The unspoken threat in his words was clear to everyone.
Zi Linling responded calmly, "What? Since when is the Poison Master Association not allowed to have people undergo assessment for poison masters?"
Zhao Yunfei was taken aback for a moment before he reacted, exclaiming in surprise, "You're here to be assessed as a poison master?"
"What? Is that not allowed?" Zi Linling replied, still unhurried.
Zhao Yunfei very much wanted to say it wasn't.
But the purpose of establishing the Poison Master Association was to gather all those who used poison in the world to counter the Alchemist Guild.
Moreover, Zi Linling not only possessed poison arts but her mastery was definitely not low.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have fallen victim and still have residual toxins of Yi Xiao Fang Hua in his body.
Zi Linling took in his expression and smiled, "It's no use for you to object. Once I take your position as the president of the Poison Master Association, I'll deal with you properly!"
"Hmph!"
Zhao Yunfei snorted coldly, "If you want the position of the president of the Poison Master Association, we'll see if you have the capability!"
"That's not your concern! You just need to tell me how the assessment works!"
Zhao Yunfei said angrily, "Good! Very good! Once you enter the main gate, the assessment begins. Within three days, the more toxins you neutralize, the higher your poison master rank will be!"
"In that case! Let's begin then!"
Zi Linling stepped forward fearlessly.
She hadn't expected the assessment for poison masters to be even more demanding than that for alchemists.
Fortunately, she had given Ye Lingyuan many antidote pills when she came, so he would be prepared for any unforeseen circumstances.
As Zi Linling stepped through the gate, she smelled a faint, fishy odor.
If she didn't want to be poisoned, she could simply swallow a strengthened version of the universal antidote pill.
But she couldn't do that.
The poison master assessment tested the ability to analyze toxins, that is, to discern the patterns of toxins and then refine antidotes on the spot, rather than relying on swallowing antidotes to force through.
"Snake venom!"
Zi Linling's lips curved slightly, and a few medicinal herbs appeared in her hand.
With a thought, a wisp of flame appeared on her fingertip.
She didn't take out the Nine Extremes Qiankun Cauldron but instead conjured a furnace in mid-air, refining the herbs within.
Soon, the fragrance of the medicine filled the air, dispelling the fishy odor.
Throughout the entire process, Zi Linling's movements were fluid and seamless, without any hesitation.
After snake venom came spider venom, centipede venom, bee venom, scorpion venom, and other animal toxins.
Zi Linling maintained her unhurried pace throughout. The moment she stepped into the toxin's range, she had already decomposed the toxin and directly conjured a furnace in mid-air to refine the antidote.
In this manner, she spent ten breaths of time neutralizing all the animal toxins.
Following this, Zi Linling stepped into the realm of spiritual poisons.
Spiritual poisons were those naturally produced by certain flowers, grasses, and trees.
Seven-star begonia, heartbreak grass, mandrake, and so on!
Zi Linling didn't pause for even a moment before proceeding to refine the antidotes.
Her method remained the same: conjuring a furnace in mid-air to directly neutralize the poison.
Another ten breaths later, Zi Linling entered the third major category—combined toxins.
From combined toxins made of two poisons to mixed toxins composed of three, four, or even five poisons.
Zi Linling still didn't pause.
Her understanding of medicinal herbs had reached the point of perfection, so she easily concocted the necessary antidotes.
Leaving the range of mixed toxins, Zi Linling finally entered the challenge mode.
This meant she had now reached the level of a beginner poison master.
To be assessed as an intermediate poison master, she had to challenge an intermediate poison master.
"Liang An, Intermediate Poison Master, please enlighten me!"
A pale-faced young man blocked Zi Linling's path.
"Zi Linling, Beginner Poison Master, I'm ready!"
In front of Liang An appeared a dan cauldron.
This cauldron was his tool for refining poison, known by poison masters as a "poison cauldron."
It turned out that challenges between poison masters involved the challenged party refining poison on the spot, while the challenger also refined an antidote on the spot.
Zi Linling smiled and continued to conjure her furnace in mid-air.
Liang An frowned and said, "Do you look down on me?"
Zi Linling smiled and shook her head, "I apologize, I didn't mean that. It's just that my poison cauldron is a bit special, and it's hard not to have an advantage.
"So, for fairness, I'll reluctantly use this for now. If I feel I'm not capable enough, I'll bring out my poison cauldron."
She was telling the truth; after all, the Nine Extremes Qiankun Cauldron was of such high quality that using it would indeed be bullying.
But to Liang An, this statement only made him feel that Zi Linling was belittling and insulting him.
Poison masters, who dealt with poisons constantly, were naturally prone to quick tempers.
And Liang An, being narrow-minded, felt even more insulted, his face darkening immediately.
"Hmph! If you're seeking death, I'll grant it to you!"
Zi Linling's amiable expression turned into a cold sneer, "We'll see who's seeking death!"
Liang An said angrily, "No more words! Let our skills do the talking!"
With that, he lit the fire and opened his cauldron.
One by one, he threw medicinal herbs into the poison cauldron, completely focused on refining the poison.
Don't ask why medicinal herbs could be used to refine poison.
"Every medicine has three parts poison." Just as medicine can heal, it can also be used to refine poison.
Zi Linling watched the herbs he threw in and understood.
She had already guessed what poison Liang An was trying to refine.
But she wasn't in a hurry, as it still took time and a process for herbs to transform into poison.
Seeing that Zi Linling hadn't moved, Liang An felt the insult even more strongly.
As a result, his anger burned even fiercer.
And with the rising flames of his anger, a hint of killing intent appeared in his eyes.
Zi Linling, having killed so many people, was extremely sensitive to killing intent.
Therefore, the moment killing intent flickered in Liang An's eyes, her own gaze turned cold.
She thought to herself, "Hmph! Since you want to kill me, don't blame me for showing no mercy!"
Ye Lingyuan, who had been following Zi Linling silently, looked at Liang An as if he were already a dead man.
"Hmph! Dare you try to kill the person I hold dearest? Do you really think I don't exist?"
But he didn't act rashly.
Zi Linling's bold appearance at the Poison Master Association indicated that she had her own plans. He didn't want to disrupt his Lin'er's strategy.
After the time it took for a stick of incense to burn, a pungent odor finally emanated from Liang An's poison cauldron, indicating that his poison had taken shape.
At this moment, Zi Linling moved.
A few medicinal herbs also appeared in her hand, and they were the exact same herbs as Liang An's.
That's right! She intended to fight poison with poison.
Originally, she had intended to use a gentler approach, just neutralizing the poison and finishing.
But who told Liang An to harbor killing intent towards her?
Anyone who harbored killing intent towards her would naturally be dealt with preemptively, with no mercy shown!
Therefore, she adopted the aggressive method of fighting poison with poison, striking a decisive blow against Liang An.