Chen Jiuyang, along with Cao Qingqing and Bai Shujuan, returned to the small hut they had explored the previous night.
Despite it being broad daylight, the house exuded an intensely eerie and terrifying aura.
Chen Jiuyang's brow furrowed. "Interesting."
He addressed the two women, "You two stay outside. Do not enter."
Cao Qingqing asked, "Why can't we go in?"
"Do you wish to die?"
Chen Jiuyang's tone was indifferent. "If you wish to die, then go in."
With that, he entered the small eatery without waiting for their reaction.
Chen Jiuyang proceeded directly to the second floor.
On the second floor, the six corpses of the Six Doors constables that had been there were nowhere to be found.
Chen Jiuyang flicked his fingers, unlatching the doors to Chen Shengrong's and his mother's rooms.
As expected.
A massive, entirely black serpent with eerily crimson eyes was coiled around the corpse of the middle-aged woman.
"Hiss~"
The giant serpent coiled its body, its terrifying head raised high, staring at Chen Jiuyang.
"Netherworld Illusion Serpent. I didn't expect beasts like you to be causing trouble."
Chen Jiuyang looked at the terrifying giant snake, completely unafraid.
In truth, Chen Jiuyang was somewhat surprised. The Netherworld Illusion Serpent was renowned in ancient times, a highly venomous snake that had once caused chaos throughout the land. It had been jointly hunted down by both righteous and demonic factions. Even the Pure Yang Medical Immortal had only encountered records of this creature in books, believing it to be extinct.
Chen Jiuyang hadn't expected to encounter such a venomous creature here.
This explained what the deceased Six Doors constables had seen.
The forbidden zone of Resentful Nightmare Town was indeed not simple.
The Netherworld Illusion Serpent, with its fearsome head raised, telepathically transmitted to Chen Jiuyang's mind, "I didn't expect to encounter a Human King of the mortal realm here. Heh heh heh, care to chat?"
Chen Jiuyang wasn't surprised that the Netherworld Illusion Serpent could communicate with him. Such snakes were naturally gifted with powerful souls and excelled at casting illusions, making them difficult to guard against.
Chen Jiuyang slowly drew his saber. "I have nothing to discuss with a harmful beast like you."
With that, he unleashed a saber strike, immediately severing the Netherworld Illusion Serpent's head from its body.
"Sizzle sizzle!"
Purple blood flowed from the Netherworld Illusion Serpent's body. Upon contact with Chen Jiuyang's true qi, it immediately began to burn, emitting a sizzling sound.
The Netherworld Illusion Serpent's voice echoed again, "I have seen your future, a Human King plagued by misfortune. I await you in Resentful Nightmare Town."
Chen Jiuyang frowned. "A mere beast dares to spread fear-mongering?"
He used his true qi to seal the serpent's head, preventing any further mischief.
As Chen Jiuyang emerged from the small eatery carrying the serpent's head, Cao Qingqing and Bai Shujuan were startled.
"What a terrifying snake!"
Chen Jiuyang said indifferently, "This is a venomous snake that escaped from some forbidden zone. This beast is responsible for the deaths of those constables, Chen Shengrong, and his mother. Its corpse is still on the second floor. You can call the Six Doors and have them come to clean up."
"I have other matters to attend to, so I won't be staying long."
With that, Chen Jiuyang casually picked up a snakeskin sack by the roadside, placed the serpent's head inside, and left.
Half a day later, Chen Jiuyang arrived at Medicine God Valley once more.
Upon entering the grand hall where he had previously refined elixirs, he discovered his cauldron had been opened and the elixirs within were gone. Chen Jiuyang's expression immediately turned grim.
"Boom!"
"Liu Wen, get out here!!!"
His voice, like rolling thunder, reverberated throughout Medicine God Valley, causing many who were refining elixirs to spit blood and turn pale, their refining processes interrupted.
The people of Medicine God Valley immediately appeared, all looking at Chen Jiuyang with hostile expressions.
Liu Wen glared at Chen Jiuyang with a grim face. "Do you know you've caused trouble and made many people fail their elixirs?"
Chen Jiuyang's expression was indifferent, his eyes fixed on Liu Wen without emotion. He threw the head of the Netherworld Illusion Serpent onto the ground. "I have completed the task assigned to me by Medicine God Valley. I have one question for you now."
"Where is my medicine?"
Liu Wen's face suddenly changed, and he stammered, "How would this elder know where your medicine went?"
"I thought Medicine God Valley was so reputable, but it seems this place is also filled with black-hearted individuals."
Chen Jiuyang exuded a terrifying pressure, staring at Liu Wen, and said word by word:
"I ask you again, where are my elixirs?"
"I don't know..."
"Rumble!"
The terrifying pressure enveloped Liu Wen, making him feel as if an invisible mountain was pressing down on him. With a 'thump,' he collapsed to his knees.
"What is this..."
Liu Wen immediately broke out in a cold sweat, dripping like rain. His face turned deathly pale, enduring immense pain that contorted his features.
This terrifying pressure caused many to change their expressions. Those who had been about to vent their anger at Chen Jiuyang immediately retreated, not daring to advance.
How could a Three-Veined Purple Clear Flowing Spirit Pill, valued at one hundred million per pill, not incite covetous desires?
Liu Wen's expression shifted several times. He took a deep breath, gritted his teeth, and said, "I don't know."
"Very well."
Chen Jiuyang's icy voice rang out again. "It seems you won't shed tears until you see the coffin. I shall see how long you can endure under my hands."
Chen Jiuyang lightly tapped a few times with his fingers.
"Ch! Ch! Ch!"
Several invisible streams of true qi landed on Liu Wen's acupoints.
"Ah!"
Liu Wen let out a piercing scream.
For Liu Wen, mere seconds felt like years, subjecting him to unimaginable torment and pain.
His body convulsed as he fell to the ground, like a dying old dog. He struggled to speak, "The elixir is on me... I was wrong, please spare me..."
"Please, spare me."
"Heh heh, spare you?" Chen Jiuyang sneered. "Wouldn't that make people think I'm easily bullied?"
Chen Jiuyang flicked another finger. Liu Wen's clothes immediately disintegrated, and a delicate small porcelain bottle fell out. Chen Jiuyang hooked it with his finger, and the small bottle landed in his hand.
Chen Jiuyang opened the bottle, and a pleasant, fragrant medicinal aroma wafted out. "Hmm, it is indeed my elixir."
After securing the bottle, Chen Jiuyang said indifferently, "If you seek revenge, you are welcome."
With that, Chen Jiuyang left Medicine God Valley. He paid no mind to Liu Wen's miserable state, and no one dared to stop Chen Jiuyang from leaving.
This Medicine God Valley, which seemed like a sacred land, truly broadened his horizons.
Not long after exiting Medicine God Valley, someone blocked Chen Jiuyang's path.
Several figures in grey robes, wearing masks and concealing their true faces, all at the Half-Step Heavenly Realm, blocked Chen Jiuyang's way.
Chen Jiuyang asked, "Who are you?"
"Kid, hand over the Three-Veined Purple Clear Flowing Spirit Pill, and we can spare your life," the leading grey-robed martial artist said in a hoarse, unfriendly voice to Chen Jiuyang.