Chapter 453: Return to the Beast Realm
Xiao Ze couldn't quite discern the intention of the supreme elder at first. "May I ask, Elder Han, what is the strength level of that Frost Venom Scorpion?"
"That Frost Venom Scorpion, apart from its exceptionally potent poison, is also very formidable. It should be at the level of a four-star Dou Saint. If I didn't have my life-burning secret technique, I might have perished there," Elder Han explained upon noticing Xiao Ze's skeptical look.
"President Xiao Ze, I'm not suggesting you venture into a dangerous place. Although the Frost Venom Scorpion is at the level of a four-star Dou Saint, it seems unable to leave the deeper parts of the Frost Poison Realm for some reason. Even though I managed to escape from the deeper parts of the realm using my life-burning secret technique, the scorpion could have pursued and finished me off with one more strike, but it hesitated."
"I could tell it harbored killing intent towards me, but once I left the deeper parts of the Frost Poison Realm, it did not follow."
"Therefore, as long as you don't venture into the deeper parts, cultivating in the outer areas of the Frost Poison Realm could be quite beneficial, and there are also many heavenly and earthly treasures to be found there."
After hearing Elder Han's explanation, Xiao Ze furrowed his brows in thought. He had some ideas about the Frost Poison Realm. He was not overly afraid of the Frost Venom Scorpion's poison. Having a calamity poison body himself, any poison that couldn't kill him instantly would eventually become nourishment for his body's growth.
What really troubled him was the scorpion's four-star Dou Saint level strength. Moreover, Elder Han had retreated immediately upon contact and hadn't fully ascertained its real power.
At the early stages of being a Dou Saint, Xiao Ze could still challenge those beyond his level with his strong foundation and various abilities. However, a four-star Dou Saint represented a mid-level Dou Saint, and the gap between their strengths became significantly more pronounced.
Xiao Ze wasn't confident he could defeat it; at best, he could fight to escape. The disparity between Dou Saints became increasingly terrifying further on. From the battles of Xiao Yan, the protagonist in the original tales, this was evident.
Xiao Yan, at the late stage of a one-star Dou Saint, faced off against the three dragon kings of the ancient dragon island. Despite their overwhelming power, with a blend of surprise tactics, Xiao Yan managed to severely injure them at the cost of nearly dying himself!
However, when Xiao Yan, as a seven-star Dou Saint with an Emperor realm soul, faced a serious attack from the old Dragon Emperor, who was at the late stage of a nine-star Dou Saint, he was forced to explode his physical body!
If it hadn't been a situation of absolute despair, Xiao Yan would never have resorted to such an extreme measure as blowing up his own body. Although he could reforge a body due to his Emperor realm soul and avoid immediate death, the explosion essentially severed his foundation, making further advancements incredibly difficult.
The gaps at the early stages of being a Dou Saint could be bridged with advanced heavenly fighting skills, allowing one to challenge opponents beyond their level. But in the later stages, the differences became truly terrifying.
With these thoughts flashing through his mind, Xiao Ze didn't currently plan on challenging a four-star Dou Saint. The Frost Poison Realm wasn't a necessity for him; there was no otherworldly fortune that he couldn't achieve improvements without.
Why risk his life against a four-star Dou Saint when he could steadily improve by following his cultivation regimen and planned opportunities?
"If that's the case, I am indeed interested in the Frost Poison Realm. Please do inform me, Elder Han," Xiao Ze said, coming back to the present and addressing the elder.
Relieved by Xiao Ze's response, Elder Han sighed. The Frost Tribe had paid a significant price for the ninth-grade divine pill, and even for a tribe as wealthy as theirs, it had been a strain.
Unable to face asking his tribe for more resources to repay this debt, Elder Han—who had personally experienced the Frost Poison Realm—knew its training potential for a Dou Saint was invaluable. It was a good choice, albeit one easily misconstrued by others. Fortunately, President Xiao Ze seemed not to mind.
Elder Han gestured with his right hand, conjuring a space coordinate in the form of a silvery-gray compass. "President Xiao Ze, this is a spatial compass with the coordinates to the Frost Poison Realm."
Navigating the endless void wasn't as straightforward as traveling on the Dou Qi continent; locations could only be pinpointed with such spatial coordinates.
Xiao Ze took the spatial compass, scanning it with his soul perception to confirm the coordinates were stable and clear before nodding in acceptance. Elder Han wouldn't have risked a joke with such an item.
"By the way, if you wish to take your followers to the Frost Poison Realm for cultivation, please do so quietly," Elder Han mentioned as a caution. "After all, it's a heritage site passed down by the ancestors of our Frost Tribe."
"Of course, would I, Xiao Ze, be one to act without discretion?" Xiao Ze laughed, chatting more with them before seeing them off after half a day.
Exhaling deeply once they were gone, Xiao Ze glanced at the Pill Tower disciple outside the hall and instructed, "If any more forces send their greetings, unless it's a special case, let the grand elder handle it. If it's a significant matter, then it can be passed to the other two presidents."
"Yes, President Xiao Ze!" The disciple responded excitedly, watching as Xiao Ze walked away.
Xiao Ze pocketed the spatial compass. He had no immediate plans to visit the Frost Poison Realm. Even if it was to secure opportunities for Xiao Yi Xian, there was plenty of time for that. Xiao Yi Xian was still practicing the Nine Revolutions Ascension Technique and hadn't even touched the threshold of Half-Saint, let alone the resources at a Dou Saint level.
Xiao Ze planned another trip to the Void Thunder Pool to absorb some Black Demon Lightning, strengthening the thunder power within him. Although his thunder power had successfully annihilated the Great Celestial Master, it had felt somewhat strained against a Dou Saint.
If his thunder power could transform into Black Demon Lightning, there would be no need for such an ordeal—a single strike would suffice to annihilate a Dou Saint.
"I'm going to the Void Thunder Pool to enhance the thunder source within me. Would you like to come with me, or would you prefer to stay and cultivate quietly in the Pill Tower?" Xiao Ze asked Xiao Yi Xian, Medusa, and others after returning to the elder tower.
"If President Xiao Ze doesn't mind my company, I will go wherever you go," Qing Lin was the first to speak.
"I'll also come along," Medusa added promptly. "I had planned to visit the Beast Realm to inquire about the Seven-Colored Heaven-Swallowing Python after you advanced to Dou Saint. Things have changed, and it seems a good time to go."
"If both of you are going, staying here would be rather dull. Plus, the Beast Realm should have some poison attribute beasts, right?" Xiao Yi Xian looked forward to it.
At this stage, mere cultivation was somewhat ineffective for rapid advancement. Seeking out poison attribute beasts could be a fast track to increasing her strength.
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