234: Chu Liuxiang's Secret Trail

The candlelight in the core hall of Beyond Heaven burned all night, as Jun Xiaoyao twirled a silver needle tipped with venom between his fingers.

The tip of the silver needle glowed with a faint blue luster—this was information Zhao Gao had pried from Lei Wanjun, the 'Mechanism Guide' from Ten Thousand Poisons Valley. Those afflicted would have their bones and muscles shattered but wouldn't die immediately, making it specialized for interrogation.

"Murong Fu has indeed colluded with Ten Thousand Poisons Valley." Zhao Gao stood at the foot of the steps, presenting a secret report. "The scout says Murong Fu has entered Ten Thousand Poisons Valley territory with three carts of profound iron as an offering.

The Valley Master, 'Poison Granny,' personally received him. The two talked in secret at the valley entrance for half an hour, after which Murong Fu's men began setting up defenses outside the valley, as if waiting for something."

Jun Xiaoyao held the silver needle over the candlelight, and the faint blue gradually faded, revealing its original silvery-white color.

"Waiting for news from Fragrant Bat." His voice was calm, but his gaze fell upon the map on the wall. The location of Ten Thousand Poisons Valley was circled in vermilion, with 'geothermal hot spring' annotated nearby—the geothermal resource he had been interested in before.

1. summoning array Re-activated, Medical Immortal Descends

At this moment, the summoning array in the hall suddenly lit up with a soft green light, and the runes rippled like water.

Jun Xiaoyao looked up, and an old man in a medicinal robe slowly walked out of the array. His hair and beard were all white, he carried a medicine chest on his back, held a thousand-year snow lotus in his hand, and exuded a gentle aura.

[Summoning Successful]

[Character: Medical Immortal (Xue Muhua)]

[From: Jin Yong's demi-gods and semi-devils World]

[Realm: Late Grandmaster Realm]

[Martial Skill Cultivation Technique:

1. Spring Hand (Perfection) — Can cure all poisons, healing speed far surpasses ordinary medical skills, has special sensitivity to exotic poisons

2. poison scripture (Major Achievement) — Familiar with the characteristics of all poisons under heaven, capable of using poison against poison and refining antidotes

3. Lightness Skill 'Treading Snow Without a Trace' (Minor Achievement) — Agile movements, suitable for infiltration and reconnaissance]

[Loyalty: 100%]

"This old man Xue Muhua greets the Young Lord." Medical Immortal cupped his hands in salute, the copper lock on his medicine chest clinking softly. "I heard the Young Lord needs to neutralize the poisons of Ten Thousand Poisons Valley?"

Jun Xiaoyao nodded and pushed the 'Mechanism Guide' silver needle towards him: "Poison Granny's unique hidden weapon, does Medical Immortal have a way to neutralize it?"

Medical Immortal took the silver needle, sniffed it lightly at his nose, then scraped off a bit of powder with his fingertip to examine it closely, his brows slightly furrowed: "This poison is refined from a mixture of seven cold snake venoms and earth vein Yin Qi. Ordinary antidotes are ineffective.

However, the 'seven star grass' I carry can counteract it, but it needs to be combined with the 'ice fire flower' from the valley as a medicinal primer."

"ice fire flower?"

"Precisely. Deep within Ten Thousand Poisons Valley, there's a geothermal spring eye, and ice fire flowers grow by the spring. They are resistant to both cold and heat, and are key to neutralizing this Yin poison." Medical Immortal carefully put away the silver needle. "If the Young Lord wishes to enter the valley, this old man is willing to accompany you."

2. Marshal Xiang's Message, Traces of a Secret Vault

Just then, a homing pigeon landed on the windowsill outside the hall, a small scroll of paper tied to its leg.

Zhao Gao took down the scroll, unrolled it, and handed it to Jun Xiaoyao—it was Fragrant Bat's handwriting, elegant in strokes, yet carrying a hint of caution.

