Devouring Evil Martial Arts, Eliminating Demons from All Heavens

Chapter 499 The Grand Banquet at the Heavenly Palace, The Art of Poisoning

As dawn broke, birds sang joyfully.

Flying insects fluttered among the grass, and the glazed tiles of the buildings and palaces shone brightly.

Chu Tianshu, being a renowned physician, was highly regarded, and an entire palace was arranged as his guest room, right next to the Hall of Spirit Medicine.

It was relatively convenient for him to obtain medicinal herbs and study their properties.

Lately, every morning he administers acupuncture to the "Heavenly Official," at noon he brews medicine for him, and in the afternoon he continues to study the properties of the medicine and ponder the prescription.

In the evening, he would close the palace doors tightly and dismiss the maids. Every night, the palace would be filled with the fragrance of medicine.

According to the maid, the physician seemed to prefer falling asleep amidst the aroma of medicine.

The local official was very magnanimous, telling people not to pry into the divine physician's methods. After all, how could a physician not have secret formulas? If they were to be discovered, it would only damage their relationship.

Although that is what is said.

But every night, Chu Tianshu would feel the Earthly Ruler using the power of the altar to spy on him.

Sometimes he would spy for 15 minutes a night, sometimes he would spy two or three times, totaling about half an hour.

Chu Tianshu pretended not to know, and whenever he was spied on, he was seriously studying the prescription.

However, at other times...

His main research focused on the "poisonous techniques" conveyed by white cranes.

Medicine can also be a source of poison. He can take any spiritual medicine from the Heaven and Earth Palaces at will, and he can certainly dispose of the byproducts of medicine making at will.

Poison means harm. When heaven and earth are in harmony, medicine is produced; when they clash and harm each other, poison is produced.

It sounds simple, but in reality, it's very difficult to distinguish how many different kinds of energy are intertwined within a single medicinal herb.

Ghostly healers emphasize seeking purity by using incantations and mental power to purify one specific medicinal substance while discarding everything else.

The types of medicinal materials used in each prescription are often limited to a very small number, which is why.

That's why Chu Tianshu was so shocked when he saw those people listing hundreds of medicinal ingredients in their prescriptions during the Northern and Southern Dynasties.

When practicing poison, one cannot be so pure; pure poison is too easily detected.

Therefore, the sophisticated poison techniques of the hometown often pursued becoming increasingly complex and profound with practice.

In a sense, the medical and toxicology practices in my hometown don't have much in common.

The medical techniques of the Northern and Southern Dynasties world and the poison techniques of my hometown world share a high degree of similarity.

Chu Tianshu, who possessed the medicine storehouse, was responsible for inspiration and practice. He tried out all the rare poisons that could be refined under the current conditions, and communicated with Bai He and the others every night about the doubts he had accumulated.

Crane is learned from many schools of thought, and his second soul can always find information in reality to draw upon.

Feng Jianhua was skilled in making incense, and Wei Qidong was an expert in medicinal cuisine.

Since obtaining the essence of the stone tablet from the Kingdom of the Queen Mother of the West, Lin Chucheng has often felt an unwitting understanding of methods to resist poison. He is also concerned about how much he would be affected if he were the one being poisoned.

Each of them has a unique skill.

However, gathering wisdom is both a joyful and frustrating thing.

The clash of wits is the most difficult to convince each other of.

For all humankind in this era.

There is simply no reliable experience from a similar era to poison more than a dozen spirit races.

Chu Tianshu and his team were understandably anxious as they had to decide on the best solution within the limited time available.

Whenever he felt agitated, he would practice his martial arts.

He was increasingly discovering why he enjoyed practicing martial arts.

Especially in martial arts, the part about cultivating one's foundation is an exploration of oneself and the world.

The only things that need to be verified are oneself and the universe.

This is myself, and that is the world, both are perfectly clear.

Regardless of medical skills, poison skills, or anything else, the target of consideration must include a third party.

It's neither pure nor straightforward enough.

Therefore, only through practicing martial arts can Chu Tianshu experience the great beauty of heaven and earth, and quickly calm his mind and eliminate his restlessness.

Inside the palace, nine medicine censers emitted fragrant aromas.

Chu Tianshu sat cross-legged on the futon with his eyes closed, his left hand on his chest and his right palm touching the ground.

Pure physical strength emanates from the earth and its structures, and then continuously feeds back into them.

