The entry for cultivating immortality states that after dying a hundred times, I attained immortalit

It was only a short while after dark when the main hall of the Jiang family was already brightly lit.

Instead of being led to the main hall where guests were usually received, Jiang Bai and Jiang Shan went directly to the quiet room of the clan leader, Jiang Yunshan.

That in itself is an attitude.

The quiet room was located underground. After passing through three hidden doors, everyone entered.

Jiang Yunshan was sitting cross-legged on a futon, his eyes closed as he regulated his breathing. The pressure of his Golden Core stage cultivation made the people who had just entered gasp for breath.

"Chieftain."

Jiang Shan was the first to bow with his hands clasped in greeting.

Jiang Yunshan slowly opened his eyes, his gaze sweeping over the group, pausing for a moment, especially on Jiang Bai's blood-stained robes and Jiang Shan's deep, bone-revealing wounds.

"explain."

A single, understated word, yet it leaves no room for doubt.

Jiang Shan took a deep breath and began to report.

She recounted everything from the discovery of the phantom mirage to the skeletons in the cave, the encirclement and attack by Li Yueyao, Chen Yuwei, Jiang Li, and others, the counterattack against the pile of rocks, and her escape.

Finally, he took out a jade slip and presented it with both hands: "This is Chen Ping's confession, recorded using a photographic technique. It cannot be faked."

Jiang Yunshan took the jade slip and probed it with his divine sense.

Only the heavy breathing of a few people could be heard in the quiet room.

A moment later, Jiang Yunshan put down the jade slip, his face still calm, but the chill in his usually half-closed eyes deepened.

Where is Jiang Li now?

"They should have returned to the Li family's residence with Li Yueyao, or they may be hiding somewhere in Tianhen Mountain."

Jiang Bai chimed in, "After they came up empty-handed, they must have realized that their plan had been exposed."

Jiang Yunshan nodded, then suddenly raised his hand and gently tapped the wooden fish beside him.

The wooden fish made a soft sound.

From the shadows of the quiet room, a figure emerged and knelt on one knee: "Clan Chief."

"Pass on the order."

"Summon the First Elder, Third Elder, Fifth Elder, and Jiang Yuanfeng of the Enforcement Hall to the council hall immediately. Also, summon Yuanshan."

"Yes."

The figure disappeared.

Jiang Yunshan stood up. He was not tall, and was even somewhat thin.

However, at this moment, the oppressive feeling of being in a superior position for so long came over him.

"Come with me."

The atmosphere inside the council chamber was already tense.

The First Elder, Jiang Zhenhai, sat in the first seat on the left. His beard and hair were gray, and his face was solemn. He held two iron balls in his hands, which made a soft "clattering" sound.

Two trusted elders stood behind him, both at the Foundation Establishment stage.

On the right, Jiang Bai's nominal master, Jiang Yuanshan, had already taken his seat, while Elder Jiang Yuanfeng of the Law Enforcement Hall stood in the shadow of the hall pillar, his aura heavy and composed.

Clan Chief Jiang Yunshan stepped into the main seat, while Jiang Bai, Jiang Shan, and others stood in the hall.

Just then, footsteps sounded outside the hall.

Two monks from the Enforcement Hall escorted a person into the hall.

The person being held captive was Jiang Li.

His clothes were tattered and his face was covered in mud, indicating that he had been intercepted while fleeing back.

At this moment, his face was ashen, his eyes were unfocused, and his legs were trembling uncontrollably as he was forced to kneel in the center of the hall.

The First Elder's eye twitched when he saw Jiang Li's appearance.

"The clan chief summoned him late at night, and with such a large mobilization?"

The First Elder spoke first and asked the question.

His gaze then turned to Jiang Bai and the others.

"But if the juniors fail the trial, should the clan decide on their rewards or punishments?"

Holy crap! They started by putting a hat on me right away.

Jiang Bai sneered inwardly, "Old man, you're quite the actor."

Jiang Yunshan didn't reply, but looked at Jiang Shan and said, "Shan'er, say it again."

Jiang Shan then recounted his experience once more, this time emphasizing the fact that "the Li and Chen families joined forces" and "Jiang Li acted as an inside agent."

No sooner had he finished speaking than the elder slammed his hand on the armrest!

"nonsense!"

The iron clapper slammed onto the wooden table with a loud bang.

