C14 They Were Irreconcilable!

Watching his teammates fall one by one, Qin Xiaotian erupted with a fierce shout, "Zhang Lieh, you and I are irreconcilable!"

"Boom!"

As his declaration echoed, a terrifying golden light exploded from Qin Xiaotian's body. Origin Power surged wildly, transforming him into a colossal pangolin.

"Wow, impressive! A super creature-level golden armored beast illusion!" Zhang Lieh couldn't contain his admiration at the sight of the pangolin. Such a rare, superior illusion-type Soul Jade could fetch a handsome sum at the base auction house.

It was a pity it wasn't a humanoid Gene Creature; unable to utilize gene martial skills post-illusion, its value would have otherwise increased by at least a hundredfold.

Qin Xiao sure had a soft spot for his less-than-stellar cousin, gifting him such a premium illusion-type Soul Jade. What a bromance!

He's truly a good soul, knowing I'm strapped for cash and deliberately sending points my way!

Perched on a small mound, Zhang Lieh watched Qin Xiaotian's formidable display, confidently considering the Soul Jade in Xiaotian's possession as good as his own.

Meanwhile, even in his transformed state, Qin Xiaotian had no time to spare for Zhang Lieh.

"Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!"

His claws moved at lightning speed, casting golden light in all directions, driving back the lurking Mutated Purple Poison Nether Scorpions.

In a flash, he scooped up Wang Xiaohua, his body's sharp scales erecting and twisting rapidly, morphing into a golden drill that burrowed into the earth with a thunderous roar.

Knowing that a prolonged standoff would lead to defeat, the team understood Qin Xiaotian's intent. Aside from the four spirits, the remaining three survivors quickly dove into the tunnel after him.

Faang Qiong, Zhou Ming, and the other spirits also swiftly contracted their formation, fighting and retreating toward the tunnel.

The fierce battle had drained their Origin Power significantly, and the encroaching poison fog left them feeling disoriented and weak.

With a resounding "Bam!" Faang Qiong and Zhou Ming had barely entered the tunnel when the thorny snakes and earth turtles, manifested by Zhao Ping and Zheng Cang, crumbled to pieces behind them.

The Soul Jade's rewind left them both stunned. Before they could even react, they were overwhelmed by the frenzied onslaught of the Scorpion Group.

"Damn it! Move, move!"

As Faang Qiong and Zhou Ming watched the pair get swallowed up in an instant, fear gripped them, and they wasted no time. They immediately collapsed the entrance with swift strikes from their alloy swords.

With that, the confrontation between the Purple Poison Nether Scorpions and Qin Xiaotian's Team had reached a temporary halt.

Both sides suffered losses, with the aftermath being particularly brutal.

The ground was carpeted with the corpses of Purple Poison Nether Scorpions, and among them, eight human-shaped bloodstains marked the loss of eight lives.

Qin Xiaotian's team, originally thirteen strong, had been decimated in the fray.

And the ordeal wasn't over. Qin Xiaotian and his remaining teammates were now poisoned, and Zhang Lieh had no intention of letting them off easily.

As Qin Xiaotian had previously stated, it was a fight to the death. Without a complete victory, neither side would back down.

Zhang Lieh was patient. The blood poison of the Purple Poison Nether Scorpion took time to manifest, but its effects were notoriously stubborn.

He was confident that Qin Xiaotian and his team wouldn't be able to find an antidote anytime soon.

Minutes later, as the Scorpion Group dispersed, Zhang Lieh channeled his Origin Power and approached the eight human-shaped marks to claim his spoils of war.

Nothing was left of the eight—no blood, flesh, or bones. The Soul Jade within the Soul Sea had vanished as well. The only loot Zhang Lieh could claim were their alloy weapons.

One spear, three blades, and four swords—the fallen eight's weapons were swiftly stowed away in Zhang Lieh's Great Belly Devil Frog Pouch.

Then, activating the Wind Soul Jade and employing the Wave Treading Step, Zhang Lieh sped away from the waterfall's mouth.

But as he burst forth from the cave, Zhang Lieh sensed something was off. There were no tracks on the ground, no pits by the lake.

Even in the distant jungle, there was no sign of disturbance. Given Qin Xiaotian's dire state, it was inconceivable for him to have been so meticulous.

With this thought, Zhang Lieh once again enveloped himself with the Insect King Soul Jade and charged into the waterfall's cave entrance, entering the otherworldly Purple Poison Forest.

Clearly, Qin Xiaotian anticipated Zhang Lieh's pursuit and cleverly reversed his strategy. Rather than fleeing with his team, he delved deeper into the Purple Poison Forest.

Unfortunately for him, Qin Xiaotian was a seasoned hunter who easily saw through such simple ploys.

Deep within the Purple Poison Forest, in a pit with a slanted opening, Qin Xiaotian, Wang Xiaohua, Faang Qiong, Zhou Ming, and the other three team members lay exhausted.

Scattered around Qin Xiaotian were various empty antidote bottles.

"Damn it, this antidote is utterly ineffective. The symptoms of the poison haven't subsided in the slightest!" Qin Xiaotian lamented after swallowing another dose.

Despite the flow of Origin Power, the sense of lethargy persisted, and his body's senses continued to deteriorate rapidly.

"What do we do... Xiaotian, what are we going to do? Are we going to die from the poison?" Wang Xiaohua asked between sobs upon hearing Qin Xiaotian's frustration.

After all, Wang Xiaohua was just a young woman in her twenties, and her usual bravado crumbled in the face of mortality.

