Chapter 1785: Truly Formidable!
"It seems that the Murong Tomb is indeed not that simple!"
Tan Qigong, worthy of being the Chief of the Murong City Emperor Palace, watched the black corpses continuously emerging from the lake with eyes full of surprise, but even more so, excitement.
This Lord Supervisor, although he let everyone in to find the entrance to the Murong Tomb, was unwilling to let more people share the spoils after locating the big lake where the energy fluctuations emanated.
If everyone could find the entrance to the Murong Tomb, then even as a Half-step Holy Rank expert with the backing of the Emperor Palace, Tan Qigong would have to put in more effort to obtain the treasures.
As the saying goes, "people die for wealth." In front of treasures that can enhance one’s power, many people become red-eyed, not to mention that the Murong Tomb is renowned, and even Tan Qigong may not be able to suppress the situation when the treasure appears.
And at this moment, Yingrong Lake is so peculiar. Firstly, it has eliminated many unworthy people; secondly, it leads Tan Qigong to speculate there must be something unknown at the bottom of the lake.
After the Murong Family’s downfall, over the past century, people have continuously sought the Murong Tomb’s location, with even the Canglong Emperor Palace not being an exception.
Yingrong Lake in Rongshan has intrigued many, but historically, it was not as active or poisonous as it is now.
All of this indicates that today’s Yingrong Lake is vastly different from before, likely signaling the impending emergence of the Murong Tomb, and Tan Qigong might soon become a key meritorious figure for the Canglong Emperor Palace.
"What should we do now, Lord Supervisor?"
Beside him, the Great Elder, Ruan Buwei, hadn’t thought as much. His expression was a bit unpleasant, partly due to Yuan Dayou’s death, and partly because of the potent toxin in Yingrong Lake.
"Let’s watch and wait for a moment!"
With a glint in his eyes, the calm demeanor of Lord Supervisor Tan Qigong put Ruan Buwei at ease, knowing that not all personnel from the Emperor Palace were present yet.
However, neither Tan Qigong nor Ruan Buwei noticed that at this time, at a certain place under Yingrong Lake, a figure vastly different from ordinary cultivators was present.
This figure was none other than Murong Sou, a Murong Family expert. As a Holy Rank expert, his resistance to poison was a hundred times stronger than that of ordinary cultivators. Even more so, the Murong family bloodline within him made these toxins far less effective.
Murong Sou was the only one who could freely move at the bottom of Yingrong Lake. Perhaps soon, with the lake undergoing changes, he would discover some clues, leading to further developments.
Above the lake, more people gathered by the shore of Yingrong Lake. Other elders from the Murong City Emperor Palace had also gathered here, but their expressions were one of anger.
Ruan Buwei seemed to have informed them of Yuan Dayou’s death, who was the Fourth Elder of the Emperor Palace. Though not very popular, his death angered and unsettled them.
There seemed to be an undercurrent lurking, watching the Emperor Palace. Over the past century, few cultivators on the Nine-layered Dragon Cloud dared to provoke the Emperor Palace this way.
Besides these cultivators from the Emperor Palace, the newly arrived ordinary cultivators, upon seeing the numerous black corpses in the lake, refrained from rashly entering and instead observed from the lake’s edge.
"Second Elder, you are a Heavenly Rank Advanced Poison Vein Master; is there a way to neutralize the toxins in the lake?"
On the Emperor Palace’s side, after seeing an elder appear, Ruan Buwei’s eyes brightened, posing the question, possibly the reason for their prolonged waiting.
This Second Elder of the Murong City Emperor Palace, named Yue Qizhai, had a peculiar name, but no one dared underestimate him.
If ordinary cultivators feared the meridian qi cultivation of Tan Qigong or Great Elder Ruan Buwei, regarding the Second Elder Yue Qizhai, they dared not even entertain the thought of provoking him.
This was because he was reputed to be the foremost Poison Vein Master in Murong City, with his Poison Meridian Skill reaching Heavenly Rank Advanced. Anyone who showed disrespect might find themselves dying miserably.
Facing death might not scare many, but enduring endless suffering without succumbing to death was terrifying, and clearly, the Second Elder Yue Qizhai was such a merciless individual.
"Let me take a look."
Yue Qizhai, with his Poison Meridian Skill at Heavenly Rank Advanced and meridian qi cultivation just breaking through to Heavenly Realm Peak, had less combat power than the Great Elder and thus dared not disobey orders.