In the tranquil state of practicing his skills, he welcomed the gradually brightening, slightly chilly morning outside the window.

"Whoosh!!"

Chu Tianshu opened his eyes, slowly stretched, his muscles and bones cracking as he stretched straight up to the sky, revealing his clean and glossy fingertips.

He stood up, picked up Sanqi from the table, hung the thin chain around his waist, and opened the palace door.

The warmth and medicinal fragrance inside the hall mingled with the cool breeze outside, creating a refreshing sensation throughout the body.

The time had not yet come for the Heavenly Official to invite him to perform the acupuncture.

Chu Tianshu strolled along, leaving the palace and garden, crossing the long street, and gradually walked to the lakeside.

There were already quite a few pedestrians on the road, busy with their own things.

The two palaces, Heaven and Earth, spanning dozens of miles, have become increasingly lively recently.

The news that the two palaces are going to negotiate with the water demon, and that seventeen tribes have come to form an alliance, has recently spread.

Many people found it hard to believe and were quite indignant when they first heard the news. However, different opinions soon began to circulate.

It is said that the fog surrounding Changzhou Kingdom is gradually thinning, and communication with the outside world is only a matter of time.

This consultation between the seventeen countries, aimed at mediating the dispute between the two sides, was done with good intentions and sincere purpose, and should not be wasted.

Some people say that the war between the Water Demon and Cheung Chau was just a contest of strength, which is in line with the etiquette of ancient feudal lords. Now that the Water Demon is seeking peace, it shows that Cheung Chau is strong.

From this perspective, Cheung Chau has already won, won big.

Within just a few days, the sentiment among the followers of the Heaven and Earth Palaces shifted to one of willingness to accept peace talks.

Under the orders of the various deacons, a scene of lavish flowers and colorful boats cruising on the lake was created.

First, to celebrate Cheung Chau's resounding victory!
Secondly, it serves as a demonstration of the grandeur of the two palaces to guests from all ethnic groups, ensuring they do not lose face.

Chu Tianshu looked at the brocade and red flowers hanging on the pavilions, and then at the boats on the lake, and shook his head inwardly.

Ultimately, most of the casualties caused by the water demon army occurred in various towns and cities, including the Thirty-Six Camps.

In this area of ​​the Heaven and Earth Palaces, at most, a few stewards and a group of guards died when the desolate graves came to raid.

The head steward was a trusted confidant of the Heavenly Official and Earthly Minister, and his relatives naturally knew better and dared not disobey him.

As for the families of the guards, they were just a small group among the residents within a radius of dozens of miles, and could hardly make a sound.

The vast majority of people here have not experienced the suffering of the Fangfeng tribes in other regions.

They also find it difficult to empathize with the recent experiences of their fellow tribesmen.

Just like the people of Bianliang during the Song Dynasty, they would praise whatever peace was made between the emperor and the people, and they would enjoy the prosperity as if it were a dream.

"So beautiful, so beautiful! Cheung Chau, with its towering buildings and misty rain over the lake, is so much more comfortable than that miserable place we lived in when we conquered the Mongol Kingdom!"

A man was also strolling by the lake, his head wrapped in animal skin. He was strong and robust, with a voice that sounded like metal and stone, but his face showed a somewhat intoxicated expression.

Chu Tianshu glanced in that direction, but didn't approach. However, a thought reached his ears: "Why did you come in person?"

"It's been a long time. Just chatting on the phone isn't quite enough."

Feng Jianhua transmitted his voice, "We will first go to the shallow sea, sneak into the banquet of the water demon army, meet the participants from all races, and then we will all set off here together."

"According to the water demons, in order to renovate the great altar of the Heaven and Earth Palaces, all races should travel around and inspect it to gain an understanding before construction can begin."

Have you decided which poison to use?

Upon hearing this question, Chu Tianshu responded with a light laugh: "It's settled."

"By the way, I've been so busy with drugs these past few days that I forgot to ask if Ying Longqi is really that powerful?"

He was genuinely curious about the flag.

In the wasteland, so many ghosts and spirits manifested as anomalies, wreaking havoc on Earth. The spirit world and Earth's landscape are almost like a jigsaw puzzle.

I've never heard of anything that could threaten the very foundation of those spirits and deities.

My hometown still seems to have a different cultural heritage.

