Diligence System: From Servant to Martial King

Hao Qingshe said, "If the Commandery Princess cannot be cured, it doesn’t matter if I stay here or not."

Princess An Yang said, "Curing is not difficult, but at least it will take over a year, maybe a decade. You have caused much trouble and harmed countless people. Coming to my commandery, you must change your name and surname, erase your past, and be known only as the Poison Mistress."

"First, I will use heavenly materials and treasures, and thirteen rare precious elixirs, to stabilize your life. Later, I will invite renowned doctors from the Master Healer List to look after your injuries. But you must heed my every command. Know this, saving your life is easy; killing you is easier."

With both grace and authority, she subdued and suppressed him. After being tested by Wen Caishang, Hao Qingshe’s rebellious nature was restrained. Encountering this situation, his spirit was crushed, and he became a poison master under her command.

Once Hao Qingshe’s life was secured, he was assigned to concoct strange poisons and wondrous medicines. They could be used to control people, completely putting them under control. Princess An Yang was very pleased upon hearing this and immediately sought some common people, sent them to infiltrate Jade City, and tested the poison’s effects. They proved effective, and she praised Hao Qingshe generously.

She granted him a "Mysterious Ice Cold Bed" to alleviate nighttime pain. Hao Qingshe became even more dedicated, crafting increasingly bizarre and complex poisons. He aimed to use ordinary toxins to create inscrutable poisons.

In the hall, Hao Qingshe said, "Commandery Princess might not know, this poison has another miraculous effect!" Princess An Yang sat behind golden drapes, her voice echoed, "Oh? What miraculous effect?"

Hao Qingshe said, "The Poison Mistress has submitted to the Commandery Princess and should, of course, consider everything for you. The Poison Mistress’s poison can be infectious!"

Princess An Yang frowned and said, "Poison Mistress, I think you misunderstand. My intent is never annihilation. Though the poison’s infectious nature can create a plague, causing devastation, Jade City houses many top doctors of the Master Healer List. The disease would be cured before spreading, exposing our plan and achieving nothing."

Hao Qingshe said, "Commandery Princess might not know. This poison is not transmitted between individuals. Instead, it’s passed down from father to son, and son to grandson... It propagates in a lineage. If your planted spies have the ability to marry and have children, their descendants... all would be at your service! What about this poison?"

Princess An Yang was silent for a long time, then said happily, "What a good poison! You deserve a reward!" She ordered her subordinates to bring in a large wooden box containing half a person tall ginseng. Hao Qingshe was overjoyed, knowing this was "Ice Mountain Snow Ginseng," found in the Snow Mountains of the North Sky Domain. This miracle medicine, though unable to fully heal him, could still alleviate his injuries significantly.

Hao Qingshe immediately took his leave. Qingyao bowed and said, "Commandery Princess, a total of one hundred and forty people have taken the poison and fallen asleep."

Princess An Yang nodded, but said nothing. Qingyao said, "Commandery Princess, I shouldn’t discuss this. But these ordinary people already struggle to survive. Living in Jade City would be even harder for them. Using them like this might be fruitless and unrewarding."

Princess An Yang rubbed her temples and said, "I am aware of this. Jade City is as sturdy as a rock, impervious to attacks. Even when great waves rose back in the day, they couldn’t shake its foundation. No matter how many of these ordinary folk there are, their impact is limited."

It turns out... although Princess An Yang had been plotting for a long time and achieved results, her agents could only barely infiltrate Jade City. They faced a huge bottleneck, as ordinary people struggled to survive in Jade City, often resorting to begging and living in disgrace, making their role limited.

And although trained spies hold slightly better positions, they are far from the core of Jade City. The plan to infiltrate could only be seen as insignificant, casually arranged. Relying on this to overthrow Jade City is truly... too early to say.

Princess An Yang sighed, "Though I cherish talent, it does not come. Such is the timing, and I can only wait patiently." Qingyao said, "I see that Qingning Li Xian, is quite talented."

Princess An Yang said, "Qingning Li Xian?" She paused for a moment, remembered this person, sipped her tea lightly, and said, "I’ve seen many such characters before. Though they might be eloquent, whether they’re true heroes remains to be seen in the future."

...

...

In the following four days, Li Xian was fed the poisonous soup both morning and evening. He could endure, but he acted as if struggling, rolling and writhing in pain. Consuming the poison for so long, he felt the toxins permeate his body, embedding within his blood, extremely difficult to remove.

Li Xian thought, "Although this poison is hard to resolve, once I enter Jade City, I should be able to gradually try to neutralize it with the Ghost Doctor’s technique. I just don’t know how long Princess An Yang plans to detain me."

Despite the harm to his body, the toxins infesting him, Li Xian, having survived many hardships, possessed strong vital organs and a Pure Yang physique, boasting extraordinary resistance. Although the poison inflicted much suffering, he was able to endure without showing signs of distress.

On the fifth night, the poisonous soup was delayed, but soon the narrow room next door was filled with wailing. The poison had seeped into the bones; it took effect even without the soup. Li Xian suffered similarly, breaking out in cold sweat, his body ached and itched, as if being bitten by a thousand ants.

From that day on, he was given a bowl of porridge to stave hunger morning and noon. In the evening, a branch of Poisonous Fragrance was brought for everyone to light and sleep with. This Poisonous Fragrance consolidated the poison’s effects, subtly integrating the toxins into the body, making them circulate naturally.

As if it nurtured the blood, it autonomously produced toxins. If one fell into this trap, they wouldn’t be merely poisoned but become a poison person. Insidiously vicious. However, Li Xian had a way to avert this. He lit a stove in his stomach to refine the air into purity, allowing it to linger within his nasal cavity.

Then he executed the "Xunfeng Breath," calming his body’s breaths, with the purity circulating unperturbed. When the poisonous air was inhaled, it was immediately dissolved by the pure air. He cleverly avoided this setback, letting no flaw be revealed.

He rejoiced, "The many eclectic studies from before proved immensely helpful now. Without the Xunfeng Breath, even if I could breathe out pure air, unaffected by poison, Princess An Yang and others would surely suspect."

The fragrance lingered for another three days. Others were in excruciating pain, wailing every night. There were sounds of heads striking wooden planks, bodies hitting walls, fists pounding, stomping with feet, and crying hoarsely...