Chapter 1154: Wu Shi's Analysis

"War Masters?"

The many poison masters exchanged glances, confused.

"That's right. As long as you become war masters, you can walk openly in Qingyuan City without fear of censure or trouble! You'll no longer have to dread someone seeking revenge later! Nor worry about inquiries from the Master Teacher Hall!"

Zhang Xuan smiled lightly.

"This..." The poison masters' faces flushed, and they clenched their fists.

As poison masters, their greatest wish was to walk in the light without being viewed differently... If this could be achieved, this senior Sun Qiang would have saved their lives and given them a second chance at rebirth.

"But... we are not master teachers. Becoming war masters is almost impossible, right..." Xu You looked over with concern.

The others shared the same doubt.

War masters were a branch of master teachers, usually selected from among them. They were just a group of poison masters...

"Most war masters are master teachers, but... they also recruit some special talents. Although we poison masters have a bad reputation, when it comes to actual combat, our poison skills are formidable! If we can be recruited by the War Master Hall and become members, even if only as reserves without official status, we'll have an official identity and won't have to struggle so much!"

Zhang Xuan nodded with a smile.

The War Master Hall did have regulations for recruiting special talents, but most were at Zheng Yang's level. Elders like Xu, to be honest, were still lacking.

However, becoming reserves not belonging to the War Master Hall's central establishment was not impossible. Once they achieved merits, they could apply for formal status later.

"If that's possible, it would be best. But... our cultivation methods might be rejected by master teachers. I'm afraid... if we stay together long, conflicts will eventually arise!" Elder Xu added.

"I know your concerns, but the Grandmaster has already arranged this. These are new cultivation methods left by the Grandmaster. If you cultivate according to them, not only will your advancement be faster, but you won't need to use immoral means..."

With a flick of his wrist, Zhang Xuan handed over several books.

They were simplified versions of the Heavenly Dao Poison Art.

He had written them down after collecting them at the Poison Hall, intending to pass them on to others when the opportunity arose.

Xu You and the others took them with doubt, but after a single glance, they became so excited their faces flushed and their breathing quickened.

Having immersed themselves in poison arts for at least a hundred years, they knew the merits and flaws of poison techniques. These books, though brief, were filled with gems—every sentence held profound meaning, pointing directly to the core of the Dao.

Cultivating according to these, they could foresee their mastery of poison growing stronger, their power purer and more formidable.

At the same level, their combat strength could easily increase two or threefold!

"Thank you, Grandmaster, for bestowing the techniques..."

Filled with excitement, the poison masters knelt down in unison.

With these techniques, they no longer needed to toil searching for various poison insects, deadly toxins, or even resort to immoral acts.

"Being able to join the War Master Hall is due to Hall Master Xing's benevolence. I hope you will follow orders and not act impulsively. Otherwise, even I won't be able to save you!"

Having said what needed to be said, Zhang Xuan's expression turned serious.

"Yes!"

Everyone nodded.

Although poison masters were terrifying with their poisons and could ignore group attacks, they were still no match for war masters.

War masters were not only powerful in combat but, more importantly, their training was extremely rigorous, and many had strong resistance to poison... A poison master of the same level facing a war master might be killed before even drawing their poison!

Even if they prepared in advance, the opponent might kill them at the moment of death.

"Alright, memorize the contents of the books, then burn them... I don't want these techniques to spread beyond you people!" Zhang Xuan continued.

"Yes!" Everyone agreed.

Even though these were simplified versions, they were still extremely dangerous. If news leaked, countless people would covet them.

...

While Zhang Xuan was recruiting the group, Hall Master Xing and Wu Shi stood outside the dungeon.

"Wu Shi, if the War Master Hall accepts poison masters... how will we explain this to the Master Teacher Hall?" Hall Master Xing frowned.

He had never intended to agree, but since Wu Shi had spoken, he found it hard to object.

Although his combat strength far surpassed Wu Shi's, when it came to judgment and insight, he was far inferior.

Master teachers were not only powerful in teaching but, more importantly, their foresight far exceeded ordinary people's.

"Do you think Zhang Shi has brought trouble to the War Master Hall?"

Hearing his question, Wu Shi shook his head and looked at him.

"This..." Hall Master Xing looked embarrassed.

Though he hadn't said it, that was indeed what he thought.

Poison masters were unruly and troublesome, and their poisoning methods were hard to guard against. If they were allowed to stay in the War Master Hall, wouldn't it become chaotic?

"Actually, you don't understand Zhang Shi's intentions. He did all this for the War Master Hall and for our human race!"

Seeing that he indeed thought that way, Wu Shi smiled bitterly.

