribes form another..."

Madam Xishang gave a bitter smile. "Our side once had a steady advantage over them. We even secretly nurtured some exceptionally brilliant young geniuses for the centennial competition. But ever since people started contracting that strange poison ten years ago—gradually leaving, disappearing, or dying—our two tribes have been utterly exhausted."

Xishang Ling’s expression was solemn. "Boss, as long as you can help us through this crisis, the Xishang Tribe will be your staunchest supporter from now on!"

"That’s right!"

Madam Xishang nodded in agreement.

She sized Hong Yu up, her heart filled with emotion. ’This Beichen’s origins are a mystery. Even Shadow couldn’t find anything on him. This time, I’m taking a gamble. I can only hope Ling’Er’s judgment of character is correct!’

Facing the mother and son’s pleas, Hong Yu took a deep breath. "Rest assured, you two, I will naturally do everything in my power. However, I haven’t seen the Xishang King yet, so I don’t know the specifics of his condition and can’t make any guarantees. Everything will have to wait until after I’ve examined him."

"Your words are enough!"

Led by Madam Xishang, Hong Yu followed the mother and son deeper into the Xishang Mansion.

After navigating a considerable distance, they entered a study that was both luxurious and elegantly decorated.

"This was my father’s old study, but he hasn’t been here in three years," Xishang Ling said, his face bitter.

Hong Yu frowned. "Where is he now?"

Madam Xishang replied, "Three years ago, the poison in my husband flared up. His mind became confused, and his killing intent ran rampant. In the end, Lord Peacock King personally acted to suppress him, sealing him in the dungeon beneath this study."

"The Peacock King is the strongest among the Four Great Tribes. In previous years, he helped Father suppress the strange poison in his body, but since last year, His Lordship has been in frequent seclusion. Although the Peacock Tribe claims that Lord Peacock King is trying to break through to the next realm, we estimate that his situation is likely not good either."

Xishang Ling explained.

Hong Yu nodded.

Madam Xishang then activated a mechanism in the study, revealing a Teleportation Array.

It required both Madam Xishang and Xishang Ling to join forces, using their bloodline power to activate it.

After the three of them entered the Teleportation Array, the mechanism in the study sealed itself shut once more.

Hong Yu’s vision blurred for an instant, and he found himself in a dim dungeon. The ground was damp, and his footsteps echoed with a TAP-TAP sound, splashing water in a way that was rather unsettling.

"Father!"

Xishang Ling suddenly rushed forward, crying out into the dim dungeon.

Madam Xishang’s eyes reddened as she bit her lip lightly.

RUMBLE!

A burst of light flared up as a mechanism was triggered, igniting the torches that illuminated the dungeon.

Only then did Hong Yu get a clear look at the Xishang King.

In a cage in the deepest part of the dungeon, more than thirty layers of Sealing Prohibitions pulsed around a massive metal pillar at the center.

This pillar, over thirty meters in diameter, was firmly embedded in the dungeon floor.

Dozens of iron chains, each as thick as an adult’s thigh, hung down from the pillar. At the end of these chains was, shockingly, a powerfully built expert.

This expert sat cross-legged on the ground in silence.

Dozens of chains bound him tightly. His body was covered in dried bloodstains, his hair was disheveled, and the occasional glimpse of his eyes revealed a ghastly blood-red color. From time to time, he let out heavy, ragged breaths, like the low growl of a wounded beast.

’This is the Xishang King?’

Hong Yu frowned.

It was hard to imagine that the esteemed leader of the Xishang Tribe, one of the Four Great Tribes, would be in such a state.

"ROAR!"

The Xishang King seemed to sense their arrival. He abruptly lifted his head and let out a low roar.

His teeth began to GRIND.

Even bound by more than thirty layers of Seals, he still radiated an incredibly powerful aura that was startling.

"My father was once a War Emperor!" Xishang Ling said.

Hong Yu understood. ’The War Race distinguishes strength by the ranks of War General, War King, and War Emperor. A War Emperor is comparable to a Martial Artist at the Yin Yang Realm.’

’No wonder this Xishang King feels so powerful!’

"My husband’s moments of clarity are becoming fewer and farther between," Madam Xishang said with a bitter smile.

Hong Yu fell silent. He glanced around the dungeon and noticed a wooden bed outside the cage. It was very clean, indicating that someone frequently stayed here.

Seeing Hong Yu’s confusion, Xishang Ling’s eyes reddened. "Ever since Father was sealed away, Mother has been living here."

"I see."

Hong Yu nodded, his heart growing heavy.

He felt a sincere admiration for Madam Xishang. ’Who said a couple is like birds in a forest, flying their separate ways when disaster strikes? Their devotion is the best proof of love that never forsakes.’

