Threefold Planning, the Path of Poison

Threefold Planning, the Path of Poison

The night in the Sacred City was silent.

Inside the cultivation chamber, Han Feng sat cross-legged, his mind sinking into his dantian. That sigh—Still too low—seemed to stir the dormant golden sun within him.

After the Nine Yang Divine Art reached perfection, it was like a boundless sea of stars, each advance requiring an enormous accumulation. Yet at this moment, the technique seemed to be responding to its master's desire, responding to his pursuit of greater power.

Boom!

Without warning, the golden sun abruptly began to spin faster. Pure golden Dou Qi surged through Han Feng's limbs, bones, and extraordinary meridians like a celestial river bursting through a dam.

The barrier of the Three-Star Dou Saint realm, which had only recently stabilized, loosened once more before this overwhelming force.

Han Feng's heart stirred. He immediately calmed his mind and guided the sudden power with all his strength, charging at that invisible bottleneck.

The night passed without incident.

When the first ray of morning sunlight shone through the window lattice and illuminated the quiet room, Han Feng slowly opened his eyes.

He exhaled a breath of turbid air. The white vapor shot out like an arrow for several yards, striking the air ahead and sending ripples spreading through it for a long while.

Mid-stage Three-Star Dou Saint. Achieved.

Feeling the power within him grow once again, Han Feng showed little joy. He merely nodded calmly.

Still not enough, but at least he was another step closer.

After tidying himself up, he headed straight to the Soul-Gathering Hall where Medicine Elder was staying. Only Yao Chen was inside, breathing steadily at the center of the formation.

"Uncle Feng has left?" Han Feng asked.

Yao Chen opened his eyes. His illusory figure had become several degrees more solid than before. He looked at Han Feng. "You gave Uncle Feng an assignment. He left before dawn."

Han Feng smiled without replying. He sat down directly and got to the point. "Teacher, Uncle Feng has gone to gather intelligence, but we cannot remain idle either. I came to discuss Xiao Yan and the other two's cultivation plans with you."

Hearing that it was serious business, Yao Chen's expression turned solemn as well.

"Let's start with Junior Brother," Han Feng said thoughtfully. "He chose the Flame Mantra, and his foundation is solid. But I have an idea, though I'm not sure whether it will work."

"Go on."

"Beast Flames have mixed energy and cannot help the Flame Mantra evolve, but they are still pure fire energy." A thoughtful glint flashed through Han Feng's eyes. "Teacher, what if we took the opposite approach? Rather than seeking evolution, we could treat Beast Flames as fuel. Could Xiao Yan accelerate the accumulation of his own Dou Qi by continuously devouring Beast Flames?"

The moment he raised the idea, Yao Chen's eyes lit up.

"Overwhelming it with quantity? Using massive amounts of Beast Flame energy to compensate for the low absorption efficiency of a Yellow Grade Cultivation Method?"

He stroked his beard and paced back and forth. The more he considered it, the more feasible it seemed.

"We can try it! The Sacred City lacks nothing less than magical beasts, and Beast Flames can be supplied endlessly. This method... has great potential!"

But he quickly frowned again.

"However, his cultivation will definitely advance quickly this way. If his foundation is unstable and his Dou Qi becomes shallow, it will harm him instead."

After pondering for a moment, Yao Chen suddenly took out a large black ruler.

"I have it!" He patted the black ruler. "We can have him cultivate while carrying this Profound Heavy Ruler. It is forged from Heavenly Flame-Meteor Profound Iron. Not only is it extremely heavy, it can continuously suppress the circulation speed of Dou Qi within the body. Carrying it daily would be equivalent to permanently cultivating under weighted training. That way, it can temper the purity of his Dou Qi while strengthening his physical foundation. The best of both worlds!"

"As expected, Teacher has thought everything through." Han Feng was thoroughly convinced.

Though he possessed foresight, in terms of experience, he could not compare to this former greatest alchemist on the continent.

"Then Junior Brother's matter is settled."

"Now, Qing Lin," Yao Chen continued. "The Three-Flower Jade Serpent Eyes are a supreme ocular art for commanding countless serpents. Although this girl cannot fully control them yet, her talent has already revealed itself. Once her cultivation reaches the Dou Practitioner realm, take her to the Heavenly Serpent Palace and seek out their inherited secret technique to help her awaken the Three-Flower Jade Serpent Eyes."

