In the secluded courtyard of Lushan City stood three figures facing each other. One of them was Yun Xiao, disguised and in altered attire, while the other two were the two elders of the Meridian Refining Master Guild, Wu Jia and Liang Li.

Speaking of the selection test three days ago, Yun Xiao had saved Liang Li's life. Unfortunately, this Poison Vein Master did not show the slightest gratitude but instead harbored a deep grudge because Yun Xiao took away his Three-legged Ice Crystal Toad's Meridian Spirit.

Yun Xiao originally thought that this fellow would at least wait until the selection test was completely over before making a move. However, surprisingly, today he arrived back-to-back with the two members of the Liu Family.

"Yun Xing, some things you don't have the right to possess. If you forcefully try to take them, you will only bring disaster upon yourself."

Liang Li, at the Early Stage of the Origin Seeking Realm, glanced at the two corpses in the courtyard. Although he was somewhat puzzled about how they died, he did not take Yun Xiao seriously at all.

For Liang Li recognized one of the corpses as Liu Gen, an elder of the Liu Family, but coming from the Meridian Refining Master Guild, even at the same Early Stage of the Origin Seeking Realm, his combat power was much greater than that of Liu Gen.

Moreover, beside Liang Li was the Second Elder, Wu Jia, a genuine Middle Stage Origin Seeking Realm powerhouse. Under such circumstances, no matter what kind of skills this guy named Yun Xing had, it was impossible for him to escape today.

"Elder Liang Li, I could be considered your savior, right? Is this how you treat your lifesaver?"

Yun Xiao showed no realization of being trapped in a deadly situation, instead looking at Liang Li with interest and saying this. In fact, he was well aware of the nature of these Poison Vein Masters, and such events today weren't too difficult to understand.

"A lifesaving favor? Of course, I remember. So, I will make sure you die a bit more comfortably to repay your lifesaving favor!"

Liang Li had a strange smile on his face, seemingly confident. For someone like him, personal gain was all that mattered. How much was a lifesaving favor worth compared to the value of the Eighth Rank Low Level Three-legged Ice Crystal Toad?

"Are the two elders so sure you can take my Yun Xing's life?"

Yun Xiao's gaze swept towards Wu Jia, the Middle Stage Origin Seeking Realm cultivator, and then his voice turned gradually colder, as he coldly shouted, "Within three breaths, leave the courtyard, or end up like these two!"

Suddenly, Yun Xiao exhibited an extremely strong aura. Regardless of his Peak of Qi Seeking Realm cultivation, his current demeanor already had glimpses of his former life's Long Xiao Battle God's might.

Yun Xiao's sudden change of aura took Liang Li and Wu Jia by surprise, but they quickly sneered, having no idea where this guy's confidence came from. Was it just relying on his Peak of Qi Seeking Realm cultivation?

"Yun Xing, I must say, I admire your courage. Just for that, I'll leave you a complete corpse!"

Wu Jia, who had been silent all along, finally spoke. In fact, Yun Xiao's strong words had already angered him. How could these two seem like the lower-ranked ones?

As the strongest Poison Vein Master in Lushan City's Meridian Refining Master Guild, Wu Jia had never been spoken to like this in Lushan City, even by the more powerful Chairman, Lu Liancheng, who was always polite to him.

However, since Wu Jia and Liang Li came here today, Yun Xiao's life would not be spared. The thing they were doing was truly despicable, and if exposed, it could significantly affect the Lushan City Meridian Refining Master Guild.

Strictly speaking, Liang Li coming here today did not underestimate Yun Xiao; otherwise, why would they need a Middle Stage Origin Seeking Realm powerhouse to deal with someone at the Peak of Qi Seeking Realm?

Liang Li was aiming to ensure foolproof success. As fellow Poison Vein Masters, under his request, Wu Jia reluctantly agreed. Perhaps in his mind, this action wouldn't take much time at all.

"Ah, why is it that in this world, there are always so many fools who aren't afraid of death?"

Seeing these two persist in their folly, Yun Xiao shook his head and sighed. Then he spoke in a voice that was somewhat familiar to the two of them, as if such a tone and words had been heard somewhere before.

"Kid, stop playing tricks. If you don't want your limbs and teeth broken, obediently tell me the method to control the Three-legged Ice Crystal Toad. Perhaps then you'll die a bit more comfortably!"

It wasn't until Liang Li said this that Yun Xiao understood his true intention today. It seemed that being embarrassed by the Three-legged Ice Crystal Toad's poison alarmed him in the end.

"Truly forgot the pain after the wound has healed!"

Upon realizing this fact, Yun Xiao shook his head once more, thinking that if these two hadn't come for him, it would've been fine. But since they had come to him, he would claim their lives.

"Refusing a toast, only to drink a forfeit!"

