Old Jin saw through Hu Chai's scheme, but this did not surprise Hu Chai.
While his challenge was ingenious, if Old Jin couldn't solve it, Hu Chai would even feel that Old Jin was unworthy of being a successor of the Qihuang Sect.
Hu Chai named the poison he administered to Han San "Seven Extremes Poison," a simple yet vivid name, a fusion of seven deadly poisons. It was delivered by acupoint insertion.
The countless combinations of acupoints and their sequence influenced the method of detoxification, thus creating myriad ways to administer the Seven Extremes Poison, yet only one way to neutralize it.
The Seven Extremes Poison was a unique concoction created by Hu Chai over the years through the torment of disciples from prominent sects.
To this day, even Hu Chai himself had not found a method to counteract the Seven Extremes Poison.
Therefore, to Hu Chai, the Seven Extremes Poison was unsolvable.
However, Hu Chai held great expectations for Old Jin, as detoxification was not the forte of the Hanshang Sect.
He expected Old Jin to unravel the Seven Extremes Poison… but only theoretically.
For each poison of the Seven Extremes Poison that was neutralized, Han San would suffer an additional torment, which included the pain of boiling blood, cranial excavation, bone shattering, tongue severing, eye piercing, limb amputation, and finally, heart piercing!
These excruciating pains were discovered by Hu Chai through repeated experimentation. Any single one of these tortures inflicted upon an ordinary person would be enough to make them wish for death.
And the agony Han San had endured in the past few days was less than one-tenth of the full effect of the Seven Extremes Poison.
Even if Old Jin successfully detoxified him in the end, could Han San truly hold out until the very last moment?
Hu Chai sneered, confident that Han San would surrender after enduring the fourth level of torment.
Hmph… Qihuang Sect, what do you have to compete with me?!
...
After gathering much information, Old Jin gradually formulated a plan.
He instructed Yan Shouyi to first seal certain acupoints on Han San using the Thirteen Needles of Gui Men to prevent him from losing consciousness due to pain during detoxification. The Seven Extremes Poison had to be neutralized while Han San was conscious. If he fell into a slumber, even the King of Hell couldn't save him from the brink of death.
"The first four poisons can be neutralized with the Thirteen Needles of Gui Men. The next two poisons require acupoint insertion combined with medicinal pills. As for the last poison… I haven't figured it out yet. We'll tackle it as it comes!" Old Jin gritted his teeth.
Developing countermeasures for the first six poisons was already a remarkable feat. The last poison had too profound an effect, and Old Jin needed more observation.
Yan Shouyi drew out another Gui Men needle and asked, "Old Jin, tell me what to do."
"The previous needle neutralized the boiling blood poison. The next one goes into the Lingtai acupoint! Be extremely gentle with the insertion, and twist the needle tip slightly as you insert it."
Yan Shouyi focused intently, located the Lingtai acupoint, and inserted the needle as Old Jin instructed.
The silver needle slowly entered Han San's body. Han San lay on the ground, motionless, a flicker of fear in his eyes.
Suddenly, Yan Shouyi felt the needle tip encounter something hard. If he didn't apply more force, the needle wouldn't penetrate any further.
As he frowned, Old Jin knew the problem he faced and immediately said, "Pierce the hard object. This poison can then be neutralized!"
"Alright!"
Yan Shouyi didn't hesitate, applying a slight force. The needle advanced a few more millimeters.
"Ah—"
Han San suddenly thrashed, clutching his head and writhing on the ground in agony!
"So, so, so… painful!!!" Han San cried out in torment.
"What's wrong with him?!" Yan Shouyi was flustered.
Old Jin, however, remained calm. "The Lingtai acupoint is located above the Zhongshu acupoint, and it's on the spine. It will affect Han San's brain nerves, causing him to feel the pain of cranial excavation!"
No wonder Han San was rolling on the ground, holding his head.
"Him feeling the pain of cranial excavation means we're doing it right. The second poison has been neutralized!" Old Jin declared. "Now, cripple his hands and feet. No matter how much pain he's in, he must endure it. Otherwise, if he struggles, you won't be able to insert the needle!"
Yan Shouyi gritted his teeth. To save his good brother, he had to act ruthlessly.
"Han San, bear with it!"
Han San, still clutching his head, yelled hysterically, "Do, do, do my hands! I'm not afraid!! I, I, I… can do it!!"
Seeing Han San's resolve, Yan Shouyi no longer hesitated and severed Han San's tendons in his hands and feet!
Han San could no longer struggle, but the pain of cranial excavation still made him groan incessantly.
"Old Jin, how do we neutralize the third poison?"
"Tianchong acupoint! This time, the insertion must be fast and fierce!!"
"Understood!"
Yan Shouyi drew another Gui Men needle, located the Tianchong acupoint above Han San's right ear, and plunged it in!
"Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah!!!"
Han San's screams continued for nearly a full minute!
The dog Taoist and others felt their hearts pound, unable to bear witnessing such a tragic scene.
Old Jin declared, "This is the pain of bone shattering! Han San will feel as if all his bones have been pulverized! Although it's painful, it also means we're on the right track!"
"Let's continue!"
"Alright, the fourth needle goes into the Qihai acupoint. Be very shallow with this one; the needle tip should only penetrate half a centimeter!"
By now, fine beads of sweat had appeared on Yan Shouyi's forehead.
Han San's torment was being doubled and reflected back onto Yan Shouyi, placing immense pressure on his mind.
After the third needle was inserted into Han San, Han San suddenly stopped crying out.
"Han San?" Yan Shouyi exclaimed in alarm, thinking Han San had stopped breathing.
He saw Han San struggling with a pained expression, unable to speak, unable to even utter a scream.
"This is the pain of tongue severing. Han San can no longer speak from this point on!" Old Jin explained.
The boiling blood (excitement), cranial excavation, bone shattering, and now the tongue severing – with four layers of torment compounded, Han San couldn't even let out a single cry.
What an agonizing ordeal!
"Excellent work! Excellent work!"
Hu Chai, who had been watching the spectacle, did not seem worried by Old Jin's success in neutralizing four poisons. Instead, he clapped his hands with delight.
What was detoxification?
Seeing Han San's agonizing expression was what made Hu Chai feel happy and content!
"Continue detoxifying, continue!" Hu Chai laughed heartily. "I love watching disciples of prestigious sects suffer, Hahaha!"
Yan Shouyi gritted his teeth. Although filled with anger, he didn't want to waste time.
Every extra second they spent, Han San endured an extra second of pain.
"Old Jin, let's proceed."
"For the fifth poison, we need to use the Diluanyuan Yang Pill. I happen to have one here. Give it to Han San! After he takes it, insert it into the Shencang acupoint, using the thickest Gui Men needle!"
Following the pain of tongue severing was the pain of eye piercing.
Han San's hands and feet were crippled, preventing him from covering his eyes. Therefore, he squeezed his eyelids shut with all his might, his eyes turning red, his bloodshot eyeballs almost bulging out of their sockets!
"Dog King…"
Long Feicheng's face contorted, and he couldn't help but close his eyes.
He always called Han San "Han Dog King," often mocking him as a sycophant, but deep down, he considered him a like-minded brother.
Now, witnessing his good brother endure such inhuman torture, the loyal Long Feicheng was on the verge of collapse.