C5 Corpse King Poison

The black blood, tainted with the poison of decayed corpses, was so corrosive it could even dissolve solid rock, releasing a noxious black smoke that stung the nostrils.

Everyone stood in shock, eyes wide, unable to believe that the senior student, known for her strength to move mountains, had indeed been infected with the corpse poison. The stench was nauseating.

Panic spread through the mine like the foul poison itself.

Hwang Ningxue's body went limp, her face turning ashen as her spirits sank. Her dim eyes fixed on Qiao Gao as she asked in a low voice, "How did you know I was deeply infected with corpse poison?"

She looked at Qiao Gao in surprise. Despite being from a prominent family in Great Flame City, his talent for cultivation was average. Even if he managed to enter the Outer Academy, he was expected to lead an unremarkable life with little achievement.

No one would believe that such an ordinary student could instantly recognize that Hwang Ningxue was severely poisoned and on the verge of becoming a mindless corpse...

"Could he be a Pill Refining Master?" A startling thought crossed Ningxue's mind, but she quickly dismissed it. That was impossible!

Pill Refining Masters were incredibly rare. Even in all of Great Flame City, there wouldn't be more than a handful. And to diagnose her condition just by sight and smell, knowing she was infected from picking the Blood Soul Flower, was beyond the capability of an ordinary Grade One Pill Refining Master.

Could Qiao Gao really be a Grade Two Pill Refining Master? That seemed impossible. Becoming a Pill Refining Master requires mastery over herbs and refining techniques, something that can't be achieved without years of practice. Most importantly, as far as Hwang Ningxue knew, the only Grade Two Pill Refining Master in Great Flame City was over fifty years old.

Hwang Ningxue gave Qiao Gao a long look. His ordinary face still had a youthful innocence, no older than sixteen. At that age, it was inconceivable for him to be associated with pill refining, let alone be a rare Grade Two Pill Refining Master.

"Senior, he also instantly recognized that Bai Tianyu was poisoned by the Scorpion Tail Tiger," someone pointed out.

"Yeah, and after giving Bai Tianyu a beating, the poison was gone," another student chimed in.

The crowd's perception of Qiao Gao shifted immediately; the earlier mockery vanished completely.

Qiao Gao remained calm and explained casually, "What's so difficult about that? Although the Blood Soul Flower is relatively rare, its distinctive smell is easy to identify. Look at your arm; there are a few black spots. These spots will spread as the poison progresses, forming a unique corpse pattern."

A student quickly examined Hwang Ningxue's arm. Her fair skin did indeed have a few small black spots, which could easily be mistaken for moles if not closely observed.

"Oh my, the moles are merging into a pattern—it's the corpse pattern!"

"She's turning into a zombie!"

A student screamed, their voice trembling as they backed away in fear.

"Ningxue, take the detox pill first," Jutian urged, his handsome face etched with worry. He was pursuing Ningxue and couldn't bear to see her suffer.

The poison was spreading rapidly. Ningxue weakly glanced at the detox pill in Jutian's palm. It was a high-grade pill, worth a thousand dollars, considered top-notch among lower-grade medicines, capable of easily neutralizing the venom of a Scorpion Tail Tiger.

"No need." Surprisingly, Ningxue refused. She sat cross-legged, retrieving a small jade bottle from her pocket and poured out a blue pill.

The pill was crystal clear, emitting a vibrant green glow, and its fragrance filled the air. Just a whiff made her feel clear-headed and full of energy.

"A Grade One Spirit Pill!" Jutian exclaimed, shocked, awkwardly putting away his lower-grade pill.

The Spirit Pill could purify negative energy, even eliminating zombie poison. However, only a Grade One Pill Refining Master could create it, and the success rate was very low.

Thus, the Spirit Pill was more expensive than typical Grade One pills, fetching ten thousand dollars each on the black market, and was extremely rare.

Bai Jutian couldn't help but take a closer look at Ningxue. She wasn't a local of Great Flame City, yet her exceptional talent, mysterious background, and stunning beauty captivated him. The more he looked, the more determined he became to win her over.

After taking the Spirit Pill, Ningxue's condition began to improve. The deathly aura between her brows started to dissipate, and her pale face regained its rosy hue, indicating that the corpse poison was under control and she was out of danger.

"Wow, this Spirit Pill is such a joke. The flame control is messy, the technique is amateurish, and it's full of impurities. It's barely a pill—just trash," Qiao Gao scoffed loudly, his face full of disdain.

"This kind of garbage pill, if it were up to me, I'd toss it back into the furnace. It can't completely clear the corpse poison," Qiao Gao said with a look of contempt.

Ningxue rolled her eyes. This pill was crafted by the renowned Pill Refining Sect, known for its top-quality products, not the inferior junk Qiao Gao claimed.

The Pill Refining Sect's influence spanned the entire North Star Country, far surpassing places like Cloud Soaring Hall, which could only sell subpar pills. Every pill they produced was a masterpiece.

So why did it seem so worthless in Qiao Gao's eyes?

"Don't get too cocky. I'll deal with you back at the academy," Ningxue said, gritting her teeth, her spirit undeterred. It seemed the Spirit Pill was working well, as she was already feeling much better.

Hwang Ningxue, usually so confident and untouchable, found herself repeatedly thwarted by this young man, which was infuriating. The most frustrating part was that she couldn't see through Qiao Gao.

"Everyone, get ready. We're leaving the mining area immediately to avoid any risk of infection," Ningxue ordered.

The mine was already contaminated, and if what Qiao Gao said was true about a Corpse King appearing, they would all be in grave danger. It was crucial to leave the area as soon as possible.

"We can't leave!" Qiao Gao stood at the entrance of the mine, blocking their way.

"Are you done yet? I've already suppressed the infection; it won't turn into a full-blown outbreak," Ningxue retorted, clearly annoyed.

"Kid, if you keep causing trouble, don't blame me for being harsh," Bai Jutian warned, his voice low and threatening, his eyes flashing with a dangerous glint.

Qiao Gao glanced at Bai Jutian dismissively and said, "I told you, the Blood Soul Flower on you was cultivated by the Corpse King and carries its poison. Your inadequate Detoxification Pill won't eliminate the poison quickly. The Corpse King can sense its poison."

"What do you think will happen if the Corpse King discovers that its painstakingly cultivated Blood Soul Flower has been stolen?" Qiao Gao asked.

"I wonder if the Corpse King will follow the trail of the poison to find us," Ningxue thought, her face showing sheer terror.

"Roar!"

At that moment, a deafening roar echoed from outside the mine. It didn't sound like any beast, carrying an inexplicable sense of dread. Some of the more timid students were so frightened they fell to their knees.

"The Corpse King is here!" Ningxue finally panicked. If the Corpse King found them, their fate would be sealed.

Everyone was in chaos, torn between the urge to flee and the fear of running into the Corpse King.

"Don't panic, I can neutralize this poison."