CHAPTER 689: SIX HUNDRED AND EIGHTY-NINE NEWS

"Could that kid really possess an Immunity to Hundred Poisons body?"

Thinking this, Qiao Guinong’s eyes suddenly lit up, considering his own Poison Meridian Skill that had been long overdue for a breakthrough, he suddenly felt as though he’d found a shortcut.

It is known that even on the Tenglong Continent, Meridian Refining Masters who have Dual Cultivation of medical and poison skills are extremely rare. Qiao Guinong, with his exceptional talent and favored circumstances, had reached Earth Rank Low Level in the Medical Pulse Technique, and Spiritual Rank Advanced in the Poison Meridian Skill.

However, the Poison Meridian Skill and the Medical Vein have completely different philosophies. In recent years, Qiao Guinong has clearly hit a bottleneck; what he dreams of is to breakthrough his Poison Meridian Skill to Earth Rank Low Level as well, thereby deterring more people.

It seems that Qiao Guinong has the same idea as the former Second Elder of the Jade Pot Sect—he wants to capture Yun Xiao, the boy who might have Immunity to Hundred Poisons, to test his poisons on him, so that he can unscrupulously experiment with more powerful and fierce poisons.

"No matter whether he has the Immunity to Hundred Poisons body or not, I want him dead!"

For some reason, the moment Lin Xuantian thought of Yun Xiao disrupting his must-win plan, his anger towards Yun Xiao was even more intense than towards Lin Xuanhao.

Once human ambition is kindled, it never fades. Now, Lin Xuantian could only follow this dark path to the end; what he had to do was to kill Lin Xuanhao, as well as that Yun Xiao.

"Rest assured, Xuantian, I guarantee that the kid will never become a threat to you. I have a hundred ways to make his life worse than death!"

Qiao Guinong stretched out his hand and patted Lin Xuantian’s shoulder, but the words he uttered cast a gloomy shadow in the eyes of the young master of the Lin Family.

"This old guy is too disrespectful!"

Lin Xuantian considered himself to be the next Family Head of the Lin Family, but Qiao Guinong didn’t even bother calling him ’young master’ in private, acting as if he were an equal.

But what Lin Xuantian didn’t know was that he had ambitions, and Qiao Guinong had ambitions too, ambitions that might just explode before long.

"Xuantian, didn’t the Lin Family recently discover a Fire Attribute Vein Demon in the southern suburbs of Yujiang City? Considering the Family Head’s fondness for Fire Attribute Meridian Spirits, he probably won’t let it go, will he?"

Unaware of Lin Xuantian’s dissatisfaction, Qiao Guinong had already moved on to another topic, his words seemingly suggestive.

"You mean, using this opportunity to make a move against Xuan Hao again?"

A hint of ruthlessness flashed in Lin Xuantian’s eyes. Then he clapped his hands and said, "If that’s the case, why not take that kid Yun Xiao along as well? Out there in the wild, even if he dies, no one can blame us!"

"Heh heh, we can’t let that kid Yun Xiao die!"

Qiao Guinong seemed to be thinking of something, and the laughter from his mouth immediately made Lin Xuantian, who had just gotten excited, rein in his smile.

A conspiracy against Lin Xuanhao and Yun Xiao thus began to unfold in the courtyard, and the two targets of the scheme were still completely unaware.

...

Inside the Lin Family courtyard, Yun Xiao lay on a lounge chair bathing comfortably in the sunlight overhead, nearly fully recovered from his injuries, well enough to fight again.

As for the severe poison administered by Qiao Guinong that day, Yun Xiao had not completely neutralized it. He still wanted to use it for something; however, letting the poison remain in his body naturally posed no great threat to him.

"Brother Yun Xiao, are your injuries all healed up?"

Lin Xuanhao’s somewhat excited voice sounded from outside the yard, his figure already stepping inside before his voice had arrived. And towards this young master of the Lin Family, Yun Xiao still held quite a favorable impression.

"Almost there!"

Yun Xiao didn’t conceal anything, nodding his head. In fact, there was no need for him to say it himself; his condition was self-evident, for in the last few days, Lin Xuanhao had come to chat with Yun Xiao whenever he had the time.

"Since you’re almost healed, there’s something I wonder if Brother Yun Xiao would be interested in?"

Lin Xuanhao had obviously just received some news; he spoke with implication, his face bearing a thick layer of anticipation.

He knew that Yun Xiao came from the Hidden Dragon Continent and should be without relatives or a sect of his own on the Tenglong Continent. If Yun Xiao could be received into the Lin Family, he could become a close friend to him, given their similar ages.

"What’s the matter?"

Yun Xiao, having been through two lifetimes, had cultivated a tranquil disposition. He simply answered calmly, but a couple of somewhat familiar figures flashed through his mind.

"Our Lin Family members have discovered a Seventh Rank Low Level fire attribute Vein Demon in the southern outskirts of Yujiang City. Since my father also possesses a fire attribute physique, we plan to capture and refine it into a Meridian Spirit. Are you interested in joining us for some excitement?"

Lin Xuanhao didn’t beat around the bush and directly expressed his thoughts. However, upon hearing this, a glint of doubt flashed in Yun Xiao’s eyes.

