Chapter Twenty-One: The Shock

"Xiao Ming, this poison of yours is truly intense. What kind of spirit beast did you get it from? The Jade Scorpion doesn’t have toxins like this at all..."

Qin Ming staggered to his feet, forcing his spirit power to nurture his internal organs. He felt pain radiating throughout his entire body, from the inside out, and his already fragile features were severely irritated.

As a Spirit King, he had encountered various poisonous spirit beasts and spirit masters before and had dealt with countless difficult toxin-bearing foes.

When Qin Ming was on the continent, he had been poisoned before, but never had any toxin caused him such an overwhelming sensation.

If Chen Ming had not limited the poison’s range and had not immediately given him the antidote, but instead allowed him to remain in the toxic mist, Qin Ming had no doubt he would not have survived. In a life-or-death battle, one careless moment would have meant death within the poison cloud.

After all, he was a Spirit King with the Flame Azure Wolf, a top-tier mutated beast spirit. Although as a sensitive attack type, his resistance to abnormal states was not as strong as those of the same level in the fierce attack or defense categories, he certainly would not have been taken down by a grand spirit master’s poison so easily.

If poison attribute spirit masters were truly that powerful, everyone would have sought ways to add poison effects long ago.

The three teaching committee members were also curious about Chen Ming’s poison, so even though Qin Ming’s question was somewhat bold, they did not stop him and instead silently looked toward Chen Ming.

Faced with their inquiry, Chen Ming pondered for a moment before offering a slightly embarrassed smile.

“Teacher Qin, members of the committee, my poison came from a rare encounter and cannot be replicated.”

Seeing Chen Ming decline to elaborate, the three members expressed slight disappointment but said no more. The source of a spirit master’s spirit rings and spirit skills were their secrets; the fewer people who knew, the better. Otherwise, once such information leaked, it would invite countermeasures.

Their main curiosity stemmed from the fact that, apart from the poison exhibited by the Poison Douluo, they had never seen such a powerful toxin. This poison did not resemble anything a grand spirit master could wield.

“Qin Ming, you should go rest for a while. If you feel unwell, speak up immediately,” Zhihua said, using the Skyblue Vine to escort Qin Ming aside to meditate and recuperate, then turned his attention to Chen Ming.

“Xiao Ming, we have witnessed the strength of your poison—it is indeed extraordinary. It’s no wonder you could absorb a millennium-old spirit ring prematurely with only a second spirit ring. However, there is something we must tell you now: your poison is far too potent. Ordinary spirit masters cannot resist it.”

“Most students in our academy possess spirit power around the grand spirit master level. Your poison would be deadly to them. Even if they could detoxify quickly, there would be consequences. Most importantly, these students come from wealthy or influential families. Such a potent poison could bring unnecessary trouble to you.”

At this, Zhihua glanced at Meng Shenji and Bai Baoshan, who nodded knowingly.

Meng Shenji’s hand opened and closed slightly, his spirit power fluctuating, and he retrieved a token from his spirit ring, then levitated it into Chen Ming’s hand.

“Xiao Ming, keep this token safe. If anyone in the academy causes you trouble, show this token or seek a nearby instructor with it. Unless absolutely necessary, do not use your poison on ordinary students, understood?”

Chen Ming accepted the token and nodded respectfully toward the three committee members.

“I will remember your advice, committee members. I won’t use poison lightly.”

“Good, that’s settled.”

Meng Shenji glanced subtly at the spot where Chen Ming had cast the Poison Cloud Technique.

Even now, the surface there remained coated with a layer of green toxin. The special rock crackled softly under the corrosive effect of the residual poison in the dark.

That surface was strong enough to withstand the aftermath of a level forty Spirit Sovereign's battle, yet after only a few breaths, the poison cloud had dissolved a thin layer of the stone and was continuing to erode it slowly but steadily.

If it were flesh and blood, ordinary people’s bones would have begun dissolving by now. Spirit masters below level thirty, aside from rare exceptions, would be in no better condition.

For lower-level spirit masters, this spirit skill was essentially a pure massacre.

Students at the Heavenly斗 Royal Academy were either wealthy or well-connected, their backgrounds deeply intertwined with influential forces. If a serious incident like a death occurred, even the three committee members would hesitate to promise they could resolve it.

"Why is it that Dugu Yan, who is also a grand spirit master newly enrolled, cannot compare to Chen Ming in terms of poison? Which of these two is truly the heir of the Poison Douluo?" the three committee members thought in unison.

After chatting with Chen Ming and bonding a little, Qin Ming finally stood up, looking disheveled but recovered.

After all, Qin Ming was a Spirit King with ample spirit power, able to protect his internal organs at critical moments, and possessed a top-tier beast spirit. With the antidote, recovery was not difficult.

Of course, this all depended on Qin Ming not having inhaled excessive poison. Otherwise, even with antidotes, damage to his respiratory system and internal organs would not be easily remedied.

“Qin Ming, it’s getting late. You and Xiao Ming should find a place to stay. Tomorrow, take him around the academy and explain the student situation.”

“Yes, committee member,” Qin Ming replied immediately, then led Chen Ming away from the committee and down the mountain.

Most of the mountain was occupied by simulated training grounds and teachers’ residences, while most students lived around the mid-mountain or near the foot.

Once they confirmed Qin Ming and Chen Ming had left, the three committee members exchanged glances. They quickly approached the poisoned stone surface and used spirit power to chip off some rock to bring inside. They swept the food and wine aside and began their examination.

Meng Shenji took out Chen Ming’s file and shared it with the others. Upon seeing that Chen Ming had awakened his beast spirit at only level five innate spirit power and that his spirit beast was not the Jade Scorpion King but an “ordinary” Jade Scorpion, their expressions turned strange.

Because at this moment, with no outsiders present, the three old men who had spent decades together abandoned their usual dignified demeanor and huddled close, whispering back and forth in low tones.