A Useless Person's Rise to Power

Chapter 23 Confrontation in the Wilderness, Step by Step to Deter the Enemy

From the moment Zhou Hu and his group insisted on pursuing Qin Zhan and stepped into the Poison Domain, they were destined to become caged prey in the eyes of the hunters, at their mercy.

Zhou Hu stood there, his fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white, his chest heaving violently, his face filled with rage and anxiety.

He was one of the top ten core disciples of the sect, and usually acted arrogantly and domineeringly in the sect and the surrounding areas. When had he ever suffered such humiliation? He was chasing after one person with ten elite brothers, but instead, he was manipulated by the other party and could not even catch a glimpse of him. He could only passively suffer in this harmful poisonous fog. This sense of disparity almost broke his spirit.

But the angrier he became, the more frantically the hidden fear in his heart grew and spread.

He knew better than anyone that the poisonous fog in this secret realm was extremely malevolent. Ordinary martial artists who stepped into it would have their cultivation suppressed by more than 30%, their spiritual energy flow sluggish, and the range of their divine sense's detection compressed to the extreme. Originally, the group could barely resist the poisonous fog's corrosive influence by sticking together, but as they chased it deeper, the concentration of the poisonous fog surged, and its exclusive suppressive power became fully apparent.

At this moment, he could clearly feel that his cultivation was being firmly locked by invisible shackles. The cultivation techniques and spiritual power that he used to be able to circulate smoothly were now flowing haltingly, and he could not even fully exert half of his strength. When he spread out his divine sense, everything within a radius of several feet was a blur. He could only hear the heavy breathing of his subordinates beside him, and he could not detect the slightest trace of Qin Zhan's aura.

What chilled him to the bone was that the poisonous fog seemed to be specifically designed to target martial artists like them who practiced unorthodox methods. The cold, poisonous gas was designed to attack their meridians and souls, constantly eroding their physical strength and willpower. The longer the situation dragged on, the more unfavorable it would become for them.

In contrast, Qin Zhan, hidden in the shadows, seemed completely unaffected by the poisonous fog. His figure was unpredictable, and his aura was perfectly concealed, as if he had been born in this poisonous domain.

"Damn it! Just who is this Qin Zhan?" Zhou Hu cursed inwardly, his thoughts in turmoil. "He's clearly young, yet his cultivation is unfathomable. He can even ignore the unique poisonous fog suppressing this secret realm. Could it be that he's cultivated some heaven-defying technique to counteract the poisonous miasma?"

The more I think about it, the more anxious and uncertain I become.

The remaining men behind him were in an even more disheveled state.

Their brows were furrowed, their faces pale, and their eyes scanned the churning poisonous fog around them in a panic. They unconsciously huddled together, as if only by being close could they barely gain a sliver of security.

Zhao Wei, who had just advised retreat, was still trembling slightly, his heart filled with unknown fear. He was from a collateral branch of the Zhao family, of ordinary birth, and had only managed to become a core disciple of the sect by following Zhou Hu and borrowing his power. In terms of true courage and inner strength, he simply could not withstand the torment of facing an unknown life and death.

In his eyes, Qin Zhan was like a demon lurking in the darkness, coldly watching them from the shadows, ready to strike with his claws and reap their lives at any moment. The inexplicable deaths of his first few companions, without even a chance to scream, were more devastating than direct combat.

He was filled with remorse, regretting his momentary lapse of judgment in following Zhou Hu into the poisonous territory. For a pittance, he had risked his life in this perilous place, a truly disastrous loss. Yet, in front of Zhou Hu, he dared not beg for mercy again, and could only grit his teeth and pretend to be strong, though his heart was already shattered.

The others were no better off; everyone was suspicious of each other, their eyes darting around, and a distance had grown between them.

Some secretly blamed Zhou Hu for being reckless and impulsive, insisting on pursuing and killing without regard for everyone's safety; some secretly plotted to find an opportunity to quietly escape, unwilling to die with everyone else in vain; and some held onto a sliver of hope, silently praying that Qin Zhan was just putting on a show and wouldn't actually make a move.

Morale would crumble and the army's morale would collapse in the blink of an eye.

Qin Zhan concealed himself behind the thick fog not far away, his Shadow Concealment Technique activated to its maximum, his figure perfectly blending with the poisonous mist, as if he had become part of this miasma. He stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze calm and indifferent, taking in the panic, bravado, fear, and entanglement on the faces of Zhou Hu and his group, without a ripple in his heart, only a faint indifference.

