Over the past month, he hadn’t neglected his cultivation of the Dragon and Tiger Kan and Li Skill.

He still snuck away from Biyou Palace from time to time to spar with Tian Yun in Qingchuan City.

But as Zou Feng’s Body Refining Skill grew stronger, Tian Yun was finding it difficult to keep up.

Though he had already laid his cards on the table with Bian Yixia, and she hadn’t objected to forming a cultivation team of three.

But for the past few months, Bian Yixia had been in seclusion, trying to break through to the Fifth Grade.

’I can’t just pull her out of seclusion for dual cultivation, can I?’

Zou Feng wasn’t worried about it. The most important thing right now was to advance his Five Poison Skill from Extraordinary to Saint as soon as possible.

In the early morning, before the sky had lightened, Zou Feng opened his eyes, emerging from his meditation.

Teng County was meditating not far from his side, looking as if she wanted nothing more than to cling to him.

It couldn’t be helped. She had already been completely smitten with Zou Feng, but now that he had integrated the Centipede Gu King Poison, even his breathing was addictive...

Teng County was like an addict; if she didn’t get her daily "fix" of Zou Feng, she’d feel terrible all over.

After getting up, Zou Feng didn’t disturb her and walked out of the room on his own.

Today was the day to cook for the Hundred-legged Ancestor again.

However, some ingredients and cooking utensils weren’t ready yet, so he had to do some prep work in advance.

The Hundred-legged Ancestor’s appetite was not easily satisfied.

He couldn’t just fool it by casually stir-frying a few dishes it had never seen before.

Previously, Zou Feng had even made "Comet Fried Rice" and "Tofu Trio."

But a dish he had made once could no longer satisfy the Hundred-legged Ancestor—or rather, it wasn’t enough to make the centipede turn into a fountain.

So today, Zou Feng was preparing to make "Kaihua Potstickers."

’This should definitely make the Hundred-legged Ancestor spray out even its bile.’

While Zou Feng was preparing the ingredients, Teng County suddenly left the Silk Cave in a hurry.

She said she had received a notice from Bai Chen, summoning the leaders of the Five Poison Halls and a group of Core Disciples to assemble at the Five Poison Grand Hall.

Zou Feng didn’t pay it much mind.

’Since I joined Biyou Palace, the higher-ups have never called for an assembly. It’s actually more abnormal that they haven’t.’

Not long after Teng County left, Zou Feng, with Zhi Shuang’s help, finished preparing all the ingredients.

The next step was, naturally, to pack up his gear and head to Hundred-legged Ridge immediately.

But just as he and Zhi Shuang stepped out of the Silk Cave, a sickening, dull thud suddenly rang out.

Immediately after, the entire Cloud Mist Mountain began to shake violently, as if from a powerful earthquake.

For a Martial Artist of Zou Feng’s level, a real earthquake wouldn’t be a major problem; escaping in time shouldn’t be too difficult.

But Zou Feng knew with certainty that this was definitely not something as simple as an earthquake...

"All disciples of Biyou Palace, listen up!"

In the next moment, Bai Chen’s voice suddenly echoed throughout Cloud Mist Mountain.

’Obviously, True Qi alone isn’t enough to amplify a voice to this extent. Bai Chen must be using some kind of Magical Artifact.’

"Those sons of bitches from the Celestial Essence Sword Sect are about to attack! The Ten Thousand Poison Devouring Immortal Array has been activated."

"For every invading Sword Sect disciple you kill, there will be a great reward!"

"Biyou Palace may one day fall, but it will not be today!"

"This is a crisis, but it is also an opportunity! So let’s... fight to our hearts’ content!"

"Slaughter these hypocrites who think they’re so cool for playing with swords!"

After he finished speaking, the entire Cloud Mist Mountain shook even more violently, as if some behemoth had awoken from deep underground.

Plumes of extremely dense poison smoke continuously billowed from the mountain’s peak—this must be the effect of the Ten Thousand Poison Devouring Immortal Array’s activation.

As an Honored Guest Elder of Biyou Palace, Zou Feng had, of course, heard of the Ten Thousand Poison Devouring Immortal Array before.

This thing was not usually activated; after all, it was said that frequent activation would damage Cloud Mist Mountain’s Spiritual Vein.

But if a powerful enemy invaded, then it had to be activated when necessary.

As for the specific wonders of the Ten Thousand Poison Devouring Immortal Array, it hadn’t been activated in so long that even Teng County didn’t know the details.

But one point was enough: as long as you cultivated Biyou Palace’s Poison Skills, you didn’t have to worry about being caught in the crossfire of the Five Poison Devouring Immortal Array.

