Thick fog was an element of war that could never be ignored. After all, visibility was a critical factor. Once vision was obstructed and one couldn't see the surrounding environment clearly, it was undoubtedly a dire situation. The threat of sudden ambushes increased significantly, and one's combat effectiveness could be greatly reduced. In such conditions, the odds shifted decidedly against one's favor.
Even with overwhelming superiority in strength, an unfavorable environment could turn that into a crushing disadvantage.
"Fog is one of the most adverse conditions on the battlefield. Once it appears, all intelligence becomes unreliable. If the enemy has the ability to see clearly through the fog, then it would be a catastrophic battleground," Zhuge Liang remarked, frowning slightly. "In ancient times, during the battle between the Yellow Emperor and Chiyou, Chiyou summoned dense fog to seal off the battlefield, causing the Yellow Emperor to suffer a crushing defeat and massive casualties. Only after acquiring the magical compass could he find direction within the fog and eventually turn the tides of war."
"If an army of foreign tribes is hidden within this fog, it would pose a tremendous threat to our Da Yi forces—especially if they've laid traps. The danger would multiply," said Wu Yong, who possessed the ability to generate mist himself. He naturally understood how dramatically it could influence the outcome of a war.
"Do you have any way of dispersing this fog?" Yang Ye asked, placing a measure of hope on Wu Yong.
"I'm not sure. While I can generate mist, I'm not capable of creating a fog of this magnitude. Dispelling it would be extremely difficult—especially if it's under someone's control. If it is, then breaking through it becomes even harder," Wu Yong replied with a shake of his head.
"Something's happening!"
Just then, a sudden voice echoed through the hall. All eyes turned toward the Tongling Divine Mirror.
There, in front of the dense fog, a burly man dressed in beast pelts and wielding a long whip appeared out of thin air. Beneath him soared a massive blue eagle, carrying him aloft in graceful circles. The eagle's feathers crackled with blue lightning, shimmering ominously. Its gaze was piercing, sharp as blades poised above one's head.
"Who are you?" Xue Kunlun barked, the aura of wild savagery radiating from the stranger filling him with a deep sense of threat.
"I am Yuxin, Grand Elder of the Beast Taming Sect. I have come to assist you generals in battle," the man said with a smile.
The Beast Taming Sect (御兽宗) was one of the human sects on this continent. Long hidden within deep forests, they rarely made public appearances. Few outside of other sects even knew of them, but their strength was beyond doubt—powerful, even formidable. They wielded beasts as their primary force in combat. The more—and the stronger—the beasts one tamed, the greater one's strength. If one managed to tame a divine beast, they could even wield power equivalent to that of such a creature.
For the Beast Taming Sect, evaluating a disciple's power was not merely about cultivation level—but rather about the number and caliber of beasts under their control. Overcoming stronger enemies was a simple matter for them—almost effortless.
"Oh? What sort of ability do you have to help us break through this fog barrier?" Jia Xu asked calmly.
"Our sect is renowned for controlling ferocious beasts. This dense fog is mysterious and unfathomable. We cannot know what it hides. But I can use my tamed spirit beasts to see through their eyes and investigate what lies within. I can scout the fog and determine what's hidden inside," Yuxin said with confidence.
The Beast Taming Sect possessed a secret technique that allowed them to share their beasts' vision. Whatever the spirit beast saw, its master could also see. Compared to sending soldiers into the fog, this method was far more efficient—and with the beast inside and the master outside, there would be no communication delay. It was one of the best scouting methods available.
Moreover, Yuxin had a trump card.
Even in the thickest fog, he could still extract sufficient intelligence.
"Very well. If you can help us penetrate this fog barrier, I will report your service to the Emperor. I've heard His Majesty say that after unifying the continent, all sects will be formally registered. Their elite members may be allowed to join the Immortal Academy (不朽学宫). With the capabilities of your Beast Taming Sect, you should certainly earn a place there," Jia Xu said with a smile.
"Immortal Academy?" Yuxin's eyes lit up with joy. He immediately said, "Generals, please give me a moment. I will now send my beasts to scout the fog."
