THE DEVIL IN THE DETAILS

Chapter Ninety-Nine — Seven-Colored Cloud Silk Palm

“How is this possible?”

Chu Qingcheng’s voice trembled with genuine shock.

The moment the pill entered her mouth—

It didn’t dissolve into ordinary medicinal liquid like normal pills.

Instead—

It became a blazing sphere of warmth.

Like a miniature sun burning gently inside her body.

Waves of heated medicinal vapor spread slowly through her meridians, nourishing every damaged pathway they touched.

Wherever the energy passed—

The icy injuries caused by last night’s Moon Yin Formation began healing rapidly.

Most importantly—

The medicinal force didn’t clash against her yin energy at all.

Ordinary Yang-attributed pills would immediately be neutralized by the lunar energy inside her body.

But Zhuo Fan’s pill was different.

Its warmth resembled pure sunlight itself—

Gentle.

Natural.

Compatible.

Every bit of medicinal energy was absorbed perfectly.

Chu Qingcheng stared at Zhuo Fan in disbelief.

For the first time—

Her eyes truly filled with admiration.

Zhuo Fan grinned proudly.

“Well?”

“My pills are different from everyone else’s, right?”

Chu Qingcheng nodded unconsciously.

“At your age…”

“…possessing alchemy this refined is almost unbelievable.”

“In a few years…”

“…your name will probably shake the entire Tianyu Empire.”

Zhuo Fan nearly laughed aloud inwardly.

My name already terrifies half the empire.

You just don’t know it yet.

But outwardly—

He only scratched his head shyly like some innocent young man.

“So Qingcheng-jie…”

“…if anything’s wrong with your body…”

“…don’t hide it from me.”

“I’ll definitely think of a solution.”

The moment those words fell—

Chu Qingcheng’s expression shifted subtly.

She clearly understood the implication behind them.

Her condition truly required an extraordinary alchemist to resolve.

And Zhuo Fan had just proven—

He possessed qualifications beyond ordinary masters.

But—

After hesitating for a long moment—

She still remained silent.

Zhuo Fan smiled calmly outside.

Inside—

He was screaming.

Come on.

Just mention the Bodhi Jade Essence already.

Even one clue is enough.

Big sister, stop hesitating!

Unfortunately—

Right at that moment—

Loud laughter suddenly echoed across the courtyard.

“Hahaha!”

“So you really were hiding here.”

“I’ve waited an entire day for you, brat.”

Two figures descended directly from the sky.

One wore crimson robes.

Xiao Dandan.

The second—

A young man dressed entirely in green.

His eyes carried a strange emerald glow, cold and sinister like venomous snakes lurking in darkness.

The moment Zhuo Fan saw them—

His expression darkened instantly.

Killing intent flashed openly within his eyes.

Motherfucker.

Another few minutes and he might’ve gotten the information already.

Yet these idiots chose this exact moment to appear.

If not for Chu Qingcheng standing beside him—

He would’ve snapped both their necks immediately.

Still—

After one deep breath—

Zhuo Fan instantly buried the killing intent completely.

His expression changed.

His shoulders drooped.

His eyes even reddened slightly.

Then—

Before the green-robed young man could finish speaking—

Zhuo Fan suddenly grabbed Chu Qingcheng’s sleeve desperately.

“Qingcheng-jie!”

“The people bullying me came back!”

“Help me beat them!”

Everyone froze.

Dong Tianba nearly choked.

Dong Xiaowan stared blankly.

Even Xiao Dandan looked completely stunned.

Yesterday—

This same bastard publicly humiliated her without fear.

Today—

He suddenly transformed into some frightened little puppy hiding behind a woman?

The green-robed young man frowned deeply.

“This is the person you described?”

“The one who crippled Lin Tianyu?”

“He doesn’t even have any backbone.”

Xiao Dandan looked equally confused.

“That’s him…”

“But yesterday he definitely wasn’t acting like this.”

“Hmph.”

The green-robed young man sneered.

“Doesn’t matter.”

“As long as it’s him…”

“…today I’ll help you recover your pride.”

