The dart in Chen Wuya's palm gleamed coldly, the lingering chill along its edge creeping from his fingertips up his arm. He neither flung it away nor circulated his energy to force out the poison. Instead, he slowly pressed his fingertip against the patterns on its tail. The engraved wolf head coiled in distinct ridges and grooves, its touch like the remnants of some talismanic curse.
Bai Zhi stood half a step behind him, her gaze sweeping over the crowd. The disciples from the various sects who had originally gathered around the edge of the clearing had quietly backed away several yards. Some lowered their heads and avoided his eyes; others whispered among themselves. Yet no one stepped forward to question the identity of that Cang Sect elder.
"How much longer can you hold out?" she asked softly.
Chen Wuya did not answer. He merely placed the small blade he had seized from the elder's sleeve beside the dart in his palm. The two hidden weapons differed in size but were made of the same material. Both were coated in a layer of dark bluish-green medicinal residue. Its scent was faint, nearly nonexistent—but that was precisely what made it the most dangerous kind of poison, silently eating away at the meridians.
He closed his eyes and silently issued a command to the system. "Deep analysis. Trace the origin of the cultivation art."
[Detecting...] [Match successful: Demonic Cult's "Blood Shadow Hall" standard Bone-Eroding Yin Dart, forged from Northern Desert cold iron and tempered over three days and three nights] [Additional brand: Wolf Fang Token · Tuoba Clan direct-lineage token mark] [Warning: After more than five breaths of contact, the poison will seep into the lungs and organs]
When he opened his eyes, his pupils contracted slightly.
Blood Shadow Hall