Especially with Supervisor Tan Qigong watching, Yue Qizhai dared not slack off. He intended to showcase his Poison Meridian Skill before the Lord Supervisor.
𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦
Although Yue Qizhai didn’t aim to replace Tan Qigong as Supervisor, becoming the Great Elder of the Murong City Emperor Palace had always been his dream. Now it seemed that his role as a Poison Vein Master could surpass that of Great Elder Ruan Buwei.
Shua!
Yue Qizhai reached to his waist, and a bright silver needle emerged. He lightly placed it into the lake water before him.
"Hiss..."
Moments later, when Yue Qizhai pulled the silver needle out of the lake water, many couldn’t help but gasp, and some even stepped back unconsciously.
This was because the long needle that had just been silver in Yue Qizhai’s hand turned pitch black in an instant. It was clear how potent the poison in the lake was—touch it and death was likely.
Moreover, those experienced among them recognized that the silver long needle in Yue Qizhai’s hand wasn’t an ordinary silver needle, but a specialized poison testing needle.
For ordinary small poisons, this testing needle wouldn’t change color. The strong change now indicated that those who ventured into the lake truly met their fate.
"How’s it going?"
Beside him, Tan Qigong paid no mind to others’ expressions, simply asking Yue Qizhai softly, as the deactivation of the lake poison depended on this Heavenly Rank Advanced Poison Vein Master’s Second Elder.
"The Murong family’s poison is, indeed, formidable!"
Yue Qizhai expressed amazement, and hearing this, Tan Qigong felt half relieved, knowing from familiarity that there was more to follow from him.
"However, the Murong family was wiped out a century ago. Though the lake poison is formidable, much of it has dissipated over time, making resolution not as difficult as imagined!"
Yue Qizhai spoke confidently, showcasing his inner assurance. As he said, while the poison was corrosive to ordinary Heavenly Realm Cultivators, it posed little threat to a Heavenly Rank Advanced Poison Vein Master like him.
Perhaps during the lake poison’s peak period, even Yue Qizhai wouldn’t dare touch it casually. But now, after a hundred years have passed, the once powerful poison comparable to the Holy Rank has lost its former strength.
"Second Elder, you’d better not neutralize the poison completely; just concoct some antidote pills to counteract it!"
Tan Qigong, seeing Yue Qizhai’s confidence, glinted an understanding in his eyes. As his gaze swept across some cultivators, his words caused the Emperor Palace factions’ hearts to stir.
"As the Lord Supervisor commands!"
With Yue Qizhai’s intellect, how could he not grasp Tan Qigong’s insinuations? It was about preventing everyone from entering the lake if the poison was completely neutralized, reducing the empire palace factions’ chance to claim treasure.
This Emperor Palace Director schemed thoroughly; considering Yue Qizhai was the only one able to neutralize the lake poison, there was no reason to share this advantage with others.
With trust in Yue Qizhai, Tan Qigong felt assured. If Yue Qizhai expressed such confidence, he must be well-prepared. All he needed was to wait for the detoxification elixir.
Clang!
Without further words, Yue Qizhai swiped his waist, revealing an ancient medicine tripod before him, causing many faces to appear grim.
They realized what Yue Qizhai intended—blocking outsiders from benefiting, and at this time, they were powerless to object.
If one lacked the ability to withstand toxicity, there was no blaming others. Clearly, the Second Elder of the Emperor Palace was refining detoxification elixir—that wouldn’t be shared with outsiders.
Strictly speaking, either, Yue Qizhai’s detoxification elixir wasn’t a true elixir, so no pill thunder descended at refinement’s completion.
However, when all saw Yue Qizhai collect several elixir pills into a jade bottle, their expressions heated with desire.
This was because they knew these pills would allow entry into Yingrong Lake without dying, but not belonging to the Emperor Palace factions, all they could do was watch.
"Second Elder, are you confident?"
Though naturally cautious, Tan Qigong asked solemnly, despite his full confidence in the Second Elder, as Yue Qizhai swallowed the remaining elixir.
"Lord Supervisor, take note!"
To prove his antidote pills’ efficacy, Yue Qizhai swallowed the elixir, then leaped into Yingrong Lake, disappearing in an instant.
Bloop!
The sound of Yue Qizhai entering the water echoed distinctly at quiet Yingrong Lake’s edge, leaving everyone staring at the lake, anxious to see if he would emerge a corpse, blackened like those before him.