Chapter 1173: Wu Shi's Analysis

"Battle Master?"

The many poison masters exchanged bewildered glances, not understanding.

"That's right. As long as you become Battle Masters, you can walk openly in Qingyuan City without fear of accusations or trouble! You'll no longer dread post-event retaliation or worry about inquiries from the Master Teacher Pavilion!" Zhang Xuan smiled faintly.

The poison masters' faces flushed, and they clenched their fists. As poison masters, their greatest wish was to be free from judgment and walk in the light. If this could truly be realized, Senior Sun Qiang would be equivalent to saving their lives, offering them a second chance at rebirth.

"But... we aren't Master Teachers. Becoming a Battle Master is almost impossible, isn't it?" Xu You looked over, full of concern.

Others also had the same question. Battle Masters are a branch of Master Teachers, usually selected from their ranks. They, however, were merely a group of poison masters.

"Nine out of ten Battle Masters are Master Teachers, but... the Battle Master Hall also recruits special talents. Although we poison masters have a poor reputation, our combat effectiveness is quite astonishing when we unleash our poisons in battle! If the Battle Master Hall can recruit you as members, even if it's only as reserves not officially on the roster, it still means you'll have an official identity and won't have to struggle as much!" Zhang Xuan nodded with a smile.

The Battle Master Hall indeed had provisions for recruiting special talents, but most were of Zheng Yang's caliber. To be honest, Elder Xu and the others were still a bit lacking. However, it wasn't impossible for them to become reserves, not officially part of the Battle Master Hall's main roster. Once they achieved merit in the future, it wouldn't be too late to apply for full membership.

"That would be ideal, of course, but... our cultivation techniques and practices might be resisted by Master Teachers. I'm afraid that if we spend too much time together, conflicts will inevitably arise!" Elder Xu continued.

"I understand your concerns. However, the Founding Master has already made arrangements for this. These are new cultivation techniques left by the Founding Master. If you cultivate according to them, your advancement speed will not only be faster, but you also won't need to use morally questionable methods..." With a flick of his wrist, Zhang Xuan handed over several books.

They were indeed simplified versions of the Heaven's Path Poison Art. He had written them down after collecting everything in the Poison Hall, intending to pass them on to others when the opportunity arose.

Xu You and the others took the books, full of doubt. After just one glance, their faces flushed with excitement, and their breathing involuntarily quickened. These individuals had been immersed in poison for at least a hundred years, understanding the pros and cons of poison cultivation. Although the content of these books was not extensive, every word was a pearl of wisdom, each sentence profoundly meaningful, pointing directly to the core of the Great Dao.

Cultivating according to these methods, it was foreseeable that their mastery of poison would become increasingly powerful, and their strength would become purer and more formidable. At the same level, increasing their combat power by two or three times would be very easy!

"Thank you, Founding Master, for bestowing these techniques..." Filled with excitement, the many poison masters knelt down in unison. With this set of cultivation techniques, they would no longer need to painstakingly search for various spirit insects and potent poisons, or even commit morally questionable acts.

"Your ability to join the Battle Master Hall is thanks to Hall Master Xing's benevolence. I hope you will obey his orders and not act on impulse, otherwise, even I won't be able to save you!" Having said what needed to be said, Zhang Xuan's expression turned serious as he spoke.

"Yes!" Everyone nodded.

Although poison masters' use of poison was terrifying and could ignore group attacks, they were still at a disadvantage when facing Battle Masters. Battle Masters not only possessed strong combat power, but more importantly, their cultivation was incredibly diligent, and many had strong resistance to poison. A poison master of the same level fighting a Battle Master might be directly killed before even having a chance to take out their poison! Even if they laid out traps beforehand, the opponent might still kill them in their dying moments.

"Alright, memorize the content of these books, then burn them... Aside from you all, I do not wish for this cultivation technique to be spread further!" Zhang Xuan continued.

"Yes!" Everyone agreed. Even though it was only a simplified version of the poison art, it was still extremely terrifying. If the information leaked, it would undoubtedly attract countless covetous eyes.

While Zhang Xuan was incorporating the group, Hall Master Xing and Master Wu stood outside the dungeon.

"Master Wu, the Battle Master Hall taking in poison masters... how will we explain this to the Master Teacher Pavilion if word gets out?" Hall Master Xing frowned. He hadn't intended to agree in the first place, but since Master Wu had spoken, it was difficult to refute. Although his combat power far surpassed Master Wu's, when it came to understanding and foresight regarding matters, he was definitely far inferior. Master Teachers were not only powerful in their teachings, but more importantly, their foresight far exceeded that of ordinary people.

"Do you think Master Zhang has brought trouble to your Battle Master Hall?" Hearing his question, Master Wu shook his head and looked at him.

Hall Master Xing's face was full of embarrassment. Although he hadn't said it aloud, that was indeed what he thought in his heart. Poison masters were unruly and incredibly troublesome, and their poisoning methods were impossible to guard against. If they truly allowed them to stay in the Battle Master Hall, wouldn't it cause chaos and disruption?

"Actually, you haven't understood Master Zhang's painstaking efforts! He's doing all of this for the Battle Master Hall, and for our human race!" Seeing that he indeed thought that way, Master Wu gave a wry smile.