After hearing Bai Chen’s message, Zou Feng’s first reaction was a bit of shock.

’My time in Biyou Palace has been so peaceful and quiet. I haven’t had to worry about my safety and could just focus on my cultivation.’

’I thought these comfortable days would continue until I successfully broke through to the True Qi Realm.’

’But what the hell is this? The Celestial Essence Sword Sect is attacking!?’

’Well, since the Biyou Palace Master poisoned two Elders from the Celestial Essence Sword Sect on Qifeng Mountain, retaliation is to be expected.’

’But for one sect to mobilize its full strength and attack another’s headquarters directly is extremely rare.’

’After all, Biyou Palace is no pushover. With the unique environment of Cloud Mist Mountain and the support of the Ten Thousand Poison Devouring Immortal Array, their home-field advantage is maxed out.’

’The only bad news is that Biyou Palace’s strongest expert, the Palace Master herself, apparently hasn’t returned yet.’

’But it’s normal for her not to have returned. After all, that Mad Lady is probably still focused on preparing for her ultimate showdown with the Emperor of Great Yan.’

’So, for the Celestial Essence Sword Sect to attack at this time isn’t actually that reckless.’

’Don’t tell me the current Sword Saint himself is here?’

The title of Sword Saint in the Celestial Essence Sword Sect was not exclusive to any one person.

Anyone who mastered the "Twenty-Third Sword" was immediately recognized as the Sword Saint by the entire Celestial Essence Sword Sect.

It was said that the current Sword Saint of the Celestial Essence Sword Sect was extremely low-key. Since his debut, his battle record was zero.

Meaning, he had never fought anyone publicly, so he had no verifiable combat record.

The only proof that this guy was the Sword Saint was the Celestial Essence Sword Sect’s public announcement that he had mastered the "Twenty-Third Sword."

’But the mere fact that he’s mastered the "Twenty-Third Sword" is enough to make me start wondering if I should just run for it.’

’No, if I run now, I’ll most likely run straight into the advancing disciples of the Celestial Essence Sword Sect. That’s just asking to die.’

’Maybe I can only consider escaping after the Celestial Essence Sword Sect has fully entered Cloud Mist Mountain and the battle has settled into a stalemate.’

’As for Teng County’s safety...’

’She went to the Five Poison Grand Hall, which is in the area where the Ten Thousand Poison Devouring Immortal Array is strongest. With top experts from Biyou Palace like Bai Chen by her side, she should be fine.’

’Besides, if Bai Chen and the others can’t protect her in the area where the Five Poison Devouring Immortal Array is strongest, what use would I be? A practice dummy for the Sword Saint?’

’There’s also another very serious problem—I still have a Demon Slaying Order on me.’

’This means the Sword Sect disciples will be very eager to find me, making my death their top priority.’

’No wonder so many names from the Celestial Essence Sword Sect suddenly appeared on the List of Gods before this.’

’So the Celestial Essence Sword Sect had already decided to attack Biyou Palace back then.’

’And those Sword Sect disciples who hadn’t originally been intent on claiming the reward for the Demon Slaying Order would naturally think, ’Well, since we’re here anyway, we should try to earn a little extra.’’

’So, many Sword Sect disciples will naturally make killing me to claim the reward for the Demon Slaying Order their goal.’

’So if I rush over to the Five Poison Grand Hall and run into the Sword Sect’s top experts, it’ll be no different from serving myself up on a platter.’

"E-Elder Zou... what do we do!?"

Zhi Shuang’s trembling voice came from behind him.

She too had been shocked by the announcement and was only now snapping out of it.

Realizing their current situation, her little face instantly turned deathly pale.

Zou Feng’s first instinct was to hide back in the Silk Cave. After all, he was most familiar with that place, which would give him a great advantage whether for hiding or for guerilla warfare.

But he immediately thought better of it. ’The Celestial Essence Sword Sect must have investigated me; they definitely know that as a Honored Guest Elder of Biyou Palace, I’ve taken up residence in the Silk Cave.’

’So, the number of Sword Sect experts who will come storming the Silk Cave will likely be huge.’

After a moment’s thought, Zou Feng made a decisive call, "Go get everyone you can. We’re all going to Hundred-legged Ridge!"

’The Silk Cave is indefensible. Teng County went to the Five Poison Grand Hall, and now there are no other True Qi Realm experts here to hold the fort.’

’As the current weakest link among the Five Poison Halls, we’re likely to face the most severe attack soon. No way in hell am I staying here.’

’It’s better to gather everyone and hide on Hundred-legged Ridge.’

’Anyway, my relationship with the Hundred-legged Ancestor is quite good right now. The big centipede will most likely give me special protection.’