Chapter 128: Lant's Secret

——The Millennium Corpse King was an eight-star undead creature, its blood precious and its poison unparalleled. In Xu Wen’s view, using it to poison a six-star peak-level “Twin-Headed Silver Python” was a waste of such a rare toxin.

Xu Wen had only applied a trace amount of the venom onto Bai Xi’s arrowhead as a precaution, devising a cautious hunting plan. After all, the Twin-Headed Silver Python’s strength rivaled that of a seven-star beast, far beyond what a five-star team could handle.

Yet no one had expected the poison arrow Xu Wen mentioned would be so overwhelmingly effective! Within less than half a minute after the arrow struck, the mighty six-star “Twin-Headed Silver Python” lay dead from the venom. When the swirling sand vortex dissipated, all that remained of the twenty-meter-long serpent was a large pool of foul-smelling blood and a silver-white hide.

“What kind of poison is this?”

As they approached the fallen python, no one dared touch the remains, fearing they too might be affected.

“Don’t you remember?” Xu Wen glanced at He Chen meaningfully. “We found it on that necromancer.”

“...”

He Chen stiffened and shot back a glare tinged with reproach: “You actually dared to use something from a necromancer?” He had been wondering where Xu Wen had sourced the poison.

“Isn’t this just fine?” Xu Wen smirked, giving Jiayin a subtle signal.

Jets of water washed the residual poison off the python’s hide, and the flamingo-like bird flapped through a fiery wave, instantly evaporating the venom completely.

“I’ll take this,” Xu Wen said, extracting a silver magic core about the size of Cheng Ren’s fist. “You handle the hide. It’s so well preserved, it can be crafted into high-grade equipment and should fetch tens of thousands of gold coins.”

Naturally, no one objected.

They had expected a fierce battle but hadn’t anticipated it ending with a single arrow. The harvest had come effortlessly.

After tidying the battlefield and packing up, the group set off back along the same route.

“Are you going to train alone again when we return?”

On the way, Eileen found an opportunity to climb onto Tiger’s back.

Xu Wen nodded.

“Isn’t it better to train with everyone?”

“It’s not that it’s worse, but there are some things that would be inconvenient with others around.” Xu Wen’s cryptic reply made Eileen recall the glowing red stone she had accidentally seen that night.

Only she knew this little secret, which lifted the sense of regret she had just felt.

“How long will it take?”

“Not sure. We’re only staying here a year, but there’s still much I want to understand,” Xu Wen answered.

Indeed, there was much to explore.

Besides the strange glowing stone, there was the recent state of the Qingyun Empire, the Dark Empire’s situation, and whether the forces sent to the Qingyun Empire to hunt the undead and necromancers had achieved anything.

Moreover, after spending over three months with the Blood Alliance, he couldn’t return empty-handed; he hadn’t yet had the chance to explore the city’s goods.

As for training... he had already summarized the experience of extreme cultivation and could practice anytime, anywhere.

They chatted for a while longer before finally leaving the mountainous area and reaching the plains where they had previously conducted extreme training. They launched a signal rocket, and Lant arrived quickly.

Lant glanced at Xu Wen and the others with satisfaction. After three months of training, their growth had far exceeded his expectations. He could report this favorably to Director Nodding.

Especially Xu Wen.

The fifteen-year-old had advanced from four-star, eighth rank to five-star, fourth rank.

Back in the day, Lant’s own talents were not nearly as formidable, nor had he mastered so many Earth Emperor-level spells at such a young age.

Lant shook his head with a mix of admiration and nostalgia, then announced:

“Pack up. We’re leaving.”

“Mr. Lant, on behalf of the entire Soul Extinguishing Mercenary Group, I thank you for your care and guidance during this time!” He Chen stepped forward and bowed deeply. The others followed suit, their faces filled with genuine gratitude. Three months of training they would never forget.

“Haha!”

Lant accepted their thanks cheerfully. His gaze suddenly drifted toward Xu Wen, and he chuckled—getting this kid to bow was no small feat.

“The beast handler will arrive soon. Before you leave, if you have any questions, ask now. I’m still on duty and willing to answer. We may never meet again... Even if we do, it won’t be easy to get answers—at least you’ll need to bring a large sum for drinks,” Lant joked, lightening the bittersweet mood of impending farewell.

However, most questions had been asked over the past weeks; no pressing matters remained... until.

Xu Wen’s brow twitched slightly. He recalled that Lant had consistently avoided answering one question.

“Mr. Lant, I have a question.”

“Oh?”