He knew all too well the minds of these desperate criminals. They seemed to band together and act tough, but in reality, each one was selfish and self-serving. They appeared fierce and domineering, but in reality, they were cowardly as mice. They were arrogant and domineering because of their numbers, but once they lost their numerical advantage and were caught in unknown dangers, they would immediately lose their composure and collapse without a fight.

The exclusive suppression of this poisonous fog realm, a fatal constraint for others, was a natural barrier for him. His cultivation technique was compatible with all energies, and his divine soul was incredibly resilient. The erosion of the poisonous fog, the suppression of his cultivation, and the disturbance of his divine sense were like stones sinking into the sea, unable to cause the slightest ripple. On the contrary, he could use the concealment of the poisonous fog to amplify his advantages to the extreme, like a hunter entering his exclusive hunting ground, with everything under complete control.

"It's laughable that they're still stubbornly refusing to back down even now," Qin Zhan thought to himself, a hint of mockery in his soul. "They're clearly terrified inside, but they still put on the airs of a strongman, unable to let go of that illusory pride. In the end, they'll only drive themselves to their doom."

Just then, Zhou Hu suppressed his panic and tried to bolster morale, coldly shouting, "What's the panic? It's just a mere poisonous fog. Qin Zhan will only hide his face and not dare to show himself. What's there to be afraid of! We have the numerical advantage. As long as we hold our ground and search slowly, we'll find him sooner or later!"

These words sounded domineering, but in reality, even he himself didn't have much confidence in them. Anyone could hear the underlying weakness in his tone.

A tall, thin henchman, his face contorted in distress, couldn't help but whisper, "Boss Zhou, it's not that we're cowards, but this poisonous fog is too sinister. Our cultivation is suppressed, our divine sense is obstructed. If this continues, even without Qin Zhan's intervention, we're afraid we'll be worn down by the poisonous fog first..."

"Shut up!" Zhou Hu's eyes widened in anger as he shouted sternly, "Speaking cowardly in the face of battle, disrupting morale! If you dare to spout nonsense again, don't blame me for being impolite!"

Just as everyone was locked in a stalemate and the atmosphere was extremely oppressive, a light voice with a hint of mockery suddenly drifted from all directions through the poisonous fog, its distance and location indistinguishable.

"You're about to die, and you're still putting on a brave face? Zhou Hu, it's one thing to fool your subordinates, but to deceive yourself too, aren't you tired of it?"

Qin Zhan's voice, tinged with a hint of mockery, pierced through the thick poisonous fog and reached everyone's ears clearly, like a fine needle precisely piercing Zhou Hu's feigned toughness.

Zhou Hu froze, then abruptly turned his head and looked around, his eyes flashing with a fierce light: "Qin Zhan! Show yourself if you dare! Hiding in the shadows and playing tricks, what kind of hero are you!"

"Heroes and warriors?" Qin Zhan chuckled, his tone tinged with amusement. "In the battles of secret realms, the strong fight each other, and ruthlessness is the norm. Since when have we started to pay attention to these empty formalities? When the ten of you surrounded me, why didn't you think of fighting one-on-one and following the rules of the martial world?"

"Now that you're suppressed by the poisonous fog and forced into a dilemma by me, you're telling me about the logic of a head-on battle? There's no such thing as a free lunch!"

His words were reasonable and well-founded, each word hitting the nail on the head, leaving Zhou Hu speechless. His cheeks turned red and then pale, and he felt a tightness in his chest from frustration, yet he had no way to refute him.

His subordinates around him looked dejected, their last shred of confidence completely shattered. Yes, at first they had taken advantage of their numbers to bully the weak, but now that they were at a disadvantage, they were demanding a fair fight from their opponents—it was truly a hypocritical and arrogant act.

Qin Zhan's voice continued, tinged with a leisurely air: "Let me tell you the truth again. This poisonous domain is a natural forbidden zone, and it's also my home turf. The poisonous fog here has a unique binding power, suppressing your cultivation, sealing your spiritual energy, and disrupting your consciousness, but it has absolutely no effect on me. If you stay here, your cultivation will only weaken, your minds will only become more chaotic, and the longer you stay, the faster you will die."

"Those who know what's good for them will turn around and leave as soon as possible. I'm too lazy to kill them all. If you insist on courting death, then I don't mind leaving you all in this poisonous fog and turning you into nourishment for the miasma."

This blunt warning, devoid of any threat or intimidation, exuded absolute confidence and control, causing everyone present to feel a chill in their hearts.

One of the round-faced henchmen was so frightened that he instinctively took two steps back, muttering, "Maybe... we should just leave. There's no need to fight him head-on..."

