Seeing the troubled look on Zou Feng’s face, Liang Shunan wasn’t in a hurry to press him.

When it comes to poison, you can’t just talk about toxicity without considering the dose.

For Liang Shunan, while Xiaolv’s venom was indeed impressive, he would need at least a full teacup of it to make any effective use of it.

Therefore, if the amount was any less, there was no point in making a deal.

"Master Liang, I can do it. But to collect that much, I’ll need about half a month," Zou Feng replied after a moment of consideration.

Liang Shunan smiled. "Alright. It’s a deal, then!"

With that, Liang Shunan raised his teacup, gesturing for Zou Feng to drink.

Zou Feng lifted the teacup, only to see a live poison toad lying motionless at the bottom.

The scalding tea seemed to have no effect on it whatsoever. In fact, the creature looked like it was taking a bath, thoroughly enjoying itself.

The so-called "tea" was, in fact, just the venom secreted from the small poison toad’s skin, steeped in the water.

The brew was rather dark, yet its scent was an intoxicatingly fresh fragrance.

Fortunately, Zou Feng was by now unfazed by the various foods and drinks of Biyou Palace. After a brief inspection, he tilted his head back and downed it all.

The poison toad at the bottom could be used to brew more "tea," so he was careful not to swallow it.

When Zou Feng finished drinking, his expression unchanged, the smile on Liang Shunan’s face widened.

He had, in fact, been using the bowl of poison tea to gauge the level of Zou Feng’s Poison Skill.

After a few more pleasantries, Zou Feng found a suitable moment to take his leave.

Not long after he left, a woman with a sinuous waist emerged from the back of the tea room, her movements exaggeratedly fluid.

To be able to twist one’s waist to such a degree without snapping it... she could only be from the Valley of Ten Thousand Snakes.

This woman was none other than the Valley Master of the Valley of Ten Thousand Snakes, Yin Suhong.

"Brother Liang, what do you think of this young man?" Yin Suhong cooed, her tone implying a deep familiarity with Liang Shunan.

Liang Shunan said with a look of approval, "For our new Honored Guest Elder, advancing to the True Qi Realm is only a matter of time."

"That tea contained a Heart-Burning Toad. For him to refine it in an instant, completely unaffected... it would be no exaggeration to call him a Poison Skill prodigy, the likes of which appears only once in fifty years!"

Yin Suhong’s serpentine eyes suddenly brightened. "Is he really that formidable?"

"Formidable he may be, but it’s a pity he’s chosen the wrong path..." At this, Liang Shunan fell silent, a bitter smile touching his lips.

Yin Suhong smiled sweetly. "That’s right. Of all the things he could have done, he had to go to the Silk Cave and get tangled up with that little slut!"

Liang Shunan smiled but said nothing. However, his expression made it clear that when he spoke of "choosing the wrong path," he wasn’t referring to a matter of allegiance.

"Still, it’s for the best. I happen to be in need of a dual cultivation partner. The more powerful he is, the more he’ll benefit me in the end..."

Liang Shunan said, "I know you’ve already made your arrangements, but be careful your plans don’t backfire."

"Then, Brother Liang, will you really hand over the Toad Gu King Poison to him when the time comes?" Yin Suhong retorted.

Liang Shunan shrugged. "Of course. Everyone in Biyou Palace knows that I, the Pond Master, am a man of integrity. Besides, I wouldn’t be able to fool him without the genuine article."

"Enough about him," she said. "It’s rare for us to see each other, brother and sister. Why don’t we take this chance to... cultivate together?" As she spoke, Yin Suhong began to sway into Liang Shunan’s arms.

At this, Liang Shunan flickered. In the next instant, he was at the tea room’s entrance. Without looking back, he said, "Dual cultivate with you? Maybe when I decide I want to become a shriveled-up toad!"

"And another thing. If you truly still see me as your Brother Liang, then take my advice. Why insist on a fight to the death with the Silk Cave over one woman? Don’t you know that this whole thing is just..."

Yin Suhong’s smile vanished, her expression turning grim. "Of course you wouldn’t understand the agony of watching the one you love die a horrible death, Brother Liang. Besides, this has become my Heart Demon. If the people of Teng County and everyone she cared for don’t die, this Heart Demon will be the death of me!"

Liang Shunan sighed softly. "Even if you manage to kill Zou Feng and everyone in Teng County, can you also kill Bai Chen?"

The reason for suddenly mentioning Vice Palace Master Bai Chen was that during the Silk Cave’s contest for the True Inheritor, Bai Chen, in the name of fairness, had prevented Yin Suhong from aiding Wang Wenjing.

Therefore, strictly speaking, Bai Chen was also one of the enemies responsible for the loss of Yin Suhong’s beloved.

Yin Suhong didn’t answer the question. She only said, "Take care, Brother Liang."

Hearing this, Liang Shunan knew that further persuasion would be futile and strode quickly out the door.

In truth, he no longer had the mind to meddle in the affairs of his junior, Yin Suhong.

’If I’m not mistaken, we Leaders of the Five Poison Hall will soon find it difficult to even protect ourselves...’

Meanwhile, Zou Feng, who was about to return to the Silk Cave, had already opened the List of Gods to check it.

Liang Shunan’s name wasn’t on it.

’Even though that guy’s words and actions were strange, and he seemed to be holding his tongue about many things, he doesn’t have any killing intent toward me. The deal should proceed smoothly.’

’Now, then... the next step is to use some tricks to get Xiaolv completely under my thumb.’

’Just giving orders won’t be enough to make that little thing obey and hand over the maximum amount of venom every day.’

’Xiaolv’s recent behavior has shown signs of rebellion.’

’If it weren’t for my own strength holding it in check, it would probably try to devour its master at any moment.’

For a Lifebound Gu Insect, the benefits of turning on and consuming its master were immeasurably vast.