Chapter 304: Chapter 210: Golden Toad Pool (2)

Moreover, the enhanced defense was just one part of it. The Tribulation-Indestructible Body now integrated offense and defense.

Simply ramming into an opponent was practically the same as being smashed by a massive chunk of refined iron.

Even when he used the Poison Palm, its attack power was boosted by a huge margin.

After familiarizing himself in the Practice Room with his Tribulation-Indestructible Body, which had now reached the Peak of Perfection, he heard Zhi Shuang’s voice from outside.

The Poison Food was ready, waiting only for him to come out and dine.

Stepping out of the Practice Room, Zou Feng glanced at Zhi Shuang and said, “Shuang’Er, it looks like you’re not far from breaking through to the Gang Qi Realm, are you?”

Zhi Shuang nodded excitedly. “Ever since I started following you, Elder Zou, it’s like my mind has been opened. My Cultivation has been progressing by leaps and bounds!”

“Remember, more haste, less speed. Don’t just chase after speed, lest you suffer a backlash from the poison…”

“Thank you for the reminder, Elder Zou. I will be careful!” Zhi Shuang said, bowing solemnly.

Without another word, Zou Feng strolled towards the dining hall.

Teng County was already there, sitting and waiting for him.

Since their journey into the forbidden grounds, where they had laid everything bare, their relationship had naturally grown much closer.

In fact, back when they were being chased by a giant monster in the forbidden grounds, Zou Feng had shielded her and taken the brunt of a venomous shockwave. It was then that Teng County began to see him as her ideal partner.

But the problem was, liking him was one thing, but Teng County was still terrified of sleeping with him and hesitated to take that final step.

She was also worried that Zou Feng would unwittingly be afflicted by the Silk Binding Love Gu.

“Brother Feng, the Golden Toad Pond Master has agreed to meet with you!” Seeing Zou Feng enter, Teng County got straight to the point and delivered the good news.

Now, in private, she no longer called Zou Feng “Doctor Zou” or “Elder Zou,” but called him “Brother Feng” directly.

Hearing this, a flicker of joy appeared in Zou Feng’s eyes.

The reason he wanted to meet the Golden Toad Pond Master was simple: it was, of course, for the Toad Gu King Poison.

Collecting the poisons of the five Gu Kings was a goal Zou Feng was eager to achieve.

The Scorpion Poison and Spider Poison were already secured, but as for how to obtain the others, he had no clue.

He had thought that acquiring the other poisons of the Gu Kings would be a huge hassle. But after a chat with Teng County, he learned that getting the Toad Gu King Poison, at least, was relatively easy.

Because the Golden Toad Pond Master was very fond of “transactions.”

As long as one could offer something that interested him, even the Toad Gu King Poison was up for trade.

In truth, the Poison of the Gu King wasn’t as valuable as Zou Feng had imagined. After all, only Poison Cultivators at the True Qi Realm could properly utilize it.

Other experts who weren’t Poison Cultivators basically had no use for it.

These numerous limitations greatly reduced its value.

So the Golden Toad Pond Master didn’t value it that highly. As long as the price was right, it was for sale.

At the time, Zou Feng had considered using the “Immortal Treasure” vial he had obtained to try and trade for the Toad Gu King Poison.

But he immediately dismissed the thought.

’After all, an Immortal Treasure… while I don’t understand how to use it now, that might not be the case once I advance to the True Qi Realm.’

’Especially the Immortal Mansion that had appeared in the void when the Immortal Treasure emerged; that was even more thought-provoking.’

’Could it be that the greatest function of the Immortal Treasure that appeared that day was actually to serve as a key to enter that Immortal Mansion?’

’It’s not that I’m set on finding and entering that Immortal Mansion in the future. But if the vial I found really does have such a use, trading it away now would be a huge loss.’

’Since I don’t want to trade the vial, I’ll just have to ask Xiaolv to contribute a bit more of its venom.’

’Having been raised by me all this time, Xiaolv’s poison has become so complex that even I can’t fully comprehend it.’

’Although Biyou Palace is famous for its skill in Gu Cultivation, they have most likely never raised a special Gu Insect like Xiaolv.’

’After all, I nourished Xiaolv with a massive amount of Poison Skills, and it absorbed far too much Mixed Poison. Its venom has long since become impossibly bizarre.’

So Zou Feng took a few drops of Xiaolv’s poison and had Teng County send someone to deliver it to Liang Shunan, the Golden Toad Pond Master.

Now that Liang Shunan had agreed to the meeting, it meant he was very interested in Xiaolv’s venom.

There was a good chance of trading for the Toad Gu King Poison.

“Master Liang has a very good reputation in Biyou Palace. Even the low-level disciples can try to trade with him, as long as they have something that catches his eye.”

