Chapter 125: A Narrow Escape from Death

Hum, hum, hum...

The Primordial Sword of the Greedy Wolf detonated with the force of a mushroom cloud, dispersing at a single point and instantly forcing back the encroaching Black Water Poisonous Mist. Dugu Shang’s ears rang incessantly, his mind swimming in a chaotic haze, yet he clung to the fleeting moment of opportunity, desperate to flee.

"The Black Water Poisonous Mist—truly formidable!"

Even as he scrambled to escape, Dugu Shang’s clouded mind occasionally flickered with clarity, and in those moments, all he could think of was the sheer power of the mist. It had not even touched his skin; merely fluttering before him had been enough to muddle his consciousness and leave his senses reeling. While the sheer density of the mist was a factor, it stood as a testament to its lethal potency.

The explosion of the sword had shocked the Taoists of the Black Water Sect. The resulting clouds of gas obscured their vision and disrupted the scanning of their divine senses. For a moment, Dugu Shang vanished from their sight.

Boom!

The Taoists frowned, their expressions displeased. Though the explosion had been contained by the mist and failed to harm them, the current situation clearly rankled. The leader among them gestured, and a tributary of the Black Water Poisonous Mist detached itself, slithering like a snake into the heart of the mushroom cloud. With a few rotations and a resounding crash, the air cleared once more.

Dugu Shang’s face turned deathly pale, his eyes filled with despair. As the view sharpened, he saw the figures of the Taoists before him, and his heart sank into an even deeper abyss.

"I am doomed!"

At the moment of the explosion, he had intended to run, and he had tried. But unknown to him, the aura of the Black Water Poisonous Mist had already surrounded him. He had been ensnared without even realizing it. The mist was designed to bewilder the mind and poison the body. Enveloped by its aura, his consciousness had dulled, slowing his perception of reality until the world felt as though it were moving in slow motion. During the precious time bought by the sword’s explosion, he had fled with all his might—or so he thought. In reality, thanks to the influence of the mist, he hadn't moved a single step.

"The Black Water Poisonous Mist—truly formidable indeed!" With the truth laid bare and the Taoists staring him down, he recalled the ancient records he had read. How could he have been so blind?

The mist had first befuddled his mind and then poisoned his body, creating a rift between his spirit and his physical form. His thoughts became sluggish, and his body failed to respond to his commands. In short, he was already as good as dead.

"Come then!" Since he had exhausted his efforts to no avail, Dugu Shang ceased his struggles. What was the point? If he were to die, then so be it. He slowly closed his eyes, forcing himself to stand straight, determined to maintain his dignity until the very end.

The Taoists watched him coldly, observing the shift in his eyes from turmoil to calm, and then to the stillness of eyes closed in resignation. They said nothing.

Whoosh!

At the command of the Taoists’ intent, the mist hovering before Dugu Shang vanished instantly, only to reappear right in front of him. Like a serpent, it opened its gaping maw, lunging to strike.

Eyes still closed, Dugu Shang felt a sudden chill. Alarm bells rang in his heart, screaming of the impending danger. He felt the muscles in his body rapidly losing their vitality, his mind becoming increasingly blurred. The dark world before his eyes began to shift—the Black Water Poisonous Mist was taking its toll.

Boom!

Just as he braced for death, a deafening roar, seemingly from a great distance away, echoed through his muddled consciousness. A moment later, he realized his mind was not fading away; on the contrary, it was becoming remarkably clear. The dark world that had begun to warp returned to its original state. It was still pitch black, yet looking into that darkness, Dugu Shang felt an inexplicable surge of joy.

"What? What is happening?" With his thoughts finally aligning, he opened his eyes, desperate to see what had occurred. He was not dead. He had survived!

The moment his eyes opened, he was stunned. The Taoists, who had been hovering on their gourds, had all fallen to the ground, their gourds shattered into pieces beside them. Dugu Shang stared, his confusion mounting. He reached out with his divine sense, cautiously probing one of the fallen Taoists.

"Dead?"

The feedback from his own senses startled him. Dead? How could it be? These formidable Taoists were actually dead? Who could possibly have killed so many of them?

The demise of the sect members offered him an escape from his own crisis, yet a new, different kind of dread took hold. Whoever was capable of slaughtering so many of them must be terrifyingly powerful. He did not know how much time had passed, but it couldn't have been long—certainly less than the time it took to burn an incense stick. After all, no one who succumbed to the Black Water Poisonous Mist had ever been known to last longer than that.

"The Black Water Poisonous Mist?" As this thought crossed his mind, he realized something. He had been poisoned! By all accounts, if he hadn't been cured, he should have been dead. Yet, here he was, alive, and upon checking his body, he realized with amazement that the poison had been neutralized.

Who could it be?

"Disperse!"

As his mind raced in confusion, a loud shout reached his ears, drawing his gaze. He saw a figure shrouded in the very same Black Water Poisonous Mist. The moment he laid eyes on the person, he understood why he had been saved. Seeing the thick, ink-like mist swirling around this individual, the answer was clear.