"Xiao Ming, your poison is way too intense. Just what kind of soul beast did you get this from? The Emerald Scorpion normally doesn't have a venom like this…"
Qin Ming staggered to his feet, barely managing to use his soul power to soothe his damaged internal organs. Every inch of his body throbbed with pain, and his already sensitive senses were overwhelmed.
As a Soul King, Qin Ming wasn't unfamiliar with toxic soul beasts or poison-wielding soul masters. He'd fought and defeated more than a few in his time. He'd been poisoned before—multiple times—but never had any toxin affected him this severely.
If Chen Ming hadn't deliberately knocked him out of the poisonous area and immediately administered an antidote, but instead left him trapped inside that toxic mist, Qin Ming had no doubt: he wouldn't have survived. If this had been a real battle to the death, one lapse in focus would have cost him his life.
And this is a Soul King talking—someone with the mutated beast martial spirit "Blazing Flame Wolf." Even though agility-type soul masters generally have lower resistance to status effects compared to power or defense types, it still shouldn't be possible for a mere Soul Grandmaster to bring him down just through poison.
If all poison-type soul masters were this powerful, people would've long since rushed to add toxins to their arsenals.
The three Education Commissioners were also deeply curious about the origin of Chen Ming's poison. So even though Qin Ming's questions were a bit direct, none of them stopped him. Instead, they all turned their gazes toward Chen Ming, waiting.
Chen Ming thought for a moment, then offered an awkward smile.
"Teacher Qin, Commissioners… my poison came from a… fortunate encounter. It's not something that can be replicated."
Seeing Chen Ming keep things vague, the three commissioners were visibly disappointed but didn't push. The origin of one's soul rings and soul skills is often a soul master's most guarded secret. The fewer people know, the better—because if word gets out, it could easily be exploited.
Their interest came from the sheer potency of that venom. Aside from what Poison Douluo had demonstrated in the past, they had never seen a poison so deadly—especially not from someone at the Soul Grandmaster level.
"Qin Ming, go rest and recover on the side for now. If you feel anything unusual, let us know immediately," Zhi Lin said, gently using his Skyblue Vine martial spirit to carry Qin Ming to a quiet spot where he could meditate and heal. Then he turned toward Chen Ming.
"Xiao Ming, we've seen just how powerful your poison is. It's truly extraordinary. No wonder you were able to absorb a thousand-year soul ring as your second one. But we need to talk seriously now. Your venom is simply too lethal. Ordinary soul masters wouldn't stand a chance."
"Most of the students in our academy are around the Soul Grandmaster level. To them, your poison could be outright fatal. Even if we could cure them quickly, there would still be severe consequences. And remember, most of our students come from powerful and wealthy families. Using a toxin this aggressive could land you in serious trouble."
Zhi Lin glanced over at Meng Shenji and Bai Baoshan, who nodded in agreement.
Meng Shenji subtly flicked his hand. A wave of soul power pulsed, and a token floated out from the soul tool ring on his finger, landing gently in Chen Ming's palm.
"Xiao Ming, keep this token on you. If anyone in the academy tries to give you trouble, show them this. Or bring it with you and find the nearest teacher. Unless absolutely necessary, do not use your poison on fellow students. Got it?"
Chen Ming took the token and nodded respectfully to the three commissioners.
"Commissioners, I understand. I won't use my poison lightly."
"Good. That's all we ask."
Meng Shenji casually glanced at the area where Chen Ming had used his Poison Cloud skill.
Even now, that part of the training platform was still coated in a faint layer of green mist. The special stone surface, designed to endure the aftershocks of a Level-40 Soul Ancestor's attacks, was corroding with a faint sizzle in the darkness.
It had only taken a few breaths for the toxin to eat away an entire layer of that fortified rock—and it was still melting, slowly but steadily.
If that had been flesh and bone instead of stone? A regular person's skeleton would already be dissolving. Even most soul masters under Level 30 wouldn't fare much better.
For low-level soul masters, this soul skill was basically a death sentence.
Students of Heaven Dou Imperial Academy were all elites—nobles, heirs, or talents backed by powerful factions that had taken root in the empire for generations. If something like a fatal poisoning occurred on campus, not even the three Education Commissioners could guarantee they'd be able to handle the fallout.
Why is it that the newly enrolled Dugu Yan, also a Soul Grandmaster, can't compare to Chen Ming at all in terms of toxicity?
Which one of them is the real heir of the Poison Douluo?
The three Education Commissioners found themselves thinking the same question.
They chatted with Chen Ming for a bit more, trying to build some rapport. Meanwhile, Qin Ming finally stood up again.
He looked disheveled but seemed to be stabilizing. After all, he was a Soul King. With strong soul power to shield his organs at the critical moment, plus his beast-type martial spirit, his recovery—especially with an antidote—was relatively quick.
Of course, that was only because he hadn't inhaled too much of the poison. If the toxins had damaged his lungs and internal organs further, even an antidote wouldn't have helped so easily.
"Qin Ming, it's getting late. Take Xiao Ming and find a place for him to stay tonight. Tomorrow, walk him around the academy and help him get familiar with the other students," said Meng Shenji.
"Yes, Commissioner."
Qin Ming immediately responded and, after saying their goodbyes, led Chen Ming down the mountain.
The upper parts of the mountain were mostly reserved for simulation training grounds and faculty housing. Most students lived either mid-slope or near the base of the mountain.
Once they confirmed the pair had left, the three commissioners—who had until now maintained a calm, authoritative demeanor—exchanged glances and hurried back to the spot where Chen Ming had unleashed his venom.
They chiseled off a portion of the corroded rock using soul power, then carried it back inside. They casually swept the food and wine off the table to make space and began studying the sample with great focus.
Meng Shenji pulled out Chen Ming's personal file and handed copies to the other two. When they saw that Chen Ming had awakened with only innate level five soul power, and that his martial spirit wasn't officially recorded as the Emerald Scorpion King but rather an "ordinary" Emerald Scorpion, the expressions on all three of their faces turned… odd.
With no outsiders around, the three old men—who had spent decades working together—dropped their usual composed facades. They leaned in conspiratorially, whispering and discussing like mischievous schoolboys.
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(End of Chapter)