"Your father must be at least at the Seeking Origin Realm in cultivation, right? Why would he be interested in a Vein Demon of Seventh Rank Low Level?"

This was the reason for Yun Xiao’s confusion. It must be known that the Lin Family’s chief Meridian Refining Master, Qiao Guinong, who had come to treat him the other day, had already reached the Peak of the Qi Seeking Realm. Surely, the Family Head of the Lin Family couldn’t have a lower cultivation than one of his subordinates.

Generally speaking, cultivators above the Spirit Vein Realm level would choose to refine a Vein Demon of a strength similar to their own as a Meridian Spirit for optimal effect.

Just like the Sixth Rank Advanced Vein Demon, the Spotted Bamboo Leopard, that Lin Xuantian had hunted before, which was undoubtedly best suited for him. But it’s strange for a Seeking Origin Realm strong cultivator to be interested in a Seventh Rank Vein Demon.

Seeking Origin Realm human cultivators correspond to Eighth Rank Vein Demons. Even if the Lin Family Head couldn’t refine an Eighth Rank Vein Demon as a Meridian Spirit, he should at least aim for a Seventh Rank Advanced one. With the overall strength of the Lin Family, hunting such a Vein Demon shouldn’t be too difficult.

"Brother Yun Xiao, you may not be aware, although that fire attribute Vein Demon is only of the Seventh Rank Low Level, some human Qi Seeking cultivators, even those at the Middle or Late Stage, are unable to do anything against it. Father also heard about this news, so he wanted to go and have a look."

Lin Xuanhao did not conceal the truth, and upon his explanation, Yun Xiao instantly understood. He thought to himself that he had been on the Hidden Dragon Continent for too long, and his perspective seemed to have become somewhat narrow.

Meridian Spirits are also growth-capable, and some special Vein Demons, even with lower ranks, can be raised in grade after being refined into Meridian Spirits.

Advanced cultivators value such Vein Demons not for their inherent Demon Meridian Qi, but for certain special abilities. For example, when Fu Du refined the Three-legged Ice Crystal Toad, its ice-cold poison power greatly magnified his efficacy in many battles.

"What type of fire attribute Vein Demon is it?"

Having understood this, Yun Xiao’s interest was piqued, and he casually inquired, but Lin Xuanhao’s next reply made him lose his calm demeanor.

"According to the message sent back by our Lin Family members, it seems to be a rodent-shaped Vein Demon, but it’s too fast, and no one could clearly see its true form!"

Lin Xuanhao appeared to be recalling and spoke with some uncertainty, then he saw the young man before him spring up from the recliner, his eyes shining astonishingly.

"When do we set off?"

Yun Xiao seemed to be in a bit of a hurry; just moments before he had seemed languid and indifferent, and now all of a sudden, he had changed his tune, leaving Lin Xuanhao somewhat taken aback.

Yun Xiao couldn’t help but feel urgent, as the prospect of a fire attribute and rodent-shaped Vein Demon instantly evoked the memory of a life-and-death companion from the Hidden Dragon Continent, the Fire Cloud Rat Chi Yan.

Yun Xiao had always thought that after being transported into the Tenglong Continent, the likelihood of meeting Mo Qingling Pill, Chi Yan, and other good companions was uncertain and could take years, if not longer. Yet, unexpectedly, he now stumbled upon news of Chi Yan.

Although the information from the Lin Family stated that the fire attribute rodent-shaped Vein Demon had reached Seventh Rank Low Level, Yun Xiao had a feeling that it was Chi Yan.

"We’re leaving right away; I’ve come to ask if you’re interested?"

Having come to his senses, Lin Xuanhao was clueless as to why Yun Xiao was acting this way. By the time his words concluded, the young man in coarse clothes was already outside the courtyard gate.

"This Brother Yun Xiao really is odd!"

Unable to comprehend, Lin Xuanhao didn’t say more and immediately followed quickly. When they arrived at the Lin Family’s main entrance, there were already a dozen figures standing there, with a middle-aged, robust-looking man at the forefront.

Especially the intense heat emanating faintly from this man’s body was a testament to his status as a strong cultivator of fire attribute techniques. Without guessing, Yun Xiao knew that this man must be the current Family Head of the Lin Family, Lin Zhenjiang!

Seeing Lin Xuanhao and Yun Xiao approaching together, the gaze of the crowd turned to them, with a couple of the looks filled with a meaning quite different from the others.

"Ha ha, Xuanhao, this must be the young brother who saved your life, right? Truly a heroic youth, exceptional in temperament!"

Lin Family Head Lin Zhenjiang didn’t have as many thoughts; his temperament was fiery and generous, and knowing that the youth in coarse clothes was his beloved son’s lifesaver, he burst out laughing heartily.

Such a hearty laugh gave Yun Xiao the first impression of Lin Family Head’s generous character, which was much preferable to the gloomy Lin Xuantian and Qiao Guinong.

"Father, this is Brother Yun Xiao, though you’ll have to change how you address him!"

Lin Xuanhao, walking forward, took hold of his father’s arm, and his next words caused the Lin Family guards nearby to laugh kindly.

The son calls him big brother, while the father calls him brother — the order of seniority was a bit mixed up. However, knowing Lin Zhenjiang’s nature, everyone just smiled and let it go.