Chapter 25: Never Let a Grudge Last Overnight

Inside the mountain cave.

Chen Xuan had been painstakingly cultivating the Five Poisons Heart Sutra. By the afternoon, a tingling sensation finally rippled through his body, as if a faint electric current were coursing through his veins.

His eyes snapped open, revealing a look of joy.
He had finally developed internal energy!

He hurriedly opened his interface to check. A new line had indeed appeared under the skills section:
*Five Poisons Heart Sutra: Novice (0/70).*

Overjoyed, Chen Xuan did not hesitate to allocate his experience points.
With a flash of light, all 180 points of experience vanished. The Five Poisons Heart Sutra instantly jumped from Novice (0/70) to Basic (110/140).
His internal energy surged from 3 years to 11 years—a sudden increase of 8 years!

*Hum!*
A powerful sensation swelled within him, as if a stream of hot energy had flooded his meridians. It felt entirely different from the Iron Shirt technique.
In terms of power, 11 years of internal energy translated to approximately 440 catties of force. Combined with his previous 600 points of physical strength, he now possessed 1,040 catties of force.
He had comfortably surpassed the ninth level of Qi Accumulation!

Filled with newfound confidence, Chen Xuan rose to his feet. He channeled his internal energy and lightly swung his palm, creating a whistling sound. The palm wind carried a pungent, spicy scent, stirring up a flurry of fallen leaves.
The internal energy of the Five Poisons Heart Sutra was inherently toxic. Every strike was laced with lethal poison; even someone with weak cultivation would succumb to the toxins and die upon the slightest contact.
This was without even using the Five Poisons Godly Palm. If combined with that technique, the power would undoubtedly be even greater.

Chen Xuan practiced with all his might inside the cave, his palm strikes whistling through the air until his 11 years of internal energy were completely exhausted. He then sat cross-legged on the ground to slowly recover.
With his current level of internal energy, he could unleash at most eight full-power strikes before depleting his reserves. However, this was already beyond his expectations. Once his internal cultivation grew stronger, this issue would naturally resolve itself.

After half an incense stick’s time, Chen Xuan’s internal energy was fully restored. He opened his interface:
Host: Chen Xuan
Identity: Disciple of the Five Poisons Sect
Internal Energy: 11 years
Physical Strength: 600
Experience: 0
Techniques: Iron Shirt (Great Success: 100/240), Five Poisons Heart Sutra (Basic: 110/140)
Title: Hand of Extinction
Renown: New to the Jianghu (89/140) (Gain 1 Lucky Point for every 5 points of Renown)
Lucky Points: 19 (Gain 40 points to open a Grand Gift Package)
Current Grand Gift Package: Unavailable.
Current Task: (1) Investigate and resolve the truth behind the midnight deaths of Five Poisons Sect disciples. Time limit: 8 days. Voluntary abandonment will result in a deduction of 300 experience points. (Remaining time: 3 days, 15 hours, 59 minutes, 56 seconds).

As he scanned the numbers, Chen Xuan frowned, noticing something odd.
What did the "Great Success (100/240)" next to Iron Shirt mean?
Could the Iron Shirt technique be leveled up further?
Logic dictated that "Great Success" was the pinnacle of any technique, and the effects should be the same regardless of whether it was (1/240) or (240/240). Therefore, after reaching Great Success, the numbers shouldn't be displayed at all. Why would the interface make such an error?

Unless... there was still room for growth in the Iron Shirt technique.
A bold idea sprouted in Chen Xuan’s mind. He couldn't verify it right now because his experience points were exhausted, but if he could indeed continue to upgrade it, that would be the best-case scenario.

He then looked at the task section, his heart sinking. Time was running out. If he didn't resolve the matter of the cyan-skinned baby, he would be in trouble.
However, the phrasing—"Voluntary abandonment will result in a deduction of 300 experience points"—was worth pondering. Did it imply that if he didn't "voluntarily" abandon it, he wouldn't be penalized? In other words, if he failed the task through no fault of his own, would he be safe? He didn't dare gamble on it just yet.

"Damn it, I have to return to the Five Poisons Sect."
The baby had appeared there several times; it was highly likely still lurking about.

He exited the cave and looked out. The landscape in the distance was withered, desolate, and cold, as if it were a different season. Many trees and bushes had died, clearly affected by the Five Poisons Water. Fortunately, his current location remained safe.

Chen Xuan sprinted into the distance, hunted two wild rabbits in the woods, and roasted them. With the Five Poisons Heart Sutra mastered, it was time to practice the [Skill-Dissolving Technique] and the [Eight-Step Cicada Chase]. Both required deep internal energy to function. The latter, in particular, allowed for mid-air leaps, enabling one to take eight steps in the air—the pinnacle of speed—which would be impossible without sufficient internal energy.

While roasting the rabbits, Chen Xuan practiced the Skill-Dissolving Technique. It involved applying poison to one's palms and using internal energy to channel it into an opponent's body to melt their internal energy or kill them outright. Since his Five Poisons Heart Sutra already infused his energy with toxins, he didn't strictly need to apply poison to his palms, but doing so could potentially enhance the lethality.

