Chapter 1092: The Founding Ancestor Has Arrived

“The Legendary Poison Codex?”

Bai Ting and Hai Mingjin were both startled.

It was said that this item was personally written by the founding ancestor, recording the secret methods of poison use studied throughout his life, the ultimate method every poison master desired. However... it had disappeared long ago after the ancestor’s passing.

After the ancestor’s death, many hall masters succeeded him, but none could command respect due to lack of inheritance, leading to even greater chaos in the Poison Hall.

They thought this item would never be found again, but unexpectedly, Right Protector Shen Que had retrieved it!

“Indeed, with this item, one can legitimately ascend to the throne, and no one would dare object. But... forget it, let’s not talk about that. When you see the teacher, you’ll understand!” Yuan Ling paused, swallowed his words, waved his hand, and flew ahead.

The two followed closely behind.

All were experts surpassing the fourth level of the Saint Domain, moving at great speed. Before long, they arrived at a spacious mansion near the city center.

Yuan Ling led the way. Just as they entered the hall where the teacher once taught, they heard a commotion.

“He’s just making a mountain out of a molehill! Why should the teacher be the one to come? If it comes to it, we’ll fight them!”

“This is utterly outrageous! We can’t just sit and wait for death!”

“He says it’s the Legendary Poison Codex, but who can confirm that? I remember he and the teacher never got along. He’s probably saying this to eliminate dissidents and successfully take the throne!”

“The Right Protector has always been petty. Now that he has such a big backing, he’s sure to strike...”

...

Entering the room, they immediately saw dozens of poison masters standing there, each filled with righteous indignation.

Bai Ting looked over; they were his former senior and junior brothers during training, almost all of them had reached the level of Eight-Star Poison Masters.

In the center of the hall sat an old man in plain clothes, his aura as still as a well, his breath faint as if he didn’t exist.

Hai Mingjin quietly probed with his divine sense and was immediately horrified.

Under his divine sense, there was nothing in front of him; he found nothing at all.

“Such formidable strength...”

His pupils contracted.

The old man’s strength was beyond imagination, reaching a realm of unfathomable mystery. A divine sense at his level couldn’t even detect him.

Facing such a powerhouse, the opponent could make him vanish into thin air with just a thought, without even needing to move.

Let alone using poison!

Terrifying!

“Teacher, Junior Brother Bai Ting has arrived!”

Ignoring the crowd’s argument, Yuan Ling stepped forward.

“Mm!” The old man nodded and looked over: “After that incident, you were disheartened. I thought you would never break through again, but you’ve become an Eight-Star Poison Master. My teachings were not in vain!”

“Teacher...”

His eyes reddening, Bai Ting stepped forward and knelt before him.

He had been away from headquarters for so long, too ashamed to come. Now, seeing the teacher, he could no longer hold back his emotions.

“Alright, you’re an Eight-Star Poison Master now. Don’t act like a child!” The old man smiled.

“Yes!” Bai Ting stood up, looking up in confusion: “Teacher, just now the fellow disciples said... they want you to come... what does that mean?”

Their indignation surely meant something bad.

“It’s nothing major. Since you’re back, just take the assessment and then return. The Poison Hall is no longer the safe place it once was. From now on, there will likely be bloodshed. Flee as far as you can!” The old man waved his hand and sighed.

“This...”

Bai Ting frowned, utterly confused.

The teacher was one of the Four Venerables. Why was he so dejected? What had happened?

Under normal circumstances, Shen Que obtaining the Legendary Poison Codex and becoming the new hall master should be a cause for celebration, shouldn’t it?

“You must know that Protector Shen has obtained the Legendary Poison Codex and is about to succeed as hall master, right?” Seeing his confusion, an Eight-Star Poison Master approached.

“Yes!” Bai Ting nodded.

He had just heard about this from Poison Master Yuan Ling.

“The Legendary Poison Codex was left by the founding ancestor and is highly toxic. To open it, one must use ‘human life feeding.’ Protector Shen wants the teacher to do this...” The Eight-Star Poison Master gritted his teeth.

Bai Ting’s pupils contracted.

Many poison masters’ secret manuals were sealed with potent poisons. To break the seal, one needed the corresponding detoxification skills; otherwise, lives had to be sacrificed.

That is, find people to absorb the poison. If one isn’t enough, use two; if two aren’t enough, use three... As the number increases, the limited poison will eventually be absorbed clean.

This is the so-called ‘human life feeding’!

Human life feeding is extremely cruel and bizarre, disregarding the dignity of life. For this reason, poison masters are defined as heretics and despised by orthodox professions.

“Why the teacher...” Bai Ting gritted his teeth.

The teacher was one of the Four Venerables. Why should he be forced to do such a thing?

“Back then, the teacher had a conflict with Protector Shen. Moreover, the poison on the Legendary Poison Codex is too powerful; ordinary people can’t even get close. To eliminate the toxicity, only Nine-Star Poison Masters are capable... That’s why he’s deliberately making an example of the teacher, to establish his authority. Even before taking office, he wants everyone in the Poison Hall to know his power!”

This poison master gritted his teeth.

