Chapter 1550: Poison Master Breaks the Formation

The combat power of over a dozen nine-star master teachers was truly astonishing. If they attacked simultaneously, not to mention the three poison masters, even Master Yang himself might not be able to withstand it!

"Listen to your arrangements?"

Shen Que and the others were momentarily stunned. Faced with so many nine-star master teachers, they were helpless. What possible solution could a mere Saint 8-dan cultivator like him have?

"Yes!" Zhang Xuan replied, his expression unchanged. He looked up at the three poison masters, then swept his gaze over all the master teachers.

"This..." Seeing his confident expression, the three exchanged glances, frowning. The group in the sky consisted of nine-star master teachers, each incredibly powerful. Following his commands... would it lead to their complete annihilation?

"Listen to him," Lin Jianghai transmitted. "The Palace Lord once said that we should respect him even more than we respect her!"

Shen Que and the others nodded. They were well aware of how highly the Palace Lord regarded this individual. If anything went wrong, she would undoubtedly poison them to death without a second thought. Given the current predicament and lacking other options, they could only follow his lead and hope he had a solution to navigate the immediate crisis.

"Master Zhang, what should we do?" After exhausting all his strength to block a wave of attacks, Lin Jianghai couldn't help but look over.

"It's simple," Zhang Xuan's voice echoed in their ears. "Abandon the protective barrier. Shen Que, activate your Golden Sun Poison Art, advance twenty steps, then flick your left finger. The venom of Po Chen Xiao is on your left fingernail; release it directly. Lin Jianghai, move twenty-seven steps to the right and release the prepared Harmonious Red potent poison. You don't need to injure anyone; just scattering it will have a miraculous effect. He Guangyu, known as 'Thousand Hands,' carries a vast array of potent poisons—there should be fifty-four types. Remain where you are and first release eight types into the air, then seventeen types horizontally. For the rest, await my further instructions to decide whether to continue!"

"You... you know I have Po Chen Xiao venom?" Shen Que's body stiffened. This was absolutely the first time he had met Master Zhang; he could guarantee they had never encountered each other before. The potent poison of Po Chen Xiao was something he had only recently developed before arriving, even naming it on the way here. Not even the Palace Lord was aware of it, yet Zhang Xuan had stated it directly, even knowing it was hidden in his left fingernail...

Not only Shen Que, but He Guangyu also wore a frantic, ghost-seeing expression. "You know I have fifty-four types of potent poisons on me?" The variety of potent poisons he carried was unknown even to Lin Jianghai and the others. As his deepest hidden trump card, two types of potent poison were concealed in the most secret places, impossible to use unless facing a life-or-death situation. Over time, even he had forgotten some of them, yet Zhang Xuan had stated the exact number without the slightest error. What was most critical was that when told to release poisons—the eight types that were most suitable for upward, highly concealed release; and the seventeen types that were fastest and could be shot horizontally without obstruction—they corresponded perfectly to his capabilities. In other words, the other party knew his current situation with absolute clarity! Was this truly their first meeting?

"If you don't want to die, move faster!" Zhang Xuan's brows furrowed, seeing that instead of acting, the individuals he had just commanded were frozen in place.

"Yes!" Knowing it was not the time for contemplation, the three no longer hesitated. They simultaneously acted according to his instructions. While they didn't understand the purpose of his commands, the fact that he could precisely identify their specialized techniques and potent poisons indicated he had a clear objective.

Shen Que's Golden Sun Poison Art rapidly circulated within him. Abandoning the protective barrier, he surged forward precisely twenty steps. *Rip!* The moment he halted, a massive force assailed him; the attacks of two master teachers were already upon him.

With a light flick of his left fingernail, the Po Chen Xiao venom shot forth. *Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle!* As the venom met the approaching true qi, immediate corrosion occurred.

"Oh no, it's potent poison..." Their pupils constricted, and the two master teachers simultaneously retreated. Just then, Lin Jianghai, having advanced twenty-seven steps, had already released the Harmonious Red poison powder. As the two retreated, they stepped directly into its range. Their true qi, upon contact, immediately began to boil as if burning. *Thud! Thud!* The two master teachers instantly spat out fresh blood, no longer concerned with their combined attack. They sat down cross-legged on the ground in unison, struggling to regulate their breathing.

The master teachers had formed a battle array, but with these two stopping, it instantly shattered. As He Guangyu released over twenty types of potent poisons, the area around them seemed to transform into a vacuum, causing everyone to scatter. They hovered hundreds of meters away, and for a time, no one dared to approach. "This..." Witnessing the immediate resolution of the crisis, the three great poison masters exchanged bewildered glances, each clenching their fists.

They were well aware of their own capabilities. Even with their poisons, the master teachers possessed Heavenly Cloud Holy Water. Had they continued in the same manner, they would undoubtedly have been severely wounded and unable to escape. Yet now, by following Master Zhang's instructions, they had not only evaded the Holy Water's attacks but had also poisoned two master teachers into losing their combat effectiveness. Furthermore, they had intimidated the entire group of master teachers, forcing them to retreat and preventing any further approach. If news of this feat spread, it would undoubtedly bring immense glory to their sect and allow the entire Poison Hall to hold its head high!

"Master Zhang..." Unable to contain themselves any longer, the three looked at him, their faces filled with disbelief. They could execute the actions he commanded, but they simply couldn't fathom *why* he had instructed them to do so.

Knowing their curiosity, Zhang Xuan did not hold back. "There were sixteen nine-star master teachers in the attacking group. Three of them had only completed their assessments within the last decade, so there's a slight disparity in their cultivation and mental fortitude. Seven others sustained internal injuries from past battles with the Spirit Race and haven't fully recovered. The remaining four formed the core of their array and couldn't move quickly. Shen Que's twenty-step advance placed him precisely at the formation's eye, which comprised the three newly promoted nine-star master teachers and the seven with lingering injuries. Releasing venom there caused chaos in their combined array, disrupting its power. At that moment, He Guangyu's release of potent poison forced the core members to abandon their positions, naturally causing the formation to collapse."

He continued, "Of course, even with the array broken, given their strength and adaptability, you would still struggle to resist if they attacked again. The most crucial part was Lin Jianghai's twenty-seven-step advance to the right. That spot was where their true qi converged, and the Harmonious Red potent poison is perfectly capable of merging with true qi. Although these master teachers showed no change in expression, they had all, to varying degrees, been poisoned by the extensive release. While the impact on their overall strength might be minimal, it has forced them to exercise caution. At the very least, they won't dare to attack rashly in the short term!"

"Well, that's all for now. Time was short, and my plan wasn't as comprehensive as it could have been. I could only achieve this much," Zhang Xuan said with a sigh, shaking his head.

"You call *that* not comprehensive?"

"To devise so much in less than a single breath..."

"The timing, the formation, the opponents' conditions... all understood perfectly, analyzed with pinpoint accuracy, assessing both our strengths and theirs without a single mistake... This, this... was this all something you saw and analyzed just by glancing at them?"

Shen Que and the others all trembled, looking as if they had seen a ghost.