*Whoosh! Whoosh!*
His palm techniques shifted, following the essence of the Skill-Dissolving Technique. The wind from his strikes rippled outward, causing the fallen leaves on the ground to dance around him. Many of the leaves, touched by the toxins, began to sizzle, corrode, and burn automatically.

After practicing for over half an hour, Chen Xuan finally stopped and looked around. The ground was littered with withered leaves, either scorched or rotted by his palm energy. He nodded to himself, picked up a roasted rabbit, and began to eat.
The Skill-Dissolving Technique was indeed much faster to cultivate than pure internal arts. After only half an hour, the interface already showed: *Skill-Dissolving Technique: Novice (0/60).*
This was a pleasant surprise; he had expected it to be as difficult as the Five Poisons Heart Sutra. Perhaps it was linked to his progress in the Heart Sutra.

"I wonder if this technique will produce 'Skill-Dissolving True Qi' once it reaches the 'Entering the Chamber' stage," he mused.
The Lohan Fist and Tiger-Subduing Fist had it, so perhaps this would too. In the early stages, this art didn't increase his internal energy; it was merely a method to use poison to dissolve others' power. Once he reached a higher level, he might be able to cultivate actual internal energy from it.

He finished his meal, wiped his hands, and began practicing the Eight-Step Cicada Chase. His figure flickered as he weaved through the woods. Initially, his footwork was clumsy, but as time passed, he became more fluid and faster. By the end, he was drenched in sweat.
He stopped and opened his interface, his heart racing with delight.
"The Eight-Step Cicada Chase is also at the Novice level. I’m a genius!"
*Eight-Step Cicada Chase: Novice (0/30).*
While he certainly couldn't walk on air yet, his speed had increased slightly. For Chen Xuan, this was a great start.

He immediately set off to return to the Five Poisons Sect.
Not long after, he heard the clashing of weapons and fierce shouting ahead.
Chen Xuan’s eyes glinted. He hid behind a large tree and peered forward.
A group of people was locked in a bloody skirmish, with seven or eight corpses already littering the ground.
In the center, being surrounded, were three familiar faces: Zhao Hai, Wu Tian, and Tan Bao. Hao Shengyi and Wang Qing were nowhere to be seen—whether they were dead or alive was unknown.

The trio was facing an onslaught from over a dozen experts. These attackers were skilled, their swordplay sharp and oppressive. Wu Tian, in particular, was in a dire state; having lost a leg, his strength was severely diminished. He dodged frantically, already nursing four or five sword wounds, cursing loudly as he moved.

Finally, Tan Bao pulled a jade bottle from his robes and smashed it hard against the ground in front of them.
Zhao Hai and Wu Tian’s expressions changed. They took several sword strikes to create an opening and leaped backward. The group of experts also recoiled in shock.
"It’s the Five Poisons Water! Retreat!"

*Bang!*
The bottle shattered, and the toxins spread. The ground turned black, like spilled ink, as the poison seeped outward. Nearby flowers and trees withered and turned yellow instantly, the toxicity overwhelmingly violent.

Chen Xuan, still hidden behind the tree, felt a slight change in his expression. He leaped up into the branches to get a better view.
After throwing the Five Poisons Water, Tan Bao, Zhao Hai, and Wu Tian fled in a panic, and the group of experts followed suit, scattering to avoid the poison.
Chen Xuan’s eyes flickered, a strange smirk playing on his lips. He moved like a shadow, trailing after the trio.

He was just that kind of petty person.
When an opportunity arose, he would crush them!

*Whoosh!*
The three men ran at full speed, desperate to escape. They ran for over half an hour before finally stopping, their internal energy exhausted, gasping for air. Wu Tian, suffering from both old and new wounds, was pale, his flesh trembling from blood loss. He collapsed to the ground, panting violently.

"Damn it... it’s all Chen Xuan! Chen Xuan is the one who ruined me!" he gritted his teeth, blaming everything on him.
The other two remained silent, immediately sitting cross-legged to restore their internal energy. After cursing a few more times, Wu Tian followed suit, blocking his acupoints to stop the bleeding, swallowing a pill, and beginning to recover.

Just then, a strange, sweet fragrance drifted from the woods, slowly entering their nostrils.
Their expressions shifted. They suddenly opened their eyes, only to find their limbs turning soft and weak. They couldn't muster a shred of strength; it felt as if their bones had turned to liquid. They collapsed from their sitting positions onto the ground.

"Soft... Soft Tendon Powder..." Tan Bao gasped in horror.
The other two were terrified.

"Heh heh, Brother Tan is indeed well-informed. To recognize the Five Poisons Sect’s Soft Tendon Powder—I am truly impressed."
A hearty laugh echoed through the trees.
Chen Xuan stepped out from behind a large trunk. He was bald, his arm was stained a faint cyan, and he wore a warm, harmless smile.
The three stared at him, wide-eyed with pure dread.
"Chen Xuan!"