Chapter 1163: Steward Qin's Method of Detoxification

"You know?" Chu Tianxing and the Loyal Azure King looked over in surprise.

Even Physician Sun, a peak七星 expert, had found no solution and had been poisoned unconscious. How could a steward with no medical knowledge possibly know?

"Mm, I was poisoned with this same toxin before, and I've now completely suppressed it..." Steward Qin nodded.

"That's great! Then hurry up and treat me..."

Hearing that his own subordinate had also been poisoned by Zhang Xuan and had been cured, the Loyal Azure King quickly called out.

"Yes! However, my treatment may be quite painful. I hope Your Highness can bear it..." Stepping forward, Steward Qin looked solemn.

"I've faced life and death—what pain haven't I endured? Rest assured!" The Loyal Azure King's brow carried confidence and authority.

Having survived countless brushes with death on the battlefield, what was detoxification? No matter how painful, how bad could it be?

"As long as you cure the poison, I'll immediately appoint you steward of the prince's mansion, in charge of everyone..."

The Loyal Azure King continued, but before he could finish, he saw a palm swinging through the air.

Slap!

It struck his face, burning as if it would tear his cheek in two.

"You..."

Never expecting his subordinate to slap him instead of treating him, the Loyal Azure King was furious. Before his roar could end, he saw the other hand come down hard again.

Slap! Slap! Slap! Slap!

After several consecutive slaps, the Loyal Azure King's face swelled up, round as a steamed bun, engorged with blood.

"Your Highness, do you feel any better?"

After several slaps delivered with all his strength, Steward Qin was panting from exhaustion, looking over cautiously.

"Better my ass! I'll kill you..."

Eyes bloodshot, the Loyal Azure King suddenly stood up, looking murderous.

The first prince of the Qingyuan Empire, of such high status, was slapped by his own subordinate in front of the emperor—and after it was done, he asked... "Feel better?"

It was like asking "Did you enjoy it?" after a rape.

Enjoy your mother's ass!

I'll beat you to death, you bastard...

The Loyal Azure King was about to explode with rage.

"Not better yet? Don't worry, Your Highness, I have an even better method..."

Stabilizing the enraged Loyal Azure King, Steward Qin gritted his teeth.

"Even better method?" The Loyal Azure King was taken aback. Just as he was about to speak, he saw Steward Qin take off his shoe, raise a foot that emitted a peculiar odor, and aim it straight at his face.

Thump!

Before he could react, his entire face twisted like a pretzel, spun two and a half times in midair, and crashed heavily to the ground.

This was a method Steward Qin had tested on others after the face-slapping treatment proved ineffective. The effect was remarkable—one kick worked wonders.

Originally a secret technique he dared not tell anyone, since the prince was also poisoned, he naturally brought it out.

"I'll kill you..."

Seeing his fallen teeth on the ground and smelling the stench on his face, the Loyal Azure King truly went mad.

He had asked this subordinate to cure the poison, but instead of giving medicine, he used slaps and kicks... utterly unforgivable!

He stood up abruptly, his aura like a dragon or tiger, eyes like lightning, eager to tear the man before him in two.

Before he could act, he heard the emperor's surprised voice from the side: "Loyal Azure King, your poison... is cured?"

"Poison?"

He couldn't help but pause. Under the continuous assault of slaps and kicks, the pain from the poison seemed to have indeed lessened, and was fading more and more.

"What... is going on?"

Suppressing the urge to tear Steward Qin apart, the Loyal Azure King asked.

"Reporting to Your Highness: today you sent me to bring that Zhang Xuan over. During our conversation, there was a disagreement, and he secretly poisoned me... I had someone examine this poison—it's undetectable and corrodes the internal organs, causing unbearable pain... However, he told me the antidote method: face-slapping! The harder the slap, the faster the cure. So... I took the liberty of striking Your Highness. Please forgive me!"

Steward Qin clasped his hands and explained in detail.

"Face-slapping to cure poison? There's such a poison?"

The Loyal Azure King and Chu Tianxing exchanged glances, their faces filled with shock, as if they had seen a ghost.

Such a poison—they had never seen or heard of it.

"Yes!" Steward Qin nodded.

"That Zhang Xuan is despicable for concocting such a poison..."

Trembling with anger, the Loyal Azure King was about to continue cursing when he felt another shudder, and the intense pain returned.

"Oh no, it's flaring up again... Quick, hurry!"

At the thought of the pain from the poison, the Loyal Azure King shuddered all over. He rushed to Steward Qin, thrust his face forward, clenched his teeth, and said with longing: "Harder!"

...

"It really works..."

Zhang Xuan, who had just left the Master Teacher Hall, smiled lightly.

When he had poured the fine wine for the Loyal Azure King, he had secretly left a strand of consciousness hidden within the other's body, concealed within Heavenly Dao true energy, undetectable even by Nascent Soul realm experts.

