Chapter 26

That evening.

【Divination has refreshed】

【Today's Divination·Great Misfortune】: Avoid meeting friends; resolving the sign requires five Low-grade Spirit Stones.

Chen Zhao frowned and immediately resolved the sign.

【Today's Divination·Great Misfortune】: You attend the Juxian Pavilion gathering and are poisoned with Five Poisons Pulse-Eroding Powder by Su Muqing; six months later, your cultivation is completely lost and you become an ordinary mortal.

What is this?

If heaven offers and you refuse, you'll suffer the consequence? Is this the fallout from yesterday's Minor Fortune not coming true?

And this Great Misfortune's wording is far more concrete than before; it seems last time's vagueness had hidden reasons.

Chen Zhao stroked his chin, pondering for a long while.

"Yesterday, Fang and Su must have tested something and decided I could be killed, but their methods are so subtle—like they're holding back."

He could guess their thoughts.

"I've seen this poison in the Dan Theory section—it acts slowly, its symptoms identical to demonic deviation, leaving no trace of poisoning, yet it only affects those below Qi Refining sixth layer."

Once the poison takes effect, he'll become an ordinary mortal without knowing it, fading from Li Zhiwei's view and left at the mercy of others.

Given his nature, he'd hide with Li Zhiwei for a while.

But if their first plan fails, they'll devise another; the more he hides, the more likely Li Zhiwei will grow resentful and cut ties with him.

He must turn their plan against them.

Chen Zhao opened the Dan Theory section and found the relevant record on this poison.

"This poison aims to dismantle one's foundation; antidote requires taking a tonic pill every seven days until the poison's effect passes."

Chen Zhao raised an eyebrow.

Would Peiyuan Pill work?

He cast a divination.

Auspicious.

He immediately went to Wan Bao Lou.

Three Green Blood Flowers, one Neon Skirt Grass—just this set costs twenty Low-grade Spirit Stones.

Chen Zhao bought three sets.

His previous spoils, plus earnings from selling pills, now left him with only twenty-four Low-grade Spirit Stones.

He still had five Huanglong Pills left; in an emergency, he could trade them for more Spirit Stones.

"When pill costs rise, my resources dry up; soon, I'll be back to not having enough to resolve divinations."

Chen Zhao sighed and returned to his cave to alchemize.

The next day.

Juxian Pavilion officially opened.

Perhaps due to Chen Zhao's promotion, over a dozen people came to trade right at opening.

Most were small trades: exchanging First-grade Low-grade Talismans and Qi Gathering Powder.

Chen Zhao glanced around, silently on guard.

He didn't see Su Muqing, but spotted Su Wanyao at a stall—her complexion had improved greatly—and beside her stood a black-robed man.

"This man's cultivation is only sixth layer—is this what Su Wanyao meant by 'covert aid'?"

Chen Zhao glanced at the man.

His appearance was utterly ordinary, but was that his real face?

Moments later.

Su Muqing arrived uninvited.

She greeted Su Wanyao, but from her expression, she didn't seem to recognize the black-robed man.

After a few pleasantries, she headed straight for Chen Zhao.

Chen Zhao's alarm bells rang loudly.

Yet his face remained warm and smiling.

"Sister Muqing, what brings you here?"

"I heard you set up Juxian Pavilion, so I came to see it—and to meet my younger sister and her Guardian."

Su Muqing wore a white robe, her hands hidden in her sleeves.

Five Poisons Pulse-Eroding Powder was obtained by Fang Zijing; there was only one vial, reserved for the most troublesome person.

They'd planned to find another excuse to assign Chen Zhao and the others to a mission, but the Discipline Hall remained peaceful, with no mandatory tasks.

The Discipline Hall has more than one Elder; they wouldn't act too brazenly.

"Of course, I didn't come empty-handed—I have one Huanglong Pill I brewed myself, and wish to trade with you, younger brother."

Su Muqing held out a brocade box in her left hand, inviting Chen Zhao to inspect it, while her right hand remained hidden in her sleeve, clutching a pill vial.

As Chen Zhao leaned forward to look, she subtly unleashed inner force, sending the powder inside the vial into his sleeve.

She didn't use any Qi; almost no one present noticed.

Chen Zhao's Mental Power was sharp—he immediately sensed the anomaly.

