After hearing Ye Chengbi's explanation, Xun Kun realized this poison was troublesome. Huaxian Gate's medical cultivators might not be able to resolve it.
Ye Chengbi spoke at just the right moment."This toxin originated with Yixian Gate. Although Medicine King Valley's founding Ancestor hailed from Yixian Gate, he cultivated only the medical path and was not proficient in poisons. Our inherited books and jade slips record very little on toxins. I recognized this case only because I once happened upon a note about it. Perhaps Ran Xi Zhēnjūn can help, since she is the orthodox heir of Yixian Gate."
Xun Kun only nodded. He said nothing more. From Ran Xi's attitude when he had gone to invite her earlier, it was clear she did not wish to wade into this muddy water. He knew very well that the evil cultivator lurking among them was exploiting his conflict with Jin Can to drag Ran Xi into the mess and to manufacture discord between the two sects, even between the two regions.
If Kunmo Sect's disciples truly perished because help came too late, even if he did not blame Ran Xi Daoyou, some grievance would inevitably take root. That was precisely the evil cultivators' open scheme.
Seeing Xun Kun silent for a long time, Ye Chengbi's eyes flickered and he reminded him, "Xun Kun Daoyou, you can inform Wu Tong Zūnzhě of my findings. When Ran Xi Daoyou arrives, we can see what spirit plants are needed to refine an antidote. The longer we delay, the worse it will be for Kunmo Sect's disciples."
Xun Kun nodded and thanked him once more, then escorted Ye Chengbi out of the formation.
Ye Chengbi waved a sleeve politely to indicate he had not yet been of help, and followed Xun Kun beyond the array. In that unguarded instant, a wisp of nearly transparent white smoke drifted out from his sleeve and spread within the formation.
After hearing Xun Kun's report, Wu Tong Zūnzhě drew a deep breath, instructed Xun Kun to keep an eye on Jin Can, and vanished from sight.
Ye Chengbi volunteered to stay and help, saying he could assist in refining the antidote as soon as there was a formula.
Xun Kun thanked him again. Ye Chengbi went to the side of Huaxian Gate's medical cultivator, and the two quietly discussed possible antidote prescriptions.
Jin Can, feeling unsafe, edged up to Xun Kun and spoke timidly. "Xun Kun Zhēnjūn, I… I was also knocked off the stage. Why am I all right?"
Xun Kun's voice was cool. "You should be grateful you are unhurt. If I were the mastermind, killing you would be the surest way to ignite Wu Tong Zūnzhě's wrath."
Startled by his icy tone, Jin Can's eyes reddened again. This time she bit her lip hard and forced back her tears.
Irritation surged in Xun Kun's chest. His voice turned colder. "Jin Can, you leveraged Wu Tong Zūnzhě's favoritism to squeeze onto the flying boat to the Five Region Grand Tournament. With only early Foundation Establishment cultivation, you even took a competitor's slot. Were you truly here to contend for ranking and improve your strength?
Whether in Kunmo Sect or Huaxian Gate, I have made it clear I will not accept you as a disciple. How did you respond?
You pestered me endlessly and even tried to drug me. If Wu Tong Zūnzhě were not your great-grandfather, I would have strangled you already. And you still have the face to ask me why?Ran Xi Zhēnjūn exposed your scheme, so you resented her. With Wu Tong Zūnzhě behind you, you hinted for Kunmo Sect disciples to provoke Haoran Sect on the stage. Do you think I did not know?
Because of your selfishness, the disciples of both sects clashed. The mastermind exploited that friction and, during the first day's chaotic rounds, poisoned Kunmo Sect disciples who were knocked off by Haoran Sect, turning the matter into a storm.
Ran Xi Zhēnjūn is the sole inheritor of Yixian Gate. Every cultivator in Weiyu Realm knows it. They poisoned Kunmo Sect disciples precisely to force Ran Xi Zhēnjūn to detoxify them.
If the poison can be cured, then fine. If it cannot, Haoran Sect and Kunmo Sect will breed resentment. With the lives of a hundred elite disciples at stake, do you think this can end peacefully? The enmity will only snowball.
Jin Can, what have you been cultivating all these years? Did you pour it all into a dog's belly? Do you think they did not poison you because they did not want to? Look at the defensive treasures Wu Tong Zūnzhě prepared for you. And you still ask me this foolish question?"
The more Xun Kun spoke, the calmer he became, yet his fury had already breached the levee. Pressure rolled off him in waves. Jin Can's face went from white to red, red to green, green to ashen, like a shifting palette. She bit through her lip without noticing.
Not far away, Sun Yan watched without any intent to intervene. Some Kunmo Sect cultivators, remembering Jin Can was Wu Tong Zūnzhě's great-granddaughter, wanted to smooth things over, but Sun Yan stopped them. "Leave it. If Xun Kun cannot vent this now, Jin Can will still be punished when we return. Some matters must be made plain, or she will repeat them. Xun Kun is right. A hundred years of cultivation, and she really did feed it to the dogs."