"Useless trash!" Zhou Hu cursed under his breath, his anger raging, yet he was utterly helpless. The morale of his troops had completely collapsed; forcing them to stay in the fight would only alienate them further.

Why hasn't Elder Zhao arrived yet? There's not much time left to delay.

Just as the atmosphere was becoming increasingly delicate, Zhao Lei, a reckless man, suddenly had a moment of impulsiveness and came up with a clever idea.

He pondered to himself: Qin Zhan's voice was elusive, seemingly omnipresent, but in reality, he must have a fixed hiding place. The poisonous fog obscured his vision, and searching head-on made him vulnerable to a sneak attack. It would be better for him to quietly circle around to the side and rear, launching a surprise attack and catching Qin Zhan off guard. If he could severely injure Qin Zhan first, he would achieve a great feat.

Thinking of this, Zhao Lei thought his plan had succeeded, and a smug glint flashed across his face. Taking advantage of the fact that everyone's attention was drawn to Qin Zhan's voice, he quietly moved his feet, wanting to use the poisonous fog as cover to flank around to the side.

He was secretly pleased with himself, thinking that everyone else was cowardly, while he was quick-witted and could come up with a way to break the deadlock. He believed that once he defeated Qin Zhan, he would definitely gain face in front of Zhou Hu.

Little did he know that Qin Zhan's divine sense was completely unaffected by the poisonous fog, and that Qin Zhan had already seen through his little movements.

A mocking smile flashed across Qin Zhan's eyes. He chuckled inwardly, "How presumptuous of you! Thinking you can sneak around and launch a sneak attack? Don't you even know where you are? This is the Poisonous Domain, fraught with danger. With your brains, you think you can outsmart people?"

Qin Zhan remained silent, letting Zhao Lei cautiously probe forward.

Zhao Lei bent over, his steps extremely light, holding his breath as he cautiously made his way through the poisonous fog, constantly scanning his surroundings while secretly calculating the perfect moment to launch a sneak attack. But he hadn't gone far when his foot suddenly slipped, and before he could react, with a splash, his entire foot sank into the putrid swamp hidden beneath the fog!

The dark green venom spread instantly, carrying an extremely strong corrosive power, and stuck to his trouser leg, causing waves of burning pain to his skin.

"Ah! What is that?!"

Caught off guard, Zhao Lei screamed in terror and staggered as he desperately tried to break free. But the more he struggled, the deeper he sank. The corrosive power of the swamp spread throughout his body along his meridians, instantly numbing half of his body and almost preventing him from circulating his spiritual energy.

His disheveled, panicked, and frantic struggles showed no trace of a martial artist's demeanor; he looked exactly like a brute who had fallen into a trap.

This sudden turn of events instantly shattered the oppressive atmosphere, leaving Zhou Hu and his group stunned. They turned to look in the direction from which the screams had come, their faces filled with astonishment. Qin Zhan, hidden in the shadows, watched this comical scene and almost couldn't help but burst out laughing.

What should have been a life-or-death confrontation between two strong individuals was turned into a farce by this idiot. He tried to be clever and launch a sneak attack from behind, but ended up stepping into a poisonous swamp himself. He completely shot himself in the foot, a classic case of reaping what he sowed. It was both absurd and hilarious.

Without Qin Zhan even having to lift a finger, the opponent lost their composure and made a huge fool of themselves.

Zhou Hu's face was as black as the bottom of a pot, filled with anger and helplessness. He wished he could rush forward and give that reckless fellow a good scolding. The morale of the troops was already unstable, and now, with one of their own men making a fool of himself and getting stuck in the poisonous swamp, it completely crushed everyone's spirits.

The other subordinates, seeing Zhao Lei's disheveled and struggling appearance, felt a mixture of amusement and a chill. To inexplicably stumble into a poisonous swamp while walking—this poisonous domain was truly fraught with danger at every turn; a single misstep could lead to utter destruction.

Qin Zhan slowly emerged from the thick fog, no longer trying to conceal himself. His white robes stood out starkly against the gray-green poisonous mist. He appeared calm and composed, his eyes indifferent, as he walked towards the crowd step by step. Each step seemed to weigh heavily on their hearts, bringing an invisible sense of oppression.

"See that?" Qin Zhan's gaze swept over the crowd, his tone tinged with mockery and indifference. "It's not that I want to wipe you out completely, it's that you can't see the situation clearly, and you don't know yourselves either. You want to play mind games, but you're blind and directionally challenged; you want to band together and fight head-on, but your morale is low; you want to take advantage of the secret realm's terrain, but you've been devoured by the poisonous fog first."

