96: The Deadly Temptation of the Medicine Fairy

At the same time, the main headquarters of Deyun Hall.

Inside a secret chamber filled with a peculiar medicinal fragrance, De Xiner was sitting barefoot on a cold jade mat.

She wore a light purple long dress, her skin appearing even whiter than snow under the lamplight.

In front of her were dozens of medicinal herbs of various colors and strange shapes, as well as several electric rice cookers bubbling away.

As she practiced her breathing technique,

wisps of mist overflowed from the electric rice cookers, swirling around her, carrying a captivating, exotic fragrance. If anyone skilled in pharmacology were present, they would be horrified to discover that this seemingly wonderful scent contained at least seventeen different potent poisons.

De Xiner's slender, pale fingers danced deftly among the many herbs, occasionally picking one or two to drop into an electric rice cooker, or grinding them finely with a specially made jade pestle.

Before each major competition match, she would personally concoct and consume a potion to maximize her own toxicity.

After all, it wasn't considered cheating.

In a corner of the secret chamber, an old woman dressed in the robes of a Deyun Hall elder stood quietly. She was De Xiner's master and a respected fifth-rank master of the poison path within Deyun Hall.

"Xin'er," the old woman said affectionately, "Tomorrow's battle against Lu Yuan, you must not underestimate him. That big turtle of his has truly bizarre defensive capabilities; even Zhou Wanxiong suffered a great loss. You'd best concentrate all your strength at the start and directly attack his main body with the Hundred Poisons Heart-Devouring Gu, aiming for a one-hit kill. Do not give him a chance to summon that turtle."

De Xiner heard this and a faint smile played on her lips.

She stopped her movements and raised her clear, autumn-water-like eyes to look at her master.

"Master, don't worry, I've already prepared a surprise for him."

Her voice was soft and pleasant, yet its content was chilling.

"No matter how hard his turtle shell is, it can't withstand my Bone-Dissolving Soul-Eroding Incense. This incense is colorless and formless; once inhaled, it will disintegrate his defenses from within, corroding his vitality. No matter how tough his skin and bones, he will eventually turn into a puddle of pus."

A flicker of satisfaction crossed the old woman's eyes: "Bone-Dissolving Soul-Eroding Incense? Very good, the Hundred Poisons Heart-Devouring Gu has improved again! It can even incorporate our hall's secret miraculous poisons."

"Excellent, excellent, Xin'er. In time, you will surely become the Medicine Fairy renowned throughout the continent!"

"Master, you jest..."

De Xiner nodded slightly, her gaze turning to a small incense burner nearby, from which a faint wisp of green smoke was rising.

"However..." She extended her snow-white tongue, lightly licked her lips, and a hint of excitement flashed in her eyes, "I am more interested in his Heavenly Thunder Light Falcon."

"That pure lightning power, if I could capture it and study it carefully, would greatly benefit my Hundred Poisons Heart-Devouring Gu. Perhaps it could help me break through my bottleneck and push the path of poison to a new realm."

The old woman smiled approvingly upon hearing this: "It's good that you have such ambition. If you can acquire that Light Falcon, I can also lend you a hand."

The medicinal fragrance and poisonous mist in the secret chamber seemed to grow even thicker... The highly anticipated Prodigy Competition semifinals arrived as scheduled.

The Dome of the Heavens was even more bustling with people today, with not a single empty seat.

Above the massive circular arena, energy light screens broadcast every detail in real-time, and the commentator's passionate voice echoed in every corner.

There were no complicated procedures; it was straight to the action!

Lu Yuan secretly took a pill in the restroom, immediately feeling refreshed, and stepped onto the stage.

Opposite him, De Xiner, in a light purple long dress, slowly walked over.

Her figure was graceful, her face exquisitely beautiful, and she was enveloped in a faint mist, appearing ethereal and otherworldly, like a fairy who didn't partake in earthly food.

The audience was already erupting in cheers.

"Wife, wife!"

"Screw you, she's my wife!"

"De Xiner! Go for it!!!"

"Kill the turtle emperor! Ah, bah... kill the turtle man!"

"Kill the turtle man! Kill the turtle man!"

...Beauty was justice, and the tide of public opinion was completely one-sided. Most of the male audience members were De Xiner's supporters, while Lu Yuan experienced a complete reversal, with only a few ladies cheering for him.

"Brother Lu Yuan, nice to meet you. Please guide me," De Xiner's voice was soft and melodious, exuding charm.

This woman was very fragrant, and very poisonous!

Lu Yuan cupped his fists in return: "Senior Sister De Xiner, please enlighten me."

The referee's high-pitched voice rang out: "Canglan Province Prodigy Competition, first semifinal match, Lu Yuan versus De Xiner! The match—begins!"

Before the words even finished, De Xiner simply raised her bare hand, her slender fingers tracing a graceful arc in the air.

A colorless, traceless current of air, yet carrying a faint exotic fragrance, like a lover's gentle breath, silently diffused towards Lu Yuan.

"Brother Lu Yuan, do you like this welcoming incense from your elder sister?"

De Xiner's lips held a faint smile, but her eyes were as cold as ice.

"Seductress!" Lu Yuan cursed inwardly, already prepared.

He instantly held his breath, and Source Power rapidly circulated within his body, forming a thin, transparent shield on his skin.

The old tactic!

A flash of gold light, and the Heavenly Thunder Light Falcon soared out, its sharp eagle eyes locking onto De Xiner.

"Caw!"

It's much easier without a beast tamer!