Then he looked toward Zhuo Fan arrogantly.

“Whether you’re a coward or merely pretending…”

“…the moment you injured a disciple of the Seven Houses…”

“…you already sealed your fate.”

Chu Qingcheng frowned slightly.

“You injured Lin Tianyu?”

Then she looked suspiciously toward Zhuo Fan.

“Didn’t you say even third-rate family disciples bullied you?”

Zhuo Fan blinked innocently.

After hesitating briefly—

He smiled awkwardly.

“If I told you…”

“…he accidentally fell down and injured himself…”

“…would you believe me?”

Silence.

Complete silence.

Even Dong Tianba nearly collapsed.

Brother.

At least make the lie believable.

A seventh-layer Bone Tempering cultivator “accidentally falling” into serious injuries?

Who would believe that nonsense?

Chu Qingcheng laughed softly from sheer disbelief.

Then her eyes gradually cooled.

“Tống Ngọc…”

“If you admitted honestly that you deceived me…”

“…perhaps I could still forgive you.”

“But speaking to me like I’m some fool?”

Her sleeve flicked sharply.

“Hmph.”

“You caused this trouble yourself.”

“Handle it yourself.”

WHOOSH.

Her figure vanished instantly.

“Qingcheng-jie!”

Zhuo Fan reached out dramatically.

But she was already gone.

Slowly—

Very slowly—

He lowered his arm.

Then turned around.

And the moment he did—

The harmless expression disappeared completely.

Coldness.

Violence.

Murderous intent.

Everything returned instantly.

The terrifying pressure radiating from him caused Xiao Dandan to shiver unconsciously.

Even the green-robed young man’s pupils contracted slightly.

This aura—

This killing intent—

There was no mistake.

This was absolutely not some sheltered family heir.

This was the aura of someone who had slaughtered countless enemies personally.

“You two…”

Zhuo Fan’s voice sounded terrifyingly calm.

“Couldn’t come earlier.”

“Couldn’t come later.”

“You had to interrupt me exactly then.”

“Do you know…”

“…how close I was to succeeding?”

The green-robed young man narrowed his eyes cautiously.

Then smiled coldly.

“So this is your real face.”

“No wonder Lin Tianyu ended up crippled.”

“But unfortunately…”

“…today you encountered me.”

He slowly stepped forward.

“Medicine King Hall.”

“Disciple of the Poison-Hand Medicine King Yan Song.”

“Future successor of the Poison-Hand Medicine King title—”

“Yan Fu.”

Unlike Lin Tianyu—

Yan Fu carried genuine confidence.

Lin Tianyu was merely a political marriage tool abandoned by Merry Forest.

But Yan Fu—

Was personally cultivated by the greatest alchemist and poison master within Medicine King Hall.

His status differed completely.

Zhuo Fan’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Poison-Hand Medicine King.

That old monster truly was troublesome.

Unlike ordinary alchemists—

Medicine King Hall specialized equally in poison arts and medicinal refinement.

To save lives.

To kill lives.

Both paths reached their peak simultaneously.

That was the true meaning behind the title:

Medicine King.

Still—

Zhuo Fan merely smiled coldly.

Poison?

Against others, perhaps terrifying.

Against the Heavenly Demon Art—

Worthless.

“You finished introducing yourself?”

Zhuo Fan asked calmly.

“Good.”

“Then you can die properly.”

BOOM!

Thunder exploded beneath his feet instantly.

Before anyone could react—

Zhuo Fan had already vanished.

Yan Fu’s eyes widened violently.

Too fast.

He finally understood how Lin Tianyu lost.

But before he could defend—

BANG!

Zhuo Fan’s kick slammed directly into his abdomen like a falling mountain.

Blood sprayed instantly from Yan Fu’s mouth.

His entire body blasted backward through the inn entrance, smashing completely through wooden walls before crashing across the street over fifty meters away.

Silence.

Everyone stared blankly.

One kick.

Just one.

And Yan Fu—

The future successor of Medicine King Hall—

Had been blown away like garbage.

