Chapter 73 Intrigue and Backstabbing

As soon as these words were spoken, both Mo Renxing and Wu Tianli couldn't help but be stunned.

Mo Renxing argued, "This battle is a challenge from Ren Tianxing to Lin Yue using the Five Elements Medicinal Plant Technique to determine the position of the East Mountain Medicine Garden."

Liu Qingyan said, "First, you sent someone to poison a Disciple under my gate, and now, while he is poisoned, you immediately send someone to compete with him. Have you all become this shameless? If this is allowed, then I can also first cripple Ren Tianxing's Dantian and cultivation to see how he competes!?"

Wu Tianli argued fallaciously, "Stop your baseless accusations! What evidence do you have that I sent someone to poison Lin Yue?"

Liu Qingyan said, "Whether there is evidence or not, you know it well in your heart. With the heavens above, do you dare to swear an oath to the sky?"

Upon hearing this, Wu Tianli was instantly speechless! However, Mo Renxing said, "According to Sect rules, matters between the Disciple generation should be settled by them. How can Elders interfere in their competition?"

Liu Qingyan's gaze swept over Wu Tianli and Mo Renxing like icy blades, her voice devoid of any warmth. "I don't have to interfere in a wager between the Disciple generation. However, the Disciples under my gate are not just any random cats or dogs that anyone can challenge. If Lin Yue is to accept the challenge, a wager must be added."

Wu Tianli's heart skipped a beat, but he feigned composure. "What wager? This doesn't conform to the rules!"

"Where I stand, my rules must be followed!!" Liu Qingyan gave a cold laugh and stepped aside half a pace, bringing Gongsun Lüe, who was behind her, into everyone's view. "Wu Tianli, you forcibly seized the Gongsun family's 'Zizhi Garden' and used her family as leverage to occupy the Medicine Garden and force Gongsun Lüe to administer the poison. If this matter is brought to the Council of Elders, I'm afraid your position as a Golden Core Elder will be unstable, won't it?"

Wu Tianli's expression changed drastically. He hadn't expected Liu Qingyan to have investigated this so thoroughly. He forced a defense: "Nonsense! The Qinghe Medicine Garden was voluntarily mortgaged by the Gongsun family. How can you call it a forced seizure?"

"Voluntarily?" Liu Qingyan raised her hand and threw out a Mirage Jade Slip. The moment Spiritual Qi was injected, a clear image emerged from the Jade Slip—Wu Tianli himself leading Disciples to tie Gongsun Lüe's parents to a pillar, with blades at their throats, forcing Gongsun Lüe to sign the Medicine Garden transfer deed. In the image, the cries of the elderly Madam Gongsun and the sinister laughter of Wu Tianli's Disciples were all perfectly clear.

The surrounding Disciples were in an uproar, and the way they looked at Wu Tianli changed instantly.

Wu Tianli panicked immediately, pointing at the Jade Slip and saying, "This is all forged."

"Whether it is forged or not, it will be known once it's investigated." Liu Qingyan didn't give Wu Tianli a chance to explain and continued, "My wager is that if Ren Tianxing loses, you must return the 'Zizhi Garden' seized from the Gongsun family and release her family. Additionally, the quotas for the Medicine Halls under you two Senior Brothers to obtain Spirit Medicine from the East Mountain Medicine Garden will be canceled."

This wager hit both of their sore spots precisely—the 'Zizhi Garden' was an important base Wu Tianli had seized for cultivating Spirit Medicine, and the East Mountain Medicine Garden was also a vital source of herbs for their respective Alchemy Halls. Losing this source would significantly impact their Alchemy Halls.

Mo Renxing was about to object when Wu Tianli quietly tugged at his sleeve. Wu Tianli leaned into his ear and lowered his voice: "What are you afraid of? Lin Yue has been hit by the qianji poison; even if he isn't dead, his Origin Qi is heavily damaged. Ren Tianxing's Five Elements Medicinal Plant Technique is top-tier among the younger generation; he will surely win! Once we win the Medicine Garden, both the East Mountain Medicine Garden and the Zizhi Garden will still be ours."

Mo Renxing's eyes lit up as he instantly understood the logic. Lin Yue's poisoning was a certainty, and Ren Tianxing's chances of winning were extremely high. This wager seemed harsh, but it was actually a benefit delivered to their doorstep!

The two looked at each other, both seeing greed and conceit in the other's eyes.

Wu Tianli spoke first: "Fine! I agree! If Ren Tianxing loses, I will immediately release the Gongsun family and return the Zizhi Garden; if he wins... everything in this East Mountain Medicine Garden will belong to the two of us!"