"For the War Master Hall and the human race?" Hall Master Xing was puzzled.

These fellows were a big pile of trouble. How could it be for them?

"I knew you wouldn't understand!" Seeing his expression, Wu Shi shook his head. "Let me ask you this... now that these poison masters are released, would you place them under house arrest or execute them?"

"This... They haven't committed any crimes, nor have they poisoned humans... Why would I place them under house arrest or execute them?" Hall Master Xing was taken aback.

Although the Master Teacher Hall and War Master Hall governed the entire continent, they followed rules; they weren't bandits.

These poison masters were victims themselves and hadn't done anything heinous. Even if they were powerful and held authority, they couldn't just imprison or kill them!

"Exactly. You can't imprison or execute them... Their Poison Hall has been completely exposed and destroyed, so they can't return. With so many poison masters scattered across the Qingyuan Empire, what if they bring disaster?" Wu Shi said.

"This..."

Hall Master Xing was speechless.

If so many poison masters gathered together, they could be surrounded and killed. But once they scattered and integrated into the empire, finding them would be nearly impossible.

If these people secretly poisoned ordinary people, by the time the culprit was found, it would be too late.

"By recruiting them into the War Master Hall, we confine their range of activity and prevent greater calamities. Zhang Shi's action is essentially a form of house arrest... but it sounds much better. It not only preserves our reputation but also highlights the Master Teacher Hall's tolerance—killing two birds with one stone!"

"This..."

Hall Master Xing opened his mouth but couldn't speak.

Analyzed that way, it was indeed true.

Once these poison masters joined the War Master Hall, they would be bound by its regulations and could no longer act freely. It was indeed equivalent to being confined here, unable to cause harm outside.

"Of course, that's only Zhang Shi's first goal... His second goal is genuinely for the War Master Hall's benefit!"

Wu Shi continued: "You still remember how severe the War Master Hall's losses were in the battle against the alien spirit race over twenty years ago, don't you?"

"Yes!"

Hall Master Xing's voice was low.

Back then, the Qingtian branch had mobilized all its forces. The War Master Hall was besieged, with countless severely injured. Even he had nearly fallen.

If not for Elder Qi's intervention, he would have died.

"Although the alien spirit race came prepared, it wouldn't have been easy for them to defeat so many of our war masters. But you know best why that battle was so tragic!"

Wu Shi's expression was grave.

The alien spirit race had come prepared, but the War Master Hall had never relaxed and was always on alert. Under normal circumstances, even if both sides clashed, the War Master Hall alone could have wiped them out without needing the Master Teacher Hall and the entire Qingyuan Empire to intervene...

Unfortunately, all three forces had to act, and the result was still a pyrrhic victory!

Because of this, the Qingyuan Empire became the weakest among the eight empires, and after over twenty years, it still hadn't recovered.

"It was... the Supreme Clear Wind Powder!"

Hall Master Xing clenched his fists.

Back then, the war masters had been unknowingly poisoned with a deadly toxin called Supreme Clear Wind Powder. All of them became weak and limp, their combat power plummeting... allowing the enemy to seize victory!

Even he hadn't been spared.

This incident had been like a thorn in his heart, never letting him find peace.

"Yes, that poison. It spreads with the wind, colorless and odorless... No one could detect it! Even I didn't notice at the time... It was Vice Hall Master Tian Qing who discovered it, preventing greater losses for the Master Teacher Hall. Because of this, he completely took control of the Master Teacher Hall, and his power grew!"

Wu Shi sighed and continued: "Zhang Shi's purpose in having so many poison masters join the War Master Hall is twofold. First, he wants us to have a combat group skilled in poison, so we can easily handle such situations in the future. Second, with poison masters joining, the war masters will have the opportunity to train their poison resistance. If the alien spirit race uses poison again, we won't be caught off guard..."

"This..."

Hall Master Xing was stunned.

Indeed.

With poison masters joining, if something like what happened twenty years ago occurred again, they could prepare in advance and avoid being passive.

"Did Zhang Shi really calculate all this?"

After a moment of silence, the more he thought about it, the more he felt that letting poison masters join the War Master Hall was beneficial with no drawbacks. Hall Master Xing swallowed and couldn't help looking over.

Even he hadn't thought of these things. Could it be true that Zhang Shi, despite being severely injured, had figured it all out in such a short time?

"Zhang Shi's wisdom is beyond our guess. I only realized this after hearing his request and pondering for a long time!"

Wu Shi sighed.

The more he thought about it, the more he felt this was an excellent move, one that only a person of great wisdom could make.

"This..."

After deliberating again, his admiration grew, and Hall Master Xing sincerely exclaimed: "Zhang Shi is truly a divine being!"