ASER - Chapter 160
Chapter 160: Bone Marrow Big Fish
Here, A'Diao, having just finished her banter, lowered her eyes, yawned, and said, "I'm going down now. You all take your time resting. Sometimes I really envy you for being able to stay up here for so long."
Everyone: "???"
Even a casual remark had to be annoying. Weren't you afraid of being strangled underwater?
Watching A'Diao splash into the water, Song Ling and the others exchanged a glance, sensing something, and also entered the water one after another.
Perhaps... Dantai Sheng and his group had come down early?
Rather than being found and dealt with here on the stone platform, it was better to go to the vast underwater area.
Also, they needed to stick together, or they would easily be picked off.
There were too many clever people. Chen Adiao was annoying, true, but she was exceptionally sharp. Others, by observing the reactions of the Danzhou people, one leading a few, a few leading a group, quickly realized the key and also went into the water.
Meanwhile, less than a few minutes after they entered the water, Dantai Sheng and his group, having passed through a spatial transfer, arrived at the Nurturing Pool. They quickly surfaced, only to see a few scattered individuals remaining on the stone platform.
Chen Adiao was not there, nor were her people.
These two groups missing each other made the audience break out in a cold sweat.
"I thought they were going to clash."
"That was terrifying."
"It's a good thing Chen Adiao went underwater."
The crowd discussed animatedly, all saying A'Diao was too lucky.
Xiao Jin glanced at Zhao Ritian, who was eating beside her.
Lucky? Chen Adiao had four eyes, with the other two outside. By watching the screen through Zhao Ritian's eyes, she essentially possessed a prescient God's-eye view.
That was her real BUG.
A'Diao knew Dantai Sheng and his group wouldn't let things go, so after entering the water, she immediately found a place to cultivate.
However... what was that?
While A'Diao was looking for a spot, she suddenly saw, through Zhao Ritian's eyes on the numerous underwater screen feeds... a difference in the density of starlight, and some underwater starlight gathering in streaks, seemingly moving, like little fish.
Huh?
"So these bone marrow particles move naturally, they gather. Then the places where they are dense, wouldn't that mean..."
Wouldn't that mean immense benefits?
Originally, in the Nurturing Pool, apart from the reward time points, she couldn't find any other way to gain an advantage over others. A'Diao had planned to cultivate normally and obediently. But now, she quickly realized a way she could surpass others—by using Zhao Ritian's eyes to locate the areas with the most bone marrow.
It was known that the greatest benefit of this Nurturing Pool was this bone marrow, the essence of the physique cultivated by the first-generation Grandmasters throughout their lives, and also a manifestation of crystallized energy.
Chase!
A'Diao quickly caught up to this bone marrow, confirmed there was no one nearby, but also feared others might see. So, she rapidly absorbed the bone marrow, letting it settle at her spiritual core, not rushing to refine it. After succeeding, she quickly melted into the underwater darkness, searching for the next wave of bone marrow little fish.
Not long after A'Diao left, a dark figure also appeared. He had probably been chasing the bone marrow little fish but was a step too slow.
Frowning slightly, this person re-entered the darkness.
And none of this was shown on the screens; everything was happening in the dark.
A'Diao used her BUG to seize the moment, capturing several waves of bone marrow little fish while other examinees hadn't yet reacted. Just as she was feeling pleased, she suddenly saw Dantai Sheng's movements through Zhao Ritian's eyes.
He was heading this way.
His purpose was very clear. It seemed her darting around underwater had been spotted, and naturally, someone would inform Dantai Sheng and his group.
Let him come. It wasn't like she was afraid of him. In terms of physical strength, he was definitely stronger than her, but in terms of underwater speed, that wasn't necessarily the case.
Unless...
A'Diao finished collecting the current wave of little fish and turned to flee. She was afraid of being surrounded.
At this moment, the screen switched, just in time to see Dantai Sheng pursuing her to a certain spot, and also to see A'Diao escaping.
"Chen Adiao!" Dantai Sheng sneered, swiftly swimming towards the area of disturbed water flow.
The two chased relentlessly, one after the other. A'Diao, of course, saw Dantai Sheng through Zhao Ritian's eyes, as well as some other cultivators on different screens. Most cultivators were moving underwater; after all, she wasn't the only one with enemies.
However, when A'Diao saw Baili Huayue, Qiao Liushui, and He Sijian swimming in different areas, she decisively swam towards the deeper, less populated depths, effectively avoiding the water layers where these individuals were.
