Chapter 383: Sorcerer's Battle of Venomous Bugs
Chapter 383: Sorcerer's Battle of Venomous Bugs
"Hmm?"
Suddenly, a dark swarm of crows took flight, startling even Hu Ma as they appeared right after the red lantern was removed, allowing the toxins to enter.
He hastily retreated, simultaneously reaching out to grab Zhou Datong who had just jumped down from the archway, fearing he might not escape in time. But his attempt was in vain as Zhou Datong leaped from the archway and dashed directly into the valley, not even glancing back. He didn't need a reminder to run, and his speed surpassed even Hu Ma's.
"What a relief..."
Hu Ma sighed, but he remained vigilant, focusing his attention on the situation. Despite his formidable skills as a New Year Guardian, he had no intention of testing his abilities against these sinister creatures that had poisoned even the Five Viscera Guardian, Chief Zhuang, to such a state.
"Corrupt Crow Toxin"
Just as they were retreating, a dark shadow loomed, ready to pounce into the valley. From within the shelter, a voice called out, "Nengneng, it's your turn!"
In response to the voice from the shelter, Wu Ya and Nengneng, a young sorcerer, both moved to confront the flock of crows. Wu Ya quickly retreated, while Nengneng drew a waist drum from his waist and blocked the crows' path, suddenly beating it with all his might.
"Puff... Puff... Puff..."
The drumbeats were deep and strange, each strike accompanied by a heavy, resonant tone.
The flock of crows fluttered in the air, about to rush into the valley. Upon hearing the drumbeats, they became disoriented, bumping into each other, their wet feathers flying everywhere.
It seemed that with the sound of the drum, they couldn't find their way into the valley and could only hover chaotically outside. As they continued to collide with each other, one by one, they fell to the ground.
The more they were kept out, the more frantically they flew, and the harder Nengneng beat his drum, his pale face turning red with exertion.
The people in the valley, who had been guarding the edge, now retreated, but they paused to witness the astonishing scene. The crows seemed to be blocked, and although there was no immediate danger, they didn't return to their rooms. Instead, they stood about ten feet away from the edge, staring in disbelief.
The crows, blocked by Nengneng, flew for a while before more and more of them began to fall to the ground. It was as if they were inanimate objects that could occasionally jump up and injure people, but now they seemed to come to life and fly.
However, their energy was limited, and the longer they were held back, the harder it became to fly.
Nengneng, the young sorcerer, used this method to keep the crows at bay. As long as they didn't break through, after a certain amount of time, he could dispel the toxin.
But unexpectedly, as the crows outside fell one by one, the drumbeats suddenly became muffled, and two or three crows found an opening and rushed into the valley. They raised their decayed claws and lunged towards Zhao Zhu's face.
This wasn't Zhao Zhu's fault. Despite his usually calm demeanor, he was always the first to charge forward with a pitchfork in hand.
Noticing the anomaly in the valley, he positioned himself beside Hu Ma, even slightly ahead, his eyes wide with anticipation. He was ready to help, but the crows flew towards him.
Unafraid, he grabbed his pitchfork and prepared to strike.
However, Hu Ma frowned, sensing that Zhao Zhu's reaction was too slow. Even if he managed to kill one crow, he would still be infected. So, Hu Ma stepped forward, grabbed Zhao Zhu, and pulled him behind himself.
Then, he turned around, struck with his palm on the Five-Support Rib, and his tongue unleashed a spring thunder, causing the three viscera to resonate.
"Heh!"
The flock of crows that had rushed into the valley collided with an invisible wall of energy, their bodies exploding simultaneously.
The blood, flesh, and scattered feathers were blown out of the valley by the airflow generated by Hu Ma's shout, scattering across the ground.
The onlookers were stunned, their faces filled with astonishment as they turned to Hu Ma. Nengneng, whose face was flushed red from drumming, stared at Hu Ma with a blank expression, his seven apertures seemingly about to bleed.
He had worked so hard to control the toxins, only for Hu Ma to shatter them with a single roar.
Nengneng couldn't help but feel that this manager from the Red Lantern Society seemed even more skilled than he had imagined.
No wonder the Green Robe Gang Lord and Lady Red Lantern had lost so easily, their assets swallowed by the other party. Look at all the talented individuals under their command...
"The sorcerer's toxin technique is indeed eerie and terrifying," Hu Ma said, patting the creases on Zhao Zhu's shoulder that he had grabbed. "But our New Year Guardians' skills might also be of some use against these toxins, right?"
"It's not just useful, it's incredibly powerful!"
The crowd stirred, and the meat cutters' eyes were filled with complex emotions. They dared not voice their thoughts but nodded in agreement.
In the valley, the first to acknowledge Hu Ma's skills was Zhuang Erchang, who had sparred with him and knew his exceptional abilities. Even in his prime, Zhuang Erchang knew he couldn't defeat Hu Ma.