Mo Renxing also chimed in: "I also agree! However, Junior Sister Liu, don't try any tricks. If Lin Yue cheats midway, this wager won't count!"

"Don't worry, I, Liu Qingyan, do not stoop to cheating." Liu Qingyan stepped aside, revealing the tightly closed door behind her. "Lin Yue, do you dare to accept the challenge?"

"Revered Master has given the command; this Disciple does not dare to disobey." A familiar figure slowly walked out—Lin Yue was dressed in black martial attire. Although his face was somewhat pale, there was a sharp light in his eyes. However, the Spiritual Qi around him was stagnant, and his steps were unsteady, as if he might collapse at any moment.

Seeing Lin Yue in this state, Ren Tianxing's lips curled into a contemptuous smile. "Lin Yue, I advise you to take the initiative to admit defeat, so you don't make a fool of yourself in front of everyone later. Your medicinal plant technique only won against Zhao Dezhu by luck; you dare to compete with me?"

As he spoke, he raised his hand and summoned a Jasper Medicine Shovel. Deep green Spiritual Qi condensed at his fingertips as he waved it toward a withered Qing He field on the trial stage—it was precisely the wood-attribute "Wither and Bloom Art"!

Spiritual Qi surged into the soil like a waterfall. The withered Qing He turned green at a speed visible to the naked eye, and the roots stretched frantically in the soil. In less than half an incense stick's time, the entire Qing He field stood tall as before, with the stalks adorned with plump green grains, and the Spiritual Qi concentration was three times higher than before!

"So powerful! This is the 8th level top-tier Wither and Bloom Art!" The watching Disciples cried out in surprise, and even Mo Renxing nodded with satisfaction. "Tianxing's medicinal plant technique is already unmatched in the outer Sect."

Wu Tianli glanced at Liu Qingyan even more triumphantly. "Junior Sister Liu, look, this is a true medicinal plant Genius! Lin Yue's meager tricks are simply not enough to look at!"

Liu Qingyan didn't look at him, simply saying calmly, "Lin Yue, it's your turn."

Lin Yue took a deep breath and raised his hand, seemingly weak, but a wisp of pale green Spiritual Qi quietly condensed at his fingertips—his Hundred Meridians Unblocked Physique had long since copied Ren Tianxing's Wither and Bloom Art. Moreover, under the nourishment of the Myriad Poison Immunity Physique, it was even more refined than Ren Tianxing's technique!

He waved his hand toward a patch of withered ice heart grass on the other side of the trial stage. The moment the Spiritual Qi seeped into the soil, the change in the ice heart grass was even more astonishing than the Qing He—not only did it rapidly turn green, but a layer of translucent white frost also condensed on the leaves. Spiritual runes flowed under the sunlight, and even the surrounding Spiritual Qi was drawn over, forming a layer of pale white mist!

What was even more shocking was that the roots of the ice heart grass actually penetrated the hard soil layer and connected with the Spiritual Vein underground. The seedlings, which were originally only a knuckle high, actually grew to half a foot tall, and their spiritual charm was even richer than the Qing He ripened by Ren Tianxing!

"This... is also the 8th level Peak of the Wither and Bloom Art? And it's even more exquisite than Senior Brother Ren's!" The watching Disciples completely exploded. Those who previously thought Lin Yue was bound to lose now had their eyes wide open.

Ren Tianxing's smile froze on his face. He looked at the ice heart grass in disbelief. "Impossible! You clearly were hit by the qianji poison. How can you still perform such a strong technique?"

Ren Tianxing's qianji poison was guided by his mind. He knew perfectly well whether the opponent was poisoned or not.

"The qianji poison?" A cold sneer curled on Lin Yue's lips, and he suddenly straightened his back. The previous weakness vanished instantly, and the Spiritual Qi around him flowed smoothly. Where was there any sign of being poisoned? "Elder Wu's poison is indeed powerful, but unfortunately—Revered Master gave me an antidote. Your qianji poison has no effect on me now!"

These words exploded like a thunderclap. Wu Tianli and Mo Renxing's expressions changed drastically. Wu Tianli suddenly stood up and pointed at Lin Yue: "This... how is it possible? How could you possibly have the antidote?! Unless..."

This led him to the only possibility: one of the Disciples under his gate had colluded with Liu Qingyan...

This caused the gaze he directed at the group of Disciples following behind him to become fierce and cruel. "Which one of you dares to betray me and steal my antidote!"

As soon as these words were spoken, Wu Tianli's Disciples all knelt on the ground, one after another, professing their loyalty to Wu Tianli.

How could Wu Tianli know that Lin Yue possessed the Myriad Poison Immunity Physique? A mere qianji poison could not pose any threat to him at all!!