152: Love Flower Poison Scheme

Inside the Medicine Hut of the Tianwaitian Headquarters, a rich herbal fragrance permeated the air. Great Doctor Ping was sitting at the desk, using a silver hairpin to pick up a bit of dark green ointment, observing it carefully against the sunlight. Tiny specks of light shimmered within the ointment, emitting a faint, ethereal scent—this was the "Suspended Animation Drug" he had refined using the sap of the Love Flower from Jueqing Valley. It only needed to be applied to the skin, and after half an hour, the user would enter a state of suspended animation, devoid of breath or pulse, capable of fooling any detection below the Heavenly Human Realm.

"Great Doctor Ping," Full of Towers' voice came from the doorway. Though blind, he walked steadily to the desk, holding a white jade bottle in his hand. "This is the 'Soul Awakening Incense' 'borrowed' from the Ten Thousand Treasures Tower. It can counteract the effects of your suspended animation drug. The timing is perfect."

Great Doctor Ping took the jade bottle, pulled out the stopper, and sniffed it, nodding in satisfaction: "Excellent. This incense is mixed with Borneol and Musk, which can both revive a person and avoid damaging the Meridians. If Gongsun Zhi falls for the trick, I guarantee he won't wake up for three days, and no traces will be found."

As the two were talking, Zhao Gao's figure appeared at the entrance of the Medicine Hut: "Great Doctor Ping, Lord Full of Towers, the Young Lord requests your presence in the secret chamber."

In the underground secret chamber, Jun Xiaoyao leaned on the cold jade couch, listening to Kongming analyze the situation. In the water mirror, an Envoy from the Kunlun Ruins was standing outside the mountain gate of Jueqing Valley, holding a brocade box, seemingly presenting a generous gift. The Valley Master, Gongsun Zhi, stood inside the gate, a proud smile on his face, clearly quite pleased with the Kunlun Ruins' gesture of goodwill.

"Gongsun Zhi is a man of considerable ambition, yet he is inherently suspicious," Kongming said, gently waving his Feather Fan. "He wants to use the power of the Kunlun Ruins to expand, but he's also afraid of being manipulated by Ling Yunxiao, which is why he has been delaying agreeing to the alliance."

Jun Xiaoyao tapped his finger lightly on the armrest of the couch: "So what we need to do is make him completely abandon the idea of cooperating with the Kunlun Ruins." He looked at Great Doctor Ping, "Is the Suspended Animation Drug ready?"

"Reporting to Young Lord," Great Doctor Ping bowed, "The medicine is prepared. We only need Gongsun Zhi to come into contact with it, and it will take effect within half an hour. However, this medicine has a drawback—it has minimal effect on Martial Artists above the Land Immortal Realm. Gongsun Zhi is at the Peak Grandmaster Realm, which is perfectly within the effective range."

Full of Towers added: "I have confirmed that Gongsun Zhi is going to the Drunken Immortal Tower outside the valley tomorrow to attend a banquet, hosting the Clan Chiefs of several small Families nearby. He has a habit of using a silver hairpin to test for poison before drinking. We can make our move on the silver hairpin."

Jun Xiaoyao nodded: "Have The Net's 'Shadow' unit handle it. Keep the action clean and leave no traces." He looked at Kongming, "After Gongsun Zhi 'dies,' Jueqing Valley will surely fall into chaos. How should we profit from this?"

Kongming unfolded a map and pointed his Feather Fan toward the depths of Jueqing Valley: "Beneath the 'Love Flower Pool' of Jueqing Valley, there is a Secret Passage leading to the 'Myriad Gu Cave' in Southern Xinjiang. That is where the 'heart-eroding gu' we need is located—this Gu can detect lies and is extremely useful for interrogation. Once Gongsun Zhi dies, the valley will definitely descend into a struggle for the Right of Succession. We can dispatch Star Plucker to sneak in and retrieve the heart-eroding gu."

"heart-eroding gu?" A flicker of interest flashed in Jun Xiaoyao's eyes. "That sounds like a useful item."

The next day, at the Drunken Immortal Tower.

Gongsun Zhi sat in the main seat, accepting the compliments of the surrounding Clan Chiefs, his face filled with smugness. He raised his wine cup, just about to drink, when the Maid beside him handed him a silver hairpin: "Valley Master, test for poison."

Gongsun Zhi took the silver hairpin and habitually stirred the wine with it; the hairpin did not change color. He nodded in satisfaction, placed the hairpin on the table, raised the cup, and drank it all. Little did he know that the groove of that silver hairpin had already been coated with a layer of colorless and odorless Suspended Animation Drug by a Luowang Assassins.

Halfway through the banquet, Gongsun Zhi suddenly felt dizzy and his vision went black. With a "thud," he collapsed onto the table, his breath gone.

"Valley Master!"

"What happened to Valley Master Gongsun?"

The scene immediately descended into chaos. The Maid checked his breathing and screamed: "Valley Master... the Valley Master has no breath!"