With a wave of his hand, a swarm of bees appeared before him. These weren't ordinary bees—they shimmered with black-gold luster, like crystalline jade. Each was the size of a clenched fist—clearly no common bee.
"These are Black Crystal Spirit Bees (黑晶灵蜂). They produce a superior spiritual honey and also possess solid offensive capabilities. A sting from one can paralyze the body. More importantly, they can adapt to harsh environments and navigate the fog with ease. Until now, I've used them for honey production—but today, they will finally serve another purpose," Yuxin said with a laugh.
In the Beast Taming Sect, they often said: There are no useless beasts—only useless tamers. Every beast had value—it was just a matter of finding someone who could unlock it.
Just like these Black Crystal Spirit Bees—if you didn't realize their potential, you'd only use them for honey.
Buzz! Buzz!
The bees joyfully circled Yuxin, then, as if receiving a command, flapped their wings and darted into the fog ahead.
"Something's wrong. It's not just fog—it's a swamp filled with poisonous miasma," Yuxin said grimly moments later.
As he closed his eyes to connect with the bees' vision, he saw the truth. What seemed to be an open plain was in fact an immense toxic swamp, bubbling with lethal miasma. Any cultivator who entered would be poisoned—draining their mana and damaging their body.
This terrain made cavalry charges impossible. Even if a cultivator could fly after reaching the Fate Aperture realm, the airspace was disorienting. If they entered unaware, they'd be caught off guard—and a sudden ambush from the Beast King Court (万兽王庭) would be devastating.
"I didn't see any enemies, but the poison is incredibly potent. My bees have strong resistance to toxins, but they all died within moments. The toxicity is extreme," Yuxin said solemnly.
None of the bees made it back alive. The poison was no ordinary threat.
"Swamp and poison?" Jia Xu frowned and muttered, "That alone won't stop Da Yi. Even if we can't march on foot, we can fly. As for the poison, we can quickly distribute Gold-Silver Detox Pills, giving our soldiers temporary immunity. What we need to worry about are other hidden dangers within the fog and swamp."
In a fog like this, direction was impossible to determine. One could walk for days without escape.
"If generals are worried about getting lost, fear not. I have Heaven-Spirit Birds (天灵鸟) that can lead the army," Yuxin offered with a smile. "These birds can always find the correct path, no matter the environment. They have no other power, but their tracking ability is unparalleled. As long as we follow them, we'll find the exit and reach the other side."
As he spoke, a golden bird appeared before him. It resembled a lark, but with golden feathers and radiant, intelligent eyes.
However, Heaven-Spirit Birds were vulnerable to poison. While not completely defenseless, the level of toxicity in the fog was far beyond their tolerance. Solving the poison issue was the most urgent priority.
"Lanling, go ahead and devour the poison in the fog. This is your chance to feast," came Yi Tianxing's calm command.
In the palace, Yi Tianxing and the others had watched everything unfold. The emergence of the Beast Taming Sect and the intelligence gathered did not surprise them. But the poisonous fog had to be neutralized.
Fortunately, Yi Tianxing had a solution.
With a wave of his hand, a strange beast appeared—adorable and vibrant.
It was none other than the Five Poison Beast (五毒兽) that had once been subdued by Green Emperor. After its capture, it had lived within the Hongmeng Heavenly Emperor Pagoda, tending rare herbs and spirit fruits.
Yet no matter how docile it had become, the Five Poison Beast, now named Lanling, was still a creature born from toxic miasma—a beast that thrived on poison. The more toxins it consumed, the stronger it would grow.
The poison in this fog, no matter how intense, was child's play to it.
"Ying-ying!" Lanling chirped as it flapped its wings and flew off. Using the Rainbow Bridge, it appeared immediately before Jia Xu and the others. At the same time, they received a message from Yi Tianxing explaining Lanling's origins and purpose.
"Excellent. With the Emperor's support and Lanling on our side, we no longer need to fear the fog's poison," Jia Xu said with a smile.
With Lanling present, the poison might as well not exist.