Soon, these few actually pursued her downwards in unison.
Together with Dantai Sheng, they formed a pursuit encirclement against her.
Visibly, Xie Yuqing saw A'Diao swimming downwards, with several people in hot pursuit.
A'Diao ran frantically, but there was still some distance between them.
Suddenly! In the darkness, a sharp blade thrust out from the side, nearly piercing A'Diao's throat.
Her five senses were sharp; this time, even without Zhao Ritian's BUG, she sensed it. She hastily dodged, spun around, and drew the dagger from her waist.
Clang! Clang! The blades met twice, but several dark figures appeared behind her.
Quickly! They appeared on the same screen.
Not good, Dantai Sheng and his group had caught up.
Swiftly stomping on the opponent's attacking leg whip, A'Diao performed an underwater backflip, launching herself backward...
"Chen Adiao!"
Dantai Sheng appeared, flinging the sharp sword in his hand.
Swish!
The sword tore through the water with a white gleam, heading for A'Diao's chest—a severe but not fatal blow.
He wanted to cripple A'Diao! To make her fail in the fifth trial.
At the same time, Baili Huayue and the others, allied with Dantai Sheng, attacked her from behind...
Swish!
The besieged A'Diao landed on the muddy bottom of the pool, looking disheveled. The next second, Qiao Liushui, wielding a long saber, leaped to strike, his face vicious.
Die!!!
The saber's edge slashed down towards her body.
Clang!!!
The blade struck an invisible barrier.
Qiao Liushui: "!!!"
Dantai Sheng and the others: "..."
In front of the audience and them, A'Diao made a face at them and then raised her middle finger.
Damn!!!
"It must be some reward point she obtained."
"Damn it!"
"None of you got it?"
"No, otherwise we would have been wary."
The few of them were stunned, not expecting such a turn of events.
But the audience watched with lingering fear.
"Next, will they wait for her at a fixed spot?"
No answer was needed, because the few indeed did not plan to leave.
Cultivating was the same anywhere.
A'Diao ignored them. After manipulating the spatial point to conceal herself, the others soon couldn't see her.
"She's gone? Left?"
"Probably not. Maybe she's doing something inside, deliberately making us think she left."
The few still didn't know about the bone marrow. A'Diao wouldn't tell them either. Anyway, she seized the time to refine the bone marrow in her body.
The effect of the bone marrow was indeed significant. She had spent an hour collecting seven or eight little fish, and the effect after refining them was comparable to ten hours without the little fish.
Amazing!
A'Diao was excited, but she also saw that after refining the bone marrow, her nourished flesh, blood, and organs were rapidly transforming. However, this was only a superficial level.
In fact, during the previous few hours of cultivation, she had already sensed that this Nurturing Pool targeted overall nurturing.
"Based on the nurturing effect, it even has some effect on the mental body. In total, it's flesh, organs, and bones—this is the most superficial level of nurturing. Once nurtured to a certain extent, it begins to nurture the meridians..."
"I remember Lushan Academy's books mentioned the concept of nurturing. In the system of the first generation, nurturing cultivation was divided into five stages: flesh/blood/organs -> bones -> bone marrow -> meridians -> nerve lines."
"The mental body is formless, but the nerve lines that carry the mental body are tangible. Nurturing them is the most difficult."
Because she knew this concept, A'Diao had consciously distributed the bone marrow to her flesh, blood, and organs first. One had to admit that the theories of the first generation were powerful. She wasn't one to deviate in everything, so she didn't go against this process.
"It's only been a few days; it's impossible to complete all five stages of nurturing. First, cultivate the flesh, blood, and organs to maximize physical quality. The final trial probably has requirements for this."
But as she nurtured, A'Diao felt something was wrong. Through Zhao Ritian's eyes, she could occasionally see others cultivating. When the nurturing spiritual liquid entered their bodies, a thin layer of spiritual light would appear. When others cultivated, this spiritual light covered their entire body, their meridians unified. Only she was different.
"Toilet, is something wrong with my body?"
Toilet: "Your foundation is damaged. It still cannot achieve unity."
It had been said before that her foundation was constantly being repaired. Although the level of repair was very high, overall, it was still fractured, so her meridians could not unify.
If it were just for cultivation, this wouldn't be a big deal. On the contrary, it would precisely indicate her incredible initial aptitude, with an invisibly high upper limit. But now... A'Diao felt this was very bad.
