Chapter Eighty-Five: Half a Master (Please vote for recommendations!!)

This grotesque creature seemed able to move freely through the mire, his face covered in dark green scales, making him appear especially sinister and terrifying. After he let out an enraged roar, the poisonous miasma coiling above several nearby swamps began to drift slowly toward their position.

The dense poisonous haze suddenly appeared above Shi Yan and his companions, gathering and thickening until mist began to form within it.

A sudden splattering sound echoed as drops of green poisonous water fell from the haze above. In an instant, a toxic rain began to pour over the marshland.

Chi Xiao’s expression changed dramatically and he shouted, “Zhuo Qi! Don’t do anything reckless!”

As he spoke, Chi Xiao suddenly threw a silver canopy from his robes. The moment it appeared, it expanded swiftly, covering the sky above Shi Yan and the others.

The toxic rain fell onto the silver canopy, rolling down its edges and dripping into the swamp below, which immediately sent up plumes of vivid green poisonous smoke.

“The Silver Veil!” the grotesque man snarled, his expression darkening. “You even brought the Silver Veil! Chi Xiao, you really came prepared to deal with me this time!”

“Stop!” Chi Xiao exclaimed urgently as Zhuo Qi prepared to act again. “Zhuo Qi, you’re truly mistaken! I’m here for the Nine-Headed Serpent, not to trouble you! The Silver Veil is for the serpent’s venom, not for you!”

“I don’t believe you!” Zhuo Qi sneered. “You think you alone can handle the Nine-Headed Serpent? Hmph, you have no enmity with it. Clearly, you’re here for me!”

With a cold snort, he pressed a hand into the swamp, sending strange green lights into the mire. Instantly, dragons formed from mud and silt surged forth—each as thick as a man’s waist and ten meters long—lunging towards Shi Yan and his group with menacing intent.

Not only could Zhuo Qi control the poisonous miasma of the Dead Marsh, he seemed to command the very mud itself!

Shi Yan’s face darkened. He hadn’t expected to encounter such a troublesome foe so soon after entering the Dead Marsh. He swiftly gathered his internal energy, readying himself to deal with the oncoming mud dragons.

The dragons erupted from the swamp, their long bodies writhing as they charged from all directions, a truly spectacular sight.

Even the dry ground where Shi Yan and the others stood began to soften and crumble, clearly influenced by Zhuo Qi’s power and threatening to swallow them into the marsh.

Xia Xinyan’s eyes turned cold, intent on unleashing her Reincarnation Martial Spirit.

“Zhuo Qi! I truly didn’t come for you!” Chi Xiao called out anxiously. He was confident he could handle Zhuo Qi, but he couldn’t protect everyone above the swamp. If his companions were dragged down, with Zhuo Qi present, only he and Xia Xinyan might survive.

“Shi Yan, come here—I’ll keep you safe,” Xia Xinyan said coolly, casting him a dispassionate glance.

Han Feng and Ku Long, at this critical moment, looked at Xia Xinyan in astonishment, surprised by her words.

Wu Yunlian and Zuo Shimei exchanged puzzled glances as well, unable to fathom why Xia Xinyan would single out Shi Yan for protection. This was clearly out of character.

Now was not the time for Shi Yan to play the hero. He hastily leapt across patches of dry ground, quickly reaching Xia Xinyan’s side.

“Zhuo Qi!” Chi Xiao shouted in alarm, “There’s a ‘Heaven’s Gate’ in the Valley of Absolute Shade! I’m here for the Nine-Headed Serpent, I swear! Stop this at once!”

“What?” Zhuo Qi exclaimed, startled. “Heaven’s Gate?”

“Yes, we acquired a treasure map—the location of Heaven’s Gate is marked in the Valley of Absolute Shade,” Chi Xiao replied helplessly, forced to reveal their purpose.

Zhuo Qi paused in surprise, then suddenly let out a raspy laugh. As he did, the green miasma above began to drift away, moving off from above the group. As the haze dispersed, the poisonous rain ceased altogether.

The mud dragons dissolved midair, turning back to sludge and dropping into the heart of the marsh. Hundreds of green-scaled beasts, which had been surging forward, halted as the mud dragons vanished and, at Zhuo Qi’s shrill command, obediently sank back into the swamp.

Zhuo Qi had relented.

Chi Xiao breathed a sigh of relief and retrieved the Silver Veil, which shrank back into his palm.

The marshland returned to tranquility—even the bubbling green foam vanished one by one. The perilous swamp, dangerous step by step, suddenly became peaceful.

“I knew you wanted to deal with the Nine-Headed Serpent,” Chi Xiao grunted angrily. “If you’d delayed any longer, you’d have paid dearly!”

As he spoke, Chi Xiao glanced at Xia Xinyan. Alone, he did not fear Zhuo Qi, but with Xia Xinyan—who had already stepped into the Heaven’s realm—Zhuo Qi would truly be in trouble.

Zhuo Qi followed his gaze to Xia Xinyan, his brow furrowing slightly. He sensed a terrifying power slowly ebbing from her. With just one look, he realized this woman was not to be trifled with; she had clearly been preparing some secret technique moments before.

