The Heavenly Poison Saint opened the restrictions of his cave abode, and a blood-red long saber flew in, hovering in the void of the cave.
“Kuang Can pays his respects to Brother Qin,” he said, not daring to show the slightest disrespect. He knew how terrifying Qin Qingtian was. Even if Qin Qingtian were reduced to a mere wisp of a soul, Kuang Can wouldn’t dare claim he could overpower him, especially since Qin Qingtian still had his primordial spirit.
Everyone had assumed Qin Qingtian had met with misfortune, or that his physical body was destroyed. In truth, Qin Qingtian’s body remained intact, unscathed until recently, when Lan Xiaobu and Mo Wuji joined forces to destroy it. Kuang Can had witnessed it himself. The red long saber trembled slightly, and in the next moment, Qin Qingtian appeared before the Heavenly Poison Saint.
Though Qin Qingtian’s current body was merely a construct, the Heavenly Poison Saint remained deeply wary. Even under Lan Xiaobu and Mo Wuji’s schemes, Qin Qingtian had escaped.
“This time, I was outwitted by two insignificant ants, a lapse on my part,” Qin Qingtian said casually, sitting down with an air of indifference, showing no trace of humility despite claiming to seek help.
The Heavenly Poison Saint’s heart skipped a beat. He didn’t dare admit he had once hoped to use Lan Xiaobu and Mo Wuji to eliminate Qin Qingtian. If he let that slip, he might not even reach reincarnation before Qin Qingtian ended him.
Had it not been for him, Lan Xiaobu and Mo Wuji might have ventured to the Qin Tian Ancient Road. Before Qin Qingtian was injured, that would have been a death sentence for them, with no other outcome.
In truth, Kuang Can hadn’t been certain whether Qin Qingtian still had his physical body. Had he known, he likely wouldn’t have tipped off Lan Xiaobu and Mo Wuji. His warning was partly to gain their trust after they killed Luo Zhengyan, to appear sincere.
Despite his unease, he spoke boldly, “Brother Qin, you know our past friendship. My Great Escape Divine Ability, which has saved my life countless times, was taught by you. Whatever I can do to help, just name it.”
Inwardly, he was helpless. Had it not been for Qin Qingtian’s threats back then, would he have shared the original Heavenly Poison Dao Scroll for Qin Qingtian to study? To avoid owing him karma, Qin Qingtian had casually taught him the Great Escape Divine Ability. Honestly, Kuang Can had never used it.
He also guessed why Qin Qingtian was here. Eroded by the self-destruction of the Chaos Heavenly Poison Heart, even Kuang Can, who had mastered the Heavenly Poison Great Dao, would struggle to remove its corrosive principles. Qin Qingtian, who could wield Heavenly Poison principles but hadn’t proven the Heavenly Poison Great Dao, stood even less chance. Kuang Can was certain Qin Qingtian wanted his help to remove the corrosion, but even if he could, he wouldn’t.
Qin Qingtian didn’t specify what help he needed, instead saying gravely, “Brother Kuang, do you know why I was so determined to obtain the Chaos Road?”
The Qin Tian Ancient Road was named by Qin Qingtian, but its origin as the Chaos Road was something he couldn’t hide from the Heavenly Poison Saint.
Kuang Can thought, *Who cares?* but feigned curiosity, “Why is that?”
Qin Qingtian sighed, “You’re aware of Lan Xiaobu’s Seven Realms Stone, yes? It can travel from low-level universes to mid-level ones, even bypassing cosmic boundaries and crossing vast planes. But no matter how powerful, it cannot break through to higher-level cosmic boundaries.”
The Heavenly Poison Saint, initially uninterested, perked up at this. Qin Qingtian continued, “The Seven Realms Stone is priceless in low-level universes, hailed as the foremost sky-opening treasure, because it can access mid-level universes. Few know that the Chaos Road is the true treasure for entering the Great Universe. To leave a mid-level universe for the Great Universe, the Chaos Road is the simplest way. I know of many who’ve used it to reach the Great Universe.”
Genuinely intrigued, the Heavenly Poison Saint asked, “Brother Qin, didn’t you already obtain the Chaos Road? Isn’t the Qin Tian Ancient Road…?”
