73: Belief

“Spare my life, great hero! Please spare my life!

I am not from the Bailing Sect; I am only responsible for external liaisons.

I help them transport grain and such. I truly am not from the Bailing Sect!”

Qin Yue, of course, knew he wasn't from the Bailing Sect. Given the loyalty of Bailing Sect members, it would be impossible for him to remain so calm under the torment Qin Yue inflicted on the ox demon.

Because the Bailing Sect's so-called 'Spirit' is a demon, and Qin Yue's actions just now were blasphemy!

“Do you have anything you can tell me about the Bailing Sect?

You should know I’ve already killed so many people. If you are useless, I don’t mind killing a few more.”

“I know! I know useful information! Great hero, spare my life, please don't kill me!”

“Speak! Be detailed. I have time to listen.”

After speaking, Qin Yue beckoned with his hand, and a chair flew from an unknown place to the high platform. Qin Yue sat on the chair, looking at the middle-aged man, signaling him to continue.

“My name is Zuo Zijian. I am from a collateral branch of the Zuo Family and was originally the steward of this Zuo Family Estate. All matters, big and small, in this estate were my responsibility.

But one day, a man named Lai Er from the city came to our door, saying he wanted to borrow our Zuo Family Estate’s warehouse for just one month. He said they would move everything out quickly, and after use, they would give me a thousand taels of silver.

I thought that the warehouse was empty anyway, so earning a thousand taels for a month’s rental wouldn't be a loss. So, I let them transport the grain in.

Of course, I also kept my guard up, fearing they might play tricks with the grain. So, I stipulated in advance that they had to provide their own guards for the grain, and I would not be responsible for its safety.

Who knew that ever since those people guarding the grain came in, the people in the estate slowly changed.

I don't know when it started, but the people in the estate began to pray every day, and they would gather at the warehouse every night.

When I first learned about this, I didn't pay much attention because it didn't interfere with the farmers' work.

But then they became stranger and stranger. I noticed that fewer and fewer children were in our estate, and I started to panic a little.

But before I could notify the Zuo Family about this, the group guarding the grain captured my entire family.

They also wanted me to believe in the Bailing Sect. If I didn't believe, they would sacrifice my children to that demon.

I had no choice but to follow them and believe. But then they said my belief was incorrect and wanted to kill my whole family.

Fortunately, that demon didn't let them kill us. They locked up my entire family and then made me responsible for receiving others outside and keeping it hidden from the Zuo Family.

I had witnessed the demon's power and dared not speak of this, so I have been helping them hide it from the Zuo Family and collect grain outside.

Later, I discovered that these Bailing Sect followers were insane. The missing children weren't just missing; they had sacrificed their own children to the demon.

I don't know what evil possessed them, but after believing in the Bailing Sect, they became completely different people.

They no longer thought about working to earn money; they only thought about how to dedicate themselves to the Spirit God.

I dared not interfere with these matters, only focusing on helping these Bailing Sect followers collect grain.

At the beginning of each month, they would send people to transport away the grain I had collected. Later, fearing I might betray them, they took my children away too. I dared not resist them, so I have continued until now.”

After listening to Zuo Zijian, Qin Yue frowned deeply.

He couldn't understand what the Bailing Sect relied on to make these farmers so wholeheartedly devoted to them.

This Zuo Zijian was clearly also required to pray daily, yet he did not develop faith in the demon like those farmers.

“Tell me in detail, what does the Bailing Sect require you to do? How are you different from those farmers? Why haven't you developed faith in those demons?”

“I didn't do anything special. According to their requirements, I carry a demon statue with me, pray when I wake up, go to sleep, and eat, and there are daily gatherings for prayer. I don't know what makes me different.

Actually, I've also wondered why I do the same things as others, yet they can develop faith and I cannot.

But I've thought about it for a long time and still haven't figured it out.”

Qin Yue thought for a moment, then used his Protective Aura to lift the remaining seven people.

“Who are these people, and why haven't they also believed in that demon?”

“These people just arrived at this farm, so they haven't had time to believe in that demon.

The Zuo Family has actually been sending people to Zuo Family Estate. As long as landless farmers want to seek refuge with the Zuo Family, the Zuo Family generally accepts them.

These are relatively young, which is why they were sent to this closer estate. The older ones are sent to more distant estates.”

Qin Yue nodded noncommittally and then asked, “Do you know what Spirit Communication Technique is?”

“Spirit Communication Technique is the method those followers use to invite demons to possess them.

As long as one sincerely believes in the demon, one can invite a demon to possess them.

Once a demon possesses someone, an ordinary person can contend with a Body Refining Realm Martial Artist.”

“Body Refining Realm?”

Qin Yue seemed to have caught a crucial point.

“What are the different Realms for Martial Artists? Tell me in detail about the division of each Realm.”

Hearing this question, Zuo Zijian looked at Qin Yue strangely, as if asking, “How can such a powerful Martial Artist not know the different Martial Artist Realms?”

But he still honestly said, “Martial Artists are divided into Body Refining Realm, Qi Refining Realm, Liquid Refining Realm, and Innate Realm.

The Body Refining Realm is about strengthening the physique through martial arts practice.

The Qi Refining Realm is the Realm where True Qi is generated spontaneously after the physique has been strengthened to a certain extent.

The Liquid Refining Realm is when True Qi overflows and is compressed to form liquid True Essence.

As for the Innate Realm, I don't know much about it. To reach the Innate Realm, one might need to achieve the martial arts level of the founding emperor.”

After speaking, Zuo Zijian looked up at Qin Yue again. In fact, he had always suspected that Qin Yue was an Innate Realm expert.

If not, it would be impossible to explain Qin Yue's unfathomable methods, where even such a powerful demon was utterly powerless.

After listening to his statement, Qin Yue felt somewhat relieved. In comparison, he knew that he was now the legendary Innate Realm of this world.

If that was the case, then apart from the descending demons, other native Martial Artists or demons in this world should not pose a threat to him.

“What Rank of Martial Artist are you?”

“I am currently a Qi Refining Realm Martial Artist. Originally, I was in the Body Refining Realm, but I achieved a Breakthrough to the Qi Refining Realm when I was captured by that demon.”

“Then have you considered that it's because you are a Qi Refining Realm Martial Artist that you cannot believe in demons?”

Zuo Zijian shook his head instinctively upon hearing this question.

“Impossible. They have Qi Refining Realm Martial Artists in the Bailing Sect. I have witnessed them practicing martial arts.”

Qin Yue still didn't let go of this clue and continued to ask the middle-aged man, “I mean, could it be that if one achieves a Breakthrough to the Qi Refining Realm before believing in demons, they will no longer develop faith in demons?”