Chapter 1028: Arrangement for Wei Ruyan

"Actually, it doesn't matter if Ancestor Master can't regain her female form..." Poison Master Bai said, trying to comfort her. "As long as one survives, gender is irrelevant," he continued. "There are many poison masters in the Poison Hall who have become genderless due to excessive use of poison."

"At first, I thought the same," Zhang Xuan said, shaking his head. "However, this body is incompatible with my Innate Poison Soul Physique. If I remain in it, I will only grow weaker and weaker and eventually die anyway. Therefore, regardless of whether soul possession causes memory loss, I must do it. This is my only chance!"

Through Poison Master Hai's explanation, Zhang Xuan understood that only the Poison Hall could truly resolve Wei Ruyan's condition and help her cultivate rapidly. However, simply sending her there carried risks. Unlike the Master Teacher Pavilion, the Poison Hall was prone to various complications. The Innate Poison Physique was incredibly formidable; once it manifested, becoming the Poison Hall Master would only be a matter of time. The current Hall Master would surely be unwilling to relinquish their position. To preempt any issues, it would be better to grant her a more formidable identity first: the Founding Ancestor! With such a title, even if the current Hall Master harbored ill intentions, they would likely not dare to act. Of course, once Wei Ruyan awakened, she wouldn't be as adept at deception as he was, potentially revealing inconsistencies. Thus, it was crucial to preemptively state that she would experience memory loss. As for the claim of returning to peak strength and recovery—if she genuinely possessed such power, who would dare question her recovery or lack thereof?

"Ancestor Master, what do you require of us? We are willing to do anything, even if it means death!" Poison Master Bai looked up, his gaze firm, understanding that the Ancestor Master's detailed explanation implied a task for them. Poison Master Hai also nodded in agreement. The Ancestor Master held a reverence in their hearts akin to that of Kong Shi among master teachers; they would never refuse to act on her behalf, even if it cost them their lives.

"I don't need you to face death," Zhang Xuan replied, pausing briefly. "However, there is indeed something I need you to do. Today, I will transfer my soul into the body of the girl I have prepared. I will then fall into a coma. If possible, I hope you can transport me back to the Poison Hall headquarters so I can recover my strength as quickly as possible!"

"Ancestor Master, please rest assured, we will certainly accomplish this!" Hearing this seemingly simple request, the two poison masters, who had been expecting something far more arduous, nodded in unison. They knew that if the headquarters discovered they had brought back the Founding Ancestor, rewards would be showered upon them, making this not just easy, but a great service.

"Don't assume this will be easy!" Zhang Xuan said, shaking his head, as if reading their minds. "After my soul possession is complete, my soul will fully merge with the girl's, transforming her physique into an Innate Poison Body as well. This means she will continuously emit poisonous gas. If you remain by her side, it's highly probable you will be poisoned!"

"As long as we can fulfill Ancestor Master's wishes, our lives are insignificant!" Both stood ramrod straight, their expressions grim and resolute, as if facing death. While poison masters did not adhere to the same strict principles as master teachers, they possessed their own traditions, dignity, and unwavering resolve to protect their lineage.

"You won't be poisoned to death," Zhang Xuan reassured them. "Tonight, I will refine some medicine to counteract the poisonous gas. If you find yourselves unable to resist it, taking one pill will neutralize its effects." He paused, then continued, "Furthermore, I will impart more advanced poison arts and techniques to you, and I will find a way to help you break through to Saint 5-dan..."

"Thank you, Ancestor Master!" Both Poison Masters Bai and Hai gasped, their pupils constricting. This was the Founding Ancestor, the very person who had established the poison master profession and laid down its legacy. For such a legendary figure to personally instruct them and help them achieve a breakthrough—it was simply inconceivable!

"Don't rejoice too soon," Zhang Xuan continued. "To receive my legacy, you must first acknowledge me as your teacher! Furthermore, to prevent any unforeseen circumstances, I will have Sun Qiang control your souls. Should you ever harbor disloyal intentions, you will perish instantly!" It wasn't that he distrusted them, but he needed to guarantee Wei Ruyan's absolute safety. Human hearts were unpredictable, especially when dealing with a rare physique like the Innate Poison Body. Therefore, he would offer them an incentive first, then bind them through soul control.

"Ancestor Master, please rest assured, we will never harbor any second thoughts!" Knowing Zhang Xuan's concerns, both Poison Masters Bai and Hai clasped their fists. Becoming a disciple of the Founding Ancestor would grant them a status akin to Kong Shi's direct disciples, far surpassing that of countless other poison masters. In the future, even a 9-star poison master would likely obey their commands without question.

"There's no need to commit so soon," Zhang Xuan said, waving a hand, even though they had agreed instantly. "I'll give you time to consider. Once you've made up your minds, come find me at midnight tonight.""Understood!" they replied, exchanging glances and nodding.

"Alright, for now, I don't want anyone to know about my affairs," Zhang Xuan said, his voice laced with a cold threat. "You must keep this absolutely secret. Otherwise, the poison within you will be incurable, and you will not live to see tomorrow!""Ancestor Master, please rest assured, we will both remain absolutely silent!" the two poison masters pledged, clasping their fists."Good, you may leave," Zhang Xuan dismissed them, saying no more. Poison Masters Bai and Hai turned and departed.

After they left, Zhang Xuan slowly opened his eyes. If they succeeded in breaking through, they would become 8-star poison masters, offering significant protection for Wei Ruyan. He organized the knowledge within his mind, forming the Heaven's Path Poison Art, before slowly exiting the library.