His beard and hair stood on end as he glared at Jiang Shan: "Failure in the trial is one thing, but to dare slander your own clan for colluding with foreign enemies! Jiang Li has always been a steady and reliable child, how could he do such a thing? It's clearly your mission that failed, resulting in the loss of your clansmen, and you're fabricating lies to shirk responsibility!"

Then, turning his attention to Jiang Bai, he said, "Especially you, Jiang Bai! You've only been in the clan for a few months, yet you've caused so much trouble! First, you severely injured the Chen family's genius at the poison tasting event, incurring the enmity of both families. Now, you've ruined the Heart-Eating Grass quest during the trial. I want to ask you, have you been colluding with outsiders all along, deliberately sabotaging my Jiang family's important affairs?!"

What a clever tactic of turning the tables!

The elders in the hall had different expressions. The Third Elder frowned and remained silent, the Fifth Elder looked doubtful, while Jiang Yuanshan snorted coldly and was about to speak. "Elder."

Jiang Bai suddenly smiled and said.

His laughter was somewhat abrupt, standing out conspicuously in the tense council chamber.

"I almost believed you when you said that."

He scratched his head, looking troubled. "But... I happen to have something here that might not support your point of view."

He took out the jade slip containing the image from his pocket and infused it with spiritual power.

hum-

The jade slip projected a screen of light, and Chen Ping's deathly pale face appeared in mid-air, his voice trembling:

"...It was Miss Li Yueyao's entire plan...Young Master Jiang Li agreed, saying that after the matter was accomplished, the Grand Elder would give him a Foundation Establishment Pill and a magic artifact from the family's secret treasury...The Li family promised that after helping the Grand Elder take control of the Jiang family, 30% of the profits from Ping'an County's market would go to the Li family, and the two families would form an eternal alliance...This trial's ambush was mainly to eliminate the young elites of the clan leader's faction, especially Jiang Bai and Jiang Shan..."

The images were clear, the sounds were vivid, and even the cold sweat on Chen Ping's forehead as he spoke was clearly visible.

The hall was deathly silent.

The elder's face went from ashen to deathly pale, then turned a deep liver color.

The two elders behind him instinctively took a half step back, their eyes darting away.

"This is a fake!"

The Grand Elder hissed, "This must be a forged photograph! How could a mere illegitimate son of the Chen family know such a secret—"

"Then let Brother Jiang Li speak for himself?" Jiang Bai turned to Jiang Li, who was kneeling on the ground. "Brother Jiang Li, is what Chen Ping said true?"

Jiang Li trembled, looked up abruptly, his eyes filled with terror.

He looked at the Grand Elder, then at the Clan Chief, his lips trembling as he stammered, "I...I..."

"Li'er!" the First Elder shouted sternly, "Don't be afraid! With your grandfather here, no one can wrong you!"

These words sound like support, but they are actually a threat.

Jiang Li trembled even more violently.

That's enough.

Jiang Yunshan finally spoke.

Those two simple words brought all the sounds in the hall to an abrupt halt.

He looked at the Grand Elder, his gaze chillingly calm: "Zhenhai, what explanation do you have?"

The First Elder gritted his teeth: "Clan Chief! This boy is a wolf in sheep's clothing. First, his poison skills are bizarre and his progress is rapid. Now he's producing this dubious evidence to slander Jiang Li and me! In my opinion, he should be arrested immediately and his soul searched!"

Soul search?

Jiang Bai's eyes turned cold.

The Soul Searching Technique severely damages the divine consciousness, causing mild memory confusion or even turning someone into an idiot.

Even now, this old dog still wants to destroy him.

"Elder, what you're saying is..." Jiang Bai sighed. "I'd like to ask, are you in such a hurry to silence him because you're afraid Brother Jiang Li will reveal more details?"

"presumptuous!"

"Then I'll make another suggestion." Jiang Bai turned to Jiang Yunshan, cupped his hands and said, "Clan leader, since you say I'm suspected of colluding with outsiders, and the Grand Elder says Jiang Li wouldn't do such a thing, why don't we follow the family's ancient custom and use the superior-grade poison platform today?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the expressions of everyone in the hall changed drastically.

The drug testing platform is a rule established by the Jiang family ancestors, specifically used to adjudicate internal disputes that cannot be clearly resolved.

Each party drinks a cup of poisoned wine designated by the other, relying on their cultivation level and resistance to the poison to withstand it.

The one who survives is the one in the right.

"Outrageous!" the elder roared. "How dare these juniors act so recklessly and invoke ancient precedents? Clan leader, this matter—"

"Can."

