Highly toxic poison

Deep within the night, sounds of summer cicadas and frogs reverberated continuously.

In the darkness, a silhouette in black clothing quietly approached the male dormitory under the cover of darkness and ultimately stopped at the ground level of Song Shuhang’s dormitory’s balcony area.

"It should be here." The black silhouette softly mumbled to itself before lightly jumping and landing onto Song Shuhang’s dorm balcony with a whoosh.

The height of the male’s dormitory second floor was three and half meters, and adding the half meter high railing, it was four meters high. This black figure did not even require any assistance and had effortlessly jumped onto the balcony from ground level.

This sort of jumping ability... if it was used for the country, the national champion would be guaranteed—without the need of gathering any momentum to jump four meters high, regardless of any rank of high jump athletes, they would tearfully offer their knees looking at this result.

Of course, there’s a higher possibility that citizens worldwide would suspect that he was on drugs, or that he had secretly installed some high-tech equipment in his muscles or something.

The dormitory balcony door’s structure was of a French design, simplistic and beautiful.

The black figure vigilantly inspected the surroundings, and after confirming that no one had noticed him, he fished out a razor-thin blade and thrust it into the window’s crack.

Despite him not performing any visible action, the lock was unlocked—his lockpicking skill was certainly of an expert level.

Softly opening the window, the black figure entered indoor. These actions were light and soft just like a cat’s, and during the entire process, no sound was produced even once.

Inside the dormitory, Song Shuhang was lying on the bed, his body assuming the shape of the 大 character. Apparently, he was dead asleep.

He had helped Senior Medicine Master look for an apartment in the morning and refined Body Tempering Liquid afterwards.

And then, he started learning a Foundation Fist Technique and Meditation Technique, while before he reached home, he had a fight with someone. Too many incidents happened today and depleted his energy.

Right now, even if someone had ruthlessly gave him two slaps, it would be hard for him to wake up.

As a cultivator, Song Shuhang’s experience and vigilance were still lacking. He still belonged to the ‘newbie’ rank, requiring more tempering.

For the same reason, as a newbie who just entered the cultivation world, one cannot expect him to be similar to those expert cultivators who could pay attention to their surroundings in all directions for even a slight commotion while sleeping.

The black silhouette stared at Song Shuhang for a moment and recalled information regarding Song Shuhang in his mind while comparing his photo with the young lad in front of him and finally confirmed his identity. ‘There’s no errors, it’s him.’

The other party seemed to have not noticed his arrival; his infiltration was successful and surprisingly easy.

However, that black figure still did not relax as Altar Master had some misgivings towards this ordinary lad, Song Shuhang. Before he came, Altar Master had warned him repeatedly to act according to circumstances. If he were to be discovered by the other party, he was supposed not to think too much and immediately retreat!

Therefore, ever since the black figure had entered the room, he was very cautious and prudent, restraining his aura and holding his breath.

‘Then, where is ‘spirit-binding ice bead?’ the black figure’s gaze swept past Song Shuhang’s body. His main purpose of visiting during the night was to bring back that legendary Ghost Spirit.

The room wasn’t big, therefore, he had easily found his target. The spirit-binding ice bead that sealed the Ghost Spirit was hanging on Song Shuhang’s neck without any protection.

The black figure was immediately excited.

‘This mission seems to be easier than expected. That’s great.’ The black figure cheered in his heart. His target was still dead asleep, as if he wouldn’t even be shaken by thunder, not looking like an expert at all. He did not understand why Altar Master would be so wary of an ordinary mortal.

The black figure extended his left hand towards the spirit-binding ice bead on Song Shuhang’s neck.

Just then, looking at Song Shuhang who was still sleeping soundly, he suddenly had a thought.

If he merely retrieved the Ghost Spirit… at most, he would only complete Altar Master’s task and obtain some reward.

However, what if he managed to bring back Song Shuhang’s head at the same time?

Perhaps he could seize the opportunity to receive Altar Master’s recognition, and obtain an even more profound technique!

