Chapter 986: Water Leaf King

By now, he was certain that the other party had recognized his identity.

But... he had left no trace of disguise; how had they seen through it?

Could it be that this guy was even more formidable than him?

"Just drinking, you're overthinking it..."

With a faint smile, he concealed his earlier lapse. The alien clan member chuckled lightly, reached out to take the gourd, squinted, and looked over.

The other had recognized his identity and still let him drink; if there was no problem, he wouldn't believe it even if beaten to death.

Focusing his gaze, he extended his spirit, quickly scanning the wine, then couldn't help frowning.

According to his inspection, the gourd indeed contained only ordinary wine, nothing else, at most with richer spiritual energy.

"I'm not used to this wine; let me drink mine..."

Pausing, still uneasy, he handed the gourd back and took out a jade bottle.

This he carried with him, so it was certainly safe.

Raising the jade bottle, about to open the stopper and take a sip, he saw Sun Qiang across from him reach out and take the bottle: "Not used to mine? Come, let me see what you have."

With that, he pulled out the stopper.

A rich aroma of wine burst forth, fragrant and enticing, indeed far better than what was in the gourd.

"Truly fine wine, no wonder you looked down on mine. Here..."

After a glance, without any other action, he handed it back.

"Hmm."

Seeing that he had only taken the jade bottle and done nothing else, the alien clan member relaxed, took the bottle, and drank a mouthful.

"Now can you come with me to find a tavern and drink until we're drunk?"

He smiled faintly.

"Of course."

Zhang Xuan nodded.

"My lord..."

The two guards, seeing the lord they were escorting about to drink with someone, exchanged glances... Weren't they here for the auction? Why hadn't it started, and they were going drinking instead?

"You go in first; I'll be back shortly..."

The alien clan member waved his hand confidently.

"Yes!" Seeing his decision, the guards hesitated but nodded.

Even their master had to listen to this one, so naturally they dared not disobey his orders.

"Let's go."

Having given his instructions, Zhang Xuan walked out first, soon leaving Moyun Pavilion.

After walking along the street for a while, they came to a secluded alley.

"Who exactly are you?"

With a flicker, the alien clan member blocked the way, unable to hold back any longer, his gaze icy.

"Me? Just an ordinary person. On the other hand, you... as an alien clan member, openly disguised as a human and coming here, you've got some nerve!"

A corner of his mouth lifted, Zhang Xuan raised his eyelids: "Isn't that right, Water Leaf King?"

"You... who are you?"

Squinting, the alien clan member grabbed with his hand, and a surge of true energy immediately sealed off the surroundings, turning the entire street into what seemed like a hell.

Having been recognized, he was ready to strike.

"Who am I?"

Zhang Xuan shook his head: "You're not qualified to know my identity yet!"

"Not telling? Then don't leave!"

The alien clan member, Water Leaf King, roared and lunged forward.

Crash!

Violent true energy surged like waves, and the entire street seemed on the verge of collapse under the immense pressure.

With one move, he revealed his true strength: not Saint Realm First Layer, nor Second Layer, but... Fourth Layer!

Primordial Spirit Realm!

"Want to kill me?"

Facing the attack, Zhang Xuan was not surprised, nor did he evade; instead, he laughed: "Sorry, whether I leave or not is not for you to decide... On the contrary, you should lie down first!"

With that, just like earlier at Moyun Pavilion, he snapped his fingers.

Snap!

As the words ended, the previously ferocious Water Leaf King suddenly stiffened, fell down, his strength draining like a tide, curling up on the ground, spitting blood in large mouthfuls.

"You... you poisoned me?"

His pupils contracted, looking at the guy not far away, Water Leaf King was full of disbelief.

Despite all his caution, he had no idea when the poison was administered.

"Indeed! A formidable king like you, how else could I subdue you without poison?" Zhang Xuan said with a beaming smile.

The mere Eye of Insight could only tell he was an alien clan member; the true confirmation came from the Library of Heaven's Path.

By deliberately embracing him and causing him to circulate his true energy, which was equivalent to executing a martial technique, he immediately obtained detailed information and flaws.

This guy, disguised perfectly as a human, was, like the Golden Leaf King and Green Leaf King he had slain in the underground cavern, also an alien clan king... the Water Leaf King!

A super-strong expert of the fourth level of the Saint Domain!

A dignified king of such strength, disguised as a human, appearing here—if not stopped, it would surely cause great turmoil.

It could even annihilate Jingyuan City!

Most critically, even though his strength had greatly increased, fighting him would still be fraught with danger. Using the puppet to kill him would certainly cause a huge commotion. For safety, he lured the other into drinking the 'fine wine.'

The wine concealed his Heavenly Dao true energy, which could turn into deadly poison at a single thought once inside the body.

This fellow, though clever enough not to drink his wine, never dreamed that the moment the jade bottle touched his palm, he was already ensnared.

The Heavenly Dao true energy was extremely pure. While taking the bottle, he infused several strands into it, unnoticed and undetected, even by divine sense scanning.

