Jun Changxiao, who had taken the Yellow Springs Pill, was awakened by a basin of cold water.
So everything from when the coffin shattered to Xi Jingxuan crying and throwing herself at him was merely a dream.
“Can you put the sword away now?” Miao Saifeng asked.
Using cold water was her idea. To make the water colder, Lu Qianqian had specifically enhanced it with ice-attribute energy.
Indeed!
It immediately splashed Jun Changxiao awake from his dream!
“Clang!”
Lu Qianqian sheathed her sword and said coldly, “Return to your cell.”
Miao Saifeng said nothing and followed Lu Qianqian back to the women’s prison. Along the way, she thought to herself, “There’s actually a toxin in this world that can put people in suspended animation. How extraordinary.”
Jun Changxiao wasn’t dead. The entire Eternal Sect immediately rejoiced, and the sorrowful atmosphere that had previously shrouded the sky was swept away.
“Death isn’t so scary after all.”
Jun Changxiao sat in the Great Hall, chin propped on his hand.
Wait!
What about the side quest?
He quickly opened the quest panel and found the side quest section empty. His contribution points had indeed increased by ten thousand from before, so he murmured, “It seems I already completed it while in suspended animation.”
The quest only gave ten thousand contribution points with no other rewards, but Jun Changxiao was quite satisfied. After all, earning contribution points by sleeping—even if such a good thing happened ten thousand times, he wouldn’t mind.
“Sect Master.”
Elder Wei asked, “What exactly happened?”
If not for Miao Saifeng’s diagnosis, he would have been certain the Sect Master was dead. Yet a basin of cold water brought him back—this was truly inconceivable!
Jun Changxiao didn’t hide anything and explained about the Yellow Springs Pill.
When Elder Wei, Elder Ding, and others learned that taking the pill would cause suspended animation, their eyes widened without exception.
“By the way.”
Jun Changxiao asked, “Where is Palace Master Xi?”
At the time, the quest was urgent and he hadn’t explained before taking the pill. That woman had been sitting right beside him—she must have been frightened.
Elder Wei said, “Palace Master Xi has been settled in a temporary guest residence.”
…
The rooms on Iron Bone Peak that were once used for disciple housing had now been designated as guest quarters.
Jun Changxiao walked in.
Upon seeing him, Xi Jingxuan first froze, then removed her glasses to rub her eyes. “Sect Master Jun, you’re still alive?”
“Mm.” Gou Sheng smiled.
“You scared me to death!”
Xi Jingxuan clutched her chest, her face blooming with a brilliant smile, though her eyes were still red.
“I apologize.”
Jun Changxiao said apologetically, “I worried Palace Master Xi.”
Xi Jingxuan smiled unconcernedly. “As long as Sect Master Jun is alright.”
“If you’re not busy, feel free to stay here a few more days,” Jun Changxiao said.
Xi Jingxuan shook her head. “I’ve already been away for many days. The sect has quite a few matters waiting for me to handle.”
She truly wanted to stay temporarily at the Eternal Sect, but as a sect master, she had to shoulder her responsibilities.
That day.
Xi Jingxuan left with Leng Xingyue.
Jun Changxiao watched them gradually depart before turning back.
Lu Qianqian appeared at the mountain gate at some point, her tone cold. “The entire sect was heartbroken over the Sect Master, yet you showed no response. Instead, you went to apologize to Palace Master Xi.”
“Uh…”
Gou Sheng felt quite awkward.
Lu Qianqian said, “If you feign death again in the future, say so in advance to avoid everyone worrying about the Sect Master.”
Indeed.
During Jun Changxiao’s “death,” even Elder Wei, who had weathered great storms, had been somewhat flustered, let alone the disciples.
“The situation was urgent at the time.”
“I didn’t consider that much and just swallowed the Yellow Springs Pill.”
“I won’t act rashly next time!”
Jun Changxiao spoke in a self-reflective tone.
