Chapter 633: Success - 633
Whether or not he would become a scholar was not something that Skymender really needed to think about right now. He already spent a lot of time learning and knew more than anybody else in his school.
To further his education without going deeper into one or two subjects, he would have to wait until he entered the Imperial School. That was where all the deeper knowledge was gathered for the future talents of the Empire, those who would go on to replace the current generation and take on a role as the upholders of the Empire.
When he got to that point, whether or not he would become a scholar would be decided.
There was still plenty of time before his ten high quality cauldrons arrived, so Skymender began to move on to the next phase of experiments. After school, he arrived at the lab and found multiple different cauldrons made of different materials.
This was to test whether or not the corrosive poison would have an effect on some materials, but not others. From the drops he spilled on himself, he already knew that it worked against living beings.
However, concocting and storing it was still completely impossible. He would either need to find a metal resistant enough to stop the corrosion, though that would lead to the corrosive properties dying out, or something that simply did not trigger the corrosion.
Naturally, with such a metal likely not existing and not being effective regardless, he opted for the second method.
Some of the materials could be used to try and create the poison itself, hence them being shaped like cauldrons. Though, most could not. He still had them shaped as cauldrons because why not?
This was Skymenders second idea. His first was for if this did not end up working.
Skymender started simply. The first few cauldrons were the shapes of various woods. He used one of the metal cauldrons to begin and only poured the substance into the wood cauldrons before adding the third ingredient.
In the end, all of the wood cauldrons corroded.
Skymender moved through cauldrons of various materials, some metal, some made from various plants, and some made from artificially created substances.
However, in the end, without fail, they corroded.
Skymender wasn't sure whether this was a good result or a bad one. What he did know was that it was time to move onto the next plan.
That was to keep the poison incomplete and store it. It would be activated by combining it with the last ingredient. The issue was, he would not always have access to heat and a cauldron.
Therefore, he would need to make it so that they immediately formed the corrosive poison upon touching.
After thinking, he would make the final ingredient the bark of the rot tree. After all, sprinkling some bark would be easier than carrying around a poisoned corpse.
So, Skymender used one of his cauldrons and mixed the body of a poisoned corpse with that of the poisonous swamps mud.
They mixed together smoothly under the heat.
Skymender stored the result in a vial.
He then tested it out. With the bark of the rot tree ready, he threw the vial at the wall and it broke. He then threw crushed up pieces of the bark at the substance.
But nothing happened. This was expected. The normal result would only be seen under heat.
It would be unreasonable for it to work.
So he needed to refine the bark in advance.
How he would do so required experimentation. Logically, turning it into a liquid should allow it to mix better, but Skymender wasn't sure what combination of ingredients would allow for such a mixture to work properly in combination with the unfinished poison.
After thinking for a while, he used more mud from the poisonous swamp. Water would most likely cause the poisonous substance to spread out and weaken, perhaps not activate at all. It was too liquid.
Only the same mud as before seemed reasonable. In a cauldron, he mixed the bark of the rot tree with the mud from the poisonous swamp.
He collected the result in a vial. He then made another batch of the poisonous swamp mud mixed with a poisoned corpse.
With the two vials, he threw them at the wall at the same time.
They broke, and the two substances mixed.
Though it was hidden under the mask, Skymender couldn't help but smile at the result.
He clearly heard sizzling, and as the liquid fell, he saw the corrosion left behind on the wall.
It was a success. Not reveling in it for long, he left the room. He saw Melly, and next to her were two servants. Li Youcai, and one of hers.
Skymender spoke to Li Youcai.
He explained a design for a two sided vial. Li Youcai listened and wrote it down, promising to have it made soon.
Meanwhile, Skymender returned to the lab and began to produce a bunch of the two mixtures. This lasted until he ran out of rot tree bark and was almost out of poisoned corpses. Even his supply of poisonous swamp mud was running very low. But what he had made was enough for a long time.
This was not a poison that could have an antidote. Its effects were instant and deadly. There was no adequate defense against it, and it had a variety of uses.
This ranged from simple killing and destruction to tactical invasions or even assassination.
From what Skymender understood, even Sword Masters would not be able to resist the effects of this poison. Of course, if he was facing a Sword Master, he wouldn't have the chance to even throw the vial before being killed.
But the fact that no normal adversary was qualified to kill him left him relieved.
Skymender stored all of the mixtures in a hidden area and returned home. The next day, after school, many newly created vials were in the room.
They had openings on two sides, as well as two lids.
He poured one mixture into one side and closed it. He flipped it upside down and poured the other mixture in the other side.
Chapter 634: Unbearable Pain - 634
After doing it to one vial, he repeated the process many times. Eventually, every bit of the two mixtures he made were gone, placed into the two sided vials.