“I didn’t know anything about that flag before. I only found out when I went to retrieve the soul-possessed body and chatted with He Lai for a bit,” Feng Jianhua said. “I heard that its usage was only deciphered two years ago. At that time, there were several scholars transferred from Chang’an in the deciphering team. Now it seems that most of the deciphering team members are… tsk.”

"Anyway, we only met the minimum requirements for using this flag this year."

The old man's tone suddenly became more serious as he transmitted his voice, "Don't worry about things like these used for sacrifices. No matter what, it's not your turn yet, young man."

Upon hearing this, Chu Tianshu's eyes flickered slightly: "Old Headmaster, you didn't come to see me simply to inquire about the poison, did you?"

"Let me think about it..."

He gazed at the lake, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Have you old folks reached some kind of consensus?"

Feng Jianhua paused.

When I first met this kid at the martial arts school, he was clearly quite immature. How did he mature so quickly?

I came here to advise this kid, but it feels more like I'm talking to an old fox.

“If Helai knew that the situation in Changzhou involved the true form of the ghost god and the gathering of the seventeen clans, he would never have let you lead the charge.”

Feng Jianhua continued speaking.

"This is indeed the result of discussions among a few of us, including the group of drunkards in the capital."

"From an objective point of view, you are the one with the most potential for growth among us."

"There may be risks and challenges in normal times, but if it's a situation where you have to sacrifice yourself and die, then it's not the time for you to take it. It's only when you're alive that things have more meaning."

Feng Jianhua's tone was very serious when he transmitted the message.

"I'm not advising you to desert your post."

"You will naturally participate in this battle, but we all hope that if things really come to a head, you will be mentally prepared to choose to withdraw decisively."

Chu Tianshu sensed something slightly off about the white crane jade pendant in the brocade pouch.

Clearly, the others were also listening to what was happening here through the jade pendant.

Perhaps it was because they felt that Feng Jianhua was used to being a principal, was good at persuasion, and had a personality that was closest to Chu Tianshu's, that they sent him to take the lead.

Chu Tianshu said helplessly, "The problem is, how do people judge whether something has truly reached the point of no return?"

"If you start thinking about escaping too early, you might run away before the worst situation even arrives. Victory or defeat might just be a matter of willpower..."

Feng Jianhua interrupted him: "Xiao Chu, we just hope that you can agree to our request."

"Okay, I agree."

Chu Tianshu answered readily, "However, you should at least have a little more confidence in my poisoning skills."

He smiled as soon as he finished speaking, then turned and left, clearly not intending to talk any further.

Feng Jianhua stood there and sighed inwardly.

As of last night, they still hadn't decided on the method of poisoning.

As for food? First of all, the tastes of different ethnic groups vary greatly, and no one can be sure whether anyone will take a bite first.

Once one of the poisons takes effect, a flaw will inevitably be revealed.

Using dust, using fragrance?

Each race possesses unique innate abilities, and no matter how one considers it, there is no absolute certainty.

How can one be confident in the possibility of poisoning someone?

Things will most likely turn into a head-on confrontation.

The human race only managed to intercept and kill four of the visitors; thirteen remained, each a powerful warrior.

I don't know what's wrong with these spirit realm races. They traveled all this way to attend the meeting, and they all dared to send their clan leaders to participate.

They truly inherited the style of the feudal lords during the Spring and Autumn Period.

Moreover, there are four top-tier enemies: Yu Huangfen, Tianguan, Dizai, and Yuan Buyu.

Feng Jianhua stood by the lake with his arms crossed, his heart heavy yet also burning with a deep passion.

I'm not sure, but I'll still give it my all.

Descendants of Yan and Huang, spirits and monsters of the Great Wilderness—if we don't fight, how will we know who will rule the world in the future?!
Chu Tianshu left the lakeside and returned to his main hall, where he took out medicine from the nine medicine furnaces one by one.

Three portions were medicinal powder, five portions were medicinal ointment, and the last portion was crystal clear, like green salt grains.

He poured the medicines together in order, added water, and stirred.

Finally, the topmost layer of bluish-green liquid from the medicinal soup was extracted and placed in a small bottle.

What's left in the bowl is the ointment for nourishing the needles.

He inserted the silver needles into the bowl, got up, and prepared to administer acupuncture to the "Heavenly Official." Everything was done in an orderly manner, and his movements were pleasing to the eye.

An attendant was already waiting outside the hall, and said with a smile, "Young master, the Heavenly Official has said that there is no need to rush to administer acupuncture today."