Jiang Yunshan spoke calmly.

Upon hearing this, the elder's words caught in his throat.

"Since it involves treason, a test won't hurt." Jiang Yunshan stood up. "Issue the order: open the Poison Tasting Platform in one incense stick's time. Summon all Foundation Establishment cultivators and above from the clan to attend the ceremony. Jiang Zhenhai, do you have any objections?"

As the last sentence was uttered, the oppressive aura of a late-stage Golden Core cultivator subtly enveloped the area.

The Grand Elder's forehead was beaded with cold sweat as he gritted his teeth and said, "No objection."

He knew he had already lost the first step.

However, at the Poison Tasting Platform... Jiang Li's poison resistance, while not as good as those who specialize in poison techniques, is not weak either.

Jiang Bai was only at the third level of Qi Refining, and even if he was somewhat strange, he absolutely could not withstand the specially prepared poisoned wine.

As long as Jiang Li survives, there is still a chance to turn the tide!

After an incense stick has burned, the poison tasting platform is set up.

That was a bluestone square in front of the ancestral hall, with a three-foot stone platform in the center. On the platform were two wooden tables, each with a wine pot and wine cups.

Torches lit up the surroundings, and most of the cultivators from the Jiang family above the Foundation Establishment stage had arrived, forming several dark circles around them.

Jiang Bai and Jiang Li stood on opposite sides of the stone platform.

Jiang Li's face was pale, his eyes darted around, and his hands trembled slightly.

He never expected things to escalate to this point.

Drug testing stations? Those are deadly!

"rule."

Elder Jiang Yuanfeng of the Enforcement Hall stood at the front of the stage, his voice icy: "Each side shall designate three types of poison, which will be prepared on the spot by the pharmacy. After preparation, exchange wine cups and drink simultaneously. The one who survives for half an incense stick's time wins. If both die, both are equally guilty; if one dies and the other lives, the survivor must prove their innocence."

He looked at the two of them: "Any objections?"

Jiang Li opened his mouth, but no sound came out.

Jiang Bai smiled and said, "No."

"Then, please specify the poison."

Jiang Li spoke first, clearly having come prepared, and gritted his teeth as he named three medicinal herbs: "Heart-Corroding Grass Juice, Bone-Rotting Flower Pollen, and Bewitching Vine Liquid."

All three are highly poisonous, and the mixture is even more toxic and can erode one's consciousness.

This is to make Jiang Bai suffer a terrible death.

A low murmur arose from the audience.

Jiang Bai nodded casually, "Then I'll take... the Green-Eyed Toad Liquid, the Bone-Rotting Flower Pollen, and the Bewitching Grass Juice."

Everyone was taken aback.

Blue-eyed toad venom?

Although the substance is highly toxic, it mainly affects the flesh and blood. As long as a cultivator protects their heart meridian with spiritual power, it is not the most difficult thing to withstand.

Pollen from bone-rotting plants and juice from bewitching plants are also common poisons.

Isn't this recipe a bit too modest?

Jiang Li was also stunned, then his eyes flashed with wild joy.

That kid is really overconfident!

The pharmacist quickly prepared the poisoned wine, and placed two celadon wine cups on the wooden table.

The liquid was black and green, both with an ominous sheen.

"Change the cup."

The two stepped forward and exchanged wine glasses.

Jiang Bai picked up the glass of black poisoned wine and sniffed it.

Hmm, the bitter taste of the Heart-Eating Grass is very strong; it seems Jiang Li added quite a bit of it.

He looked up at the opposite side.

Jiang Li's hand holding the green poisoned wine trembled. He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, tilted his head back, and poured the wine down his throat!

"Gulp..."

As soon as the wine entered his stomach, Jiang Li's expression changed drastically!

It wasn't the flesh-eroding poison I'd expected at all. A chill exploded from my stomach and instantly spread to my limbs and bones!

The toxicity of the poisonous toad's liquid, catalyzed by the pollen of the bone-rotting flower, becomes extremely insidious, directly impacting the meridians!

"Ugh!"

Jiang Li let out a scream, fell to his knees, and clutched his neck tightly with both hands, his skin turning black at a visible speed. He convulsed violently, foaming at the mouth, his eyes bulging out of their sockets.

"Li'er!" The elder below the stage exclaimed in shock.

At that moment, Jiang Bai calmly raised his wine glass, gestured slightly to everyone, and then drank it all in one gulp.

