99: Medicine King Valley Movement

Inside the library of the Tianwaitian Headquarters, Jun Xiaoyao's fingertips brushed a yellowed, ancient book fragment. It recorded the secrets of Medicine King Valley. The cinnabar annotations on the fragment's edge indicated that the valley contained a thousand-year snow lotus, which could help stabilize the Divine Soul when one Breakthrough to the Land Immortal Realm, precisely the resource Jun Xiaoyao needed at this moment.

"Young Lord, the Valley Master of Medicine King Valley, 'Poison Immortal' Wan Yaolao, has received news that we took the Pili Hall's Heaven-Shaking Cannon Secret Manual. He is currently mobilizing the valley's experts to guard against us." Zhao Gao entered with light steps, holding a scroll of intelligence. "The Net has discovered that Medicine King Valley has three Elders, all of whom are Late Grandmaster Realm. Wan Yaolao himself is at Peak Heaven-Human Realm and specializes in using poison. His bone melting powder is colorless and odorless, dissolving anything it touches."

Jun Xiaoyao placed the fragment back into the jade box and looked out the window. "bone melting powder? It sounds more interesting than heart-corroding powder." He tapped his finger lightly on the table. "Who should go?"

Zhao Gao opened the roster, his gaze stopping on one page: "Startled Nymph has just returned from the Northern Territory and is in excellent condition; coupled with the newly summoned Poison Hand Medicine King, Cheng Lingsu, one offense and one defense, they should be able to succeed."

[Name: Cheng Lingsu

From: Jin Yong's 'Fox Volant of the Snowy Mountain'

Realm: Middle Grandmaster Realm

Martial Skill: Medicine King Divine Tome (proficient in pharmacology, capable of curing all strange poisons in the world), seven star begonia (using poison against poison, killing invisibly)]

Jun Xiaoyao nodded. "Cheng Lingsu's medical skills happen to counter Wan Yaolao's poison techniques. Let Startled Nymph be responsible for breaking through the defenses, and Cheng Lingsu for support. We must obtain the thousand-year snow lotus, but there's no need to harm the Medicine King Valley's foundation—we'll keep it, it might be useful in the future."

"Yes." Zhao Gao bowed and retreated, secretly noting that the Young Lord always acted this way. Unless core interests were touched, he never annihilated completely. This was one of the reasons Tianwaitian could quietly grow in the Jianghu.

Three days later, outside Medicine King Valley.

Startled Nymph, disguised as a herb-picking girl, slowly walked towards the valley entrance with a bamboo basket on her back. Two guards stopped her, their noses twitching slightly. "You smell of medicine. Which pharmacy are you from?"

Startled Nymph lowered her head, hiding the cold glint in her eyes, her voice soft. "This humble girl is from Hundred Herbs Hall at the foot of the mountain. I heard the valley collects herbs, so I came to try my luck." As she spoke, she handed over a packet of 'Spirit Soothing Grass' she had prepared, which in reality contained a special anesthetic concocted by Cheng Lingsu.

The guard took the medicine packet, and just as he was about to inspect it, he suddenly felt dizzy. His body went limp, and he collapsed. Startled Nymph quickly dragged the two away and whistled. Cheng Lingsu, who was hiding in the dark, quickly emerged.

Cheng Lingsu, dressed in a green robe and carrying a medicine chest, had a hint of aloofness in her eyes. "The valley is laid out with the Nine-Bend Bewitching Soul Array. At the eye of the array is Wan Yaolao's natal poisonous creature, the 'Golden Silkworm'. We need to break the array first." She took a silver needle from her medicine chest, pricked her fingertip, and dripped a drop of blood onto a jade pendant. The jade pendant immediately glowed green. "Follow the green light; it will help you avoid the poisonous mist in the array."

The two entered the valley one after another, and the poisonous plants along the way retreated under the green light. Halfway there, a strange fragrance suddenly drifted from ahead. Cheng Lingsu's expression changed slightly. "It's 'Drunken Immortal Fragrance'. If you smell too much, you'll lose all your Internal Energy." She quickly took out two pills from her medicine chest, handing one to Startled Nymph. "Hold this in your mouth; it can counteract it."

Just as Startled Nymph put the pill in her mouth, dozens of poisonous arrows shot out from behind the stone walls on both sides, their tips glowing with a faint blue light. Startled Nymph's figure swayed, and the Startled Nymph Sword was unsheathed. The Sword Qi was like a flowing ribbon, blocking all the poisonous arrows. Where the sword wind swept, deep sword marks were left on the stone walls.

"Good skill!" A voice of praise came from ahead. Wan Yaolao slowly walked out, leaning on a cane, followed by three Elders. "Tianwaitian's methods are indeed well-deserved."

Cheng Lingsu stepped forward, placing her medicine chest in front of her. "Valley Master Wan, we are only here for the thousand-year snow lotus. We have no intention of becoming enemies with Medicine King Valley."

Wan Yaolao sneered, striking his cane on the ground. The ground immediately cracked, and black poisonous water gushed out. "You want the snow lotus? First, you have to get past this old man!" He flipped his wrist, and three poisonous needles shot towards Cheng Lingsu's face. The needles were coated with bone melting powder.