"No, no, this Nurturing Pool is preparation for the fifth trial, which tests the conversion rate of resources. If it targets overall cultivation, then it emphasizes unity. Lushan's books also mentioned 'unity begets spirituality.' The fifth trial might test spirituality—the spirituality born after all aptitudes are nurtured. If I can't achieve unity, spirituality cannot be born. Wouldn't I be doomed to lose the fifth trial?!"
She was already missing points from the bloodline aspect. She had painstakingly 'paid' her way to third place with her mental body. If she didn't do well in the most important fifth trial, it would really be game over.
Toilet hadn't thought much of it before, but now Lushan Academy clearly considered unified spirituality very important, possibly related to its cultivation direction, hence the requirement.
If A'Diao didn't have it, they might not value her.
A'Diao had a bit of a headache, but after some thought, she quickly made a decision.
"I have to create spirituality."
Toilet thought she was being fanciful.
"Are you kidding? Your foundation is fractured. How many resources would it take to repair it? Look how much you've spent already, and you still haven't seen the ceiling. It's impossible to repair it hastily now, unless you can gather all the bone marrow."
A'Diao: "I don't need that much. I don't need to completely repair it. Just build a bridge across the fracture to connect it, that's enough."
Toilet: "That's very difficult too, and it requires a lot of bone marrow."
A'Diao sighed: "There are two types of spirituality: either unity of physical aptitude or unity of spirit. Do you think melting my solid mental body for unity is more difficult, or is this more difficult?"
Toilet: "Then let's go with physical aptitude."
Her mental body? Such a large solid sphere, only melting a little by accident each time. It was unmanageable.
She couldn't possibly be asked to go seek death, right?
A'Diao acted immediately. She stopped cultivating and used an internal vision technique to find the location of her fractured foundation.
It was like a broken gene chain. It had fractured, forming two spiritual masses, which later became two spiritual cores. Although this increased her flexibility, since Lushan Academy required unity, A'Diao tentatively assumed that in their more advanced knowledge system, unity was the supreme way.
Actually, she had later realized that after the two spiritual cores separated, although they allowed her to complete her cultivation progress, the stronger they became, the more independent they grew, easily splitting her innate aptitude in two. Later, the difficulty of fusing the two spiritual cores also increased.
If she didn't create a connecting bridge between them soon, she feared that once she broke through to the Glimmer Realm, the two spiritual cores would become even harder to control.
But once unified spirituality was born, they would spontaneously be controlled by spirituality, making both splitting and fusing much easier.
This was also for long-term consideration.
A'Diao, with an attitude even more cautious than when splitting mental threads, guided the bone marrow starlight to the fracture, carefully infiltrating and nurturing it.
Bit by bit, she filled it up.
Three minutes later, A'Diao's expression turned bitter. The bone marrow was insufficient, far from enough.
What to do? Outside, there were people everywhere wanting to eliminate her, but not going out to capture bone marrow little fish was also impossible.
How could she prevent these people from affecting her while also capturing a large number of bone marrow little fish?
First, she had to understand why the bone marrow little fish gathered and moved.
At this time, Zhao Ritian was also constantly watching the screen. A'Diao, through her four eyes... released a small cluster of bone marrow starlight from her palm. Observing it closely, A'Diao found that they were connected to each other.
The bone marrow particles were initially scattered. Why did they gather later?
Because they were searching for their own kind, yearning for unity.
They were originally a whole. Now, transformed into countless scattered particles, there was always a kind of obsession.
They wanted to find each other.
A'Diao, lost in thought, suddenly placed a portion of the bone marrow against her fractured foundation and released another portion.
She was making an attempt.
Toilet: "You want to use yourself as bait, to make them come to you spontaneously?"
A'Diao: "Let's try."
This attempt quickly... failed.
The released bone marrow fled outwards. If A'Diao hadn't been quick-handed and inside the spatial point, it would have all escaped long ago.
It didn't work?
A'Diao wasn't disappointed. After a moment of contemplation, she suddenly understood.
"They are remnants of Grandmaster Realm bodies. Naturally, they only respond to those at or above the Grandmaster Realm."
After a moment's thought, A'Diao began to redistribute her mental threads according to the brain meridians of a Grandmaster Realm body she had previously possessed, attempting to simulate the presence of Grandmaster Realm mental body meridians to lure them.