He put down his glass, smacked his lips, and frowned as he commented, "The flavor is a bit weak. There wasn't enough of the bewitching vine liquid. Remember to add more next time."

The entire room fell silent instantly.

All eyes were on him. He looked perfectly normal, his breathing was steady, and he even burped.

One breath, two breaths, three breaths...

Jiang Bai took two slow steps, squatted down in front of Jiang Li who was still convulsing, took out a small porcelain bottle from his pocket, pried open Jiang Li's mouth, and poured all the pale yellow powder in the bottle into it.

"Truth powder, double the dosage."

He said in a calm tone, "So that Brother Jiang Li doesn't lose his mind and talk nonsense."

Jiang Li's convulsions gradually subsided, his eyes became unfocused, and he began to mutter intermittently:

"Grandfather... said... the Li family agreed... to 30% of the market... and also the Foundation Establishment Pill..."

"Killing Jiang Bai and Jiang Shan during the trial...weakens the clan leader's power..."

"Afterwards... Jiang Bai's corpse... was to be handed over to the Li family... to be refined into a poison puppet..."

With each sentence spoken, the Grand Elder's face turned paler.

Finally, Jiang Li suddenly screamed shrilly, "Grandfather, save me! You said I'd be alright! You said the clan leader wouldn't dare touch you!"

"Enough!!!"

The elder roared and unleashed his early-stage Golden Core spiritual power, attempting to rush straight onto the stage!

But the next second.

hum!

The oppressive force of a late-stage Golden Core cultivator descended like a mountain crashing down!

Jiang Yunshan didn't even get up; he simply raised his palm and pressed it down lightly.

"Thump!"

The elder's knees shattered the bluestone beneath his feet, and he was pinned to the ground, blood seeping from his seven orifices. He couldn't even move a finger!

From the shadows, four elders of the Enforcement Hall emerged, sealing off the four sides of the area.

"Jiang Zhenhai colluded with foreign enemies and plotted to harm his own clansmen; the evidence against him is conclusive."

Jiang Yunshan's voice echoed throughout the hall, "Temporarily detain him in the Discipline Hall. After a thorough interrogation, he will be dealt with according to clan rules. Jiang Li's cultivation will be stripped, and he will be expelled from the clan. The descendants who died in battle will receive double the compensation. Jiang Bai, Jiang Shan, and others who protected their clan members and exposed traitors will receive double the reward for their meritorious service."

He paused, then looked at Jiang Bai: "What reward do you want?"

Jiang Bai pondered for a moment: "This disciple would like a bottle of Condensation Elixir Pills. Also, could I please go to the third floor of the family library and borrow some books for three days?"

Condensation Pill is an auxiliary pill for Foundation Establishment cultivators, which is too extravagant for Qi Refining cultivators, but it's always good to prepare in advance.

The third floor of the library houses even more profound texts on poison techniques.

Jiang Yunshan gave him a deep look: "Granted."

Late at night, Jiang Bai returned to his small courtyard.

Xiao Cui was already waiting at the door. Seeing him return, she hurriedly stepped forward: "Young Master, are you alright? The whole clan is talking about it. They say you were at the Poison Tasting Platform today..."

"It's nothing," Jiang Bai waved his hand. "I'm just a little hungry. Go get me something to eat."

"It's all ready!"

Inside, hot meals were already served.

While Jiang Bai was eating, Xiao Cui whispered:

"There's a lot of talk in the clan right now. Everyone's saying how amazing you are, young master, that you even managed to bring down the Grand Elder. But some people are also worried that the Li and Chen families, having suffered such a great loss, will definitely not let this go."

"Hmm." Jiang Bai picked up a piece of meat with his chopsticks. "Anything else?"

"And... the clan leader sent some rewards." Xiao Cui brought over a jade box, "a bottle of Condensation Pills, two hundred spirit stones, and a token, which is said to be a pass to the third floor of the library, valid for three days."

Jiang Bai opened the jade box and saw that the bottle of Condensing Liquid Pill was emerald green, with clear patterns and a subtle medicinal fragrance. It was indeed a rare treasure.

"Understood." Jiang Bai carefully put away the medicine bottle.

"I'm going to the library tomorrow. Be careful these days, and don't go out unless necessary."

"Yes, young master."

After Xiao Cui left, Jiang Bai sat alone at the table. The jade-like pattern in his palm remained completely unseen.

Where exactly does inheritance lie?

He sighed and suppressed his thoughts.

Never mind, I'll keep looking.

Outside the window, the wind began to pick up.