“Sihuai City is sealed?” In Wushuang City, Song Yanhui was practicing swordplay in a secret chamber when Lu Yudi rushed in with this news.

Lu Yudi knelt, sweating profusely: “Master, I had nothing to do with this!”

“I know you didn’t. Though you’re bold, you’re not that bold.” Song Yanhui said gravely. “Who did this?”

Lu Yudi shook his head repeatedly: “Unknown. I received two messenger pigeons in quick succession. The first reported someone in the city searching for Zhuo Yue’an using Wushuang City’s name, clearly trying to discredit our Wushuang City and you, Master. The second reported a strange poison in the city – ordinary citizens all unconscious, and even those with martial arts have lost their inner power, unable to use any strength.”

“The Huajin Powder poison?” Song Yanhui started. “Summon Jian Shanyue to me.”

“Elder Jian…” Lu Yudi hesitated, “has announced his retirement.”

“Then who’s in charge now…” Song Yanhui frowned.

Lu Yudi’s forehead broke out in fresh sweat: “The Martial Hall was never truly run by Jian Shanyue but by Hall Master Jian Wudi… it’s just that since Jian Wudi has long been in seclusion practicing swordplay, he delegated most authority to Jian Shanyue. And Jian Wudi’s place of seclusion isn’t in Wushuang City, but in…”

“Sihuai City.” A cold glint flashed in Song Yanhui’s eyes.

“Master, what should we do?” Lu Yudi asked softly.

Song Yanhui walked out carrying his sword: “I’m going to Sihuai City.”

Lu Yudi hesitated briefly, then quickly followed with his spear: “Master, I’ll go with you.”

In Sihuai City.

Changsheng Gate.

Su Chang He leaped onto the courtyard wall, looking into the distance: “Sihuai City, bustling just moments ago, has now become nearly a city of the dead.”

“Could we be the only ones left standing?” Ge Xiu asked.

“No,” Su Muyu shook his head. “There must be a group who took antidotes beforehand, like Lei Bao from the Eight Directions Thunder Masters who fought you earlier. These people are now moving through the city, likely eliminating those like us who haven’t been poisoned.”

“We have distinguished guests,” Su Chang He gripped his dagger. “How strange – why are they all wearing silver clothes?”

“Silver clothes?” Ge Xiu started. “Do they all carry long spears?”

“Yes. You know them?” Su Chang He asked.

“It’s the Silver-Robed Spear Gate. My brother, Gate Master Situ Cha, is also one of the Eight Directions Thunder Masters.” Ge Xiu waved. “Open the gates, let them in!”

“Wait!” Bai Hehuai shouted sharply. “Why aren’t they poisoned? We must ask first!”

“Alright!” Su Chang He stretched lazily, throwing two daggers that landed in front of the silver-robed spearmen. “Brothers, please don’t come closer.”

The leader looked up at Su Chang He and shouted: “Who are you? Why are you at Changsheng Gate? What have you done to my good brother Ge Changsheng!”

“Such loyalty.” Su Chang He threw out a puppet string, pulling Ge Xiu up. “Tell him yourself!”

Sitting atop the wall, Ge Xiu waved down: “Brother Situ. Are you alright?”

“I met Lei Bao and the others on the road, fought them, and lost several brothers cutting our way through,” Situ Cha’s silver robes were stained with blood, proving his words. He continued, “Then something strange happened – we found everyone along the way collapsed in sleep. We checked their breath – not dead, but impossible to wake. Brother Ge, how are you unaffected?”

“I have powerful allies helping me,” Ge Xiu replied. “Brother Situ, how are you also unaffected?”

Situ Cha started: “I… I don’t know!”

Su Muyu glanced at Bai Hehuai, who frowned in thought: “If one has just exerted their inner power in intense combat, the flowing blood and qi could indeed prevent the poison’s spread.”

“Then quickly let my brothers in,” Ge Xiu urged. “Brother Situ Cha and I have faced life and death together – he’s trustworthy. Besides, if he meant to deceive me, he would have prepared better answers, and not be so obviously confused. If we leave him outside, he’ll surely succumb to the strange poison soon.”

Bai Hehuai looked at Su Muyu, who hesitated before nodding: “This is their place, after all. Let the host make this decision.”

“Thank you, Master Su!” Ge Xiu bowed, then called out loudly: “Open the gates, welcome our brothers from the Spear Gate!”

At his command, the Changsheng Gate disciples immediately stepped forward to remove the door beam. The Spear Gate brothers entered, led by a refined-looking man with a long beard who walked straight to Ge Xiu: “Brother Ge, what’s happening in Sihuai City? Why did they suddenly close the gates, and why is everyone collapsed as if haunted?”

“It seems the Martial Hall has started an internal rebellion, and they’ve reportedly enlisted the Five Poison Sect’s help,” Ge Xiu walked toward him.

Bai Hehuai’s eyes narrowed, instantly flicked out her silver needles. Simultaneously, Su Chang He’s dagger landed between the two men, while Su Muyu leaped to Ge Xiu’s side, grabbing his shoulder and yanking him back forcefully.

“What’s the meaning of this!” Ge Xiu exclaimed in shock.

Bai Hehuai shook her head violently: “These people are poisonous vessels!”

“Poison… vessels?” Situ Cha raised his palm, revealing spotted black marks.

Suddenly, screams erupted as the Changsheng Gate disciples who had opened the gates collapsed, their bodies covered in dark black spots. They writhed in agony on the ground, wailing and scratching their skin, each scratch leaving bloody handprints.

“It’s the Blood Claw,” Bai Hehuai said softly. “They can’t be saved.”

The Spear Gate disciples who had just entered looked terrified, seemingly unaware of what was happening. Their legs gave way, and they collapsed, soon dissolving into black puddles.

Xu An, never having witnessed such horror, fell to his knees weak-legged and retching.

Situ Cha looked at Ge Xiu, his lips trembling: “I… I didn’t…” But before he could finish, he too collapsed and dissolved into black liquid.

Ge Xiu broke out in a cold sweat, speaking incoherently: “This… Brother Situ… I… impossible!”

Su Muyu shook his head: “He likely wasn’t acting on his own – someone poisoned him without his knowledge and used him as bait to infiltrate this place.”

“Then the real enemy should arrive soon.” Su Chang He jumped down from the courtyard wall.