Su Meng, a physical cultivator skilled in close combat, found himself at a disadvantage against the Mosquito Beast Master, who relied on long-range attacks with his swarm of bloodthirsty insects. Layers of mosquitoes surrounded Su Meng like waves, replenishing themselves almost as fast as he could disperse them with his fists. No matter how many times he scattered the swarm, fresh waves closed in, endlessly pressing upon him.
"You, a mere physical cultivator, think you can oppose the poison path of Xuanshao Sect?" The Mosquito Beast Master sneered, his eyes cold as he signaled with his hand, commanding a new wave of bloodsucking insects to swarm Su Meng. Though Su Meng's fists could knock back the front ranks, some mosquitoes broke through his protective spiritual energy and latched onto his exposed skin, injecting venom directly into his bloodstream. His energy quickly drained, his movements slowed, and his body grew stiffer by the second.
"Damn it!" Su Meng roared, slamming his fist into the ground to shake off the swarm with a burst of energy. Yet the Mosquito Beast Master simply shifted his hand seals, sending even more mosquitoes swarming in. Su Meng's body was covered in fresh bites, blood seeped from his wounds, and the venom made his vision blur and his strength falter.
Watching Su Meng struggle, Wang Quan and his teammates grew anxious, quickly moving in to help him. Xiao Yan, acting fast, conjured flames with a flick of his hands, unleashing a wide-reaching blaze toward the swarming mosquitoes. The flames forced the mosquitoes to scatter briefly, their shrill hum filling the air as they retreated, only to regroup and close in again. The number of mosquitoes seemed endless, and even the fiery attacks weren't enough to push them all back. The team's initial relief turned to dread.
"This won't work; there are just too many of them!" Xiao Fei muttered, frowning as he wracked his brain for a solution. Suddenly, an idea struck him. "Maybe there's a nearby herb or natural toxin that repels insects. If we find it, we could use it to drive them away."
The others quickly agreed. Wang Quan nodded and said, "Then let's spread out and search. Signal immediately if anyone finds something that could work."
The team dispersed and began searching the poisonous marshland. Wang Quan, familiar with the local plants, scanned his surroundings for any hint of medicinal herbs. In moments, Xiao Fei called the others over, holding a plant with a faint fragrance.
"This one has a natural gloss on its leaves and a potent smell—it might be a repellent," Xiao Fei suggested while carefully gathering the plant.
Quickly, they gathered as much of the herb as they could find, and Xiao Yan ignited it with his fire technique, creating a thick, spicy smoke that rapidly spread through the area. The mosquitoes, caught in the cloud, flinched and retreated, unable to tolerate the stinging fumes. Seizing this chance, Su Meng steadied himself, taking deep breaths to regain his composure. The Mosquito Beast Master, caught off guard, hesitated just long enough for Su Meng to gather his strength.
Seeing his chance, Su Meng charged forward with a roar, his figure blurring into motion as he leaped toward the Beast Master. The Mosquito Beast Master, taken aback, quickly summoned his swarm to shield him. But Su Meng, no longer holding back, poured all his spiritual energy into his fists. His blow struck with the force of a mountain, scattering the mosquito wall and sending the Beast Master flying. The Master gasped, spitting black blood, a look of terror crossing his face.
Wounded, the Mosquito Beast Master scrambled back, rallying his swarm to protect him as he activated several escape talismans. Enraged, Xiao Yan sent another fiery blast into the swarm, but the Beast Master, desperate, pushed his last remaining spiritual energy into his talismans and disappeared into the toxic fog.
Su Meng watched him flee, a dark scowl on his face. He shook his head, opting not to pursue. Turning to Wang Quan and the others, he allowed a faint smile. "Good work. Without that repellent, I might not have gotten out of that fight."
Wang Quan offered a respectful bow. "It was only with your strength that we could secure this victory, Elder Su."
Su Meng nodded, though weariness showed on his face. His gaze shifted to the resources hidden within the poisoned marsh. Their battle with the Beast Master had delayed them, but the defenses around the toxic resource site were now broken.
"These resources are essential to the poison path cultivated by the Shen family of Xuanshao Sect," he said, his voice low. "They'll likely send reinforcements soon. Gather everything we can and return to the sect immediately."
The team dispersed, combing through the marsh and gathering medicinal plants, poisons, and tools essential to creating venomous artifacts. The poisons they found were incredibly potent and dangerous, used to refine deadly pills and weapons. Carefully collecting the most valuable materials, the team soon completed their task.
"All right, let's go. We must leave now," Su Meng ordered, waving them to retreat.
They quickly departed the poisonous swamp and made their way back toward Yunxiao Sect. The hard-fought battle left Wang Quan uneasy, as he sensed the deeper struggle unfolding within the war among the three sects. Even in this initial skirmish, both sides were fiercely determined, and each conflict carried a greater sense of urgency.
On the journey back, Wang Quan pondered the encounter. It had exposed him to the terrifying intricacies of Xuanshao Sect's poison techniques and tested the limits of his own skills. He knew the coming battles would only grow more deadly, and the tension between the three sects had barely begun to reach its peak.
"Luckily, we worked well together today and succeeded," Wang Quan reflected silently, "but the path ahead will only become more treacherous."