"Second brother, when did you learn Alchemy?"
Gu Sheng didnāt answer, fully focused on controlling the fire.
His every movement flowed like water, as if he had practiced them countless times.
As the last Spiritual Medicine was added to the furnace, the fragrance in the hall became so rich that it formed a thin mist, and Gu Lieās pale face gradually gained some color in this mist.
A quarter of an hour later, the Pill Furnace suddenly shook violently, and the lid was blown open by a burst of white steam.
Gu Sheng was quick-eyed and deft, reaching out to grasp, and two crystal-clear Elixir Pills fell into his palm.
"Nine Revolutions Glazed Pill!"
Venerable Azure Dragonās voice almost changed.
"A Fourth Grade Elixir Pill, yet it can produce nine Elixir Patterns! What kind of monster is this boy?"
Gu Feng was also stunned.
The two Elixir Pills were like glazed sculptures, with nine golden lines clearly visible on the surface, swirling with a strange glow under the light.
Without delay, Gu Sheng immediately placed one of the Elixir Pills into Gu Lieās mouth. The pill melted instantly, transforming into a golden thread sliding down his throat. Moments later, Gu Lieās body arched violently, spurting out a mouthful of black blood.
"Father!"
Gu Feng exclaimed in shock.
The black blood fell to the ground, corroding the stone slabs with a sizzling sound and emitting green smoke. Yet, Gu Lieās breathing gradually steadied, and the blackness on his face faded visibly.
After the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, Gu Lieās eyelids twitched slightly, and he slowly opened his eyes.
"Father!"
Gu Feng cried with joy.
Gu Lieās gaze was still somewhat scattered, but it suddenly brightened upon seeing Gu Sheng.
"Shengāer... youāve returned..."
Gu Sheng held his fatherās hand, his voice much softer.
"The poison has been neutralized, please rest well."
Gu Lie struggled to prop himself up, looking around.
"Did I... get poisoned?"
"Itās the Five Poison Heart-eating Powder."
Gu Sheng said calmly.
"Father, do you know who did it?"
Hearing "Five Poison," Gu Lieās expression clearly froze, with apprehension in his eyes.
He was silent for a moment before slowly speaking.
"It was the Five Poison Sect... they ambushed me while I was attending the auction..."
A flash of murderous intent flickered in Gu Shengās eyes, but his tone remained calm.
"Father, focus on recuperating. I will handle this matter."
Gu Lie suddenly grabbed Gu Shengās wrist.
"Shengāer, the Five Poison Sect is not simple, they..."
"I know."
Gu Sheng gently patted his fatherās hand.
"Please rest well."
Gu Feng couldnāt help but interrupt.
"Second brother, Iāll go with you!"
Gu Sheng shook his head.
"Stay and take care of Father."
Seeing that Gu Feng was about to argue, he added.
"Father has just been detoxified, he needs someone to protect him."
At this moment, Venerable Azure Dragonās voice sounded in Gu Fengās mind.
"Boy, donāt make trouble. Your second brotherās strength far exceeds your imagination; the Five Poison Sect is no more than insignificant chickens and dogs to him."
Gu Feng looked at Gu Sheng in surprise, who was already getting up and heading for the door.
"Shengāer!"
Gu Lie called from behind.
"Be careful, the Five Poison Sect Master, Mo Wuya, is insidious and vicious, he also has..."
Gu Sheng paused slightly, without looking back.
"I know."
Meanwhile, in a black hall at the edge of Golden Crow City.
Five Poison Sect Master Mo Wuya was playing with a Spirit Talisman entirely covered in green, sporting a sinister smile. The surface of the Talisman was etched with complex patterns, occasionally glowing with a dangerous light.
"That old fool Gu Lie, trying to resist after falling to the Five Poison Heart-eating Powder?"
Mo Wuya sneered.
"Truly overestimating himself."
Below the hall, several disciples of the Five Poison Sect flattered him fawningly.
"The Sect Master is wise; the Gu family merely relies on a bit of wealth, yet they dare to oppose our Five Poison Sect!"
"Indeed, the Heaven Rank Spirit Talisman at the auction should have been ours, yet Gu Lie dared to raise the price!"
Mo Wuya squinted his eyes, his fingertips gently stroking the Spirit Talisman.
"With this āGreen Sea Tide Birth Talisman,ā it is only a matter of time before our Five Poison Sect dominates Golden Crow City."
He suddenly smiled sinisterly.
"Once Gu Lie is dead, the Gu family will be leaderless, and their assets will be ours."
"With the Heaven Rank Spirit Talisman in hand, Golden Crow City is within our grasp!"
In the great hall of the Five Poison Sect, Sect Master Mo Tianxie raised a Spirit Talisman emitting a ghostly purple glow, with a fierce smile on his face.
The surface of the Talisman shimmered with eerie patterns, as if countless poisonous creatures were writhing within.
"The Sect Master is mighty!"
"The dominance of the Five Poison Sect over Golden Crow City is imminent!"
Hundreds of disciples in the hall shouted in unison.
They wore uniformly dark green robes, with a Five Poison emblem embroidered on their chests, each with a look of morbid excitement on their faces.
Mo Tianxie gazed at them with satisfaction, his voice icy cold.
"In three days, I will use this Talisman to challenge the Golden Crow City Lord, and thenā"
"Report!"
A piercing cry interrupted his words. The hall doors were slammed open, and a blood-covered disciple staggered in, his left arm missing, spewing black blood from the stump.
"Sect Master... itās not good... someone is attacking our mountain gate..."
After speaking, the disciple collapsed to the ground, dead.
The great hall fell silent.
Mo Tianxieās face darkened, and he shouted angrily.
"What happened? Who dares to offend my Five Poison Sect?"
"Reporting to the Sect Master..."
A deacon stepped forward, trembling.
"The disciples guarding the outer perimeter... all killed... only one person is the invader..."
"Nonsense!"
Mo Tianxie shattered the stone chair beside him with a palm.
"Our Five Poison Sectās mountain gate has over three hundred guardian disciples, with poison arrays for defense, how could it be breached by one person?"
The deaconās face turned ashen.
"That person... wielding an Ancient Sword, every strike drawing blood... has already slain several dozen of our disciples... and is heading to the hall..."
"Useless!"
Mo Tianxie laughed in anger.
"I want to see, what godly being dares toā"
"No need to look."
A cold voice came from outside the hall, piercing everyoneās ears like an ice cone in the dead of winter.