Gazing at that face, faintly familiar in its beauty, Xiao Yan's heart surged with waves of tumult—he could never have imagined that this so-called chief of the Poison Sect was none other than his first female friend during his early training days, the young healer revered by countless mercenaries of Qingshan Town as a celestial maiden! That pure, kind girl…now, she was the very one who had driven so many people to flee in fear of the Poison Sect? Such a dramatic transformation, even as Xiao Yan witnessed it with his own eyes, still felt utterly unbelievable. Hearing Xiao Yan's thunderous outburst, the woman with silver hair slightly trembled, her gray-purple eyes flickering gently. She then gently wiped the blood from her lips with a pale hand, placing it to her mouth and carefully sipping the blood. As she completed this, her gray-purple eyes gradually settled into calmness. She glanced at Xiao Yan and said softly, "I'm not the little healer you remember. You've mistaken me for someone else." "Ridiculous!" "Heard this, Xiao Yan's eyes widened instantly. He couldn't help but launch a sharp scolding. That kind, white-dressed girl from back then had left an indelible impression on him—especially her strange constitution and the way she had to take poison to survive, which he had never forgotten. Upon hearing what the other had just said, he was immediately furious. 'What in the world are you doing? You're also a citizen of the Jima Empire—why are you waging such a war?' Xiao Yan took a deep breath, his eyes blazing with anger, and asked in a low, steady voice. The woman with white hair remained silent for a moment before finally speaking softly: 'The young healer you knew has passed away. Now, I am the head of the Toxic Sect—the Heavenly Poison Woman.' " Staring at the young healer who had remained cold throughout, Xiao Yan suddenly felt a sense of unfamiliarity. Back then, though she knew fully well about her own condition, she had stubbornly maintained her kindness, carefully shielding herself so as not to burden others. Her gentle, heartfelt smile had deeply enchanted countless people. Yet now, those very qualities that once had drawn everyone in seemed to have drifted far from her. "Could it be due to the厄难毒体?" Xiao Yan clenched his fists, feeling a pang of sorrow as he watched her transform into this new form. "I was born amidst hardship, and my very purpose in life has always been to spread that very hardship." Staring at Xiao Yan's furious expression, Xiao Yishen seemed momentarily disoriented, as if recalling the events from those days. The previously cold and detached demeanor gradually softened, and she spoke gently, "I had told you back then that one day I would reach this point—because of the Destiny of the Unfortunate Toxic Body. This fate has always been the same across generations." "The Unfortunate Toxic Body is not incurable; you're simply giving up!" Xiao Yan exclaimed, deeply saddened. "Now, whenever someone touches me, they die in the most painful way before my very eyes. You haven't truly understood the struggles I've endured these years..." A touch of melancholy appeared on Xiao Yishen's face. After leaving the Gamma Empire, she had once believed she would surely overcome this so-called Unfortunate Toxic Body. Yet reality had proven far more harsh. After leaving the Gamma Empire, she stayed in a small village within the Yumuri Empire for one year. There, two elderly, childless couples, moved by her charm and kindness, invited her to remain in the village and treated her as their own. The villagers regarded her as a true member of the family. That year, she felt profoundly happy—after years of constant movement and upheaval, this was the first time she had experienced such deep, heartfelt warmth and genuine happiness. She cherished this feeling deeply, making several solemn vows to protect it. Yet, the outbreak of her affliction—the厄难毒体—proved to be the turning point, altering everything. First, two elders, whom she regarded as daughters, died before her, suffering the most agonizing pain upon touching her body. Though their gazes as they drew near death were tender and gentle, it was precisely these very gazes that truly severed her heart, cutting it into fragments. After their passing, several others in the village also died due to her presence, growing increasingly distressed and fearful. Eventually, she had to leave the village, dragging her weary body behind her, while bearing the corpses of the two elders, under the disapproval and fear of the villagers. She buried them, kneeling before their graves until she fainted, and upon waking again, her hair had turned completely white. Touching that now-frightening white hair, she finally realized that she was a harbinger of disaster—a star of misfortune bringing calamity to those around her. Then, what good was kindness? If she treated others kindly, and yet saw them die in the most painful ways before her eyes, was that not, in truth, a form of cruelty? After grasping this truth, the kind-hearted little healer gradually faded into the deepest recesses of her heart, while the cold, unfeeling Tian Du woman began to emerge. Watching