Xu Nian naturally didn't have the ability to remove the Extreme Cold Viper Poison that even a Nine-star War Sect couldn't resolve, but just because he couldn't remove the poison didn't mean that Emperor Ye Tian couldn't.
Such poison was, for Emperor Ye Tian, virtually effortless to eliminate.
As for helping Yan Wu break through to the Xuantian-level Battle General realm, it was because Yan Wu had long reached the bottleneck of the Nine-star War Sect. However, he had always been depleting a considerable amount of strength to suppress the Extreme Cold Viper Poison, which prevented his breakthrough.
Once he was helped to resolve the Extreme Cold Viper Poison, his breakthrough to the Battle General Level would naturally become a matter of course.
"Sit cross-legged now, channel your Combat Technique, and I will help you with the poison," Xu Nian instructed Yan Wu.
"Now?" Yan Wu was startled but soon showed a look of great joy and immediately sat cross-legged right in the hall, starting to operate his Combat Technique.
The Extreme Cold Viper Poison had tormented him for three years, and he wanted nothing more than to be free from it at every moment. Now that Xu Nian said he could help him with the poison, how could he not be excited?
"Your Majesty, please make your move!" Xu Nian spoke to Emperor Ye Tian in his heart.
"Hmph, meddling in affairs, this will be the last time I help you. Next time, resolve your own matters, even if you die, this Emperor won't intervene," Emperor Ye Tian's voice echoed in Xu Nian's mind. Following that, a powerful force surged out from Xu Nian's Dantian.
Xu Nian smiled slightly; he knew that Emperor Ye Tian was a person whose bark was worse than his bite. If he truly faced danger, Emperor Ye Tian would definitely not stand idly by.
A powerful black force emanated from Xu Nian's hand and eventually slammed down fiercely on Yan Wu's head.
As this black force struck, an extremely strong cold energy was forcibly expelled from Yan Wu's body by Xu Nian.
The cold air spread rapidly, instantly forming a layer of frost on the floor. In contrast, there appeared a trace of blood color on Yan Wu's face, his complexion gradually turning from pale to ruddy.
"It's really gone, hahaha, the Extreme Cold Viper Poison is finally removed! Hahaha…" Yan Wu abruptly opened his eyes, felt the change in his body, and began to shout loudly and unrestrainedly.
"Thank you, Master, for the life-saving grace. From today onwards, I, Yan Wu, am yours," Yan Wu quickly turned his head towards Xu Nian, his eyes filled with gratitude.
At this moment, he sincerely submitted to Xu Nian.
"Don't be too happy just yet. Keep focusing on channeling your Combat Technique and talk about breaking through to the Xuantian-level Battle General later. Here is a flaw in your Combat Technique. Understand it well on your own, and I believe you will be able to break through to the Xuantian-level Battle General very soon."
Xu Nian pointed a finger onto Yan Wu's forehead, then without paying attention to Yan Wu's astonishment, he strode out of the hall.
Yan Wu was truly shocked at this point. Just the fact that Xu Nian had released him from the poison with a single palm strike alone was astonishing enough.
Now, in just this short span of time, Xu Nian had also managed to discover the flaws in his Combat Technique and even helped him to amend them. Such skill probably couldn't even be accomplished by a Saint, right?
Most importantly, Xu Nian had used the method of Spiritual Sense to transfer the information directly into his brain. Only a powerhouse of the Saint Level or above could possess such a method.
So now, Xu Nian had become incredibly mysterious and powerful in Yan Wu's eyes. He was extremely grateful for his earlier decision to submit to such a powerful being—it was his great fortune.
After Xu Nian left the hall, he immediately started to practice the Three-Forging Hammer Technique in the courtyard outside the hall.
Although he had subdued Yan Wu and was about to gain a Xuantian-level Battle General as a subordinate, this mission was far from simple.
Cultivation must be carried out at all times. Only by becoming stronger himself could he better face all crises.
