C5 Corpse King Poison

The blackened blood, tainted with the toxic essence of decay, had the power to corrupt even the sturdiest of rocks, sending plumes of black smoke into the air, accompanied by a nauseating, pungent stench.

Everyone stood agape, their faces etched with shock. It was beyond their belief that the senior sister, who had successfully unlocked all nine Primordial Veins and possessed the strength to move mountains, had succumbed to the corpse poison. The foul odor was enough to induce retching.

Panic swiftly took hold, spreading through the mine like the vile stench of death itself.

Hwang Ningxue's body slumped, her complexion ashen, as despair dragged her spirits to rock bottom. With a steely gaze, she confronted Qiao Gao, her voice heavy with accusation, "How did you know I was afflicted with the corpse poison?"

She regarded Qiao Gao with astonishment. Despite his lineage from a prominent family in Great Flame City, his talent for cultivation was unremarkable. His admission to the Flowing Cloud Outer Court was his peak; he was destined to lead an inconsequential life, devoid of significant accomplishments.

It was unfathomable to anyone that such an average student could discern, with a mere glance, that Hwang Ningxue was deeply poisoned, on the brink of becoming a walking corpse...

"Could he possibly be a Pill Refining Master?" The thought jolted through Ningxue's mind, but she dismissed it just as quickly. Impossible!

Pill Refining Masters were exceedingly rare. Across the entirety of Great Flame City, genuine masters of the craft could be counted on one hand. And to diagnose her affliction from the Blood Soul Flower with a simple observation? That was beyond the capabilities of any ordinary Grade One Pill Refining Master.

Could Qiao Gao be a Grade Two Pill Refining Master?

That was even less likely. Becoming a Pill Refining Master required mastery over medicinal herbs and the intricacies of pill refining techniques—skills honed only through relentless practice over many years.

What's more, Ningxue knew that the sole Grade Two Pill Refining Master in Great Flame City was well into his fifties.

Ningxue's gaze lingered on Qiao Gao, taking in his youthful, unremarkable face. Barely sixteen, he was far too young to be associated with the esteemed title of Pill Refining Master, especially one as rare as a Grade Two.

"Senior, he immediately recognized that Bai Tianyu had been poisoned by the Scorpion Tail Tiger at just one glance."

"Exactly. After giving Bai Tianyu a good thrashing, the poison was detoxified."

A student exclaimed.

The way everyone looked at Qiao Gao shifted dramatically; the earlier mockery had vanished without a trace.

Qiao Gao remained unruffled as he casually explained, "What's the big deal? Sure, Blood Soul Flowers are pretty rare, but their distinct scent isn't hard to identify. Take a look at your arm—see those few black spots? As the poison progresses, those spots will turn into unique corpse marks."

Curious students quickly examined Hwang Ningxue's arms, where indeed a few tiny black spots dotted her otherwise pristine, snow-white skin. At a glance, one might mistake them for simple moles.

"Good heavens, the moles have merged into one—that's a corpse mark!"

"Senior's going to become a walking corpse!"

A student shrieked, his voice quivering as he stumbled backward in horror.

"Hwang Ningxue, take the Detoxification Pill first," urged Bai Jutian, his handsome features etched with concern. He was courting Hwang Ningxue; he couldn't stand by and watch her beauty wither away.

The corpse poison was spreading alarmingly fast. Hwang Ningxue weakly eyed the Detoxification Pill in Bai Jutian's palm. It was a high-grade pill, valued at a thousand crystals—a top-tier remedy among lesser Medicine Pills, capable of easily neutralizing the Scorpion Tail Tiger's venom.

"No need," Hwang Ningxue declined firmly. She sat down cross-legged and produced a small Jade Bottle from within her robes, tipping out a green Medicine Pill.

The pill was translucent, emitting a soft, jade-green glow, and the scent of the medicine filled the air. With just one inhalation, one's mind would clear, feeling a surge of boundless strength.

"A Grade One Medicine Pill, the Spirit Cleansing Pill!" Bai Jutian's face registered shock as he sheepishly pocketed the lesser Medicine Pill he had offered.