Indeed, it wasn't just Xiaohua; everyone there, including Qin Xiaotian, feared death.

Hearing her words, Faang Qiong, who had taken the brunt of the impact in the earlier skirmish, squeezed his nearly numb hand.

With a hint of hope, he asked, "Young Master Qin, could it be that the antidote just hasn't taken effect yet? That's the best antidote the base has to offer!"

"Damn Yan Chun Hall, they're a reputable establishment; they wouldn't sell fake medicine, would they?" Zhou Ming blurted out in frustration.

Qin Xiaotian gestured dismissively and said with a dark tone, "It's not counterfeit medicine. I can feel the antidote's power; it's just that this poison is extraordinarily cunning!"

After Qin Xiaotian's remark, Faang Qiong responded with visible frustration, "To think that after a year of hunting, one would be bested by a mere fledgling eagle at the last moment!"

"It's all because of you, Wang Xiaohua! If it weren't for you, Young Master Qin would never have tangled with this kid. You've doomed us all!" Zhou Ming's heart was shrouded in despair as he uttered these heart-piercing words, casting a shadow over Qin Xiaotian's face as he glanced at Wang Xiaohua.

Nevertheless, Qin Xiaotian was a person of significance. Despite his irritation, he limited his reaction to a mere glance, without dwelling on further thoughts. Deep down, he was well aware that the current situation was largely a result of his own decisions.

Wang Xiaohua, stung by Zhou Ming's provocation, suddenly exclaimed, "Yes! Zhang Lieh! We must find Zhang Lieh! During the battle amidst the purple mist, why was Zhang Lieh unaffected? He must possess an antidote or know how to evade this scorpion venom!"

"Xiaotian, let's go to Zhang Lieh. We can offer him some resources in exchange for the antidote!" Wang Xiaohua's suggestion initially sparked a glimmer of hope in everyone's eyes, but they quickly looked at her as if she were foolish.

"What's the matter? Can't swallow your pride?" Wang Xiaohua pressed, seeing the silence around her. But this time, she was met with complete disregard.

Wang Xiaohua failed to grasp the complexities of the male world, let alone the dark intricacies of the Void Realm. As numbness swiftly overtook her body, tears streamed down her face, and she pleaded, "Xiaotian, I'm begging you, let's go ask him together!"

"Xiaohua, you're being naive. Begging him serves no purpose other than to show our weakness. That's all it would achieve," Xiaotian replied.

"You don't need to be so gloomy. Given my brother's stature in the Void Realm, he's likely to insult us and make some outrageous demands, but he wouldn't dare harm us. Regarding the poison within us, after numerous flushes with my Origin Power, I've realized it's a toxin that forces the body into a dormant state. It doesn't inflict significant harm; at worst, we'll be paralyzed for a few hours."

"The purple powder on that guy must be the key to avoiding the poison and the Purple Poison Nether Scorpion!"

"Plus, by going deep into the Void Realm in the opposite direction, I've surely slowed down that kid's ability to find us. If we can hold out for a few hours, who knows who will be begging whom?"

Qin Xiaotian showed remarkable patience with Wang Xiaohua, not only quelling her pleas but also reigniting her hope for survival.

"Is that true? Xiaotian, is the poison really not lethal?"

Wang Xiaohua was terrified, and despite Qin Xiaotian's patient explanation, she remained doubtful, causing Faang Qiong and Zhou Ming to show signs of impatience.

As they were about to voice their annoyance, a playful laugh echoed from the entrance of the cave.

"Haha, of course it's true!"

"Qin Xiaotian, you're not as foolish as I thought. Shouldn't we have a chat now?"

Zhang Lieh, with his radiant smile, emerged from the cave.

"Zhang Lieh!"

Faang Qiong, Zhou Ming, Wang Xiaohua, and even the other three members of Qin Xiaotian's team cried out in unison upon seeing Zhang Lieh's grin.

Qin Xiaotian remained composed. With his limbs nearly numb, he realized he had been thoroughly outplayed.

This young man, having been exposed to the world with Qin Xiao, managed to keep his composure. With a hint of arrogance and a cold laugh, he said, "Well, I must admit, you've set quite the trap this time. So, tell me, what do you want from me?"

At this, Zhang Lieh's face twisted with greed as he declared, "Soul Jade, I want all the Soul Jade in your Soul Sea!"

"You're not holding back, are you? Are you sure you want my Soul Jade? Think it through," Qin Xiaotian retorted, his words laced with a clear threat.

With a light laugh, Zhang Lieh pulled out the alloy spear from his Great Belly Devil Frog Pouch, pointing it at Qin Xiaotian as he countered, "Are you threatening me?"

"It's not exactly a threat, more of a cautionary note. The majority of my Soul Jade was gifted to me by my brother, and I'm just concerned he might be displeased if he finds out!"

Confronted with Zhang Lieh's demeanor, Qin Xiaotian could no longer afford to be defiant. He subtly brought up Qin Xiao.

"Haha, Qin Xiao, is it? I'll make sure to meet him if I get the chance!"

"You not mentioning it almost made me forget. Are you trying to remind me that I should kill you?"

Zhang Lieh's expression remained serene, yet a pale blue Origin Power began to emanate from him. His alloy spear targeted Qin Xiaotian's chest, its cold gleam flashing like the Sea God's halberd.

In that instant, Qin Xiaotian's composure shattered. Trembling, he pleaded desperately, "Stop... please... don't! You win! I'll hand it over! Isn't that enough?"