Chapter 1093: Ancestor, Spare Me (Part 1)

Having used it several times along the way, only one pill remained in the jade bottle.

"This... is a pill for strengthening the foundation and nourishing the origin?" Lin Jianghai frowned after a glance.

As a poison master, he had a profound understanding of medicinal properties. This pill, at first glance, was clearly just an ordinary medicine for strengthening the foundation and nourishing the origin, with nothing special about it.

"At first, I also thought it was just an ordinary medicine, but after being refined anew by the Ancestor, it has become a sacred antidote capable of neutralizing all poisons!" Bai Ting nodded.

Lin Jianghai's brows furrowed.

He was known as the Myriad Poison Venerable, a testament to his mastery of poisons—so vast and varied that it dazzled and astounded others.

This ordinary pill for strengthening the foundation and nourishing the origin, claiming to neutralize all poisons... wouldn't that make it his nemesis?

His divine sense extended into the pill, and in an instant, he saw through it completely. The more he examined it, the stranger it seemed.

With his insight and understanding of medicines, this pill was nothing special—no different from those sold in the market... Not to mention him, even a Saint Domain fifth-level cultivator could eat three jin of it without much effect... Claiming it neutralized all poisons was surely an exaggeration, wasn't it?

He was a Nine-Star Poison Master, the pinnacle poison venerable of the entire continent, yet he couldn't detect anything special. If not for Bai Ting's earnest assurance, he would have long tossed it into the gutter.

"Does this pill really have detoxifying effects?" He couldn't help but look over.

"If you don't believe me, Master, I can demonstrate it for you on the spot..." Bai Ting smiled lightly and turned his head: "Senior Brother Yuanling, do you happen to have your [Mist and Smoke Powder] with you?"

"I do..." Yuanling nodded, and a jade bottle appeared in his palm.

As the most potent poison he had developed, he naturally carried it with him at all times, just in case.

"Poison Master Hai, I may need to trouble you with one more thing..." Taking the jade bottle, Bai Ting called out.

"Poison Master Bai, no need to be so polite. Just say what you need!"

Hai Mingjin walked over.

"It's nothing much. I'll trouble you to eat this Mist and Smoke Powder..." Bai Ting flicked his wrist and tossed the poison over.

"Ah?" Hai Mingjin's mouth twitched.

He had thought it was something else, but it turned out Poison Master Bai wanted him to test the poison on himself!

The most effective way to test an antidote is not to analyze its components, but to test it with poison—direct and most effective.

But... you could just find a test beast or something... why pick me...

"Alright!"

Without hesitating long, he gritted his teeth and nodded.

Though somewhat reluctant, thinking of the miraculous nature of the Ancestor's pill, he confidently pulled out the stopper and took a mouthful of the Mist and Smoke Powder.

Pfft!

No sooner had he swallowed the poison than his face turned pitch black, and he couldn't help coughing up a mouthful of blood.

Seeing this, everyone present frowned.

All present were at least Eight-Star Poison Masters with exceptional eyesight; they could naturally tell that this man was truly poisoned, not faking it.

"Here!"

Knowing the terrifying potency of the Mist and Smoke Powder, Bai Ting did not hesitate and handed over the antidote pill.

Hai Mingjin quickly swallowed it.

Whoosh!

Shortly after taking it, his pitch-black face immediately began to change, but it seemed the poison was not fully neutralized—half black, half white, like a painted face.

"Cough, cough, Poison Master Bai, do you have any more pills? Give me another one. I think I took too much Mist and Smoke Powder, and it hasn't been fully neutralized yet..." His breathing steadied, the poison temporarily suppressed, Hai Mingjin said with some embarrassment.

These foundation-strengthening pills were limited in size and could only hold so much Heavenly Dao true qi. Though they could neutralize poison, the Mist and Smoke Powder was of too high a grade; one pill was not enough to fully neutralize it, only about half.

"This was my last one..." Bai Ting's mouth twitched.

"Ah? I finished mine on the way here..." Hai Mingjin's body swayed, and he nearly burst into tears.

He was just demonstrating the pill for everyone, and now he ended up like this—could it get any worse?

Who had he offended?

"This..." Bai Ting's brows also jumped.

He had intended to show everyone the Ancestor's sacred antidote, but who knew... the pill wasn't enough!

"No need to test further. This is indeed a sacred antidote!"

Just as the two were at a loss, Lin Jianghai waved his hand: "Yuanling, help him neutralize the poison!"

"Yes!" Yuanling walked over and gently brushed his hand over Hai Mingjin's body. The latter immediately felt completely relaxed, and his painted face returned to normal as if makeup had been removed.

"To refine a foundation-strengthening pill into a sacred antidote capable of neutralizing even Mist and Smoke Powder... such skill is simply astounding..."

No longer paying attention to Hai Mingjin, Lin Jianghai stood up and walked over to Wei Ruyan, his face full of disbelief.

If he had had doubts before, he was now almost one hundred percent certain.

Setting aside the Innate Poison Body and Innate Poison Soul Body, just the pill from earlier—his divine sense had swept over it and found nothing special, yet it had real detoxifying effects... and could even neutralize Mist and Smoke Powder... that was terrifying.