A thick arc of lightning tore through the air, carrying a piercing whistle, and shot directly at De Xiner's face!

De Xiner's figure moved like willow catkins in the wind, gracefully and lightly sliding back several meters. Seemingly slow, she narrowly avoided the lightning arc's strike.

She's also a practitioner!

The lightning arc missed, leaving a scorched mark on the arena floor.

"Brother is so impatient," De Xiner chuckled softly, and the card slot on her right hand flickered with light.

A card glowing with a deep purple light slowly appeared—it was her Origin Card, the purple five-star skill card, Hundred Poisons Heart-Devouring Gu!

The moment the card activated, De Xiner's fair, jade-like palm was covered in dense, eerie purple patterns, like living things.

Wisps of gu worm phantoms, almost imperceptible to the naked eye, emanated from her palm, silently merging into the air, drifting along with the "welcoming incense."

The Heavenly Thunder Light Falcon circled in the air, about to launch another attack, but suddenly let out a low cry, tinged with unease.

Its agile body swayed slightly, the frequency of its gold wings flapping seemed to slow by a fraction, and a hint of imperceptible confusion and dizziness appeared in its eyes.

Its flight speed had slightly decreased!

"Not good!" Lu Yuan's heart tightened, and he immediately noticed something was wrong.

It wasn't the welcoming incense, but those gu worms!

These gu worms were actually able to directly affect the Heavenly Thunder Light Falcon!

De Xiner covered her mouth and chuckled, her voice still sweet and melodious: "Brother Lu Yuan's falcon seems a bit uncomfortable. My gu worms are all-pervasive, you know."

She waved her hand again. This time, the air was no longer filled with fragrance, but with several arrows of venom glowing with an eerie dark green light!

The arrows ripped through the air, carrying a strong, foul odor, and shot from different angles towards Lu Yuan's vital points.

"Light Falcon!" Lu Yuan commanded in a deep voice.

The Heavenly Thunder Light Falcon, enduring its discomfort, let out an angry cry, fiercely flapping its wings. Several gold lightning pillars descended from the sky, precisely striking the venom arrows.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Lightning and venom collided, erupting in clouds of pungent smoke.

Lu Yuan, meanwhile, seized the opportunity to constantly change positions, moving at high speed around the arena, trying to avoid De Xiner's all-pervasive toxic assault.

But he quickly discovered that De Xiner's attack range was vast, and her poisons were diverse, making them impossible to guard against.

Some toxic mists, when inhaled, would cause nerve paralysis and slow movement; some venom, when splashed on the skin, would instantly corrode the Source Power shield, leading to significant consumption; and even some invisible and colorless toxins silently invaded the body, interfering with the circulation of Source Power.

This was the first time he had encountered such a formidable opponent!

In just ten seconds of engagement, Lu Yuan felt that his Source Power was being consumed much faster than in any previous battle!

Fortunately, the "Hundred Herbs Clear Spirit Pill" indeed worked, allowing him to barely resist some of the direct harm from the toxins and maintain a clear mind. But the continuous toxic erosion still caused his condition to start deteriorating.

In the VIP section, Yao Xiao's heart was clenched; this De Xiner was truly a bad woman!

Yao Tianbi also looked solemn. De Xiner's troublesome nature exceeded his expectations.

"This De Xiner's application of poison has reached the pinnacle of perfection!" an announcer exclaimed.

"Lu Yuan is in danger! His Heavenly Thunder Light Falcon seems to be suppressed, and his own Source Power probably won't last much longer!"

"He thought lightning power would dispel toxins, but he outsmarted himself!"

"It's time to deploy the turtle emperor! Otherwise, the situation will be perilous!"

On the stage, De Xiner looked at Lu Yuan's somewhat disheveled figure, a triumphant smile playing on her lips.

The time was ripe!

A cold glint flashed in her eyes, and she let out a delicate cry: "Hundred Poisons Heart-Devouring Gu — Ten Thousand Gu Piercing Heart!"

In an instant, countless tiny gu worm phantoms diffused in the air, as if receiving some command, frantically converged!

They condensed into a visible dark purple torrent, exuding a chillingly evil aura, ignoring the hastily erected lightning barrier of the Heavenly Thunder Light Falcon, like a venomous python seeking to devour its prey, rushing straight for Lu Yuan's heart!

This attack was swift, precise, and ruthless! It contained terrifying penetrating and corrosive power!

"Lu Yuan!" Yao Xiao cried out in alarm.

At the critical moment!

A fierce glint flashed in Lu Yuan's eyes, and he no longer hesitated for a moment!

He suddenly roared: "Raging Waves Sea Soul!!"

"Buzz—!"

The giant turtle saved the day again!

A vast and majestic aura suddenly descended!

The enormous, mountain-like figure of the Raging Waves Sea Soul instantly appeared in front of Lu Yuan!

"Thump!"

Tidal Turtle Shell!

A surge of immense water elemental power, centered on Lu Yuan, swept out in all directions!

The toxic mist surrounding Lu Yuan, those all-pervasive gu worms, under the cleansing of this pure water element, were instantly swept away like ice and snow meeting the scorching sun!

Even the "Ten Thousand Gu Piercing Heart" torrent, which was rushing straight for Lu Yuan's heart, emitted a "sizzling" sound of dissolution the moment it touched this water elemental power. Both sides diminished each other, its power greatly reduced, and Lu Yuan eventually evaded it by wildly running, a narrow escape!

De Xiner's smile froze on her face.

Just as expected! This giant turtle!

However... a curve soon returned to her lips.

Everything was within her expectations.

She still had a trump card!