Even Xiao Dandan stood frozen completely.

Meanwhile—

Zhuo Fan slowly walked forward through the destroyed inn entrance.

Then he glanced sideways toward Xiao Dandan briefly.

His eyes carried pure contempt.

“Switching men won’t help you.”

“Do women from Blossom Rain Tower only know how hiding behind others?”

Xiao Dandan’s face instantly turned pale.

Tears filled her eyes immediately.

For the first time in her life—

Someone looked at her with complete disdain.

Not anger.

Not fear.

Disdain.

As though she wasn’t even worth acknowledging.

That humiliation cut deeper than any slap.

Without another glance—

Zhuo Fan stepped into the street calmly.

Yan Fu slowly climbed back to his feet while wiping blood from his lips.

Then unexpectedly—

He laughed.

“Heh…”

“As expected…”

“…your speed truly deserves being called Heaven Profound’s equal.”

Zhuo Fan sneered.

“You’re already coughing blood.”

“And you still feel like laughing?”

“Of course.”

Yan Fu’s smile widened strangely.

“Because laughing means…”

“…I already know how to kill you.”

Then slowly—

He opened both palms.

Swirling clouds of poisonous mist gathered instantly around his hands.

Red.

Yellow.

Green.

Three colors intertwined continuously like living venom.

Zhuo Fan’s brows twitched slightly.

Without realizing it—

He had already inhaled traces of poison.

Interesting.

This brat’s poison techniques really were strange.

Yan Fu laughed coldly.

“You country bumpkins truly know nothing.”

“If Medicine King Hall’s poison required direct contact every time…”

“…why would the Seven Houses fear us?”

The poisonous mist thickened continuously.

Then—

Yan Fu’s eyes flashed sharply.

“Take this!”

“Our Medicine King Hall’s inherited profound technique—”

“Seven-Colored Cloud Silk Palm!”

[End of Chapter Ninety-Nine]

 

Chapter One Hundred — Madness

The instant Yan Fu finished speaking—

Three-colored poisonous clouds exploded from his palms.

Red.

Yellow.

Green.

The toxic mist surged upward like a violent storm and swallowed his entire body instantly.

Within seconds—

He vanished completely inside the poison fog.

Zhuo Fan’s brows twitched slightly.

Then he sneered inwardly.

Medicine King Hall specialized in poison techniques.

Unlike Merry Forest, they didn’t possess terrifying speed.

Unlike body cultivators, they lacked overwhelming physical defense.

So naturally—

Their greatest weakness was close combat.

That was why their techniques always hid their true bodies inside poisonous mist.

Enemies feared approaching.

And once fear appeared—

The poison master already controlled the battle.

Unfortunately for Yan Fu—

He encountered Zhuo Fan.

A cold glint flashed through Zhuo Fan’s eyes.

Lightning crackled beneath his feet as he prepared rushing directly into the mist and snapping Yan Fu’s neck instantly.

Then—

He stopped.

His eyes shifted slightly.

Something felt wrong.

Very wrong.

Yan Fu came here too quickly.

Too deliberately.

And his appearance made no sense.

If Xiao Dandan wanted revenge—

Why wasn’t Blossom Rain Tower handling this themselves?

Why would Medicine King Hall intervene personally?

Unless—

This entire situation was intentional.

Someone wanted testing him.

Instantly—

Everything clicked into place.

Qin Caiqing still suspected him.

But she lacked proof.

So she deliberately allowed Yan Fu to provoke him.

Meanwhile—

Somewhere nearby—

Several Heaven Profound experts were probably watching this entire fight unfold.

Zhuo Fan’s eyes narrowed dangerously.

What a beautiful trap.

If he crushed Yan Fu too easily—

His identity would immediately become suspicious.

Meaning—

This battle could not be won.

At least not cleanly.

Slowly—

Zhuo Fan retreated several steps.

The killing intent in his eyes faded slightly.

Inside the poisonous mist—

Yan Fu’s arrogant laughter echoed loudly.

“Hahaha!”

“What happened?”