Fortunately, her current mental body and mental threads were extraordinary. Although she couldn't use her mental body under the confinement, her internal mental threads could still be self-controlled and arranged in her brain. However, it was also because her mental body strength and mental threads were already comparable to the Grandmaster Realm; otherwise, no amount of skill could simulate the specifications of a Grandmaster's mental meridians.
Three hours later, A'Diao released the bone marrow again.
This time, the released bone marrow, after drifting in the water, seemed somewhat bewildered. But instead of trying to rush out of the spatial point as before, it flew around A'Diao for a while... Then, as A'Diao and Toilet both tensed up.
Swish, swish, swish.
They all actively drilled into A'Diao's body.
Holy crap! It worked!
A'Diao grinned. "Yoho! Suddenly, I feel like my fractured foundation might have its benefits."
The grand plan to fish was set. But before that, she had to ensure others wouldn't hinder her.
Or let others intercept her prize.
A'Diao removed the concealment of the spatial point and swam out. After swimming for a few hundred meters, just as she was about to... suddenly a hand shot out from the dark water behind her, grabbing her throat, intending to crush her larynx.
A'Diao backhanded, aiming straight for the opponent's eyes.
Swish!
The opponent retreated, flicking a dagger...
A'Diao blocked with the back of her hand. After flesh was torn, she kicked towards the opponent's face.
The opponent blocked with both arms. In the darkness, A'Diao only saw, under the stain of her own flowing blood, the opponent's somewhat unfamiliar eyes and brows.
This person was?
That... Fu Jiao?!
Damn, this person barely made the rankings, but his skills were actually so strong. And he had hidden underwater for so long, clearly waiting nearby for her to come out.
Then his aptitude tolerance must also be extremely high.
This indicated that this person had hidden his scores.
A'Diao recognized the person. Startled, she sensed water disturbance from another direction.
Not good, there was another person nearby!
A'Diao quickly lowered her center of gravity and swam downwards.
The visible Fu Jiao chased swiftly, while the dark figure on the other side, hidden in the darkness, also pursued A'Diao alongside him.
And his speed was even more terrifying, twice that of Fu Jiao, and also faster than A'Diao. He seemed like a natural king of the underwater realm, about to catch A'Diao in an instant.
Damn, damn, damn!! Where did this big fish come from!
And they had evaded the screen's detection; she hadn't even noticed them hiding nearby.
A'Diao was scared to death, darting and swimming rapidly... The shadow in the darkness followed her like a phantom. At first glance, it was like a psychopathic killer from a horror novel chasing a young woman into a dark alley. He was shrouded in darkness, his body hidden under a wide cloak and mask, pursuing relentlessly, and getting closer and closer...
Suddenly, he lunged. Before his face could be seen, he grabbed at A'Diao's back.
Swish!
A'Diao disappeared.
The water before him rippled slightly.
He floated in the water, and Fu Jiao, who had caught up from behind, said in a low voice, "Didn't catch her?"
"No, she entered a spatial entrance. She should be back on the third layer now. Quite cunning."
They had specifically waited for her to move some distance from the spatial point and had sealed off her return path, precisely to hunt her down and cripple her.
Unexpectedly... this person was like an eel.
"Switch to others. Cripple them one by one."
"Let's go!"
The two left to hunt other prodigy examinees.
This scene was also witnessed by the audience, who were terrified.
"I thought I was watching a horror movie."
"Terrifying."
"Are they targeting Chen Adiao?"
"No, they are targeting all prodigies, eliminating or suppressing others' nurturing within the rules to widen their own advantage. But it's clear that even with just two of them working together, these two are more professional and more terrifying than the Seventh Prince and Baili Huayue's group."
"Undoubtedly, that Fu Jiao is also a big fish. His scores must be very strong. Damn, he hid himself so well."
The audience seats buzzed with discussion, but they also mentioned the identity of the other person.
They couldn't see that person clearly; he seemed to merge into the underwater darkness like a ghost.
Xiao Jin: "The opponent's bloodline is either related to water domains or dark elements. Even with the confinement, this kind of innate permanent talent can still function, just like people with fish-type bloodlines are more at home in this Nurturing Pool."
Xiao Mieluo also thought so, but after calculating the people who had surfaced, "This Fu Jiao is subservient to this person, and there's a clear hierarchy. This hidden person is extraordinary. Could it be that among this batch of examinees, there's another powerful faction independent of the Imperial Clan and Grandmasters?"
What kind of faction could command a genius like Fu Jiao?
Splash!
