The enormous book held by the Shennong statue emitted divine light, and Shen Qian was almost powerless to resist before being swept away and disappeared in the light.

After it was swallowed up, the light on the scrolls dimmed and returned to its stone-carved appearance, with only the cauldron on the other side still emitting a hazy glow.

High in the sky, only the leader of the Yan Clan remained standing alone.

"What a pity..."

Seeing Shen Qian completely engulfed by the book, the Yan Clan leader's expression was complicated for a moment. He shook his head and was about to turn and leave when his expression suddenly changed.

As the Flame King turned his head, the mist around the giant statue suddenly broke open, and a figure shrouded in darkness forced his way in.

Yan Wang was initially on guard, but he couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief after sensing the presence of the newcomer.

"King You, what brings you here?"

Yan Wang was somewhat surprised. Although the five major clans helped each other and their territories were not far apart, and the leaders of the five major clans often communicated, You Wang always stayed in Fengdu. Even when the Wu clan gods crossed the border and Yan clan asked the other four clans for help, he did not appear. Such a situation of his true body descending directly into Yan clan territory was almost unprecedented.

"Hmph, Jiang Zhi, my young female entertainer was invited here, but almost died in your Yan Clan's territory. My arrival now is already giving you face."

King You addressed King Yan by his full name without any hesitation.

"There are many strange things about this matter. It is probably the Witch Clan who are behind it. Ordinary people don't have the ability to mix the three great demons' poisons together." King Yan Jiang Zhi was not angry, but calmly explained.

“I’m not blind.” King You was not surprised to hear this, and said calmly, “Otherwise, my You clan’s army would also be here today.”

"but……"

After King You finished speaking, his face, which had been shrouded in black mist, was briefly revealed due to the fluctuation of his emotions. He was a thin middle-aged man with a look of resentment and anger in his eyes, but in the end, it seemed to turn into a kind of helplessness.

“The envoys of the Ganwu tribe have come to our door again, just half an hour ago.”

King You said in a low voice.

Jiang Zhi was taken aback at first, then seemed to realize something, his expression changed and he asked, "What do you want to do?"

“On that day, our five clans made a covenant. Although my father wavered, after I ascended the throne, I relocated the You clan, cut off the Naihe River, and stood with the four clans for a thousand years. But now… I am weary.”

King You chuckled, "It's all a twist of fate. If Xiaoling had perished, I would have incurred a blood feud with the Witch Clan. But she survived, and I can't let go of this burden."

"But her death by poisoning was also a deed done by the Witch Clan!" Jiang Zhi said angrily.

"Yes," King You nodded, "So they will do it a second time, a third time..."

"you!"

Jiang Zhi was speechless for a moment, not knowing how to refute.

"King You..."

“Jiang Zhi, there’s no need to say more. You should know better than anyone what Xiao Ling means to me.”

King You waved his hand, "I came here only to meet the alchemist who rescued Xiaoling and to settle a karmic debt for her. It is said that the young man is not even a member of your Yan clan?"

Upon hearing that King You wanted to see Shen Qian, Jiang Zhi fell into a brief silence.

"What?" King You raised an eyebrow.

"You're too late," Jiang Zhi had no choice but to say.

"What's the meaning?"

When King You asked him a question, Jiang Zhi looked in a certain direction.

Following Jiang Zhi's gaze, King You's eyes finally settled on the enormous scroll in the Shennong Carving Book.

King You was taken aback at first, then seemed to realize something. Tong Kong shrank back slightly, "You let him into the 'Compendium of Materia Medica'? Jiang Zhi, you..."

“He requested it himself.” Jiang Zhi’s gaze, fixed on the statue of Emperor Yan, deepened. “This is his purpose, or rather, the significance, of coming to the Yan Clan.”

"This young man is very interesting. He is shrouded in mystery. Apart from some entanglements that are indeed from Mangshan, I can't see his past at all."

"Then what does this have to do with you letting him into the 'Compendium of Materia Medica'?" King You frowned.

“Today in the stone hall, just before he saved Youling, I was furious when he made his request.”

Jiang Zhi stood with his hands behind his back, a trace of anger still lingering on his face, "Even if he is such a genius, having entered the Divine Realm at the age of twenty, how can my dignity be challenged?"

"But... before I had my outburst, the 'Compendium of Materia Medica,' which had been sealed for a long time, suddenly stirred. Coupled with Gao Zhe's plea, I readily agreed to his request."

"Did Gao Zhe know this young man before?" King You noticed another fact, "Why would he speak up for him?"

"He probably doesn't know. This is Gao Zhe's first time acting as a guide, but he seems to have a different opinion of this young man. I don't know why," Yan Wang Jiang Zhi shook his head.

"The Gao family... they've interfered far too much..." King You narrowed his eyes, "I just wonder if that person is still around..."

Upon hearing "that person" mentioned, Jiang Zhi seemed somewhat wary and cautiously refrained from responding.

“Perhaps this young man means something to the ‘Classic of Herbs,’ which is why I brought him here to give it a try. I didn’t expect the ‘Classic of Herbs’ to accept him directly.” Jiang Zhi shrugged and said, “This may be a good thing, but we need to wait and see.”

After a moment of silence, King You suddenly smiled mysteriously and said, "Jiang Zhi, I'm not an alchemist from your Yan Clan. You might be able to fool others with these lies, but do you really think I don't know the truth about the Yan Emperor's demise?"

Jiang Zhi suddenly turned around, his eyes filled with uncontrollable killing intent. At that moment, the heavens and earth shook, and dark clouds gathered above Yan City, causing countless Yan Clan residents to shake their heads in horror, not knowing what had happened.

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