"Many distinguished guests have arrived, and we must host a feast to welcome them. Today's breakfast is exceptionally lavish, and I have been sent to invite you, my lord, to join us."

Although I've never seen the scene in Journey to the West where Sun Wukong isn't invited to the Peach Banquet.

However, they already greatly admired Chu Tianshu's medical skills and secretly hoped to recruit him, so they certainly wouldn't neglect this miraculous doctor.

After all, the true form of the Demon Lord cannot reach the real world. When I finally arrive in the real world, without such a powerful backer, I will definitely want as many capable subordinates as possible if I want to achieve great things.

Chu Tianshu was slightly surprised, but went along with it, put down the medicine bowl beside him, covered it with a light veil, and left the palace.

Today's grand banquet is not being held in the palace, but rather on the banks of the Nine-Bend Stream.

This winding stream can be considered the dividing line between the two palaces of heaven and earth. Both banks are fertile and planted with flowers and grasses. Further away, there are also flowering trees.

However, the flowering trees on one side of Diliang Palace have leaves as large as a hand, as bright as gold, and large, pure white flowers.

The flowering trees on the side of the Heavenly King Palace were ablaze with fiery red, and even the wildflowers in the grass, though delicate, were mostly vibrant and colorful.

Straw mats were laid out on the grass, and soft cushions were placed on the mats to serve as seats.

The Heavenly Official and the Earthly Minister both sit on the east side of the upper reaches of the stream.

Yu Huangfen and Yuan Buyu sat on the west side.

Downstream, the seats along the Nine-Bend Stream were arranged in a staggered manner, and the participants from the seventeen ethnic groups were also drawn in and took their seats one after another.

With Chu Tianshu included, it made a perfect even number.

People of all races are incredibly diverse and eccentric.

There is an Eastern Flame Demon with a curved horn and human face, covered in fiery red hair, with human hands for the upper limbs and hooves for the lower limbs.

There is a tribe with a knotted chest and feathered body, which is human-like, but the ribs are naturally located outside the skin, like bone armor, and the wings on the back are spread out.

There are also the Shebi Corpse Clan, the Zhaoyao Mountain People, the Guishan Kingdom, the Dapi Kingdom, the Rongxuan Kingdom, the Xiongli Earth Kingdom, and so on.

Above the stream, lotus leaves, like basins, hold precious fruits, as large as longans and shaped like mulberries.

The experts from various races were originally eating spiritual fruits. Some smelled them first and then tasted them, while others swallowed them whole. They were quite impressed.

The man from the Great Bear Kingdom had a bear's head and a human body. He was tall and strong, about two and a half meters tall. Sitting there, he was like a mountain of flesh. He opened his mouth and devoured the entire bunch of spiritual fruits, and still felt it wasn't enough.

He looked at Chu Tianshu's spiritual fruit and couldn't help but ask, "Which clan are you from? We met in the shallow sea the other day, but I didn't see you there. Why are you here to attend the meeting today?"

Upon seeing this, the Heavenly Official said from afar, "This young man is a member of the Night Wanderer Clan and a distinguished guest of both our palaces."

"Night-stalkers?"

The bear chuckled softly, "I've long heard that the Night Wanderers are scattered far and wide, and there are some experts among them, but the Night Wanderers I've actually seen either travel alone or are accompanied by two or three people, a disorganized bunch."

"They ate them, and no elders stood up for them. Do they even deserve to attend the meeting?!"

Chu Tianshu's face darkened.

The local official hurriedly said, "Young master is a divine physician with unparalleled medical skills. I'm afraid that in any clan, he should be treated with the utmost respect."

"Besides, this morning banquet is just a feast, not a meeting."

Miracle doctor?

The big bear's small eyes flickered, but it didn't say anything more.

It should be noted that among the various races in the spirit world, those with profound medical skills are either great shamans or priests.

But the great shaman communicates with heaven and earth and nature, understands incantations and calamities, and the priest conveys the likes and dislikes of ghosts and gods and manages sacrificial rituals. How could he have so much free time to practice medicine?

If we could capture some skilled doctors, take them back, train them properly, instigate them with oaths, and use them as slaves...

Chu Tianshu sensed the subtle malice emanating from the bear, and his expression turned even uglier, though he almost laughed out loud inside.

Good bear, you've given me a perfect excuse.

I'll leave you a complete corpse later!
(End of this chapter)