Chapter 43: Immune to Hundred Poisons

Chapter 43: Chapter 43: Immune to Hundred Poisons

A few breaths after Chen Yue disappeared, two figures materialized.

One of them gazed in the direction Chen Yue had vanished, his eyes narrowing slightly. He whispered, "What an exquisite Body Technique! He changes direction without any warning!"

The other nodded, his voice hoarse. "And his perception is sharp. We were careful enough, but he still noticed us."

"Should we still follow him?" the first person asked.

"Follow him?" The second man shook his head. "Judging by his Body Technique as he left, we might not be able to catch him. And even if we did, we probably wouldn’t come out on top. Forget it. Let’s go. We’ll just report back."

The two exchanged a look and sank silently into the shadows.

On the way back, Chen Yue changed back into his original clothes and then silently vaulted the wall, returning to the secluded courtyard arranged for him in the Chen Mansion.

He bolted the door and lit the oil lamp. Instead of resting immediately, Chen Yue took out the Pill Formula for the Bone-Enhancing Pill and the Secret Manual for the Hidden Weapon Techniques called Meridian Bone-Piercing Nail.

He first examined the Meridian Bone-Piercing Nail. The Secret Manual was thin. The opening Chapter explained that the way of hidden weapons lay in surprise and striking the unprepared, emphasizing the perfect coordination of hand, eye, heart, strength, and weapon.

Meridian Bone-Piercing Nail was not a method for using a specific hidden weapon, but a general manual of techniques for using small, sharp hidden weapons like flying needles, bone-piercing nails, and darts.

Next was the Pill Formula for the Bone-Enhancing Pill. The writing on the leather paper was somewhat faded but still legible.

The medicinal ingredients recorded in the Pill Formula were mostly related to strengthening muscles and bones. The refining method was quite complex, requiring certain ingredients to be steamed nine times and sun-dried nine times, then alternately decocted and fused with gentle and fierce flames. Finally, the heat control required for Pill Formation was extremely demanding.

Chen Yue became engrossed in his reading, and before he knew it, the night had grown deep.

At the very moment night turned to day, the familiar settlement prompt appeared right on time.

[Daily Settlement]

[Studied Secret Manuals diligently. Meridian Bone-Piercing Nail Experience +1, Bone-Enhancing Pill Refining Experience +1]

[Cultivated Mountain-Suppressing Essence-Stabilizing Technique diligently. Cultivation +16]

[Consumed Bone Marrow Cleansing Pill. Minor Marrow Cleansing and Bone Forging.]

[Cultivated Tiger Roar Golden Bell Shield diligently. Tiger Roar Golden Bell Shield Experience +60]

[Cultivated Vertical Cloud Thousand Layer Step diligently. Vertical Cloud Thousand Layer Step Experience +85]

...

[Skill: Tiger Roar Golden Bell Shield (Entry Level 2255/2916)]

[Skill: Meridian Bone-Piercing Nail (Entry Level 1/212)]

[Skill: Bone-Enhancing Pill (Entry Level 1/600)]

[Realm: Refining Flesh Realm (493/933)]

A wealth of experience and insight flooded into him. His newly acquired Meridian Bone-Piercing Nail and Bone-Enhancing Pill refining techniques successfully reached Entry Level.

The experience bar for his Tiger Roar Golden Bell Shield had advanced another chunk. At this rate, it would take just over ten days at most for this profound Body Refining Technique to reach the Minor Success Realm!

By then, Chen Yue’s defense, strength, and even his Protective Gang Qi would all take a leap forward.

Thanks to his continuous consumption of Bone Marrow Cleansing Pills and his own diligent cultivation, the experience cap for the Refining Flesh Realm had dropped to 933. With his experience points at 493, he was already more than halfway through his training for this realm.

The next day, in the Alchemy Room, Chen Yue skillfully refined his daily quota of Blood Circulation Pills while mentally rehearsing the key points of refining the Bone-Enhancing Pill.

Refining Blood Circulation Pills was no longer difficult for him, so he could devote most of his Heart Spirit to thinking about the new elixir.

After finishing his task with the Blood Circulation Pills, Chen Yue didn’t rest. He briefly regulated his breathing and then began to process the ingredients for the Antitoxic Pill.

Although his technique experience had reached Minor Success and he was theoretically very confident, this was, after all, his first time formally refining an Antitoxic Pill. He was fully focused on every step—processing the ingredients and controlling the heat—daring not to be the slightest bit careless.

Thanks to the profound understanding and precise control granted by the Minor Success Realm, the entire refining process went without major incident, despite a few minor setbacks.

About an hour later, the Pill Furnace opened. At the bottom lay two elixirs, each the size of a longan, emitting a strange scent that was both pungent and cool.

The Antitoxic Pills were a success!

Although their quality looked a bit poor, they were, without a doubt, Antitoxic Pills.

Chen Yue carefully removed the elixirs and placed them on a Jade Plate to inspect them. He confirmed that the refinement was successful: the Medicinal Power had fused, the toxicity had been neutralized and transformed, and they were safe to consume. Their effects would likely be somewhat diminished, however.

