Snake Ancestor's Poison (5k)

Rewind six days, and Ji Xueruo was invited to the Young Master's Palace for the first time.

Inside the hall, the eldest son displayed the gift he intended to give to Ji Xueruo: a scroll he had personally written.

The banner bears the excerpt from "On the Love of Lotus" spoken by You Su, written in elegant and graceful characters, just like the author's own son—square and refined.

"It seems the young master really likes this passage."

Ji Xueruo carefully examined the text on the scroll. The eldest young master's Calligraphy Technique was of a very high standard, enough to be a collectible. However, she was not admiring the eldest young master's brushwork, but rather she was always moved by the noble sentiments contained in his words.

"Mingzhen regarded it as the guiding principle."

The eldest son looked at the banner and sighed, then said, "My Jade Ring Pool is famous for its lotus flowers. This saying about loving lotus flowers alone is enough to erect a monument and inscribe it outside the gate of Jade Ring Pool for people all over the world to admire."

"If that's the case, why not carve an inscription on a stele for public display, instead of writing this scroll just for your own amusement?"

As the head of her clan, Ji Xueruo disliked this kind of behavior—saying she wanted to warn the world but then only caring about herself.

The eldest son shook his head with his hands behind his back and said:

"Miss Ji is mistaken. I don't even have the right to amuse myself. Not only do I not have it, but the entire Jade Ring Pool does not. I wanted to write it, but I am not worthy to keep it. That's why I wanted to give it to Miss Ji. I have heard about your achievements for the Snake Clan, even in Jade Ring Pool. You are the one who deserves these words."

Ji Xueruo was taken aback. "Young Master, why do you say that? Even among the servants, your reputation is excellent. You don't need to belittle yourself."

"It's just wishful thinking. Today I'm giving this painting to Miss Ji, hoping that one day Miss Ji will think that Mingzhen is worthy of the phrase 'rising from the mud unsullied, washed by clear ripples without becoming seductive.'"

The eldest son carefully rolled up the banner and handed it to Ji Xueruo.

Ji Xueruo took the banner, feeling that the eldest young master's words were implying something, but at the time she did not realize that her body was being subtly changed by the lotus seeds. These undercurrents hidden beneath the light of the Jade Ring Pool seemed to be something the eldest young master could not tell her directly.

Ji Xueruo took out the scroll that the eldest young master had given her from the brocade pouch. She slowly unfolded it so that the haggard eldest young master could clearly see every word he had written by hand.

The eldest son's pupils trembled, and his bloodshot eyes seemed to gradually regain their luster. Each word he spoke seemed to possess a magical power, captivating him.

His expression changed several times as he read the text on the banner.

His pent-up frustration finally manifested as his tightly clenched fists, his nails seemingly digging into his flesh.

"Miss Ji... I'm so sorry..."

Ji Xueruo gently placed the paper on the table in front of the eldest young master, her expression calm:

"Young Master, there's no need to blame yourself. I truly didn't die. Are you curious why I, who you believed was surely dead, survived?"

The eldest son was stunned and could only nod blankly.

Ji Xueruo did not answer immediately, but instead took out a green jade pendant from her bosom. It was the Evil Warding Token that You Su had secretly slipped into her hand before they parted.

"Because I am a member of the Evil Warding Department, this Evil Warding Token is what I truly want to show you. I came here to vanquish evil; how could I possibly be tainted by evil spirits?"

"The... the Evil Warding Department!" The eldest young master stared intently at the jade pendant, almost crying out in surprise, but thankfully he stopped himself in time. "But aren't you at the Spirit Platform Realm?"

Ji Xueruo waved the Evil Warding Token in her hand a couple more times, as if to let the eldest young master see it more clearly:

"The eldest young master once told me that your greatest desire was to join the Evil Warding Department of the Divine Mountain, taking it upon yourself to eliminate evil and protect the righteous path. You should know very well that Evil Warding Token cannot be forged. In recent years, evil spirits from overseas have become increasingly rampant, and the evil spirits lurking within the Five Continents are also stirring. In the Unseen, a huge dark cloud has already shrouded the Five Continents. The Evil Warding Department of the Divine Mountain of the Five Continents have decided to join forces to eradicate evil spirits, and the first step is to completely sweep away the evil spirits still hidden in the earth. The outside world has noticed the strangeness of Jade Ring Pool, and You Su and I became the special case to infiltrate Jade Ring Pool, precisely to lower your guard and make you think that we pose no threat."