A'Diao appeared in the rift valley area of the third trial. She leaped out of the water, clutching her aching arm, furious. "Damn it, those blockheads, just you wait! After I create unified spirituality, I'll hammer them to death one by one!"
Such a large gash, it had cut to the bone.
So painful.
Toilet: "You didn't see the second person's face? This person is extraordinary. That speed scared even me. His physique is probably no less than Dantai Sheng's."
A'Diao: "Didn't see clearly. The opponent seems to have a special talent, just like my disguise... Forget it, let's get down to business first."
A'Diao never minded others dealing with her according to the competition rules. It was a competition, after all, not shameful. But she couldn't stand being at a disadvantage.
She absolutely had to get even for this loss!
Turning around, A'Diao darted into a small path.
Where was she going? The audience, following her perspective, soon saw her run into the dense forest of the first layer.
What was she doing?
Gathering fruits, flowers, plants, and so on.
Everyone: My calculations tell me these are all poisonous.
She gathered a lot, then sat cross-legged on the ground and mashed all these poisonous flowers, poisonous plants, and poisonous fruits together.
The quantity was truly large, probably several hundred catties.
"Dare to ambush me, I'll poison you, poison you, poison you!"
She muttered to herself.
And a large amount of poisonous liquid was concocted by her into a black... viscous and terrifying substance.
Brother Duanmu recognized the names of these plants. "Uh, it seems to be the first generation's forty-nine poison-type fusion secret medicine—Seven Absolutes Powder. She actually knows it?"
Others from the Duanmu Clan: "It's not just randomly mashed together?"
Brother Duanmu: "It's not just mashing one with another to create a poison. This kind of poison is a new substance. When another poisonous fruit is added, it becomes another substance, just like a chemical reaction. If you add them in a different order, the resulting substance is different. So, when forty-nine medicinal ingredients are mixed, the final product is also different. What she's making now is a potent fusion secret poison."
Someone asked: "Then, how's the toxicity?"
Brother Duanmu stroked his chin: "Because it's a confined world, spiritual power can't be used to activate it, so the toxicity is weakened several tens of times. It should be manageable."
Someone breathed a sigh of relief, but then subconsciously asked: "But under confinement, their protective barriers are also useless, so..."
Brother Duanmu: "Then it's probably instant death."
Oh my god!
To retaliate, she spent so much time making poison, not even staying in the Nurturing Pool. What a ruthless person.
Everyone: "..."
Personnel related to the Imperial Clan and powerful nobles all subconsciously reached for their phones.
Really want to call His Highness / Young Lord Heir / Young Masters.
Run!
Underwater, Xie San and others were attacked one by one. Some attacks were by Dantai Sheng's group, who had ganged up, while others were by... two mysterious individuals.
Three hours later, the attacked individuals returned to the stone platform one after another, injured. They exchanged information and immediately understood.
"Fu Jiao? You're that Fu Jiao?"
"You're not?"
"I was attacked by Baili Huayue and his group!"
"Damn!"
"These two groups are insane!"
"What do we do?"
Two groups of people—one numerous and powerful, the other small but cunning and fierce—had managed to attack several hundred people in just a few short hours. Most of them were high-ranking individuals. Even people like Xie San were injured. If not for the fact that their side also had a considerable number of people and someone nearby came to support, forcing the opponents to retreat quickly, Xie San would have nearly been crippled.
Shen Huajing's five senses were exceptionally sharp. She probably sensed the danger underwater and promptly brought Xiong Chumo up with the main group. If these two were like this, there was no need to mention others. Looking around, many people were bloodied.
Clutching the bleeding wound on his abdomen, Xie San exhaled a turbid breath and thanked Duanmu Qingyang. The latter, however, smiled wryly. "It's also self-preservation. If you were crippled, I would be next. We need to find more people."
Her gaze swept over to Song Ling and her group, who had also returned to the stone platform.
The other side looked over as well.
No words were spoken, but their eyes met... Song Ling nodded slightly. An alliance was formed.
On the other hand, Song Ling agreed to the alliance because of one thing.
"It's almost time. A'Diao will likely come back to give them their fruits."
Rao Xueya was surprised. "Those people are squatting down there now, trying to ambush A'Diao?"
Song Ling pursed her lips. "If it were me, I would definitely do that."
So, would A'Diao come? If she really came, they would have to go down and help.
Whether she came or not, it was already night. Dantai Sheng's group and the two Fu Jiao individuals would definitely come to this area to rest.