"For the Battle Master Hall and the human race?" Hall Master Xing was utterly confused. These individuals were a huge source of trouble; how could they possibly be for their benefit?

"I knew you wouldn't understand!" Seeing his expression, Master Wu shook his head: "Then let me ask you first... If you release this group of poison masters, will you put them under house arrest or execute them?"

"Well... they haven't committed any crimes, nor have they poisoned any humans... Why would we put them under house arrest or execute them?" Hall Master Xing was taken aback. Although the Master Teacher Pavilion and Battle Master Hall governed the entire continent, they also adhered to rules; they weren't bandits. This group of poison masters were victims themselves and hadn't committed any heinous acts. Even if they were powerful and held authority, they couldn't just arbitrarily put them under house arrest or kill them!

"Exactly, you can't put them under house arrest, and you can't execute them... Their Poison Hall has been completely exposed and destroyed, so they can't go back. With so many poison masters scattered throughout the Qingyuan Empire, what if they truly bring disaster?" Master Wu said.

Hall Master Xing was speechless. With so many poison masters gathered together, it would be easy to encircle or kill them... But once they dispersed and blended into the empire, finding them again would be almost impossible. If these people were to secretly administer poison to ordinary citizens, by the time the culprits were found, it would already be too late.

"Incorporating them into the Battle Master Hall confines their activities and prevents greater disasters. Master Zhang's action is essentially a disguised form of house arrest... However, it sounds much better officially. Not only does it not harm our reputation, but it also highlights the Master Teacher Pavilion's magnanimity, killing two birds with one stone!"

Hall Master Xing's mouth fell open, unable to speak. With Master Wu's analysis, it was indeed true. Once these poison masters joined the Battle Master Hall, they would be bound by its regulations and could no longer be undisciplined. It truly was like being under house arrest here, unable to go out and commit evil.

"Of course, that's just Master Zhang's first objective... His second objective is genuinely for the sake of your Battle Master Hall!" Master Wu continued. "You still vividly remember how severe the Battle Master Hall's losses were in the battle against the Sempiternal race more than twenty years ago, don't you?"

"Yes!" Hall Master Xing's voice was low. Back then, the Qingtian lineage had launched an all-out assault, besieging the Battle Master Hall, causing countless injuries, and even he had almost perished. If Elder Qi hadn't intervened, he would have surely died long ago.

"Although the Sempiternal race came prepared, it wasn't easy for them to overcome so many Battle Masters from our Battle Master Hall. However, considering how tragic that battle was, you should know best what went wrong!" Master Wu's expression was solemn. The Sempiternal race had come prepared and launched their attack with full momentum. Yet, the Battle Master Hall had never relaxed its guard and was always ready for battle. Under normal circumstances, even if both sides engaged, the Battle Master Hall alone could have completely annihilated them, without needing the Master Teacher Pavilion or the entire Qingyuan Empire to intervene... Unfortunately, all three factions had intervened, and the result was still a pyrrhic victory! Precisely because of this, the Qingyuan Conferred Empire became the weakest among the Eight Conferred Empires, and had not recovered its vitality for over twenty years.

"It was... Supreme Breeze Powder!" Hall Master Xing clenched his fists. Back then, the Battle Master Hall members had, unbeknownst to them, been poisoned with a potent toxin called Supreme Breeze Powder. All the Battle Masters became weak and limp, their combat power plummeting... allowing the enemy to seize the opportunity and win! Even he hadn't been spared. This incident was like a thorn, constantly stuck in his heart, making it impossible for him to let go.

"Yes, it was that very poison, carried by the wind, colorless and odorless... No one could detect it! Even I didn't detect it at the time... It was only when Vice Hall Master Tian Qing discovered it that the Master Teacher Pavilion's losses weren't so severe... Because of this incident, he also gained complete control over the entire Master Teacher Pavilion, and his power grew steadily!" Master Wu sighed, then continued: "Master Zhang, by having so many poison masters join the Battle Master Hall, first, he wants us to have a combat unit that can use poison, so that if we encounter such situations again, we can deal with them easily! Second, with the addition of poison masters, the members of the Battle Master Hall will also have the opportunity to hone their poison resistance. In the future, if the Sempiternal race truly uses poison, we won't be caught off guard..."

Hall Master Xing was stunned. Indeed. With the addition of poison masters, if they encountered the events of twenty years ago again, they would certainly be able to prepare in advance and not be caught off guard.

"Were all these things... truly calculated by Master Zhang?" After a moment of silence, the more he thought about it, the more he felt that allowing the poison masters to join the Battle Master Hall was beneficial in every way and posed no harm. Hall Master Xing swallowed, unable to resist looking over. He hadn't even thought of these things, and yet Master Zhang, despite being severely injured, had thought them through so thoroughly in such a short time... Was it real or fake?

"Master Zhang's wisdom is beyond what people like us can guess. I, too, pondered for a long time after hearing his requests before I suddenly understood!" Master Wu sighed. It was better not to think about it; the more he thought, the more he felt this matter was handled exceptionally well, something only a person of great wisdom could achieve.

After deliberating for a while longer, his admiration grew, and Hall Master Xing also genuinely exclaimed, "Master Zhang is truly a divine being!"

***

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