Chapter 616: Finally Becoming a Strong Martial, The Map Unrolled and the Dagger Revealed

"Gurgle, gurgle!"

Inside the Baby Vat, Lu Zhigang had already reached the critical moment.

Under the environment of extreme poison extraction, his progress was terrifying; as his Qi, blood, and Essence Energy were consumed, his poison technique realm approached the 'Poison Dragon' level infinitely.

Before entering the Baby Vat, he needed to exert serious effort to condense a Poison Flood Dragon with his palm wind.

But now, the finger wind flicked out from a single finger rotated and condensed with ease, turning into a Poison Flood Dragon with vivid details, higher resolution, and the two bumps on its head had already broken through the skin.

This was the appearance of a flood dragon, in the transitional stage of a Poison Flood Dragon evolving toward a Poison Dragon.

A palm strike sent the flood dragon roaring; as Qi and blood were poured in and the realm was raised, the bumps on the flood dragon's head sprouted two horns, and claws grew on its belly, changing in the direction of a Poison Dragon.

The 'Poison Dragon' realm of the Seven Step Poison Sand Palm.

Having reached this step, he was already standing at the threshold of a Strong Martial; he only needed to jump down to reach the Qiangwu Yichongtian.

This jump also had its intricacies: outside the threshold was the peak of a Martial Master, and inside was the Qiangwu Yichongtian; jumping correctly meant promotion, while jumping incorrectly meant falling short of success, with forty-some days of effort going down the drain.

It was not easy to reach this step! The poisonous atmosphere of the Baby Vat tormented his physical body every moment, forcibly overdrawing his life force and potential.

The lifespan on his panel dropped all the way from 350 to 300, 200, and finally fell past the 100 mark, stopping at 98.

In other words, even if he suffered no injuries or major illnesses in the future, he could only live to be 98 years old.

Du Taiyue's method of pulling up seedlings to help them grow was a massive drain on his lifespan and foundation.

The Chuangmian Yuchong were already forced to ripen, and he had been forcibly promoted to their mature form, exhausting his remaining meager lifespan.

Lu Zhigang was different; he had his main body Zhou You to fall back on, and even more so, his second avatar Moyunzi operating the Heaven-Reaching Yuan-Nurturing Art to replenish him, finally surviving the most difficult moment.

Although he knew clearly that Du Taiyue was guarding nearby, paying attention to the movements at all times, and would not let him die here.

But, relying on oneself was the righteous path.

According to a normal person's estimation, after this round of torment, his lifespan was likely bottomed out.

Lu Zhigang was about 30 or 40 years old; under normal circumstances, a high-level Martial Master's lifespan was 200 to 300-plus years, and if not for the Heaven-Reaching Yuan-Nurturing Art adding 50-plus years, his remaining lifespan would only be about ten years.

Du Taiyue was waiting for him to come out so he could eat him immediately, otherwise, the shelf life would expire.

"After breaking through to Strong Martial, my lifespan will double, but it's hard to say; after all, it's a fast-tracked Strong Martial, and the Essence Energy lifespan will have to be discounted."

Lu Zhigang thought this, and outside, Du Taiyue's urging voice had already sounded, "The time has come."

It turned out that, unknowingly, the forty-nine days had arrived.

Lu Zhigang did not hesitate; a drop of blood fell from above, golden and bright like a precious pearl—it was the second drop of blood from Du Taiyue, helping him complete the final step.

After the Strong Martial's blood dripped in, the atmosphere around Lu Zhigang became even more intense, like a furnace.

He set his feet in a stance, crossed his palms and rolled them, releasing palm power; the poison aura first condensed into a snake, then transformed from a snake into a flood dragon, then a dragon, and finally into a Poison Dragon wagging its head and tail.

This Poison Dragon looked back and roared, circling Lu Zhigang's body, and jumped out of the Baby Vat in one go.

While in mid-air, his limbs and bones were brushed by a clear breeze, and a magical power like a withered tree sprouting buds was born within his body.

At this moment, Lu Zhigang went a step further, breaking through from a high-level Martial Master to a Strong Martial.

His Qi and blood surged, like numbers frantically jumping on a screen, the curve shooting upward.

A more advanced energy called 'Essence Energy' was born, replacing the position of Qi and blood, flowing through his entire body.