Most importantly... it was unimaginable!

Even the most skilled poisoner needs poison powder, various gu worms, and such as mediums. True energy containing deadly poison... that was something no one would dare conceive.

"You... let's die together!"

Seeing the other admit it so calmly, Water Leaf King's face flushed red. With a roar, he slapped the ground, leaped into the air, and grabbed at Zhang Xuan.

Seeing him still trying to attack, Zhang Xuan said nothing: "Down!"

Boom!

He pointed a finger forward. Water Leaf King cried out in agony, fell from the air again, and crashed heavily to the ground, cold sweat pouring from his head.

The Heavenly Dao true energy had invaded all his acupoints. With a single thought, it could kill him outright. Its toxicity was so great that even seventh-grade poison could not compare. Despite his formidable strength, he could not withstand it.

"What poison is this?"

Realizing something was wrong, Water Leaf King ground his teeth, unable to believe it.

For this mission, he had prepared specially, taking many antidote pills. Logically, ordinary poisons should have no effect on him.

Not only had he failed to notice when the other poisoned him, but he also couldn't identify the poison—that was truly terrifying.

Could it be that before the mission even began, he had encountered a seven-star poison master?

The most powerful poison master in the Poison Hall of Hongyuan Empire was only six-star, wasn't it?

Without answering his question, Zhang Xuan stepped forward, pointed repeatedly, and instantly sealed the other's cultivation.

Knowing his weakness, and with the Heavenly Dao true energy already inside his body, subduing him was not particularly difficult.

After sealing his cultivation, Zhang Xuan spread five fingers and grabbed forward. A small pill wrapped in wax paper flew out of Water Leaf King's mouth. Normally, it would remain there without issue.

"You..."

Seeing him take out the object from his mouth, Water Leaf King's face changed color.

It was none other than the poison he used to commit suicide after capture, to prevent leaks.

This thing was hidden very well. Except for the few alien kings on the mission, almost no one knew about it. Who was this person?

Not only did he know his name, but he was also clear about such a secret!

"Alright, this should allow me to extract some information!"

Destroying the wax-wrapped deadly poison, Zhang Xuan smiled as he looked at Water Leaf King before him.

Gold Leaf King and Green Leaf King had died from this poison after being subdued. He was prepared, so naturally he wouldn't repeat that mistake.

"Speak, where are you from, and what do you intend to do in Jingyuan City..."

With everything ready, Zhang Xuan asked.

"You want me to talk? Dream on!"

Water Leaf King gritted his teeth.

"Won't talk? Simple..."

Raising his eyelids, Zhang Xuan pointed, and several strands of true energy drilled into the other's body along his acupoints.

Sizzle sizzle sizzle sizzle!

As soon as the true energy entered his body, Water Leaf King felt as if he were being gnawed by thousands of poison insects, with excruciating pain.

If it were only physical pain, he could endure it, but the energy flowing into his body also exerted a strong pressure on his soul, as if it might collapse at any moment.

"Forcing me to submit to a lowlife like you? Impossible..."

Enduring the pain, Water Leaf King ground his teeth audibly. Suddenly, he let out a fierce roar, and his entire body swelled like a blown-up balloon.

"Hmm?"

Seeing his state, Zhang Xuan's expression changed. He quickly reached out to grab him, surging true energy ready to suppress the other's power, but then he saw the other's flesh visibly shrivel, and a soul identical to Water Leaf King flew out from between his brows.

"Witch soul?"

Sensing the other's powerful aura, Zhang Xuan was startled, then his pupils contracted: "No, not a witch soul, but... a primordial spirit!"

At the fourth level of the Saint Domain, the Primordial Spirit Realm, the fetal infant within the body condenses into a primordial spirit, which can leave the body like a witch soul, exist independently, travel ten thousand miles in a night, and even take a person's head with a single thought.

This fellow's physical body and cultivation were suppressed by his Heavenly Dao true energy. In desperation, he actually abandoned his flesh and all his cultivation, directly charging out with his primordial spirit.

However, since he hadn't reached the fifth level of the Saint Domain, forcibly manifesting the primordial spirit would not only make it hard to survive but also cause the body to die completely, leaving no retreat.

"I'll take you with me to the grave..."

With his primordial spirit leaving his body, Water Leaf King roared madly, a ferocious expression on his face, and charged at Zhang Xuan.

Now, death was certain. In that case, he would drag this fellow down to hell with him!

The other was merely a Saint Ascension realm cultivator with a weak soul. As long as his primordial spirit rushed into the other's body, he could easily tear it apart!

Whoosh!

Before Zhang Xuan could react, the frenzied primordial spirit entered his brow. His body stiffened.

Filled with madness, Water Leaf King, now inside the body, was about to devour the other's soul when he suddenly froze.

"I'll swallow you... Holy crap, what is this? Why is it so huge!"

His pupils contracted, and his entire body went rigid.