Detoxification

Not knowing how she had deduced the antidote proportions so quickly, the crowd turned their eyes toward their pillar of reliance, President Song.

President Song noted down the list she had just recited and asked, “Are you confident in this?”

Since Shi Yu had spoken, she naturally had absolute confidence. She gave a subtle smile. “One trial will give us the answer.”

President Song nodded, knowing that her words meant she was entirely sure. He turned to look at Xie Han, who immediately dispatched his subordinates to prepare the various antidotes Shi Yu had mentioned.

Meanwhile, the poison cultivator had an inscrutable expression, lowering his head as he toyed with the slender green snake in his hand, his thoughts impossible to decipher.

With the Xie Clan’s deep foundation, it did not take long before all the items were brought back, every single one of top-notch quality.

Seeing that all the ingredients had arrived, President Song summoned his pill furnace in front of everyone.

This pill furnace was shaped like a bronze pagoda, with ancient runes laid out across its four corners, glowing brightly. Dao charm flowed ceaselessly within it; it was surprisingly a top-grade Tier-4 pill furnace.

With President Song, a Tier-4 alchemist, present, the task of refining the detoxification pill naturally did not require Shi Yu to take action.

Just as she was about to step aside, President Song waved a hand toward her. “Girl Yu, you do it.”

Saying that, he turned to Xie Han with a smile and explained, “Although Girl Yu is currently only a Tier-2 alchemist, she possesses a Heavenly Fire. Furthermore, her talent and mastery are both top-tier. When she refines pills, their quality is even higher than when I refine them myself. Ah, I feel truly ashamed.”

Shi Yu instantly understood that President Song was giving her an opportunity to showcase her ability, attributing all the credit to her.

The Xie Clan held top-tier power and status among the noble families of the capital city, so President Song naturally wanted Shi Yu to be held in higher regard.

Xie Han understood his intentions as well. Although he harbored slight doubts about Shi Yu’s capability as a Tier-2 alchemist, her earlier performance in identifying the toxins was indeed extraordinary, so he did not mind letting her try.

After all, the antidote recipe had also been provided by her.

Even if she failed, President Song was still here to take responsibility.

“Miss Shi, if you please.” He nodded to Shi Yu.

Shi Yu looked at President Song. Seeing him tilt his chin encouragingly at her, she paused briefly before walking over to the extraordinary pill furnace.

This pill furnace had been bound by blood recognition to President Song, so only he could normally use it. However, at this moment, President Song continuously injected spiritual energy into it, allowing Shi Yu to briefly operate it under the support of this energy.

As Shi Yu stopped her steps, she lightly flicked her finger. The Void Fissure Spiritual Flame flickered out, instantly causing spiritual light to blaze inside the pill furnace. Crimson flames flecked with brilliant gold danced, evenly warming the vessel.

Staring at the flames, she used her spiritual energy to draw in the various antidotes, tossing them inside one after another. Without needing to weigh them, every portion was precise to the exact degree.

Under everyone’s watchful eyes, the flames inside the furnace crackled fiercely, swirling with surging heat. Drops of medicinal liquid lined up in order, burned by the Heavenly Fire until not a single trace of impurity remained.

The medicinal potency condensed and fused within the furnace, glowing with faint rosy clouds as a unique fragrance drifted out.

The crowd exchanged glances and nodded slightly, recognizing the signs of a successful refinement. Judging by Shi Yu’s smooth, seamless execution, the resulting detoxification pill would undoubtedly be of excellent quality.

However, right as the pill was completed, the poison cultivator—who had remained silent all this time—suddenly launched an attack! The green snake in his hand shot toward Shi Yu like lightning while he shifted his movement technique, curling five fingers into claws as he charged at her.

The sudden turn of events caught the onlookers off guard. Unable to react in time, they could only watch in horror as the poison cultivator lunged forward, on the verge of reaching Shi Yu.

“Girl Yu!” President Song and Master Ji shouted in unison, their expressions drastically changing as they both moved to intercept him.

Before they could reach him, Xie Han snorted coldly from not far away. Spiritual power rippled through the hall, unleashing a heavy pressure that pinned the poison cultivator in place despite his formidable cultivation. The guards in the hall immediately lunged forward and bound him securely.

As for the green snake he had thrown, before it could even touch Shi Yu’s body, its frame went stiff, and it flopped to the floor.

Everyone assumed the snake had fallen due to the pressure, failing to notice the deep terror in its vertical pupils as it stared at Shi Yu.

Looking back at Shi Yu, everyone was shocked to realize that the life-threatening attack aimed at her hadn't drawn away even half a glance. The movements of her hands refining the pill hadn't faltered in the slightest, remaining as methodical as ever.

Such composure... even Xie Han gave her a second glance, a trace of surprise in his eyes.

Only after forming the pill seals, successfully infusing spiritual energy, and harvesting the pill did Shi Yu finally shift her gaze to her surroundings.

