Chapter 853: The Jade-Scaled Royal Serpent

After reading the notes, Ling Feng became even more determined to unravel the secrets of the Divine Desolation Treasure Box. This would be a crucial asset in his fight against the Heaven-Patrolling Clan.

He then spent some time wandering through the Ancient Tower Grove with the Despicable Donkey and Zifeng, but ultimately failed to comprehend the so-called Three Thousand Great Daos. However, Ling Feng wasn't disappointed. Compared to the Three Thousand Great Daos, his Void Eye and the treasure maps containing clues to unlock the treasure box were infinitely more valuable.

Moreover, while in a state of soul separation, he had unexpectedly advanced both his Slaughterous Sword Will and Reincarnated Sword Will to the advanced stage.

These two sword wills were exceptionally rare attributed sword wills, making their refinement incredibly difficult! Even after obtaining the incomplete

Art of Simple Detachment

, which aided in comprehending sword will, the progress he had made inside the Four Spirits Divine-Sealing Tablet far surpassed anything he could achieve through normal means.

With such gains, Ling Feng found little interest in the so-called Three Thousand Great Daos.

Since there was nothing left to gain, he left the Ancient Tower Grove, traversing the long space-time portal before finally returning to the summit of the lone peak.

Winds howled atop the mountain, clouds swirling violently. Ling Feng glanced at the ancient millennial tree and offered a fist-and-palm salute in its direction, but Lord Tianshu ignored him.

With a shrug, Ling Feng didn't linger and instead retraced his steps. As for Li Bufan and the others, they were likely still inside the Ancient Tower Grove, attempting to comprehend the Three Thousand Great Daos. After all, only three days had passed.

Once Ling Feng descended, the ancient tree's bark twisted into a human face, its brow furrowing slightly.

"Not a single Great Dao comprehended... and he calls himself of the divine race? Tch. He can't possibly be the Heaven's Mandate that Master spoke of—the one destined to change the immortal dao realm. How could the next leader be this weak?

Sigh...

"

The lament faded into the whistling winds, leaving the mountain peak silent once more...

...

As the saying goes, ascending a mountain is easy, descending is hard. Without being able to use true qi, even Ling Feng's monstrous physique struggled, taking a full two hours to navigate the treacherous path down. Eventually, he returned to the main tent of Qingtian Fortress.

"General Ling!"

The soldiers guarding the mountain path leading to the Ancient Tower Grove immediately saluted upon seeing him return.

"

Mhmm

." Ling Feng nodded slightly but noticed their grim expressions. Something major must have happened in the camp.

"Did something happen in the fortress? Why does everyone look so dejected?" he asked casually, rubbing the bridge of his nose.

"

Ah...

yes, something did happen." A square-faced soldier on the left gritted his teeth. "Last night, the northern demon tribe launched a frontal assault on Qingtian Fortress, but their real goal was to slip past our defenses from the side."

"Though Adviser Jia anticipated some of it, none of us expected a peak demon king among the infiltrators. Several generals were severely injured, and the demons broke through. Reports say at least twenty demon lords or higher made it past the fortress, heading straight for Luohe City!"

"Such a thing happened?"

Ling Feng's eyes narrowed slightly. A faint premonition stirred in his chest.

Luohe City again?

What secrets could that place possibly hold?

"Indeed. The commander-in-chief has already dispatched over a dozen squads to hunt down the demons near Luohe City. For them to go to such lengths... their objective must be anything but simple."

"

Mhmm

." Ling Feng nodded. Even someone as inexperienced as him could tell the demons had ulterior motives—let alone seasoned veterans like Han Li.

"Where are the injured generals? How serious are their wounds?" he asked solemnly.

"They're all in the medical camp west of the fortress. The others are stable, but Adviser Jia... his condition is critical. He might not make it."

"I see."

Ling Feng took a deep breath, clasped his fists in salute, and immediately dashed toward the medical camp.

...

West of the fortress, Medical Camp.

"Damn it! Damn it all!"

A one-armed general, his right hand bandaged and slung across his chest, clenched his fist as he glared at his unconscious comrade. Hatred for the demons burned in his eyes.

"Military Physician Hu! Are you even competent? It's been so long—why hasn't Old Jia shown any signs of waking up?!"

In his agitation, the general grabbed the physician by the collar, shaking him violently.

"G-General Cao! Adviser Jia's injuries... they're too severe! It's not just internal damage—he's been poisoned by demonic venom! The toxins have settled deep in his body. Without purging them, even the finest herbs won't save him!"

Physician Hu wiped the cold sweat from his brow, then pointed at the other unconscious generals nearby.

"Not just Adviser Jia—look at these men! Some have been comatose for over a week! Until we find a way to neutralize the demonic venom, I... I can only barely keep them alive!"

"You call yourself a Daoist physician, yet you can't even expel demonic venom?! Our Northwestern Army has fought the demon race for years—we've had antidotes for this before!"

"That was for ordinary demons! But this time... the enemy had a demon king from the Jade-Scaled Royal Serpent Clan! As far as I know, there's only one cure for this venom!"

Physician Hu gnashed his teeth. A single drop of this toxin could kill hundreds of thousands of mortals. If not for these generals being high-tier martial practitioners with extraordinary physiques, their bodies would have already rotted away.

"Then use it already!" General Cao roared.

"The only herb that can counteract the Jade-Scaled Royal Serpent Clan's venom is the Sunfire Supreme Herb," a young voice interjected from the tent's entrance. "But this herb can only grow if watered daily with the venom of the Jade-Scaled Royal Serpent Clan. In other words... the antidote exists only within their territory. Am I correct, Physician Hu?"

The physician nodded frantically. "Y-yes! Exactly!"

"What?!"

General Cao's face turned ashen. Infiltrating the Jade-Scaled Royal Serpent Clan's domain to steal the antidote? That was virtually impossible.

Unless every Human Emperor in Qingtian Fortress joined forces, there might be a sliver of hope—but even then, the risk of total annihilation was overwhelming.

After all, the northern demon territories were home to demon rulers!