Huang Yu consumed over a hundred types of Detoxification Pills in a row, but instead of resolving his issues, it exacerbated them, accumulating various conflicting medicinal forces within his body.
These forces were incompatible, colliding with each other, tormenting his already injured body even more.
Each poisonous pill had a different nature, and their mechanisms of toxicity within the human body varied.
For cultivators who employed poison, anything that could harm a person could be considered a poison.
To simplify, for Mortals, daily meals were a necessity for survival and harmless to them. However, imagine force-feeding someone a hundred bowls of rice after they've already eaten their fill to them, these additional bowls would be no different from poison.
Hence, there was no universal antidote that could counter all poisons. Only by understanding the properties of each poison could one craft targeted Detoxification Pills.
The Detoxification Pills sold in pharmacies were refined specifically for several common poisons.
As for antidotes for some obscure poisons, pharmacies wouldn't sell them. It might take countless years to encounter one, and even then, it might not be effective. Selling such refined pills would be a loss-making venture.
Moreover, some Detoxification Pills themselves were poisonous. If taken improperly, they could cause even more poisoning.
At this moment, Huang Yu's body was in turmoil due to the clashes of various medicinal forces, causing a tearing pain throughout.
Several Detoxification Pills he took had inherent toxicity, leaving him dizzy, weak, and experiencing double vision.
The black energy within him incessantly devoured his original Spiritual Power, causing his cultivation level to drop from Foundation Building Eighth Layer to Foundation Building Sixth Layer, and it continued to plummet.
After a frenzied intake of antidotes yielded no progress, coupled with the fear of death, he had given up. In their line of work as assassins, few met a peaceful end. He had mentally prepared for it, but the realization had been hard to accept just now.
Now that he had come to terms with it, he felt calm. If there was a way, no one would want to die. Since he couldn't change it, he preferred to meet his end with dignity.
He paced with hands behind his back, leisurely strolling, observing the bustling streets filled with people striving for various purposes. Would all these struggles still hold meaning in the end?
Returning to his temporary residence, he removed the mask he had hidden behind all his life. In the face of imminent death, he chose to die openly and honorably.
His cultivation level had dwindled to Foundation Building Third Layer, but he paid no attention. Instead, he meticulously bathed and changed, tidying his hair and beard. As the ancients said, "A nobleman's death must be dignified."
He had been adopted by the Shadow Kill Organization from a young age, rigorously trained to become an assassin. He couldn't even recall how many lives he had taken.
Huang Yu lay peacefully on the bed, contemplating his life, awaiting the arrival of death.
Several Spirit Bees flew to his bedside, circling and dancing around him.
"Can't I die in peace?" Huang Yu sighed.
"What if I have an antidote?" Wang Hong entered from the doorway.
"What are the conditions?" Having lived for over a hundred years, Huang Yu knew that there were no free lunches in this world.
"I want you to sign a Blood Contract with me."
"A slave's Blood Contract? How is that any different from death?" He would rather die now than bind himself to a lifetime as a slave.
"I don't need that. I only require you to serve me as you did in Shadow Kill, keep my secrets for a lifetime, and the rest of your personal matters are your own. However, a Blood Contract must be signed; it's the foundation of trust between us."
He urgently needed high-end combat power. Apart from Zhang Chunfeng, who was at the Foundation Building cultivation level, everyone else in his team was at the Qi Cultivation stage.
Without formidable combat power, business would suffer. To establish a presence in Azure Void City, at least one Foundation Building cultivator was required.
However, Wang Hong hesitated to employ strangers without a Blood Contract. Disobedience was a minor issue; the real danger lay in the potential exposure of his secrets.
"I can serve you and keep your secrets, but I won't divulge any information about Shadow Kill, nor will I get involved in your conflicts with Blood Slaughter," Huang Yu proposed, setting his minimum conditions. After all, who had the courage to face death if they could avoid it?
He didn't want to be enemies with Shadow Kill. Despite the brutal training, it was the place that raised him. Without Shadow Kill, he would have died on the roadside long ago.
"I can agree to that condition." Wang Hong could understand the sentiment of not wanting to engage in life-and-death struggles with the organization that once nurtured him.
Wang Hong immediately produced a Blood Contract. Both of them dropped a drop of blood into it, swiftly completing the ritual.
"All right! From now on, call me East Master!"
"Here's the antidote; take it first."
Wang Hong handed a jade vial containing a dark pill to Huang Yu.
After Huang Yu took the pill, the black energy within him slowly transformed into his Spiritual Power, visibly restoring his cultivation level.
Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer.
Qi Cultivation Eighth Layer.
Foundation Building Eighth Layer.
Finally, his cultivation level was fully restored.
From this moment, he bid farewell to his past identity. The previous him was dead, vanished from this world.
Having just experienced a life-and-death transformation, his mind was clear, and he understood the preciousness of life even more.
Everything they were fighting for today would be worthless if someone died.
He aimed to pursue the path of immortality, to live forever.
"I have a somewhat secretive organization in Azure Void City. Since you have experience in this area, I'll entrust it to you. However, your previous identity is exposed; do you have a solution?"
The reason Wang Hong wanted to recruit Huang Yu was due to his late-stage Foundation Building cultivation level and experience in managing underground organizations.
His fabricated immortal way trading company urgently needed someone to manage it. Zhang Chunfeng was inconvenient at the sect, and the others lacked the strength.
Moreover, the opportunity was rare. Huang Yu had just fought a fierce battle with everyone, weakening him.
Approaching him invisibly posed difficulties, leading to his eventual surrender.
If it were another time, Wang Hong wouldn't be able to deal with a late-stage Foundation Building cultivator, and if confronted, he would have to flee for his life.
"That's not difficult." Huang Yu took out the mask he had worn earlier, put it on his face, and underwent a facial transformation. "This is a Spiritual Weapon-grade Shape-shifting Mask. It can directly alter facial features."
As a former assassin, he frequently needed to sneak and disguise himself.
Then, he took off the mask and handed it to Wang Hong.
Wang Hong received it, feeling its soft and silky texturelight as a feather. Obviously, it was much more advanced than his Misty Illusion Mask.
After a brief inspection, he handed it back to Huang Yu. Although the mask was excellent, it couldn't match his Cultivation Techniques, which could directly change his appearance. However, due to his current inadequate cultivation level, he couldn't fully unleash its potential.
[Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]