Volume 1, Chapter 4: Reckless and Death-Seeking

The city gates creaked open slowly, emitting a heavy, reluctant groan, like a slumbering giant begrudgingly awakening. Yun Qianbai and his group stepped out from the shelter of the towering walls, entering a desolate land shrouded in poisonous gas.

“Hey, Yun Qianbai, you sure that little frame of yours can handle this?” the bald man’s gruff voice rang in his ears, laced with undisguised contempt. “Don’t come crying to me when you get scared stiff and need saving!”

Yun Qianbai ignored the provocation, casting him a cold, indifferent glance, his eyes as calm and still as a stagnant pond. He knew arguing with people like this was pointless; strength was the only truth.

“Brother Baldy, you’re wrong. Yun here’s got real skills,” a sycophantic lackey chimed in. “Look at how composed he is—he’s obviously been through serious battles.”

“Nonsense!” the bald man spat. “Him? Been through big battles? I reckon he’s just scared silly!”

Laughter erupted among the men, but Yun Qianbai remained expressionless. Silently, he absorbed the surrounding toxic gas, that faint, slightly metallic-sweet scent. For others, it was a deadly threat; for him, nourishment.

“System Notification: Toxicity +1, Strength +0.1.”

“System Notification: Toxicity +1, Constitution +0.1.”

The constant sounds ringing in his mind lifted Yun Qianbai’s spirits immensely. It felt like picking up coins in a game—utterly exhilarating! He even wished the gas concentration were higher to speed up his leveling.

“Hey, kid, what’re you daydreaming about?” The bald man slapped his shoulder. “Don’t think I don’t know what you’re thinking just because you’re silent. I’m telling you, don’t try to shortchange me on the reward this time!”

“Oh,” Yun Qianbai replied coolly, still indifferent.

“You…” The bald man’s anger flared, but the lean monkey beside him stopped him.

“Brother Baldy, don’t stoop to his level. We have a mission to focus on,” the lean monkey whispered. “We’re here to find the Datura flower fields—no need for trouble.”

The bald man snorted, shooting Yun Qianbai a fierce glare before falling silent. The group pressed onward as the toxic air thickened to 0.7%.

The bald man and his comrades began to feel uneasy; their breaths grew shallow, their faces pale.

“Damn it! Why’s the poison gas so thick in this hellhole?” the bald man cursed. “At this rate, I’m gonna be poisoned for sure.”

“Brother Baldy, don’t you have antidote pills?” the sycophantic lackey asked.

“Of course I do!” the bald man snapped. “But these pills aren’t miracle cures. They only ease symptoms temporarily. Long exposure and you’re doomed.”

Watching their miserable state, Yun Qianbai smirked inwardly. These braggarts were all bluster until faced with a little poison gas—pathetic.

“System Notification: Toxicity +1, Agility +0.1.”

“System Notification: Toxicity +1, Mental Strength +0.1.”

Yun Qianbai’s delight deepened. His body felt lighter, his mind sharper—better than any ginseng fruit!

“Hey, kid, do you have some secret antidote?” the bald man suddenly asked, eyeing Yun Qianbai closely. “You look fine. What’s your trick?”

Yun Qianbai glanced at him without a word.

“Speak up! Don’t make me think you’re hiding something. We’re all in the same boat—why not share the benefits?” the bald man pressed.

“I don’t have an antidote,” Yun Qianbai said coolly.

“Bullshit! You think I’m stupid? You’re clearly unaffected—how could you not have some antidote? Spill it, or don’t blame me for what I do!” the bald man growled.

“I really don’t,” Yun Qianbai’s expression remained impassive. “I just… prefer this environment.”

“Prefer this environment?” The bald man froze. “Are you nuts? This is poisonous gas—people die from it!”

“Oh.” Yun Qianbai replied lightly and kept walking.

“You…” The bald man was furious but powerless. He couldn’t attack Yun Qianbai—not so soon after leaving the city and still within the monitoring system’s reach.

“Forget it, Brother Baldy, don’t waste time arguing,” the lean monkey advised. “Let’s just focus on finding the Datura fields.”

The bald man snorted again, shooting Yun Qianbai a venomous look before leading the group onward.

Yun Qianbai’s lips twitched into a faint, almost imperceptible smile as he watched them retreat.

Following the mercenary guild’s map scroll, the group soon located the Datura fields.

But…

“Is this… even a human mission?” The lean monkey’s voice trembled as he pointed at the fields shrouded in black-purple poison gas, his legs shaking uncontrollably.

“Did those bastards from the mercenary guild even come here before issuing this mission? This poison concentration must be nearly two percent!” The sycophantic lackey was pale and on the verge of tears.

The bald man’s face darkened. Though a fifth-level body tempering ability user, he was not a combat-type able to withstand poison directly.

Confronted with such a high concentration, even his confidence wavered.

Moreover, the Datura fields were swarming with deadly poison bees—a deathtrap with no escape.

“Retreat! We’re not doing this mission!” the bald man snarled, turning to leave.

“Wait!” Yun Qianbai’s quiet voice stopped them in their tracks.

“What? You want to try anyway?” The bald man turned, sneering. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you—this poison isn’t a joke. You could lose your life here!”

Yun Qianbai ignored the mockery, lost in an indescribable excitement.

“System Notification: Toxicity +10, Strength +1.”

“System Notification: Toxicity +10, Constitution +1.”

“System Notification: Toxicity +10, Agility +1.”

“System Notification: Toxicity +10, Mental Strength +1.”

“System Notification: Congratulations, Host, advanced to sixth level of body tempering!”

The flood of notifications made Yun Qianbai feel as if he were in paradise.

This black-purple poison gas, deadly to others, was for him a source of experience, a stepping stone to greater power.

He could feel every cell in his body cheering, voraciously absorbing the surrounding poison.

It felt like rain after a drought—a sensation of pure ecstasy.

“Brother Baldy, look at this kid—he actually seems to be enjoying this,” the sycophantic lackey whispered, pointing.

The bald man and others turned to see Yun Qianbai with his eyes closed, a blissful expression on his face, as if savoring a delicacy.

“This guy… is his brain fried by poison?” the lean monkey swallowed nervously.

“Who cares? We’re done here,” the bald man growled, turning to leave once more.

“Wait!”