Chapter 317 Strange Poison

Seeing that his two friends were entertaining their distinguished guest, You Su did not dare to delay Liu Jinmian for too long and briefly explained the whole story.

“My older brother went treasure hunting a while ago. He was fine at first when he came back, but after a couple of days he wanted to move out and stay at his private residence.”

You Su didn't find it strange at first, after all, the You family was indeed having a hard time. However, under normal circumstances, his sworn brother would meet with him every few days, but this time there was no sign of him for seven or eight days. You Su was worried, so he went to look for him.

Then he discovered that his sworn brother, Tan Zheng, had fallen into a coma.

Moreover, my whole body was ice cold.

Liu Jinmian frowned: "How did you determine that it was poisoning?"

You Su wiped his face and said with a wry smile, "I privately begged Uncle Zhou."

Liu Jinmian gasped.

—Uncle Zhou?

Unexpectedly, You Su actually went to invite this person!

·

He was indeed a skilled fourth-level alchemist with a certain status in the entire Xinyu City. It was said that he was very close to the fifth level, and some even said that he could barely refine fifth-level pills, but the quality was too poor and the output was too low, so it was not stable for the time being. Therefore, he was still trying his best to improve his alchemy skills.

This traveling alchemist was actually You Su's mother's cousin.

Back then, You Su's mother was very fond of her cousin, and the two families were considering a marriage alliance. However, Zhou You refused and left. In a fit of anger, You Su's mother casually married You Su's father. You Su's father was no good. It took You Su's mother many years to conceive You Su, but during childbirth, she encountered an extremely rare imbalance of her internal energy. Even though she didn't die, she was severely injured and only raised You Su to the age of seven or eight before passing away.

After that, You Su's life was also very difficult. If it weren't for the fact that his mother had taken in a talented adopted son who had grown into a young man to protect You Su, You Su would probably have had a hard time growing up in his father's inner quarters.

After returning from his travels, Zhou You made great progress in alchemy, but he never expected that his cousin would die in a fit of pique. Although he had no romantic love for his cousin, he felt a brotherly affection for her. He felt very guilty and took good care of You Su.

You Su had heard many complaints about Zhou You from his mother since he was a child. Although he knew it was not Zhou You's fault, he did not intend to accept Zhou You's help.

Zhou You didn't force him.

Now, You Su is taking the initiative to seek help from Zhou You for Tan Zheng's sake, which actually shows that he has overcome a great psychological barrier.

However, You Su's instincts also clearly showed that any alchemist in Xinyu City could be bribed by the You family, except for Zhou You.

Zhou You is currently the only alchemist that You Su can trust.

·

Liu Jinmian lowered her voice and asked, "What exactly did Master Zhou say?"

A trace of sorrow flashed across You Su's face as he said, "Uncle Zhou examined it carefully and was initially at a loss, but after reading through many ancient books, he felt that it was similar to a kind of ancient poison called Xuanbing."

Liu Jinmian gasped.

Ancient times!

No matter what kind of poison it is, once it is associated with ancient times, it means that it will be very difficult to deal with.

Few ancient texts have survived concerning this poison, and the prescription is hard to find. Even if the prescription were found, the resources to make the antidote may have become extinct. Moreover, it is difficult to predict whether the ancient poison has mutated due to the passage of time.

If Tan Zheng really was poisoned by this, Zhou You Dan Shi would not be able to cure him.

Sure enough, You Su said softly, "Uncle Zhou suggested that we find a rare and precious herb that can neutralize any toxin. If my elder brother takes it, even if it cannot completely detoxify him, it can weaken the toxin, making his physical condition clearer and making it easier to invite other alchemists or doctors to come and treat him, and find the real antidote."

The two sisters had received help from Tan Zheng when they were training in the nearby mountains, so Liu Jinmian asked, "What level of antidote do you need? Something mild or anything? Are there any other specific requirements?"

All these questions were asked in order to find out more when I got back.

Hearing Liu Jinmian say this, You Su felt a little relieved, but overall he still felt very heavy-hearted.

He rubbed his temples and said, "My elder brother... when we met this time, he had broken through to the Fusion Realm. Uncle Zhou examined him and said it might be related to the poison. Between or at the same time as he was poisoned, my brother underwent the initial fusion of his companion treasure. So the poison might..." He felt a bitter taste in his mouth, "...maybe even seeped into his primordial soul. Uncle Zhou is helpless in the face of such a complex situation; at most, he can only make a rough diagnosis."

"Therefore, what my elder brother might need now is a level five antidote, preferably with mild medicinal properties. The specific requirements... it just needs to have the effect of neutralizing toxins, and hopefully it can be used on any type of toxin without any bias..."

Speaking of this, even You Su himself felt that it was really hard to find.

