Chapter 11: The Old One

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Poison Fang Canyon has changed little in the past year.

The thought runs through Liu Jin’s mind as he ducks under a branch he wouldn’t have needed to avoid one year ago. Although he is still not as tall as Xiao Fang–something that annoys him more than he cares to admit–Liu Jin has grown taller over the past year. Even though Liu Jin has been drinking poisons every day, it has not negatively affected his body. If anything, the Liu Jin of now looks much healthier than the Liu Jin of one year ago, probably due to continually purging his body of toxins.

Poison Fang Canyon, however, remains the same. Liu Jin has visited this place once every two months since he was but a small child and witnessed its permanence. The canyon has been there throughout his childhood, and it has been there long before he was born. Xiao Nan once told him Poison Fang Canyon has existed for at least a thousand years.

Yet, Liu Jin is certain no person has seen the innermost parts of the canyon in all that time.

“Are you ready?” His master asks. The two have already made their way deep into the outer canyon. The poisonous mists of the inner canyon await just a few meters away. It is a curious characteristic of the canyon. No matter how much time passes, the mists never disperse. They never spread to the outer parts of the canyon. They just stay in place, blocking the path of all who wish to enter.

More skilled cultivators than Liu Jin have died trying to pass. That is not remotely in question. However, Liu Jin has dealt with many dangerous poisons during the past year. In that, at least, he’ll allow himself to take some pride.

“I am ready, master,” Liu Jin says after only a moment’s worth of consideration. Old Jiang does not say anything back. He merely walks in.

Liu Jin follows.

The poison hits him the moment he steps into the mist. He feels it entering through his nose and filtering through his pores. One year ago, he would have definitely died within the first five steps. No, that is a too kind assessment. He would have certainly died in the first step. However, he is not the same as he was one year ago. Now, Liu Jin knows exactly what to do. With every breath he takes, the poison enters his body, and with every breath he takes, he expels it just as easily.

Step.

Inhale the poison.

Expel the poison.

Step.

Liu Jin repeats the process again and again as he walks beside his master, gaining more skill with each step. By the tenth step, he only needs to devote 50% of his focus to the process. By the fiftieth step, it merely takes 10% of his focus, leaving most of his faculties free enough to appreciate the scenery.

The poison mists are dense but not so much that Liu Jin cannot see the many types of plants all around him. They are all plants that do not grow in the outer canyon. Part of Liu Jin wishes he could stay to gather herbs. However, he knows gathering herbs is not why his master brought him here.

No Spirit Beasts cross their path. It only makes sense. Old Jiang flared his aura once when they walked into the canyon, and once again when they walked into the poison mists. The Earth Realm Dragon from last time was an exception, not the rule. The number of Spirit Beasts that would want to challenge an Emperor are not many.

Of course, just as Liu Jin finishes that thought, a Spirit Beast bursts through the trees.

Liu Jin does not quite realize what happens at first. The sound of trees breaking reaches his ears. Suddenly, Old Jiang is not at his side anymore. That is when Liu Jin sees it. A white beast the size of a house. A lion covered in scales. Its roar alone forces him to take a step back. Its fangs are bigger than his head. Red mist comes out of its mouth every time it breathes.

Then it is dead. Old Jiang is standing over its fallen corpse.

Before Liu Jin can even open his mouth, the corpse is gone.

“Where…” Liu Jin starts asking, but his master replies before he can finish forming the question.

“I stored it,” Old Jiang says, holding up his spatial pouch. “There will be time to properly harvest its body later. We have more important things to do.”

Dazed, Liu Jin follows.

The whole thing is over in an instant. To Liu Jin, it is a brutal reminder of how strong his master is and of his own weakness. Liu Jin has to remind himself that his goal is not to be a great warrior. His goal is to be a great doctor. Even so, thoughts of his own inadequacies still linger.

Stolen story; please report.

A year ago, he was helpless in front of Yun Han. Even though he has grown stronger, Liu Jin has no illusions. If they met again, Yun Han would still be able to kill him. The strong can do what they want, and the weak have no choice but to endure. That is merely the way the world works.

“Do not let your mind become clouded!” His master’s voice stops his thoughts from taking a darker turn. “As my student, you have an important task to do here. That should be your only focus right now.”

“Yes, master!” Liu Jin says, forcefully shoving those depressing thoughts to the back of his mind. That’s right. He will have time to worry about those things later. Right now, Liu Jin cannot let his master down.

Old Jiang and Liu Jin keep walking further into Poison Fang Canyon. Along the way, they are attacked three more times by Spirit Beasts who refuse to be intimidated by Old Jiang’s aura. All of them belong to the Earth Realm. None lasts more than a few seconds. Such is his master’s power that all fights end before Liu Jin can even see them. Spirit Beasts in the Earth Realm are simply no match for Old Jiang. The poison mists grow stronger as the two make their way, but it is nothing Liu Jin cannot deal with.

All things considered, their journey is almost impossibly peaceful.

“This is the place,” his master says once they reach a cave. The entrance to the cave is rather small, and it is so dark Liu Jin cannot see what lies inside. He would have missed the place for sure had his master not motioned him to stop.

Yet, now that Liu Jin knows it is there, he can feel the foreboding energy rolling in waves from it. There is something powerful inside. It is power so deep, Liu Jin feels that if he lowers his guard for an instant, he will be swallowed whole.