Resting on one hand, and waiting for Chen Adiao to appear on the other.
The time soon arrived.
Dantai Sheng, lying in ambush underwater, could sense Fu Jiao's presence nearby. However, because he couldn't figure out the movements of the other one, and because the other party hadn't made a move against them yet, the two sides maintained a tentative non-interference.
It was estimated that both wanted to use the other to clear out other examinees.
At least now, Xie San and the others had been severely injured by them, losing at least two days of nurturing time. They wouldn't be able to go underwater during this period at all.
What remained was to snipe Chen Adiao and these top-tier geniuses.
That is, the top twenty on the overall leaderboard.
While waiting, Dantai Sheng and Fu Jiao soon sensed A'Diao's presence.
She was here!
At this moment, A'Diao had indeed arrived. She emerged from the spatial portal and swam upwards, quickly approaching the stone platform.
Of course, she also saw the two groups surrounding her.
Good heavens, at least forty or fifty people?!
Dantai Sheng had managed to gather so many people?!
A'Diao was astonished, but she was already sealed off!
"Chen Adiao!" The thought of being toyed with for half a day made Dantai Sheng sick to his stomach.
A mere Chen Adiao, how could she make him suffer such a huge loss.
How was she worthy!
On the other side, Fu Jiao didn't have so many complicated feelings. His goal was simply to cripple some of the top-scoring individuals.
That Cao Juanzhi was cunning and his whereabouts were always uncertain. But this Chen Adiao was arrogant, leaving many traces unconcealed. If not her, who else to cripple?!
Seeing that she was surrounded, A'Diao wanted to escape, but she was trapped by the fastest, Dantai Sheng and Fu Jiao, on either side.
Just as the two were about to make their move.
A'Diao took something out of her backpack.
Dantai Sheng and the others saw it: "?"
The audience: It's over, it's over, it's over, Your Highness, you're finished!
A'Diao, without a word, tore it open.
From the compressed package, a terrifying black liquid instantly gushed out...
It diluted in the water, directly dyeing an area of several hundred meters black like squid ink...
It's poison! Damn Chen Adiao!
Dantai Sheng and Fu Jiao turned and fled, completely sealing their mouths and noses, but the black liquid had already touched their skin.
The toxins frantically invaded.
Weakness, nausea, vomiting...
It was over.
At this moment, amidst the billowing black liquid, A'Diao shot up and grabbed Fu Jiao's arm first.
Crack!
She forcibly tore his arm from behind. Fu Jiao was in agony. Weakened, he tried to struggle, but A'Diao was so brutal. Crack, crack, in two moves, she broke his other arm and then his legs.
With all four limbs crippled, he could only sink into the water. A'Diao said coldly, "You hiding dog, go save your dog. Better be quick, otherwise, with your physique, you probably can't withstand the poison for too long either."
"Of course, if they're about to die, the teachers might come out to save them too."
Then she turned back, rushed into the tide of poison, and one by one, caught up with and broke the bones of Baili Huayue and the others.
Dare to ambush her? Hmph hmph hmph!
Poisoned and crippled, bones broken!
In the pitch-black water, no one could be seen clearly, but screams could be heard.
Chen Adiao was like a phantom, constantly capturing and breaking bones in the space filled with the dark, poisonous current.
Crack, crack, crack!
One by one, examinees had their limbs crippled and sank into the water.
Even Baili Xianyun had her spine broken by her. But fortunately, A'Diao seemed a bit gentler with female cultivators and didn't break all four limbs.
Crippled, crippled, crippled!
At least for the next few days, they could forget about nurturing. They'd have to stay up here, let their bones heal and recover. Confinement was confinement, but their bodies' natural healing abilities were still there.
It just meant being out of commission for a few days.
The clan heads once again clenched their fists, a mix of emotions.
"Strange, isn't she poisoned herself? How come she looks fine?"
The Duanmu Clan was quite knowledgeable about botany. Brother Duanmu said, "That's simple. She prepared an antidote."
This girl is amazing, a master of poisons.
She knows everything, except she's blind in love.
Why did she fall for Zhao Ritian?
Everyone: "..."
So, A'Diao, with her antidote, was now the queen of the underwater realm. Anyway, after the poison diluted, she used her fastest speed to break everyone's bones. However, she didn't touch the Seventh Prince. It wasn't that she didn't dare, but his physique was too strong, and she feared she couldn't handle him. But it didn't matter.
