Chapter 368: Chrysanthemum

Treating illnesses is not a game, nor should it be done half-heartedly. He walked over, didn't even check the ferocious beast's fur color, physical condition, heart rate, or breathing; he just touched it and came back. What did that mean?

Don't tell me he had already diagnosed the illness and knew the cure?

Mo Tianxue and Mo Yu were both utterly bewildered, unsure of President Liu's intentions.

He walked back, and they expected him to say something. However, they were dismayed to find him just standing there, lost in thought.

This diagnostic method—not looking at anything, just touching casually, and then returning to space out—left not only him but also the highly knowledgeable Master Lin Tao completely bewildered.

"Ahem, President Liu," Mo Tianxue finally asked, seeing him lost in thought for a long while, his expression flickering. "Is there still hope for the Golden-tailed Lion?"

"Can it be cured? Please say something. What's the point of just standing here?"

"Oh, I'll tell you a few things," Zhang Xuan finally snapped back to attention. Without answering, he commanded with a solemn expression, "Go prepare them now, the faster the better!"

"Yes!" Mo Tianxue nodded.

"Boneless Flower, Golden Blood Venom, Three Thousand Worm Blood..." Zhang Xuan rattled off the names of over a dozen medicinal ingredients.

"These... these are all poisons?" Mo Tianxue's scalp tingled. He had expected him to ask for some potent tonics, but what he listed were all highly toxic substances.

"Yes, go!" Zhang Xuan waved his hand.

"Poisons can really cure the Golden-tailed Lion's illness?" Mo Tianxue was utterly bewildered. The Golden-tailed Lion was suffering from vital energy depletion and was somewhat insane. Normally, one would look for potent tonics to restore its vitality and help it recover. What was the point of finding poisons?

"Father, listen to President Liu," Mo Yu quickly sent a telepathic message, seeing her father hesitate. "Since he asked you to get these things, he must have his reasons!" She had personally witnessed him treat the Grand Apothecary with his incredibly varied and miraculous methods. Since he asked her father to prepare poisons, there must be a reason for it.

"Alright!" Agreeing, Mo Tianxue waved his hand. A moment later, a figure in gray robes appeared, to whom he gave an order. As expected of the Tianwu Kingdom's royal family, their efficiency was remarkable. Before long, all the medicinal ingredients were delivered.

"President Liu, how should these be used?" Looking at the pile of poisons, Mo Tianxue's mouth twitched, and he couldn't help but look over. Any single one of these ingredients could easily poison a Master realm expert to death; dozens of them combined would be even more terrifying. He truly didn't know what he wanted these things for.

"Are there any spears? Prepare thirty-six!" Still without answering, Zhang Xuan continued.

Spears are a type of weapon, and many guards in the royal palace carry them, making them easy to find. A large pile was laid out before them within minutes.

"Next, prepare forty cattle and sheep, slaughter them, and collect all their blood in buckets..." Zhang Xuan continued to instruct. Although filled with doubts, Mo Tianxue knew that President Liu would certainly not act without purpose, so he continued to have people prepare the items.

With everything prepared, Zhang Xuan finally let out a sigh of relief. He walked a few steps to the medicinal ingredients prepared earlier and slapped his palm on the table. The dozen-odd ingredients immediately flew up. With a clap of his hands, under the impact of his zhenqi, the poisons shattered simultaneously into powder. They merged together, a ghastly green, sending shivers down anyone's spine at first glance.

Any single one of these ingredients could poison a Master realm expert to death; with a dozen combined, their potency was even greater. Even a Half-Supreme realm expert might fall unconscious for at least half a day just by inhaling a whiff.

"This is... a poison master's compounding method? Could it be... that President Liu is a poison master?" Seeing the poisonous powder swirl and the ingredients continuously change color as they merged, Mo Tianxue and Master Lin Tao both grew secretly wary.

The terrifying aspect of a poison master lies in their ability to kill opponents stronger than themselves. While some poison masters' cultivation might not be impressive, no one knows what kind of concoctions they can create. One could easily be careless, suffer a huge loss, and even die by their hand. Such examples are numerous. It is precisely for this reason that this profession is feared and dreaded.

President Liu casually merged so many highly toxic ingredients, indicating an extremely sophisticated control over the ingredients' toxicity and proportions. Could he really be a poison master?

"A skilled physician, who understands the properties of medicinal ingredients," Mo Yu transmitted telepathically, seeing their confusion, "can understand poisons to some extent; there's nothing strange about that!" Physicians and poison masters, one saves lives, the other takes them. While they seem to be opposing forces, they actually share many commonalities! Legend even says that the very first poison master was originally a skilled physician. After his wife and children were brutally murdered by his enemies, his disposition changed drastically. He then began to research highly toxic substances, leaving behind a book of poisons, and exterminated his enemies' entire clan. Of course, given how long ago this was, no one can confirm the truth of the matter. But through this legend, one can understand that poison masters and physicians share many points of convergence. It's not surprising for a skilled physician to be able to concoct poisons.

"Alright..."

While the three were conversing, they saw the young man nearby stop. The powder had been completely prepared, and he casually poured it into a bucket, instantly turning the clear water within an ominous dark gray.

Having finished this, Zhang Xuan let out a sigh of relief. He walked around the Golden-tailed Lion once and stopped again, then looked up at Master Lin Tao, who was not far away.