"No wonder you two have known each other for so long..." The eldest son's voice trailed off, clearly still reeling from the shock.

"If something goes wrong with us, the entire Divine Mountain Evil Warding Department will come out in full force. The protective array around the pool can only hold them off for a while, not forever. If things really come to that, Jade Ring Pool will probably cease to exist. Young Master, you are young and promising, and you want to make a name for yourself and Jade Ring Pool by leaving the pool. But how can you sweep the world if you can't even sweep your own house? I hope you can cooperate with us. Your path to fame will begin with helping Jade Ring Pool break free from its cocoon and be reborn."

Ji Xueruo's voice was very low, but her tone was generous and impassioned, which excited and stirred all who heard her.

The eldest son had told Ji Xueruo more than once about his admiration for the people of the Evil Warding Department, which made him, who had a lot of cultivation but nowhere to use it, yearn for it.

While it's true that the ultimate goal of cultivating immortality is to achieve longevity, it's unrealistic to expect a young, healthy person to cultivate solely for that purpose. No one, in the prime of their life, would willingly hide in a dark, sunless cave abode seeking that elusive and unattainable immortality.

The veins on the eldest son's neck throbbed, and his whole body was tense, as if he were making an extremely difficult decision.

Suddenly, he exhaled a long breath, tied up his slightly disheveled hair, and said with a resolute look in his eyes:

What do you need me to do?

Ji Xueruo put away the Evil Warding Token with satisfaction. "Tell us everything you know, we have a way to contact the Evil Warding Department's superiors."

The eldest son shook his head. "It's something I can't say. If I could say it, I would have said it long ago. I can't just watch you become their prey for nothing."

Ji Xueruo frowned slightly. Such rare Technique Method that cannot be spoken of about hidden things do exist, but the caster usually needs to have extremely strong cultivation as support. For someone to be able to cast such Technique Method on the young master, the strength of the person behind Yu Zhen is probably far beyond Ji Xueruo's imagination.

"It's alright, Young Master, just say whatever you want." Ji Xueruo wasn't willing to let go of any information.

"Aren't you curious about where all those who entered the pool over the past fifty-four years have gone?"

Upon Ji Xueruo widened her beautiful eyes and said, "I thought... they really had become guest retainers of Jade Ring Pool and had gone into Jade Ring Pool there."

The eldest son sighed softly, "Jade Ring Pool has extended invitations to everyone who has ever received Jade Ring Pool favors. You must understand, for cultivators outside the Divine Mountain, being able to enter Jade Ring Pool is an immense blessing. Although some may decline, the vast majority are willing to join. However, very few of these people actually leave. They are not those who slipped through the net; they are a smokescreen deliberately released by Jade Ring Pool to impress the outside world."

No wonder... no wonder Ji Xueruo hasn't seen anyone from the outside world since entering the Jade Ring Pool. Logically speaking, with so many guest elders recruited, how could she not see a single one?

Where... did they all go?

The eldest son lowered his eyelids. "You already know the answer."

Ji Xueruo stiffened, her lips parted slightly, wanting to say something but unable to utter a word. If she wasn't mistaken, those invited cultivators had already become food for the evil spirits beneath the lake.

"Why are you only targeting cultivators who have received the favor of the Jade Ring Pool?"

"The mirror shattered into pieces, and everyone took a piece. If you want the broken mirror to be put back together, you naturally have to collect the fragments."

Ji Xueruo understood what the young master meant: the evil spirit below wanted to withdraw the power it had released!

Suddenly, the eldest son's veins bulged, and his brows furrowed in pain. Clearly, such indirect questioning would trigger the restrictions within his body.

"Stop asking... If you ask again, they'll find out... Just tell me what you need me to do." The eldest son clutched his chest, panting heavily.

Despite having countless doubts in her heart, Ji Xueruo could only give up and said:

"I need a few lotus seeds as evidence to pass on to the outside world."

Upon hearing this, the eldest son hesitated. "Lotus seeds are now strictly controlled items at the Jade Ring Pool. Their experiments have resulted in significant losses, and the current stock is extremely low. I'm afraid that if I give them to Miss Ji, they will notice."