He was poisoned.
Splash!
The Seventh Prince suddenly shot out of the water. The people on the stone platform were startled and quickly made way, wanting to see if he was hostile. Instead, they saw the noble Seventh Prince clutching his chest.
Uh, no, it seemed to be his stomach?
Song Ling and the others' hearts skipped a beat when they saw it, and then... retch!
The Seventh Prince was vomiting, vomiting, vomiting!
Foaming at the mouth.
Everyone: "!!!"
Not long after, several more people shot out, and without a word, collapsed on the ground... foaming at the mouth, eyes rolling back, convulsing all over.
Slap! Hit by a convulsing arm, the weak-looking Xiong Chumo scurried far away in fright. Shen Huajing, however, examined them closely. "They're all poisoned."
Poisoned? What poison?
Before everyone could react, they saw the water surface churn. The originally clear water turned black, as if some terrifying monster was emerging...
Splash! Chen Adiao emerged, dripping with poison, and grinned at everyone. "I'm here! Who was it that stored fruits with me yesterday? Come, come, your plain and unremarkable small vendor A'Diao is here, fruits for you!"
"Sister Duanmu, right? This is yours."
She took out the fruit. Duanmu Qingyang looked at the churning poison around A'Diao, then at the Seventh Prince foaming at the mouth, and suddenly didn't really want it anymore.
Speaking of which, this poison, diluted in water, wouldn't kill anyone.
It would just... put them out of commission for a few days.
Looking at the large expanse of pitch-black water, Jiang Zhou, who was also feeling uneasy, maintained a calm facade and babbled, "Our A'Diao has always been kind-hearted. She was almost harmed, yet her actions now are so measured..."
"Look, those on the shore are all fine."
"And is she doing this for revenge? No!"
At this moment, A'Diao, fulfilling her promise to deliver fruits, explained, "Everyone, I didn't intentionally release poison. Wasn't I afraid you'd starve to death?"
"Come, Brother Mo, thank you for protecting me earlier. I'll give you a 10% discount..."
"God, Buddha, and Guanyin bear witness, I genuinely just want to do fruit business."
Just as she finished speaking, numerous severed arms and legs gurgled to the surface of the water.
The scene was unusually horrifying.
A'Diao thought for a moment and asked weakly, "You've been vegetarian for two days. Do you want some meat?"
Duanmu Qingyang, who was eating fruit: "..."
Shen Huajing, who was swallowing fruit: "..."
Mo Yuwo: "?"
Discount on what? Discount on fruits or discount on meat?
A'Diao didn't care about their reactions. Like a diligent delivery person, after delivering the fruits, she didn't even look at the Seventh Prince and the others and directly re-entered the water.
Now, the water in their area was basically all diluted poison. It would take some time for it to disperse before they could go back in. As for those already poisoned... let them lie there.
These people were pretty much crippled. Even if someone could resist the poison, as long as they weren't in a large group, A'Diao wasn't afraid anymore.
Time to get to the business below!
"Brothers and sisters, from now on, you'll have to distribute the fruits yourselves. Here, this is the backpack."
"If I keep it on me, I might get murdered. Sigh, so pitiful, why does everyone treat me like this?"
A'Diao tossed the backpack to Duanmu Qingyang, then sank down with a woeful expression.
Everyone: "..."
Underwater, A'Diao had essentially cleared out an area for herself where other examinees dared not venture. But for safety, she still deployed the remaining poison.
"It's estimated that the poison will fade after 6 hours, and most people will be able to withstand it. I only have 6 hours."
"Begin!"
A'Diao started her plan to lure the bone marrow big fish!
It had to be a big fish!
She had to give birth to spirituality before the fifth trial began, otherwise, she would fail this round!
Soon, disguised as a Grandmaster Realm body... she saw starlight gathering towards her, bit by bit.
At that time, in the audience seats outside the examination grounds, everyone also witnessed this scene.
Actually, they couldn't see what she was doing inside her body, but now she clearly had a way to lure these light spots.
Many principals were confused, not knowing what was happening. After all, they weren't in it. However, some Lushan Academy teachers were quite surprised and discussed it among themselves in private messages.
But one thing was certain.
"She deliberately created the poison and contaminated that area of water to drive away other examinees, so they wouldn't interfere with her monopolizing the benefits of these light spots."
"This Chen Adiao... so ruthless, and so absolute."
