Poison Pool

"Let me scout the way. I possess the Heavenly Phoenix True Feather, so even if I encounter danger, I can escape in time," the Nine Phoenix King said. The Flood Dragon King pondered for a moment before reminding her, "Very well. But once we locate the dragon corpse and leave the Inner Hall, we will still need to rely on the Heavenly Phoenix True Feather. Be careful, and do not deplete too much of its power." "I understand," the Nine Phoenix King nodded. The Flood Dragon King channeled golden light to coalesce a suit of armor around her. The Nine Phoenix King retrieved the Heavenly Phoenix True Feather, clutched it in her hand, and cautiously stepped inside. Unexpectedly, the instant she crossed into the perimeter of the Spirit-Suppressing Domain, a sudden change occurred. The unknown fluctuation pervading the void had previously seemed relatively calm, but the Nine Phoenix King's intrusion was like a stone hurled into a still lake. In a flash, the void shuddered. The unknown fluctuations surged forward like massive waves. Runes seemed to flash across the void, bearing down upon the Nine Phoenix King layer after layer. A flush of crimson instantly rushed to the Nine Phoenix King's face. Clenching her teeth, she seemed to be resisting an immense pressure, yet this pressure was formless and intangible. The golden armor remained completely unchanged. Her figure swayed faintly. Feeling her true essence stagnate and her origin soul destabilize, she hastily retreated, intending to make thorough preparations before venturing in again. At that moment, the carapace-backed burly cultivator's eyes flashed, and he called out to stop her. "Fellow Daoist Nine Phoenix, there is no need to try again. I think I understand the reason." The Nine Phoenix King frowned, displeased. "I haven't even used the Heavenly Phoenix True Feather yet..." The carapace-backed burly cultivator cut her off and said gravely, "Your cultivation is insufficient, Fellow Daoist. Even if you go in, you won't make it far before being unable to endure it and forced back. Using the Heavenly Phoenix True Feather might help you withstand the ancient restriction, but the entire Spirit-Suppressing Domain is like this. How long can the feather's power last? It would be a pointless waste! We still need to rely on your power to escape. This king has no wish to be trapped in this godforsaken place." The Flood Dragon King asked in surprise, "Brother Hei, you seem quite knowledgeable about the Spirit-Suppressing Domain?" The carapace-backed burly cultivator chuckled. "I have lived in the Canglang Sea for so many years that I've heard my share of rumors. I couldn't be certain whether they were true or false, but just now, seeing was believing. It is said that an ancient formation lies at the heart of the Spirit-Suppressing Domain, exerting an inexplicable suppression throughout the entire domain. As a result, low-stage cultivators can barely move an inch within it. Only great cultivators whose cultivation rivals yours, or those at least at the peak of the mid-Nascent Soul stage, can withstand the ancient formation's suppression and come and go as they please. Although Fellow Daoist Nine Phoenix is on the verge of breaking through to the mid-Transformation stage, it is still not enough..." Surprise flickered across the Flood Dragon King's face at these words, and he stepped forward into the domain. A similar phenomenon occurred, but the Flood Dragon King's condition was far better than the Nine Phoenix King's, with no obvious stagnation of his true essence. "What a strange Spirit-Suppressing Domain!" The Flood Dragon King stepped back, frowning deeply. At this time, wanting to test the domain's power himself, the carapace-backed burly cultivator also strode inside. He was at the peak of the mid-Transformation stage, just one step away from breaking through the bottleneck to advance to the late stage, and he could indeed move freely. The other demon kings fared much worse. Among them, a tiger king in the mid-Transformation stage made thorough preparations. He felt fine upon first stepping in, but after crossing two mountains, the strain grew heavier and heavier until he was forced to retreat. "The human race suspects that the suppression here was once far more terrifying—so much so that mighty figures of the Deity Transformation and Void Refining stages might not have been able to force their way in either. No one knows whether it was meant to suppress something or served some other purpose. After countless tens of thousands of years, the ancient formation's power has gradually diminished, and the suppression has slowly weakened, which is why we can enter now." The carapace-backed burly cultivator turned his head to look at the tiger king beside him. "In another