Seeing Yun Xiao showing no signs of cherishing life, Liang Li finally lost his last shred of patience, deciding to make the first move. Poison Vein Masters like them had at least a thousand methods to make the other party speak once control was established.

In Liang Li's view, this Yun Xing before him was just being stubborn. After his Poison Meridian Skills were applied, he would probably wail and beg for mercy.

Boom!

The power of an expert at the Early Stage of the Origin Seeking Realm is truly formidable. At least, this attack from Liang Li is several degrees more forceful compared to the Liu Family's Elder Liu Gen just now, no wonder he holds such confidence.

Yet, just as Wu Jia thought Liang Li's strike was about to succeed, Yun Xing slowly raised his arm and lightly pointed towards Liang Li.

Whoosh...

An invisible chill of ice cold Qi burst forth from Yun Xiao's fingertip, like a guiding signal. Suddenly, the seemingly fierce figure of Liang Li froze in place, transitioning from extreme motion to extreme stillness, as if it took merely a blink of an eye.

"Liang Li, what's wrong, seize him now!"

Seeing this, Wu Jia thought Liang Li had hesitated over something, and he shouted in a low voice. But the next moment, he felt a surge of coldness erupt from Liang Li's body, a coldness that seemed strangely familiar to him.

"Is this... the cold poison of the Three-legged Ice Crystal Toad?"

Three days ago, Wu Jia had also attempted to dissolve that cold poison for Liang Li. Although he failed in the end, he had gained some understanding of this cold poison's aura.

Thoughts whirred in Wu Jia's mind, yet he remained puzzled. Logically, that Three-legged Ice Crystal Toad had been captured by Yun Xing here—so why was the cold poison from the toad now erupting from Liang Li?

"No, it shouldn't be the cold poison of the Three-legged Ice Crystal Toad!"

Being no less than a Poison Vein Master at the Peak of Earth Rank Low Level, Wu Jia quickly realized and his face turned horrified, seemingly guessing what was happening to Liang Li.

In contrast to the observer Wu Jia, as the involved party, Liang Li truly felt an intense chill rising from deep within his heart, for he now understood that he had likely been manipulated by Yun Xing here three days ago.

As a cultivator who had once refined the Three-legged Ice Crystal Toad, Liang Li actually had some understanding of the cold poison's aura. Three days ago, he had not had time nor the inclination to differentiate, as the toad had invaded his body.

But now, the Three-legged Ice Crystal Toad was clearly no longer within him. When Liang Li sensed these energies that resembled the toad's toxic coldness, he knew he had been played by his opponent.

"I told you long ago, you are suffering from the consequences of your own actions; you can hardly blame me for your death!"

Seeing Liang Li's drastic change in expression, Yun Xiao did not move, merely his fingertip trembled slightly, releasing threads of Qi that stirred certain elements within Liang Li, causing him to become increasingly alarmed.

At this moment, what Yun Xiao incited was not purely the cold poison of the Three-legged Ice Crystal Toad, but the One Thought to Transform Myriad Poisons of the Dragon Tree Spirit Little Dragon.

Given Yun Xiao's intelligence, after witnessing Liang Li's shameless shift in attitude that day, how could he not have set some contingency plans? So when he captured the Three-legged Ice Crystal Toad, he intentionally left a trace of the deadly poison within Liang Li's body.

If this Fifth Elder of the Meridian Refining Master Guild were to stop bothering him, the toxin of the Dragon Tree Spirit would forever remain dormant. However, should he harbor ill intent, today's outcome would serve as the best testament.

"Wu... Elder Wu Jia, please lend me a hand!"

Feeling the deadly poison spreading within, Liang Li understood that dissolving it himself was impossible, so he had no choice but to seek help from the yet-to-act Wu Jia.

Yet, as Liang Li called for aid, he did not see the fleeting mockery in Yun Xing's eyes, as if suggesting that this would-be assistant might not be of much help after all.

"Do not let him have his way!"

Wu Jia had actually prepared long before, and even if Liang Li hadn't requested his help, he would have acted at this moment. However, his intent in doing so was not to dissolve Liang Li's deadly poison, but to counter Yun Xiao.

Wu Jia knew well that even for a Poison Vein Master like himself, who was just a step away from breaking through to Earth Rank Middle Level, dissolving the poison afflicting Liang Li would be no easy task in such a short time.

The most likely outcome was that, just like in the Meridian Refining Master Guild back then, he would be dragged into the muck himself, and then these two elders would truly be defeated here.

What Wu Jia didn't know was, regardless of whether he touched Liang Li or not, the moment he took action now, his fate was already sealed—an outcome shaped by his very actions this time.

So as the Second Elder charged towards him, Yun Xiao's left hand, which had been pointing at Liang Li, turned swiftly to target Wu Jia instead.

A wisp of Qi silently moved!