She never considered that this would harm Song Ling and their interests. Anyway, her actions were ruthless and decisive. When it was time to act, she acted, without hesitation or indecision for anyone.
"She's someone who can accomplish great things."
The Duanmu Clan Head remarked with a sigh, "Since it's an examination, naturally everyone is a potential enemy. It's best if everyone benefits collectively. If not, then suppress the group and only strengthen oneself. Ruthless enough!"
The most important thing to accomplish great things is, first, to have the ability to accomplish great things.
Which examinees possessed the ability to temporarily use materials to create such a complex poison?
She did.
All the knowledge she had learned had become her ability.
Five and a half hours later, the Seventh Prince woke up early. Looking at the water, now only faintly black, and then at Baili Huayue and the others who had been rescued by the appearing teachers and were unconscious on the stone platform, their severed limbs regenerating and recovering, but definitely unable to enter the water for the next few days, his face looked as if it could drip poison.
But, he still calmed down.
Something wasn't right. Why did she pull this stunt?
Was it just to counter-kill them?
Somehow... he felt she was preparing something.
The Seventh Prince was ruthless, and his physique was strong. After some of the poison's effects had faded, he suddenly plunged into the water with a splash. At that time, people in other areas also entered the water.
So this Seventh Prince had very strong poison resistance!
Zhao Ritian, through the screen, locked onto all personnel who had entered the water during this period.
Ordinary cultivators would wait for the poison to completely dissipate before entering the water. Only those with very strong physiques, immunity to certain poisons, or individuals who sensed she was up to something would go in.
These people were big fish, and among them must be the big fish who commanded Fu Jiao.
After A'Diao noted down all these people, a list emerged.
Dantai Sheng, Wanqi Jian'ai, Cao Juanzhi, Zhao Foshou, Liu Shiqi, Shi Qing, Ge Qian...
Quite a few people.
A'Diao frowned. She had no intention of completely locking them down; these people were much faster than she had anticipated. She couldn't wait for six hours.
Deep underwater, looking at the five-meter-long super-sized bone marrow fish that had gathered before her, A'Diao decisively engulfed and absorbed it.
Quick, quick, quick!
Vast amounts of bone marrow light spots surged into her body. On the other side, the people who had entered the water swiftly swam downwards...
After a while, they stopped.
In the secluded and deep underwater, there wasn't a single figure.
Where was she?
"Spatial point."
Cao Juanzhi sighed. Amazing, Chen Adiao.
Although I don't know what you've done, I have a premonition it's a huge benefit. Perhaps from now on, it will be difficult to deal with you.
In that case! Rein in at the brink, and prepare for the fifth trial!
Cao Juanzhi decisively swam into the darkness, looking for other spatial points.
He also had reward points.
Strength, weakness, victory, and defeat would be decided in four days.
The others also didn't trust each other and quickly dispersed. In the darkness, a black figure assessed the nearby space, knowing A'Diao was definitely hiding within, but he also had no time to wait.
Those light spots, he had seen them. Bone marrow particles, right? He didn't know what method this Chen Adiao had used...
Unable to eliminate her, she remained a hidden danger, but the best opportunity was lost.
All that remained was to see what happened during the fifth trial assessment period. Besides, there wasn't just one Chen Adiao.
Among these examinees, other threats were also hidden.
Run, run, run!
Having obtained a large haul of good things, A'Diao ran faster than a thief, quickly darting into the spatial point. At this moment, the bone marrow light spots in her body were about to make her explode.
Hahaha, indeed, without these examinees sharing the bone marrow, the amount accumulated underwater was extremely vast. The bone marrow light spots lured in over five hours were far too many.
It should be enough for her to refine and cultivate a bridge for her foundation.
Connect it, give birth to spirituality!
But the nurturing couldn't stop either. Anyway, it was a two-step process.
A'Diao cleared her distracting thoughts and began to cultivate frantically...
Probably stimulated by A'Diao, many people realized that those light spots were the real key. Some saw the existence of bone marrow little fish and were also hunting them underwater. Time passed day by day.
Four days later, at 2 a.m., the Lushan Academy teachers all appeared on the platform. At this moment, many examinees had woken up, originally planning to continue cultivating underwater, only to find that on this last day...
"Today is the examination day. You can continue to cultivate, but be prepared for the examination time—the time limit for the fifth trial assessment is the last 24 hours."
Everyone suddenly understood. Song Erchao asked, "How will we be tested?"
Teacher Green Pepper smiled and pointed in a direction.
"Look over there."
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