The male protagonist of the book is poisonous

The victory in the sect's defense didn't let anyone relax for long. The entire sect was immersed in an atmosphere of exhaustion yet relief. Some disciples were healing their wounds, ranging in severity. The lightest were superficial, easily healing with simple herbal remedies and spiritual nourishment. The more severe, with broken bones and tendons, required prolonged recuperation and the assistance of experts to restore them to their original state. Others were cleaning up the battlefield, meticulously collecting the debris of the battle: broken weapons, shattered fragments of magical treasures, and even the remnants of the black-clad men's clothing. Busy figures could be seen in every corner of the sect, creating a scene that was both chaotic and vibrant.

Chu Feng, I, the headmaster and the elders gathered together to discuss post-war matters. Chu Feng spoke first, "Although we repelled the enemy, many of our disciples were injured and need to be arranged for treatment and recovery training as soon as possible. Although our sect's reserves of healing pills are sufficient, some rare medicinal materials need to be replenished in time to ensure the subsequent treatment effect. Moreover, for disciples who are more seriously injured, we must arrange for experienced brothers and sisters or elders to provide one-on-one guidance to help them recover their spiritual power and combat skills." The headmaster nodded in agreement, "Yes, this battle also exposed some shortcomings in our sect's defense and training. We must summarize our experience as soon as possible. For example, our defensive formation seemed a bit fragile when facing a powerful enemy. Although it was still The sect was able to be preserved by relying on the artifact, but this is not a long-term solution. In addition, the cooperation between our disciples was not tacit enough in the melee. Many times, we fought alone and did not bring out the maximum strength of the team. "The elder also added: "The origins of those men in black are still unclear. We must strengthen the sect's vigilance to prevent them from attacking again. Not only should the number of disciples on patrol be increased, but the routes and times of patrols should also be changed to make it difficult for the enemy to predict. At the same time, some early warning formations or mechanisms should be set up around the sect to sound the alarm in time if the enemy approaches. "Listening from the side, I also fully understand the importance of these things. I can't help but think about whether we can deal with it more calmly if we face an enemy attack again.

Research on artifacts became a focus after the war. The Sect Master looked at Chu Feng and the elders and said, "The Star-Shining Spirit Crystal and the Star Key played a huge role in the battle, but our understanding of them is still limited. We need to conduct in-depth research to see if we can better master their power and even discover more of their uses. The existence of these two artifacts may bring great opportunities to our sect, but they may also hide unknown dangers. If the enemy fully understands them while we only have a partial understanding, we will be in a very passive position." Chu Feng frowned thoughtfully and said, "During battle, when the Star Key was inserted into the groove next to the Star-Shining Spirit Crystal, it not only enhanced the power of the light curtain but also generated a new force that suppressed the enemy. We still don't understand the principle behind this. During the battle, I could sense that this new power seemed to carry an ancient and mysterious aura. It seemed to be able to interfere with the flow of the enemy's spiritual energy, but I have no idea how it achieves this." The elders echoed, "Furthermore, the Star-Shining Spirit Crystal has never been used in this way before. We also need to explore its energy source and limits. When it releases such powerful energy in battle, will it cause damage to itself? Can its energy be continuously replenished? These questions urgently need to be answered."

Therefore, a dedicated research team was assembled from within the sect, experts versed in formations and magical artifacts. These experts hailed from all corners of the sect. Some were veterans residing in seclusion in the mountains, dedicated to studying ancient formations; others were young talents with unique insights into magical artifact refining. They began in-depth research on the artifact within the sect's secret chamber, filled with various research tools and instruments and surrounded by defensive and confidential formations. Chu Feng and I would periodically check on the research progress. Each time we visited, we'd see the researchers either frowning or engaged in heated discussions. They tried various methods to probe the artifact's secrets: some used spiritual power to perceive it, others analyzed it with specialized instruments, and still others searched ancient texts for similar records.

While the sect was busy with post-war reconstruction and artifact research, a mysterious visitor arrived. He was clad in a black robe, his face hidden beneath a hood. His robe appeared ordinary in texture, yet it exuded a subtle, mysterious aura, as if it possessed some special power. He arrived at the sect's gate, claiming to have important news for the higher-ups. The guards, fearing no delay, immediately reported his arrival. Even as they made the announcement, they were filled with doubt. This mysterious man seemed unlike any other, and his aura instilled both curiosity and a certain fear.

