C363 Explosive Essence Powder!(2)

Woo Zhengyang remained motionless, casually swinging his long sword to dispel the Vital Spirit Giant Hand.

"Kid, stop pretending. If you want to fight, then fight. If not, just hand over your secrets!" the old man demanded. Woo Zhengyang's eyes stayed vacant, unmoved, making the old man even more cautious.

"Are you dead or what?" the old man growled, but still, there was no response, and he dared not approach.

"If you don't move, I'll leave this forest and call for reinforcements. Once the people from the Sunset Three Sects arrive, you won't be able to escape," the old man warned, feeling both wary and embarrassed. As an expert at the Shape Gathering Stage, it was humiliating to be so wary of a young Reality Condensing Stage practitioner. If anyone saw this, they'd laugh their heads off.

"Good thing no one's around," he thought with relief, then noticed Zhang Tia nearby, covered in blood, eyes wide with terror at the scene. Zhang Tia didn't know what had happened at the Heavenly Martial Dao Discussing Great Association, but he could guess that Woo Zhengyang must have made a significant impact. Otherwise, why would a Shape Gathering Stage expert be so cautious?

"Are you mocking me?" the old man shouted, his face flushed with anger.

"Not at all, not at all. Just finish him off! Maybe the kid's gone mad," Zhang Tia urged.

"Enough of this nonsense!" the old man snapped angrily.

He wanted nothing more than to deal with Woo Zhengyang quickly, but the young man's sword energy carried the chilling force of ice, perfectly countering his Vital Spirit Giant Hand. Other methods were ineffective unless he got closer.

Narrowing his eyes, the old man approached Zhang Tia and snatched the Hidden Heaven Bag from him. From it, he retrieved three Heaven Shaking Thunder Beads. Then, from his own bag, he took out a pair of gloves and a jade bottle.

Pouring some dark green poison from the bottle, he carefully coated the Thunder Beads. Once finished, he gave a sinister smile and hurled the three beads toward Woo Zhengyang in one swift motion.

Under the old man's control, the beads flew at Woo Zhengyang from three different directions.

Woo Zhengyang swiftly struck with his sword three times, detonating each of the Thunder Beads in succession.

"You fool, you've truly lost your way!" the old man laughed heartily.

Woo Zhengyang's Body Protecting Astral Qi, infused with the power of Profound Heaven Fire, shielded him from harm. The old man never truly relied on the Thunder Beads to cause damage; they were merely a vessel. His real aim was to deliver the poison.

Now that the beads had exploded around Woo Zhengyang, the poison would surely envelop him completely, leaving him beyond rescue. Soon, he would be at the old man's mercy.

"Senior, the power of the Profound Heaven Fire can incinerate everything. Even the strongest poison might not work against it!" Zhang Tia suddenly spoke up, causing the elder's previously excited expression to turn cold.

However, the elder quickly regained his composure and retorted, "Fool! Do you think I wouldn't be prepared for his Ice Crystal Fire Body? This poison was crafted specifically for him—Explosive Essence Powder!"

Explosive Essence Powder isn't technically a poison, but its effects are just as potent, if not more so, and it has unique applications. Most poisons are repelled by a cultivator's vital energy, but Explosive Essence Powder is different.

The main ingredient in crafting Explosive Essence Powder is a rare treasure that can enhance a cultivator's potential. However, through a special refining process, its power is amplified a hundredfold, transforming it from enhancing potential to burning it. Whether it's vital energy or spiritual essence, once touched by Explosive Essence Powder, they will erupt continuously. At best, it drains a cultivator's energy completely; at worst, it can cause their meridians and even their energy center to explode, rendering them crippled.

Woo Zhengyang's Profound Heaven Fire Power is incredibly strong, nearly impervious to all poisons. But ultimately, it relies on his own life force, which is drawn from the vital energy of the world, and thus, it can also be affected by Explosive Essence Powder.

Moreover, the once formidable power of the Profound Heaven Fire would now aid the Explosive Essence Powder, making it easier for Woo Zhengyang to be targeted than an ordinary cultivator. Once hit, he would undoubtedly be severely injured.

Zhang Tia, though not exceptionally skilled, had lived long enough to be quite knowledgeable. Naturally, he understood the potency of the Explosive Essence Powder, a substance surpassing all poisons. Hearing its name brought a hint of a smile to his face. This elder was well-prepared, clearly targeting Woo Zhengyang, who was in for a fall this time.

However, after the initial excitement, Zhang Tia felt a pang of melancholy. Woo Zhengyang might be doomed, but what about his own fate? Woo Zhengyang held a secret coveted by the three sects of the Fallen Sun Country, significant enough for them to launch a full-scale attack on the Profound Heaven Sect. The importance of this secret was evident.

If this elder obtained Woo Zhengyang's secret, would he allow anyone else to know about it?

"Sir..." Zhang Tia opened his mouth, hoping to plead for a chance at survival. Yet, the elder ignored him, his eyes fixed intently on Woo Zhengyang's location.

By now, the dust from the explosion of the Heaven Shaking Thunder Bead had settled, revealing Woo Zhengyang's figure...