"Young Master should understand that hiding is impossible. The only way forward is to find a way to break through from the outside," Ji Xueruo earnestly advised.

The eldest son sighed again, as if he had finally made up his mind. He raised his hand and a brocade pouch appeared in his hand. He slowly opened the pouch, and it was full of spirit lotus seeds.

"These were all given to me by Yu Zhen, who entrusted me to make you eat them, but I haven't done it yet, so I've kept them. Now, I didn't expect they would still be in your hands, but you must promise not to eat them indiscriminately."

The eldest son looked somewhat disappointed and pushed the brocade pouch in front of Ji Xueruo.

"Young Master, your ability to abandon darkness and embrace the light is a testament to your purity, like a lotus rising from the mud. With such merit, the Evil Warding Department will surely recognize your worth."

Ji Xueruo was about to reach for the lotus seeds when the eldest young master suddenly pressed down on the brocade pouch and said solemnly:

"Miss Ji, Mingzhen isn't a fool."

Ji Xueruo was taken aback for a moment. "What do you mean, Young Master?"

"What exactly do you want the lotus seeds for?" The eldest young master stared at Ji Xueruo's face, as if trying to see her true face beneath this facade. "If it's really to send them out, as you say, one lotus seed would be enough. Why do you need so many?"

Ji Xueruo sensed something was wrong; she hadn't expected the problem to have arisen here. She had no choice but to tell the truth:

"The Evil Warding Token contains an evil spirit claiming to be the True Water God. Only the lotus seed can awaken it. If we want to thwart those people's plans, we have no choice but to rely on it."

The eldest son was clearly somewhat shocked by Ji Xueruo's abrupt words, but his shock quickly subsided, and he said solemnly:

"This is the first time I've heard of a distinction between true and false... You must know that while Mingzhen is powerless to change the current situation, he would never stoop to associating with evil spirits! I cannot simply hand over the lotus seeds to you like this!"

"How do you expect me to prove it?" Ji Xueruo sensed that things were going badly.

"Please remove your disguise and prove to me that you are not His kin, but still yourself. Then I will give you the lotus seed, whatever you wish to do."

Ji Xueruo suddenly realized that someone whom the eldest young master thought was doomed had actually changed her appearance and appeared before him perfectly fine. Rather than saying that she had eliminated the strange evil poison on her own, it seemed that she had completely become a servant of the evil spirit and was using the lies of the true and false Water God to trick him out of the lotus seeds in his hands.

Without hesitation, Ji Xueruo reached out and rubbed her face, and Yu Hong's face disappeared, returning to her original delicate appearance.

The eldest son's eyes lit up immediately. He loosened his hand from the lotus seed and said, "Infuse your Mystic Qi into the Evil Warding Token to prove your identity."

Ji Xueruo green jade pendant in her palm and began to guide the power within her body.

As she opened her palm again, the Evil Warding Token turned completely black!

The eldest son immediately sat up straight, unleashing the full pressure of his Water Condensing Upper Realm, causing even the candlelight to flicker.

Ji Xueruo visibly tensed up. "Young Master, I didn't... Let me explain! There's something wrong with the Evil Warding Token. If you don't believe me, take it and see for yourself!"

The eldest young master stared intently at the Evil Warding Token in Ji Xueruo's hand, took a deep breath, and said, "Give it to me, I'll verify it myself!"

Ji Xueruo tremblingly placed the jade pendant on the table, and the eldest young master, quick as lightning, grabbed it in an instant, as if he had been waiting impatiently for it.

After obtaining the Evil Warding Token, the eldest son's expression changed drastically. He suddenly burst into laughter, even displaying signs of madness.

Ji Xueruo frowned, "What are you laughing at, Young Master?"

The eldest son quickly suppressed his smile, clutching the Evil Warding Token tightly as he said:

"I laugh at my own stupidity. I thought you would be wary, which is why I went through all this trouble to act and coax you, just so you would hand Him over to me. But I never expected you wouldn't be on guard at all. I should have just taken you down directly, saving me all this trouble."

Ji Xueruo covered her mouth with her hand, exclaiming in surprise, "You! How could this be!"

The more surprised and desperate Ji Xueruo, the more smug the eldest young master became. He held the Evil Warding Token in his hand, his eyes gleaming.