"The defenses on the outskirts of Ten Thousand Poisons Valley are stricter than imagined. Murong Fu's men have set up a 'Locked Snake Array,' with Snake Slaves guarding every three steps.

Poison Scorpion Woman, Poison Granny's granddaughter, is patrolling with a team of maidservants, a string of secret vault keys hanging from her waist. There are seven different locks—it's inferred that the secret vault has seven doors.

I've already reached the vicinity of the geothermal spring and found ice fire flowers, but the spring eye is surrounded by a stone tower, covered in carved poison patterns. Also, Murong Fu seems to be waiting for a batch of 'guests.' I overheard Snake Slaves chatting, they sound like people from Blood Saber Sect."

After reading, Jun Xiaoyao pointed his finger at the stone tower's location on the map: "Fragrant Bat needs help. Medical Immortal Xue, take ten Luowang Assassinss to meet him. You must get the ice fire flower and investigate the stone tower's true nature along the way."

Medical Immortal Xue responded: "This old man understands, I'll depart now." With that, he picked up his medicine chest, and his figure quickly disappeared outside the hall—though his lightness skill was only at Minor Achievement, it was enough for him to traverse the dense forest with ease.

3. The Net's Covert Movement, Breaking the Snake Array

On the outskirts of Ten Thousand Poisons Valley, Fragrant Bat was crouched in the canopy of an ancient tree, watching the patrolling Snake Slaves below. These Snake Slaves were shirtless, with venomous snakes coiled around their arms. Every time the copper bells at their waists jingled, the snakes would raise their heads and hiss, forming an invisible Warning line.

"The Locked Snake Array, with snake whispers as signals, and copper bells as command signals."

Fragrant Bat whispered into the communicator behind his ear, "Poison Scorpion Woman is here. Her string of keys is very conspicuous. The seventh key is crescent-shaped; it should correspond to the final door."

Medical Immortal Xue's voice came from the other end of the communicator: "Marshal Xiang, please wait. This old man has arrived on the west side and brought 'snake repelling powder,' which can temporarily deafen the venomous snakes."

A moment later, a gentle breeze blew, carrying a faint scent of herbs. The venomous snakes below suddenly became restless, coiling up one after another, no longer responding to the sound of the copper bells. The Snake Slaves were in a panic, and Poison Scorpion Woman rushed over upon hearing the commotion, her string of keys jingling with her steps.

"What's going on?" Poison Scorpion Woman demanded sharply, flicking her whip at a nearby Snake Slave. "You can't even keep an eye on the snakes?"

Fragrant Bat seized the opportunity to leap from the tree, landing behind Poison Scorpion Woman like a falling leaf, lightly tapping her wrist. Poison Scorpion Woman cried out in surprise, and the string of keys had already fallen into Fragrant Bat's hand.

"Thank you for the gift, young lady." Fragrant Bat chuckled softly, then turned and left, his Treading Snow Without a Trace lightness skill instantly putting distance between them.

Poison Scorpion Woman was both shocked and enraged, waving her hand to release three poison needles: "Leave the keys!"

The silver needles pierced through the air but were deflected by Medical Immortal Xue, who had arrived shortly after, using his Spring Hand. "Little girl, your poison needles are still a bit too green." Medical Immortal Xue smiled and brandished the medicinal powder in his hand. "Move again, and don't blame this old man for letting your snake swarm bite you instead."

Poison Scorpion Woman looked at the restless venomous snakes on the ground, then at Fragrant Bat's disappearing back in the distance. She stamped her foot in anger but dared not pursue—she knew that the snakes of Ten Thousand Poisons Valley were most afraid of the herbal scent Medical Immortal Xue carried.

4. Exploring the Stone Tower, Geothermal Mysteries

Fragrant Bat arrived before the stone tower with the string of keys. Sure enough, the seven keys corresponded one by one to the seven stone doors.

The temperature inside the tower suddenly rose. Hot air from the geothermal spring eye seeped through the cracks in the stone, intertwining with the cold air outside, condensing into water droplets on the walls.

