The initial discussions yielded no tangible results, and no one possessed even the slightest evidence against the alleged internal traitor within the family. Thus, the matter was provisionally set aside. After approximately thirty minutes of deliberation, the talks concluded without resolution. Perhaps due to the fact that the Wan Xie Sect had gathered all its members at Wan Xie Mountain, today's proceedings were notably calm, appearing exceptionally peaceful. Yet, anyone with a keen sense of observation would have noticed that this calmness was merely the tranquility preceding a storm. Given the Wan Xie Sect's strength, it could not remain content being confined to a single mountain peak by the Poison Sect. Therefore, it was likely only a matter of time before a decisive confrontation—like a storm—would sweep in and reshape the course of this great conflict. … As time passed, the night gradually enveloped the entire mountain range. Night was precisely when toxins thrived, so the mountain echoed with a constant, soft rustling. With the faint glow of the lights, one could see colorful venomous snakes and scorpions climbing through grassy patches and among the tall trees, their fierce heads bobbing with each movement. Fortunately, thick anti-toxin powder had been scattered around the camp, keeping smaller creatures at bay with the sharp, pungent scent. Moreover, the surrounding area was guarded by strong practitioners of the Toxin Sect—those who had spent their entire lives battling toxins—so handling these pests was second nature to them. The camp at night was especially serene, with the bonfires blazing steadily and occasionally erupting into sudden bursts of thunder. Amid this quiet, the ground beneath suddenly shifted slightly, and then a slender black figure darted swiftly into motion, gliding like a common bird toward the dark forest. Under the soft glow of the moonlight, a slender black shadow can be discerned—a black centipede with several thin wings. Due to its body color, it is nearly invisible against the night backdrop, and even when detected by some of the stronger beings, it is merely regarded as an ordinary toxic centipede. In the toxic-rich terrain of the Scorpion Mountains, such creatures are truly commonplace. The black centipede glides silently across the sky, then turns sharply, heading directly toward Wàn Xiē Mountain on the other side of the mountain gully. As it nears the gully, a sudden black silhouette emerges in the sky, reaching out and instantly seizing the centipede. Naturally, to protect himself from the impurities, he envelops his hands in aura. The moment the centipede is caught, it struggles violently, and a foul odor begins to emanate from within its body. With a flick of his finger, he struck directly at the centipede's head, knocking it unconscious. The shadowy gaze lingered briefly before his finger suddenly tightened, crushing the centipede's body. As the green blood flowed out, a scroll of paper, rolled into a small cylinder, quietly emerged. A jade-green flame rose from his palm, fully evaporating the green blood. The glow of the flame clearly revealed a slightly ordinary face—none other than Xiao Yan, whose original appearance had been concealed by the hide of a mythical beast. He gently tossed the centipede's body into the mountain stream and slowly unrolled the scroll. Several crooked characters came into view. "All preparations are complete." "On the slip of paper, there were only four simple words. Yet these four words caused Xiao Yan's eyes to slightly narrow—this matter was far more complex than he had anticipated. Indeed, there were indeed spies from the Wàn Xiē Sect embedded within the Poison Sect. From the wording, it seemed that these spies had already arranged certain key events and were now merely waiting for the decisive strike at the final moment. 'Though I've been closely monitoring the camp, there's not a single trace of human scent on the centipede's body, nor did it emerge from any specific tent. Clearly, the person delivering the message was extremely cautious.' With these thoughts murmured softly in his mind, Xiao Yan folded the slip and glanced steadily toward the dark, towering Wàn Xiē Mountain across the distance. Even at this considerable distance, he could clearly sense that the situation here was indeed quite perilous." "We'd better talk to Xiao Yixian first; otherwise, we'll end up with a sudden collapse somewhere in the middle..." With this thought forming in his mind, Xiao Yan's figure subtly shifted, then slowly faded away. Though aware that the Wan Xie Sect had been well-prepared, the dense tide of toxic sect disciples showed no sign of slowing down. Charging into the forest with thunderous cries and blazing eyes, they engaged in fierce combat with the Wan Xie Sect's forces. As the battle between the two great sects intensified, increasingly, their top disciples surged into the forest to launch mass slaughter campaigns. When strong warriors from either side encountered one another, immediate clashes inevitably erupted. The hundred or so members of the Poison Sect behind Xiao Yan stared at his strange maneuver, their eyes filled with growing astonishment, murmuring among themselves in quiet awe—indeed, he was no ordinary helper, as the Sect Master had summoned. "Thank you, Mr. Yan!" The middle-aged leader bowed slightly, then without hesitation, waved his hand and led a large group of people with swift, decisive movements toward the summit. Xiao Yan nodded slightly. "However, it's clear that the elite warriors of Wan Xie Men haven't yet stepped forward. Even if the Toxin Sect can reach beyond the outer reaches of Wan Xie Men, they'll struggle to make further progress—unless they manage to eliminate Wan Xie Men's true powerhouses." Medusa said. "Hmph, the Master of Wan Xie Men, Xie Shan, and Xie Bi Yao, as well as the soul palace's master who hasn't yet appeared—none of them have moved yet. As long as they remain, Wan Xie Men will not fall. Today, there's going to be a truly epic battle." Xiao Yan smiled and said, "Keep your aura concealed, don't let anyone detect your true strength. Only when the moment arrives should you make your appearance—then you'll achieve maximum impact." "Understood." "By the way, where is Zi Yan?" Xiao Yan glanced around, slightly frowning. "She's leading a contingent of Toxin Sect troops straight into the forefront. I'd wager she'll be the first to reach Wan Xie Men besides Xiao Yi." Medusa sighed, quite exasperated with the young woman. "Ah well, let her be. As long as the Wàn Xiē Sect hasn't sent out a Du Phong-level warrior, she won't be in much danger. Then we should hurry up..." Xiao Yan shook his head, listening to the sounds of battle echoing across the mountains. With a swift motion, he broke through the forest, his fiery wings vibrating as he surged toward the peak of the mountain. Meadusa, in turn, gathered aura behind her to form a pair of aura wings, and followed closely behind. Xiao Yan and the other two ascended straight upward, and after a while, they reached the upper reaches of the mountain. From their elevated vantage point, they surveyed the towering peak and noticed that the summit appeared as though it had been cleanly severed by an axe. On this flat expanse stood an immense sect, its upper reaches shrouded in a thick, dense green toxic mist that surged and swayed, completely concealing the inner condition of the sect. Outside the sect, members of the Toxic Sect gradually emerged, forming a steady stream that eventually encircled the Wan Xie Sect completely. As more and more members of the Toxic Sect arrived, streaks of light began to flash and converge into the sky, finally materializing into the form of Xiao Yi the Young Healer and several powerful figures from the Toxic Sect. Floating serenely above the sky, Xiao Yi calmly scanned the swirling green toxic mist and spoke with a composed, indifferent tone that resonated steadily across the summit. "Xie Mountain," she said, "do you truly believe that this toxic cloud formation will be enough to halt our offensive?" "Ha ha, the Master of the Poison Sect truly lives up to his reputation—his tone is indeed impressive," said the young physician as soon as her words settled. At that moment, a booming laugh erupted from within the poison mist, followed by a surge of turbulent waves. Then, one after another, figures emerged from the mist, drifting into position above the sky, their gazes cold and fixed upon the powerful members of the Poison Sect. Observing these members of the Ten-Thousand Scorpion Sect, Xiao Yan scanned them over, his eyes briefly widening with surprise. He hadn't expected the overall strength of the sect to be comparable, if not superior, to that of the Poison Sect. Indeed, the Ten-Thousand Scorpion Sect seemed to be quietly understated in its operations.