"Zhou Hu, you dare to block my path with this rabble? Aren't you overestimating yourself?"

Zhou Hu stared intently at Qin Zhan, who was walking slowly towards him, his pupils shrinking slightly, his heart filled with apprehension. Now, observing him up close, he realized that Qin Zhan's expression was calm, his breathing long and steady, and he was indeed completely unaffected by the poisonous fog. His demeanor was as calm and composed as a mountain, as if this dangerous poisonous area was nothing more than a leisurely stroll in his backyard.

He gritted his teeth, suppressing the fear in his heart, and said in a deep, cold voice, "Qin Zhan, don't be so arrogant! You're just taking advantage of the poisonous fog to act tough. If we really leave this poisonous area, you might not be my match!"

"Oh? Is that so?" Qin Zhan raised an eyebrow, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Then I'm quite curious, do you think your cultivation is stronger than mine, or are your men truly willing to risk their lives for you? Right now, with the poisonous fog blocking the way, your cultivation is suppressed, your minds are in disarray, and you're caught in a dilemma, while I have all the advantages of timing, location, and support. What do you have to contend with me?"

"Is it all just talk?"

The sharp words hit the nail on the head, instantly piercing through Zhou Hu's last act of bravado.

Zhou Hu's expression shifted several times, rendered speechless by the rebuttal. Looking at Qin Zhan, who was calm and composed, exuding an aura that dominated the entire scene, and then at his disorganized and disheveled subordinates, as well as the reckless Zhao Lei who was still struggling in the poisonous swamp, a deep sense of powerlessness completely enveloped his heart.

He finally realized that from the moment they stepped into this poisonous domain to hunt down Qin Zhan, they had already lost.

The young man before them was not only powerful and meticulous, but also deeply versed in the game of human nature. With the exclusive suppressive power of the poisonous fog, he effortlessly shattered all their confidence and fighting spirit.

The fog continued to churn, and a murderous aura permeated the surrounding area. Qin Zhan stood amidst the poisonous fog, like a sovereign demon, silently watching the group of prey before him who were caught in a dilemma.

The swirling mist, carrying a pungent, putrid stench, drifted through the forest, making the surrounding scenery appear even more eerie and sinister.

Zhou Hu's face turned pale and then red after Qin Zhan's words, his anger surging, yet he couldn't find a single word to refute him. He clenched his fists tightly, his knuckles cracking, his eyes filled with shame, anger, and fear.

His subordinates behind him were filled with fear. Their originally gathered formation shrank back unconsciously. They were all uneasy, their eyes darting around, and they did not dare to meet Qin Zhan's gaze, who stood calmly in the mist.

The momentum they had just been clamoring for to surround and kill Qin Zhan had completely dissipated.

Qin Zhan stood with his hands behind his back, his clothes fluttering slightly in the cool, poisonous wind. His expression was indifferent as he glanced at Zhou Hu and his group, his tone laced with mocking sarcasm: "What? Speechless now? Weren't you all so arrogant and eager to grind me to dust when you chased me into the poisonous domain?"

"Why are you all so listless now, like wilted eggplants? You don't even have the courage to raise your heads!"

These words carried a hint of mockery, which made Zhou Hu's cheeks burn and his anger surge to the top of his head.

Zhou Hu took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the fear in his heart. A fierce glint flashed in his eyes, and he shouted sharply, "Qin Zhan! Stop trying to win with your words! Even if the poisonous fog here suppresses our cultivation, you may not be able to devour all of us by yourself!"

"Brothers, don't let his words sway your nerves! Let's join forces and wear him down! Capture this bastard, and there will be a hefty reward!"

He tried to use bounties to motivate his men and forcibly unite them.

But as soon as he finished speaking, the people behind him just looked at each other, and no one dared to step forward rashly.

joke?

Even their leader, Zhou Hu, was wary of Qin Zhan. This poisonous domain was constantly suppressing their cultivation, and their minds were becoming increasingly restless and weak due to the poisonous fog. Going up to fight would be tantamount to courting death; no one was a fool.

Seeing this, Qin Zhan couldn't help but chuckle, his tone full of mockery: "Tsk tsk, how pathetic and laughable. Your own men are deserted, each one cowardly and afraid of death, and you're still here making empty promises to fool them. Zhou Hu, Zhou Hu, you're such a pathetic leader, aren't you?"

"In my opinion, this rabble has no intention of risking their lives for you. They're just following you to make a living. It's not worth them risking their lives in this poisonous swamp for you."