When the other cursed him, he triggered it, turning the Heavenly Dao true energy into a poison that rampaged through the body. It was precisely because he had left such a backup that he unhesitatingly handed the man over to the emperor.

After all, life and death were in his hands; taking him away or not made no difference.

Originally, he had left Steward Qin as a mere pawn, not expecting much use. He never imagined the fellow would actually believe his "face-slapping treatment"...

This saved him a lot of trouble. Let the Loyal Azure King suffer a bit first.

Under his conscious control, although the face-slapping treatment seemed to cure the corrosion caused by Heavenly Dao true energy, it could also be reversed...

When slapped, the poison was 'cured'; when not slapped, it flared up... Such an amusing game could entertain him for days.

But he wondered if the Loyal Azure King could hold out that long...

After communicating for a while with the consciousness hidden in the other's body, Zhang Xuan stopped paying attention and followed Master Wu. Before long, they arrived at a huge trading venue.

"Isn't this where the Appraiser Guild is located?"

Looking around, Zhang Xuan was puzzled.

According to what Hall Master Xing had told him, this should be the location of the Appraiser Guild, so why was it a large shopping mall?

"You know the nature of the Appraiser Guild: once established, the surroundings inevitably turn into a shopping mall. There's no helping it!"

Master Wu laughed.

"That's true..."

Zhang Xuan nodded.

Appraisers could distinguish the authenticity of treasures. With such a specialized profession, once the guild was established, a steady stream of people came for appraisals. Obtaining a certificate meant quality assurance, making items easier to sell. Consequently, more people came here to buy than elsewhere... Over time, a huge commercial district formed around the guild, becoming a trade center.

"By the way, what's this appraisal meeting you mentioned? Why is the Calligraphy and Painting Guild's president also coming?"

Zhang Xuan asked further.

If it were just appraising treasures, it wouldn't be strange for the Appraiser Guild's president to appear. But why the Calligraphy and Painting Guild's president as well?

"The treasure to be appraised is a painting left by the Griefless Old Man from two thousand years ago."

Master Wu said.

"The Griefless Old Man?"

"He is the most famous calligrapher and painter in the history of the Qingyuan Empire. Extremely talented, he reached the eight-star level before the age of three hundred... Unfortunately, just three days after celebrating his three-hundredth birthday, he vanished without a trace. No one knows where he went! He was probably murdered."

Master Wu shook his head.

"Three hundred years old? That's not old for a Saint Domain expert. Why call himself... the Griefless Old Man?" Zhang Xuan was puzzled.

Both Hall Master Xing and Master Wu were at least over five hundred years old. Three hundred was quite young in the Saint Domain. That title...

"He called himself the Griefless Old Man because of his life experiences. It's said that in his youth, his talent was mediocre and he kept a low profile. Until he was over 180, he hadn't even reached the Saint Domain, and he thought he would die soon. But then, somehow, he suddenly had a breakthrough. His calligraphy and painting talent seemed divinely inspired. In just ten years, he reached the seven-star level, and through this, his cultivation also broke through to the Saint Domain. Because he broke through at an advanced age, he looked very old, so he styled himself 'Old Man'."

Recalling the life of this great calligraphy and painting master, Master Wu explained.

"I see..."

Zhang Xuan nodded.

The lifespan of the Mortal Realm was around two hundred years. At 180, still in the Mortal Realm, one could hardly break through further. To enter the Dao through painting and become a saint at such an age was nothing short of a legend.

As they spoke, they entered the mall.

The mall was even grander than imagined, with a vast array of treasures. Many people moved back and forth, selecting items they needed.

Activating his Eye of Insight, Zhang Xuan swept his gaze and couldn't help shaking his head.

Although there were many treasures here, they were all ordinary. They might be useful for Mortal Realm experts, but for him, they were useless.

"The items on the first floor are all miscellaneous goods, not too expensive. Most buyers come with a treasure-hunting mentality—if they find something good, great; if not, they won't lose much. Starting from the second floor, many treasures come with appraisal certificates from appraisers. Although the prices are higher, they guarantee you're not buying fakes!"

Master Wu explained: "Would you like to take a look around the mall, Master Zhang?"

"No need..."

Zhang Xuan shook his head.

What he needed most now were high-grade essence spirit stones, and there were none here.

As for herbs, ores, and the like, Emperor Chu Tianxing had already brought them all. He didn't need to buy any.

Since he lacked nothing, there was no point in wandering around.

"Alright, let's go straight to the fifth floor. The appraisal meeting is being held there..."

Master Wu smiled and led the way.

They bypassed the crowd and climbed the stairs to the fifth floor.

Here, there were no more shops selling treasures, but a spacious hall.

As they walked forward, before they entered the room, they saw two people approaching. Spotting one of them, Zhang Xuan couldn't help but pause.

It was none other than the one he had told to "keep it up"—the Zhang family descendant, Zhang Jiuxiao!