Chapter 1005: Someone from the Poison Hall Headquarters

Elder Xu You nodded and recounted in detail everything that had happened with Zhang Xuan.

“You say… a fourth-level Saint realm alien appeared in Jingyuan City? And wanted to kill you, but Master Sun saved you?”

Everyone was startled.

The alien itself was powerful, and a fourth-level Saint realm was even more terrifying. For him to risk such danger to save Xu You showed a courage they could not match.

“Not only that, on the way here, Master Sun explained the basics of poison use. It was too profound, so I didn’t remember much, but even what I did recall, if understood, could benefit me for life…”

Xu You could not help saying.

“Let’s hear it…”

Hearing that the “Ancestral Master” had taught him, everyone showed envy and looked over.

Xu You did not hide anything and recounted everything he could remember.

After hearing his explanation, everyone was so excited their faces turned pale, unable to contain themselves.

As he had said, though it was basic, it pointed directly to the Great Way, giving them a feeling of sudden enlightenment.

“No need to guess—that soul must be the founding ancestor… Besides him, I can’t think of anyone else who could have such a deep understanding of poison…”

After discussing for a while, Ruo Qingyuan could not help saying.

Previously, though most of his identity was believed, there were still doubts. Now, hearing Elder Xu’s explanation, there was no more suspicion.

Only the true founder of the Poison Hall could have such profound insight into poison, explaining even the simplest cultivation techniques without error, pointing directly to the essence of the Great Way.

“Alright, send people to repair the damaged buildings quickly. Duan Ren and Ming Zhen offended the Ancestral Master and shall suffer death by poison!”

Having confirmed this in his heart, Ruo Qingyuan ordered.

“Yes!”

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Duan Ren, Ming Zhen, and the others had not only brought shame upon themselves but also implicated so many people—their crimes were unforgivable.

“That’s all for today. Vice Hall Master Xu, go wait outside the Scripture Library. Once Master Sun finishes reading, call me…” Ruo Qingyuan nodded.

“Alright!”

Xu You acknowledged and was about to stand up when he saw the Hall Master frown, flip his wrist, and produce a communication jade token.

The jade token emitted a warm glow; someone was sending a message.

After glancing at it, the Hall Master quickly stood up, his eyes brightening: “The headquarters… has sent someone!”

“Headquarters sent someone?”

Everyone was stunned.

“They say two seven-star peak poison masters are about to arrive and want us to welcome them!”

Having said this, the Hall Master hurried out.

Everyone followed closely.

Before long, they arrived at the place where Elder Xu and Zhang Xuan had landed on the flying sacred beast earlier. Not long after waiting, they saw the seal open and a huge sacred beast slowly fly over.

On the back of the sacred beast, two old men stood proudly. Even before they approached, they exuded a strong pressure.

Seven-star peak poison masters, fourth-level Saint realm experts!

“Poison Master Bai, Poison Master Hai…”

Recognizing their faces, Ruo Qingyuan’s brows jumped, and he quickly cupped his fists and bowed.

Although the Hongyuan Poison Hall was very secretive, it maintained close contact with the headquarters above. Poison Master Bai Ting and Poison Master Hai Mingjin were both famous and extremely formidable in the superior branch.

Poison Master Bai waved his hand, descended from the sacred beast’s back, looked at the man before him, and frowned: “Where is your Hall Master Ruo? Why hasn’t he come to welcome us?”

“Ahem… I am Hall Master Ruo Qingyuan!” Ruo Qingyuan was very embarrassed.

He had been beaten black and blue by Zhang Xuan, so not only could the two not recognize him, even his wife or parents might not be sure.

“You…”

Poison Master Bai glanced at Poison Master Hai, and they both twitched their mouths: “Hall Master Ruo, how did you end up like this?”

Ruo Qingyuan was a poison master of the same level as them, though slightly weaker, not too far off. For such a strong person to be beaten like this in his own lair—what on earth had happened?

Shocked, he looked at the other elders and his eyelids twitched again.

He saw that these elders were all more or less injured, except for one who was still intact.

“This… it’s a long story. The two of you have come in person—does the headquarters have any instructions?”

Shaking his head with a bitter smile, Ruo Qingyuan looked over.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to say, but it was too embarrassing.

“Over two thousand years ago, did your branch obtain a book from a ruin in Fire Source City?” Seeing that he was unwilling to say more, Poison Master Bai tactfully stopped asking and said.

“Yes!” Ruo Qingyuan nodded.

This book was just mentioned to Poison Master Sun, and I remember it very clearly.

"Good that it exists. This time, headquarters sent us here precisely to retrieve this book."

Hearing that he did not deny it, White Poison Master breathed a sigh of relief and said.

"Retrieve?"

Unexpectedly, headquarters had sent two Seven-Star peak Poison Masters, making such a big fuss, just for a book. He paused, then Ruo Qingyuan said, "This book has been placed in the Hall of the殿主's Tomb. If you two are not in a hurry, you may first wait in the Guest Hall..."