"Alright." Han Feng committed the matter to memory.

Finally, both their gazes fell upon the most troublesome name.

"Yaoxin..."

Yao Chen's brows were tightly furrowed.

"She is the most difficult one."

"With the Seven-Colored Poison Scripture aiding her, she has progressed rapidly and has already entered the Dou Practitioner realm. But the Calamity Poison Body is ultimately a sword hanging over her head. Toxins are accumulating in her body day by day. Once they erupt, the consequences will be unimaginable."

Yao Chen's tone became grave.

"In my early years, while traveling the continent, I once met an expert who possessed the Calamity Poison Body. Combining that experience with my research into ancient texts, I came up with a theoretical solution."

He looked at Han Feng and spoke each word distinctly. "The Poison Core Method."

"Use a secret technique to compress all the deadly poison within her body and condense it into a pill, then seal it inside her dantian with the power of Heavenly Flames. That way, that destructive power can be completely transformed into power she can control herself."

"This method requires three key items."

"First, three different Heavenly Flames, to neutralize, refine, and seal the poison."

"Second, the magical core of a seventh-tier Heaven-Poison Scorpion Dragon Beast, to serve as the foundation for condensing the Poison Pill."

"Third, a drop of Bodhisattva Body Transformation Saliva, to transform her body after the Poison Pill is formed, allowing her to perfectly adapt to its existence."

After hearing the three requirements, Han Feng instead let out a sigh of relief.

"Teacher, aside from the seventh-tier Heaven-Poison Scorpion Dragon Beast's magical core, I can gather the other two."

Yao Chen froze, somewhat puzzled.

"Bodhisattva Body Transformation Saliva is a treasure of heaven and earth. I believe you have it. But these three Heavenly Flames..." He suddenly realized something and stared at Han Feng in shock. "Are you planning to borrow flames from Flame Valley? Or... are you going to the Tagor Great Desert to find the Green Lotus Core Flame?"

"Let Junior Brother obtain the Green Lotus Core Flame himself. That is his opportunity."

Han Feng smiled but did not answer directly. He merely extended his right hand and willed it.

A scarlet Red Lotus Karmic Fire rose from his palm.

Immediately afterward, a mass of golden flame radiating an incomparably firm, pure Yang aura ignited above his left hand as well.

The Nine Yang True Flame born from his source Dou Qi after the Nine Yang Divine Art reached great completion!

Though this flame was not on the list, in terms of its pure Yang nature and its ability to suppress sinister poisons, it was no weaker than a Heavenly Flame!

Yao Chen looked at the golden flame and sensed its tyrannical aura of invulnerability to all poisons. He understood at once.

"So that's it... Using pure Yang flame together with your and my Heavenly Flames to condense the Poison Pill... this method will work!"

"In that case, the only thing we lack now is the magical core of a seventh-tier Heaven-Poison Scorpion Dragon Beast."

Han Feng nodded and asked, "Teacher, is there a substitute for it?"

Yao Chen pondered for a moment before answering, "The Heaven-Poison Scorpion Dragon Beast's magical core is the best choice because it contains pure innate poison power. Its attributes are highly compatible with the Calamity Poison Body, and its resilience and stability are excellent as well."

"In theory," he said, looking at Han Feng, "anything with similar properties can replace it."

At those words, a map of the continent immediately appeared in Han Feng's mind.

His gaze finally settled on a nation in the Northwest Continent, famed for its poison arts.

The Cloud Empire.

It was the birthplace of poison masters, with poison sects standing everywhere and all manner of strange poisons and poison techniques emerging endlessly. If there was anywhere on the continent most likely to have a substitute, it would definitely be there.

"Teacher," Han Feng said as he rose to his feet, already having made up his mind, "it seems I need to take Yaoxin to the Cloud Empire."

"Very well," Yao Chen said with a nod. "There may indeed be an opportunity there."

"Then I'll leave the Sacred City to you, Teacher." Han Feng solemnly bowed to Yao Chen. "Please also take care of Qing Lin and Junior Brother's cultivation. If there is anything needed in the city, simply instruct Mo Shan."

Yao Chen looked at his disciple, who had long since become capable of standing on his own and had arranged everything in perfect order. He smiled with satisfaction.

He waved his hand.

"Go."

"With me at home, rest assured."