President Song and Master Ji rushed over. “Girl Yu, are you alright?”

Shi Yu glanced at the restrained poison cultivator and shook her head. “I'm fine.”

“You foolish girl! You didn't even try to dodge,” Master Ji said, exasperated. “If Patriarch Xie hadn't stepped in just now, you would have been in terrible danger.”

Shi Yu gave an appeasing smile. “Well, everyone was here. I won't do it next time.”

With that, everyone turned their eyes toward the poison cultivator.

Xie Han stepped forward slowly, looking down at the poison cultivator. After a long moment, he said, “Xiuyang, since you already left the Xie Clan, why bother returning?”

Though pinned to the ground, the poison cultivator struggled to lift his head, staring grimly at Xie Han. “My appearance has changed drastically. When did you recognize me?”

Xie Han said plainly, “Bound by bloodline, I recognized you from the very beginning.”

The poison cultivator froze upon hearing this, then laughed maniacally. “Good! Excellent! 'Bound by bloodline' indeed!”

Listening to their dialogue from the side, the crowd was greatly astonished. Though it was merely a few exchanges, the hidden information within was immense, piquing everyone’s curiosity.

Hearing Xie Han address him as “Xiuyang,” could this poison cultivator actually be Xie Han’s long-lost youngest son, Xie Xiuyang? Seeing as he returned this time demanding the Xie Clan’s secret ancestral technique in exchange for saving Xie Zhixun, plus the fact that he was a poison cultivator... could he have been the one who administered the poison in the first place?

Various speculations arose, but secrets of noble families were not meant for outsiders to pry into. Xie Han waved his hand, ordering his guards to take the poison cultivator away, before turning his gaze to Shi Yu. “Miss Shi, I wonder...?”

In truth, judging by Xie Xiuyang’s reaction moments ago, Xie Han had already guessed as much. Beyond any doubt, what Shi Yu had refined was the antidote to that strange poison.

Shi Yu nodded, opening the furnace to retrieve the pill.

The moment the furnace lid was lifted, a rich aroma wafted out. Shi Yu drew a smooth, lustrous milk-white pill into a jade box. Shaped like a pearl and smooth as jade, a five-colored spiritual light flowed within it, vibrant as if alive.

“Patriarch Xie, you may scrape a small amount of powder off first and test it in the toxic liquid,” Shi Yu suggested.

She knew the efficacy of this detoxification pill well, but she needed others to see it clearly before administering it to Xie Zhixun himself.

Xie Han nodded, took the pill, and scraped a bit of powder off its surface. A maidservant then presented the dish of toxic liquid, and Xie Han dropped the powder into it.

In just a few breaths' time, the toxic liquid—which had been alternating between watery thinness and heavy viscosity—turned into normal blood.

He hurriedly pulled out a silver poison-testing needle and dipped it inside. When he pulled it out, the silver needle showed no change whatsoever—the poison in the toxic liquid had been neutralized!

At this sight, a rare look of urgency and excitement flared in the depths of Xie Han’s usually calm eyes. Without even pausing to greet the crowd, he rushed into the inner chamber.

Knowing he was anxious to save his grandson, the crowd did not mind and quietly waited outside for news.

They waited for half an hour. When Xie Han walked back out, the crowd saw the smile on his face and knew Xie Zhixun must be out of danger.

Sure enough, he spoke up, “Thank you all for your hard work during this time. After taking the detoxification pill, Zhixun is no longer in danger. It is only that his body is weak and his vital energy is depleted, so he remains unconscious and cannot come out to thank you in person.”

The crowd hurriedly cupped their hands. “Patriarch Xie, you are too polite! Now that the young master’s poison is neutralized, our minds are at ease as well.”

Xie Han clapped his hands with a smile, and a line of maidservants filed out carrying trays. Upon each tray sat the promised reward of spirit stones.

Looking at the bulging pouches, they were clearly even larger than what the Xie Clan had originally promised.

“Please accept these, everyone. Having caused you all to worry alongside me for so many days, I truly feel deeply apologetic.”

Hearing him say this, no one refused and everyone accepted their reward.

As for the main contributor to neutralizing Xie Zhixun’s poison—Xie Han turned to look at Shi Yu, sighing with a smile. “Miss, your alchemy skills are astonishing. Your future will surely be limitless.”

Xie Cheng, who had invited Shi Yu, felt even more complex emotions inside. He had originally invited her with the mindset of trying every possible avenue as a last resort, without harboring much hope. After all, this was a strange poison that had stumped the entire gathering of alchemists from the Alchemist Association.

Who could have guessed that Shi Yu would truly give everyone such a grand surprise? Counting this, Miss Shi had saved their young master twice now.

Xie Han naturally thought of this as well. After pondering for a moment, he retrieved an object from his sleeve. “This item is a Worldly Secret Treasure. I present it to you, Miss, as your reward.”