For Valley Master Zhan, he had indeed miscalculated.
But even misjudging Ling Xiao didn’t matter much. This kid was just a half-step master, perhaps spared from the plague due to some treasure or pill he had taken.
“You flatter me. I’m just an ordinary outer disciple of the Moonlight Sect. The only reason I’m unaffected by the plague’s poison is because I took a pill given to me by Hall Master Yang Danlin of the Medicine Hall,” Ling Xiao said, deliberately playing along with the other’s assumption.
In truth, this was a lie.
The real reason he was immune to the plague was naturally due to the miraculous technique, *Nine Demon Arts: Plague Demon King*.
“Are his words true?” Wanyan Jun asked, looking at Valley Master Zhan.
Seeing Ling Xiao suddenly revived, he wasn’t disappointed but rather delighted.
He knew Ling Xiao had a good relationship with Yang Danlin and must have some specially crafted pill to cure their plague poisoning.
Chen Zui and Shangguan Lei also looked overjoyed.
They never dreamed they’d be so relieved to see Ling Xiao alive.
“Indeed, the valley master of this place was a stubborn fool. I offered him cooperation, but he refused, so my master devoured his soul and gave me his body to use,” Valley Master Zhan said indifferently. “But knowing this changes nothing, as it won’t alter your fate of death.”
“Hmph, with the four of us together, killing you two won’t be a problem!” Wanyan Jun suddenly snorted coldly, his long sword trembling as he thrust it toward Valley Master Zhan again.
“Ling Xiao, the antidote!” he shouted mid-attack.
Ling Xiao didn’t hesitate. With a flick of his fingers, three pills flew into the mouths of Wanyan Jun, Chen Zui, and Shangguan Lei.
Shangguan Lei’s severe injuries were also due to Valley Master Zhan’s palm, laced with the plague’s poison.
As long as the poison was neutralised, he’d be fine.
However, the three didn’t know that the pills Ling Xiao gave them weren’t some miraculous elixir, just ordinary true essence pills.
These three true essence pills, however, were infused with the aura of the *Plague Demon King*.
This allowed the pills to fully absorb and suppress the plague within their bodies.
Of course, if Ling Xiao wished, he could instantly release the plague’s poison, killing all three on the spot.
Ling Xiao had his own plans for doing this.
Earlier, Valley Master Zhan had mentioned a “master,” indicating someone else was controlling the Plague Valley.
He needed to conserve his strength for any unforeseen circumstances.
The battle here could be left to Wanyan Jun, Chen Zui, and Shangguan Lei.
“Demon, now that we’re free of the plague, let’s see how you escape!” Wanyan Jun, feeling his body return to normal, saw his sword glow intensify. Excited, he chased Valley Master Zhan while shouting, “Chen Zui, Shangguan Lei, you two deal with the beast. Ling Xiao, protect yourself and don’t die.”
His concern wasn’t kindness; he simply thought Ling Xiao might still be useful.
“Yes!” Perhaps because the plague’s poison had been neutralised, Chen Zui and Shangguan Lei were revitalised, temporarily setting aside their earlier grievances.
The two teamed up against the plague beast, finally gaining the upper hand and leaving some wounds on its body.
Wanyan Jun’s fight with Valley Master Zhan also gradually tilted in his favour.
His strength was indeed formidable, at the peak of the third level of the Mortal Realm. If not for the plague’s poison, he wouldn’t have been so humiliated earlier.
By all accounts, Valley Master Zhan should have been anxious.
Yet Ling Xiao noticed a strange smile on his face.
This wasn’t a bluff; there must be something Ling Xiao hadn’t accounted for!
Seeing the situation didn’t require his involvement, Ling Xiao began confidently exploring the underground lair.
Though Valley Master Zhan was fighting Wanyan Jun, his gaze occasionally darted toward Ling Xiao.
He was deeply shocked.
When Ling Xiao had flicked the pills earlier, he had considered intercepting them but ultimately couldn’t act.
It wasn’t out of kindness but because he simply wasn’t fast enough.
He was stunned that a mere half-step master, someone not even at the Mortal Realm, could possess such terrifying skill.
His speed, strength, and precision were flawless!
“Where are you looking, demon!” Wanyan Jun seized the opportunity, thrusting his sword into Valley Master Zhan’s shoulder.
A triumphant expression bloomed on his face.
But the next moment, it turned to shock.
His weapon was a rare-grade sword, yet it couldn’t even pierce the opponent’s skin.
It felt like striking an impossibly hard piece of steel.
No, to be precise, harder than steel!
A rare-grade sword could easily cut through steel.
“Heh heh heh heh, human, did you really think I was afraid of you?” Valley Master Zhan let out another eerie, cold laugh. His withered hands suddenly reached out, grabbing Wanyan Jun’s sword.
Crack!
In that instant, the sword developed several cracks.
This was a rare-grade treasure, not an ordinary sword, and it was shattered by this fiend’s bare hands!
Wanyan Jun hurriedly retreated, watching the pieces of his broken sword fall to the ground, his heart filled with both fear and chaos.
When an enemy was stronger than him or used techniques he couldn’t comprehend, he became flustered, unable to stay calm.
On the other side, Shangguan Lei and Chen Zui were also locked in a bitter struggle.
Though they had briefly overpowered the plague beast, strangely, as time passed, their advantage not only failed to secure victory but gradually turned into a disadvantage.
Something was wrong!
Even their slow reactions now sensed the danger.
Buzz~~
A loud noise came from beneath the ground, and blood-red beams of light shot up through the floor.
These beams formed a twisted, grotesque skull pattern, emitting an eerie, terrifying aura.
“This is the *Plague Bone-Dissolving Array*!” The name flashed through Ling Xiao’s mind.
He was certain of it. His master, Yuan Zun, had mentioned this evil array in his books.
Legend had it that this array was created tens of thousands of years ago by the Plague Demon King, who rampaged unchecked.
The Plague Demon King was one of the nine generals under the True Demon Emperor, with terrifying strength. On the current Tianlong Continent, no one could match him.
This array not only released a dreadful plague to drain the enemy’s true essence and vitality but also continuously corroded their body until they were reduced to withered bones.
Everyone had thought the plague was what weakened Wanyan Jun and the others.
Now it seemed the plague was merely one effect of the *Plague Bone-Dissolving Array*.
“Hahaha, none of you will leave today. You’ll all die here and become nourishment for my master!”