"The ice fire flower is right by the spring eye." Fragrant Bat used the last key to open the seventh door, and his vision suddenly cleared—on the stone platform in the center of the spring eye, the ice fire flower bloomed enchantingly. Half its petals were covered in white frost, while the other half glowed red, swaying in the hot air.

Just as he was about to step forward to pick it, the stone tower suddenly vibrated, the poison patterns on the walls glowed red, and cracks appeared in the ground, revealing rolling magma beneath. "Oh no, it's a trap!"

Medical Immortal Xue's voice came through the communicator: "Marshal Xiang, be careful! This tower is an 'Ice Fire Two Extremes Array.' One wrong step and you'll fall into the magma!"

Fragrant Bat steadied himself, using his lightness skill to move deftly across the stone platform, avoiding the continuously cracking ground.

He noticed that the roots of the ice fire flower were embedded in a piece of profound iron, and the profound iron was connected to an iron chain at the top of the tower. "Medical Immortal, this flower needs to be taken with the profound iron!"

"Profound iron conducts heat, which is key to counteracting the earth vein Yin Qi! Hurry and get it, Murong Fu's people are almost here!"

Fragrant Bat no longer hesitated, drawing the short blade from his waist to cut the iron chain. He then embraced the ice fire flower, still attached to the profound iron, and rushed out of the stone tower.

Just as he exited the tower gate, he saw Murong Fu arriving with the Blood Saber Sect members. The Blood Saber Old Ancestor, leading the group, held his blood saber, a sinister smile on his face.

"Fragrant Bat, leave the ice fire flower, and I'll spare your life!" Murong Fu shouted, his eyes filled with greed—he knew this flower could not only detoxify but also enhance Internal Skill, crucial for breaking through to the Heavenly Human Realm.

Fragrant Bat chuckled softly, tossing the ice fire flower into the air. At the same time, his figure flickered, drawing everyone's attention. The Luowang Assassinss, already ambushed nearby, immediately sprang into action, clashing with the Blood Saber Sect members. Medical Immortal Xue seized the opportunity to catch the ice fire flower and quickly placed it into his medicine chest.

"Retreat!" Fragrant Bat gave the signal, his figure disappearing into the dense forest like a wisp of smoke. Murong Fu roared in anger at the sight but was entangled by the Luowang Assassinss, only able to watch them leave with the ice fire flower.

5. Beyond Heaven's Order, Adding More Chips

When Medical Immortal Xue returned to Beyond Heaven with the ice fire flower, Jun Xiaoyao was waiting in front of the summoning array.

Seeing the ice fire flower in the medicine chest, he lightly touched its petals, feeling the intertwining cold and hot energy, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"With this, the poisons of Ten Thousand Poisons Valley are no longer a concern."

Jun Xiaoyao looked at Zhao Gao, "Notify Marshal of the Unruly to have The Net consolidate its defenses North of the River, focusing on the movements of Ten Thousand Poisons Valley and Blood Saber Sect."

Zhao Gao acknowledged and withdrew, leaving only Jun Xiaoyao and Medical Immortal Xue in the hall.

Medical Immortal Xue placed the refined antidote on the table; it was precisely the bane of the 'Mechanism Guide.'

"Young Lord, are we going to deal with Murong Fu next?"

Jun Xiaoyao picked up the antidote, examining it under the candlelight. The powder shimmered faintly in the light.

"No rush," he said calmly. "Let him and Blood Saber Sect fight like dogs first. We... will just reap the benefits."

The light of the summoning array brightened again. This time, the color of the runes was deeper than before, seemingly foreshadowing the arrival of the next summoned character.

Jun Xiaoyao knew that with Ten Thousand Poisons Valley entering the game, the struggle for resources on the continent would become even more intense, but he didn't care—The Net had already spread to the Southern Territory, and Beyond Heaven's chess pieces had only just begun to fall.