Zhang Rongfang's gloomy expression quickly dissipated.

He recognized the strong drug scent used by the opponent, but... he felt nothing...

Apparently, the drug no longer had any effect on him.

"I... I.. my throat..." The seductive woman struggled, her legs kicking in mid-air.

Zhang Rongfang relaxed his grip a little, letting her touch the ground.

"Speak. What is your identity, your background, why are you here? Why did you drug me?"

The seductive woman's face turned pale. She glanced at the ground, seeing her two subordinates who were barely conscious, feeling a burst of fear.

"I am Mo Qingyu, not lying to you. I truly am from Wuhuai County in Dan Province. This trip, I planned to go to Jinrong City to buy medicine and bring it back... It really was just a chance encounter with you!"

She now realized she had truly encountered a formidable person this time.

Moreover, definitely someone familiar with these drugging methods; otherwise, the reaction wouldn't have been so intense and swift.

Just.... it's a pity....

She subconsciously glanced at Zhang Rongfang's burly figure, feeling quite regretful.

If it had worked this time, she planned to settle down, go home to raise a few children, and enjoy family happiness.

As for the two foreign men she had similarly drugged and kidnapped earlier, she had already put them out of her mind.

"Just a chance encounter, why did you drug me?!" Zhang Rongfang couldn't understand.

"My lord, this is just how they do it here!" One of the two thin men nearby quickly spoke up to explain.

At this moment, both their eyes were brimming with tears, looking at Zhang Rongfang as if seeing a savior.

"Is this just how it is?" Zhang Rongfang looked at the man. "Explain more clearly."

"Yes, my lord. In Dan Province, generally speaking, anyone running business outside knows that when they encounter passersby, if they meet a man, they will discern whether he is a local. If not, they will act accordingly,"

The man quickly explained.

"Act accordingly means grabbing men. Snatching those who are good-looking, strong, and talented, bringing them back for breeding."

"Pfft, just two useless small snacks, still dare to flatter themselves?" Mo Qingyu spat at them disdainfully.

"You come at me dozens of times a day, who can take that!!?" The man jumped up, shouting in grievance, eyes full of tears.

Mo Qingyu immediately started to argue loudly with him.

As for the two dead subordinates beside her, she seemed completely unconcerned.

Zhang Rongfang was speechless, slapped each of them.

After two slaps, the two quieted down, each covering their swollen faces, continuing to speak.

"The major cities in Dan Province are no different from outside, but in the remote areas, most of the towns nearby have these customs," the man continued.

"Customs..." Zhang Rongfang was speechless. This place should have Sea Dragon come in and clean it up.

What ridiculous atmosphere.

Now he vaguely guessed why Ding Yu mysteriously disappeared upon entering.

"All areas outside major cities here have these customs?"

He asked again for confirmation.

"You answer," he pointed at Mo Qingyu.

"Yes.... We don't like traditional marriages. After capturing people outside, we bring them back to play for a period and swap them when tired. This way, we can have many types throughout our life... It's much better than spending a lifetime with just one man," Mo Qingyu replied softly.

"Then aren't you afraid of getting pregnant?" Zhang Rongfang asked puzzled.

"We have medicine. We can decide whether to conceive or not, it doesn't matter." Mo Qingyu said matter-of-factly.

"....."

Zhang Rongfang suddenly thought, if these women were brought out and matched with those bald monks from the Western Sect, maybe they'd make a perfect pair.

*

*

*

Ding Yu awoke from his stupor once again.

This time he was tied on a large stone bed, the rope as thick as his arm soaked in oil, wrapped around him several times, extremely tight.

All around was a somewhat dim basement.

A plump black-clad woman had her back to him, sitting at a table busily writing something.

"Your physique is quite good, so I bought you from the elder," the woman seemed to know he had woken up, speaking softly.

"Who are you? Where am I?" Ding Yu took a deep breath, smelling a strong incense inside the stone room.

"You don't need to worry about where you are, you just need to know that from today, you are my dog, Blue Siyi's dog."

The woman stood up, turned around, revealing a face covered with numerous pus-filled red sores.

That face suddenly appeared before him, nearly causing Ding Yu to vomit out a mouthful of bile.

Compared to his previous life, at least those who lay beside him were all fair-faced beauties, several even counted as beautiful.

But this one right in front of him.....

"After being drained for so many days, still able to run like a horse, you've got some usefulness on this body, maybe useful for the big sister over there," the black-clad woman approached him, observing him closely.

"You people are absolutely insane!!" Ding Yu struggled, trying to use his innate strength to break the ropes, but it was in vain. His body was still clearly under the drug's influence, unable to exert any strength.

"Do you know who I am!? How dare you humiliate me like this!?" Ding Yu finally couldn't help but roar angrily.

He hadn't wanted to reveal his identity, but now he feared if not spoken out, he might soon be finished!

"Oh? What identity?" The black-clad woman showed a hint of interest.

"I am a confidant of Zhang Ying from the Great Spirit's Great Dao Teaching Daoist! Here in Dan Province for a secret mission! Release me right away and offer compensation, or when my boss comes looking for you, you'll all pay dearly!"

Ding Yu's voice was a low roar, finally revealing the long-suppressed background of his identity.

"A Daoist of the Great Dao Teaching?" Indeed, after hearing this, a trace of inexplicable surprise flashed in the eyes of the woman in black.

"What evidence do you have," she said solemnly.

The previously relaxed mood now became slightly tense.

If he was truly a trusted confidant of the Great Dao Teaching's senior ranks, then if their capture of this person were discovered....