Despite being unable to defeat someone as young as Hu Ma, they also felt an immense sense of awe towards the mysterious "Old Yin Mountain Lord Zhou Two." After all, if his disciple is this powerful, how formidable must the master be?
At the very least, he must have entered the Manor as a Guardian of the New Year.
The Guardians value their lineage, and their masters and traditions are a significant part of their influence, not to be overlooked.
As for Zhuang Erchang's disciples and the meat cutters under his command, they only believed that Zhuang Erchang was at a disadvantage because he was poisoned. Therefore, they didn't hold Hu Ma in high regard. But seeing this scene, they were genuinely shocked, and their opinions began to change involuntarily.
You, old Zhuang, were brought to this state by just one corrupt crow.
Facing three corrupt crows, the other party merely gave a low shout, and the blood and bones dissolved without a trace. This made you look a bit inadequate...
"The Guardians are a renowned name in the jianghu, with genuine skills that even we Sorcerers respect. No one has ever dared to underestimate them..."
Upon hearing this, the Wu Gong Clan Leader in the shelter spoke softly, "But Wu Song used the Twelve Barrage Toxin to seal the valley, and he can control twelve types of toxins. Be extremely cautious..."
"There are still eleven more?"
Just as everyone's hearts were starting to relax, they heard these words, and their hearts sank again. At that moment, they heard the sound of scales rubbing against dry leaves from outside the valley, and a putrid smell filled their noses, making them feel dizzy and nauseous.
"Hmm?"
Just as they were about to turn around and enter the valley, everyone was startled and quickly turned to look.
They saw the grass outside the valley swaying, as if something was approaching. Wherever it passed, the lush green grass curled and withered, leaving a trail of gray. It was getting closer and closer to the valley.
"Flesh-Eating Toxin!"
The Wu Gong Clan Leader in the shelter spoke with a hint of surprise, "Wu Ya."
Wu Ya, who was standing guard beside the shelter, had been on high alert. Upon hearing this, she hurried forward and took off the bamboo basket on her back, opening it. A green snake with a bluish hue slithered out.
Hu Ma had seen it before in the forest, where Wu Ya had used it to gather herbs. It seemed that the snake was also afraid of heights.
Now, as it was released from the basket, the green snake raised its head with determination and swam towards the camp outside. In an instant, it reached the area of withered grass and hissed, engaging in a struggle with something. Only then did everyone realize it was a white snake as thick as an arm.
The two snakes coiled around each other, biting and tearing at each other outside the valley. They rolled and tumbled, fighting incessantly, while the onlookers could only watch, feeling dizzy and unsteady.
When the white snake had the upper hand, they felt a strong stench in their noses and mouths, making them dizzy and nauseous, as if their bodies were out of control and about to pass out. When the green snake gained the advantage, the stench lessened slightly.
It seemed that as long as the white snake approached the valley, everyone would be affected.
Hu Ma, being a Guardian, was able to withstand it a little better. He frowned slightly and suppressed the discomfort, while some of the meat cutters nearby had already turned pale, and their bodies began to tremble.
They didn't understand what was happening and dared not speak, fearing that the stench would enter their mouths. They could only stare at the two snakes fighting.
After about the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, the white snake suddenly went limp during the struggle, and the green snake seized the opportunity to bite its head. Then, inch by inch, it swallowed the white snake whole into its stomach.
It was only then that everyone felt the overwhelming stench suddenly dissipate completely, leaving them dazed as if waking from a deep sleep, unsure of what had just happened.
On the other side, Wu Ya squatted down and put the green snake, which had clearly doubled in size, back into the basket. Her snake had won, but she didn't seem particularly happy.
"Wu Ya defeated Wu Song's Flesh-Eating Toxin, so he probably won't make a move soon."
The Wu Gong Clan Leader in the shelter spoke softly, "But Wu Ya's victory was also by chance. Her green snake and Wu Song's white snake were twin-born, both excellent materials for crafting toxins. Wu Song let his sister take the weaker one, giving the green snake to Wu Ya."
"Otherwise, Wu Ya wouldn't have been able to defeat him."
"..."
Everyone was even more astonished as they listened, and they all looked at Wu Ya, but the girl lowered her head, looking even more dejected.
Now, she seemed to have lost all the wit and charm she had when they first met.
"It's not just about giving up a snake. When the fight started, the white snake had the upper hand, but it suddenly stopped moving, perhaps sensing something and conceding defeat..."
As the others listened, they couldn't help but think that the Elder Brother truly cared for his sister.
"However, after the fight, he killed a pair of twin sisters in the camp to cultivate the toxins."
The Wu Gong Clan Leader sighed softly, "This is Wu Song. After creating such karma, he also dragged Wu Ya into it. This incident was the reason we decided to expel him from the camp."
(End of Chapter)
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