Qin Qingtian gave a self-deprecating smile, “If I had truly obtained the Chaos Road, would I be in this state? I only acquired the Chaos Path, one of its six paths. And I didn’t hold it for long, it’s already lost.”
He didn’t elaborate, but had he not aimed to use the Chaos Path to reach the fifth step, he might not have lost it so easily.
“Lan Xiaobu and Mo Wuji have the Seven Realms Stone. They’ll surely head to the Chaos… likely the Chaos Path,” the Heavenly Poison Saint said, hinting that Qin Qingtian shouldn’t dwell on the Chaos Path.
Even if Qin Qingtian had it once, it was in the past. Given Lan Xiaobu and Mo Wuji’s greed, would they leave the Chaos Path for others?
Qin Qingtian chuckled, “No one can refine or take the Chaos Road, let alone the Chaos Path. I couldn’t take it, and neither can they. But I have a better chance. If you help me remove the Chaos Heavenly Poison Heart’s corrosion, I can reclaim the Chaos Path. Then, we can go to the Great Universe. To prove the fifth step, you must go there. In a mid-level universe, especially a broken one, the fourth step is the absolute limit. Harsh as it sounds, without your fortunate encounter in the Hundred Zero Universe, you’d never have reached the fourth step.”
The Heavenly Poison Saint barely registered Qin Qingtian’s request, staring in shock, “A mid-level universe can’t even support the fifth step? If so, what kind of mid-level universe is it? Surely it could support up to the seventh step?”
Qin Qingtian said coolly, “The seventh step? Across the entire vastness, including the Great Universe, how many seventh-step beings do you think exist? Trust me, you cannot prove the fifth step here. Unless you’re content to stay at the fourth step forever, you have no choice but to work with me.”
The Heavenly Poison Saint fell silent, then said, “I’m sorry, I can’t remove the Chaos Heavenly Poison Heart’s corrosion.”
Qin Qingtian replied, “No, if anyone in this world can help me, it’s you. Why else would I risk coming here?”
“How did you get here?” The Heavenly Poison Saint suddenly realised this was the critical question.
Qin Qingtian brushed it off, “How I got here isn’t important. I can teach you later if you want. For now, let’s discuss how to remove the Heavenly Poison principles from me.”
“Tell me, and I’ll see if I can do it,” the Heavenly Poison Saint said flatly, as if retracting his earlier promises. He knew removing the corrosion wouldn’t be easy, and if it required sacrificing his own Great Dao, he’d refuse. He feared Qin Qingtian, but the current Qin Qingtian likely couldn’t harm him.
Unfazed by the change in tone, Qin Qingtian said, “Whether you let me go intentionally or not, Lan Xiaobu and Mo Wuji will come for you. I’m confident I’m right, so you have no other path. Let’s talk about removing the Heavenly Poison Heart principles from me. Your Heavenly Poison Great Dao is essentially a derivative of the Heavenly Poison Heart’s principles. To reach the fifth step or strengthen your Dao, those principles would only benefit you.”
The Heavenly Poison Saint thought, *Do you think I don’t know that? But the Heavenly Poison Heart was taken by Lan Xiaobu’s beast companion, I couldn’t touch it.*
Qin Qingtian continued, “The Heavenly Poison Heart principles in me, though from its self-destruction, can still be extracted for you to comprehend. If you provide one of your Heavenly Poison principles, I can use it to strip the corrosion from my Dao foundation…”
The Heavenly Poison Saint listened calmly, unmoved. No matter the benefits, he wouldn’t agree. Hand over one of his Heavenly Poison principles? Ridiculous. Qin Qingtian was dreaming.
Sensing his lack of interest, Qin Qingtian shifted tactics, “The second option is, I provide one of my Dao principles. You refine it, then use your Heavenly Poison principles to strip the corrosion from my Dao.”
The Heavenly Poison Saint’s heart stirred. This was promising. He wouldn’t give up his own principles, but refining Qin Qingtian’s could reveal his Dao secrets and give Kuang Can leverage over him.
Yet, would someone like Qin Qingtian so easily offer his Dao principles, knowing it would expose him? No matter how Kuang Can thought about it, it defied logic.