Before long, he would be promoted and become a golden medal member within the organization, becoming Altar Master’s left and right hand. He would then reach his life’s peak and could even have a long life like Altar Master! Just the thought of it made him somewhat excited.

The black figure’s left hand flipped and a blade without a handle slid out, pinched within his fingers. Killing intent surfaced within his eyes while the blade in his left hand headed towards Shuhang’s throat; at the same time, his right hand continued to creep closer to grasp that necklace.

As long as he obtained this Ghost Spirit, and his left hand delivered this strike, riches and honor would be in his hands!

The black figure licked his lips, filled with hope for a better future.

Just as his hand was about to touch that necklace, he suddenly felt an indescribable heaviness and a fierce giddiness come from his head. He felt as if someone had used a shit-stirring stick and thrusted into his head while ruthlessly stirring. The acute headache made him almost release a miserable shriek.

‘What’s going on?’ he clenched his teeth and forcefully held back from crying out.

At the same time, a bad premonition welled up inside his heart.

As expected, an overwhelming feeling of weakness rushed forth into his body the next moment, along with nausea and an urge to puke. He couldn’t grab onto the blade he held within his fingers and it fell onto the floor.

‘This feeling is as if I’ve been inflicted with a highly toxic poison? Damn it, where did the poison come from? When did I get poisoned?’ the black figure was astonished.

He who had received all kinds of cruel training immediately knew that he was poisoned. Furthermore, this poison was a tyrannical one. Once it activated, even the Heart Aperture’s ‘qi and blood’ energy couldn’t be circulated while his body rapidly weakened.

He suddenly looked at Song Shuhang on the bed.

At this moment, he saw Song Shuhang who was in his dreamland reveal a sinister smile. (Sweet Smile?)

‘Not good! I’ve been tricked!’ the black figure made a prompt decision to retreat and, before his body had completely fallen apart, he turned and left from the balcony.

"Ah!" when he landed on the ground, he spat out a mouthful of fresh blood and dyed his face mask in red.

He hastily took out several medicinal pills for detoxifying poison from his bosom; regardless of its usefulness, he swallowed everything in one go.

And yet, that giddiness in his head was not alleviated, and the weakness of his body was continuously intensifying. When he jumped down from the balcony, he felt that both of his legs were somewhat unsteady and had received a hidden injury.

The antidote had no effect.

The black figure only felt his own brain getting more muddled in the midst of the acute pain, like a drunkard who was intoxicated and lost his ability to make proper judgement.

This won’t do, I must immediately return to where Altar Master is, and ask him to save my life before the poison totally breaks out.

Thinking of here, he quickly rushed towards ‘Altar Master’.

This was undoubtedly an erroneous decision—if his mind was still clear, he absolutely would not head to where Altar Master was. This would only expose Altar Master’s hideout.

However, at this moment, his mind was already muddled and his instinct to seek survival made him choose to head to Altar Master for help.

❄️❄️❄️

Altar Master was temporarily staying in a hotel outside College Town.

He leaned against the chair and emptied his mind. However, his mind constantly recalled that pair of sharp eyes with dark circles around them from Medicine Master. That terrifying gaze of Medicine Master was unable to be expelled from his mind.

Thinking back of that glance, his body went somewhat soft.

He did not dare to approach Medicine Master, and neither was he able to approach Song Shuhang who was together with Medicine Master. He was unable to verify if Song Shuhang was an ‘expert’ or a ‘mortal’.

Only deep within the night, when he knew that Song Shuhang had separated with Medicine Master, did he send a newly trained subordinate to probe Song Shuhang because of his desire for the Ghost Spirit.

As he was unable to verify Song Shuhang’s true strength, he could not bear to send his even more powerful subordinates lest they were killed. It wasn’t easy for him to train his underlings as it took up a lot of wealth and time.

‘Calculating the time, if it’s successful, my subordinate should have returned to report by now?’ Altar Master thought. If he had failed, then his subordinately definitely had met a tragic end.

The world of cultivation was far more cruel that the world of mortals!

Just then, sounds of knocking sounded from the door.

Did my subordinate return?