Chapter 370 - 57: Beast King Poison, Urgent Mission

Instead of focusing on it immediately as he usually did, Lu Chao tilted his head slightly and looked at a special glass bottle on his desk.

Inside it was a mass of blood-red substance.

It was clearly a liquid, but it looked slightly congealed, like molten jade.

[Molten Flame Poison — Molten Flame Beast King]

[Quality: Elementary]

[Edible Effect: This substance is a Beast King Poison. If consumed by someone at the Superpower Level, the Molten Flame Poison will corrode their internal organs, rot their sinews...]

Information from his intuitive sense appeared before his eyes. Lu Chao’s eyes gleamed.

This was the Beast King Level poison You Qiulin had found for him. It had belonged to a Wilderness Hunter.

He didn’t know the exact cost because she had insisted on giving it to him as a thank-you gift for his help last time.

’They say Beast King Level materials can easily cost over a million. This Molten Flame Poison must not have been cheap,’ Lu Chao thought, then looked at his panel.

[Life Energy: 136 → 139!]

[Potential Progress: 10% → 18%]

It wasn’t just the Beast King Level material; she had also sent someone to deliver two bottles of energy mineral essence.

His Life Energy had increased by another notch because of it, as had his Potential Progress.

’When I think about it, Aunt You must have spent quite a bit.’

His eyes flickered, and Lu Chao silently made a mental note of it.

Then, he looked back at the Molten Flame Poison before him and twisted open the cap.

A pungent odor wafted out, carrying a strange, corrosive quality.

The vial containing the liquid was made of a special material. Besides, the poison’s effects were most potent after entering the body and coming into contact with flesh; on the surface, it didn’t seem too aggressive.

The thought flashed through his mind as Lu Chao poured it into the glass furnace.

SIZZLE!!

The poison mixed with the various molten medicinal liquids, and several wisps of boiling white smoke drifted out.

Lu Chao’s gaze gradually focused. Following the potion formula for [Blood-Toxin Mist], he tossed the various materials from the desk into the glass furnace.

Black Stone Powder, White South Grass, Blood Jade Flower... all were rare superpower materials, either medicinal herbs or special minerals. Most of them came from the Superpower Bureau’s internal network, which he had purchased with Alliance Coins.

Thanks to the discount afforded to a Superpower Team leader, they were much cheaper than on the black market.

Time passed, second by second. Lu Chao, following the knowledge from the potion formula, continuously adjusted the flame’s intensity and began adding other mineral elements.

Inside the glass furnace, the poisonous substances could be seen melting and refining, their colors shifting from an initial white-green to crimson, and then to a blackish-brown.

Finally, as Lu Chao added the last superpower material, melting it completely and kneading it into the poison, the color changed again. The poison in the glass furnace turned blood-red.

’Almost there.’

With bright, focused eyes, Lu Chao then filtered the mixture and poured it into a special vial.

Ignoring the high temperature and the boiling liquid, he fetched a large dose of a cryogenic stabilizer.

It was a type of fine crystal resembling crushed ice, capable of rapidly cooling liquids and solidifying their form to a certain extent.

After he tossed it into the vial, the liquid poison gradually cooled and settled.

In the end, fine wisps of blood-red toxic mist were born, drifting out from the mouth of the vial.

It was odorless and seemed capable of corroding everything.

Lu Chao immediately sealed the vial, but deliberately inhaled a lingering wisp.

A stinging sensation hit the tip of his nose, and his windpipe began to burn. Soon, his lungs and internal organs also started to feel uncomfortable.

’Such an aggressive effect.’

Instead of being alarmed, he was pleased. Lu Chao could clearly feel the toxicity of the [Blood-Toxin Mist].

’I’m a veteran at the Limit-Breaking Level who has mastered Rock, yet just inhaling a single wisp was enough to cause some corrosive damage.’

He had no doubt that even an expert at the Exploration Level would suffer grievous injuries if they inhaled a large amount, reducing their combat strength to less than ten percent.

’Excellent.’

Nodding in satisfaction, Lu Chao carefully assessed the feeling for a moment before mobilizing his body’s energy to repair the damage using [Tough Body].