Chen Yue did not immediately consume a whole one. It was his first time refining them, after all, and they were elixirs made with poison. He first used a small knife to carefully slice off a small piece from one of the Antitoxic Pills and put it in his mouth.

When the elixir entered his mouth, it was slightly bitter at first, but it soon dissolved into a medicinal stream that carried a cool and faintly tingling numbness, spreading through his limbs and bones.

A moment later, Chen Yue opened his eyes, a hint of joy flashing within them. He felt no discomfort in his body; the faint tingling numbness had already vanished.

Reassured, Chen Yue consumed the remaining half of the Antitoxic Pill.

After doing all this, Chen Yue threw himself back into his unwavering daily cultivation of his various techniques.

Mountain-Suppressing Essence-Stabilizing Technique, Tiger Roar Golden Bell Shield, Vertical Cloud Thousand Layer Step, Breath Concealing Technique... He even began preliminary practice of the Meridian Bone-Piercing Nail techniques, using a few ordinary sewing needles to practice his wrist strength and accuracy indoors.

There were more and more things to practice. Chen Yue found his time being divided into ever-smaller increments, to the point where it was almost overwhelming. But he reveled in it. This feeling of seeing clear progress every day was intoxicating.

When night fell once more, it was time for the midnight settlement.

The panel unfolded, and new information flowed in.

[Daily Settlement]

[Consumed Antitoxic Pill. Minor increase in poison resistance.]

[Cultivated Mountain-Suppressing Essence-Stabilizing Technique diligently. Cultivation +16]

[Consumed Bone Marrow Cleansing Pill. Minor Marrow Cleansing and Bone Forging.]

...

[Realm: Refining Flesh Realm (509/930)]

[Talent: Immune to Hundred Poisons (1/100)]

When Chen Yue saw that new line of text, his breath hitched.

’Talent!’

A new category had appeared on the panel, triggered by the Antitoxic Pill.

’This special elixir isn’t just effective—it’s remarkably effective!’ An irrepressible excitement surged through Chen Yue.

He had always suspected that the Antitoxic Pill would yield a surprise when amplified by the panel’s settlement, but he never expected it to be so direct. It didn’t just add a poison resistance stat; it directly unlocked a progress bar for the Immune to Hundred Poisons Talent!

When this progress bar reached 100 points, he would likely gain the true talent of being Immune to Hundred Poisons. By then, common poisons would be completely ineffective against him, and his resistance to even potent toxins would be greatly enhanced.

In the treacherous world of the Jianghu, filled with duels and conspiracies, this was practically a divine life-saving skill!

Chen Yue’s eyes filled with an unconcealable smile and anticipation. However, the Antitoxic Pill itself contained toxic ingredients. Although they were transformed during refinement, it was still not suitable for excessive consumption. One pill a day was likely the limit.

At the same time, Chen Yue’s expectations for the newly acquired Bone-Enhancing Pill formula instantly maxed out.

’The Antitoxic Pill was so potent. If the Bone-Enhancing Pill can truly strengthen bones, even if the effect is minuscule, could it also unlock a Talent when amplified by the panel’s settlement?’

’But even without a Talent, just strengthening my bones would be a huge gain.’

「Three days passed in the blink of an eye.」

At night, Chen Yue, once again in disguise, appeared before Shen Dujiang’s stall in the black market.

After completing the routine trade of Bone Marrow Cleansing Pills for medicinal ingredients, Chen Yue said, "There’s one more thing I need to trouble you with. For our next trade, could you collect a few more sets of ingredients for the Antitoxic Pill?"

Hearing this, Shen Dujiang gave Chen Yue a surprised look. "Ingredients for the Antitoxic Pill? Did... did that friend of yours succeed in refining it?"

Chen Yue smiled and shook his head. "No, the refinement failed, so he needs a few more sets of ingredients to practice. My friend is a bit obsessed with the Alchemy Dao; the harder an elixir is to refine, the more he wants to master it."

When Shen Dujiang heard this, the corner of his eye twitched involuntarily.

"Little brother, it’s not that I don’t want to help. The main ingredients for the Antitoxic Pill are hard to collect here in Youlin County, and they aren’t cheap. Cobbling together one or two sets occasionally is one thing, but providing a long-term, large supply will likely be difficult."

Chen Yue had anticipated this. He said, "We can raise the price a bit. You have wide connections, so please see what you can do. My friend is truly very interested in this Antitoxic Pill. If you can ensure a stable supply, I can consider increasing the supply of Bone Marrow Cleansing Pills in the future."

At these words, a sharp glint flashed in Shen Dujiang’s eyes. The prospect of an increased supply of Bone Marrow Cleansing Pills was a significant temptation for him.

He pondered for a moment before finally nodding. "Since your friend has such a... refined interest, I’ll do my best. But let me be clear up front: I can’t guarantee the quantity, and it will take time. I’ll start by trying to gather what I can, and I’ll give you whatever I find next time."

"I’ll be counting on you, then." Chen Yue cupped his hands in thanks. He knew the other man was telling the truth, so getting this promise was already a good outcome.