"Chen Tianjiao, we finally meet!" the emaciated elder said. "Three years ago, I was ordered to poison Feng Qianyuan, all to deal with you."
"It's a pity that my orders then weren't to poison you. Otherwise, it would have been a clean slate and I wouldn't be in this predicament."
Chen Fan said indifferently, "Your martial arts skills are not enough to impress. You couldn't poison me then, and you can't now!"
"Is that so?"
The emaciated elder said, "That's because you were on guard. If you hadn't been, poisoning you would have been no trouble at all."
"Now, you can come over and try to kill me, and see if you get poisoned!"
Chen Fan stared at the gambling table where the elder was sitting, then his gaze swept across several private rooms beside the elder. Suddenly, he raised his hand.
A surge of True Qi shot out, like a sharp blade sweeping across.
True Qi Projection!
However, the elder was already prepared. He immediately shrank back, hiding beneath the gambling table.
CRASH!
The True Qi swept past, overturning the gambling table.
A puff of white smoke suddenly emerged from under the table, spreading and diffusing with the scattered True Qi from Chen Fan.
A strong, pungent aroma spread rapidly.
"Be careful!"
Ji Qing quickly covered his mouth and nose, retreating with his subordinates.
"I knew you would do this!"
The oil lamp also shattered, its oil spilling out.
The elder, however, said, "I, Ping Sankong, detest brutes like you. But since you've come here, I'll give you a grand gift!"
As he spoke, there were popping sounds of explosions.
Chen Fan turned his head, only to see things exploding on the ceiling behind him, in the aisle, and overhead. White smoke instantly filled the air and surged towards him.
Although the windows had long been shattered, the sheer volume of smoke made the room a hazy white.
Chen Fan raised his hand and unleashed a punch towards Ping Sankong.
"Haha, Chen Tianjiao, let's see how you escape!"
Ping Sankong leaped up, attempting to block Chen Fan.
However, his martial arts prowess was mediocre, only at the Inner Strength level. After a brief block, he was sent flying by Chen Fan.
He spat out a mouthful of blood, his expression manic. He rolled on the ground upon landing, then rushed into the aisle and kicked open a private room.
BZZZT BZZZT...
Suddenly, a buzzing sound filled the air.
Within the white smoke, a swarm of black shadows flew out from the private room and rushed towards Chen Fan.
"Go!"
Master Chu reacted swiftly, grabbing Ji Qing and charging towards the stairs to escape.
Despite the billowing poisonous smoke, Chen Fan's vision was remarkably sharp, and he could clearly see that the flying objects were a swarm of wasps.
These wasps, used by Ping Sankong against Chen Fan, were undoubtedly highly venomous.
Chen Fan circulated his True Qi, forming a vortex around himself.
The venomous wasps that flew in were immediately caught in the vortex, disoriented and unable to approach Chen Fan.
Indeed, it was difficult to deal with a Martial Arts Grandmaster solely with poison; its effectiveness was limited.
However, at this very moment, screams erupted from downstairs.
Chen Fan charged towards Ping Sankong.
The latter knew he was in trouble and flicked his wrist, producing a spray canister from somewhere and spraying a foul-smelling liquid.
But as the liquid fell, it was swept away by Chen Fan's True Qi, failing to reach him.
Chen Fan struck out with his palm.
Ping Sankong dropped the spray canister and rolled into a private room.
Chen Fan's True Qi surged as he attacked.
The private room was completely sealed, filled with poisonous gas.
Yet, it was still ineffective against Chen Fan.
With Chen Fan's cultivation level, his True Qi could seal his pores, and with his breath held, even the most potent poison was useless.
But just then, amidst the toxic smoke, a slender, crimson shadow shot forward like lightning.
As it entered Chen Fan's projected True Qi, the shadow's speed barely slowed.
The True Qi could not block it. Chen Fan's body flickered, and after seeing what it was, he reached out to grab it.
The creature opened its mouth to bite.
But Chen Fan was a step ahead, seizing its vital point.