“Aren’t you supposed to be fast?”

“If you’ve got guts…”

“…then come inside!”

Zhuo Fan snorted.

“You think I’m stupid?”

“Running into poison willingly?”

“You stay in there all you want.”

“Once your spiritual energy runs dry…”

“…I’ll collect your corpse afterward.”

“Hmph!”

Yan Fu’s voice suddenly sharpened.

“If you think Seven-Colored Cloud Silk Palm is only defensive…”

“…then you understand nothing!”

“Today…”

“…I’ll show you what a perfect martial art truly looks like!”

WHOOSH!

Three streams of poisonous mist suddenly shot out from the cloud like living serpents.

The attack speed was terrifyingly fast.

Almost equal to Zhuo Fan’s current movement speed.

His pupils contracted slightly.

He ducked instantly.

Lightning exploded beneath his feet as he slipped directly between the three poisonous streams.

But the moment he evaded—

The poison changed direction sharply.

Like demonic claws hunting prey relentlessly.

“Hahaha!”

“You see now?”

Yan Fu’s mocking laughter echoed endlessly.

“Seven-Colored Cloud Silk Palm attacks and defends simultaneously!”

“No matter how fast you are…”

“…death is inevitable!”

Zhuo Fan continued dodging calmly while sneering inwardly.

Poison cultivators truly occupied a strange position in the cultivation world.

As long as nobody could break their poison—

They appeared invincible.

But once someone neutralized their toxins—

They instantly became the weakest among cultivators of equal level.

That was why none of the ancient Demon Emperors specialized solely in poison.

Poison alone—

Could never reach the peak.

Still—

Medicine King Hall remained terrifying because no one in Tianyu possessed antidotes against their inherited poison arts.

At least—

Not yet.

Zhuo Fan’s eyes flashed coldly.

One day—

He would personally dismantle Medicine King Hall’s poison supremacy.

And when that happened—

Their position among the Seven Houses would collapse instantly.

Unfortunately—

Now wasn’t the time.

Thus—

He endured.

Meanwhile—

Yan Fu misunderstood his silence completely.

“Hahaha!”

“So this is the genius who crippled Lin Tianyu?”

“You’re nothing more than prey running for your life!”

“Listen carefully.”

“You may ignore the other families.”

“But offending Medicine King Hall means certain death!”

Zhuo Fan’s expression darkened slightly.

Motherfucker.

When did I ever provoke Medicine King Hall first?

You people came looking for trouble yourselves.

Still—

He tolerated it.

Until suddenly—

Something snapped.

Fine.

If he couldn’t kill Yan Fu—

He could at least make the bastard suffer.

Instantly—

Zhuo Fan slowed intentionally.

Yan Fu’s eyes brightened immediately.

The three poisonous streams surged forward violently.

Then—

BOOM!

Thunder exploded.

Zhuo Fan suddenly accelerated directly through the poisonous blockade like a cannonball.

Straight toward the center of the mist.

Yan Fu’s face changed instantly.

Too sudden.

Too reckless.

No cultivator should willingly charge into concentrated Medicine King Hall poison.

By the time he reacted—

Zhuo Fan already appeared before him.

One hand shot forward and seized his throat violently.

“Got you.”

Yan Fu’s pupils shrank to pinpoints.

Then—

BANG!

Zhuo Fan smashed him directly out of the poisonous mist.

The cloud dispersed instantly.

At the same time—

Everyone finally saw Zhuo Fan clearly.

His skin constantly shifted colors.

Red.

Yellow.

Green.

Blood poured endlessly from his nose and mouth.

The poison had already entered deep into his body.

Yet—

His eyes still burned with terrifying madness.

“You little bastard…”

Zhuo Fan grinned wildly while tightening his grip around Yan Fu’s throat.

“You love using poison so much?”

“Then let’s see who dies first!”

BANG!

His knee slammed brutally into Yan Fu’s chest.

CRACK!

The sound of breaking bones echoed clearly.

Yan Fu vomited blood instantly.

His eyes filled with disbelief.