"Do you know how long we've been searching for Him! Only with Him could the Water God be fully awakened..."

The eldest young master was immersed in the joy of successfully tricking his way into obtaining the Evil Warding Token, but as if sensing something was wrong, his face suddenly became ferocious and terrifying, his pupils widened in disbelief, and he stared intently at Ji Xueruo.

His once handsome and refined appearance was now covered with black spots, and his body gradually decayed as the spots expanded.

The eldest young master slowly raised his hand, only to find that the ink on the Evil Warding Token had already blended into his palm, revealing the emerald green base beneath. That ink wasn't produced by the Evil Warding Token detecting evil spirits at all, but rather by an external substance applied by Ji Xueruo!

Ji Xueruo lowered her hand from her mouth, her eyes filled with contempt. She had taken down a cultivator at the Spirit Platform Middle Stage Water Condensing Upper Realm without bloodshed, something she could be proud of.

This dark substance is none other than the poison from the blood of the Serpent Ancestor within her body. This poison is the most powerful trump card that the Serpent Ancestor bestowed upon his people during the baptism. Even Void Glimpse Venerable would suffer irreparable damage if tainted by this poison!

In ancient times, the serpent race was far more powerful than it is now. The serpent ancestor's strength was already above that of the Void Realm, so even after thousands of years, its remaining power is still formidable.

However, this poison only offers one chance, as demons can only undergo one baptism; once used, they cannot recover. Ji Xueruo once thought she would use this poison to avenge her mother, but now, if she cannot even leave this place alive, how can she talk about revenge?

Her eyes shone like stars, and her lips and eyebrows were raised with confidence, like an elegant viper that had successfully hunted its prey.

"You planned to kill me like this from the moment you walked in?!"

The eldest son collapsed to the ground, glaring at Ji Xueruo with resentment. Half of his handsome face had been reduced to bare bones.

"Certainly."

Ji Xueruo gathered all the lotus seeds on the table into her storage Law Treasure, then retrieved the Evil Warding Token. She gave the eldest young master one last pitying look:

"I must admit, you acted really well. You've been acting since you entered the pool, all to gain my trust... But a blind man once told me that in this Jade Ring Pool, the only person we can truly trust is each other..."

As the eldest young master listened to Ji Xueruo's words, his body began to decay, and even the floor beneath him emitted black smoke. Yet, he showed no sign of pain or resentment. Before completely turning into a pool of blood, he died with a smile on his face.

Ji Xueruo didn't understand what she meant, but there was no turning back now. Without further hesitation, she walked towards the door. She casually dispelled the sound-blocking Technique Method. It turned out that the outside world was completely unaware of all the commotion inside the hall, and she couldn't hear what was happening outside either.

Just then, the door was kicked down with a loud crash, and the makeup on half of You Su's face was gone, revealing his own face. The two halves of his face were strangely combined, but both showed the same anxiety.

Accompanying him was the female concubine who had been guarding the door, but she was thrown in backwards and lay on the ground bleeding profusely from her abdomen.

"Hurry up and finish! We've been spotted!"

You Su shouted, his purple dress was mostly torn, revealing half of his plastic-coated fake breasts and his strong arms, clearly indicating that he had just been through a fierce battle.

Ji Xueruo's heart tightened, and she rushed out the door with him. There were two corpses lying outside the door, the guards who had been standing guard at the gate.

"What happened?!"

Ji Xueruo and You Su's hands naturally clasped together, and she immediately unfolded her Void Snake Shedding.

"That lady insists I speak! I've already tried my best to stall!"

You Su was panting heavily; used to wearing trousers, she had to awkwardly tug at her skirt as she ran. From a distance, the two of them, leaping and bounding in the darkness, looked like princesses fleeing together.

"Then just admit it. Why did you have to kill someone?"

Ji Xueruo didn't quite understand You Su's actions. He didn't seem like an impulsive brute who would only kill and cause a huge commotion.

"They struck first, I have a feeling... they deliberately let me kill them. No time for that! Did you get the lotus seeds?"

Ji Xueruo's mind was also thrown into turmoil by the sudden turn of events, but she had no time to think. She suddenly grabbed You Su, and the two of them stopped instantly.

She looked solemnly at a certain place suspended high in the sky, where a person stood suspended in mid-air in the pitch-black night!

"I got it, but... I need to be alive to take it with me!"