Liu Jinmian patted You Su's shoulder reassuringly. As one of the genius cultivators responsible for finding treasure vaults for the family, she had a general idea of ​​how many resources the family had and what kind of resources they contained. She just didn't know what kind of resources were in the other treasure vaults that the family had recently acquired during her search.

Therefore, even if she were to search, she would only look in these new treasure troves.

If that's not available either, then she won't be able to help You Su.

You Su's lips were pale, and he seemed to be in great distress. He was indeed trying his best to find a doctor for his sworn brother, but it was conceivable that if there was no hope for the Liu family, it would be difficult for You Su to find any other possibilities.

If Tan Zheng doesn't survive by then, You Su himself will probably lose the will to live.

Liu Jinmian never expected that something like this would happen to You Su.

For a moment, Liu Jinmian really didn't know what to say—in fact, she had a premonition that there was no such coincidence in the world, and that the Liu family's treasure trove probably wouldn't contain such a tailor-made rare and precious material.

Moreover, even if it were available, how would You Su obtain it?

It doesn't matter if it's her personal property; she can lend it directly to You Su. But such rare and precious materials are too valuable. If they come from the Liu family, why would the Liu family offer such precious materials without a sufficient price?

It's difficult, extremely difficult.

You Su clearly understands this principle, so he is currently just running around with a sliver of hope.

Liu Jinmian's mood suddenly became heavy, but after thinking for a while, she glanced at the two seniors out of the corner of her eye, and suddenly, her heart stirred.

She asked softly, "It's not that there's absolutely no other hope."

You Su was somewhat incredulous, but still pressed for an answer: "What do you mean?"

Liu Jinmian took a deep breath: "I can't tell you now, but... could you tell others about the poison your sworn brother suffered from, and the specific details you mentioned?"

You Su was taken aback. His chaotic mind seemed to suddenly open up at that moment, and an idea came to him.

His lips trembled slightly as he said, "My brother and I are both dying, why are we still worrying about this?"

Liu Jinmian nodded: "Then I'll help you find out. If you're lucky enough to pique... interest, then maybe there's still a glimmer of hope." She said meaningfully, "The world is vast, and my Liu family is still too small."

You Su seemed to understand something and said solemnly, "Jin Mian, thank you for your trouble."

Liu Jinmian smiled and said, "No need to be so polite. When my sister and I were in danger, it was your sworn brother who risked serious injury to save us. He saved your friend because of you, and now your friend is trying to help your sworn brother because of you."

The gloom in You Su's heart dissipated a little, and he felt somewhat comforted.

At the same time, he said, "I will go pack my sworn brother's belongings. Once he wakes up, he will definitely be able to pay me a sufficient reward."

Liu Jinmian nodded again.

She said no more to You Su, only telling him to go back and continue taking care of his sworn brother, and to wait for news from the sisters.

You Su naturally did as instructed and left the place quickly.

He had been out for a while, and if it weren't for searching for the Liu sisters, he would never have left his sworn brother's side...

·

Liu Jinmian quickly returned to her seat and apologized to the Zhong and Wu couple.

Zhong Cai waved her hand: "A friend came to see you, just to say a few words, there's no need for that."

During her journey with the two seniors, Liu Jinmian truly felt the kindness of the slender Senior Zhong, but she did not take advantage of it or think that she could be neglected.

After giving an apologetic smile, Liu Jinmian noticed a hint of boredom in Senior Zhong's expression, so she cautiously said, "My friend rushed over because something strange happened, and it's quite interesting..."

Zhong Cai was taken aback and raised her eyebrows.

Liu Jinmian brought this up specifically to pique his interest, perhaps because she wanted to ask him for help? Her obvious display of affection suggested she had no ulterior motives.

Since that's the case...

He does feel quite bored right now, so he might as well listen to something.

Liu Jinlan naturally understood her cousin's thoughts. She carefully observed Senior Zhong's reaction and was relieved to see that he was not angry but rather somewhat amused.

Liu Jinmian also noticed this, and her tension dissipated somewhat.

Zhong Cai turned her head and asked, "Tell me about it?"

Liu Jinmian quickly organized her thoughts and slowly began to tell the story of a wealthy family's abandoned son and his sworn brother.

·

The You family had a palace builder.

The Tan family has no cultivators at the Palace Building stage, but they do have several cultivators at the mid-to-late stage of the Fusion stage.

Neither of the two families is as strong as the Liu family, but they are still among the top forces in the entire Xinyu City.

There have been multiple marriage alliances between the families.

It was quite normal for a Tan family girl to marry into the You family. However, the internal power struggle within the You family was extremely fierce. You Su's father had two wives. His first wife was You Su's mother, and his current stepmother had given birth to many children, all of whom were quite accomplished and had secured their positions by You Su's father's side.