the ever-changing expressions on the little healer's face, Xiao Yan realized that she must have endured many events over the years—perhaps these very events were the root of her transformation. A silent sigh escaped him, yet his mind felt as tangled as a bundle of threads. He knew clearly that, as one born with the affliction of the calamitous poison body, she would never enjoy a life of peace. The calamitous poison body would continuously torment not only herself but also those around her. Pfft! Just as Xiao Yan was about to softly exhale, a sudden sound of spitting blood erupted behind him. Turning around, he was startled to see Medusa's complexion suddenly turning pale. "What's wrong?" Xiao Yan quickly turned and asked, his voice filled with astonishment. "Her blood is poisoned!" A look of pain flashed across Medusa's face, then she clenched her silver teeth, channeling the qi within her body, desperately driving the toxic liquid that was wreaking havoc throughout her system out. Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan's expression also changed, and he turned to glare angrily at Xiao Yixian. "With the厄难 toxic constitution, whoever touches it suffers—this is entirely her own fault," said Xiao Yixian, ignoring Xiao Yan's gaze, her eyes coldly fixed on Medusa. "A mere dose of poison? You expect me to yield? Even before the symptoms fully manifest, I could have taken your life!" Medusa's eyes suddenly grew icy, her tone sharp. "Then let's find out!" Xiao Yixian's gray-purple eyes ignited with cold determination, and she remained unyielding. "Enough!" Seeing the two about to engage in another fierce clash, Xiao Yan roared in frustration. Xiao Yan's roar also calmed the two somewhat. Seeing this, he looked up at Xiao Yishen and said firmly, "Xiao Yishen, back then in the small valley, I told you that no matter where you eventually went, I, Xiao Yan, would always remain your friend. That promise still stands today!" "I've already forgotten about the flowers," Xiao Yishen replied coldly, her eyes flashing. "Then, when you forget the flowers, you'll attack me." Xiao Yan laughed coldly, and then simply stepped forward without any defense, moving straight toward Xiao Yishen. "Watch out!" Seeing Xiao Yan's action, Medusa quickly shouted. The woman was covered in potent toxins—merely touching them would be troublesome for her. Xiao Yan waved a hand, indicating she needn't worry, yet his steps never ceased. As Xiao Yan approached step by step, Xiao Yishen's face slightly changed, her eyes flickering with hesitation and struggle. His steps halted before Xiao Yi Xian. Xiao Yan gazed at the slightly lowered, gray-purple eyes and the pale face, and breathed a soft sigh: "You haven't forgotten—Eren's Toxic Body is not an insurmountable affliction. You have no need to be so desperate." "Talk easy!" A touch of poignant sorrow flickered at the corner of Xiao Yi Xian's mouth. She understood better than anyone the terrifying nature of Eren's Toxic Body. Noticing her reaction, Xiao Yan furrowed his brows and reached out, intending to gently touch her pale cheeks. But she remained alert, stepping back several paces and shouting sharply, "Are you trying to die?" "Only to let you know that, though Eren's Toxic Body is strange and unpredictable, it doesn't intend to kill anyone specifically. So you needn't be so self-sacrificing. Moreover, you're no longer the naive girl you once were, and I'm no longer the young warrior who once fled in panic, pursued by a small mercenary company." Xiao Yan smiled, his steps slipping as he appeared beside the other. He moved his hand, instantly grasping the young physician's arm. Startled by the grip, the young physician quickly struggled, her voice rising in anger. "What in the world do you want?" Xiao Yan chuckled, lifting his hand. At that moment, the hand had turned black. A sudden thought crossed his mind, and the Lüli Lotus Heart Fire surged forth. As the flames rose, the blackness rapidly faded, and within moments, his hand was restored to its original state—glowing with the protective warmth of the Lüli Lotus Heart Fire. Unless it was an exceptionally potent, deeply toxic poison, most such poisons would have been purified by the Lu Li Lotus Heart Fire. Shaking his palm toward the slightly astonished young physician, Xiao Yan's expression grew increasingly serious, and he spoke slowly, "If you still regard me as a friend, then stop making these mistakes. With every such error, you're only accelerating the onset of the厄难毒体. Once it fully erupts, there may be no human or beast left within a thousand li—by then, it will be too late. Even if you can contain the acute toxicity of the厄难毒体, you will never be able to fully resolve it." The young physician shook her head slightly, her voice laced with bitterness. Over the years, she had gathered extensive information, yet still found no trace of any breakthrough in overcoming the厄难毒体. "Indeed, the厄难毒体 is innate, and resolving it is inherently difficult," Xiao Yan nodded, gazing at the young physician whose eyes had now dimmed. "While a complete resolution may be impossible, I can certainly help you achieve full control over it."