"Why?"
Zi Linling sneered, "Uncle Situ, do you know what kind of poison this is?"
Situ Jinglei forced a smile. "If I knew, I wouldn't be standing here!"
Zi Linling's eyes gradually turned cold. "Uncle Situ, you mustn't belittle yourself. The fact that you could recognize this as an ancient exotic poison already means you are quite formidable."
"Little girl Zi, stop flattering me! I know my own worth as well as a mirror! Now, tell me, which ancient exotic poison is this, so this old man doesn't itch with curiosity!"
Situ Jinglei's heart grew even more bitter. After all his fame for so many years, his knowledge was inferior to that of a young girl.
Zi Linling, seeing his expression, couldn't bear to keep him in suspense any longer. She said leisurely, "One smile, and a blooming beauty's face withers; a second descent into the mortal world, a thousand years of existence! The name of this poison should be... Yi Xiao Fang Hua!"
"Yi Xiao Fang Hua?"
Situ Jinglei's buttocks, which had just returned to the chair, felt as if they were on fire, and he jumped up again. Situ Yunfeng leaped up with him. The others, not being alchemists, didn't know much about these ancient exotic poisons, so their reactions weren't as intense.
"So that's how it is! So that's how it is! Hahaha..."
Situ Jinglei suddenly burst into laughter, startling everyone present.
"Lin'er, Yi Xiao Fang Hua sounds so beautiful, is it really an ancient exotic poison?" Zi Guochang asked incredulously.
Zi Linling nodded. "The more beautiful something is, the more vigilant you must be. In reality, the names of ancient exotic poisons are all very pleasant."
"What are these ancient exotic poisons?" Xue Jing couldn't help but ask.
Zi Linling smiled. "Ancient exotic poisons are all silent killers. There are nine types in total. The first three have no records whatsoever; even their names are untraceable. Yi Xiao Fang Hua ranks third among them. This is why Uncle Situ could only infer it was an ancient exotic poison by its method of killing without a trace, but couldn't identify its name or transmission method."
Situ Jinglei nodded. "Indeed! But little girl Zi, if the names of the first three ancient exotic poisons are lost to history, how do you know about them?"
Zi Linling smiled. "I know because I accidentally stumbled upon a cave dwelling. The owner of the dwelling was a Pill Emperor, and his alchemy notes mentioned the nine great ancient exotic poisons. The names of the nine great ancient exotic poisons, from first to ninth, are: Po Suo Wu, Ling Long Zui, Yi Xiao Fang Hua, Dong Feng Cuo, Bai Zhuan Qian Chou, Chun Yi Lan Shan, Meng Li Wen Rou, Yue Se Liu Li, and Man Xiang Si. Unfortunately, those alchemy notes were too old. I only read them once, and they turned to dust. Therefore, there's no way for Uncle Situ to study them."
Zi Linling certainly wouldn't tell them that her familiarity with ancient exotic poisons was due to the existence of the "Ren Huang Yao Dian" (Human Emperor's Medical Codex). Although everyone present was someone she trusted, human hearts were unpredictable, and she understood the principle that an innocent person possessing a treasure would invite disaster. Furthermore, she always felt that the origin of the "Ren Huang Yao Dian" was extraordinary, seemingly hiding great secrets and entangled with significant karmic ties. And naturally, the fewer people who knew these secrets, the better. This wasn't a matter of revealing secrets, but as a cultivator, accumulating too much karma would not be beneficial to oneself.
"However, Uncle Situ, the alchemy manuscripts I gave you last time were copied from my memory. After you've studied them thoroughly, I'll transcribe some others for you." Zi Linling thought for a moment and then added. Situ Jinglei and Situ Yunfeng were among the few people who made her feel warm, so she wasn't stingy.
Situ Jinglei said gratefully, "Little girl Zi, I will immediately sever ties with the Four Great Empires and research the antidote in the name of Medicine King Valley! Once the antidote is developed, I will publicly announce that it is your accomplishment!"
"Absolutely not!" Zi Linling stopped him. "Uncle Situ, you absolutely must not do this!"
"Why?" Situ Jinglei asked, confused.
Situ Yunfeng chimed in with displeasure, "Old man, how can you be so dense? Ah Yuan and little girl Zi living in Feng Yu Lou isn't a secret. And we coming here to find them didn't hide our tracks. If you go back now and directly fall out with the Four Great Empires, how could they not guess that you were instigated? Who could instigate you? Even a fool would guess. At that time, they will target Ah Yuan and little girl Zi even more. They wouldn't dare to openly cause trouble for little girl Zi and Ah Yuan, but it's easy to dodge an open attack, yet hard to guard against a hidden arrow. Who knows if they'll play dirty behind your back? In that case, will little girl Zi be able to focus on researching the antidote, or will she have to contend with them? Of course, with little girl Zi's intelligence, she'll surely crush them, but it will still affect the progress of antidote research, won't it? And for every day the antidote is delayed, more people in the world will die. Isn't that indirectly harming them?"
Situ Yunfeng's analysis was logical. After all, being able to associate with Ye Lingyuan, even a blockhead would have to become sharp, right?
Zi Linling nodded. "Situ is right! Although in the face of absolute strength, all schemes and tricks are paper tigers, there will always be flies buzzing around the ears, which will make me very unhappy! Therefore, to keep my ears clean and my mood pleasant, and to develop the antidote as quickly as possible, you'll have to endure for now and pretend to go along with the rulers of the Four Great Empires!"
"Lin'er is right! This King is busy protecting Lin'er and doesn't have time for those flies, so I'll trouble you, Uncle," Ye Lingyuan added opportunely.
Zi Guochang also said, "Brother Situ, for the sake of all living beings, please bear with it!"
Situ Jinglei was made dizzy by their words and finally agreed to temporarily stall the powers that be from the Four Great Empires. Zi Linling and Ye Lingyuan exchanged a look, and a smile of a successful plot flickered in their eyes.
"Alright, the serious matters are concluded. I have an announcement to make." Zi Guochang cleared his throat and, under everyone's surprised gazes, announced proudly, "In three days, it will be Lin'er's thirteenth birthday. You must all come to celebrate!" As a father, he hoped to give Zi Linling an unforgettable birthday, to make up for the years he hadn't been with her.
"Birthday? Thirteenth birthday?" Situ Yunfeng was extremely shocked. Situ Jinglei's jaw almost dropped. Thirteen years old! If not for this birthday, they would have almost overlooked Zi Linling's age. This was because Zi Linling's demeanor, knowledge, and courage made it difficult for people to see her as a thirteen-year-old girl.
Zi Guochang nodded. "This is Lin'er's first birthday celebration. I hope you will all grace us with your presence!"