When the news reached Jueqing Valley, the valley indeed fell into chaos. Several of Gongsun Zhi's Disciples immediately formed factions and began fighting within the valley to seize the Right of Succession. Meanwhile, Star Plucker took advantage of the confusion and sneaked into the Love Flower Pool.

Wearing Special Gloves, he avoided the Love Flowers covered in Poisonous Thorns. Following the clues provided by Full of Towers, he found a loose Stone Slab at the bottom of the pool. Beneath the slab was indeed a Secret Passage leading to the Myriad Gu Cave.

The Myriad Gu Cave was gloomy and damp, crawling with wriggling Poisonous Insects. Star Plucker held his breath and, following the map's instructions, found a Jade Box deep inside the cave. The box was lined with Silk and contained three small, transparent insects—the heart-eroding gu.

He carefully put the Jade Box into his Treasure Pouch. Just as he was about to leave, he heard footsteps behind him. Turning around, he saw Gongsun Zhi's daughter, Gongsun Lü'e. She held a Dagger in her hand, her eyes vigilant: "Who are you? Why are you here?"

Star Plucker knew he couldn't reveal his identity, so he immediately used the Shadow Splitting Technique, creating three Afterimages. Gongsun Lü'e couldn't distinguish the real body for a moment, allowing him to seize the opportunity to escape through the Secret Passage.

In the Beyond Heaven secret chamber, Star Plucker handed the Jade Box to Jun Xiaoyao. Jun Xiaoyao opened the Jade Box, and the three heart-eroding gu immediately raised their heads and swayed slightly toward him.

"These little things are quite intelligent," Jun Xiaoyao chuckled. "Great Doctor Ping, see if they can be domesticated."

Great Doctor Ping stepped forward, observed them carefully for a moment, and nodded: "We can try. We just need to feed them a special Medicinal Liquid, and within half a month, they will only recognize our Qi."

At this moment, Full of Towers rushed in with new intelligence: "Young Lord, the news of Gongsun Zhi's 'death' reached the Kunlun Ruins. Ling Yunxiao was so angry he smashed a Teacup, saying he would personally go to Jueqing Valley to 'offer condolences,' but in reality, he wants to seize the opportunity to annex Jueqing Valley's forces."

Kongming fanned his Feather Fan: "Perfect. We can make sure he comes but never returns." He looked at Jun Xiaoyao, "Young Lord, it is time to summon a Master capable of dealing with Ling Yunxiao."

Jun Xiaoyao looked at the summoning array. The Spirit Stone energy at the Array Core was perfectly full: "Activate the summoning, locking the Realm to 'Land Immortal Realm'."

[System Notification: Consuming 5000 Points, specified Realm summoning in progress...]

[Energy converging... Character match successful...]

Dazzling golden light erupted from the array. Runes coiled upward like giant Dragons, condensing into a figure wearing a Monk's Robe. He held a Zen Staff, his face benevolent; it was none other than the "Sweeping Monk" from demi-gods and semi-devils.

[Character Panel Expanded:

Name: Sweeping Monk

Origin World: demi-gods and semi-devils

Realm: Late Terrestrial Immortal Realm

Martial Skills:

1. Seventy-Two Ultimate Skills of Shaolin: Proficient in all Shaolin ultimate skills, especially skilled in "Indestructible Vajra Body" and "Flower-Plucking Finger."

2. Three-Foot Qi Wall: Forms a Qi Wall using profound Internal Energy, capable of blocking any attack, including a full-power strike from a Peak Heaven-Human Realm expert.

3. Buddhist Dharma Salvation: Has a deterrent effect on those with weak willpower, capable of weakening their combat strength.

Additional Items:

- Bodhi Prayer Beads (Contains Buddha Power, can calm the mind and ward off evil.)

- Tattered Monk's Robe (Appears ordinary, but is actually impervious to blades and spears.)

Loyalty: 90% (Compassionate, does not easily kill, requires guidance through the 'Great Righteousness'.)]

The Sweeping Monk pressed his palms together in greeting toward Jun Xiaoyao, his voice gentle: "This Humble Monk greets the Young Lord."

Jun Xiaoyao nodded slightly: "Great Master, your Buddhist Dharma is profound, and your martial arts are unparalleled. Ling Yunxiao of the Kunlun Ruins has committed many wicked deeds. I request that Great Master take action, cripple his martial arts, and make him retreat in the face of difficulty."

The Sweeping Monk pondered for a moment, then nodded: "If this person is indeed an evildoer, this Humble Monk will certainly act."

Watching the Sweeping Monk's steady figure, Jun Xiaoyao knew that Ling Yunxiao would not be able to escape this time. With the addition of the Sweeping Monk, Beyond Heaven's strength had risen another level, enough to ensure that no force would dare to underestimate them again.

Outside the secret chamber, The Net's assassins were intensifying their training. The cracking sound of Marshal of the Unruly's Bone Whip, the Pounding Sound of Great Doctor Ping's mortar, Full of Towers' Sound Identification, and Kongming's Deduction Sounds intertwined, playing the song of Beyond Heaven's rise. Jun Xiaoyao stood by the window, gazing at the distant, continuous mountains, his eyes gleaming with confidence. His era was slowly beginning.