17: Chapter 17 Within Eagle Falling Gorge, Initial Understanding of the Poison Scripture

Luoying Ravine, true to its name.

It was a deep rift hidden among the vast, rugged mountains, with cliffs on both sides as steep as if cut by a blade, over a hundred zhang high, difficult even for monkeys to climb. The valley floor was only a few zhang wide, with a clear stream murmuring through it; the sound of water echoing in the narrow valley path made it seem even more secluded. The entrance was obscured by dense vines and a few giant rocks that seemed to have fallen randomly, making it very easy to miss unless one was intentionally searching or familiar with the terrain.

By the time Lin Yan arrived with Xiao Yi Xian, it was already dusk. The afterglow of the setting sun gilded the towering cliffs, but little light reached the bottom of the valley, making the ravine appear increasingly dark and cool.

After confirming that there were no traces of recent human or large magical beast activity around the entrance, the two carefully entered. Following the stream upstream for about a li, they found a dry cave where the cliff face receded to form a natural dome. The cave was not deep, but large enough to accommodate two or three people, and the entrance was half-hidden by hanging vines, making it a concealed location.

"Let's settle here for now." Lin Yan put down his simple pack and began to clear the rubble and dead branches inside the cave. Xiao Yi Xian also put down the stone box and bundle she had been clutching tightly, helping to tidy up. Her complexion was better than before, but a layer of faint fatigue and unease still lingered between her brows.

After eating some simple dry rations, Lin Yan set up a few simple warning mechanisms near the cave entrance—using thin threads to connect dead branches and stones, which would make a sound if triggered. He also sprinkled some insect and snake repellent powder (obtained from Xiao Yi Xian), only then feeling slightly at ease.

Night fell completely, and the ravine was pitch black, save for the faint starlight filtering through the entrance and the reflection of the stream. Lin Yan lit a small campfire; the orange flames dispelled the darkness and dampness, also bringing a touch of warmth.

Xiao Yi Xian sat beside the fire, her gaze fixed blankly on the dancing flames, still clutching the stone box containing the "Seven-Colored Poison Manual" in her arms. The eerie, grayish-white veins appeared faintly on her fair hands and neck, as if pulsating with her breathing.

"Still thinking about the Poison Manual?" Lin Yan added a piece of firewood to the fire, his voice calm.

Xiao Yi Xian came back to her senses and nodded gently, her fingers unconsciously stroking the cold surface of the stone box: "Lin Yan, do you think... I can really control it? Instead of being controlled by it and turning into... a monster that only knows how to use poison?" Her voice was very soft, filled with confusion and fear for the future.

"Whether you become a monster does not depend on what power you possess, but on what you use it for." Lin Yan looked at her, the firelight illuminating his calm profile. "You possess the medical skills to save lives and a benevolent heart; this is your true nature. Poison is just a tool, a type of power. Those who use poison to kill are poison masters; why can't those who use poison to save lives and control their own destiny be healers? Or even... the strong?"

He poked the fire with a branch, sparks crackling and flying up: "The 'Seven-Colored Poison Manual' is a summary of the experiences of predecessors in controlling the poison body; it is a key. But how it is used, and which door it opens, depends on you. I believe that the Xiao Yi Xian who treated the injured for free in Qingshan Town and risked offending the Wolf Head Mercenary Group to help the old farmer—her true heart will not be easily twisted by power."

Xiao Yi Xian listened blankly, and in her emerald eyes, the confusion was gradually replaced by a faint but firm light. She took a deep breath, as if having made up her mind: "You are right. Avoidance and fear cannot solve problems. If this is my destiny, then at least... I must try to control it, rather than be devoured by it."

She no longer hesitated and carefully opened the stone box. There were no traps inside, only a dark purple scroll made of an unknown material. It felt cool to the touch and faintly emitted a strange aura, possessing both the fragrance of vegetation and a hint of sweet, fishy scent.