Lu Qianqian said, “Miao Saifeng has considerable attainments in the poison path. The Sect Master might consider recruiting her.”
“Mm.”
Jun Changxiao nodded.
Being able to detect the toxin in his body and think to use cold water to splash him awake—she definitely had ability.
Although poison arts were difficult to reach the highest levels of respectability in the Starfall Continent, reaching a certain level, poisoning Half-Saints and Martial Saints posed no problem.
The Eternal Sect lacked talent in the poison path and lacked a hall focused on poison. If Miao Saifeng could be subdued, it could fill this gap.
…
“Creak.”
The cell door opened, and sunlight streamed in.
“Rustle rustle rustle!”
The spiders, scorpions, and other creatures scattered around fled in all directions.
Jun Changxiao walked in from outside and looked at Miao Saifeng sitting cross-legged on the wooden bed. “How has your stay been recently?”
“If I say uncomfortable, will you let me go?”
“No.”
“…”
Miao Saifeng said nothing.
Jun Changxiao waved his hand lightly, catching a trembling little spider in his palm. “There are tens of thousands of toxins under heaven. What Palace Master Miao understands is merely the tip of the iceberg.”
“For instance…” Miao Saifeng said, “The poison that made you feign death?”
Jun Changxiao neither confirmed nor denied. “Actually, a predecessor of our Eternal Sect also had considerable research into the poison path. He once created a cultivation method called the Hundred Generations Poison Scripture. Unfortunately, we’ve never had a genius in the poison path, so to this day it remains abandoned in the Technique Pavilion.”
“Hundred Generations Poison Scripture?”
Miao Saifeng’s willow-leaf eyebrows furrowed slightly.
“Swish!”
Jun Changxiao waved his hand, and a manual fell onto the wooden bed. On the cover were inscribed the four characters “Hundred Generations Poison Scripture.” “Since you’re proficient in the poison path, you should be able to understand it.”
Miao Saifeng opened her eyes, then followed her heart’s desire and picked up the manual. After merely flipping through a few pages, she stood frozen in place with a dazed expression.
This was a profound and unfathomable poison path cultivation method!
If she could comprehend it successfully, not only would her strength increase, but her application of poison arts would reach the pinnacle!
“Swish!”
Jun Changxiao raised his hand and drew the Hundred Generations Poison Scripture back over. “Submit to me, and this poison path manual will be yours.”
“Of course.”
“Our Eternal Sect’s Poison Refining Hall still lacks a Hall Master.”
Miao Saifeng smiled.
No wonder he would proactively let her view the manual—so this was his intention.
Jun Changxiao said, “My sect has already advanced to third-rate. Having a fifth-rate sect master serve as Hall Master shouldn’t be considered mistreatment, right?”
“I’ll consider it.”
“I’ll give you three days.”
Jun Changxiao finished speaking and turned to leave.
However, just as he was about to close the cell door, he heard Miao Saifeng say, “I agree.”
“…” Jun Changxiao was speechless.
Back when he persuaded Li Luoqiu, she had also said she’d consider it, then immediately agreed.
Could it be that this type of mature woman thought things through and made decisions after just a moment’s consideration?
“Palace Master Miao.”
Jun Changxiao said, “Please hand over your soul origin.”
This woman was an expert in using poison. She had to be absolutely controlled, or she couldn’t be trusted.
Miao Saifeng had truly been attracted by the Hundred Generations Poison Scripture. After slight hesitation, she handed over her soul origin.
…
That day.
Jun Changxiao announced that the sect was establishing the Poison Refining Hall, with Miao Saifeng serving as Hall Master.
Since there was temporarily no separate peak, the Poison Refining Hall’s headquarters was temporarily placed on Drizzle Peak.
On this mountain peak, there was already a mature woman from an assassin background. Now another mature woman from a poison path background had arrived—this was absolutely the most terrifying female combination in the world.
—