jdhmnovel Chapter 480
Chapter 480
Jing Chu and Dongfang Mingzhu immediately sensed something amiss, quickly rose, grabbed their weapons, and engaged in fierce combat with the man in black. Under the moonlight, swords flashed, and shouts of battle filled the air. Jing Chu wielded his longsword with sharp, powerful strokes; Dongfang Mingzhu, on the other hand, employed a unique style combining medical skills and martial arts, attacking the enemy while skillfully providing support for Jing Chu.
During the fierce battle, Jing Chu discovered that these men in black possessed an aura similar to the Gu poison they had encountered before. He was alarmed, realizing that the enemy nation and the evil sects, unwilling to accept defeat, had sent them to seize the method to counter the Gu poison. After a hard-fought battle, the group finally repelled the men in black. However, when they entered the medical room, they discovered that some of the information on countering the Gu poison had vanished. Jing Chu's expression instantly turned grave. He knew that the enemy nation and the evil sects might use this information to develop even more potent Gu poisons, and a new crisis might be imminent. They had to devise a countermeasure as soon as possible.
Jing Chu made a decisive decision to head to Nanshan to find the mysterious old man. He and Dongfang Mingzhu spurred their horses on, galloping along the official road. The sound of their hooves kicked up clouds of dust as they traveled day and night without rest. Upon reaching Nanshan, they searched diligently through the dense forest. The forest was overgrown with thorns, and the paths were rugged and difficult to traverse. Their clothes were torn, and their faces were covered in dust. After a long and arduous search, they finally found the old man's dwelling.
The old man's dwelling was a simple thatched hut, surrounded by various medicinal herbs. Upon hearing this, the old man frowned deeply and fell into deep thought. After a moment, he slowly said, "If they use this information to develop new poisons, it will certainly be even more troublesome. However, I know of a secret realm where there might be a divine medicine that can counteract all poisons."
Without hesitation, Jing Chu and Dongfang Mingzhu followed the old man into the secret realm. The realm was located in a deep, secluded valley, surrounded by steep peaks, and shrouded in a mysterious mist. The moment they stepped inside, they felt a pervasive sense of danger. The realm was riddled with traps and mechanisms. Sharp spikes would suddenly spring up from the ground, and boulders would fall from above. Jing Chu and Dongfang Mingzhu, relying on their exceptional medical skills and formidable martial arts, worked together to overcome the obstacles. The mysterious old man, with his rich experience, guided them along safe paths.
Finally, deep within the secret realm, they found the divine herb. It grew atop a giant rock, radiating a soft light and surrounded by a strange fragrance. However, just as they were about to harvest it, a swarm of mysterious creatures suddenly emerged from all directions. These creatures were monsters mutated by a poisonous curse; their forms were bizarre, some with numerous thick tentacles, others covered in sharp spikes, possessing immense strength and agility, instantly surrounding the three of them.
Jing Chu and Dongfang Mingzhu stood back to back, their eyes resolute as they warily watched the monsters. The mysterious old man swiftly pulled out some specially prepared herbs from his robes and forcefully sprinkled them on the monsters. The herbs emitted a pungent odor, causing the monsters to retreat and temporarily incapacitate. Taking advantage of the situation, Jing Chu brandished his longsword and charged towards the monsters, each strike carrying a sharp and fierce momentum, the sword wind whistling and cutting through the air. Dongfang Mingzhu was not to be outdone; her silver needles flashed as she combined medical skills with martial arts techniques to alleviate the pressure on Jing Chu. The mysterious old man, meanwhile, carefully observed the monsters' movements, searching for their weaknesses and trying to find a way to defeat them.
After a fierce battle, they gradually figured out the monsters' attack patterns. Jing Chu seized the opportunity, thrusting his sword into a vital spot, the powerful force repelling several monsters. Dongfang Mingzhu then used silver needles to seal the monsters' pressure points, temporarily incapacitating them. The mysterious old man seized the opportunity to quickly climb the boulder and harvest the divine medicine. Just as they successfully obtained the medicine and were preparing to leave, the secret realm suddenly began to tremble violently, cracks appearing in the ground, as if a more powerful being had been alerted. They had no time to think and could only flee this dangerous secret realm as quickly as possible.
The three had just escaped the secret realm when a gigantic Gu beast burst forth from the earth. This Gu beast was as large as a mountain, emanating a nauseating stench, and each of its eyes gleamed with an eerie light, fixed intently on them. The mysterious old man's expression changed drastically, and he exclaimed, "This is the Gu King! We didn't expect to alert it!"
