Chapter 280 - Poison Showdown (2/2)

Aside from Beiwei Jinguo, the other seven were all Essence Condensation realm martial artists. Not just that, but only one of them was at the Advanced Essence Condensation realm, while the other six were all at the Peak Essence Condensation realm.

This also meant that the difference in cultivation level between them and Beiwei Jinguo was more than an entire cultivation realm!

”This might be a little harsh on you, Beiwei Jinguo,” Elder Beilan said. ”But we cannot help you out just because of your lower cultivation level. I hope you can understand.”

”I understand,” Beiwei Jinguo nodded.

He expected as much.

In fact, this was what he would have preferred as well. If he received any sort of assistance from the elders of the Healer Circle, others would never recognise him even if he managed to get a high rank in the end.

”Very well then,” Elder Beilan nodded. ”Let the next round begin.”

With a wave of his hands, the jade slip in Beiwei Jinguo's hands started emitting a different coloured light.

”Hmm?” Beiwei Jinguo glanced at the bright orange light coming from his jade slip in surprise, then turned to look at the other seven.

All of their jade slips had begun to give off a different coloured light as well, but these lights were shining in pairs. Apart from Beiwei Jinguo, there was one other person who had a jade slip that was emitting bright orange light as well.

”I'm sure you have already guessed it as well. Those with the same coloured jade slips will be facing off against each other,” Elder Beilan explained. ”Now, please proceed.”

After Elder Beilan passed down the instructions, tables were brought out and set up in front of the wooden platform in four sets of two.

”I guess you are my opponent then?” the other participant with the orange light jade slip approached Beiwei Jinguo. ”Please go easy on me, Sir Beiwei!”

Beiwei Jinguo frowned.

The other party was a young lady who was wearing a smirk on her face.

Despite what the other party just said, it was obvious from her expression that she thinks she got the luck of the draw.

”Let's just begin,” Beiwei Jinguo walked over to one of the tables.

”Sure,” the young lady grinned as she walked to the table that was set up directly opposite his. ”Let's get this over and done with.”

On each of their table was a small cage that held a tiny beast within.

It looked just like a rabbit, only it was covered in scales instead of fur.

Lu Tianzi had never seen this particular beast before, but he could easily guess its identity from the looks of it. After all, it was a beast that all poison masters were extremely familiar with.

It was called a Tank Hare, and was known for its unnaturally high vitality.

Unfortunately for the Tank Hares, its high vitality also made it the perfect apparatus for Poison Showdowns.

”Participants, you have half an hour to prepare your poisons. Please begin now. If you fail to administer your poison by then, you will be considered to have forfeited,” Elder Beilan announced after seeing that everyone was in position. ”All fellow Origin Core realm poison masters are welcome to participate in the assessment as well. If the participants make any unnatural actions that could possibly interfere with the integrity of the competition, please feel free to point it out.”

At Elder Beilan's signal, all eight of the participants immediately sprung into action, and Beiwei Jinguo was no exception.

Each of them pulled out their respective sets of mortar and pestle, though their grades differed from person to person. Some were relatively ordinary, but others gave off energy undulations, which showed that they were treasures of at least a certain degree.

Beiwei Jinguo's were the same as the ones he used back in the mountain inn.

In fact, compared to the others, the quality of Beiwei Jinguo's items was considered among the top. They were items of the Intermediate Essence Condensation rank, passed down to him by his teacher.

It served to regulate the condition within the mortar, such that materials would not be damaged as easily in the case of any mistakes by the user.

Not that Beiwei Jinguo needed this little assistance.

His hands moved in a blur, pulling out herbs and plants from his spatial ring one after another, tossing them into the mortar and mixing them together in a flash.

It was like an art, but he was not the only artist here.

At the table across of him, the young lady moved with a similar level of precision. Rapidly mixing things together to form a concoction of her own.

Both of them were seasoned poison masters, and it truly showed right now.

From afar, Lu Tianzi watched on motionlessly, a silvery light flashing across his eyes.

But instead of focusing on Beiwei Jinguo or his opponent, Lu Tianzi was actually watching all eight of them at the same time.

Right now, eight extremely talented poison masters were exhibiting their skills right in front of him, and he would be a fool not to absorb everything that he could.

Every movement of the hand.

Every leaf of a plant.

Every pound of the pestle.

With his Limitless Mirror Eye, nothing escaped his sight.

Even the entire flow of Essence energy used by each of these eight poison masters was captured and stored within his brain.

He was meticulously observing every single action, as well as the respective reactions caused by these actions.

These poison masters might all be below the Origin Core realm, but that did not matter here.

What mattered most was that Lu Tianzi was given the rare opportunity to observe the moves of all eight poison masters, each with differing styles and techniques.

In his mind, the system of herbalism had started growing rapidly once more.

This time, rather than theoretical knowledge, everything gained was in practical terms.

Without him even realising it, Lu Tianzi was already rapidly closing in on the Law of Poison.