Chapter 167: Poison Pill

Bai Baoshan still wanted to advise Tie Li, but Tie Li outright rejected it.

The First Team's strength is greater than the Second Team's, but that doesn't mean there is no chance.

A seven‑on‑seven Team Soul Battle weakens individual power, but as long as a person's combat strength stands out enough, they can still tip the scales of victory.

Meng Shenji saw Tie Li's resolute attitude and said no more, only noting that the Second Team is a bit more special now.

Because of the Ning Qi Ye incident, the Seven Treasure Glazed Sect was affected and its vital energy severely damaged; Gu Qi, a disciple of the Seven Treasure Glazed Sect Affiliated Force, was also considerably impacted, but the greatest impact was on Ning Ning.

Originally she was given a side‑branch status by Ning Qi Ye, with Ning Qi Ye's covert support, and enjoyed the best treatment;

But after the Ning Qi Ye incident was exposed, his whole lineage's standing in the sect turned abysmal, and Ning Ning's identity was also revealed, leading to widespread ostracism by sect members and a very poor situation.

To regain recognition within the sect, she must showcase her worth in the Soul Master Competition.

For her, this is an opportunity.

"Since you've decided, I won't say more. You already have some rapport with the Second Team's members, and unlike the First Team, the Second Team's Team Soul Battle actually needs you," Meng Shenji said.

"I understand."

The three Committee Members, while speaking with Tie Li, casually mentioned the Fenglei Sect relic site, implying that if Tie Li can lead the Second Team into the finals, the royal family will preserve the sect's relic site for him.

In the sect's relic site's Leichi, there is a Thunder Stone that has not yet received its seal.

There is a vague feeling that the greatest secret of the Fenglei Sect is hidden within the Leichi.

Zhao Tianhe and Tie Li left the Education Committee; Zhao Tianhe's injuries have healed, but the broken arm won't recover that easily.

"By the way, Zhu Zhuqing from Shilake Academy has come looking for you several times; you weren't at the academy, and Senior Du Gu Bo also came to see you once."

"Alright."

Du Gu Bo wouldn't come looking for me without reason; there must be something important.

As for how to find him, I can only go to Du Gu Yan.

Then head to Tiandou City to find Zhu Zhuqing.

Now I don't have to worry about the Spirit Hall acting against me; since they offered a soul bone as a reward and let me join the Soul Master Competition, it means they won't act against me for the time being.

The Soul Master Competition's schedule is tightening, and the First and Second Teams spend most of their time training.

After learning the First Team's training venue from Zhao Tianhe's mouth, Tie Li set off.

"Yu Feng, why did you mess up again?" Du Gu Yan said displeased.

"Ha ha, what a surprise," Yu Feng muttered.

The First Team's seven members faced three heavenly‑level teachers, honing their teamwork.

The Four Soul Sect Three Soul Ancestors fought three Soul Kings, but the First Team's members held the advantage; their Soul Power Levels were slightly lower, but their martial souls and Soul Ring quality gave them the edge.

After training ended, they finally noticed Tie Li's figure.

"When did you arrive? We didn't notice you," Yu Feng asked first.

"A while ago."

Du Gu Yan came over then; she remembered her grandfather's instructions.

"You're here to see my grandfather, right?"

"Mm."

"He's at the spring, but be careful of the Poison Formation; you can call him from outside."

"Got it."

Watching Tie Li's departing back, each First Team member had their own thoughts.

"Last time I heard Teacher Zhao's meaning, he wanted him to join the First Team," Aosuo said.

"I think he won't come," Shi Mo replied.

"What basis do you have?"

"Intuition!"

Aosuo gave Shi Mo a glance; normally the two brothers are honest, but sometimes they have a hidden sly side.

"Yan Zi, your grandfather never really looked for the leader, so why would he look for him?" Yu Feng asked an ill‑timed question.

Hearing that, Du Gu Yan's face showed several black lines.

"Whoosh"

A thin red mist flew out of Du Gu Yan's mouth, and the unsuspecting Yu Feng was instantly hit.

Yu Feng's face stiffened, and with a trembling voice he said.

"Yan Zi, can you give me a chance? The First Team still needs me... Yan Zi, don't go, I feel the poison will take my life;

Yan Zi, don't leave, I can't live without you, Yan Zi!"

……

Entering the Sunset Forest, we rode the familiar road to the outskirts of the Poison Formation.

Tie Li released his soul power aura, and Du Gu Bo, with the Ice and Fire Dual‑Aspect Eye, immediately sensed it.

"Kid, I heard you've been training with Yue Yin for a while," Du Gu Bo's figure appeared before Tie Li.

What surprised Tie Li was that Du Gu Bo also knew Yue Yin.

Seeing Tie Li's slightly surprised look, Du Gu Bo smiled faintly.

"You haven't followed him that long; you don't even know his identity, right?"

"I guessed a bit, but I'm not sure."

"Ha ha, actually it's not much of a secret: Yue Yin is the illegitimate son of the previous Fenglei Sect sect master, his martial soul mutated and didn't inherit the Thunder Attribute;

But he never belonged to the Fenglei Sect, and the Fenglei Sect never recognized his status. Though he's clearly not a disciple, he mastered the sect's ultimate arts; aren't you curious about that?"

Du Gu Bo's expression turned strange; the story behind this is certainly not that simple.

"This involves another sect; I'll tell you later. My purpose in finding you is to borrow your Ultimate Attribute for a use."

Du Gu Bo's relationship with the Po Zhi clan grew ever closer, especially when, on one occasion, the Po Zhi clan was besieged by the Spirit Hall; Du Gu Bo happened upon the scene, resolutely chose to intervene, and relying on his Soul Power Level 94 cultivation, drove back the Spirit Hall's Soul Master.

This also won the Po Zhi clan's favor!

Later, his exchanges with Yang Wudi on the Poison Path grew deeper, and Du Gu Bo couldn't help but admire the clan chief of the Po Zhi clan before him.

During his exchanges with Yang Wudi, Du Gu Bo's poison skill made new progress, and he would occasionally visit the Po Zhi clan's library to study poison scriptures.

Combining his poison skill, Du Gu Bo refined a prototype batch of poison pills, but to successfully complete the pills requires the refinement of the Ultimate Attribute, which must be controlled by a Soul Master to manage the timing.

Tie Li performed the Fifth Soul Technique, his own lightning entering the level of the Ultimate Attribute, exactly what Du Gu Bo needed.

After hearing Du Gu Bo's account, Tie Li couldn't help but wonder how powerful the poison pills he had refined truly were.

"Are you sure you want my Ultimate Attribute? Don't end up ruining your poison pills and making me pay with my life," Tie Li said half‑jokingly.

"Hahaha, you can rest assured."

Du Gu Bo grabbed Tie Li by the back, leapt, and in the next instant appeared near the Ice and Fire Dual-Aspect Eye.

On a flat ground, there indeed lay a small, exquisite pill furnace.

Seeing Du Gu Bo carefully approach the furnace himself, Tie Li suddenly felt the matter wasn't as reliable as he had imagined.

"Will it really be okay?" he couldn't help asking again.

(End of chapter)