"Zefang, how did you know his Golden Core was shattered?" Xiao Man asked.
"As a cultivator at the Golden Core stage, his lifespan shouldn't be depleting this rapidly. Yet, he appears to be on the verge of death, and his spiritual energy is dissipating. This indicates a problem with his Golden Core. Furthermore, he spat black blood, a sign of poisoning," Zefang stated clearly. "Therefore, this is a hot potato, not to be touched."
"I know," Xiao Man replied calmly. "I knew his Golden Core had a problem from the beginning, but I still made a promise. I am here today only to fulfill my commitment to Miss Yan. If they are unwilling to let me treat him, I will not force them."
The father and his two sons discussed for the time it takes to steep a cup of tea. Ultimately, the City Lord relented and agreed to let Xiao Man treat the Old City Lord.
"Thank you, Young Immortal Master." With a decision made, City Lord Yan's attitude towards Xiao Man became much friendlier.
"You are too kind, City Lord," Xiao Man said, stepping aside. "Please ask everyone to wait outside. I prefer not to have anyone present while I treat him."
City Lord Yan wanted to stay, but Yan Yan stepped forward, took his arm, and practically dragged him out.
"Xiao Qin, I'll wait for you outside. Call me if you need anything."
"Alright." Xiao Man looked at Yan Yan. "Miss Yan, please prepare a room for my friend and some food. Let him stay at the City Lord's mansion."
"Does the treatment take a long time?"
"Not too long, especially since the Old City Lord's Golden Core is shattered."
"Shattered?" City Lord Yan was shocked. "Impossible. If my father's Golden Core were shattered, how could he still maintain his cultivation at the Golden Core stage?"
"He has been relying on his cultivation to support the shattered Golden Core. Once his cultivation is depleted and the Golden Core completely breaks, it will be his time to ascend."
As the door closed, shutting everyone out, the City Lord's mind replayed Xiao Man's words. His father's Golden Core was shattered. This meant that if he hadn't relented tonight and allowed her to treat him, his father would have surely died. Thinking of this, the City Lord felt a chill of fear, his heart pounding with anxiety, lest any accident occur.
"Old City Lord, please forgive my presumption," Xiao Man said respectfully. She always held reverence for the strong. The Old City Lord's Golden Core had been damaged, and he was poisoned. It was remarkable that he had held on until now.
"Young friend, there's no need to worry. Even if it cannot be cured, no one will blame you," the Old City Lord said softly. "However, how did you trick young ladies out of their possessions?"
The Old City Lord was still bothered by Xiao Man's deception regarding the Foundation Establishment Pill with Yan Yan.
While preparing the medicinal bath, Xiao Man chatted with the Old City Lord. "You are truly mistaken. Your Golden Core is shattered. Even with my exceptional talent, without sufficient spiritual energy to support it, I wouldn't be able to treat you. Do you think a mere Qi Refining stage brat could heal your injuries?"
The Old City Lord interjected, "Of course not!"
"Exactly. Wuji City has requested Dragon Spirit Bamboo three times in a row for their assessments, indicating a dire need. This bamboo is used to prolong life. When I entered Wuji City, Fan Ting discovered my skill in poison, and his excitement was palpable. This suggests someone was poisoned. Upon further consideration, it's evident that a noble of the city is critically ill and poisoned."
"Young friend, you are indeed observant. Then why didn't you try to approach the City Lord's mansion?"
"Everything was merely my conjecture. The City Lord's mansion did not announce your injury. I assumed your injury was a secret. If I had boldly come to your door, given the City Lord's volatile temper, wouldn't he have chopped me up and fed me to the dogs?"
The Old City Lord laughed at Xiao Man's words. "You little rascal, stop trying to fool me. When you snuck into the City Lord's mansion to retrieve your person, weren't you afraid?"
"This junior was forced into it. Zhou Yan is my person. I couldn't just abandon him."
"Why did you only take Zhou Yan and not the other person?"
"I cannot tolerate treachery. I despise betrayal most. Once unfaithful, forever unusable," Xiao Man said faintly. "Moreover, people have inherent flaws. Betrayal, once it occurs, will happen again. I'm not tired of living, so why would I keep someone like that by my side? It would only be vexing."
"That makes sense."
"Old City Lord, you are the only Golden Core cultivator in Wuji City. Whoever could inflict such grave injury upon you must also possess considerable cultivation, perhaps even someone you know."
The Old City Lord's expression changed drastically. He remained silent for a long time. It wasn't until Xiao Man asked him to enter the medicinal bath that he slowly shuffled to the side of the tub and, with Xiao Man's help, laboriously climbed in.
"Why are you so certain it was someone I know who plotted against me?"
"A friend I know, with a clear conscience, was unaware of the malice of people's hearts. He had his Golden Core shattered and his tendons severed by someone he trusted. Fortunately, he was young and talented. Had he been older, with his Golden Core shattered and tendons severed, he would likely be a pile of bones by now."
The Old City Lord felt that Xiao Man was implying he was old for being a Golden Core cultivator. However, seeing Xiao Man's frank expression and earnest demeanor, he thought he might be overthinking.
"Youngster, you are indeed a peerless genius. In just a few months, you have become a Foundation Establishment stage cultivator. Even with the aid of the Foundation Establishment Pill, this is extraordinary."
Xiao Man merely smiled. The poison the old man had contracted was peculiar, actually corroding the Golden Core. This provided her with a new avenue of thought. Her previous poisons targeted the body. However, for cultivators, by the Nascent Soul stage, they could use their Nascent Soul to survive. If her poison targeted the root, the Nascent Soul, then could Nascent Soul cultivators escape?
"Young friend, how do you plan to treat me?"
"First, detoxify," Xiao Man stated calmly. "This poison is rather unusual, capable of poisoning your Golden Core. Such skill in poisoning should originate from the Five Poisons Sect among the Seven Great Sects, shouldn't it?"
The old man seemed surprised. "Young friend, why do you think so?"
"I myself am skilled in poison. However, my poisons can only incapacitate cultivators below the Golden Core stage. While they can affect those at the Foundation Establishment stage, they cannot kill them. But the poison you have contracted attacks your very foundation. There cannot be such a person in Wuji City."
The Old City Lord felt a chill run down his spine. Could it be that the Five Poisons Sect was behind this? But what benefit would the Five Poisons Sect gain from the fall of Wuji City?
"Old City Lord, perhaps you should ponder carefully. Who in Wuji City could contend with the City Lord's mansion?" Zhu Qing climbed onto Xiao Man's wrist. Xiao Man grabbed it and extracted a drop of poison, dripping it into the medicinal bath. "If Wuji City were to become the territory of a certain sect..."
The Old City Lord immediately understood Xiao Man's implication. If Wuji City became the territory of a sect, it could rapidly grow in power and surpass other sects by supplying them with fresh talent. His Yan family had always managed Wuji City impartially, recommending suitable talents to the Seven Great Sects. Over the years, they must have offended many people. It wasn't impossible that someone wanted to replace the Yan family.