You Su's father had dozens of other women with official titles in his harem, and naturally, they had even more children and descendants. You Su's father himself was a Fusion Realm cultivator, and his talent was among the best in the entire You family, so he naturally held a high position in the You family. He was also considered young and promising, which made him even more attractive to many beauties.

In such an environment, You Su, a direct descendant whose talent is only at the Xuan rank, naturally cannot suppress other demons and monsters.

However, his sworn brother was a low-grade Heavenly cultivator, with aptitude comparable to his father's.

However, You Su himself had indeed been abandoned by his father long ago, and his life was not too difficult only because of Tan Zheng's influence.

These two sworn brothers were truly inseparable.

In the past, Tan Zheng searched for resources in various dangerous places to help You Su break through as quickly as possible. Now, Tan Zheng is poisoned and in a coma, and You Su stays by his side, running around and neglecting everything else...

It was truly a moving and inspiring story.

·

As Zhong Cai listened to these stories, they seemed somewhat familiar.

Although their specific developments differed, one could vaguely discern a resemblance between him and Lao Wu.

Not quite the same, but the core is quite similar?

Subconsciously, Zhong Cai looked at Wu Shaogan.

As if on the same wavelength, Wu Shaogan also looked at Zhong Cai.

[Is Acai trying to help?]

Zhong Cai blinked.

[Mainly because I am indeed somewhat interested in that poison.]

Wu Shaogan smiled slightly.

Does A-Cai possess a cure for the ancient poison of Xuanbing?

Zhong Cai thought for a moment.

[It seems to be a fragmented prescription, but the effect may not be optimal. Based on the current description, I think there might be other issues mixed in, leading to some variations... I think I can give it a try.]

Wu Shaogan understood that his wife, A Cai, really wanted this live sample of the ancient poison and also wanted to use it to further hone her alchemy skills.

He naturally accompanied them willingly.

Everything will be done according to A-Cai's wishes.

Zhong Cai was all smiles.

If he still had his current appearance, then this smile would surely be dazzlingly bright, but he was wearing the somewhat frail shell of his previous life, so the feeling he gave people was naturally very different.

There is a kind of beauty that is both intimate and ethereal.

Wu Shaogan stared at him, somewhat taken aback, a rare occurrence for him.

Zhong Cai was quite resistant to Wu Shaogan's current expression. She smiled pretentiously and downed her tea in one gulp.

Wu Shaogan: "..."

·

Liu Jinmian had almost finished telling her story and didn't dare to offer any more opinions, instead waiting for instructions from the two seniors.

The reason she initially thought of trying her luck with Senior Zhong was because Senior Zhong was very likely a disciple of the Lingxian Sect.

Most of the disciples of the Lingxian Sect are alchemists, and she could also smell the fragrance of pills on Senior Zhong.

With Senior Zhong's current level of skill, he should be at least a fourth-level alchemist—maybe even a fifth-level one?

If Zhong Danshi truly came from there, the various inheritances he received would be even richer. Perhaps the classics that the traveling Danshi could not see and the judgments that he could not grasp were all recorded in Zhong Danshi's inheritance.

The alchemists of the Lingxian Sect are far more powerful than ordinary alchemists. With the support of their lineage and their own alchemy skills, they may indeed be able to develop an antidote for Tan Zheng.

Moreover, for alchemists like that, improving their alchemy skills should be the most important thing.

You Su might not be able to offer a reward sufficient to satisfy the alchemists of the Lingxian Sect, but Tan Zheng's case is so special that if the poison he was poisoned could pique the interest of the alchemists of the Lingxian Sect, there might be hope of getting their help.

At least, the level 5 alchemists in the vicinity offer far greater hope than the alchemists from the Lingxian Sect.

even--

Liu Jinmian had another idea: if even Senior Zhong couldn't solve this problem, perhaps he would bring Tan Zheng to the Lingxian Sect to study it with his fellow disciples? The Lingxian Sect had a very good reputation, and there had never been any rumors of its alchemy disciples treating patients extremely badly.

Moreover, whatever happens next is far better than letting Tan Zheng wait to die.

·

Zhong Cai pretended to be deep in thought, but in reality, he had already exchanged several telepathic messages with Wu Shaogan.

Now, Zhong Cai said directly, "If your friend doesn't mind, I can go over and take a look."

Liu Jinmian was overjoyed and said with gratitude, "It is already a great blessing for Senior Zhong to take a look. Thank you, Senior Zhong."

Zhong Cai waved her hand again.

Liu Jinmian said no more, but instead diligently instructed the waiters in the restaurant to serve the dishes and make any necessary preparations as soon as possible.

The service was always very attentive, considerate, and perceptive.

The same applies to Liu Jinlan.

