A long table was covered with elixirs.

It felt as if I had stepped into a shop that sold elixirs. Each elixir had its own distinct scent, and together they blended into a unique aroma.

Duke Dok was completely focused on mixing medicines at another table nearby.

While waiting for Duke Dok to finish his work, I examined the elixirs displayed on the table.

Some I recognized, but most were unfamiliar. There were far more than I had imagined.

At last, Duke Dok completed the mixture and placed it on the table.

“Done?”

“What are you doing?”

“I mixed those that are more effective combined.”

Combining these highly toxic elixirs to enhance their effect? Only Duke Dok could say something like that.

“I heard you went out to the Central Plains yourself?”

“If I didn’t, how else would I have gathered these goods in just twenty-one days? I mobilized my network thoroughly—it’s been a while.”

Hearing “network” from Duke Dok, who lived holed up in the Heavenly Poison Forest, sounded strange. It must be an extremely rare and solid connection. And saying he mobilized his network meant he owed favors to someone.

“I owe a great debt.”

Duke Dok approached me, his eyes sparkling as if silently asking, “So how will you repay me?”

“Call on me whenever you need help.”

“This won’t end with just one or two times.”

“I’d be happy to see you often, Duke Dok.”

He walked to the edge of the table, picked up the first elixir, and handed it to me.

“Here, start taking them in order.”

Apparently, the order of consumption had been set.

“What if I take them all at once?”

“You won’t die since you’re the Invincible One Against All Poisons, but your insides will be in chaos. Take them as I give them.”

Before swallowing, I asked him.

“Tell me the price of each of these.”

“Why? Don’t trust me?”

“If I didn’t, I wouldn’t ask.”

It’s actually polite to ask someone who could never deceive you like that.

Duke Dok told me the price of each elixir. Adding it all up…

“You exceeded the money I gave you.”

“I couldn’t let go of the last elixir, so I added some of my own money.”

“Not just some, it seems like you pulled out a pillar from the Heavenly Poison Forest.”

“How many pillars do you think the Heavenly Poison Forest has? Just eat.”

He hates going out so much, yet he went out himself and even chipped in a fortune. That’s why I couldn’t help but like Duke Dok.

“Then I’ll gratefully take them.”

“The first is the Black Ocean Pill (Heukyangdan). Take it and circulate your vital energy for a thousand breaths.”

The moment I put the Heukyangdan in my mouth, my face involuntarily twisted.

“Ugh! Bitter. Why is it so bitter?”

“Then would poison taste sweet?”

I began dissolving the Heukyangdan’s effects. Now I used the Heart Method of the Nine Flames Demon Skill to dissolve it. Since I was accumulating a large amount of inner energy, I would also absorb a large amount of the elixir’s effects.

“Next is the Purple Micro Poison (Jamiildok). It pairs well with the Black Ocean Pill, so there won’t be any conflicts in vital energy.”

He didn’t give me the elixirs in order of potency. Rather, he gave them according to the compatibility and nature of each.

“Next, take the Soul-Seizing Pellet (Talbaekhwan).”

I thought I had recovered a bit after the Jamiildok.

“No matter what, this is still unacceptable. Ugh.”

When I tried to spit out what was in my mouth, Duke Dok blocked my mouth so I couldn’t.

I swallowed it forcibly and said to him,

“Are you taking revenge because I asked you to buy these elixirs?”

“To fill this foundation with mild and fragrant elixirs would cost several times more.”

Only the Invincible One Against All Poisons could enjoy that privilege.

“And the bitter medicine hasn’t even come out yet.”

I jumped up, adopted a fighting stance, and said farewell.

“You have to fight well even without inner energy. That’s what a true master does.”

When I tried to run off, Duke Dok forced me to sit down again.

Half joking, half serious. It felt as if my tongue and intestines were melting.

As the elixirs dissolved in my body and their effects spread through my blood vessels, I took more new elixirs.

“I expected that, so this time I prepared something a bit sweeter. Drink.”

The Ten-Thousand Blood Poison Water (Manhyeoldoksu) was the sweetest of them!

Even after that, I kept taking elixirs.

The Demon Spirit Divine Pellet (Maryeongsindan), Hundred-Spirit Purifying Powder (Baekryeongjeonghwasan), Thousand Scorpion Essence Blood (Cheongaljeonghyeolaek), Dark Yin Pellet (Hyeoneumdan), Yin-Yang Two Poison Herbs (Eumyangiidokcho), and Heavenly Extreme Bliss Incense (Cheongwaigeugnakhyang)…

These were elixirs I had only heard the names of or had never heard of at all. Some came in multiple doses; others only one.

It was the first time I had consumed such a wide variety of elixirs in succession. No one else in the martial world had done it either.

“Is it really okay to take all this?”

