CHAPTER 603: 603 CONFIDENT XUAN JIUDING

Creak!

Yun Xiao and many Spiritual Rank Meridian Refining Masters followed behind Xuan Jiuding and entered into the great hall. However, upon entering, what everyone first laid eyes on was not the former King Xuan Haoran, but an old man clad in black garments.

"Ran Xing!"

Yun Xiao was somewhat familiar with this black-clad elder. This was Ran Xing, a low-level Earth Rank Meridian Refining Master who he had encountered several times and with whom he did not have a very amicable relationship.

Yun Xiao wasn’t too worried. Even though Ran Xing’s Power of Soul had reached the low-level of Earth Rank, Yun Xiao was no longer the same person who had just entered the Imperial Palace.

With improvements in both Meridian Qi Cultivation and the Power of Soul, coupled with the unique Disguise Technique of the Nine-layered Dragon Cloud, unless Ran Xing stood right in front of him and wiped off all the disguise items from his face, there was absolutely no way he could be recognized.

"Greetings to Mister Ran Xing!"

In contrast to Yun Xiao, the other Meridian Refining Masters showed respectful expressions as they greeted Ran Xing upon seeing him. They knew well that he was an Earth Rank Meridian Refining Master. If they managed to catch his eye and receive even one or two pointers, it would be beneficial for life.

Before, Ran Xing’s reputation wasn’t that notable, but after the battle at the Jade Pot Sect and the conflict with the Song Family, his name as an Earth Rank Meridian Refining Master had spread far and wide.

Although Ran Xing was suppressed by a Seventh Rank Blood Winged Fire-Eyed Lion in those two battles, it did not hinder his prestige, especially among these Meridian Refining Masters. The low-level Earth Rank was regarded as unattainable.

"Hm!"

Unfortunately, for these Meridian Refining Masters of the Hidden Dragon Continent, Ran Xing simply looked down on them. He gave a brief glance around with his eyes, uttered a soft hum from his nose, nodded towards Xuan Jiuding who was at the forefront, and then closed his eyes.

Xuan Jiuding was quite pleased with this. Arranging Ran Xing to be here was to ensure nothing went wrong. He feared among these Meridian Refining Masters there could be hidden experts like Yun Xiao, who, if by some chance revived Xuan Haoran, would spell big trouble for Xuan Jiuding.

With Ran Xing’s Power of Soul and discernment, if there were any disguised Meridian Refining Masters among them, he would surely spot them at a glance. Moreover, the intensely toxic Spirit Corrosive Binding Fragrance was personally concocted by him, and no one would understand it better.

Unfortunately, for all his calculations, Xuan Jiuding didn’t expect that this time Yun Xiao would disguise himself as a well-known figure, and the forthcoming events might just spiral beyond his control.

"Gentlemen, begin. Should anyone be able to heal my imperial father, the Xuanyue Royal Family will surely reward you handsomely!"

Xuan Jiuding pointed toward a bed in a certain direction, gesturing towards the figure there who had dwindled to mere skin and bones and said with a tone that betrayed none of his own intentions to kill his father.

In Xuan Jiuding’s heart, Xuan Haoran, who was afflicted with the violently toxic Earth Rank substance, would never wake up again. After all, he had already "invited" several batches of high-level Meridian Refining Masters to treat Xuan Haoran.

This batch today seemed to only have a slightly noteworthy member from the Yan Sect, but how could a Spiritual Rank Advanced Poison Vein Master possibly resolve a low-level Earth Rank Spirit Corrosive Binding Fragrance?

"Then let me give it a try first!"

Seeing that no one moved for the moment, the red-faced elder who had spoken earlier stepped forward confidently, his voice brimming with assurance and a hint of excitement, seemingly thinking of the benefits of curing Xuan Haoran.

This red-faced elder hadn’t considered that Xuan Haoran was reduced to this state by Xuan Jiuding’s own hands. He only knew that if he could heal the former King, perhaps his own family would soar to great heights alongside.

Sadly, the lofty hopes of this red-faced elder were destined to be in vain. Seeing his actions, Ran Xing’s mouth curled into a faint disdainful sneer.

It had to be said that Ran Xing’s Spirit Corrosive Binding Fragrance was extremely potent. On that day when the Jade Pot Sect’s Sect Master, Yu Shu, and many Elders were poisoned, if not for Yun Xiao promptly producing a Detoxification Pill which could cure all poisons, the Jade Pot Sect would perhaps not have lasted until Shen Xingmou’s arrival.

And at that time, Yun Xiao was able to neutralize the lethal toxin of the Spirit Corrosive Binding Fragrance partly by chance because Yu Shu and the others were not deeply poisoned. However, Xuan Haoran at present was afflicted to the core, and even Ran Xing himself might not be able to completely restore him.

As time passes, the violent poison would progressively invade the victim’s meridians and flesh, corroding all the internal organs until the eventual death.

Initially, the effect of Spirit Corrosive Binding Fragrance was only to prevent a Cultivator from circulating Meridian Qi. But as time passed, bodily functions would gradually decline, much like Xuan Haoran who lay in a comatose state now.

Otherwise, if Xuan Haoran had been awake, Xuan Jiuding wouldn’t dare invite so many Meridian Refining Masters to detoxify him. Would that not be like waiting for Xuan Haoran to reveal his own sordid secrets?

While Xuan Jiuding was confident, Ran Xing’s face bore a cold smile. After thirty minutes, that red-faced elder retreated with an awkward expression. In contrast, there was no sign of activity from Xuan Haoran on the bed, clearly indicating a failed attempt.