·

Since there was nothing interesting to do after shopping, and Zhong Cai himself really wanted to see the sample as soon as possible, he decided to go directly to the You brothers' residence after he had eaten and drunk his fill.

After Zhong Cai agreed, Liu Jinmian quickly sent a letter to You Su, telling him to wait patiently and be ready to entertain the distinguished guest at any time.

Regardless of how overjoyed You Su would be upon receiving the news, when the group arrived by carriage, You Su was already standing outside the door, having been waiting for who knows how long.

Upon seeing the luxury car, he stepped forward to greet it with utmost respect.

Zhong Cai was helped out of the car by Wu Shaogan. When she looked at You Su, her expression was slightly subtle.

You Su's strength wasn't high, but he was still enlightened.

Moreover, he carried a great many different medicinal scents, indicating that he had consumed a considerable number of rare and precious herbs in the past.

However, probably because he didn't have any reliable alchemists around to help him, these rare and precious herbs were probably taken raw, and their medicinal effects were not fully released. As a result, he only received about one-tenth of the benefits, and much of the medicinal properties were still stagnant in his body.

The person who provided him with the treasures was truly very generous.

And this person must really be his sworn brother Tan Zheng, right?

They really have a good relationship.

·

You Su had no idea what this extremely young-looking alchemist was looking at him, so he didn't dare to make a sound and just let him look at him.

He feared that if he failed to meet the other party's expectations, it would endanger his sworn brother's life.

However, he quickly looked away.

You Su secretly relaxed, forced a smile, opened the door, and led the way, saying, "Please come in, everyone. My humble abode is simple, I hope you won't find it offensive."

Zhong Cai simply said, "Go see the patient directly."

You Su was overjoyed and dared not delay any longer. He quickly led the group through the long corridor and into a very sturdy quiet room.

·

The moment the door to the quiet room opened, an extremely cold and terrifying power flowed out, instantly sweeping in all directions!

The world seemed to be frozen over; even a casual breath felt like your nasal cavity was frozen shut, and your lungs were filled with cold air, making your chest feel suffocated, as if you were about to turn into an ice sculpture.

Such cold air had almost no effect on Zhong Cai and Wu Shaogan.

But the Liu sisters shivered.

You Su's strength was even weaker than that of the Liu sisters, but he seemed to have gotten used to the situation here. His face was slightly pale again, but there was nothing else unusual about him.

The group entered the quiet room.

Facing you is a very spacious bed that looks like it was carved from ice and jade.

The Liu sisters were puzzled—why would they make the patient sleep on such a large bed of ice when he had already been poisoned by ice-attribute poison?

Zhong Cai, however, could tell at a glance that it was not an ice block bed at all.

It should have been just an ordinary wooden bed, but because the person on the bed was constantly emitting cold air, the entire bed was frozen like this.

And the person in bed...

The closer they got, the colder they felt.

The Liu sisters and You Su, for example, both needed to quickly circulate their profound energy to dispel the cold.

Wu Shaogan grasped Zhong Cai's hand and asked softly, "Ah Cai, are you alright?"

Zhong Cai smiled and said, "It's not really troublesome."

The two continued walking forward.

They quickly reached the bedside and were able to see the person on the bed clearly.

real……

It's very strange.

·

Lying on the bed was a giant man, nine feet tall.

His appearance was somewhat rugged, and his overall size was at least one and a half times that of You Su—when You Su stood by the bed with a sorrowful expression, he looked particularly petite compared to the big man.

It's not surprising that it's just big.

His entire body was covered in frost and emanating icy mist—which was not surprising, given that it was supposedly an ice-attribute poison.

The strangest thing is that... this big man's body was covered in ice flowers.

Yes, it is real ice flower.

They grow in clusters, some on the hands and feet, others on the chest and abdomen.

The big man's clothes had long been frozen to pieces, and it was only the large patches of ice flowers that covered his more private parts, preventing him from being naked.

In addition, the big man had a raised, icy white horn on his forehead.

How could a normal person have a single horn on their forehead?

Unless the giant man's own innate treasure is a rare beast soul, and he fights in fusion with the beast soul, then certain characteristics will be revealed.

Even if the features are revealed, how could they be frozen, resulting in such a bizarre appearance?

Furthermore, the entire body of the large man was ice-white.

It was as if he wasn't a living person at all.

However, upon closer inspection, it can be seen that his head is still intact.

The word "intact" does not mean that other parts of his body are missing, but that only his head is free of ice flowers. Upon closer inspection, one can also see that his complexion still has a slight rosy glow.

Of course, more importantly, he was still breathing.

Although it is very faint and almost imperceptible, it really exists.

Occasionally, wisps of white breath could be seen emerging from his nostrils, a manifestation of his breath encountering the cold air.

Even this slightest breath was barely a whisper.

It could break apart anytime, anywhere.

He's not far from death.