Xiao Yi Xian unfurled the scroll and began to read by the firelight. At first, her brows were tightly knit, as if the content was difficult to understand. But gradually, her expression became focused, even carrying a few traces of realization and excitement. What was recorded on the scroll was not only the characteristics, refining, and application methods of various highly toxic substances, but more importantly, a detailed explanation of the "Calamity Poison Body," methods for initial control, and unique paths on how to guide the accumulated poison power within the body for cultivation!

For Xiao Yi Xian, who had always been muddled and relied only on instinct and the few words left by her grandfather to suppress the poison body, this was nothing short of a lighthouse shining in the darkness!

Lin Yan did not disturb her; he sat cross-legged himself and submerged his consciousness into the system.

[Item deep analysis complete. Target: Mysterious Black Ring (Status: Marked, Isolated).]

[Analysis results:]

1. Material: The main material is smelted from "Nether Cold Iron" and "Soul-Attracting Wood" powder, mixed with trace amounts of "Ethereal Crystal" shards. It possesses excellent soul power conductivity and spatial stability.

2. Internal Structure: There exists an extremely unstable, near-collapsing micro soul space (approximately 0.5 cubic meters). A large amount of soul fragments remain within the space; consciousness has been completely annihilated, leaving only a chaotic stream of memory information and pure but violent soul origin.

3. Exotic Flame Aura: A weak but extremely high-essence aura of "Bone Chilling Flame" has been detected, deeply entangled with the ring's material and the remaining soul origin. This is the source of the "mark," suspected to be a remote tracking or positioning beacon.

4. Potential Risks: The soul space is extremely unstable and may collapse completely at any time, triggering a small-scale soul storm. Although the exotic flame mark has been temporarily isolated, if the ring leaves the system space or encounters specific energy stimulation (such as another Bone Chilling Flame drawing near), there remains the possibility of being re-detected.

5. Usable Value: The pure soul origin can be extracted and absorbed by the system, converted into soul nourishment for the host or points. The remaining memory information stream can be attempted to be parsed, potentially containing cultivation methods, Dou Techniques, alchemy techniques, or secret knowledge (parsing success rate is affected by the degree of fragmentation). The ring itself is made of precious material and can be recycled or used to forge a soul artifact embryo.

[Please select a processing plan:]

A. Thorough Decomposition: Extract soul origin and materials, completely eliminating hidden dangers. Can obtain a large amount of soul energy (increasing soul realm) and system points.

B. Attempt Repair and Parsing: Consume points to stabilize the soul space and attempt to parse the remaining memories. May obtain additional gains, but there are certain risks (memory shock, weak backlash from the mark).

C. Temporarily Maintain Status Quo: Continue to isolate and contain, decide after the host's strength improves or more information is obtained.

Lin Yan's gaze swept over the options. Thorough decomposition was the safest, but it might waste the information value contained within the ring. Attempting to parse, while risky, might yield unexpected gains, such as... the identity of this ring's original owner? What connection did he have with the Bone Chilling Flame and the Hall of Souls? Perhaps, even, was it related to Yao Lao?

After a slight hesitation, Lin Yan made his choice: "System, select B, attempt repair and parsing. Prioritize safety; points can be deducted from me."

[Command confirmed. Beginning to consume points to stabilize the soul space... Attempting to parse the remaining memory information stream... Parsing...]

The system began working, and Lin Yan temporarily exited the interface. His gaze fell across the campfire.

At this moment, Xiao Yi Xian was completely immersed in the world of the "Seven-Colored Poison Manual." The aura around her began to undergo subtle changes; those faint, grayish-white veins no longer wandered aimlessly but seemed to be guided by something, beginning to flow slowly along specific paths beneath her skin. Traces of an extremely faint, strange aura, mixed with the fragrance of herbs and a sweet, fishy scent, radiated from her body. The surrounding air seemed to become somewhat stagnant, and even the flames of the campfire flickered slightly, their color faintly shifting toward a pale purple.

