The chilling energy of the Soul-Chilling Poison, upon nearing Ye Bufan's true qi, was met with an immediate counterattack from the Purple Nether Cold Fire. The energy instantly enveloped and consumed the poison.
Next, the Soul-Chilling Poison, sensing the threat from the Purple Nether Cold Fire, began to flee throughout the body.
However, Ye Bufan's true qi had already been strategically placed within Chu He's meridians. Wherever the Soul-Chilling Poison went, it was absorbed by the silver needles infused with Ye Bufan's true qi, strategically positioned at each acupoint.
Within half an hour, frost began to form on the silver needles inserted into Chu He. At the tips of the needles, even ice chunks the size of water droplets could be seen.
Zhu Zizhen, witnessing Ye Bufan's actions, was utterly dumbfounded.
Meanwhile, Chu He, lying on the bed, his complexion gradually began to recover. The ashen pallor of his face was slowly giving way to a faint hint of color.
Ye Bufan used his true qi to remotely extract each silver needle, retracting them into his spatial jade pendant.
"Old Zhu, I'll leave the subsequent body conditioning to you," Ye Bufan said to Zhu Zizhen.
"Is my grandfather all right?" Chu Mengyao asked.
Ye Bufan smiled faintly and gently stroked Chu Mengyao's head. "He's fine. I need to go out now to find the culprit who harmed your grandfather and ensure your grandfather's secret is kept."
Chu Mengyao nodded. "Then be careful."
"Understood." With that, Ye Bufan vanished from his spot.
...
Jinhe City, Liu family villa.
"Hahahaha, very soon, very soon the Chu family will not be able to hold on. Then, the Chu family's position will be mine!" Liu Sheng roared with laughter.
"Mr. Liu, our Sakura Island has helped you significantly. We hope you will fulfill your promise," a woman sat beside Liu Sheng. She had severe dark circles under her eyes, and her lips were purplish-black, giving her a rather eerie appearance.
"Don't worry. Miss Zhenzi. It's just the location of Ye Bufan's sect. I heard my grandfather mention it before," Liu Sheng replied.
"Excellent," the other party chuckled.
"Then I shall go contact the heads of other families now and have them come here to discuss matters." Liu Sheng took out his phone and walked out, intending to make calls to the other family heads.
As Liu Sheng opened the door, a person was standing right at his doorstep. Liu Sheng's expression changed, and he immediately flew backward.
"Bang—" Liu Sheng's body slammed heavily onto the coffee table in the living room, shattering it. The Sakura Island female cultivator named Zhenzi immediately stood up.
"Baka! Who is it?" she exclaimed, standing up and warily looking outside.
Ye Bufan walked in from outside. "What? You want to find my sect's location, and you want to know who I am?"
"Ye Bufan?" Chuanmao Zhenzi looked at Ye Bufan, her brow furrowing. "I actually didn't detect you."
"Indeed. No wonder the Liu family is so bold and fearless; it turns out you have a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator supporting you," Ye Bufan said, glancing at Chuanmao Zhenzi. "It seems that behind you, there should be a cultivation family or sect from Sakura Island."
"Ye Bufan, I must say, you are very clever." Chuanmao Zhenzi sneered. "Since you know I have the backing of a major cultivation family, then surrender obediently. If I'm in a good mood, I might allow my superiors to deal with you leniently, and grant you a complete corpse."
Upon hearing this, Ye Bufan couldn't help but burst into laughter.
"What? Are you out of your mind at the brink of death?" Chuanmao Zhenzi watched Ye Bufan calmly, her true qi in her right hand circulating continuously, preparing to deliver a heavy blow to Ye Bufan.
"No, I just can't recall how many people have said similar things to me," Ye Bufan replied. "The last person who offered me a complete corpse has already gone to meet the King of Hell."
"I hope you can still laugh later," Chuanmao Zhenzi snorted coldly.
"Miss Zhenzi, quickly! This is Ye Bufan, kill him for me!" Liu Sheng's eyes widened, his mouth full of blood, pointing at Ye Bufan with great excitement.
"Did you poison Old Master Chu with the Soul-Chilling Poison?" Ye Bufan asked Zhenzi.
When Zhenzi heard Ye Bufan's question, she assumed he had come to demand the antidote and started to laugh.
"So it turns out you came for the antidote." Zhenzi immediately adopted an arrogant posture. "Since you're here to beg for the antidote, you should have the attitude of a supplicant. Kneel before me, and I might consider sending the antidote back."
Ye Bufan stared at her with killing intent. "I find you to be somewhat inexplicably confident, perhaps overly so. I merely asked if you were the one who administered the poison; I didn't say I came for the antidote."
Zhenzi looked at Ye Bufan, thinking he was just saving face.
"My Soul-Chilling Poison is not ordinary. Only I can detoxify it. If you're not here for the antidote, then what are you here for?" Zhenzi snorted coldly and asked.
"To kill you," Ye Bufan said flatly. "A mere mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator. Your Soul-Chilling Poison is nothing to me."
As he spoke, Ye Bufan's entire aura changed. Zhenzi's smile froze, and a powerful pressure bore down on Chuanmao Zhenzi.
Chuanmao Zhenzi felt as if she were facing a formidable enemy, scattering her spiritual energy to resist.
The next second, sword qi from all directions surged towards her. The sound of flying swords whizzing through the air echoed in Chuanmao Zhenzi's ears. She looked around vigilantly, searching for the source of the flying swords.
"Ah—"
The next moment, Chuanmao Zhenzi let out a scream. A cut had appeared on her chest at some point. Finally, several flying swords carrying sword qi suddenly appeared. With a flash of light, Chuanmao Zhenzi was startled and quickly dodged. Only when these so-called "flying swords" had passed did Chuanmao Zhenzi realize they were silver needles.
"How can silver needles carry sword qi? This is impossible!" Chuanmao Zhenzi was shocked. Just as she prepared to resist, the silver needles directly pierced her limbs, leaving her no time to react.
"You! This! This is the Soul-Chilling Poison! How do you have the Soul-Chilling Poison?"
The next second, Chuanmao Zhenzi looked at Ye Bufan in disbelief. She hadn't expected the Soul-Chilling Poison to be hidden within those silver needles.
"I don't have any Soul-Chilling Poison. I'm merely returning the Soul-Chilling Poison you used on Old Master Chu back to you," Ye Bufan said with a smile.
"You! Impossible! The Soul-Chilling Poison is a special poison. How could you possibly extract it?"
Zhenzi still refused to believe this fact, shaking her head incessantly.