Then, after confirming everything was in order, he cleaned up the pharmacy lab and turned to leave.

HISS! CLANK!

The heavy, silver metal door opened, and a wisp of white, cold air drifted out.

Lu Chao stepped out, planning to head to the gravity chamber to continue his training.

But just then...

BZZT! BZZT!

His watch vibrated with an incoming call.

He focused his gaze on it, and his expression quietly hardened.

’Something’s happened?’

...

「Behind the Jinggang Chamber of Commerce building.」

A complex of red, pagoda-style buildings occupied a large open space, with a huge glass canopy acting as a dome.

Under the climate-controlled dome, a refreshing and comfortable breeze rustled through the colorful, clustered flowers in the pavilions.

Teams of security guards in black, armed with live ammunition, patrolled the area, standing guard by the rockeries, corridors, and pools.

Standing in the study of one such building, Tan Shanzhong watched this scene in silence. His expression was placid as a gentle breeze drifted through the open window, carrying the fresh scent of flowers from the courtyard and the faint chirping of birds.

As the Patriarch of the Tan family, he could easily alter his entire surroundings whenever he wished, defying the seasons to obtain any comfort he desired.

For a moment, the study was unusually quiet.

A woman in a qipao, with a delicate and graceful figure, knelt beside a tea table in the room, gently brewing him a cup of tea.

Everything seemed incomparably peaceful.

However...

WHOOM!!

A faint rumbling sound could be heard.

Tan Shanzhong, dressed in the brocade robes of a traditional martial artist, looked up into the distance.

Far away, several white streaks shot across the sky—Superpower Bureau airships speeding away, leaving the city’s perimeter.

At the same time...

TAP TAP TAP!

The sound of hurried footsteps approached.

He didn’t need to look to know who it was.

"Come in."

His tone was level. Tan Shanzhong walked over and sat down by the tea table.

Having received permission, Tan Yue—sharply dressed in a suit and now recovered from his injuries—dared to enter the study. He approached Tan Shanzhong and said excitedly, "Patriarch."

"Just as you predicted, something has happened in the Wilderness."

"And I’ve received word that the little bastard named Lu has also left the city."

His expression was vicious as the memory of being grievously injured and humiliated outside the Superpower Bureau flashed through his mind.

His eyes held a sinister desire for revenge, along with a flash of glee and anticipation.

The atmosphere quietly tensed. The faint scent of tea lingered in the study.

Tan Shanzhong did not speak immediately. He simply took the porcelain cup of tea from the woman in the qipao and took a small sip.

"Have you found out how Li Gusha died?"

Hearing this, Tan Yue’s expression froze. He instantly understood the meaning.

’Is he reminding me not to underestimate that little bastard Lu?’

’The Superpower Bureau’s official story might have been a cover-up. Maybe that kid really does have some hidden cards up his sleeve, enough to contend with someone at the Peak of Limit-Breaking?’

"But..."

Tan Yue’s face showed his reluctance.

That kid had been hiding in the city all this time. He had waited so long for an opportunity like this.

If he gave up...

"Go."

Unexpectedly, Tan Shanzhong put down his teacup and said lightly, "Someone will be there to support you."

As soon as the words were spoken, Tan Yue’s face lit up with joy. He quickly nodded and accepted the order.

Mere moments later, he had turned and left with his men.

"Patriarch, are you really comfortable letting Tan Yue go?"

As the hurried footsteps faded into the distance, the woman in the qipao asked softly, her voice like a tranquil pool of water, soothing to the soul.

Tan Yue had already failed once, and the people from the Superpower Bureau were not to be trifled with.

"It matters not."

Tan Shanzhong shook his head, his eyes profound.

"We aren’t the only ones dissatisfied with the Superpower Bureau."

"Especially those warlords. Pinned between the City Guard Army and the Superpower Bureau, they’re in a tough spot. They’re more eager than anyone to take a gamble."

The woman in the qipao looked thoughtful upon hearing this.

Then her gaze shifted. She saw Tan Shanzhong rise again and walk to the window. He gazed at the azure sky and said, "Besides, don’t forget."

"Ma Biao died at that kid’s hands."