The life force and potential that had been exhausted were instantly replenished; the previous torment in the Baby Vat was like betting all his chips.

Now he had won it all back, and with a tenfold or hundredfold return.

His total Essence Energy entered the 10,000 mark, and his lifespan jumped from 98 to over 400, multiplying several times over.

The next moment, the panel changed again.

"Name: Lu Zhigang (Zhou You). Essence Energy: 10200.

Lifespan: 480.

Profession: Martial Artist, Poison Shaman (not lit).

Level: Qiangwu Yichongtian (Seven Step Poison Sand Palm's Poison Dragon).

Skills: Seven Step Poison Sand Palm lv50 (Attributes: Corrosion, Stealth, Zhangduhuaxue), Poison Pet into Palm Power.

Techniques: Boneless Heart Method lv50, Nine Unifying Poison Spirit Profound Art (Incomplete).

Ultimate Moves: Poison Aura Poison Gang lv4 (Thousand Snake Ten Thousand Scale Robe / Dove Feather).

Talent: None."

More importantly, his current Strong Martial status was a realm obtained by overdrawing; his comprehensive strength was only equivalent to a Pseudo-Strong Martial.

"Good, good disciple, Zhigang, you have now achieved Strong Martial; next, Master will stay by your side to help you consolidate your realm and impart the Nine Unifying Poison Spirit Profound Art to you without reservation."

"There is also the Du Chi Yaotian and the secret method of herding the Nine Insects, all to be passed on to you."

Another empty promise; this was to stabilize Lu Zhigang's mind so it would be convenient for him to use the 'Snake Metaphor' to devour and progress.

Lu Zhigang had just broken through and was at his weakest moment, and he had no intention of tearing off the mask either, "I ask Master to allow me to report that I am safe, so they can set their minds at ease."

"What is difficult about that? Chan Juaner has been waiting outside; let her go back and send a message."

Du Taiyue had made up his mind not to let Zhou You leave his sight by even half a step.

Lu Zhigang smiled slightly, "Everything shall be decided by Master."

He had already estimated in his heart that the moment when the map is unrolled and the dagger is revealed would likely be tonight.

Having just walked out of the Baby Vat, his Qi, blood, and Essence Energy were not yet stable, much like a newly molted crayfish; one always has to wait for the tender shell to harden after meeting the wind before it is convenient to peel the shell and eat the meat.

Du Taiyue's injuries were imminent, and he did not want to delay time, because no matter how weak Lu Zhigang was, he was still a Strong Martial; dragging it out for one more day could lead to variables.

That night...

Du Taiyue called for a table of wine and dishes to celebrate for Lu Zhigang, which was very rare at the moment.

After all, Du Taiyue was now a stray dog, supplies were scarce, and it was already not easy to be well-fed and clothed, let alone enjoy such things. Such a grand banquet expressed his sincere heart... as if!

"Master, after soaking for these days, my stomach is very bloated, I cannot eat or drink."

Lu Zhigang politely declined.

Inside the Ten Thousand Poisons Secret Workshop, even those as close as brothers are very wary of drinking together, because such occasions are the easiest times to be poisoned.

Du Taiyue chuckled twice, "Zhigang, you joined the sect very late, yet you lived until the end; Fu Manlun and the others are all dead, only you have survived several great battles, and even endured until you finally became a Strong Martial Artist."

"Master appreciates you and promotes you; he truly treats you as his own son."

"Tomorrow, I will announce before everyone that you are the Young Master of my Ten Thousand Poisons Secret Workshop."

Heh, Young Master? How many people are even left in the Ten Thousand Poisons Secret Workshop now?

Seeing Lu Zhigang remain unmoved, Du Taiyue said again, "You have already become a Strong Martial Artist; if you want to raise your realm, you must supplement yourself with Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasure, and I am handing over the several Medicine Fields of the Ten Thousand Poisons Secret Workshop to you."

After speaking, he unhooked a ring of keys from his waist.

Lu Zhigang's heart skipped a beat; he did not reach out, but the ring of keys acted like a living thing and jumped into his arms of its own accord.

Click-clack, the keys were attracted like magnets, interlocking and shifting to form a circular band that clamped around his arms and chest.

"Zhigang, you were on guard and only defended against poison, but you didn't expect that Master still had this mechanism to capture people, did you?"

(End of this chapter)