"Elder Zhai." Elder Lü emphasized, "We are also grieved by the murder of the Cang Lang Sect disciples. After all, the Seven Sects are united, prospering and declining together. However, the murder of the Cang Lang Sect disciples has nothing to do with our Five Poisons Sect. Besides, we are not the only ones who can use poison. It is said that among those who came out of the Land of No Return, there is a woman known as the Poison Empress, who is also quite skilled in the art of poison."
"Does Elder Lü mean that a Qi Refining stage disciple poisoned a group of Foundation Establishment stage experts and then killed them?" Elder Lai sneered. Even a three-year-old child would not believe such a clumsy excuse to fob them off.
"Don't forget, among them was Xiao Qin, who could fight against three opponents at once," Elder Lü said unhurriedly. For some reason, he intensely disliked the young man named Xiao Qin. They had never met before, yet he just found him displeasing.
Zhai Ge sneered, "So, Elder Lü is determined to smear my sect's disciples?"
"Elder Zhai, I am merely saying that the use of poison is not exclusive to the disciples of the Five Poisons Sect; there are others. Whoever killed the Cang Lang Sect disciples could be the murderer. After all, if one cannot concoct poisons, one can purchase them. Who knows if someone intentionally poisoned the Cang Lang Sect disciples to frame the Five Poisons Sect? Moreover, that Xiao Qin is not even a disciple of your Hundred Medicine Hall."
"Does Elder Lü mean that I framed you?"
"Elder Zhai, why take it personally? You hold a position of considerable status in the Hundred Medicine Hall and would surely not engage in such despicable acts. I am merely suggesting that someone is trying to frame us."
"City Lord Yan, I heard that someone in your mansion was also poisoned. Is that correct?"
Yan Yu, who had been merely watching the show, was suddenly drawn into the spotlight. He was taken aback for a moment before quickly regaining his composure. "Yes, the culprit poisoned my mansion. My daughter and I were fortunate enough not to be poisoned, but my father was. If not for his high cultivation and a fortuitous encounter with an antidote pill that could cure all poisons, his life would have been in grave danger."
"Is there truly a poison that can incapacitate a Golden Core stage cultivator?" Elder Xu asked with drooping eyelids. If even Golden Core stage cultivators could be poisoned, were they all so easily vulnerable?
"The world is vast, and there are countless strange things. It is not surprising that there are poisons capable of incapacitating Golden Core stage cultivators," Elder Bai said unhurriedly.
"If such a poison exists that can incapacitate even Golden Core stage cultivators, and it falls into the wrong hands, will the Seven Sects not descend into chaos?" Elder Wu also suspected the Five Poisons Sect but lacked evidence.
"Indeed, if it falls into the wrong hands, even numerous Golden Core cultivators will be at a disadvantage," Liu Han said with a smile. "Elder Xu, if such a poison existed, would you want it?"
Elder Xu raised his eyelids to glance at Liu Han, his deep and melancholic voice devoid of any inflection. "The Seven Sects are righteous and honorable. How could they engage in such despicable acts as poisoning and sneak attacks? Let alone me, I believe even if Elder Liu possessed such a poison, you would not use it."
Liu Han chuckled strangely. Xu Wei of the Blazing Sun Sect was the most cunning and rarely offended anyone, yet it was precisely this trait that made him particularly dislike him.
"Elder Xu likely forgot that the foundation of our Five Poisons Sect lies in poison. If we do not use poison, are we still the Five Poisons Sect?"
"So, are you, the Five Poisons Sect, admitting to poisoning the Cang Lang Sect disciples?"
Liu Han, gauging that the time was almost right, wore a sinister smile. "What if we did, and what if we didn't?"
"If so, I will have your lives..." Elder Lai rose, but he only swayed twice before collapsing back into his chair. Looking at his palm, a ball of black energy became apparent. He had been poisoned! "You poisoned us!"
Elder Lü, with a benevolent smile, his half-closed eyes filled with scheming, said, "Esteemed elders are gentlemen who disdain using poison. However, our Five Poisons Sect's foundation is poison. But you need not worry, we do not intend to kill you. We merely wish to ask for your assistance. As for those in the secret realm, do not worry; we have already prepared a surprise for them."
Elder Lü clapped his hands, and immediately, countless cultivators appeared, surrounding and controlling the entire venue. Fang He, though not poisoned, dared not act rashly. They were outnumbered, and all the Golden Core stage cultivators present were poisoned, leaving only a few Foundation Establishment stage cultivators who were no match for them!
"Lu Yuan, Liu Han, what are you trying to do?"
"As I said, we wish to ask for your assistance." Lu Yuan looked in Yan Yu's direction, only to discover that Yan Yu had vanished at some point. He had seized the opportunity when they were not paying attention and escaped!
Upon entering the secret realm, Xiao Man's group was separated. If Ze Fang had not been held in her arms, she would likely not have known his whereabouts.
Xiao Man looked at the unfamiliar space and pondered for a moment before leading Ze Fang in one direction. The Five Poisons Sect was bound to make a move, but she was unsure of their objective.
"Daddy, are you tired?" Ze Fang used his sleeve to wipe the sweat from Xiao Man's forehead. "If you're tired, put me down. I can walk by myself."
Xiao Man bounced Ze Fang in her arms. "I'm not tired. The situation here is unclear; we cannot wander around carelessly."
"I'll do as Daddy says." Ze Fang had become accustomed to calling her Daddy.
Xiao Man fed Ze Fang two pills and then casually put him on her back, securing him with a strap to guard against unexpected situations.
"Help! Help!" Xiao Man faintly heard cries for help and frowned. She moved in the direction of the sound and after a quarter of an hour, saw several men in black clothes apprehending some examinees.
"What do you want? You are not disciples participating in the Seven Sects' assessment, are you?" a captured woman demanded sternly. "Are you not afraid of being held accountable by the Seven Sects for doing this?"
A man in black chuckled strangely. "We are so afraid. Whether the Seven Sects will even exist in the future is debatable."
"You... you have such big mouths!" One disciple immediately said indignantly, "We are disciples of the Blazing Sun Sect. How dare you touch us..."
"If we don't dare to touch you, how would you have fallen into our hands?" the man sneered and drew his sword, holding it to the speaking disciple's neck. "If you wish to die, I don't mind sending you off."
The man immediately fell silent, his eyes wide with terror as he looked at the sword at his throat. The cold touch sent a shiver down his spine, and the fear of death made his body tremble slightly.
"What exactly do you want to do?"
"You will know soon enough. Take them away."
Xiao Man, hidden in the shadows, watched as the men in black led the captives away, a faint gleam in her eyes. She then quietly followed, determined to see what these people were planning.