With his main source of income gone, he had no choice but to stay in the guild and think of another way to earn soul ores. His rapid growth was only because of the unimaginable amount of soul ores he spent. He didn't even bother counting the total soul ores he spent just to reach his current realm because it could easily surpass tens of millions. Thinking of how much he spent would only pain him, so he simply decided to not count and only look at the results.
Even how hard he thought about it, he could not think of a way to earn as easy as killing and stealing. So he decided to use the remaining demonic nature's dew he have just to ease his depression.
After absorbing his last three demonic nature's dew, his expression became extremely unsightly as he said "This is a real problem. I think the amount of demonic nature's dew needed to even increase a single level at this realm is equivalent to half the amount I used to go from body tempering realm to fusion realm! Why the hell is there such a big difference!"
Tears almost flowed out of his eyes when he thought of the hardship he will face to increase a single level. Despite fate being cruel on him, he decided to deal with the problem on a later date since he has no idea where to start.
After a moment of trying to calm himself, he suddenly stood up with an expression full of resolve and thought "Alright! For now I will learn the poison art of the Mao Group! Since the elders were already convinced that they have made me into their loyal dog. They will surely teach me!"
...
On a certain room in the Poison Hall, Ming Li stood unmoving with several other guild members staring at a giant stone tablet. The stone tablet stood at the center of the room with rough edges. It was full of text and amazingly large slashes which made it seem that it has witnessed countless battles before it landed in the hands of the guild.
Everyone in the room have different expressions, some were frowning, some have a blank look, most have wry smiles, but there were a few who have a look of deep enlightenment.
"So this is their poison art. When I stated my name, they let me in without a problem, I guess they trust those people with seal in them and expected them to learn the art."
When he decided to gain full enlightenment of the art, he stared at the tablet with full focus and immediately, not even a single breath passed, his consciousness entered the stone tablet. Several vines wrapped his body where several green flowers started to bloom.
Everyone standing beside him shifted their gaze at Ming Li with eyes full of jelousy. Most of them have been standing at the same spot for several days or even weeks just to even have the chance to gain a little enlightenment. On the other hand, Ming Li did it in a single glance.
What's more was that, his state of enlightenment was deeper compared to everyone else. The deeper the enlightenment the more green poison flowers would bloom beside that person. Normally, three flowers was the maximum a normal person with a bit of talent would get. In Ming Li's case, there were actually ten flowers that bloomed!
In the history of the Mao Group, nobody reached ten flowers. Back then, they thought that five flowers were the limit at initial enlightenment. However, right now Ming Li have just doubled that amount without a bit of effort.
The elder who were in charge of the poison hall was amazed when he saw the scene. It was not only because he saw ten flowers, it was because he was seeing another flower starting to bloom quickly after just the initial enlightenment!
"Gaining another flower only means he already made his first step! Each step will make a flower bloom!" Someone in the hall exclaimed.
Those who have yet to gain enlightenment started to gather around Ming Li and observe him along with the elder. The elder's expectation of him grew strong, In fact, this was not the first time this elder met Ming Li. This elder was one of the three who gave him the seal when he was suspected as the one doing the killing in the guild.
...
When his consciousness entered the giant stone tablet, Ming Li stared at the surroundings looking baffled. What confused him was that everything around him looked like something similar to that of his art! It was full of plants that spread out at a certain space. The only difference is that, the place was filled with unimaginable amount of poison!
He stretched out his hand and tried to touch a poison. Instantly, his hands turned green as the poison in the air continued to devour his entire arm making it slowly rot!
Ming Li felt the danger of the situation and immediately pulled away his hands which caused the poison to disperse. When the poison dispersed, Ming Li noticed that he was actually inside an invisible spherical barrier which does not allow any poison to go inside.
He also noticed that far away, there was a small green flower which looked like the source of the deadliest poison in the area. His instincts told him that he needed to get that flower at all cost to fully understand the art.
Inside the sphere, he observed the surroundings and the poison for a moment and said "This is really something created from the art master gave me. I do not know why the Black Spider Guild has an art like this, but It doesn't matter, since I will surely master this art!"
Then he stood up full of determination as he slowly lifted his feet and stepped outside the barrier. With that single step, the poison around his feet seem to slightly spread away from him.
When his feet was fully into the ground, he lifted his body attempting to make a second step. In his second step, the poison started to act again and rushed towards him. However, an invisible force blocked the poison which made it disperse like smoke.
While this was happening, Ming Li was silently murmuring "Indeed, the place is full of poison energy from the plants, however, I can also use the other poisonous plant energy to counter the poison that attacks me! This is the test in this field! I do not know how the others passed this, but I am pretty sure, I can pass this with the best results!"
Ming Li looked at the green flower from far away. He estimated that it will take him roughly fifty steps to reach the flower. So it only means, he needed to defend himself from different sort of poison for fifty steps!
His face gleamed with determination as he took another step, and another! Every step he makes would make the flowers that attacked him with poison to wither. It was as if, Ming Li's poison was perfectly countering its poison and decimating it in the process!
His steps were not wide yet not small, every part of his body was calm making it appear that he was not covered by poison.
After several steps, his steps slowed down a bit. The amount of poison attacking him multiplied by several degree as if it wished to slay him.
He gritted his teeth and shouted "I want that flower! and If I say I want it I will take it!"
Another step landed on the ground which made hundreds of flowers wither. At his thirtieth step, he was now covered in his own poison energy which he used to counter the poison in the air.
With all the poison covering him, his appearance looked extremely terrifying. Anyone with weak control of natural energy would surely die from just getting near him!
When he reached his fortieth step, he was attacked with extreme poison which caused him to fall on one knee and half of his body turned green. This made Ming Li furious as he looked around to observe the plants. Then a flash of killing intent appeared in his eyes!
"You lifeless plants dare to hurt me! Let me all show you who is your master!"
Ming Li stood up, but he did not face the direction of the green plant. Instead, he looked at the direction in his right, and started walking towards a space full of poisonous plants!
Every plant he came near to, started to wither. He easily exceeded fifty steps as he walked around the whole space nonstop!
...
On the poison hall, people who surrounded him grew from tens to hundreds Even those who already gained enlightenment of the art came inside the poison hall just to watch Ming Li achieve something that no one has ever seen before.
When the flowers around him reached forty five, everyone was extremely excited but suddenly it slowed down.
"I think the legends say that you only need fifty steps to achieve full enlightenment of the art. I believe there were only ten in the history of the guild to achieve this. Maybe he is already at his limit at 45, but it is still the highest in the past 100 years" A random guild member said.
While the guild member was talking, the flowers surrounding Ming Li suddenly increased in number rapidly easily reaching sixty! It was as if Ming Li suddenly started running!
Everyone was astonished, Nobody have ever reached sixty in the entire history of the guild.
The elder in charge of the hall stared with wide eyes at the flowers surrounding Ming Li and ordered a disciple to call another elder to look at the situation.
What they didn't know was It was at that moment that Ming LI changed his direction and decided to destroy all the plants in the space!
Inside the stone tablet, Ming Li was continuously walking with mad expression. He was panting heavily, but it did not affect his speed the slightest. He continued to destroy every plant blocking his way.
Some days passed, and everyone did not leave to continue watching as the flowers surrounding Ming Li reached two hundred!
The new elder who came to look was also dumbfounded of the scene. He could only think of one reason why this is happening, and it was exactly what was Ming Li doing. Randomly walking around the poisonous space!
Time passed, and Ming Li did not stop walking. He had an empty look on his face, and even forgot the flow of time. Only his determination was driving him, he didn't know how long he has been walking, but he was sure of one thing, and that is to destroy every plant at sight!