Although human life feeding can eliminate toxicity, it also depends on strength. If the strength is insufficient, even tens of thousands of people would be useless.

The Legendary Poison Codex was left by the founding ancestor. Its poison can only be neutralized by Nine-Star Poison Masters. No matter how many others try, it’s futile.

“Since he’s settling personal scores under the guise of public duty, the teacher can simply refuse!” Bai Ting said urgently, full of anxiety.

“He could refuse, but... he’s using the banner of righteousness to coerce him!”

“Righteousness?”

“Yes, he promised all poison masters that once the Legendary Poison Codex is opened, he will select easy-to-learn content and teach it, greatly boosting the overall strength of the Poison Hall... Using this as leverage, he’s cornered the teacher! Now, poison masters from all over headquarters have gathered here, ostensibly to observe the succession ceremony, but many are actually monitoring, afraid the teacher might escape...”

This Eight-Star Poison Master’s eyes were red.

In times of turmoil, one recognizes loyal subjects; with time, one sees people’s hearts.

Those poison masters who were usually close to the teacher and even constantly flattered him have now fled as far as possible, leaving only these students guarding here.

Bai Ting clenched his fists.

Indeed.

Using this condition to lure other poison masters, the teacher becomes the sacrificial lamb. If he doesn’t sacrifice himself, he becomes the target of public criticism.

“Alright, I’ve already made a decision. After I die, don’t come here anymore. Flee as far as you can, so as not to break the lineage...” Interrupting the poison master, the old man in the center waved his hand.

While he lived, no one dared to do anything. But once he died, these disciples would likely be slaughtered.

The Poison Hall, unlike the Master Teacher Hall, doesn’t emphasize rules; everything relies on strength. Without strength, one can only be killed.

“Teacher...”

Hearing this, everyone was deeply saddened. Yuan Ling’s eyes also reddened. Just as they didn’t know what to say, Bai Ting’s voice rang out.

“Actually... Teacher, you don’t have to sacrifice yourself. Protector Shen... won’t find it so easy to become hall master!”

“Huh?”

Hearing this, everyone turned to look at him. Even the old man frowned.

“What do you mean by that, Junior Brother Bai?” Yuan Ling asked.

“Nothing much. In the past, if Protector Shen had found the Legendary Poison Codex, he could indeed become hall master, and no one would dare object. But now... I’m afraid it’s impossible!”

Smiling faintly, Bai Ting showed a confident expression.

“Having the Legendary Poison Codex and still not being able to become hall master? How... is that possible?” Yuan Ling was stunned.

The others were also bewildered, unable to believe it.

What is the Legendary Poison Codex? It was left by the founding ancestor, equivalent to Confucius’s Spring and Autumn Annals, a supreme treasure. Whoever finds it holds the moral high ground and gains recognition from all poison masters. Not only can they become hall master, but they could even order people to commit suicide, and they would have no choice.

Their teacher was now suffering such coercion.

And this person said that even this wouldn’t make him hall master... Then what would qualify?

“Yes, what’s going on? The Legendary Poison Codex is the supreme treasure left by the founding ancestor. Obtaining it means having the right to speak...”

The Eight-Star Poison Master who had spoken earlier shook his head: “To prevent him from becoming hall master, you’d have to invite the founding ancestor himself!”

“Senior Brother Lu is right. I have indeed invited... the founding ancestor!” Bai Ting smiled lightly.

“The founding ancestor?”

“Junior Brother Bai, you must be joking. The founding ancestor passed away tens of thousands of years ago. Where would you find him?”

“This isn’t funny at all...”

...

Everyone was first stunned, then shook their heads.

If he said he found some treasure of the ancestor, they would believe it. But finding the ancestor himself... wasn’t that a dream?

“It really is the ancestor. She only has a remnant soul left, attached to this girl...” Bai Ting pointed behind him.

Only then did they notice the girl he had wrapped in true energy. He gently set her down and withdrew the true energy. The poison aura within Wei Ruyan immediately dispersed, causing everyone to involuntarily step back.

“This is... an Innate Poison Body?”

Before everyone could react, the old man in the center, Lin Jianghai, changed expression, full of disbelief.

The Innate Poison Body was the supreme physique for cultivating poison arts. Since the ancestor’s departure, not a single case had appeared in the Poison Hall for tens of thousands of years. He never dreamed of seeing one here.

“Yes, not only an Innate Poison Body, but also a Poison Soul Body!” Bai Ting nodded.

“This...” Lin Jianghai trembled: “What’s going on? Why is this girl unconscious?”

“It’s like this...”

Bai Ting detailed how he encountered the “founding ancestor,” how he agreed to bring the girl, and everything that happened.

“You say... this girl is possessed by the founding ancestor’s soul? And she’s just unconscious because she can’t withstand the pressure of the Poison Soul Body?”

Lin Jianghai stiffened, unable to believe it.

“Exactly. If you don’t believe me, look at this pill she gave us.”

With a flick of his wrist, Bai Ting produced a jade bottle.

Smiling lightly, Bai Ting flicked his wrist and handed over a detoxification pill given by the “ancestor.”