Yun Xiao had anticipated this red-faced elder’s failure. After all, it was a low-level Earth Rank poison. Even for him, without past life memories and special methods, it would likely be a hopeless situation.

At that moment, other Meridian Refining Masters came forward one by one to treat Xuan Haoran, but all without exception ended in failure. There was even a dangerous interlude in the process.

That was when a Spiritual Rank Intermediate Meridian Refining Master, in attempting to detoxify Xuan Haoran, mishandled the procedure and allowed the violently toxic Spirit Corrosive Binding Fragrance to invade his own skin.

This incident frightened the Meridian Refining Master out of his wits. Had it not been for Xuan Jiuding’s gesture prompting Ran Xing to act promptly, that fellow might have followed in Xuan Haoran’s footsteps.

"Sect Master Yan, won’t you give it a try?"

After everyone else had tried and failed, Xuan Jiuding’s gaze turned to Yan Zong of the Yinfeng Sect, and the words he uttered contained not a hint of worry.

Even though Xuan Jiuding had asked those Meridian Refining Masters with a reputable standing in Xuanyue Imperial City, compared to the Sect Master of the Yinfeng Sect, they were still somewhat inferior in status.

If even the Sect Master of the Yinfeng Sect could not heal Xuan Haoran, then Xuan Jiuding would have an excuse – it’s not that he didn’t want to save his father, but that Xuan Haoran’s condition was too severe to reverse, beyond his ability to help.

As for whether the real Sect Master Yan could heal Xuan Haoran, Xuan Jiuding truly wasn’t worried at all. For one, the poison was an Earth Rank Low Level and extremely formidable, and secondly, Ran Xing, an Earth Rank Low Level Meridian Refining Master, was sitting right there. He would never allow someone else to neutralize his expertly crafted poison.

"Very well, then Yan will give it a try!"

With Xuan Jiuding’s prompt, Yun Xiao did not decline as he was also aware that this was a crucial moment; after all, Ran Xing was a Qi Seeking Realm powerhouse, and it was essential not to reveal any flaws before him in this situation.

Under the watchful eyes of all present, Yun Xiao stepped forward gracefully, but the onlookers did not hold much hope for him, given the extreme cunning and fierceness of the poison. A single misstep could result in the same fate as the Meridian Refining Master before, with the poison backfiring on oneself.

While Yan Zong was indeed the Sect Master of the Yinfeng Sect, he wasn’t someone who could neutralize every poison. He might have more methods than the rest of them, but the idea of him truly curing Xuan Haoran seemed highly unlikely.

Compared to the skeptical onlookers, Ran Xing and Xuan Jiuding were naturally more confident, watching without any worry as "Yan Zong" walked straight up to Xuan Haoran’s side and placed his five fingers on the wrist pulse of the former King.

"Indeed, it is Spirit Corrosive Binding Fragrance!"

As soon as Yun Xiao touched Xuan Haoran’s wrist pulse, he no longer had any doubts in his mind. He had sensed a familiar scent when he first opened the door. It bore many similarities to the Earth Rank Poisonous Incense used by Fu Du in the past.

It now appeared that Xuan Haoran’s unconscious state was the work of these two individuals beside him, and for such an Earth Rank Low Level poisonous incense, Yun Xiao might not have too much trouble neutralizing it.

Of course, Xuan Haoran’s condition was vastly different from that of Yu Shu and the others who had just been exposed to Spirit Corrosive Binding Fragrance, as the toxic substance had already infiltrated Xuan Haoran’s flesh and meridians, unlike Yu Shu and the others who had just been poisoned.

Yun Xiao’s goal was not simply to revive Xuan Haoran, but to rapidly restore his combat strength. After all, this was the Xuanyue Palace; probably the entire Imperial Palace was under the control of Xuan Jiuding and his mother?

Yun Xiao wasn’t too concerned about facing cultivators like Xuan Jiuding and Nie Yi from the Spirit Vein Realm, but he wasn’t entirely sure about handling Ran Xing, a powerhouse of the Earth Rank.

If he could wake Xuan Haoran and help him regain some of his strength, this person would once again be a true Earth Rank powerhouse, and with his status and influence in the Xuanyue Palace, the tide could well turn.

"Hey, come out and help!"

So this time, Yun Xiao did not administer any Detoxification Pill to Xuan Haoran, but instead called out in his mind; then he saw the Golden Snake Worm lazily open its eyes.

"Why should I listen to you?"

Despite having fought alongside Yun Xiao several times, the Golden Snake Worm still retained a strong sense of arrogance, unwilling to comply with Yun Xiao’s arrangements, and disdainfully retorted.

"This fellow..."

Seeing the Golden Snake Worm refusing to obey, Yun Xiao revealed a helpless expression. To be honest, he really had no way of dealing with it. However, just as he was trying to think of a way to handle the creature, a voice suddenly reached his ears.

"Daddy, I’ll help you!"

The voice that spoke was somewhat childish, but Yun Xiao recognized it immediately – it was the Dragon Tree Spirit Little Dragon, who had transformed into human form. It was unclear how it managed to communicate with him from inside the Waist Storage Space.

"Little Dragon, can you also devour and neutralize the poison?"

Hearing this voice, Yun Xiao was overjoyed. He kept his composure but immediately asked this in his mind, and instantly received an affirmative response from Little Dragon.

"Of course, I am the Dragon Guiding Tree Spirit, and there is no poison in this world I cannot neutralize!"