"I wonder, Elder Xiaoyaozi, what brings you here?" Mu Rufeng asked again.
"This place, I have come for you."
"In recent years, I have had an ominous premonition that the world is about to encounter a great terror. I tried to divine the future but suffered a backlash."
"I am capable of divination, but the cost is too great, and I have hesitated."
"Some days ago, I finally made up my mind and used my sect’s secret technique to divine that the key to saving the world lies with you, Ninth Prince," Xiaoyaozi said slowly.
"The world is about to encounter a great terror? The key to saving the world lies with me?" Mu Rufeng was slightly taken aback.
In fact, he had guessed that this great terror was likely the invasion of the Mysterious World.
The Heavenly Dao Continent is indeed very strong, with high-end combat power, and there are quite a few powerful beings beyond the God Realm.
Compared to the Mysterious World of the current instance, the Heavenly Dao Continent seems to be much stronger on the surface.
But let’s not forget that the Mysterious World is controlled by group forces, and the Level 9 Ghost Emperors who exert control over these groups can effortlessly crush those in the God Realm.
As for those above the God Realm, Mu Rufeng guessed they were akin to the Dead Sea Dominators, the kind of Level 9 Ghost Emperors who have mastered the power of rules.
Such beings who control rules can also easily dominate Level 9 Ghost Emperors.
Mu Rufeng had seen Tower Master Lu control the Treasure Tower to suppress the Dead Sea Tyrant Crab Demon.
Moreover, there are three Dead Sea Dominators in the Dead Sea alone. Hence, in these longstanding Level 9 Group Forces, there are sure to be those who control rules above Level 9.
Not to mention, the Mysterious World has so many bizarre and terrifying items, so the chances of the Heavenly Dao Continent winning are actually quite small.
And according to the present status of the Heavenly Dao Continent as the instance of the Third Forbidden Land, the outcome is clear – the Heavenly Dao Continent has lost.
As for the so-called Level 10, Mu Rufeng genuinely doesn’t know if it exists.
"That’s right, it’s you. After my divination, I knew you were in danger at the frontier, so I immediately went to your aid."
"I secretly escorted you back to the Imperial City. Otherwise, do you think the Demon Clan wouldn’t send powerhouses to assassinate you?" Xiaoyaozi stroked his beard and said with a faint smile.
"So it was Elder Xiaoyaozi who escorted this junior back safely. I am deeply unsettled and grateful for your rescue," Mu Rufeng said, realizing the possibility.
Therefore, he bowed once again immediatly.
"The Imperial Palace is a heavily guarded place; even with my abilities, I couldn’t infiltrate, so I could only wait here quietly."
"However, what I didn’t expect was that when you left the Imperial Palace, you had already been poisoned with a rare poison, and you must not eat this Thousand-year-old Snow Lotus," Xiaoyaozi said.
"Elder Xiaoyaozi, how did you realize that I had been poisoned?" Mu Rufeng inquired.
"Oh? So the Ninth Prince is aware of the poison too? I couldn’t tell, and not only can I not cure your poison, but I can divine it," Xiaoyaozi spoke.
"Elder Xiaoyaozi, I recall you should only be around 130 years old this year. Why do you look so... aged? Could it be that the cost is your lifespan?" Mu Rufeng, observing Xiaoyaozi, who emanated Death Qi, couldn’t help but ask.
"Of course," Xiaoyaozi replied with a nod.
"My time is running short, but I can still divine where the antidote lies for you," Xiaoyaozi said.
"Then I must trouble you, Elder."
One who doesn’t take advantage when it’s offered is a fool. Being able to get an antidote for free, Mu Rufeng would not foolishly sever his own limbs to suppress the poison.
At the same time, Mu Rufeng also breathed a sigh of relief. Sure enough, even though it was a hellish start, there was still a way out for Mu Rufeng.
And that way out was this Xiaoyaozi. Otherwise, had it been someone else without a Blood and Flesh Growth Device, he would surely be doomed.
A smile graced Xiaoyaozi’s face as he produced a compass, and immediately, a mysterious power emanated from it.
The compass was already covered in cracks, seemingly on the verge of shattering.
With a sequence of "Crack, crack, crack~~! Bang!" the compass in Xiaoyaozi’s hand exploded.
"My old friend, you have been with me for so many years, you have worked hard," Xiaoyaozi sighed and put away the shattered compass.
"Ninth Prince, the poison you carry is from the Netherworld Flower Poison, originating from the Netherworld in the Western Regions. This flower is extremely rare and its poisoning hard to detect."
"To cure it, one must travel to the Netherworld and immerse in the Netherworld Cold Spring for a day," Xiaoyaozi sighed.
"The Netherworld? Where is that? And with my current condition, it seems I cannot make it to the Western Regions," Mu Rufeng frowned slightly.
"The Netherworld is a treacherous place in the Western Regions that only opens in March each year. You can only go next year."
"However, if you have Netherworld Spring Water, it can temporarily suppress the poison in your body. I happen to have a flask of Netherworld Spring Water," saying this, Xiaoyaozi took out a water flask and tossed it to Mu Rufeng.
Mu Rufeng tried to reach out to catch it; his mind reacted, but his weakened body did not, and by the time he had barely raised his hand, the water flask had already arrived.
With a "Thud!" the flask hit Mu Rufeng squarely on the forehead.
Mu Rufeng’s mouth twitched slightly as the flask fell to the ground and then rolled to Xiaoyaozi’s feet.
Although he didn’t feel any pain, something felt off.
"My apologies, it was my error. I forgot that you had yet to recover from your injuries and were poisoned," Xiaoyaozi said with a look of remorse.