164: An Initial Exploration of the Drug World

Deep within the underground palace of the Tianwaitian Headquarters, Jun Xiaoyao twirled the incomplete pages of the poison scripture between his fingers, his gaze fixed on Liadrin.

This Paladin from another world was enveloped in Holy Light as brilliant as midday, a stark contrast to the gloom of the underground palace. The ashbringer was plunged into a rock crevice, its hilt tassel swaying gently with the airflow.

"The poisonous miasma of the Myriad Poison Grotto's Holy Altar can instantly dissolve ordinary Martial Artists who approach it. Liadrin, how much can your Holy Light purify?"

Jun Xiaoyao placed the incomplete pages on a stone table. Under the illumination of the Holy Light, the poison patterns revealed intricate veins. "This is the key to the fourth layer of Restriction. We must obtain the other two incomplete pages to complete it."

Liadrin raised the ashbringer, its tip pointing at the incomplete pages. Holy Light surged over the patterns like a tide. "The purifying power of Holy Light against evil can tear open at least a hundred zhang of poisonous miasma. If the Holy Lord were to act, it might be somewhat troublesome, but..." She raised her sword-like brows slightly. "Holy Light restrains all yin poison. If he dares to use poison attacks, it will only backfire on him."

[Character Panel Update:

Liadrin

Special Ability: Holy Light Domain (Unfurls a ten-zhang Domain. All evil poisons and Gu worms within the Domain are nullified. Lasts for one quarter of an hour. Can be activated once daily)

Additional Item: Divine Combat Boots (Wherever she steps, poisonous miasma automatically dissipates, leaving golden light traces)]

"Very good." Jun Xiaoyao nodded, looking at Blue Phoenix. "You and Liadrin will go together. Bring enough poison-attracting beads. If you detect the aura of the other two incomplete pages, there's no need to seize them by force; just send a message back." He paused, then added, "The Net will be waiting outside the Holy Altar for backup. Marshal of the Unruly has already set up a defensive line with The Unruly."

Blue Phoenix toyed with her silver snake whip, its tip lightly tapping the ground, stirring up a circle of poisonous mist. "Young Lord, rest assured, I am familiar with the poison arts of the Myriad Poison Grotto, and Liadrin's Holy Light will serve as my perfect backing!"

Three days later, outside the Myriad Poison Grotto's Holy Altar.

The poisonous miasma, like emerald green silk, draped down from the top of the Holy Altar, completely enveloping the entire mountain. In the plaza before the altar, the Saintess of the Myriad Poison Grotto, Chi Meng, guarded the entrance with the Five Poison Boys. As the boys waved their poison banners, the miasma churned even more fiercely.

"Sister, that golden-haired woman's light is so annoying, my Gu worms don't dare to go near!" A boy in a red Dudou pulled Chi Meng's sleeve, his small face scrunched up.

A ruthless glint flashed in Chi Meng's eyes as she twirled the porcelain bottle of the mother-son gu. "What are you afraid of? No matter how powerful her Holy Light is, can it withstand my Myriad Poison Grotto's 'Bone-Corroding Miasma'? Once she enters the third layer of miasma, her Holy Light will surely weaken!"

No sooner had she spoken than Holy Light, like a sharp sword, cleaved an opening in the poisonous miasma. Liadrin's figure emerged, treading on golden light traces. The ashbringer burned with raging flames; the poisonous miasma ignited upon contact, turning into green smoke.

"Holy Light Judgment!"

A giant sword phantom condensed in mid-air and slashed fiercely at the poison banners in the center of the plaza. The Five Poison Boys' banners instantly turned to ashes, and the boys shrieked as they retreated. Behind Liadrin, Blue Phoenix darted out like a phantom, her silver snake whip coiling around Chi Meng's wrist. The 'Gu-Dissolving Water' coating the whip was precisely the bane of the mother-son gu.

"Saintess, still well?" Blue Phoenix smiled, her whip tip already touching the porcelain bottle. "Your mother-son gu, it's time for an upgrade today, isn't it?"

Chi Meng's expression changed drastically. She recoiled sharply, and the porcelain bottle flew from her hand, caught by Blue Phoenix. "You dare to destroy my Gu worms?!" Dozens of poisonous centipedes flew from her sleeve, but they were incinerated into charcoal by the Holy Light as they approached Liadrin.

At the same time, the summoning array of the Tianwaitian Headquarters lit up again. Jun Xiaoyao stood before the array, a faint smile playing on his lips as he watched the figure emerging from the purple-gold light.