The Sect Leader, Chu Feng, the elders, and I met this mysterious visitor in the sect's lobby. He raised his head slightly, revealing a pair of deep, mysterious eyes, as unfathomable as the night sky. He slowly spoke, "I know you're wondering about the origins of those men in black. They're part of a sinister organization searching for ancient artifacts to achieve their ulterior motives. Your sect's Star-Shining Spirit Crystal is one of their targets. This evil organization is enormous, their influence pervading every corner, and they have many hidden strongholds filled with various sinister practitioners skilled in various dark spells and methods."

Chu Feng asked warily, "Who are you? Why are you telling us this?" The mysterious visitor smiled softly, "It doesn't matter who I am. What matters is that you are facing great danger. This evil organization won't give up easily. They have even more powerful forces that have yet to be deployed. The men in black they sent this time are just the vanguard. Their purpose is to test the strength of your sect and to determine whether the Star-Shining Spirit Crystal is truly in your hands. Once they confirm this, they will launch a more violent attack."

The mysterious visitor's words cast a shadow over everyone's hearts. The sect leader said solemnly, "Whatever his purpose, we cannot ignore the news he brings. We must be more fully prepared. We cannot rely solely on artifacts to protect the sect; our own strength is fundamental." An elder also expressed concern, "If they have even greater power, our current defenses may be far from sufficient. We need to re-evaluate the sect's defense system and strengthen it from all aspects, not only the formations and disciple patrols, but also the sect's concealment and other aspects."

Chu Feng clenched his fists and said, "We can't just sit there and wait for death. We must take the initiative, find the lair of this evil organization, and eliminate them before they attack us again. If we are always in a passive defensive state, we will never be truly at ease. Moreover, only by taking the initiative can we seize more initiative and understand their weaknesses." Looking at Chu Feng's fighting spirit, I felt a surge of courage in my heart, but at the same time I was also a little worried: "But we know too little about them. Finding them is not easy. We don't know where their lair is, their personnel distribution, or their specific strength. If we attack rashly, we may fall into the enemy's trap."

After some discussion, everyone decided to first look for clues from the men in black. Chu Feng led some disciples to examine the belongings and bodies of the men in black that had been seized during the battle, to see if they could find any clues about this evil organization. They carefully looked through the men in black's clothing, looking for any special markings or hidden pockets; they examined their weapons to see if they had any unique refining techniques or markings; and they conducted a more in-depth examination of the bodies, hoping to find some clues from their physical characteristics or traces of training. At the same time, the sect also sent some spies to nearby towns and sects to inquire about information, to see if other sects had suffered similar attacks or if any suspicious people had appeared. These spies were disguised, some as merchants, some as ordinary travelers, blending in with the crowd, using keen observation and clever questioning techniques to gather information.

The sect leader and the elders continued to strengthen the sect's defenses, upgrading and renovating its defensive formations. They consulted the sect's ancient formation texts and, incorporating modern defense concepts, redesigned the existing formations. The new formations were to not only possess stronger defensive capabilities but also be capable of counterattacks. They also increased the intensity of the disciples' combat training, increasing both the duration and difficulty. Every day, the disciples underwent intensive physical training, spiritual power manipulation training, and combat simulations. They sweated profusely on the training grounds. Although the training was arduous, each one knew it was for the safety of the sect and their own survival.

I also volunteered to participate in Chu Feng's investigation. Chu Feng looked at me, nodded, and said, "Okay, but you must be careful. We may be facing a very dangerous enemy. These enemies may use any means necessary, so we must remain vigilant at all times." I replied firmly, "I know, I won't hold you back. I also want to contribute to the sect."

After completing our preparations, Chu Feng and I, along with a team of disciples, began our investigation into the men in black. We departed from our sect and searched along their possible retreat routes. Along the way, we meticulously surveyed our surroundings, searching for every possible clue. We meticulously analyzed the brush and trees along the roadside, even footprints and fallen vegetation. Sometimes, to confirm a clue's accuracy, we would spend considerable time repeatedly verifying it. Inside the sect, the headmaster and elders were also busy upgrading defenses and training disciples. A tense yet hopeful atmosphere permeated the entire sect. Everyone knew this was a new challenge that threatened the sect's survival, and they demanded their all.