By saying this, Teng County was telling Zou Feng that there wouldn’t be any danger in meeting with Liang Shunan.

There was no time to waste. Zou Feng quickly finished his meal and headed directly for the Golden Toad Pool.

After stating his purpose at the entrance, a disciple from the Golden Toad Pool led him to Liang Shunan’s residence.

Liang Shunan lived in a magnificent, golden pavilion built on the edge of the Golden Toad Pool.

The pavilion’s design wasn’t particularly exquisite, but it was inlaid with gold and silver everywhere, the very picture of extravagance.

As for the Golden Toad Pool itself, which was said to be bottomless, there was nothing particularly remarkable about it on the surface.

The pool was shallow near the bank, and one could clearly see all sorts of toads hopping about.

Many of the Golden Toad Pool’s disciples were sitting in the shallower areas, practicing their cultivation.

These disciples were all covered in various poisonous toads.

In short, at a glance, the vast majority of these Golden Toad Pool disciples had terrible skin, enough to rival a toad’s.

Entering the pavilion, Zou Feng was quickly led to a tea room.

The furnishings in the tea room were almost all made of solid gold. When he first entered, the glare was so bright it almost blinded him.

Evidently, this Liang Shunan had a very deep obsession with “money.”

In reality, for a Martial Artist who had reached his level of Cultivation, worldly possessions were already meaningless, as they were easily obtainable.

And yet, he still loved hoarding wealth and wanted to live surrounded by piles of gold and jewels at all times. It had to be said, this fixation could rival that of the Western dragons from the legends, who were said to love gold.

Just as he was thinking this, a chubby figure walked into the tea room.

“Elder Zou, quickly, have a seat!”

The man was pot-bellied, dressed in brocade robes with an extremely exaggerated color scheme, and was draped in all kinds of jewelry.

His appearance immediately gave one a feeling of affability and kindness.

To put it bluntly, rather than a Poison Skill expert, Liang Shunan was more like a wealthy merchant who liked to “persuade others with virtue.”

“Greetings, Master Liang!” Zou Feng said, clasping his fist in salute.

Liang Shunan waved his hand and chuckled. “Why be so formal? Sit, sit! Someone, bring tea!”

After they sat down and exchanged a few more pleasantries, Liang Shunan finally got to the point. “I wonder, how much more of that poison Elder Zou sent over do you have?”

Zou Feng put down his teacup and looked at Liang Shunan. “How much does Master Liang require before you are willing to part with the Toad Gu King Poison?”

Liang Shunan chuckled. “Honestly, this Pond Master is very curious. What do you want that stuff for?”

“You haven’t practiced my Golden Toad Pool’s Cultivation Skill, yet you want to directly attempt Refinement of the Toad Gu King Poison. Aren’t you afraid something will go wrong, Elder Zou?”

Zou Feng had already prepared an excuse for this and immediately sighed faintly. “Afraid? Of course, I’m afraid!”

“But I’ve sworn an oath to achieve Refinement of all the Exotic Poisons in the world. If I can’t even try to refine this one, I’ll never be at peace with myself…”

Hearing this, Liang Shunan’s gaze sharpened as he sized Zou Feng up again. “Elder Zou, do you know who in our Biyou Palace has managed the Refinement of the poisons of five Gu Kings?”

“Naturally, the Palace Master!”

“And Bai Chen,” Liang Shunan immediately added.

Bai Chen was the Vice Palace Master who had inflicted the Five Poison Heart Devouring Curse on Zou Feng. He usually looked sickly and frail, as if he could drop dead at any moment.

Liang Shunan continued, “But to this day, Bai Chen has never been able to completely suppress the troubles that come from mixing the poisons of five Gu Kings…”

“If news suddenly spread tomorrow that our dear Vice Palace Master had passed away from his illness, I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised.”

“Thank you for the warning, Master Liang. If the task proves impossible, I will naturally stop. I won’t stubbornly insist on the Refinement of the Poison of the Gu King.”

Though he expressed his thanks, Zou Feng was actually quite puzzled. ’Why would Liang Shunan go out of his way to warn me not to court death?’

’We’re not friends or family. He could have just completed the transaction and washed his hands of the matter. Why go to the extra trouble?’

“Alright then. I am indeed quite taken with that poison you sent. How about this: one teacup. If you can produce another teacup’s worth of that poison, I will give you an equal amount of the Toad Gu King Poison,” Liang Shunan said casually.

It might not sound like much, but this request truly put Zou Feng in a difficult position.

’A teacup of venom?’

’Xiaolv is tiny. Even if I squeezed it completely dry, I wouldn’t be able to get that much.’

’Besides, that little guy has been getting more and more restless lately. Even if I spent time slowly collecting its venom, it might not obediently hand over that much.’

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep