Medical and Martial God

When the thing Medicine King Valley guarded was mentioned, Baishan Jun and Gu Mufeng’s expressions immediately turned solemn.

Gu Mufeng said, ”It seems you’ve had your eye on Medicine King Valley for more than just a day or two, since you even know its greatest secret.”

In his words, he had already pegged Ye Xiu as a ruthless schemer.

Ye Xiu chuckled. ”The very purpose of Totem Inheritors around the world is to uphold their missions and guard certain things. I’ve visited several Totem Clans abroad, so it’s not surprising that I know Medicine King Valley’s secret.”

So that was it! Baishan Jun and Gu Mufeng had a moment of realization.

Baishan Jun said, ”More than two thousand years ago, my ancestors, Gu Mufeng’s ancestors, and Jiang Yuan’s ancestors fled the wars and secluded themselves with our people in Hundred Flowers Valley.”

”Later, members of the three Judicator Families found our ancestors. They bestowed Totem Power upon our people and tasked us with guarding the Extreme Abyss, which is a pitch-black, seemingly bottomless pit over ten meters in diameter.”

Ye Xiu’s spirit stirred, and he asked, ”What’s inside the Extreme Abyss?”

”We don’t know!” Baishan Jun shook his head. ”The three Judicator Families forbade us from entering the Extreme Abyss and even from stepping foot in its vicinity. They said it contains a terrifying existence that could destroy the world.”

Gu Mufeng continued, ”In fact, over the past two thousand years, our ancestors, and even we, who have managed Medicine King Valley for decades, have been unable to restrain our curiosity. We’ve sent people down into the Extreme Abyss and thrown many animals in. Without exception, they all vanished.”

Ye Xiu nodded. The situation with the Extreme Abyss was identical to the places guarded by the other Totem Clans he had visited abroad.

He asked, ”Then what is your mission?”

”To prevent humans from setting foot near the Extreme Abyss and to periodically clear out the mutated animals in the vicinity,” Baishan Jun said.

”Are there many mutated animals near the Extreme Abyss? Have there been any human or plant mutations?” Ye Xiu asked.

”There weren’t many before. Generally, only animals within a few hundred meters of the Extreme Abyss would mutate. But for some reason, over the last few years, animals within a three-mile radius have been continuously mutating,” Baishan Jun said.

Gu Mufeng continued, ”There are mutated humans too, which you might have heard of—the Wildmen of Hundred Flowers Valley. As for the plants, their growth rate has simply increased.”

Ye Xiu internally rolled his eyes and asked, ”What changes do the mutated animals and humans undergo?”

”Of course there are!” said Baishan Jun. ”After mutating, humans grow thick white fur all over their bodies and increase greatly in size, but their intelligence drops, making them quite foolish. Mutated animals, on the other hand, change drastically in size and appearance. They become bloodthirsty and crazed, attacking any living creature on sight.”

Ye Xiu’s expression grew solemn. He asked, ”How long did it take for the mutation zone to expand from a few hundred meters to a three-mile radius?”

”About a year!” Baishan Jun said.

Ye Xiu was aghast. The zone had expanded from a radius of a few hundred meters to three miles in only about a year. At this rate, it wouldn’t take long for all of Hundred Flowers Valley, and even all the people, animals, and plants in Hexia Road, to mutate.

This was terrifying. If this situation continues, all of humanity could turn into those white-haired Wildmen.

”How long has it been since you last entered the mutated area to clear the mutated animals?” Ye Xiu asked.

”The Long Family is responsible for clearing the mutated animals. They used to be quite diligent, clearing them out regularly. But ever since the Long Family members in charge of the cleanup were all poisoned to death over three months ago, they haven’t sent anyone back,” Baishan Jun said.

It seems the situation around the Extreme Abyss is very similar to what the Dongfang Family is facing. The difference is that the members of the Long Family die from poisoning when they enter the mutated area. In contrast, the Dongfang Family, thanks to their Totem, are afflicted by the Blood Poison but do not die from it.

”Master, could it be that humans, animals, and plants mutate due to some special poisonous gas released from inside the Extreme Abyss?” Gu Mufeng asked.

Ye Xiu did not answer but instead advised, ”People with Totems who enter the mutated zone won’t mutate, but they will be poisoned. The people of Medicine King Valley should avoid going in there. I’ll send my own people to clean up those mutated animals.”

”There’s no need to send your people into danger,” Baishan Jun advised. ”The sixty-year agreement is fast approaching. The Judicator Families will send people to solve the mutation problem.”

Ye Xiu disregarded Baishan Jun’s warning; he simply did not trust the three Judicator Families.

He changed the subject, asking, ”Where is Seven Killings Valley? What kind of place is it?”

This was the real reason he had come to Medicine King Valley.

Er Gouzi wanted to lure him to Seven Killings Valley. Clearly, there was something in that valley capable of killing him. Moreover, Er Gouzi had managed to cultivate a Third Realm War God and a Fourth Realm War God in just five years. That was incredible and had to be related to Seven Killings Valley.

”Seven Killings Valley is a valley about a mile and a half from the Extreme Abyss. It used to be ordinary, but it suddenly became mysterious in the last few decades, perpetually shrouded in clouds and fog. Many mutated animals like to run there. Both Medicine King Valley and the Long Family have sent people to investigate more than once, but no one who entered ever came out. So, we don’t know what’s inside,” Baishan Jun said with a look of apprehension.

So there are secrets in Seven Killings Valley, likely related to the Extreme Abyss and the Judicator Families.

Ye Xiu narrowed his eyes, scoffing internally. I’m not about to walk into an unknown and dangerous place like that.

He said, ”Go get the Marrow Cleansing Pill. I’m returning to Guoyang.”

Baishan Jun hurriedly ran into the Pill Tower and brought out a purple sandalwood box.

Ye Xiu took it and was ready to leave.

***

An Dongye, his companions, and the members of Medicine King Valley were discussing Baishan Jun’s supposed possession. They wondered if, despite Gu Mufeng’s staunch opposition, the Valley Master would actually give the Marrow Cleansing Pill to Ye Xiu.

”Grand Martial Uncle Gu is as stubborn as a mule. He’d rather die than let the Valley Master give the Marrow Cleansing Pill to Ye Xiu.”

”The Valley Master is possessed! If he insists on giving the pill to Ye Xiu, Grand Martial Uncle Gu won’t be able to stop him.”

”Don’t worry. The Valley Master is only temporarily under Ye Xiu’s evil arts. Once Grand Martial Uncle Gu starts a fight with him, the Valley Master will surely snap out of it and join forces with him against Ye Xiu.”

”But I don’t think the two of them can beat Ye Xiu. After all, he killed Jiang Yuan and Jiang Hai with a single strike.”

”Hmph! If Ye Xiu kills them, then everyone in Medicine King Valley will kill him, even if we are all wiped out in the process!”

”That’s right! We of Medicine King Valley do not fear death! At worst, we’ll just take him down with us!”

The members of Medicine King Valley all looked ready to fight Ye Xiu to the death.

An Dongye and Dongfang Chaonan grew tense. Even if Ye Xiu was powerful, the two or three thousand people in Medicine King Valley could wear him down and kill him through sheer numbers.

”Ye Xiu is back,” someone suddenly shouted.

Everyone turned to look.

They saw Ye Xiu walking ahead with the purple sandalwood box, while Baishan Jun and Gu Mufeng trailed behind him meekly, like grandsons.

How could this be?

Just a moment ago, Gu Mufeng was vehemently trying to stop Baishan Jun from giving Ye Xiu the Marrow Cleansing Pill. Why has he suddenly changed so completely?

”It’s all over! Old Gu has been possessed too!” Dongfang Chaonan exclaimed.

The crowd gasped. Having lived in the mountains for generations with little contact to the outside world, the people of Medicine King Valley were rather naive. At that moment, they were utterly convinced that both Baishan Jun and Gu Mufeng had been possessed