A hint of ferocity instantly appeared in the eyes of the woman in black.

"I have a token on me!! The Songhe Temple token!" Ding Yu shouted loudly.

The woman in black stepped forward, searched him, and found nothing.

The initial group of women had already found and discarded whatever token he had.

Not only that, but all his silver notes that he carried were also gone....

Upon realizing this, the hope in Ding Yu's eyes gradually turned to despair.

Without anything to prove his identity, what would become of him in the future....

"Just stay quiet here. I'll come and pamper you a bit later," the woman in black patted his cheek, turned around, and left the stone chamber.

Passing through the stone hall and up the steps, she quickly came to a dimly lit corridor.

Exiting the corridor, there was another stone hall.

Three masked women were already waiting here.

The woman in black, Lan Siyi, also took out a black scarf from her sleeve, covered her face, then sat cross-legged beside the three women, quietly waiting.

The four sat in a large circle, with three meters between each person.

In the center of the circle was a large round pit.

From the pit came the constant subtle sounds of various insects crawling.

In the center of the pit stood a solitary stone pillar, straight and upright, like a reserved seat.

Time ticked away little by little.

About half an hour later,

a figure in a white dress flitted by the entrance, lightly landing on the central stone pillar.

"Where's Elder Zhu?" the figure turned around, revealing a face obscured by a somewhat coarse silver mask, making the features indistinct.

"Elder Zhu went out to hunt down a traitor. The Cloud Dream Thousand Silk Net she painstakingly crafted was stolen by a trusted disciple, who then escaped," one woman replied solemnly.

"When did she leave?" asked the masked woman.

"Half a month ago."

"Hmm, then let's not worry about her. Let's continue with last time's matters," the masked woman sat cross-legged on the central stone pillar.

"As of now, I've mastered the highest art of our sect — the ultimate stage of the Ten Thousand Devouring Heart Scripture: Blood Coagulation into Shadow. The Taiyin Blazing Body is complete, and to ensure success, we've even succeeded in refining a batch of the Three Divine Qi of the King of Ten Thousand Poisons."

"Nowadays, with the rising winds and changing tides in the outside world, the five kings contend. At such a rare opportunity in a century, it's time for our Five Cauldrons Sect to emerge, unite the Sensing Sect, and dominate the world!"

The masked woman's voice was cold and solemn, full of absolute confidence.

"Patriarch... are you planning to... consecrate?" Hearing this, the four women around did not doubt at all, and instead, their bodies trembled slightly, seemingly excited.

"I consecrated a few days ago. I've also tested that the King of Ten Thousand Poisons is equally beneficial for consecration!" The masked woman answered coldly.

"It's rumored that the Moon King has emerged in the Great Capital, but the constraint of the Celestial Lock Teaching has been lifted by us. Next, we will go to the Great Capital to see this newly arisen Moon King."

"The patriarch's divine power is eternal and invincible!!"

The four women around were excited, and they prostrated themselves on the ground, shouting loudly.

"But... it's rumored that the Moon King has the abilities of a Spirit General..." one woman in black asked with some concern.

"Don't worry. Even though I am merely a Grandmaster of consecration, not even a Grandmaster Spirit General can escape the power of the King of Ten Thousand Poisons! Based on my own poison body, no matter who crosses blades with me, they touch it and perish!"

"Martial arts to me have long been a mere jest!" The silver-masked woman spread her arms wide, exuding absolute confidence.

"All things in the world have medicinal properties. By taking their opposite, they become deadly poisons. At the extreme, they become the King of Ten Thousand Poisons! Ever-changing, this is the essence of our Five Cauldrons Sect's supreme art, the Ten Thousand Devouring Heart Scripture!"

"Watch, everyone, any Great Dao Teaching or Zhenyi Sect that refuses to submit shall all perish at my hands! This time venturing out of the province, we shall forge the eternal glory of the Five Cauldrons Sect!"

"Long live the patriarch, unite the martial world!" The four women frantically prostrated themselves and shouted fervently.

They had no doubt about the patriarch's words.

Because they had poisoned far too many masters.

Many were much stronger than them individually, but all had fallen under various deadly poisons.

Thus, in the Five Cauldrons Sect, martial arts were secondary; only poison was supreme.

And once one masters the ultimate stage of the Ten Thousand Devouring Heart Scripture, the patriarch would not fear any toxins and would become similar to the King of Ten Thousand Poisons in constitution.

With such a constitution, no matter what Martial Arts Grandmaster you are, upon engaging, you touch it and die.

Simply invincible!

"By the way, Patriarch, I recently acquired something good. It might help with your new poison research," Lan Siyi suddenly said at this moment.

"Oh?" The silver-masked woman responded, looking towards her. "What is it?"

"A robust man with very strong physical talent. He's not very powerful, at most a Super Grade External Medicine. But his physical talent is remarkable," Lan Siyi said seriously. "However....."

"However, what?" the silver-masked woman asked.

"However, he claims to be a trusted confidant of Zhang Ying, a Daoist of the Great Dao Teaching, and came to Dan Province for a secret mission. I didn't find any evidence on him, but I feel he's not lying," the woman in black replied.

"A Daoist of the Great Dao Teaching? What does that matter?" The silver-masked woman dismissed with a wave of her hand, "Even if Yue Dewen or Jin Yuyan came, their fate is for me to decide! Forget about the Daoist, bring the man to me. If suitable, you'll be rewarded with a share of Celestial River Water."

"Thank you, Patriarch!!" The woman in black was immediately overjoyed.