Lant looked genuinely surprised, intrigued by the novelty.

“Would you tell us the secret behind your regression in cultivation?”

As the words left his mouth, a flash of shock crossed Lant’s eyes. He scanned the twenty-one young men and women before him, all showing concern and anticipation. He sighed deeply and motioned for them to sit.

He pulled out a wine skin and took a small sip, his face wearing a faint, bitter smile.

“You little brats, even at parting you won’t let me off about my little troubles... Fine! It’s no big deal to tell you, but remember, don’t spread this around. If it gets out, it’ll bring me trouble.”

The twenty-one leaned in, listening closely as Lant spoke in a calm tone.

What unfolded was a story that stirred righteous indignation among them all.

Xu Wen’s brows furrowed deeply... So that was it!

Lant had stepped into the seven-star realm with remarkable comprehension, earning praise as the most promising newcomer expected to reach eight stars, matching the level of Philip Prona.

Coincidentally, during that time, the eldest and second sons of Philip Prona also served in the Royal Mercenary Corps, both exceptionally gifted and extraordinary.

Yet even so, Lant’s brilliance overshadowed them, dimming their presence by half a head!

Within the corps, rumors circulated that Philip Prona’s sons would find it difficult to surpass Lant’s achievements.

Lant was on track to become the corps’ deputy leader.

The eldest son, named Pi, remained indifferent to these rumors, but the second son, named Sheng, was proud and competitive, unwilling to tolerate any slight against him. From then on, he constantly sought trouble with Lant, eager to prove himself.

At that time, Commander Philip was just and strict, and Lant, young and hot-headed, could not stand provocation, yet always edged out Sheng by a narrow margin.

Their rivalry grew bitter.

In a captaincy competition, Lant won again, overtaking Sheng Philip Jones, turning them into mortal enemies.

All this was due to Philip Prona’s presence—no one dared intervene, and Sheng dared not act recklessly.

Until one day, during a mission, Lant was severely wounded and fell unconscious.

While being escorted back to the capital, his cultivation inexplicably declined. From then on, it stagnated, and no one could find a cause.

Later, he heard from someone that Sheng had been part of the escort team and had even entered Lant’s sickroom. But since a priest was present to treat Lant, no misconduct was suspected.

Until the truth was settled!

Years passed without progress, and Lant grew increasingly uneasy.

When he tried to track down that priest, the man had mysteriously vanished without a trace.

Checking the mission details revealed something odd— the mission wasn’t particularly dangerous... From that day on, Lant resigned and left the Royal Mercenary Corps, beginning a wandering mercenary life, taking to drink.

But no one knew he was merely feigning despair, secretly investigating the cause of his regression and seeking a cure.

Maliciously sabotaged just as he neared the peak, Lant knew he couldn’t confront Philip Jones, whom the emperor had adopted as a son. Yet he still clung to hope to reclaim his former power and ascend the supreme path.

But after years, there was no breakthrough.

He couldn’t even find answers in the Qingyun Empire.

Director Nodding was someone he befriended during that time.

“No wonder the second son always tormented you when he saw you...” Eileen recalled their encounter with the Red Winged Flame Dragon, feeling a bit indignant for Lant but stopping there.

“What about Philip Prona? Mr. Lant, did you ever tell him about this?”

“Hmph.”

Lant chuckled but gave no answer.

Xu Wen glanced at him, then said to He Chen, “So-called justice and fairness are merely façades displayed to the outside world—an image everyone expects and needs.”

“...”

Lant was visibly taken aback by Xu Wen’s words. “Sometimes I really wonder if you’re truly fifteen.”

“I’m just a poor kid who understands these things. What’s so strange about that?” Xu Wen replied calmly, then asked Lant:

“After all these years, no clues at all? What did the priests say?”

“They couldn’t tell,” Lant replied.

“That’s strange...” Xu Wen pondered deeply.

“If it was poison, there would be traces and symptoms leading to a cure; if not poison, then something else, like a spell seal or binding.”

At this, Xu Wen noticed Lant’s expression twitch involuntarily.

Lant quickly shook his head, as if pushing away a troubling thought.

“Neither. I researched seals and bindings—they require an extremely powerful mage at least one level above the victim, and their effects are very obvious. Someone capable of sealing me would have just killed me outright.”

“That’s not necessarily true,” Xu Wen said, watching Lant carefully but refraining from voicing the thought aloud. “Sometimes, seeing one’s enemy suffer under your gaze is more satisfying than killing them.”

It wasn’t that he dared not say it—it was that he couldn’t.

(To be continued)