"Does this formation have a way to be quickly activated?"

"Quickly activated?" Lin Tao was stunned.

"Yes!" Zhang Xuan nodded. When he went to the Beast Hall, he had personally seen Yun Tao activate formations. It required prior preparation and was quite troublesome. "Ideally, the formation should activate within half a breath to be effective!" Zhang Xuan said after thinking for a moment.

"Half a breath?" Lin Tao nearly choked on his saliva. "How is that possible! To activate a Level 3 formation of this size, at least eight peak Master realm experts are needed to guard the eight cardinal directions and simultaneously inject zhenqi. It can only operate once all the qi has merged... The fastest way would still take over ten minutes!"

"Ten minutes?"

"Yes, if one possesses Supreme realm strength, a single person can activate it, and the speed will be faster," Lin Tao explained. "However, it still can't be completed in less than two or three minutes!"

Lin Tao was speechless. Did he even understand formations? Activating a formation sounds simple, but it actually requires injecting zhenqi to imbue it with activity. This process is cumbersome, complex, and extremely troublesome. Anyone with even a slight understanding of formations would know this. He had kicked this very formation and caused it to stop operating; how could he not know?

"This is too long..." Zhang Xuan frowned. "Isn't there a better way?"

"There is, but... I can't do it!" Lin Tao said after hesitating for a moment.

"Oh? Tell me about it!" Zhang Xuan quickly looked over.

"Every formation has a core, which is the most crucial point for the entire formation's operation," Lin Tao explained. "As long as zhenqi is injected here, the formation can be quickly activated... This is also how a formation plate works!" Lin Tao paused, looking somewhat awkward. "As you know, to carve a formation plate, one must at least be a 3-star Formation Master. I am only at 2-star peak... I'm still a bit short!"

A formation plate is a large formation carved onto a portable item using special methods. When needed, it can be easily activated by simply injecting zhenqi, even by someone who isn't a Formation Master. Although its power is considerably weaker than a true formation, it can be instantly activated and is convenient to carry, making it a life-saving tool for many. Mo Yu had one on her, which was why Mo Tianxue was at ease letting her go out.

"You mean, finding the core... will quickly activate the formation, right?" Zhang Xuan asked.

"Yes!" Lin Tao nodded. "That's what they say, but finding the core isn't that easy. Unlike fixed formation plates, the core of these pre-arranged formations changes according to the terrain and time of day. Even I can't find it, let alone... activate it!"

"Oh!" Zhang Xuan didn't ask further. Instead, he hesitated for a moment, then his eyes landed on a certain spot.

Immediately after, without much delay, he returned to the Golden-tailed Lion and picked up a spear. With a flick of his wrist, he plunged the spearhead into the wooden bucket containing the venomous liquid. The spear immediately let out a sizzling sound, as if even steel were being corroded.

"Go!" Holding the spear drenched in venom, Zhang Xuan raised his eyebrows and flicked his wrist sharply. Like a javelin, the spear flew straight forward, carrying immense power, and directly pierced the sleeping Golden-tailed Lion.

"Ah?" They had wondered what he was going to do, but upon seeing this, Mo Tianxue, Lin Tao, and the others instantly felt their hair stand on end. This was a highly potent poison... Leaving aside whether it would poison the nation-guarding beast to death, such a direct attack was tantamount to provoking it, easily enraging it completely. This creature already had a bad temper and had been devouring people. If completely provoked, wouldn't it just kill everyone?

As expected, their fear hadn't subsided when they heard a furious roar. The Golden-tailed Lion, which had been in a deep sleep, suddenly opened its eyes, its lantern-like gaze instantly turning crimson.

"It's over..." Seeing this scene, everyone's hearts sank simultaneously.

*Whoosh!* The Golden-tailed Lion lowered its head and glanced at the spear stuck in its body. Its fury soared to the heavens, and it let out another explosive roar, standing up. Its massive body, like a small mountain, exuded immense pressure even before it moved, making people's legs feel weak.

"President Liu, look out..." Mo Yu couldn't help but cry out. The enraged Golden-tailed Lion was too much even for her father, a peak Master realm expert. How could someone merely at the early Master realm contend with it?

As her cry ended, she expected the young man in front to immediately retreat. Instead, she saw him pick up another spear, dip it in the venom, and stab again. And... this time, the target of his stab was... the Golden-tailed Lion's anus.

*Puchi!* The spear was accurately aimed and directly pierced it. Blood immediately gushed out wildly along the spear shaft.

"ROAR!" At this point, not only Mo Tianxue, Lin Tao, and the others were dumbfounded, but the Golden-tailed Lion was utterly enraged. It had opened its eyes, wanting to see who dared to touch it, only to see this person stabbing it in the anus with a spear. The rage in its chest almost made it explode.

*Whack!* Its massive tail curled and violently lashed out at Zhang Xuan. Its speed was so great that it created a series of sonic booms.

As if he had long anticipated this move, Zhang Xuan remained unperturbed. His body swayed, and he instantly appeared at the predetermined spot over ten meters away, stomping his foot on the ground.

*Whoosh!* Along with the sound, Mo Tianxue, Mo Yu, and the others saw a blur as a formation instantly activated, once again enveloping the courtyard.

"The formation... activated?" Master Lin Tao's eyes widened again.