After a moment of silence, Hong Yu said, "I need to go inside for a closer look."

"You may, but be extremely careful. When he goes into a frenzy, even these Seals can only suppress him. They can hardly protect you!" Madam Xishang warned.

"It’s fine."

Hong Yu waved his hand dismissively.

Wearing a Token given to him by Madam Xishang, Hong Yu passed through the Prohibitions unimpeded and arrived in front of the Xishang King.

"ROAR!"

The Xishang King was indeed muddle-headed, with not a trace of humanity in his blood-red eyes.

"Falling Feather!"

With a beckoning gesture, Hong Yu summoned a Feathered Flying Knife to hover over his palm. It was incredibly sharp. It flashed past the Xishang King’s arm, leaving a bloody scratch so quickly that even the King didn’t notice. The Flying Saber returned with a trace of blood, and Hong Yu collected it in a jade bottle he had prepared.

He backed away a short distance and infused his Spiritual Power into the jade bottle to analyze the wisp of blood.

"Hm?"

He discovered there were no toxins in the blood at all.

A burst of fire erupted from his palm, incinerating the jade bottle and the blood within. Hong Yu fell into deep thought.

He immersed his consciousness into the inner space of the Profound Celestial Tower, urging the tower to produce an Illusion Transformation of the *Divine Medicine Scripture* for him to peruse.

’Strange. Logically, no poison can exist outside of the blood. Why is there no toxic reaction in his blood at all?’ Hong Yu was puzzled.

He continued to read.

But even after reading through the one-third of the *Divine Medicine Scripture* he currently possessed from beginning to end, he still couldn’t find any relevant information.

Just as he was puzzling over this, Little One, who had been playing with Huhu nearby, came hopping over.

He craned his neck to look at the Divine Medicine Scripture, then said with a grin, "Oh, you saucy young man, have you run into some trouble?"

Hong Yu shot him an annoyed glance. "It’s not like you can’t sense what’s happening outside."

"You can’t say that. If I, the Tower God, don’t make a specific effort to look, I won’t know what’s going on out there!"

Little One chuckled, then suddenly gave him a suggestive look. "Hey, Hong Yu, why don’t you take a trip to a brothel sometime? Let this Tower God know when you do. It’s been years since I’ve been with a woman!"

"Get lost!"

Hong Yu snapped irritably.

"Tch, and here I was going to help you. It seems no good deed goes unpunished!" Little One said with a dejected look.

Hong Yu paused. "What? You know what’s wrong with the Xishang King?"

"Hehe, so now you know to ask this Tower God for help? Of course, with our friendship, helping you isn’t out of the question, but..."

Little One rubbed his hands together with a lewd expression. "Hehe, you know... when are you free for that trip to the brothel?"

"..."

Hong Yu rolled his eyes. ’This animal is still thinking about that?’

He immediately said, "If you don’t want to say it, then forget it!"

"...You’re no fun at all."

Little One pouted and sat off to the side, sulking.

Huhu’s eyes widened, not understanding what was happening. It scratched its head and took out a precious Spirit Fruit to gnaw on.

After a while...

Seeing that Hong Yu really wasn’t going to ask him again, Little One couldn’t hold back any longer. He said sullenly, "Fine, fine, I’ll tell you! He’s not actually poisoned. He’s just been afflicted with a Gu Curse!"

"A Gu Curse?"

Hong Yu was stunned.

Little One nodded. "Gu Curses should have gone extinct back in the Ancient Era. I have no idea how one appeared in this age. The Refining process for this type of Gu Curse is extremely insidious. For example, the one the Xishang King has is a Dao Heart Demon Curse. To refine this curse, you need an expert at the Yin Yang Realm as a vessel. The caster must comprehend no less than a hundred different malevolent Mysteries of Martial Arts and fuse them completely."

"Combined with a long-lost Refining method, the curse is finally created. A person afflicted with the Dao Heart Demon Curse won’t die easily. Instead, the stronger they become, the more their Martial Dao path will be affected until they eventually go mad and become confused. They either succumb to Qi deviation and die, or have their Control of Divine Will taken over by the caster, turning them into a puppet!"

Little One took another puff from his big pipe.

Hong Yu’s brows furrowed. This Dao Heart Demon Curse was truly vicious.

He looked at Little One. "Is there a way to resolve it?"

Little One smoked his pipe, remaining silent for a long time before finally speaking.

"The Dao Heart Demon Curse isn’t impossible to resolve, but..."

[Thank you, Yunjian, for becoming an Alliance Leader! There will be a mass release on the 4th!]