Shi Yan stood beside Xia Xinyan, his face grim, watching Zhuo Qi warily, not daring to lower his guard.

Xia Xinyan didn’t spare Shi Yan a glance, her expression serene. “Mr. Chi Xiao, could you introduce us to the master of the Dead Marsh?”

“He’s only half a master,” Chi Xiao scoffed, shaking his head and glancing disdainfully at Zhuo Qi. “Zhuo Qi rules the outer edge of the Dead Marsh—the swamps and miasma are his domain. But once you enter the central flatlands, it’s the Nine-Headed Serpent’s territory. There, Zhuo Qi has no authority.”

“Chi Xiao! The central flatlands are mine too!” Zhuo Qi shouted. “My father trained there for years. One day I’ll reclaim it!”

“We’ll see about that,” Chi Xiao snorted, nodding to Xia Xinyan. “Miss Xia, you may go ashore now.”

“Very well.” Xia Xinyan nodded, then frowned slightly at Shi Yan. “You go first.”

“Alright.” Shi Yan replied simply and leapt over the dry ground where Chi Xiao had passed, heading toward the broad clay shore ahead. Soon, he reached solid ground.

Zhuo Qi snorted and, his body covered in muck, skimmed across the marsh, swiftly reaching the edge of the clay, though half his body remained in the swamp, still wary of Chi Xiao’s words.

“Shi Yan, how is your body? Did the blood of the green-scaled beasts harm you? Need Zhuo Qi to treat you?” Chi Xiao suddenly called out.

Shi Yan looked down at his hand, smiled, and shook his head. “I’m fine.”

Within him, his Immortal Martial Spirit had already quietly purged the toxins.

At these words, both Chi Xiao and Zhuo Qi eyed him with surprise.

Only they knew that normally, when a martial artist at the Human realm was tainted by the green-scaled beast’s blood, they would be weakened for a day and slow to recover.

Han Feng and his group, unaware of the blood’s potency, paid little attention and proceeded to the shore.

Soon, Zuo Shi, Han Feng, and the others all crossed the marsh and reached the clay shore.

“Chi Xiao, are you truly here for the Nine-Headed Serpent?” Zhuo Qi asked, half-submerged in the swamp.

“Yes. Don’t cause trouble for the rest of the journey. If you want me to deal with the Nine-Headed Serpent, you’d best clear the way ahead,” Chi Xiao replied.

“Fine! If you want to deal with the serpent, I’m happy to help.” Zhuo Qi agreed readily. “I’ll get you safely to the central flatlands. But I’m coming too—that was my father’s training ground, I know it best. If you’re looking for Heaven’s Gate, I can help.”

“You want to deal with the serpent and see Heaven’s Gate for yourself, don’t you?” Chi Xiao snorted.

Zhuo Qi didn’t deny it, grinning eerily. “You know how powerful the Nine-Headed Serpent is. You lot alone will find it hard to defeat. Let me help and take me into Heaven’s Gate—it’s a win-win situation.”

“Miss Xia, what do you think?” Chi Xiao turned to Xia Xinyan, explaining, “Zhuo Qi and the Nine-Headed Serpent are mortal enemies. With him leading the way, we’ll have no trouble in the marsh, and our chances against the serpent are better.”

Xia Xinyan pondered and nodded lightly. “Very well.”

“Alright, you’re in,” Chi Xiao agreed.

“You won’t regret this,” Zhuo Qi promised with a sinister grin. Then he suddenly paused and asked, “Chi Xiao, did you invite anyone else?”

“No,” Chi Xiao replied, surprised. “Just us.”

“Then why did another Heaven’s realm expert enter the Dead Marsh seven days ago, bringing several skilled followers? I killed some of his men and fought him myself, discovering he’s also in the Heaven’s realm. I’ve never left the Dead Marsh, so I don’t know who he is, but he’s formidable—on par with you. He should already be in the central flatlands.”

“A Heaven’s realm expert!” Chi Xiao’s face darkened. After a moment, he said, “Heaven’s realm experts are few in the Empire of Blazing Fire, the Empire of Divine Grace, and the Merchant Alliance. Who could he be? Can you describe him?”

“He’s tall and thin, with an unusually pale face, as though he never sees sunlight; his eyes are long and narrow, like willow-leaf blades. He practices a sinister martial art…” Zhuo Qi thought for a moment before replying.

“I don’t know who that is,” Chi Xiao said after searching his memory in vain. “Never mind, perhaps he’s just passing through. He may even have left. Still, we must be careful.”

“Come, I’ll lead you to the central flatlands.”

Zhuo Qi finally came ashore. His legs, also covered in green scales, moved awkwardly, as if he weren’t used to walking, like a duck waddling out of water.

Yet, having witnessed his powers over the marsh, no one dared mock his gait.

True to his reputation as master of the outer marsh, Zhuo Qi’s presence cleared away the miasma wherever they passed.

Wherever the group needed to travel, new patches of solid ground would emerge, allowing them to proceed unhindered and without fear of sinking into the mire.

With Zhuo Qi guiding them, their journey was much easier—a route that would have taken a month, they covered in just eight days.

After eight days, they finally set foot on the central flatlands.

…