392: Seven Star Begonia Causes Toxic Tide

On the ice altar in the Hanyue Valley Underground Palace, the seven star begonia specimen left by Cheng Lingsu emitted a faint purple glow.

Jun Xiaoyao's fingertip brushed a petal, and ripples suddenly appeared in the water mirror—within the Ten Thousand Poisons Cult's mountain gate, all poisonous creatures that had come into contact with the begonia nectar began to stir restlessly.

The Poison Scorpions and centipedes that had been lurking in the corners actually rushed towards the main hall in groups, as if fleeing from some even more terrifying aura.

[System Prompt: seven star begonia's aura has triggered internal chaos within the Ten Thousand Poisons Cult, fulfilling the condition of "fighting poison with poison," unlocking new area "Poison King Hall."]

Zhao Gao walked in, holding a newly organized list, his voice very low: "Young Lord, the list of forces colluding with the Third Prince has been compiled. Among them, Xuantian Sect accounts for 30%, and two Holy Lands are secretly providing poison sources." He placed the list on the ice altar, his gaze unconsciously drifting towards the chaotic Ten Thousand Poisons Cult in the water mirror. "Miss Cheng's methods are truly formidable; the Ten Thousand Poisons Cult is in utter chaos now."

Jun Xiaoyao didn't look at the list, his gaze fixed on a figure that suddenly appeared in the water mirror—the Xuantian Sect Sect Master was leading Elders into the Ten Thousand Poisons Cult's main hall, clearly intending to seize the poison scripture guarded by the poisonous creatures. "Is there any movement from Marshal of the Unruly?" he suddenly asked.

Zhao Gao quickly brought up another water mirror. In the image, Marshal of the Unruly was mixed in with the Xuantian Sect's handyman team, following the large group into the Ten Thousand Poisons Cult. "Marshal of the Unruly sent back a message: the Xuantian Sect has long coveted the poison scripture, and this time they are using the Third Prince's hand to weaken the Ten Thousand Poisons Cult, so they can reap the benefits."

Life-and-Death Gamble in the Poison King Hall

The water mirror switched to the Poison King Hall, the deepest part of the Ten Thousand Poisons Cult. On a stone platform in the center of the hall lay a black-covered scroll, which was the poison scripture. The surrounding ground was covered with colorful poisonous insects, forming a natural barrier. The Xuantian Sect Sect Master stood outside the hall, sneering at the Disciples behind him: "Whoever retrieves the poison scripture will be rewarded with one hundred High-Grade Spirit Stones!"

Several Disciples immediately gathered their Qi and rushed forward, but before they could take three steps, they were gnawed to white bones by the poisonous insects. Marshal of the Unruly, hidden behind the crowd, quietly buried a message talisman in the corner of the wall. The talisman paper touched the poisonous liquid on the ground and instantly turned into a wisp of green smoke—this was Cheng Lingsu's specially made "Poison message talisman," capable of transmitting the types and concentrations of surrounding poisonous creatures back to Hanyue Valley.

[Marshal of the Unruly's message: There are seven types of potent poisons in the Poison King Hall, among which 'heart-rotting grass' needs to be countered with seven star begonia nectar, and 'Bone-Eating Worms' fear sulfur.]

Jun Xiaoyao looked at the message and nodded to Zhao Gao: "Have Cheng Lingsu send a batch of sulfur powder over, but be careful not to expose Marshal of the Unruly's location." He tapped his fingertip on the ice altar. "The Xuantian Sect wants to snatch the poison scripture? Good, let them scout the way for us."

In the water mirror, a Xuantian Sect Elder conjured a bronze mirror. Where the mirror light shone, the poisonous insects scattered. The Sect Master laughed at the sight: "Mere poisonous creatures, dare to block me?" He was the first to step into the Poison King Hall, followed closely by his Disciples. However, when the bronze mirror shone on the poison scripture, the mirror surface suddenly shattered, countless fragments flying out, cutting several Disciples. Black blood immediately emerged from their wounds.

"It's rebound poison!" Marshal of the Unruly whispered from the shadows, quietly sprinkling sulfur powder on the Bone-Eating Worms near him, watching them turn into pus. "This poison scripture has a trap; forcibly taking it will trigger 'returning the favor in kind'!"

Cheng Lingsu's poison scripture Deciphering Technique

Cheng Lingsu's figure suddenly appeared outside the Poison King Hall. She carried a medicine basket, holding a blooming seven star begonia in her hand, its petals glistening with nectar in the sunlight. "Friends from the Xuantian Sect," her voice was soft, yet it clearly echoed throughout the hall, "this poison scripture cannot be taken by brute force."

The Sect Master turned back, glaring furiously: "Who are you? How dare you meddle in my Xuantian Sect's affairs?"