Cheng Lingsu calmly took out a purple leaf from her medicine chest. The leaf spun in the air, absorbing the poisonous needles. Moments later, the needles turned into a puddle of black water. "Valley Master Wan's bone melting powder, though potent, is no match for the bane of the seven star begonia."

At this moment, Startled Nymph suddenly moved. Her figure, like a ghost, rushed towards the Elder on the left. The Startled Nymph Sword, with its fierce Sword Qi, pierced directly towards his heart. The Elder hastily raised his palm to block, but was shaken back three steps by the sword light, blood spilling from the corner of his mouth—the Late Grandmaster Realm, in front of the Middle Celestial Realm Startled Nymph, was actually vulnerable.

"Stop her!" Wan Yaolao roared. The other two Elders simultaneously stepped forward, their palm winds carrying poisonous Qi as they attacked Startled Nymph. Startled Nymph's sword danced like a silver flower, neutralizing all their attacks. At the same time, she flicked her wrist, sending the poisonous gourd in the right Elder's hand Flying.

Cheng Lingsu seized the opportunity to take out a jade pendant and press it against the nearby stone wall. The stone wall slowly moved aside, revealing a secret passage. "The snow lotus is at the end of the secret passage. I'll go get it; you hold them off!"

Startled Nymph nodded, her sword moves becoming even more fierce. She fought one against three without falling into a disadvantage. Seeing this, Wan Yaolao's eyes flashed with ruthlessness. He took out a golden box from his Huai, opened the lid, and a golden silkworm crawled out—it was the Golden Silkworm.

"Go!" Wan Yaolao flicked his fingertip, and the Golden Silkworm shot towards Startled Nymph like lightning. Wherever it passed, the ground was corroded, leaving a black mark. Startled Nymph dared not be careless. A layer of Internal Energy appeared on her sword, colliding with the Golden Silkworm, making a "sizzling" sound.

Just as they were in a stalemate, Cheng Lingsu emerged from the secret passage, holding a jade box. Inside the box was the thousand-year snow lotus. The snow lotus emitted a faint white light, dispelling the surrounding poisonous mist. "We got it!"

Hearing this, Startled Nymph changed her sword moves, forcing the three back. She exchanged a glance with Cheng Lingsu and turned to leave. Wan Yaolao tried to pursue, but was blocked by the medicinal powder Cheng Lingsu had left behind—the powder turned into a white mist upon contact with air, causing anyone who inhaled it to itch all over and greatly reducing their Internal Energy.

"Tianwaitian! This old man will never rest until I've settled this with you!" Wan Yaolao's angry roar came from behind, but Startled Nymph and Cheng Lingsu had already disappeared outside the valley.

Seven days later, at the Tianwaitian Headquarters.

Jun Xiaoyao looked at the thousand-year snow lotus in the jade box. Ice crystals condensed on the snow lotus petals, emitting pure Spiritual Qi. He brushed his fingertips over the petals, feeling the immense energy contained within, and nodded in satisfaction.

"Young Lord, Wan Yaolao has sent a peace offering letter, willing to present a hundred rare herbs to Tianwaitian annually, only asking for the return of the snow lotus." Zhao Gao handed over a brocade letter.

Jun Xiaoyao closed the jade box and handed it to Zhao Gao. "Put it away and store it in the ice cellar." He looked out the window. "Tell Wan Yaolao that the snow lotus can be returned, but it needs to be exchanged for 'Soul Restoring Grass'—I heard he's recently been researching resurrection techniques, so he will definitely provide this Soul Restoring Grass."

A hint of admiration flashed in Zhao Gao's eyes. "Young Lord is brilliant."

At this moment, Flying walked in from outside, holding a newly forged iron sword. "Young Lord, this is forged from the Profound Iron of Black Wind Stockade; it's sharper than the previous sword."

Jun Xiaoyao glanced at the iron sword. The blade was dark, yet faintly shimmered with a cold light. "Not bad." He suddenly remembered something. "What about the remaining forces of Yelü Hong's Black Wind Riders?"

"Reporting to Young Lord, Little Fish has incited a third of them to defect, and the rest have been incorporated by Marshal of the Unruly into The Net's 'Iron Cavalry Camp'," Zhao Gao replied.

Jun Xiaoyao nodded, walked to the chessboard, and placed a white piece. "The Northern Territory is settled, Jiangnan has submitted. Next... it's time for the aristocratic families of the Central Domain."

The Central Domain was the heartland of the Jianghu, filled with aristocratic families. Among them, the Murong Family and Shangguan Family were the most powerful. Both families possessed ancient Martial Skill Secret Manuals, which were precisely the resources Tianwaitian needed.

"Have The Net's 'Heaven' class assassins prepare," Jun Xiaoyao's voice was calm and unwavering. "We'll test the waters with the Murong Family first."

Zhao Gao bowed in affirmation, knowing in his heart that a greater storm was about to brew in the Central Domain. And the Young Lord, who always sat calmly like a fisherman, was subtly weaving The Net's threads, little by little, around the lifeblood of the entire Jianghu.

Outside the library, moonlight spilled down, casting a long shadow of Jun Xiaoyao. He looked at the distant, continuous mountain ranges, his eyes showing no ripples—to him, the conflicts of the Jianghu were merely steps for Tianwaitian to accumulate strength. As for the so-called righteous and evil grievances, they were never a consideration for him.