Venom Sect.
When the name reached Mrs. Rocco’s ears, her brow furrowed deeply.
After a few moments, she spoke softly, “So it was the Venom Sect. How could we have forgotten about them?”
Hearing her murmur, Kayden asked, “What? You’ve heard of the Venom Sect?”
Mrs. Rocco nodded slightly. “Yes. It’s a sect that’s been dormant for many years. Fifteen years ago, they were quite active in Aspen Heights, hunting and treasure-seeking. Once, during a hunt in Aspen Heights, we clashed with them over a snow lotus. They failed to retrieve it and, during the struggle, we killed the Hall Master’s son. A heavy loss for them.
“After that, their Hall Master, Jett Thorne, came to our family demanding justice. But our master ignored him and had him beaten instead! The rules of the hunting grounds are clear: survival of the fittest. If they couldn’t match us, they had no right to seek us out. Any grievances should’ve been settled on the hunting grounds.”
“We thought they might seek revenge during the next hunt, but they disappeared entirely. Since then, for over ten years, they’ve remained silent. Until now, I’d nearly forgotten they existed.”
After listening to her recollection, Kayden nodded thoughtfully. It all made sense now. The Venom Sect’s Hall Master had devised this scheme to avenge his son by eliminating the entire Rocco family.
To lose a child and then seek to wipe out an entire family-such a tactic was indeed vile.
At that moment, a voice suddenly broke the silence.
“When I first came to the Western Frontier, the Venom Sect was the first to find me! They tricked me into going to their sect, claiming they could help me locate you. Later, I don’t know what drug they used, but I was knocked unconscious. If it weren’t for my strong willpower, I might never have escaped their clutches alive.
“There were many other girls who were deceived and brought to the Venom Sect as well. Unfortunately, not all of them were as lucky as I was.”
The speaker was Wood Faulkner. As she spoke, a cold glint of fury flashed in her eyes.
It turned out that Wood Faulkner also had ties to the Venom Sect. After hearing her story, Kayden took a deep breath and declared, “Good. Then let the Rocco family know-I’ll send them a gift. The complete annihilation of the Venom Sect.”
An organization that committed such atrocities should no longer exist. To massacre an entire clan over personal vengeance was unforgivable. And Clara-if it weren’t for him, in three days, she would’ve been reduced to a lifeless shell.
—
Deep within the vast and rugged mountains of the Western Frontier, a secluded stronghold lay hidden. Surrounded by imposing peaks, the air was filled with the eerie calls of nightingales. Despite the sparse vegetation, the pitch-black sky lent an ominous atmosphere to the area.
At the heart of this mountain range stood a grand, isolated structure. Spanning over a hundred acres, it was far removed from the world’s chaos, a hermit’s haven.
This was the Venom Sect’s headquarters.
At this moment, the Venom Sect was ablaze with light, and the parking lot was filled with numerous vehicles.
Nearby, in a large open square, hundreds of young girls stood in disarray. Their eyes were vacant, their expressions unnerving-they didn’t look like normal people.
It was as though a grand banquet were underway.
Inside the main hall, a solemn and imposing white-haired elder sat upon a throne high above the others. The throne, towering over the room like an emperor’s seat of power, was carved with a monstrous nine-headed serpent, its heads extending outward from behind the throne. The largest serpent head loomed directly above the elder, casting an ominous shadow over him.
Sitting there with his eyes closed, the elder radiated an aura of calm authority. His hair was white, yet his eyebrows were black, and his face was free of wrinkles, making it impossible to determine his age.
He exuded a natural sense of dominance, commanding respect and fear without uttering a word. From the hall below, he appeared unattainable, like a king among men. This man was Jett Thorne, the Hall Master of the Venom Sect.
Clad in a black robe, Jett Thorne’s body was enveloped in a swirling black mist, an aura so palpable it made those below him feel insignificant.
At the center of the hall stood a massive stone pool, intricately designed and imposing. It measured approximately five meters in length and width, with a height of nearly two meters. The pool’s surface shimmered faintly, as though it emitted a glow under the light.
Suddenly, a sinister laugh echoed through the hall.
“Ha ha ha!” A young man’s chilling voice rang out.
Standing closest to Jett Thorne, though still technically below the throne, the young man’s status was clearly superior to the others.
“Has everyone reported their numbers? Are we certain we’ve gathered 999 virgins?”
The dozen or so elders in the room glanced at one another before confirming in unison that the numbers were accurate.
These elders, dressed in sharp suits and slicked-back hair, looked nothing like reclusive hermits. In fact, they were prominent businessmen and corporate executives in the Western Frontier, men who attracted countless gold-digging women. It was through these identities that they had managed to lure so many girls into their grasp.
Among them was a familiar face-Finnian, John’s brother.
Yes, Finnian had joined the Venom Sect years ago. Back then, the company they worked for had favored John’s capabilities, but Finnian’s connections gave him the upper hand, securing him a high-ranking position instead.
“Of course, there’s no problem. The numbers are exactly as reported!”
The elders responded in unison to the young man’s inquiry.
The speaker was Soren Thorne, Jett Thorne’s son.
With a wicked grin, Soren looked up at Jett Thorne and proclaimed, “Congratulations, Hall Master! Soon, your training will be complete, and none will dare challenge you!”
During formal gatherings like this, Soren could not address Jett Thorne as “father.” He had to use the title “Hall Master.”
As Soren finished speaking, the hall erupted in a thunderous chorus:
“Congratulations, Hall Master! Best wishes, Hall Master!”
“Congratulations, Hall Master! Best wishes, Hall Master!”
“Congratulations, Hall Master! Best wishes, Hall Master!”
The deafening chants filled the hall, creating an atmosphere of fervent celebration.
Jett Thorne was preparing to practice the Venom Sect’s most advanced technique. This ritual required the blood of 999 virgins. By injecting Venomshade into their bodies, the poison would traverse their veins and saturate their systems.
Once the process was complete, their poisoned blood would be drained into the pool. The massive stone basin at the center of the hall was specifically designed to hold this blood.
Afterward, Jett Thorne would immerse himself in the pool for 49 days.
At the end of the ritual, Jett Thorne’s body would become impervious to all toxins and virtually indestructible. No aircraft, artillery, or missile would be able to harm him.
With such power, the annihilation of the Rocco family-and vengeance for his son-would be within reach.