It was a small crimson snake, not large in size, but its crimson scales were incredibly hard, as if forged from iron.
Its triangular head indicated its absolutely potent venom.
Chen Fan grabbed it by its vulnerable spot and crushed it with his hand, discarding it.
"Hahaha!"
Ping Sankong, huddled in a corner with a look of pain in his eyes, laughed wildly and said, "Chen Tianjiao, you've fallen for it."
"Did you think this Scarlet Spirit Snake was only poisonous when it bit? I also smeared its venom on its body's surface."
"Within three minutes, you'll die of poison!"
Chen Fan felt a slight numbness in his hand and looked up. His five fingers, which had just held the small crimson snake, had turned black.
The poison was indeed potent.
But Chen Fan was unconcerned. He activated the mysterious power within him from the Dragon-Patterned Compass.
Soon, as he projected True Qi from his fingers, the blackness receded. A wisp of blackness dissipated within his projected True Qi.
Ping Sankong's expression froze, staring at Chen Fan with disbelief.
"These tricks of yours are not enough!"
Chen Fan shook his head and brought his palm down.
"Wait!"
Ping Sankong screamed, "Aren't you going to ask who sent me?"
"Isn't it Wu Zhaohui?" Chen Fan said casually.
"I don't know any Wu Zhaohui. I only know that the Ziwei Commander ordered me here."
Ping Sankong said, "He told me you were at the Pass Ghost Market and ordered me to poison you. If I couldn't, I would die. I had no choice!"
Chen Fan said indifferently, "You're stalling for time?"
Just then, crackling sounds echoed.
The temperature began to rise.
"You're right. I have no reason to live; I'm doomed anyway."
Ping Sankong said, "But if I can trap you for even a second longer, you might inhale the Sky-Netting Poison Smoke I've set. Even a Martial Arts Grandmaster would feel chest tightness and dizziness upon inhaling a mouthful, unable to last a minute!"
"Do I look like I can't last?"
Chen Fan said calmly.
"The flames will accelerate the spread of the poison smoke, increasing its potency by two to three times. Every extra second you're trapped is another chance!"
Ping Sankong said with a bitter smile, "I don't want to die!"
"If you didn't want to die, why come and try to poison me?" Chen Fan asked coldly.
"Everyone has weaknesses. The Ziwei Commander held mine, so I had no choice but to come."
Chen Fan's expression was impassive as he brought his palm down.
Ping Sankong desperately tried to leap out of the way.
But the difference in strength was evident. He was struck on the head by the palm, and as his body fell, blood flowed from his eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. He lost the strength to move.
Chen Fan ignored him and turned to leave the private room.
The flames spread upwards, advancing towards them.
The white smoke began to dissipate, but the poisonous gas in the air was growing more terrifying.
As for the poisonous wasps from before, many were burned to death by the fire, while some escaped.
Chen Fan took a step and smashed through a window, leaping out.
Outside, the fire was spreading.
People outside the casino kept their distance, but some were still dizzy and fell to the ground, retching.
The poisonous smoke had spread out, affecting those outside, demonstrating the terrifying potency of Ping Sankong's poison.
The raging flames threatened to engulf the entire building.
"Quick, put out the fire! Extinguish it!"
Master Chu and Ji Qing had grim expressions, shouting orders to rush people to help.
The buildings in the Pass Ghost Market were haphazardly constructed, like a walled city. If this fire spread and wasn't extinguished in time, it could burn the entire Pass Ghost Market to the ground.
Chen Fan was unconcerned. He watched Ji Qing and the others busy themselves, feeling at leisure.
Ping Sankong was the mastermind behind Feng Qianyuan's poisoning three years ago. He had deliberately not killed him instantly earlier, ensuring he would be burned alive in the inferno, a fate that wasn't too lenient for him.
At that moment, his phone vibrated.
He picked it up and saw it was the new phone the little boy had given him earlier.
He pressed the answer button, and Wu Zhaohui's voice came through his ear, "Chen Tianjiao, come to the Underground Boxing Ring!"