This book was of no use staying here anyway; since headquarters sent someone to fetch it, he would just give it to them.

Before he finished speaking, he saw Elder Xu and the others standing not far away, their faces somewhat awkward. One elder could no longer hold back, and a lowered voice came over.

"殿主... the Guest Hall has been destroyed..."

Among the many buildings that had collapsed in the previous battle, the Guest Hall was included.

Now it was a pile of rubble; taking the two visitors from headquarters there would be too embarrassing.

"Uh..." At the mention, Ruo Qingyuan only then remembered and quickly said, "I'll take you two to rest at my residence first."

"Your residence?" The two Poison Masters, Bai and Hai, frowned.

If they were here in a private capacity, visiting his residence would be fine. But now they represented headquarters, so naturally they should be treated with the etiquette of honored guests. Not going to the Guest Hall and being taken directly to his home—what kind of business was that?

"You two don't know..."

Seeing their expressions, Ruo Qingyuan smiled bitterly and shook his head: "You'll understand on the way..."

To be honest, he didn't even know how to say it.

Flying forward all the way, soon the two Poison Masters from headquarters saw rubble everywhere and a city nearly half collapsed. They exchanged glances, both bewildered.

"This..."

Hai Poison Master couldn't help pointing.

This was the Poison Hall, full of their own people—how had it ended up in such a miserable state?

"Ah, this matter is truly... the shame of our Hongyuan Poison Hall..." Ruo Qingyuan said.

Although these two were formidable, he was also a Seven-Star Poison Master, not much lower in rank. Handling this matter so poorly was truly embarrassing.

If he hadn't been so reckless back then and had asked clearly who the other party was, it wouldn't have come to fighting everywhere, leaving ruins for headquarters to see and laugh at.

"What exactly happened?"

Looking at the black-and-blue elders and殿主 before him, and the rubble everywhere, White Poison Master could no longer hold back.

"It's like this..."

Knowing that if he didn't speak, the other would keep asking, Ruo Qingyuan hesitated and then recounted in detail what had happened before.

"What did you say? The founding ancestor's soul is lodged in a body named Sun Qiang?"

After hearing the account, White Poison Master frowned: "Impossible! Our Poison Hall's founding ancestor, known to the outside world as the 'Poison Venerable,' is actually recorded in headquarters' books as being female, calling herself the Poison Fairy. How could she produce a male voice? Moreover, back then she fought and her soul was scattered, leaving nothing behind. How could she survive by lodging in a Hell Seven-Heart Lotus? Definitely fake!"

"The founding ancestor... is female?"

Ruo Qingyuan was stunned.

Although he knew many stories about the founding ancestor, he really wasn't clear whether this ancestor was male or female.

"Correct. Although I haven't read the books about the ancestor, I heard from an Eight-Star Poison Master who specifically mentioned that headquarters even has a statue left by her disciple... Possessing a man and producing a male voice—no need to think, it's fake!"

Hai Poison Master also shook his head.

"But... the Qingchan Poison was truly useless against him! And he himself is immune to all poisons..."

An elder couldn't help saying.

"Although Qingchan Poison is formidable, there are still many ways to neutralize it! I have here a 'Tianxiang Detoxification Pill' refined by an Eight-Star Poison Master. Swallow it, and even a Seven-Star peak poison cannot harm you in the slightest..."

Seeing his doubt, White Poison Master said: "Even if not these detoxification holy medicines, some special heavenly treasures also have detoxifying abilities. Not to mention others, the Hongyuan Empire's royal family has a Sacred Domain Bodhi Tree. If this plant is nourished by a Sacred Domain Fourth Layer Primordial Spirit, the Bodhi fruit it bears can also neutralize all poisons. Seven-Star level poisons are useless, and even drugs that can poison the soul are nothing!"

"This..."

Ruo Qingyuan was taken aback.

Although he and the other were both Seven-Star Poison Masters, these two came from headquarters, and their vision and knowledge were far beyond his.

"You mean... he is very likely a fraud?"

The elder who had spoken earlier frowned.

"That's not it; I just find it somewhat strange! The other party, from the Saint realm, possesses strength you cannot defeat. Your beetle bit him, not only did nothing happen, but it was poisoned to death... I couldn't even do that, unless... reaching the Eight-Star level! But someone with such strength wouldn't need to play this joke..."

White Poison Master shook his head.

Although he felt that 'Sun Qiang's' claim of being possessed by the founding ancestor was wrong, he couldn't explain the other circumstances either.

What was most puzzling was that the other party had no other demands. If he had ulterior motives, having scared them with a false identity, he would surely have made demands, not just wanting to read a book.

"How about this: is this Sun Qiang you mentioned still in the Scripture Library?"

After thinking for a while, unable to figure it out, White Poison Master looked over, his eyes flashing: "How about this: I'll test him for you, see how skilled this person really is. If he's fake, I'll personally make a move and kill him..."

"This..."

After hesitating, Ruo Qingyuan nodded: "Alright."