Meanwhile, Elder Xu, Ruo Qingyuan, and others were waiting outside. Upon his appearance, they immediately prepared a banquet for him. After the meal, Zhang Xuan returned to his new residence. With a flicker, he entered the Thousand Ant Beehive and slowly began to review the organized poison arts. The reason he had set their meeting for midnight was that he still needed to study this knowledge himself; otherwise, he wouldn't be able to provide proper guidance.

He studied the Heaven's Path Poison Art, from 3-star to 5-star and beyond. As he read and cultivated, his comprehension of poisons deepened, and his knowledge expanded exponentially. After an indeterminate amount of time, he exhaled a breath of stale air, and a peculiar, fleeting shimmer of color briefly rippled in his eyes.

From 3-star to 7-star, a vast array of poison knowledge was now fully absorbed into his mind, integrated into his very being, becoming instinctive. His current understanding of poisons far surpassed that of Poison Master Bai, likely even rivaling some 8-star experts. Of course, his cultivation base was not yet sufficient to qualify as a true 8-star poison master. Even the 7-star emblem Ruo Qingyuan had helped him acquire was merely a "quasi-7-star" ranking.

Though poison masters were considered a "lower nine stream" profession, like "upper nine stream" professions such as master teachers and beast tamers, they faced equally stringent cultivation requirements. To become a genuine 7-star poison master, one's cultivation had to reach at least the Saint 2-dan Mind-Opening realm. For an 8-star, the Saint 5-dan realm was a mandatory prerequisite—an unalterable standard.

However, Zhang Xuan paid little heed to poison master ranks. The Poison Hall imposed such ranks because insufficient strength meant a high risk of self-harm or even death when concocting potent poisons. Yet, with his Heaven's Path zhenqi, he was immune to all poisons, rendering those concerns irrelevant. Of course, personal strength remained crucial; even a perfectly concocted poison was useless if it couldn't be effectively deployed. For instance, while his Heaven's Path zhenqi was formidable, poisoning a Saint 4-dan expert would require elaborate schemes and deception. He couldn't simply rely on his current power to infuse zhenqi into an opponent's body. His present strength prevented him from getting close enough to a Saint 4-dan practitioner without extreme danger. Thus, even if he could create a powerful poison, it would be futile; true mastery lay in the ability to deploy it effectively and poison one's opponent.

"Although I've assimilated a vast amount of poison techniques and knowledge, I still can't awaken Wei Ruyan," Zhang Xuan mused, letting out a sigh of relief. "However, I can ensure she endures for another six months, or even a year, without major issues. That will be ample time to reach the Poison Hall headquarters." The Heaven's Path cultivation art, compiled from the Hongyuan Poison Hall's texts, had granted him extensive knowledge of poisons, but it still couldn't entirely eliminate the inherent dangers of the Innate Poison Body. Nevertheless, while he couldn't provide a complete cure, he could certainly delay its effects.

He stood and moved to Wei Ruyan's side, circulating the Heaven's Path zhenqi within him, instantly transforming it into a potent poison. An Innate Poison Body could not be treated with tonics or restorative medicines; it required poison! Wei Changfeng had been unaware of these specifics, and because Wei Ruyan's physique hadn't yet been activated, no one could identify it. The various medicines she was given from a young age had only caused her condition to relapse repeatedly. Had she not met him, she would likely have perished long ago.

Taking a deep breath, his eyes grave, Zhang Xuan's fingers moved as if playing a pipa, precisely injecting the transformed poisonous zhenqi into every acupoint throughout the girl's body. As the poisonous qi entered her, Wei Ruyan's previously pale complexion gradually grew rosy. Though she remained unconscious, she was no longer in critical danger.

"Witch Soul, depart!" Knowing that Wei Ruyan's condition was stable enough for her to last another year or so, Zhang Xuan finally exhaled. With a mental command, his Witch Soul emerged. The massive soul formed a hand seal, quickly splitting off a minute wisp of thought, which then darted directly into Wei Ruyan's glabella. His student had been ill since childhood, surviving under her father's care, and possessed no cunning. If she were to enter the Poison Hall—a place even master teachers regarded with trepidation—without protection, she would undoubtedly be exploited. Thus, he left behind a wisp of his thought as a safeguard. After this, he paused, then retrieved his sole copy of the Tome of Heaven's Path. With a touch of his finger, he transferred it into her glabella. This tome had formed when he had accepted Dean Jiang Qingqin as a student, and he had always been hesitant to use it, but for his student, it was a small price.

Having completed these tasks, Zhang Xuan finally breathed a sigh of complete relief, and his Witch Soul returned to his physical body. What he had left behind was a subtle wisp of his soul's intent. Thanks to the precedent of soul fusion, Wei Ruyan did not reject it. It remained hidden deep within her sea of consciousness, undetectable even by the most formidable experts. Furthermore, as long as it didn't actively manifest, his lowest-ranked student would never know of its presence.A teacher's concern for their students doesn't always need to be outwardly displayed or explicitly acknowledged. Sometimes, every action is imbued with genuine emotion. Even if misunderstood, the teacher perseveres. As long as the student achieves greater heights and uses the imparted knowledge effectively, the teacher feels profound satisfaction and deep-seated joy. This is neither foolishness nor unrequited desire, but rather stems from the profound weight of a single word in their hearts, heavier than Mount Tai: Teacher!