[Character Panel Expanded:

Name: Qiao Feng

Origin World: demi-gods and semi-devils

Realm: Peak Grandmaster Realm

Martial Skills & Cultivation Techniques:

1. Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms: Fierce and unparalleled. A single palm strike can shatter ten thousand jin of rock. The palm wind contains Dragon Qi, capable of breaking all defenses in the world.

2. Dragon Capturing Skill: Seizes objects from a distance, can restrain enemy weapons, and even induce the opponent's Internal Skill to backfire.

3. Shaolin Internal Skill: Internal Skill is mellow and enduring, with far greater stamina than those of the same Realm.

Additional Items:

- Dark Iron Dog-Beating Staff (Beggar's Sect token, can flexibly change length, contains pure Internal Skill)

- Coarse Cloth Robe (Impervious to fire and water, handmade by a Shaolin eminent monk)

Loyalty: 98% (Once acknowledged as master, will follow through life and death, despises betrayal the most)]

Qiao Feng cupped his fists, his voice like a great bell. "Qiao Feng greets Young Lord. I hear Young Lord needs assistance; Qiao is willing to serve!" His gaze swept over the weapon racks in the underground palace, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. "These weapons here actually have a bit of the Beggar's Sect style."

Jun Xiaoyao pointed to the map on the stone table, the Holy Altar's location circled in vermillion. "Deep within the Myriad Poison Grotto's Holy Altar, there is a Holy Lord of the Land Immortal Realm. Qiao Feng, do you dare to meet him?"

Qiao Feng laughed heartily, grabbing his Dark Iron Dog-Beating Staff. "What if he's a Land Immortal? My Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms specialize in countering flashy techniques!"

Deep within the Holy Altar, the Holy Lord sat cross-legged in the center of a poison pool, surrounded by seven poisonous dragons formed from the incomplete pages of the poison scripture. Sensing the invasion of Holy Light, he slowly opened his eyes, and the poisonous water in the pool churned violently.

"The Saintess couldn't even stop a woman, useless!" The Holy Lord's voice was hoarse like sandpaper. He flicked a drop of poison liquid from his fingertip, which landed on a stone pillar by the pool, instantly dissolving the pillar into pus. "Let that golden-haired woman in. I want to see if Holy Light can purify my 'Myriad Poisons Returning to Origin'!"

A loud crash echoed from outside the hall. The dragon's roar of the Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms intertwined with the sword cry of Holy Light, shaking the entire hall and splashing the poison pool water. The Holy Lord suddenly stood up, a poisonous dragon phantom formed by the seven incomplete pages appearing behind him. "Finally, a worthy opponent!"

At the Tianwaitian Headquarters, Zhao Gao hurried into the underground palace. "Young Lord, Marshal of the Unruly sent word that Liadrin and Blue Phoenix have broken through the second layer of poisonous miasma. Qiao Feng has just stepped into the Holy Altar's main entrance, and the Holy Lord's aura is fluctuating intensely!" He handed over a secret letter. "Also, Thousand-Faced Fox of Misty Rain Tower sent an invitation, saying he is willing to exchange the 'Heaven-Reaching Pagoda Fifth Floor Mechanism Diagram' for the incomplete pages of the poison scripture, only asking Young Lord to spare his life."

Jun Xiaoyao took the secret letter, glanced at it, and tossed it aside. "Thousand-Faced Fox's mechanism diagram is likely fake. Have The Net investigate his background; I want to know the power behind him." He looked at the lingering light in the summoning array. "Summon another master of mechanism arts. The Restrictions on the fifth floor of the Heaven-Reaching Pagoda are probably more complex than the poisonous miasma of the Myriad Poison Grotto."

[System Prompt: Consuming 6000 points, summoning... Matching with a Wuxia world master of mechanism arts...]

Light swirled in the array, and an old man in plain clothes, holding a Lu Ban ruler, slowly walked out. It was Gongshu Ban, the inheritor of the 'Lu Ban Classic'.

[Character Panel Expanded:

Name: Gongshu Ban

Origin World: Mozi and folk legends

Realm: Grandmaster Realm (Mechanism art attainment is equivalent to a Land Immortal)

Abilities:

1. Mechanism Puppet: Can create humanoid Puppets with combat power comparable to a Great Grandmaster, capable of mimicking an opponent's Moves.

2. Dragon Locking Array: Sets up a grand array with mechanical components, capable of trapping a Heavenly Human Realm expert for three hours.