Cheng Lingsu ignored him and walked straight to the stone platform, dripping the seven star begonia's nectar onto the poison scripture's cover. The black cover, upon contact with the nectar, actually glowed green, and the previously restless poisonous insects instantly quieted down. "Every page of the poison scripture has been soaked in a different poisonous liquid," she said, taking seven silver needles from her medicine basket and inserting them into the seven corners of the poison scripture. "Forcibly opening it will lead to poisoning."

The positions where the silver needles were inserted corresponded precisely to the seven potent poisons mentioned in Marshal of the Unruly's message. When the last silver needle fell, the poison scripture automatically opened, revealing blank inner pages. Cheng Lingsu explained: "The true content of the poison scripture is hidden in the reflection of the poisonous liquid." She held up a water mirror, reflecting the poison scripture's shadow in the mirror—the previously blank pages, in the reflection, displayed dense golden characters.

The Xuantian Sect Sect Master's face turned ashen, but he had to admit that her methods were more brilliant. He snorted coldly: "Consider yourself formidable, but this poison scripture is ours, the Xuantian Sect's, to take!" With that, he waved his hand, signaling his Disciples to rush forward and snatch the water mirror.

Marshal of the Unruly's Covert Maneuver

Just as the two sides were in a standoff, Marshal of the Unruly, taking advantage of the chaos, quietly circled to the side door of the Poison King Hall. Behind the side door was a secret room with portraits of successive Ten Thousand Poisons Cult Masters hanging on the wall. In the corner of one painting, the Xuantian Sect's emblem was actually depicted. "So they colluded long ago." Marshal of the Unruly took out the "Manifesting Powder" given by Cheng Lingsu and sprinkled it on the painting. A line of small text immediately appeared on the painting: "The seventh page of the poison scripture contains the Xuantian Sect's secret method."

He was about to write down the content when he heard footsteps behind him. Marshal of the Unruly quickly put away the Manifesting Powder and pretended to be a handyman tidying his clothes. Two Xuantian Sect Disciples entered, one of them whispered: "The Sect Master said that after obtaining the poison scripture, immediately use the 'Heart-Corroding Curse' to deal with the Ten Thousand Poisons Cult remnants; leave no survivors."

Marshal of the Unruly's heart tightened. He quietly activated the "Sound-Recording Talisman" given by Cheng Lingsu. The talisman paper floated above their heads, recording their conversation verbatim: "Remember to tear off the seventh page of the poison scripture; the 'Heart-Devouring Art' on it is specifically requested by the Sect Master..."

Holy Land Anomaly in the water mirror

In the Hanyue Valley Underground Palace, Jun Xiaoyao watched the scene in the water mirror of the Xuantian Sect Disciples snatching the water mirror, a cold smile playing on his lips. Zhao Gao suddenly exclaimed: "Young Lord, look over there!"

In the corner of the water mirror, on a previously empty mountaintop, three suspended palaces suddenly appeared—these were the symbols of Holy Lands. The plaque of one palace read "Pill King Valley," another was "Sword Forging Manor," and the third palace was shrouded in mist, its characters unclear.

[System Prompt: Holy Land forces have intervened, current area danger Rank has increased to "Purgatory."]

Cheng Lingsu evidently also noticed the suspended palaces. She called out to the Xuantian Sect Sect Master: "You may take the poison scripture if you wish, but with the Holy Land people here, are you sure you still want to fight among yourselves?"

The Sect Master looked up at the suspended palaces, his expression changing drastically. At this moment, a golden light suddenly shot out from the mist-shrouded palace, striking the roof of the Poison King Hall. Countless poisonous dust fell from the cracks—Disciples who came into contact with the poisonous dust instantly stiffened and turned into stone statues.

"It's petrifying poison!" Cheng Lingsu quickly pulled out a handful of green powder from her medicine basket and scattered it into the air. The powder, upon contact with the poisonous dust, ignited with green flames. "Quickly use sulfur powder! This poisonous dust fears fire!"

Marshal of the Unruly seized the opportunity to scatter the sulfur powder he carried from the side door towards the main hall. Combined with Cheng Lingsu's flames, it temporarily blocked the spread of the poisonous dust. Seeing this, the Xuantian Sect Sect Master no longer cared about snatching the poison scripture and shouted: "Retreat! First avoid the Holy Land's attack!"

Beyond Heaven's Hidden Chess Piece Activated

Watching the Xuantian Sect Disciples flee in disarray, Cheng Lingsu gave Marshal of the Unruly a knowing look. Marshal of the Unruly understood, quietly placing the Sound-Recording Talisman, which contained the "Heart-Corroding Curse" conversation, into a hidden compartment of the poison scripture. Cheng Lingsu then put the water mirror into her medicine basket and said to the Void Realm: "Does Young Lord mean for me to temporarily keep this poison scripture?"