“I don’t know either. It’s the first time for me, too.”

Duke Dok looked excited. Even he had never seen someone dissolve so many poisons at once. He was more thrilled than I was.

Someday, the book he compiles will record this very moment. What would the title be?

The Correlation Between the Invincible One Against All Poisons and Toxic Elixirs?

No. It would be something like:

How Duke Dok Tormented the Invincible One Against All Poisons?

Seeing his delighted face today, that would be a fitting title.

It took a long time to take all the prepared elixirs.

Take it, circulate vital energy for a thousand breaths, then take more and circulate a thousand breaths again. Carefully dissolving the effects. Using the Heart Method of the Nine Flames Demon Skill to dissolve the medicine, I absorbed more effects than before.

There were several moments when the poison was so strong and bitter I felt like dying. Even with the same poison, getting addicted to it and forcibly consuming it are completely different matters.

“Now, this is the last—Ten-Thousand Poison Divine Pellet (Mandoksindan).”

This was the medicine Duke Dok bought with extra money. It was the most potent poison I had taken so far.

I dissolved the effects of Mandoksindan with the Heart Method of the Nine Flames Demon Skill.

The effects surged through all my blood vessels like water flowing from a valley into a river and eventually the sea, gathering as inner energy in my dantian.

Even after taking all the elixirs, I regulated my inner energy several times with breathing techniques.

Only after confirming that all effects had transformed into pure inner energy did I slowly open my eyes. An enormous amount of inner energy had been added to my dantian.

If it weren’t for Duke Dok, even with that money, I wouldn’t have gained even a fraction of this inner energy. He had bought high-quality medicines cheaply, and the order of consumption was perfect.

Now, I was more confident in my inner energy than anyone in the martial world. Not only because the amount had increased, but the purity had deepened beyond comparison. It was not just stronger—it would greatly help my training in the Si Cheon Secret Technique.

Duke Dok’s expression showed how deep my gaze had become. The next moment, he was even more surprised. With the reversal spirit technique, that deep gaze quickly became ordinary.

“How strong will you become?”

I answered calmly.

“I will become strong enough to protect everyone.”

As I stood up, Duke Dok said,

“We are the ones protecting you. The Majon protect the Small Sect Leader.”

I stared at Duke Dok for a moment, then suddenly said,

“Duke Dok.”

He flinched. I was no longer polite but showed a heavy dignity.

“Then become stronger!”

“!”

After saying that, I strode out.

As soon as I stepped out, I poked my head through the open door. Duke Dok was still staring blankly this way.

“You’re not mad, are you?”

“Already pretending to be Cheonma?”

“If not Duke Dok, then who else would I play this prank on?”

“There are many, right? Soma, Dok, and you!”

I lowered my voice sternly again.

“I was the one who wanted to play this prank, Duke Dok.”

After the joke, I added sincerely.

“Duke Dok, I will never forget this favor today.”

Long after Geom Mugeuk left, Duke Dok was lost in thought.

“Did you call?”

Upon being called, the captain arrived, and Duke Dok spoke unexpectedly.

“Report to Cheonma Hall that the poison production in Heavenly Poison Forest will be doubled.”

The captain was surprised. Not only that,

“The poison disciples’ training intensity will increase. While teaching the others, you should also train.”

“That will put the martial world on alert.”

Especially the Martial Alliance might issue a state of emergency. Everyone was on edge about the poisons entering Heavenly Poison Forest. Gathering such strong elixirs this time might have been reported to the Martial Alliance or the Satan Alliance. The sensitivity regarding poison was that high.

Duke Dok stood. Dark energy like heat haze began rising around him. It was the Heavenly Killer Poison Aura (Cheonsaldokgi) that Duke Dok unleashed to show his presence.

Enveloped in black mist, Duke Dok spoke quietly.

“Tell them to be on alert.”

On the day of Geom Mugeuk’s appointment to Huang Cheon Hall, Investigator Seo Daeryong’s residence was visited by the hall’s investigator and execution warriors to escort him.

Back when Geom Mugeuk was appointed, Seo Daeryong had come with execution warriors, but now the situation had changed. The investigator who came today was the senior special investigator, Gok Myeong.

“Master Lee, let’s go.”

Since the junior had become the master, Seo Daeryong must have felt uneasy.

“Investigator Gok, I look forward to working with you.”

“I will serve with all my heart.”

“I learned a lot from you since entering Huang Cheon Hall. I will put to use what I learned from you starting now.”

Seeing Gok Myeong smile warmly, Seo Daeryong suddenly thought,

‘I wasn’t like this.’

He was someone who barely met others’ eyes, always thinking negatively. He probably thought that even now, Gok Myeong was cursing him inside when he smiled. That’s what he used to think.

But now, he was trying to convey sincerity and understand others.