3. Wooden Armor Art: Wooden armors created are indistinguishable from real people, capable of infiltrating any Forbidden Ground undetected.

Additional Items:

- Lu Ban Ruler (Can measure energy fluctuations and precisely locate the core of a mechanism)

- Mechanism Bird (Essential for communication and reconnaissance, speed comparable to a Pegasus)]

Gongshu Ban cupped his hands, his voice old but strong. "What kind of mechanism does Young Lord need broken? Gongshu Ban is willing to offer his humble service."

Jun Xiaoyao pointed to the fifth floor of the Heaven-Reaching Pagoda on the map. "The mechanisms here are said to require a combination of Wooden Armor Art and Internal Skill to break. We will need your assistance, Sir."

Gongshu Ban stroked his beard, placing the Lu Ban Ruler on the map. The ruler glowed green. "This is the 'Nine Interlocking Heart Array'. Each layer of mechanisms is interconnected, requiring nine cores to be broken simultaneously. Missing even one will trigger a self-destruct." A glint flashed in his eyes. "Interesting. This old man wants to meet this ancient mechanism!"

Inside the Holy Altar, Qiao Feng's Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms and the Holy Lord's Myriad Poisons Returning to Origin clashed head-on. Palm winds and poisonous mist exploded, making the entire hall tremble. Liadrin's Holy Light Domain unfolded, protecting Blue Phoenix within it, as the poisonous dragon phantom roared in agony within the Holy Light.

"Holy Lord, we'll take two incomplete pages of your poison scripture and leave, how about it?" Blue Phoenix waved the porcelain bottle in her hand, the mother-son gu trembling inside. "Otherwise... your Five Poison Boys might truly become 'No' Poison Boys."

The Holy Lord roared, and the poisonous dragon violently charged at Qiao Feng, only to be shattered by the Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms. "Dream on!" He grabbed the remaining five incomplete pages, about to crush them, but was stopped by a suddenly appearing wooden armored man—the wooden armored man looked exactly like Qiao Feng, and his palm techniques were identical!

"Gongshu Ban's Wooden Armor Art?!" The Holy Lord was greatly alarmed. In that moment of distraction, Blue Phoenix had already swept behind him, her silver snake whip snatching away two incomplete pages. Liadrin's Holy Light simultaneously enveloped him, purifying all the poisonous miasma around him.

"Retreat!" Blue Phoenix whipped around the wooden armored man, and together with Liadrin and Qiao Feng, they rushed out of the poisonous miasma's opening. The Net's forces were already waiting outside, and Marshal of the Unruly led The Unruly in covering their rear. By the time the poisonous miasma closed again, they had vanished at the end of the mountain path.

At the Tianwaitian Headquarters, Jun Xiaoyao took the two incomplete pages handed to him by Blue Phoenix. Piecing them together with the previous ones, the poison patterns finally formed a complete spiral. Gongshu Ban measured it with his Lu Ban Ruler, and the ruler's green light surged. "Young Lord, please see, these poison patterns perfectly match the mechanism lock on the fifth floor of the Heaven-Reaching Pagoda. All nine core locations are clearly marked!"

Qiao Feng leaned his Dark Iron Dog-Beating Staff against the corner, traces of poisonous miasma still clinging to his coarse cloth robe. "The Holy Lord's expression when he was tangled with the wooden armored man was truly satisfying!" He looked at Jun Xiaoyao, cupping his fists. "Young Lord, if you have any more opponents like that, just call on Qiao!"

Jun Xiaoyao's fingertip traced the complete poison patterns, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes. With the poison scripture of the Myriad Poison Grotto in hand, and the keys to the fourth and fifth floors of the Heaven-Reaching Pagoda collected, next... it was Thousand-Faced Fox of Misty Rain Tower's turn.

"Zhao Gao," he said calmly, "send a message back to Thousand-Faced Fox. Tell him I'm not interested in his mechanism diagram, but I am very interested in the 'heart-eroding gu' he has hidden beneath Misty Rain Tower."

Zhao Gao bowed and replied, "Yes, Young Lord. Also, the System prompts that cross-world summoning permissions have been upgraded. Next time, 'Mythical-level' characters can be summoned, requiring 10,000 points."

Jun Xiaoyao looked at the increasingly dense purple-gold light in the summoning array, the smile at the corner of his mouth deepening. Mythical-level? He wondered which 'Great God' he would summon.