In the water mirror, Jun Xiaoyao's figure behind the ice altar nodded slightly.

Zhao Gao whispered: "Young Lord, Pill King Valley and Sword Forging Manor have both sent people out. Their direction indicates they are heading towards the Ten Thousand Poisons Cult." He pointed to the two groups of people appearing in the water mirror—Pill King Valley's Disciples held Pill Furnaces, and Sword Forging Manor's warriors carried giant swords, clearly not coming with good intentions.

Cheng Lingsu placed the poison scripture into a specially made jade box and said to Marshal of the Unruly: "You handle distracting the Holy Land people; I'll take the poison scripture back to Hanyue Valley." Marshal of the Unruly nodded, whistled, and a group of Bone-Eating Worms attracted by the sulfur powder suddenly poured in from the side door, crawling towards the direction of Pill King Valley—this was the "bug bait" he had arranged beforehand.

Ambush on the Return Journey and seven star begonia's Backlash

As soon as Cheng Lingsu walked out of the Ten Thousand Poisons Cult mountain gate, she was stopped by two Holy Land envoys. The envoys wore white robes and bronze masks on their faces. One of them said coldly: "The poison scripture belongs to the Holy Land; leave it, and we will spare your life."

Cheng Lingsu chuckled softly, holding up the seven star begonia in front of her: "Want the poison scripture? First ask if it agrees."

The begonia petals suddenly moved without wind, emitting a rich fragrance. The envoys, smelling the scent, their expressions under their masks changed drastically: "seven star begonia? You are Cheng Lingsu?"

"Indeed." Cheng Lingsu flicked out two silver needles, stabbing them towards the envoys' wrists. "This begonia nectar is something a certain Elder of your Holy Land sought for three years without success. Are you sure you want to snatch it?"

The envoys' movements noticeably paused. At this moment, Cheng Lingsu's face suddenly paled, and she clutched her chest—the seven star begonia's fragrance actually began to backfire, and a trace of black blood overflowed from the corner of her mouth. "Oh no, this nectar will lose its effect within the Holy Land's range!"

The envoys sneered at the sight: "Good that you know, now die!" Both attacked simultaneously, their palm winds carrying immense spiritual Qi pressing down on Cheng Lingsu.

At the critical moment, a mace shadow shot out from an oblique angle, deflecting the palm wind. General Qin Qiong's voice carried a smile: "Miss Cheng, Young Lord sent me to pick you up." Behind him followed five hundred Luowang Assassins, each holding a long saber coated with sulfur powder, radiating Killing Intent.

Seeing the overwhelming numbers and wary of General Qin Qiong's mace technique, the envoys exchanged glances and quickly retreated. Cheng Lingsu leaned against General Qin Qiong, smiling weakly: "Thank you, General Qin."

New Orders for Hanyue Valley

Before the water mirror, Jun Xiaoyao watched Cheng Lingsu being protected by General Qin Qiong as she walked back, and nodded to Zhao Gao: "Have Marshal of the Unruly continue to lie low and keep a close eye on the movements of the Xuantian Sect and the Holy Land." He picked up the Sound-Recording Talisman handed by Zhao Gao, infused it with spiritual Qi, and the talisman paper transformed into a stream of light, entering Marshal of the Unruly's sleeve pouch in the water mirror.

[Jun Xiaoyao's Instruction: Investigate the transaction records between the Holy Land and the Xuantian Sect, focusing on the use of the "Heart-Corroding Curse."]

Zhao Gao added: "Young Lord, the people from Sword Forging Manor have started to blockade the Ten Thousand Poisons Cult; it seems they want to monopolize the poisonous creature resources here. Pill King Valley, on the other hand, is collecting the petrified Disciples everywhere, not sure what they're up to."

Jun Xiaoyao drew a circle on the ice altar, encompassing the locations of Pill King Valley and Sword Forging Manor: "They are snatching poisonous dust samples, wanting to use the petrifying poison to improve Medicinal Pills and weapons." He looked at the poison scripture jade box that Cheng Lingsu brought back in the water mirror. "Have Ouyezi prepare the furnace; we need to add a 'lock' to this poison scripture, so it can't be easily taken by the Holy Land."

The seven star begonia specimen on the ice altar suddenly trembled, the purple light from its petals illuminating the cold glint in Jun Xiaoyao's eyes. In the water mirror, the mist shrouding the suspended palaces gradually dispersed, revealing three characters on the plaque of the third palace: "Tianshu Hall."

[System Prompt: Tianshu Hall opened, unlocking information related to new Realm "Shattering the Void."]

Jun Xiaoyao looked at those three characters, a meaningful smile playing on his lips. The territory of Beyond Heaven, it's time to expand it further.