39: Incident

"Icy Poison Fist?" Pang Hu said with a grim expression. "You actually managed to master it!"

The Icy Poison Fist was a Foundation Establishment Stage offensive fist technique. Not only did it possess the ice attribute, but it could also inflict neurotoxins during an attack. Once hit, the opponent's combat strength would be significantly reduced. Its power could be described as incredibly formidable, making it one of the top offensive methods for the Foundation Establishment Stage in the Xuan Yun Residence's Scripture Pavilion.

However, although this fist technique was quite powerful, it was equally difficult to Cultivate. It required not only an extremely high Comprehension Ability but also the collection of nine rare neurotoxins to be refined into one's own body. Setting aside the difficulty of collection, the mere act of having to endure the erosion of the toxins while maintaining clarity to circulate the Cultivation Technique was enough to deter countless geniuses.

Pang Hu had also tried to Cultivate it, but he had failed. That was why he recognized Zhang Meng's Move at a glance. He was incredibly surprised that Zhang Meng had succeeded, and he realized that things might not end well for him today.

As expected, Zhang Meng did not reply but continued his fierce assault. As the saying goes, strike while the iron is hot. Zhang Meng's combat experience was so rich that he naturally would not make such low-level mistakes.

Indeed, under Zhang Meng's almost frenzied offensive, several new wounds appeared on Pang Hu's body. His reactions became increasingly sluggish, and his consciousness gradually blurred.

Illusions appeared before his eyes, and Pang Hu's consciousness grew fainter. He felt as if the pain in his body was gradually receding, and a strange sense of pleasure rose in his heart. This was the power of the neurotoxin!

"Oh no, I'm finished!" The last thought rose in Pang Hu's mind before he collapsed to the ground like a falling mountain, unable to Move any longer.

When he woke up again, he saw the young Disciples he had been teaching earlier surrounding him in a panic. Next to them was a Disciple who had been frozen into an ice sculpture, seemingly because they had tried to rescue him but their cultivation was too low, and they were instead affected by his injuries.

Pang Hu quickly circulated his Qi to regulate his breathing while taking out a large pile of Medicinal Pills from his Storage Pouch to consume. He barked angrily, "What are you all standing there for? Quickly go to the Law Enforcement Hall and report to the Law Enforcement Elder! Myriad Beast Mountain Lord Zhang Meng ignored the sect rules, openly provoked me, and assaulted a fellow Disciple!"

Hearing this, the Disciples looked at each other. After some pushing and shoving, a more mature-looking Disciple stepped forward and replied timidly, "Sect Master Zhang said before he left that he would voluntarily go to the Law Enforcement Hall to accept his punishment, and told you not to worry about it."

Pang Hu stood up in a fit of rage. After checking the Disciple who had been frozen into an ice sculpture and confirming there was no life-threatening danger, he asked with a livid Face, "What else did he say?"

"Mountain Lord... Sect Master Zhang also said..." The Disciple glanced at him cautiously and then lowered his voice. "If it weren't for the sake of the Saintess's Face, this day next year would be the anniversary of your death. However, while you are spared from death, you cannot escape punishment. He said you should keep a low profile from now on, or he'll beat you every time he sees you."

Pang Hu shattered the ice still clinging to his body and spat out a mouthful of blood in a fit of rage. From the attitude of these Disciples, he knew that he had completely lost Face in front of them today. In the future, let alone being used by him, they might even gossip about him behind his back.

Thinking further about how Zhang Meng had come to his door and beaten him for no reason today, not only did he suffer a beating for nothing, but after this matter spread, would he really have to bow his head before Zhang Meng?

Pang Hu was so enraged that as a dignified Foundation Establishment Cultivator, he actually fainted again. One last thought flashed through his mind.

Who the hell is framing me behind my back?

Hong Yu naturally didn't know everything that had happened behind the scenes. When he arrived at the Xuan Yun Residence, he immediately went to the Mission Hall to hand in his task.

The person receiving him was still the Number Six Young Miss. Under her playful gaze, a series of procedures were quickly completed.

He received a total of three hundred and sixty Low-Grade Spirit Stones for the mission. After counting them one by one, Hong Yu carefully tucked them into his robe.

Although the rewards from this mission were equivalent to his income from over ten years in the Outer Sect, he couldn't help but sigh heavily in his heart at the thought of the fine that was nearly a hundred thousand.

Just as he turned and stepped out of the Mission Hall, several men in black, lined up neatly, blocked his path outside the door.

The leader was dressed in tight black clothes and had a delicate Face. A Dragon embroidered with gold thread was on his cuff, and the character "Ren" was embroidered with silver thread over his heart.

Hong Yu sensed that the other party's cultivation was astonishing. Although he looked thin, the pressure he gave off was stronger than Pang Hu's, so his heart gradually sank.

As expected, the other party spoke indifferently, "Hong Yu, your matter has come to light. Come with us."

Hong Yu asked bitterly, "Who are you?"

"Ma Yuan of the Law Enforcement Hall. Either you come with us obediently, or I'll tie you up and take you. Take your pick."

Having already prepared himself mentally, Hong Yu naturally followed Ma Yuan obediently.

Before long, the group arrived at the Law Enforcement Hall.

The Law Enforcement Hall was a three-story building located in the most remote part of the Xifan Platform. The interior was plainly decorated, and the large building was empty and devoid of people.

After leading Hong Yu into an interrogation room, Ma Yuan brought him a chair and then sat at the head of the table. He pulled out a thick dossier from somewhere.

Hong Yu carefully observed the environment of the interrogation room. He saw that the room was empty, with no bloodstains or torture instruments, which put him at ease.

But then, Ma Yuan's next words made his heart tighten again.

"Hong Yu, eighteen years old, an Outer Sect Disciple from Qifeng City. Due to your contributions and under Pang Hu's recommendation, you joined the Inside the Mansion, and then..."

Ma Yuan actually recounted all of his background, including everything he had done since coming to the Xuan Yun Residence, in great detail. What made it even more unbelievable was that some details, such as the timing and how he had fought with Li Fei and the other two, were exactly the same.

It was as if someone had filmed everything with a camera on the spot. One had to know that even he, the person involved, didn't remember some details clearly, but as Ma Yuan spoke, he found that everything the other party said was correct.

A sense of powerlessness rose in Hong Yu's heart. He thought to himself that it was a good thing he hadn't chosen to run away or dodge the debt; the Xuan Yun Residence's methods were truly beyond his expectations.

After Ma Yuan finished speaking, he even had the mood to comment on Hong Yu's Sword Technique. "The Moves are sharp, and it can absorb the essence blood of others for your own use, making you stronger as you fight. It's quite good for killing those at a higher level or fighting many by yourself."

"...Is there anything I missed?" Ma Yuan asked amiably. He looked at Hong Yu with a rather warm gaze, as if he wasn't interrogating him but chatting with a friend.