C10 His Strength Has Completely Recovered!

Zhao Yu emerged from the cave, loosened up his limbs, and commenced the Ten Shadow Palms technique. His hands blurred with increasing speed, creating almost ghostly afterimages. Ultimately, he produced a total of five Palm Shadows that whipped up the palm wind, sending withered leaves and branches swirling around him. When four of the Palm Shadows struck a nearby boulder, it split and crumbled.

Such formidable Palm Shadows, if they were to strike a person, would surely cause severe injury or death. Meanwhile, Zhao Yu's steps were equally swift, his Thunder Step leaving a trail of afterimages that made him nearly impossible to defend against. This combination of speed and power from both the Thunder Step and the Ten Shadow Palms made him far more formidable than if he were to rely on a single martial skill.

Completing the sequence of Ten Shadow Palms left Zhao Yu feeling deeply content. He then drew the Nether Dream Dagger, channeling his genuine energy into it, and unleashed a barrage of saber auras. They radiated from the dagger, slicing through the air and creating a fearsome spectacle as they cleaved trees and split boulders effortlessly.

Initially, upon his arrival in this world, Zhao Yu could scarcely muster a single saber aura with the Nether Dream Dagger. Now, he could easily release over twenty, with plenty of genuine energy still coursing through him. In terms of strength, he was certain he could take down an unscathed Black Wind Tiger.

After completing his practice, Zhao Yu sheathed the Nether Dream Dagger, feeling invigorated. Glancing down at himself, he chuckled. A month of relentless training in the mountains had made him lose track of time. Despite a diet rich in Demonic Beast meat and various medicinal herbs, his lack of personal upkeep left him looking disheveled and dirtied, much like a beggar.

He made his way to a mountain stream, where he bathed meticulously, shaved off his stubble, tidied his unruly hair, and washed his clothes. Once they were dry and he was redressed, he inspected his reflection in the water and nodded approvingly. He had once again become the dashing young man he was known to be.

Zhao Yu returned to the cave to tidy up. He had nearly finished all the tiger meat he had acquired over time. What remained were the valuable tiger skin, bones, and claws, which he could take back to his sect in exchange for Tao points.

He also sorted through the medicinal herbs he hadn't yet consumed, carefully packing them into his travel bag.

"Light, comb through my memories to see if you can identify the person suspected of poisoning me a year ago," Zhao Yu instructed after he finished packing. With his body and strength largely restored, it was time to uncover the culprit behind the poisoning. The unease would persist until he did.

His memories were hazy, but Light had the capability to reconstruct every detail and analyze them.

"After reviewing your memories, I've located several fragments," Light reported. "Master, please take a look."

Memories from the past began to flood Zhao Yu's mind. In one, a young woman in white, with a striking figure, was pouring tea with her back to him. She turned, offering him the tea with an enchanting smile.

Zhao Yu accepted the cup, returned the smile, and downed the tea in one swallow. That was where the memory cut off.

He was taken aback. The woman in white was none other than Zhang Xuemeng, the daughter of Sect Master Zhang Daoming.

More memories surfaced, all featuring moments with Zhang Xuemeng. She was always there, either serving him tea or meals, exuding a gentle and virtuous demeanor. Yet, she never partook in the tea herself, merely sitting by his side as he ate. Whenever Zhao Yu invited her to join him, she would claim she had already eaten.

Back then, Zhao Yu hadn't thought much of it, simply feeling moved by his fiancée's affection. But now, as Light highlighted the memories, Zhang Xuemeng's actions seemed peculiar. As she poured the tea, her right hand discreetly tapped the cup several times.

When Light magnified the scene a hundredfold, Zhao Yu spotted white powder trickling from Zhang Xuemeng's hand into the cup.

If it weren't for Light, those details might have remained hidden forever.

Zhao Yu emerged from his reverie with a sense of heaviness. After a long pause, he inquired softly, "Besides confirming that it was Zhang Xuemeng who poisoned me, is there anyone else under suspicion?"

Light replied, "I've scoured your memories twelve thousand times. I'm certain it was Zhang Xuemeng who poisoned you. We can rule out everyone else, unless we uncover additional memories that could serve as clues."

Zhao Yu fell silent, then abruptly burst into laughter, his eyes brimming with self-mockery.

He had doubted many over the past days, including his fellow disciples. His prominence in the Sky Profound Sect had once cast a long shadow, naturally breeding envy in others.

Yet, Zhang Xuemeng had never been under his suspicion.

In his recollections, she had always been the source of cherished memories, consistently kind to him. Even after he fell ill, she had been by his side, helping him search for a cure. She had fully embraced her role and responsibilities as his betrothed.

It was only after half a year, as his condition worsened and no improvement came, that their relationship began to cool.

Eventually, Zhang Xuemeng left the Sky Profound Sect to live with her mother, and they never saw each other again.

Deep down, Zhao Yu had harbored nothing but gratitude for Zhang Mengxue.

But now, faced with the stark truth, he was overwhelmed by disbelief and profound sorrow.

Light, the Super Bio-Brain, wouldn't deceive him. The evidence was irrefutable; Zhang Xuemeng was his poisoner.

Had Zhang Xuemeng been an enemy, he would've confronted her directly, even to the point of killing her.

But Zhang Xuemeng was his fiancée, and the taste of betrayal from someone so trusted was bitterly unpleasant.

Thankfully, Zhao Yu was merely influenced by his predecessor. He was no longer the Zhao Yu of before; otherwise, he might have been consumed by thoughts of death.

Eventually, Zhao Yu's turmoil subsided, and he found himself pondering anew.

Why would Zhang Xuemeng poison him?

There was no apparent conflict of interest between them, and she had even agreed to their union when Zhang Daoming proposed it.

If Zhang Xuemeng was unwilling, the marriage would never come to fruition.

Zhao Yu furrowed his brow, lost in thought for quite some time before he spoke, "Light, keep scanning my memories. Was there anything out of the ordinary with Zhang Xuemeng before she poisoned me?"

Light replied, "A year ago, you two had a period of separation, during which she stayed with Ma Qiuping for a while."

Zhao Yu vaguely remembered this, although he hadn't paid it much mind at the time.

Ma Qiuping, Zhang Xuemeng's mother, was an elder of the Pill Sect, her cultivation surpassing that of Zhang Daoming. She was also the daughter of the Pill Sect's Master.

The Pill Sect's power greatly exceeded that of the Sky Profound Sect, offering better conditions in every regard, including easy access to various pills. As such, Ma Qiuping resided within the Pill Sect year-round, making her a rare sight for the disciples of the Sky Profound Sect.

Renowned for their pills, the Pill Sect's disciples were experts in pharmacology, fully capable of creating a colorless, tasteless poison.

Could Zhang Xuemeng's poison have originated from the Pill Sect?

This suspicion seemed likely; Zhang Xuemeng alone wouldn't have access to such a unique poison.

And Ma Qiuping's demeanor towards him had always been chilly, bordering on contemptuous.

With a creased brow, Zhao Yu pondered the root of all these revelations.