The Gu King roared and charged towards them, shaking the earth and toppling trees in its wake. Jing Chu and Dongfang Mingzhu quickly shielded the old man, engaging the Gu King in a desperate battle. The Gu King was thick-skinned and tough, making it difficult for their attacks to inflict any real damage. Just as the Gu King was about to launch a fatal blow, the mysterious old man suddenly remembered that the divine medicine might have the effect of restraining the Gu King. He hurriedly took out the divine medicine, chanted an incantation, and the medicine emitted a soft light, slowly enveloping the Gu King.
The Gu King howled in agony, its body gradually shrinking under the glow until it turned into a pool of pus and blood. The three breathed a sigh of relief and rushed back to the capital with the divine medicine. They used the medicine to develop an even more powerful antidote, capable not only of combating existing Gu poisons but also preventing unknown ones. Upon learning of this, the enemy nation and the evil sects dared not act rashly again, and the capital returned to its former peace.
However, this peace did not last long. During a routine purchase of medicinal herbs, Jing Chu, as usual, carefully inspected the herbs he bought. With his sharp eyes and rich experience, he quickly discovered that a highly concealed Gu worm had been added to the herbs. These Gu worms hid in the crevices of the herbs, completely undetectable without close inspection. Jing Chu realized that the enemy nation and the evil sects were still secretly plotting. He immediately informed Dongfang Mingzhu and the old servant. Everyone fell into a tense state again, the atmosphere so heavy it seemed as if water could be squeezed out of it.
Upon hearing this, the mysterious old man arrived once again to offer his assistance. They locked themselves in a secret chamber within the royal palace, meticulously studying the newly emerged Gu worm. After extensive observation and analysis, they discovered that this Gu worm was extremely special, created by combining the properties of a divine medicine, specifically to overcome the medicine's restraining effects. The mysterious old man suggested that perhaps the principle of mutual generation and restraint among Gu worms could be used to break the curse. Therefore, they began searching for clues in mountains of ancient texts, while simultaneously collecting various Gu worms for experimentation.
The experiments were fraught with hardship and failures. They tried time and again, full of hope, only to be disappointed each time. However, they did not give up. Finally, after countless failures, they discovered a special type of Gu worm that could counteract the new Gu worm. They quickly cultivated this Gu worm and prepared an antidote for future use.
Just when everyone thought the crisis was temporarily averted, an official in the capital suddenly died under mysterious circumstances. Upon receiving the news, Jing Chu and his team immediately went to investigate. The deceased was pale and bloodless, with no external injuries, but Jing Chu, relying on his extensive experience, discovered that the deceased had been poisoned by the new Gu worm. Even more strangely, there were no signs of forced entry; the doors and windows were tightly closed, as if the deceased had ingested the Gu worm himself. Jing Chu suspected that the enemy state and the evil sects had planted an informant in the capital, and this informant was very likely among the court officials.
They decided to secretly investigate the officials' every move. With her keen observation and sharp intuition, Dongfang Mingzhu discovered that one official had been frequently in contact with a mysterious figure recently. Each time they met, the official appeared flustered, cautiously observing his surroundings. Jing Chu and the others secretly followed them and discovered that the mysterious figure was actually a master of a sorcery sect. They apprehended both of them on the spot and brought them back to the palace for interrogation.
After rigorous interrogation, the two finally confessed that the enemy state and a sorcery sect planned a large-scale poison attack on the court, aiming to overthrow the dynasty. Jing Chu and the others immediately informed the emperor, who was greatly alarmed and promptly strengthened the palace's defenses. Meanwhile, Jing Chu and the others used newly prepared antidotes to prepare officials in advance. When the enemy state and the sorcery sect launched their attack, thanks to thorough preparation, the poison did not cause significant harm.
Enraged by the failed attack, the enemy nation and the sorcery sect devised an even more insidious scheme. They secretly kidnapped Jing Chu's family, using them to threaten him into handing over the method to counteract all poisons. Upon learning this, Jing Chu was frantic, like a cat on a hot tin roof. However, he knew he couldn't afford to lose his composure, or not only would his family's lives be in danger, but the people of the capital would also be plunged into peril once more. He consulted with Dongfang Mingzhu, the mysterious old man, and his old servant, and they decided to turn the tables on them.