This lunatic…

He actually charged directly through the poison cloud without hesitation.

Did he truly not fear death?

Normal cultivators would instinctively hesitate before poison.

Even one moment of hesitation was enough for Yan Fu to escape safely.

But Zhuo Fan—

Didn’t hesitate at all.

He fought like a mad beast dragging enemies into hell together.

“YOU’RE INSANE!”

Yan Fu screamed hoarsely.

Zhuo Fan burst into harsh laughter.

“Correct!”

“I’m insane!”

“If I’m dying anyway…”

“…then I’ll drag you into the grave first!”

BANG!

Another knee strike shattered several more ribs instantly.

Before Yan Fu could scream—

SLAP! SLAP! SLAP!

Zhuo Fan’s palm exploded repeatedly across his face.

Blood and broken teeth sprayed everywhere.

Within moments—

Yan Fu’s mouth had completely collapsed.

The pain became so intense he couldn’t even scream properly anymore.

Everyone watching stood frozen.

Especially Xiao Dandan.

Her hands covered her lips unconsciously.

From the outside—

Yan Fu clearly held the advantage.

Zhuo Fan was already poisoned deeply.

His life force visibly weakened every second.

Yet somehow—

The battle felt completely reversed.

Yan Fu looked like the defeated victim begging helplessly for mercy.

While Zhuo Fan—

Despite approaching death—

Still resembled the absolute ruler of the battlefield.

That terrifying madness…

…shook everyone present.

Even Xiao Dandan’s emotions became complicated.

This man was clearly dying.

Yet until the final moment—

He still stood like the strongest person alive.

She had never seen anyone like him before.

“Didn’t you say Medicine King Hall’s martial arts were invincible?”

Zhuo Fan laughed madly.

“Didn’t you say I would die?”

“Fine!”

“Then let’s die together!”

He grabbed Yan Fu’s head violently—

And smashed it downward toward the ground.

If that strike landed—

Even if Yan Fu survived—

He would become permanently crippled.

“STOP!”

BOOM!

A powerful force exploded suddenly.

Zhuo Fan’s body blasted backward instantly before crashing heavily across the ground.

An old man in green robes descended beside Yan Fu immediately.

The moment he inspected Yan Fu’s injuries—

His expression darkened completely.

Then slowly—

He turned toward Zhuo Fan.

Murderous intent flooded his eyes.

Far above the battlefield—

Two figures stood silently atop a distant tower.

One was Nether Valley’s Fifth Elder.

The other—

Elder Lin from Merry Forest.

Both watched quietly.

After a long silence—

Fifth Elder suddenly sighed emotionally.

“Fearless men lose to ruthless men.”

“Ruthless men lose to madmen.”

“This kid…”

“…really is the perfect counter against Medicine King Hall.”

“If everyone fought poison cultivators like him…”

“…Medicine King Hall wouldn’t be nearly this terrifying.”

Elder Lin nodded slowly.

“Now I understand why Lin Tianyu lost.”

“Against someone this insane…”

“…defeat was inevitable.”

Then his eyes darkened slightly.

“Most cultivators think about survival first.”

“They hesitate.”

“And that moment of hesitation…”

“…is exactly why Medicine King Hall dominates them.”

“But this boy…”

“He never hesitated.”

Fifth Elder sighed deeply.

“What a pity.”

“With such terrifying physical talent…”

“…if he’d entered Nether Valley…”

“…he might’ve become extraordinary.”

“But now?”

He shook his head slowly.

“Medicine King Hall poison entered his organs already.”

“He’s finished.”

Then—

After one final glance toward Zhuo Fan—

Fifth Elder turned and disappeared into the night sky.

Only his voice echoed faintly behind him:

“Still…”

“That brat’s nothing like Zhuo Fan.”

“Zhuo Fan is far more terrifying.”

Elder Lin remained standing alone atop the tower.

His brows furrowed deeply.

If even Nether Valley’s Fifth Elder feared Zhuo Fan that much—

Then what kind of monster…

…had truly appeared inside Tianyu Empire?

[End of Chapter One Hundred]