His body felt only a faint itch, like a breeze brushing past—he quickly swallowed the Peiyuan Pill hidden under his tongue.

His expression remained as warm as before, quietly assimilating the pill's power.

The black-robed man's eyes sharpened.

He whispered to Chen Zhao:

"Young man, this woman poisoned you!"

He saw Chen Zhao standing dumbly in place, and couldn't help but feel anxious.

He'd long heard Su Wanyao had a group of friends, each with their own strengths, but never expected one to be such a fool.

Since he'd only been assigned to guard Su Wanyao's path, he could only respect others' fates and let go of his urge to help.

On the other side.

Su Muqing quietly released a Qi-Observing Insect to probe Chen Zhao's meridians.

As expected.

His meridians were slightly disordered, but the change was too minor to be noticed.

After successfully striking, she left under some pretext.

In her haste, she even left the Huanglong Pill behind.

Chen Zhao silently picked it up and stuffed it into his Storage Bag.

After the gathering dispersed, Su Wanyao, Xin Tong, and the other four gathered together.

With an Array concealing them, they could speak without restraint.

Chen Zhao told everyone what had just happened and warned them to remain vigilant in the future.

But as soon as he finished speaking, all three except the black-cloaked man looked stunned.

"Su Muqing poisoned you in broad daylight?"

Xin Tong's face turned grim.

"Then... do you have an antidote?"

Chen Zhao waved his hand, indicating no need to worry.

"She used Five Poisons Pulse-Eroding Powder. I already have a countermeasure, and this matter must not be spoken of."

Seeing their confused expressions, Chen Zhao gave a brief explanation, and only then did they understand the poison.

Only the black-cloaked man remained skeptical after hearing this.

He didn't trust Chen Zhao, nor could he understand his actions.

He'd warned him in time.

Chen Zhao could've either defended himself or avoided it—why would there be so much trouble now?

Foundation-strengthening pills are luxury items; how many cultivators never get a second one in their lives? Better to use resources for cultivation.

It was Xin Tong who, upon hearing that Peiyuan Pills were needed to counter the poison, tentatively asked:

"Can you alchemize Peiyuan Pills?"

"The failure rate is about fifty percent—I've only managed to produce two so far."

Chen Zhao didn't hide anything; this success rate was barely acceptable.

"Give me Spirit Stones... I'll go buy them for you on the second floor of Wan Bao Lou—they're better quality there."

Xin Tong extended her small hand after hearing this.

Seeing his embarrassed expression, she snorted softly and threw out, "Charged to your account," before rushing out the door.

Seeing his look of embarrassment at having no money, she gave a soft snort, tossed down a "Put it on my tab," and swept out the door.

His heart warmed slightly—he was glad he'd mustered the nerve to beg Sister Li for help back then.

But less than half a stick of incense later,

Xin Tong rushed back in, frantic.

"Bad news! Wan Bao Lou... won't sell!"

She'd just gone to the second floor to buy the pills.

The attendant was from Discipline Hall; when he saw her Identity Token, he claimed Peiyuan Pills were out of stock.

The disciple at the viewing platform was from Discipline Hall; one look at her Identity Token, and he said the Peiyuan Pills were out of stock.

It wasn't out of stock.

They clearly didn't want to sell to them.

Probably not just Peiyuan Pills.

They wouldn't sell herbs either.

From now on, if he wanted to alchemize Peiyuan Pills, he'd have to buy them down the mountain or trade them at Juxian Pavilion.

Down the mountain is unsafe—Fang and Su wanted to force him down so they could act.

For this reason, they might even target Juxian Pavilion.

Chen Zhao pondered for a moment, then made his decision.

He must protect Juxian Pavilion.

Meanwhile,

【Divination has refreshed】

【Today's Divination·Lucky】: Auspicious for betrothal; resolving the sign requires five Low-grade Spirit Stones.

After resolving the sign,

【Today's Divination·Lucky】: If you trade at Juxian Pavilion, offering to alchemize for Murong De, you will exchange for a Blood Worm Corpse Puppet.

【Divination for Today·Fortunate】: You went to Juxian Pavilion to trade, exchanging your service of alchemy for Murong De in return for a Blood Worm Corpse Puppet.