There was actually more than he could carry on him. Luckily, he had brought some chests with him and stored most of the vials inside of them.
He also kept some of the vials on him. Naturally, it was quite risky to have a dangerous poison kept in a glass vial, especially since he was not immune to this poison.
Luckily, he had made sure that the glass it was stored in was strong.
After storing them, he took out one and looked at the wall in front of him. He took the vial and launched it at the wall.
The glass broke, and the mixtures mixed instantly. After just a moment, the wall began to corrode and let off a gas.
Skymender watched with a smile as it slowly settled down.
However, as he watched it, he couldn't help but feel the desire to become immune to it. It seemed much less logical than becoming immune to his other poison. After all, this was less of a poison and more of a corrosive substance.
But he really wanted to try.
He watched on silently as the poisonous substance slowly stopped corroding the wall and the floor.
Finally, he gritted his teeth, reciting a reference from a book.
"Scared money don't make money."
He took out a poison vial, and before he could think or hesitate, he threw it at the wall and stepped forward. As the mixtures mixed, he placed his hand on the wall. A gas slowly started the float as Skymender felt it.
He gritted his teeth, but he could not resist letting out an unintentional roar of pain.
"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!"
—-------------------
A few hours later, it was time to go. Skymender left the room and returned to the carriage.
Melly sat nearby, reading a book.
She looked up and saw Skymender. The first thing he saw was his pale face and bloodshot eyes, but besides that, he looked fine.
She had worried long ago, but after seeing him leave tired and weak every time, she got used to it. Of course, worry was still present.
However, she couldn't help but notice the glove on his hand.
"Did something happen, Skymender?"
Skymender shook his head. "Nothing unusual. It's just a bit cold today."
Melly nodded, though she felt something was off. It was still technically summer after all, even if it was nearing the end.
As they rode in the carriage, Skymender did his best to hide his hand, which was shaking beyond his control.
He also did his best to hide the pain constantly assaulting him.
When they arrived at his house, Skymender walked to his room and locked his door behind him without greeting anyone.
As soon as the door was closed behind him, he hurriedly took off the glove and held his forearm while staring at his shaking hand.
It was completely devoid of outer skin. Only the layers underneath were somewhat intact.
He would have been bleeding, but the poison had corroded the blood as well.
In addition to all of this, dark green, almost black, veins were present on his hand and traveling up his arm.
He should have expected this and tested it on a living being first, but it seemed that the corrosive poison also indeed contained a poison beyond its corrosive properties.
It was obvious, but he had overlooked it.
He gritted his teeth in pain. He did not move, only focusing all of his attention on resisting the pain.
He was not a cultivator, he was a mortal. A young mortal. It was ridiculous to expect him to be able to completely ignore or resist such intense pain. The vast majority of mortals would not experience something so painful in their entire lives.
He stayed like that for an hour before hearing a knock on his door.
"Skymender. Are you coming for dinner or not? Are you okay?"
It was his mother's voice.
Skymender gritted his teeth and slid the glove back on. It hurt a lot as he did so, but once it was on, the pain lessened. Of course, it was just as bad as it had been earlier.
Skymender took a few moments to gather his breath.
"Skymender? Is something wrong?"
Skymender finally stood up and opened the door.
Rubbing his eyes, he looked at his mother.
"Oh. I'm sorry. Did I wake you up?"
Skymender nodded.
"Sorry. Dinner is done."
Skymender nodded again and walked outside of his room. He followed his mother as they walked towards the dining room.
Soon, they arrived. Everyone still living in the house was gathered, but it was quite empty compared to the past. Only four children, plus Melly, sat at the table.
Skymender, Skymerge, Skytear, and Skyhue, who was hardly a child. In fact, she had recently become an adult, turning 18.
She was also the only adult living with her parents.
Everyone knew she was doted on by their father the most.
His oldest daughter could beat him up easily, so his second daughter became the one he treated like most fathers treated their daughters.
In fact, he had invited her to come back.
As they began to eat, Baron Sky noticed Skymender's glove. "What happened there?"
"Nothing much. Just a little cold."
Baron Sky did not believe him for a second. However, he would not question him further in front of everyone else.
"I like your new mask." Skyhue said.
Skymender thanked her.
Naturally, Skymender had to pull down his mask to eat. He was lucky to be able to even take off his mask. If he had breathed in just a few more breaths of the poison, he would have either died or been forced to constantly wear the mask just to survive.
Dinner proceeded smoothly and amicably.
Skymender began to walk back to his room, but his father met him in the hallway.
"Let me see your hand." He said sternly.
Weekly Power Status
200+ Power
Ranking 
121 Power
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