Chapter 35: When the Swamp Watches Those Who Enter It

  After we left the cave, we headed straight toward the Poison Swamp,where the entrance to the Tomb of the Poison Emperor was located.

  Our steps were neither fast nor hesitant… but measured, as if the land itself were watching us.

  My goal was clear: to have Zilthan and Meridia absorb the poison from this swamp, as it would be extremely beneficial for their upcoming mission.

  But this place was not merely a passing stage—it was a true trial.

  This swamp was not just a place filled with poison; it was a legacy deliberately left behind by the Poison Emperor.

  The Poison Emperor had established this swamp as part of a test for those who wished to enter his tomb.

  The poison that filled this place was no ordinary poison… but poison at the level of an emperor.

  A poison that tested not only the body, but willpower, control, and the very limits of survival itself.

  Any ordinary person would have their body melt away before taking even two steps.

  But for those who possessed poison as part of their nature, like Zilthan and Meridia, it was not a curse… but an opportunity.

  Especially Zilthan—a serpent of imperial lineage.

  This poison would nourish his essence and drive his venom to evolve,bringing it closer to the level of the Poison Emperor’s own poison.

  The idea was simple on the surface… yet dangerous at its core.

  To make them absorb this poison, fuse it into their bodies, and at the same time—their own venom would transform, be refined,compressed, and rise to a higher level.

  By absorbing this poison and confronting its power, Zilthan and Meridia would obtain poison of an almost unbelievable strength.

  But a single mistake… a single moment of hesitation… could mean collapse from within.

  When we reached the entrance, everything changed.

  The air was charged with mist and electricity, and the ground was covered in toxic vapors slowly rising from the swamp, coiling around our feet like living tongues searching for something to devour.

  The poison could be felt in the air—not by smell alone, but as a hidden pressure against the chest, as if the very breath of life was being drained from the place.

  The silence was heavy.

  Nothing moved… except the faint sounds of the surrounding wilderness, cutting through the stillness like ancient whispers of warning.

  Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

  In that moment, we all felt the weight of the atmosphere.

  It was as if the world itself had stopped, waiting for our decision.

  “Are you ready?” I asked them.

  My voice was calm, but the place swallowed it quickly, as if the swamp itself were listening.

  Zilthan looked at me with solemn focus.

  His eyes did not flicker, and his body was taut, like a drawn string on the verge of snapping.

  Then he replied in a low, steady voice, “Yes—but we must be cautious.

  This place is not what it appears to be.”

  His words fell into the air… and did not vanish.

  Instead, they settled deep in our chests, like a final warning before crossing the threshold.

  Exactly. You must absorb the poison gradually, and never underestimate any step. If we can pass through this swamp, then this will be the first step toward the legacy of the Poison Emperor.

  There was no hesitation in my voice, yet the weight of the words fell upon all of us.

  We moved forward slowly.

  One step… then another.

  And with every step closer to the swamp, the toxic air grew denser, clinging to the chest, pressing against the lungs, turning every breath into a small battle.

  The pain was not immediate, but creeping… as if it were testing our endurance before the real trial even began.

  The challenge now was not advancing, but remaining steady without losing focus.

  I stopped, then turned to them.

  “Hm… alright, Zilthan. You and Meridia, begin absorbing the poison here.”

  I pointed to the edge of the swamp, where the vapors twisted slowly.

  Focus on developing your poison attribute to a higher level, rather than trying to raise your cultivation level.

  I paused for a moment, then added clearly, “Mia and I do not possess the poison attribute, so we won’t be able to absorb it. We’ll wait for you until you turn this swamp into an empty pool.”

  A brief silence followed.

  Then I bent slightly and looked at Meridia, changing my tone to something closer to forced calm. “Alright, little Meridia… go with him and gain new strength, okay?”

  Meridia slowly lifted her head, her eyes widening.

  Then she spoke in a voice filled with doubt and protest:

  “Brother… I’m a turtle.”

  She paused, then cast a tense glance toward the swamp.

  “Do you really want me to absorb this thing? This looks extremely dangerous!

  Do you want to kill me? Do you hate me?”

  I sighed and fixed her with a slightly sharp look.

  “You lazy turtle—have you forgotten that you possess the Black Serpent bloodline?”

  I took a step toward her.

  “That means you have the poison attribute.”

  Then I said simply, “Just go. And if you really can’t do it… come back, alright?”

  Meridia lowered her head and took a deep breath, as if bracing herself for an impending disaster.

  Then she sighed and said with clear reluctance, “Hmph… fine, I’ll try. But only because you asked.”

  She raised her eyes toward me and added with lazy menace, “If I can’t do it, I’ll come back and sleep on your back, okay?”

  I didn’t answer immediately.

  Then I smiled faintly and said, “Deal.”

  And in that moment… Meridia took her first step toward the swamp, and the air around her began to ripple slowly, as if the true trial had only just begun.

  Then Zilthan and Meridia began absorbing the poison slowly, while I watched them carefully, never taking my eyes off them for even a moment.

  It was clear that Zilthan was experienced in dealing with toxins; his breathing was steady, his body stable, as if the poison rising from the swamp was not an enemy… but a substance he knew how to tame.

  He began absorbing the poison and refining it within his body smoothly. The poison flowed toward him and then vanished, as though his body had grown accustomed to this kind of pain long ago—without notable issues, and without even the slightest fluctuation in his aura.

  As for Meridia… it was a different story.

  She hesitated at first. Her small body paused at the edge of the swamp, her eyes watching the toxic vapors with clear caution.

  Then—she closed her eyes.

  Clenched her teeth.

  And began trying to absorb the poison, just as I had instructed.

  Her body trembled slightly—a faint but visible shiver—perhaps due to the powerful poison surging into her all at once. Yet what was surprising… was how quickly she adapted.

  She didn’t scream.

  She didn’t retreat.

  Instead, she held her ground.

  Meridia spoke slowly, her voice carrying a mix of irritation and surprise, “Hm… it’s not as bad as I thought, but it’s still bitter.”

  I laughed lightly, never taking my eyes off her, and said, “If you succeed, your body will become stronger… and maybe you’ll become a little less lazy.”

  She lifted her head tiredly, her eyes half-closed, then replied at once, “I’m not promising that!”

  I shook my head, then said in a calm but firm tone, “Alright. The important thing is that everything here gets fully absorbed.”

  Meridia took a deep breath, then said as if she were convincing herself before trying to convince me, “I’ll try to do it.”

  As for me… I watched them closely.

  I did not lower my guard.

  I did not allow confidence to cloud my attention.

  And despite my certainty that they were capable of passing this trial,I was prepared for every possibility.

  If either of them failed to absorb the poison properly… I would have to intervene immediately—without hesitation, and without waiting.

  In the end, overcoming this swamp did not merely mean surviving the poison; it meant passing the trial… and opening the gateway to the tomb itself.

  Was the chapter excellent? Did you enjoy it?