They feigned agreement to the demands of the enemy nation and the sorcery sect, arranging a transaction in an abandoned valley. On the day of the transaction, Jing Chu arrived with a fake solution, appearing calm but secretly on guard. Dongfang Mingzhu and the others had been lying in ambush all around, hidden behind rocks and bushes in the valley, weapons gripped tightly, ready to strike at any moment.
When the enemy and the sorcerer sects appeared demanding the method, Jing Chu deliberately stalled for time, searching for the best opportunity to counterattack. He skillfully maneuvered with the enemy, attempting to extract more information through his words. Just as the enemy lowered their guard, the ambushing forces suddenly attacked. In an instant, shouts of battle echoed through the valley.
Although the enemy nation and the sorcery sects were prepared, they hadn't expected Jing Chu and his companions to be so valiant. The mysterious old man unleashed his profound Gu magic, controlling the surrounding Gu worms to attack the enemy. The Gu worms surged towards the enemy like a black torrent. Dongfang Mingzhu, relying on her superb medical skills, attacked the enemy while simultaneously healing her wounded companions. The silver needles in her hands gleamed coldly in the sunlight, each needle precisely piercing the enemy's vital points. The old servant also took out his treasured hidden weapons, his movements skillful, the hidden weapons flying towards the enemy like meteors, catching them completely off guard.
Jing Chu seized the opportunity to search for his family. He searched the valley thoroughly and finally found them bound in a secluded corner. He quickly untied them and led them to safety. At this moment, the battle intensified, and the enemy and the sorcerer sect were gradually losing ground. Suddenly, a sorcerer master produced a mysterious Gu pill, preparing for a final desperate attempt. Jing Chu reacted swiftly, knocking it away with his sword. Ultimately, the group successfully defeated the enemy and rescued their family.
After this battle, the enemy nation and the evil sects were severely weakened and no longer able to launch large-scale attacks. The capital city returned to its former peace, and the streets were once again filled with laughter and joy. Jing Chu and the others continued to protect this land. They knew that new crises might arise in the future, but they were fearless and ready to meet any challenge at any time.
However, this peaceful and tranquil period did not last long. On this day, the sun shone brightly, and Jingchu, as usual, carried a bamboo basket on his back, held a hoe in his hand, and went deep into the mountains to collect herbs. The mountains and forests were quiet and secluded, with only the occasional clear bird song. Jingchu moved among the lush vegetation, carefully identifying various herbs.
Just as he was intently digging up a precious herb, a faint, strange aura drifted over. Jing Chu's heart skipped a beat, and he looked in the direction of the aura, only to see a small, thin child standing not far away. The child's appearance was completely unexpected, and Jing Chu was immediately puzzled. He slowly approached, and as the distance closed, a dense aura of Gu poison assaulted his senses. The moment Jing Chu stepped within a ten-foot radius of the child, he felt a powerful and malevolent force surging into his body like a tidal wave, as if countless tiny needles were piercing his meridians.
Jing Chu's expression changed drastically. Without time to think, he quickly circulated his internal energy, a faint golden light emanating from his body to resist the force. At the same time, his eyes were alert as he stared intently at the mysterious child before him. Although the child's figure was still young, his face exuded a chilling aura beyond his years.
The child spoke, his voice clear and childlike, yet filled the silent mountain forest with an eerie quality: "You think defeating my sect is enough? How naive! I am a genius of Gu arts, and today I have come to avenge my sect!" His tone was filled with an undeniable ruthlessness. Upon hearing this, Jing Chu secretly pondered that this child, so young yet possessing such profound Gu arts skills, must have a more powerful and mysterious force supporting him.
Thinking of this, Jing Chu remained outwardly calm, trying to reassure the child, and said in a gentle tone, "Little friend, let's talk things out. Why fight?" In reality, he secretly activated a special technique to transmit a message to Dongfang Mingzhu and the others in a highly covert way, informing them of his location and the danger he was facing.
Time passed slowly, each second feeling incredibly long. Finally, several figures swiftly arrived—it was Dongfang Mingzhu and the mysterious old man. Upon their arrival, they quickly joined Jing Chu, forming a triangle that surrounded the child. Knowing the dangers of the Gu poison, the three exchanged a knowing glance and prepared to once again use their method to counteract it. Their hands moved rapidly, forming hand seals, and their spiritual energy surged, creating beams of strange light that enveloped the child.