She was attempting to guide and control the innate poison power within her body according to the preliminary methods recorded in the Poison Manual!

Lin Yan could feel that the poison gas she emitted was not strong and was being carefully constrained within three feet of her body; clearly, she was trying her best to control it. Fine beads of sweat seeped from her forehead, and her complexion was at times pale and at other times flushed with an unnatural crimson; clearly, this process was by no means easy.

Time passed bit by bit. Outside the cave, the night was thick, and the mountain wind blew through the canyon, making a sound like sobbing.

I do not know how long passed before Xiao Yi Xian slowly opened her eyes. The emerald luster in her pupils seemed to have deepened a bit, and the aura that had always carried a bit of fragility and melancholy now had an added touch of indescribable, restrained sharpness. The strange poison gas around her body slowly retracted into her, and the grayish-white veins beneath her skin gradually faded, returning to fair whiteness.

She let out a long sigh, filled with a complex mix of relief and novelty, and looked at Lin Yan, revealing a genuine, slightly tired smile: "I... I think I've touched upon the threshold. Although it's very weak, I can feel that those 'things' that were always rampaging in my body have become a little more obedient."

"Congratulations." Lin Yan said sincerely. To be able to initially guide the poison power in such a short time, Xiao Yi Xian's talent and temperament were both top-tier.

"Thanks to your words, and... this Poison Manual." Xiao Yi Xian carefully put away the scroll and placed it into the stone box. "I feel like I've opened the door to a new world. Although the path ahead may be full of danger and unknowns, at least... I am no longer that 'Girl of Calamity' who can only passively wait for fate to arrange things."

Her eyes became firm; that was the look of someone who had found their direction.

Lin Yan nodded, and just as he was about to say something, suddenly, the system notification sound rang out again, carrying a hint of urgency:

[Warning! Deep memory fragments triggered during the parsing process! Keywords detected: "Hall of Souls," "Branch Hall," "Hunting Plan," "Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade (suspected clue)"! Memory fragments are extremely chaotic; forced reading may lead to information corruption! Continue?]

Hall of Souls! Hunting Plan! Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade?!

Lin Yan's heart was shaken violently. The original owner of this black ring indeed had a deep connection with the Hall of Souls! And it involved the Hunting Plan (likely targeting targets with special constitutions or powerful souls) and clues about the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade!

"Continue! Read carefully, prioritize obtaining fragment information regarding the 'Hunting Plan' and 'Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade clues'!" Lin Yan gave the order without hesitation. Although there was risk, this information was too important!

[Command confirmed. Currently peeling and reading relevant memory fragments... Warning, encountering backlash from residual memory protection... Consuming points to neutralize... Reading...]

The system interface flickered with light, seemingly operating at full capacity.

And just at this moment, from the distance outside the cave, a faint sound, as if a dead branch had been snapped, was heard!

It was not the sound of the wind, not the sound of the stream, and certainly not a wild beast!

Lin Yan's eyes instantly became as sharp as knives; he rose abruptly, extinguished the campfire, and the cave plunged into darkness. He signaled for Xiao Yi Xian to be silent, and the two moved quietly behind the vines at the cave entrance, holding their breath and focusing their attention.

Outside the cave, in the direction of the entrance to Luoying Ravine, several blurry black shadows were, under the cover of the cliff shadows and the night, moving toward the ravine like ghosts, silently. In the hand of the person leading them, it seemed they were holding a compass-like object flickering with a faint red light.

People from the Wolf Head Mercenary Group! They had actually tracked them down! And, it seemed they had used some kind of tracking method!

Inside the cave, the progress bar for the system reading memory fragments glowed faintly in the darkness; outside the cave, the life-taking pursuers had reached the door. Lin Yan clenched his fists, his eyes cold. It seemed that wanting to quietly digest the gains would not be so easy.