Xu Nian constantly swung his hammer, and as his iron hammer moved tirelessly, the power of his Three-Forging Hammer Technique also gradually increased.
Under the moonlight, Xu Nian was drenched in sweat, yet he persisted strenuously.
The night passed without incident, and soon the sky brightened with dawn.
"Ha ha, I've broken through, I've finally broken through!" A hearty laugh echoed from inside the great hall, followed by a tall and imposing figure who strode out, his face brimming with undeniable joy.
Xu Nian also stopped hammering and stood upright, looking at Yan Wu, who had emerged from the great hall, with a cold gaze.
Seeing Xu Nian, Yan Wu immediately restrained his smile and stepped forward respectfully, saying, "Master, I thank you for granting me a new lease on life. From now on, this life of Yan Wu's is yours."
Xu Nian nodded and said, "Very well, you are at least not a man of broken promises. When I imparted the Combat Technique to you earlier, I left a Spiritual Sense Seed in your mind. So, if you had shown me the slightest disrespect just now, you would likely be a corpse by now."
Yan Wu felt a chill down his spine and inwardly rejoiced at his earlier behavior.
"Alright, get up. From now on, don't call me master; just call me Young Master, as I do not wish to draw attention to my presence in Yu State City," instructed Xu Nian to Yan Wu.
"Yes, Young Master!" Yan Wu immediately responded.
Even though he had broken through to the Xuantian-level Battle General Realm, Yan Wu still felt an instinctive fear when facing Xu Nian, daring not act out of line.
"Now, tell me about the strength of the Ouyang Family and the secrets of the Heavenly Slash Gang," Xu Nian cut straight to the point.
After some thought, Yan Wu responded, "My lord, I fear it will not be easy to eradicate the Heavenly Slash Gang. This gang is covertly supported by the Ouyang Family. Apart from the Family Head Ouyang Tian, who is a Nine-star War Sect, there are more than ten War Sect powerhouses in their clan. In addition, there are two senior ancestors in the Ouyang family, both experts at the Xuantian Battle General Level—one is a One-star Battle General and the other is a Two-star War General who is tough to deal with. Moreover, it is said that there is a mysterious force backing the Ouyang Family. Thus, other forces, even if they are stronger than the Ouyang Family, do not dare to offend them lightly."
"Two Xuantian-level Battle Generals, a mysterious force?" Xu Nian furrowed his brow. He had originally supported Yan Wu with the intent of using him to counter the Ouyang Family, but now it seemed that the Ouyang Family was even more formidable than he had imagined.
No wonder Qin Yuanshan was so wary of the Ouyang Family; it was clearly because of the mysterious force hidden behind them.
"What exactly does the Ouyang Family want to do? They couldn't possibly support a gang for no reason, could they?" Xu Nian prodded again.
"I do not know their specific intentions, but I have unintentionally come across a rumor," Yan Wu said after another thoughtful pause.
"What rumor?" Xu Nian pressed eagerly.
"The rumor is that the Ouyang Family has been mining Xuan Iron Vein for that mysterious force, and this vein is located within Qingliang Mountain, where the Heavenly Slash Gang operates. The existence of the gang is merely to mislead the public," explained Yan Wu.
"A Xuan Iron Vein?" Xu Nian was startled. If the rumor was true, then this matter was indeed significant.
The value of a small Xuan Iron Vein could match the income of a city for a hundred years, and if it were a large vein, its worth would be immeasurable.
Generally, Xuan Iron Veins were not allowed to be mined privately; all veins were controlled by the Governor Mansion.
If the Ouyang Family was truly mining a Xuan Iron Vein, then they were audaciously bold.
"My lord, my lord, something terrible has happened! Ouyang Long has come to take the young lady by force," blurted out a servant who burst into the courtyard in a panic.
"Ru Yu?" Yan Wu was startled and quickly turned to Xu Nian.
After a moment's contemplation, a slight smile crossed Xu Nian's lips as he said, "Let's go and meet this Ouyang Long."
He then led Yan Wu toward the residence where Yan Ruyu was located.