He spoke with open contempt.
The other Kunmo Sect Nascent Soul cultivators also gave up on persuasion. Jin Can had indeed gone too far.
At that moment, Wu Tong Zūnzhě reappeared on Kunmo Sect's guest peak, with a seductive female cultivator at his side, dressed in a fitted gauze-robe of wine-red. It was the Five Poisons Sanren, Xiang Sizi.
Huaxian Gate's medical cultivator and Ye Chengbi both stopped their discussion and stepped forward to salute. Xun Kun cast Jin Can a cold glance. She swallowed her tears, lowered her head, moved to Wu Tong Zūnzhě's side, and saluted Xiang Sizi with the rest.
Xiang Sizi's beautiful eyes swept the crowd. "Have you discovered anything?"
Xun Kun stepped forward and succinctly reported the poisoned disciples' symptoms along with Ye Chengbi's findings.
Wu Tong Zūnzhě cupped his hands politely. "Xiang Sizi Daoyou, please lend your aid. Kunmo Sect will offer a heavy reward."
Xiang Sizi's red lips curved. "Wu Tong Daoyou, you are too polite. We are all cultivators of Weiyu Realm. How could this Zūnzhě watch so many outstanding juniors suffer in front of me? I will, of course, help."
She nodded to Xun Kun.
Understanding at once, Xun Kun opened the formation. Xiang Sizi did not enter. Her spiritual sense unraveled into thousands of fine threads and slipped into the bodies of the poisoned disciples. Less than a quarter of an hour later, she withdrew her spiritual sense. Her brows pinched slightly before she turned to Wu Tong Zūnzhě. "This poison can be cured. I will need some time to prepare the antidote. During this period, you must maintain these disciples' vitality."
At the words can be cured, everyone exhaled in relief. Only Ye Chengbi's expression flickered for the briefest instant before settling into a look of release.
Xun Kun cupped his hands. "Xiang Sizi Zūnzhě, what spirit plants are required to refine the detoxification pills? Please tell me. Kunmo Sect will prepare them at once."
Huaxian Gate's medical cultivator also saluted. "Huaxian Gate's spirit herb garden is open to Zūnzhě. Whatever plants are required, please say the word. This happened during the Five Region Grand Tournament. Huaxian Gate will see it through."
Ye Chengbi volunteered, "I am of Medicine King Valley. Though not skilled in detoxification, I can assist in pill refinement and help sort the spirit plants. I await Xiang Sizi Zūnzhě's instructions."
Smiling faintly, Xiang Sizi flicked two freshly inscribed jade slips to Xun Kun and to Huaxian Gate's medical cultivator, assigning them to gather the required spirit plants separately.
===
Hi everyone! Just a quick announcement: I've hit the 20-novel limit on my Webnovel account, so I won't be able to upload any new projects here for now. To keep sharing my translations with everyone, I've decided to migrate my new uploads to AO3!
For my completed novels, I'll also be making them available in .epub format on Google Drive or TeraBox, so you can read them offline whenever you want. I'll put the links in the comment section. If you're reading on the app, it can be tricky to copy or open links there. In that case, please use your browser to access the web version at https://www.webnovel.com and, if needed, switch to desktop mode in your browser settings to copy/paste or access the links properly.
I've already started a new project there: "My VR Games Terrify the World"—I hope you'll enjoy it! Don't worry—all ongoing/serializing projects on Webnovel will continue here. I won't be abandoning anything you're currently following!
For extra safety, I'm also putting my translations on Royal Road (username: Reiya_Alberich) so they're accessible in multiple places.
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Thanks so much for your support, and I hope you'll continue to enjoy all the translations—both old and new—no matter the platform! (๑˃̵ᴗ˂̵)و
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Meng Shu never expected to wake up in a parallel world where VR technology is everywhere, but horror games are painfully primitive. His saving grace? A game development system that's incredibly easy to use, with a unique currency: player fear.
Every scream, every jolt, every moment of pure dread his players experience fuels his progress. With this terror tax, he can unlock the blueprints for every classic horror game from his past world. While everyone else ignores the genre, Meng Shu sees a golden opportunity.
He begins to unleash a series of VR horror experiences that leave players traumatized. Outlast has them pleading for mercy. Visage keeps them perpetually on edge, jumping at the slightest sound. SOMA plunges them into deep existential dread, and Alien: Isolation teaches them the true meaning of helpless fear.
From Silent Hill to Resident Evil and Five Nights at Freddy's, Meng Shu's growing library of nightmares has one simple goal: to become the undisputed master of fear and make the entire gaming world scream.