The Spirit Cleansing Pill was known to purify negative energies, capable of even dispelling corpse poison. However, only a Grade One Pill Refining Master could concoct such a pill, and the success rate was exceedingly low.

Therefore, the Pure Spirit Pill commands a higher price than ordinary Grade One Medicines, fetching up to 10,000 crystals each on the black market, and they're virtually impossible to find.

Bai Jutian couldn't resist giving Hwang Ningxue another glance. She wasn't originally from Great Flame City, her talent was exceptional, her background enigmatic, and her beauty was without equal. The more Bai Jutian watched her, the more captivated he became, silently vowing to win over this stunning woman.

After Hwang Ningxue took the Spirit Cleansing Pill, a noticeable shift occurred. The aura of death that lingered in her brows started to fade, and her ashen complexion began to regain its healthy glow. It appeared that the corpse poison was under control, staving off a descent into oblivion.

"Eh, the quality of this Spirit Cleansing Pill is atrocious. The pill fire is chaotic, the technique unrefined, and it's riddled with impurities. It's barely a pill at all—utter garbage," Qiao Gao remarked with a sneer.

"With a Medicine Pill as poor as this, if I were to try refining it, there's no way I could fully cleanse the corpse poison," Qiao Gao said with a look of disgust.

Hwang Ningxue rolled her eyes. The pill she had taken was produced by the prestigious Medicine Pill Sect, known for its exceptional quality—far from the rubbish Qiao Gao was describing.

The Medicine Pill Sect's influence stretched across the entire North Star Country, its power immense and far surpassing that of the Cloud Soaring Hall, which only dealt in subpar medicines. Furthermore, every pill they produced was a premium product.

How could Qiao Gao speak so poorly of it?

"Enough with your arrogance. I'll deal with you when we return to the academy," Hwang Ningxue bit back, her spirit undaunted, her vitality seemingly restored by the Pure Spirit Pill's efficacy. She was already feeling significantly better.

Hwang Ningxue, a woman favored by the heavens, had suffered indignities at the hands of this man time and again, which was infuriating. But what truly grated on her was her inability to see through Qiao Gao.

"Everyone, prepare to move out. We're leaving the mine immediately to avoid the corpse poison," Hwang Ningxue commanded.

The mining area was already contaminated with the deadly toxin. If Qiao Gao's warning held true and a Corpse King was indeed lurking, Hwang Ningxue knew she wouldn't stand a chance against it, let alone the students—it would be a massacre.

The only option was to evacuate the mining area without delay.

"No one's going anywhere!"

Qiao Gao blocked the mine's entrance, barring everyone's exit.

"Enough already! I've managed to suppress the Corpse King Poison; I'm not turning into any decaying corpse," Hwang Ningxue retorted, visibly upset.

"Kid, stir up trouble one more time, and I won't hold back," Bai Jutian warned, his voice stern, his origin energy roiling, his eyes glinting with a dark, threatening light.

Qiao Gao gave Bai Jutian a dismissive glance, clearly unimpressed. "As I've said, the Blood Soul Flower you carry was nurtured by the Corpse King and is tainted with its poison. That substandard Spirit Cleansing Pill of yours won't clear the Corpse King Poison quickly enough. And the Corpse King... it can sense its own poison."

"What do you think will happen when the Corpse King realizes its carefully cultivated Blood Soul Flower has been pilfered?" Qiao Gao posed the question.

"Could it be that the Corpse King will track the poison right to us?"

Hwang Ningxue's face turned pale with horror.

"Roar!"

Just then, a thunderous roar echoed from outside the mine, a sound too sinister to belong to any ordinary beast, instilling an inexplicable fear. Several of the more faint-hearted students collapsed to their knees, terrified.

"The Corpse King is upon us!" Hwang Ningxue's composure shattered, realizing the dire situation. If the Corpse King were to find them, their fates were sealed.

Chaos erupted as everyone scrambled in fear, desperate to flee yet dreading an encounter with the Corpse King.

"Stay calm. I have the antidote," came a reassuring voice amidst the turmoil.