Her hand slipped.
The lion’s eyes flashed with fury.
With a mighty roar, it snapped its chains effortlessly and leapt toward the crowd—toward Kent.
The disciples screamed, scattering in fear. Some tried activating defensive talismans, but the sheer force of the lion’s charge shattered them like glass.
Kent, however, stood still.
His golden eyes met the beast’s glowing violet ones.
Then—a spark of understanding.
Just as the lion lunged, Kent lifted his right hand, his fingers forming a strange seal in the air.
BOOM!
A storm-like pressure exploded from him, crackling like a silent thunderstorm.
The lion, mid-attack, froze in place, its body trembling.
Its instincts screamed—this was no ordinary human.
Kent took a slow step forward, his presence commanding absolute dominance. The lion let out a low, rumbling growl but did not move.
Kent reached out.
Instead of using a needle, he extended his bare hand toward the beast’s fangs. The watching disciples gasped.
“What is he doing?! Extracting poison directly?!”
“That’s suicidal!”
Even the Peak Master’s gaze flickered with intrigue.
Kent’s fingers touched the lion’s fangs, and instantly, a black liquid seeped out, coiling into his palm like living ink. The poison, potent enough to corrode steel, did not harm him.
His Storm God Tyrant Physique and mastery over poison completely neutralized it.
The lion let out a soft, submissive huff—not in defiance, but in respect.
Kent withdrew his hand, observing the pure, lethal poison swirling in his palm. A smirk played on his lips.
“A decent extract.”
The entire peak fell into stunned silence.
The Peak Master stepped forward, his sharp eyes narrowing.
“You reckless fool,” he snapped. “Do you think poison extraction is a game?”
Kent remained silent.
“Directly absorbing poison into your palm? Are you trying to get yourself killed?”
Kent sighed, letting the black venom drip from his fingers before it vanished into his skin. “If it could kill me, it wouldn’t be worth extracting.”
Murmurs rippled through the disciples.
“Who is this guy?!”
“Even senior disciples struggle to control poison like that!”
“He… he’s a monster!”
The Peak Master studied him for a long moment before his gaze landed on the sealed letter in Kent’s other hand.
Kent wordlessly handed it over.
The moment the Peak Master read the sender’s seal, his eyes narrowed further.
“A letter from the Hall Master…” His voice was laced with suspicion. “Where did you come from?”
Kent replied casually, “Slave Village.”
The Peak Master’s pupils contracted sharply.
The disciples around them fell silent.
A new disciple… from a mere slave village?
The Peak Master clenched the letter, his mind processing the implications.
After a long pause, he let out a dry chuckle. “Hmph. So even the Hall Master sends me troublesome seeds now?”
He turned away, his robes billowing. “Follow me. From this moment, I need to keep in line before accepting as disciple.”
Kent simply smiled, unbothered by the whispers around him.
As he stepped forward, the Mighty Dark Lion let out a low rumble and padded silently behind him—choosing to follow.
The disciples’ shock deepened.
“The lion… it’s following him?”
“This guy… Who the hell is he?”
Kent didn’t answer.
With every step he took, he carved his name deeper into the history of Green Poison Peak.
Later, when everything settled…
Inside the dimly lit chamber of Green Poison Peak, the Peak Master sat upon a grand yet austere stone throne, his sharp eyes studying the young man before him.
Kent stood casually, his posture relaxed yet commanding. Despite the oppressive aura of the chamber—where the air itself felt tinged with venom—he did not flinch.
The Peak Master smirked, tapping his long fingers against the armrest. “So, what is it you seek from me, newcomer?”
Kent’s golden eyes remained steady. “Resources.”
The room fell silent for a moment.
Then, a low chuckle escaped the Peak Master’s lips. It grew into a full-bodied laugh that echoed through the chamber.
“Resources? You think I hand them out like charity?”
Kent remained unfazed.
The Peak Master leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. His gaze was sharp—like a serpent studying its prey.
“One must be worthy to claim the wealth of this peak,” he said, voice laced with challenge. “This is not some ordinary sect division where one can coast by with talent alone.”
Kent met his gaze without hesitation. “Then tell me how to become worthy.”
The Peak Master’s lips curled into an approving smirk. “Good answer.” He rose from his seat, his dark green robes billowing slightly as he strode toward a nearby stone shelf.
“Here in Green Poison Peak, hard work is law,” he said as he traced his fingers along the spines of ancient books, each coated with a faint shimmer of protective runes. “Every disciple here has bled for their place. If you want resources, you will earn them.”
He pulled out a thick, black-bound tome and turned toward Kent. The cover was engraved with a sinister-looking serpent, its eyes gleaming with eerie green light.
“This,” the Peak Master said, holding the book aloft, “is the core of our teachings. It contains knowledge of every poison, antidote, herb, and extraction technique known to this peak.”
The disciples who had gathered outside the chamber gasped.
“The Poison Codex…?”
“Even senior disciples take years to master that book!”
“He’s giving it to a newcomer?”
The Peak Master ignored the murmurs and tossed the book toward Kent.
Kent caught it easily.
“You have one year to learn everything within that book,” the Peak Master declared. “Every poison, every herb, every technique. When you believe yourself ready, you will return to me and prove your worth.”
Kent flipped open the first few pages. Immediately, dense, intricate scripts filled his vision—detailed diagrams of venomous creatures, the properties of rare herbs, and step-by-step instructions for poison refinement.
He closed the book with a satisfied smirk.
“Understood.”
The Peak Master’s gaze lingered on Kent, his expression unreadable. “Tell me, where does your confidence come from?”
Kent shrugged. “I learn fast.”
The Peak Master narrowed his eyes but didn’t press further. “Good. Then let’s see how fast you truly are.”
As Kent turned to leave, the Peak Master spoke again.
“Oh, and one more thing.”
Kent paused.
The Peak Master’s smirk widened. “Failure is not tolerated on this peak. If you return unprepared…” He let the words hang in the air like a venomous threat.
Kent met his gaze without a trace of fear.
“I know my limits.”
With that, he turned and walked away, the heavy tome tucked under his arm.
The disciples watched in stunned silence as he descended from the Peak Master’s chamber.
“He… he doesn’t even seem worried.”
“Does he really think he can master it all in just one year?”
“Either he’s a fool, or he’s a monster…”
The Peak Master watched Kent’s figure disappear into the distance, his expression unreadable.
“Let’s see if you’re truly as remarkable as you seem, Kent.”
And thus, Kent’s trial at Green Poison Peak began.