Escorted by Gok Myeong and the execution warriors, Seo Daeryong arrived at Huang Cheon Hall where the investigators and execution warriors stood in a line.

“We greet Master Lee!”

Seo Daeryong’s rise to master was a groundbreaking event. Some secretly disapproved, but all agreed on one thing: Seo Daeryong worked so hard that they recognized his ability.

At this moment, someone had come to support him.

“Congratulations, Master Lee.”

Turning toward the voice behind, Seo Daeryong saw Lord Jang Ho approaching. Seo Daeryong was surprised he had come.

“My lord! You came in person.”

“Of course I had to.”

They used to drink together at a refined tavern when Ian was not around.

Now Lord Jang Ho and Master Lee stood facing each other.

“Do you know? I’ve ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) always wanted to be a warrior like you, Lord Jang Ho. That thought hasn’t changed.”

Jang Ho smiled with his characteristic masculine grin. Seo Daeryong always thought Jang Ho was like a mountain standing tall right there. He would become a warrior just like him.

The investigators and execution warriors were surprised when the warlord came to congratulate them personally.

Then another person appeared.

Ian came to offer congratulations. Her beautiful appearance seemed to brighten the entire place. Moreover, having reached the true master level in martial skill, the execution warriors there were amazed by her beauty and once again by her prayer.

“Congratulations, Master of Huang Cheon Hall.”

“Thank you, warrior.”

“I knew this day would come.”

In response, Seo Daeryong whispered,

“I didn’t know!”

Jang Ho and Ian laughed together.

Then yet another person arrived. Seeing him, all the investigators and execution warriors bowed in unison.

“We greet the Small Sect Leader!”

Seo Daeryong, Jang Ho, and Ian respectfully greeted him as well.

Geom Mugeuk approached and respectfully bowed.

“Congratulations, Master of Huang Cheon Hall.”

“Thank you, Small Sect Leader.”

Seo Daeryong looked at Geom Mugeuk with trembling eyes.

Choked up and at a loss for words, Geom Mugeuk gave a nod filled with trust. That was enough.

Gok Myeong came and said to Seo Daeryong.

“Everyone’s gathered. Please say a few words.”

Nervously, Seo Daeryong stood before everyone. He had even practiced at home, but he was still very nervous.

“The previous master was someone who transcended human limits, but now a human finally takes charge of Huang Cheon Hall.”

Everyone burst out laughing.

“On the day the previous master was appointed, he said here, ‘We don’t know if we will become happier or more miserable. But one thing is certain. Our hearts will beat faster than before.’ You have kept those words. My heart beats faster than ever. I believe the same goes for all of you.”

Everyone showed looks of agreement. Geom Mugeuk’s Huang Cheon Hall was a completely different organization than before. It had received thanks from countless people freed from injustice.

“I cannot make your hearts beat faster than the Small Sect Leader’s. But I am confident in doing this: thanks to him, I will do my best to keep our heated hearts from cooling.”

Applause and cheers erupted.

As he finished his speech and prepared to leave, the last guest arrived to congratulate him.

His arrival surprised Seo Daeryong, Geom Mugeuk, Ian, and Jang Ho.

A shocking figure, Blood Heaven Demon (Hyeolcheondoma), appeared. He walked arrogantly carrying the Extinction Heaven Great Sword on his back. The overwhelming presence he exuded made all the warriors of Huang Cheon Hall tense.

“Master!”

Instead of congratulations, Blood Heaven Demon drew a great sword strapped on his back. Although it was a great sword, it was slightly smaller than the Extinction Heaven Great Sword.

He handed it to Seo Daeryong.

“From now on, use this.”

At a glance, it was no ordinary sword.

“I used this sword when I was young.”

Seo Daeryong was stunned. A gift from his taciturn master, and a sword he used in his youth—its value was priceless. Seo Daeryong was so moved that tears nearly fell.

Without a word after giving the sword, Blood Heaven Demon turned and left.

Seo Daeryong bowed deeply, expressing gratitude.

“Thank you, master.”

Blood Heaven Demon left without looking back.

The investigators and execution warriors watched in surprise. Geom Mugeuk was close to Seo Daeryong, so his presence was expected, but no one expected Blood Heaven Demon to come.

No one dared to look down on Seo Daeryong. Even if they wanted to, they couldn’t. With the Small Sect Leader, the Majon, the War Lord, and the Greatest Beauty of the World all here to congratulate him, who could dare to disregard him?

Seo Daeryong respectfully greeted Geom Mugeuk, Jang Ho, and Ian before turning away.

He strapped the great sword on his back like Blood Heaven Demon.

Then, leading the investigators and execution warriors, he entered Huang Cheon Hall.

Geom Mugeuk saw in his proud stride the image of Blood Heaven Demon’s back.