He had personally examined the poison developed by Yuanling; it could easily kill a Saint Domain eighth-level expert... Yet a tiny pill could neutralize it without any side effects. Such skill was simply miraculous and breathtaking.

Even he found it hard to comprehend.

Only a true founding ancestor could possess such unfathomable means.

"Teacher, do you believe it?"

Bai Ting's eyes lit up.

"Mm, aside from the founding patriarch, I really can't think of who else could have such ability..." Lin Jianghai nodded and gave a slight smile. "Let's go. Attend the succession ceremony. Shen Que wants me dead, but I want to see who laughs last!"

With a flicker of his gaze, Lin Jianghai narrowed his eyes.

Having survived in the Poison Hall headquarters and stood at its peak, he was no pushover either.

"Good!"

Seeing their teacher confident again, everyone clenched their fists and followed him out.

The succession ceremony was held in the square not far from the residence. Countless people from the entire headquarters had gathered there, packed in layers upon layers, stretching endlessly out of sight.

On the central high platform, a book hovered in the air, radiating brilliance. Below it stood a poison master in a black robe, exuding an astonishing aura.

"Lin Venerable, you've finally come..."

Seeing the group arrive, the black-robed poison master smiled lightly, his voice echoing across the square. "Since you agree to feed it with human lives, let's begin. Open the Epochal Poison Code, and I will impart its contents to everyone before taking the throne, so that it may be done with proper authority!"

"Lin Venerable, as one of the Four Venerables, you have enjoyed the Poison Hall's offerings for many years. It's time to make a sacrifice!"

"Sacrifice one to benefit so many poison masters, making our Poison Hall stronger—this is a good thing... Rest assured, you will go down in history!"

Two more voices called out from the high platform.

They were the other two of the Four Venerables.

"Heh, Shen Que, Wang Venerable, He Venerable, I'm not here to feed the Epochal Poison Code. I'm here... to reopen the discussion on the Hall Master's selection!"

Ignoring their words, Lin Jianghai sneered coldly, flickered, and landed on the high platform.

"Reopen the discussion? Lin Venerable, are you confused? Protector Shen has obtained the Epochal Poison Code, perfectly legitimate. What... can you find another Epochal Poison Code?"

Wang Venerable sneered.

"The Epochal Poison Code is one of the Poison Hall's most important treasures. Protector Shen found it and has taken the supreme position. What, do you oppose Protector Shen, or do you oppose the founding patriarch?" He Venerable also snorted.

These two had long aligned with Protector Shen, their words dripping with sarcasm and disdain.

"Don't try to pressure me with righteousness. Since I dare to come here and reopen the discussion on the Hall Master's selection, I am prepared!"

Lin Jianghai flicked his sleeve. "I may not have found the Epochal Poison Code, but... I have found the founding patriarch!"

With that, he looked up into the air. "Invite the patriarch!"

Swish!

Yuan Ling, Bai Ting, and the others immediately brought Wei Ruyan over and gently placed her on the platform.

"The founding patriarch?"

"What does that mean?"

A commotion arose below. All the poison masters looked at each other, unsure of what was happening.

"The patriarch?"

Shen Que and the other two venerables also frowned.

"That's right. This is our founding patriarch. Her soul has survived until now and has reincarnated into a girl with a congenital poison body. She will awaken at any moment and lead us to glory once more!"

Lin Jianghai waved his hand grandly, pointing at Wei Ruyan.

"She is the founding patriarch?"

"What a joke? The patriarch passed away tens of thousands of years ago. How could she be a teenage girl?"

The crowd was stunned at first, then erupted in uproar.

Shen Que also laughed scornfully. "Lin Venerable, I think you're afraid to contribute to the Poison Hall and have lost your mind. Picking anyone and calling them the founding patriarch... why not find someone and say they're Confucius?"

"Exactly!"

The crowd below also shook their heads with laughter.

This Ten Thousand Poisons Venerable was usually reliable, but why was he so reckless this time?

Calling this unconscious girl the founding patriarch—what a joke!

"How dare you!" Lin Jianghai frowned. "Shen Que, as a nine-star poison master, can't you even recognize a congenital poison body?"

"Congenital poison body?"

"This girl has a congenital poison body?"

Another uproar. Shen Que was startled and quickly looked over, indeed noticing something unusual. A cold glint flashed in his eyes.

"The congenital poison body is a special constitution. In tens of thousands of years, it has only appeared in the founding patriarch. None of us here have seen it. You pick any girl and claim she has this constitution—do you have proof? And even if she does, what does that have to do with the founding patriarch?"

Flicking his sleeve, Shen Que sneered coldly. "To keep me from becoming Hall Master and protect your own power, this bluff is a bit too much, isn't it?"

"A bluff?"

"That could be!"

"No one has ever seen a congenital poison body. Picking someone and claiming it's one—how could it be such a coincidence..."

...

Sure enough, as soon as Shen Que finished speaking, the crowd below erupted in noise.

Earlier, they had been somewhat curious, but now they were full of suspicion.