few centuries, Fellow Daoist, you might be able to enter, but right now you cannot overcome the restriction." The Flood Dragon King nodded thoughtfully. "That speculation makes sense... It seems Brother Hei and I will have to search for the dragon corpse alone, while the other fellow daoists wait outside." The carapace-backed burly cultivator nodded. "That's our only option. However, this king is now worried: could the dragon corpse have some connection to the ancient formation of the Spirit-Suppressing Domain? If we take the corpse and release something—very likely an archdemon from antiquity—the Canglang Sea might suffer a catastrophe, tsk tsk..." "How could a dragon corpse be connected to a human formation?" The Flood Dragon King shook his head, finding the idea preposterous. "If the humans knew a dragon corpse was hidden beneath Yitian Peak, they would certainly take it without hesitation. Even if an unexpected mishap occurs, Brother Hei, you need not worry. Once I obtain the dragon corpse, I will be able to break through to the Deity Transformation stage, and seizing the teleportation formation will be as easy as flipping my palm. When that time comes, you and the others can return with me to the Demon Sea. The Canglang Sea belongs to human cultivators. We need only seal the teleportation formation, sit back as spectators, and quietly wait to clean up the aftermath..." The carapace-backed burly cultivator burst into hearty laughter. "If what's suppressed down there happens to be an elder of our demon race, that would be even better. Perhaps our own path to immortality would look brighter." The Flood Dragon King smiled faintly, shaking his head repeatedly. "Even if something truly is suppressed beneath it, the odds of it surviving until now are miniscule. When even an ancient formation has worn down to this meager bit of power, what realm could possibly resist the erosion of time and linger on to this day?" With that, the Flood Dragon King addressed the other demon kings, "Circumstances leave us no choice; you fellow daoists must remain outside. Human cultivators may be in this area, so try to avoid clashing with them. Find a concealed spot to hide. If any unforeseen event occurs, we may still require your assistance." The demon kings exchanged glances and could only nod helplessly. Once the Flood Dragon King and the carapace-backed burly cultivator found the dragon corpse, the best treasures would surely be divided between the two of them, leaving only meager scraps for the rest. Yet they had only their insufficient cultivation to blame for being unable to endure the suppression. "I can give it a try," the Nine Phoenix King said, unwilling to concede. The Flood Dragon King shook his head. "Brother Hei was right. The Heavenly Phoenix True Feather is of vital importance. Even if we fail to obtain the dragon corpse, we cannot cut off our retreat. Nine Phoenix, wait for me outside." The Nine Phoenix King had no choice but to obey. The Flood Dragon King nodded to the carapace-backed burly cultivator. Just as he was about to enter, the Nine Phoenix King suddenly stepped forward and pressed an object into his hand. Looking down, he saw an exquisite long plume. "Though this Heavenly Phoenix Plume is not as potent as the Heavenly Phoenix True Feather, if you encounter restrictions and become trapped, it can still help you escape. Keep it just in case. My clan has already refined it into something akin to a magic treasure, so it can be activated without Phoenix Clan bloodline. I will transmit the control technique to you..." the Nine Phoenix King sent via voice transmission. Committing the secret technique to memory, the Flood Dragon King promised, "Rest assured, Fellow Daoist. As long as we can find the true dragon inverse scale, I will certainly secure it for you..." "Let's hope so," the Nine Phoenix King sighed almost imperceptibly. The Flood Dragon King and the carapace-backed burly cultivator strode side by side into the Spirit-Suppressing Domain, gradually fading from view. The remaining demon kings did not wander off. They found a secluded spot nearby, laid down isolation restrictions, and quietly awaited news from the Flood Dragon King. The Flood Dragon King and his companion scaled forested ridges and entered a stone forest beneath the mountains. He once more used his secret technique to sense the aura, raising a hand to point toward the left in surprise. "The dragon corpse is not beneath Yitian Peak—it's in that direction!" The two demons set off at once. After flying for a time, they saw a small lake appear within the stone forest ahead. To their astonishment, the water here was crystal clear and had not dried up. "It's a poison pool!" The carapace-backed burly cultivator's expression changed slightly.