131: believer

After absorbing the second foundation establishment pill, Fang Huai focused his gaze on the light screen within his Sea of Consciousness:

[Hundred Baleful Arts (Incomplete Scroll) Level Ten: 98/100]

[Body Tempering Art Level Ten: 92/100]

The first foundation establishment pill advanced his cultivation progress by 50 points, while the second only advanced it by 30 points.

However, this didn't matter. Now, his Breath Circulation Method was only 2 points away, and his Body Tempering Art was only 8 points away from reaching the point of attempting Foundation Establishment.

————

Three months later, both his Breath Circulation Method and Body Tempering Art had reached one hundred.

The Yun Family Sisters managed the Purification Bureau in an orderly fashion, leaving Fang Huai with nothing to worry about, and their cultivation had also risen to the second level of Qi Refining.

The wasteland was managed by Toad Old Seven. Under his and Ji Ming's encouragement, the twenty-one Refugees had all elevated from believers to fanatics.

At this point, if anyone dared to say a bad word about Fang Huai in front of the Refugees, they would likely be torn to pieces by the fanatical crowd.

That night, Toad Old Seven and Liu Da Hua had a massive argument.

After being promoted to Hall Master of the White Tiger Hall, Toad Old Seven wanted to take a few concubines to serve him, but Liu Da Hua adamantly refused.

In a fit of rage, he slapped Liu Da Hua and then entered his room with two young women in his arms.

After a session of intimacy, the two women fell asleep from exhaustion. Toad Old Seven, however, could not sleep.

Although the girls did their best to please him, it was only because of his power.

Although Liu Da Hua was his dowdy wife from his days of poverty, she had been with him for a long time.

Thinking of this, he felt a bit uneasy.

"Tomorrow, I'll take Dahua to buy some jewelry she likes."

As Toad Old Seven was thinking, he suddenly heard a "creak" as the courtyard gate opened on its own without any wind.

Toad Old Seven immediately became alert and nudged the woman beside him, saying, "Go out and take a look."

The woman, eyes bleary with sleep, was about to get up when she suddenly collapsed straight back down.

Just then, the door to the room also opened, and a dark figure stood at the entrance, saying, "Does the taste of power suit you?"

Toad Old Seven didn't even have time to put on his clothes; he hurriedly scrambled up to kowtow. "It is all thanks to Immortal Master Fang's blessing that this lowly one could reach such a position."

Fang Huai waved his hand and said, "Come out."

Toad Old Seven knelt before Fang Huai. Seeing him remain silent, he didn't know what he had done wrong. In his terror, fine sweat trickled down from his temples.

Just as he was about to collapse, Fang Huai spoke, "The wasteland has been managed well. I promised to lead you onto the path of immortality, and now I am here to fulfill that promise."

Toad Old Seven's eyes widened, and he was overcome with excitement. Overwhelmed by this sudden joy, he stammered, "Im... Immortal Master, are you telling the truth?"

Fang Huai took out two blood jade leaves. With a flick of his fingers, the blood jade leaves turned into red mist, swirling around Toad Old Seven.

"However, my method of cultivation is not of the Righteous Path. I wonder if you dare to try it?"

Toad Old Seven's eyes burned with desire. Simply being the Hall Master of the White Tiger Hall had allowed him to experience a different kind of life. If he could become a Cultivator, he was willing to pay any price.

He immediately replied, "Righteous Path or Demonic Path, it doesn't matter. As long as I can become a Qi Refining Cultivator, I am willing to pay any price."

Fang Huai nodded, and the red mist instantly entered Toad Old Seven's seven orifices.

Toad Old Seven was startled and about to ask when he saw Fang Huai walk straight up to him and lightly tap his crown with an index finger. A massive amount of information flooded into his Sea of Consciousness.

"Hundred Fiends Art? You are..."

Toad Old Seven had spent years in Sanxian City and was somewhat knowledgeable. He had heard people say that the Cultivators of the destroyed Corpse Fiend Demonic Sect practiced the Hundred Fiends Art.

Seeing the corners of Fang Huai's mouth turn up, he immediately covered his mouth.

Fang Huai sneered, "I am what? From what you're saying, you're unwilling to practice this kind of Cultivation Technique?"

Cold sweat poured down Toad Old Seven's back. This wasn't a matter of willingness; if he dared to say he was unwilling, he would likely die on the spot.

Now, he was on Fang Huai's boat, whether he liked it or not.

He immediately kowtowed three times heavily and said, "I am willing! Thank you, Immortal Master Fang, for bestowing the technique."

Fang Huai pressed a Spirit Stone into Toad Old Seven's hand and said, "Try it according to the method of the Breath Circulation Method."

Toad Old Seven gripped the Spirit Stone and clumsily began to operate the Breath Circulation Method.

After trying for fifteen minutes, he finally guided the Spiritual Qi from the Spirit Stone into his body.

However, he did not have a Spiritual Root, so his attraction to Spiritual Qi was extremely low. The Spiritual Qi that flowed into his body instantly leaked away by eighty or ninety percent.

Even the few remaining wisps of Spiritual Qi could not stay in his Dantian and eventually all leaked out of his body.

An hour later, the Spiritual Qi in the Spirit Stone was exhausted, and it lost its luster. But Toad Old Seven's cultivation had not improved in the slightest.

His face turned beet red, and the sense of failure and shame made him feel like he had nowhere to hide.

Just then, Fang Huai pressed another Spirit Stone into his hand while placing his index finger on his crown, saying, "Now, I will help you."

He commanded the Blood Jade Worms; some dispersed throughout Toad Old Seven's meridians, while others gathered at his Dantian.

Toad Old Seven operated the Hundred Fiends Art again. This time, as the spiritual power entered his body, the rate of loss slowed significantly, and after completing one cycle, a small portion miraculously remained in his Dantian.

After an hour, the Spiritual Qi in the Spirit Stone was exhausted, and a small clump of Spiritual Qi had gathered in Toad Old Seven's Dantian.

His eyes widened like copper bells as he looked at Fang Huai in disbelief.

Fang Huai said calmly, "Do you understand now? Only I can set you on the path to immortality."

Overjoyed, Toad Old Seven hurried to pledge his loyalty. "Immortal Master, this lowly one will surely follow your lead for the rest of my life!"

Fang Huai took out a youming wood seed and handed it to Toad Old Seven. "Starting tomorrow, take that group of Refugees and go plant trees."

————

The wasteland.

Ji Ming had built a small wooden hut out of withered trees and weeds. He was lying on a wooden bed, about to fall asleep.

Just then, a dark figure walked into the room.

"Who's there!"

Ji Ming sat up immediately. After seeing the person clearly, he hurried out of bed to greet him. "Immortal Master, what brings you here?"

"Do you want to embark on the path of immortality?" Fang Huai asked softly.

Ji Ming's eyes widened instantly, his heart burning with anticipation. Could it be that the Immortal Master had come to guide him?

"Immortal Master, I am willing!"

Fang Huai said, "Then I must see your faith and loyalty to me."

He then tossed a spirit sword in front of Ji Ming and said, "Cut off your right hand."

Fang Huai thought Ji Ming would hesitate, but to his surprise, the man immediately grabbed the spirit sword and chopped at his wrist without a moment's hesitation.

With a "squelch," the right hand fell to the ground.

Fang Huai asked, "Are you not afraid that I am deceiving you?"

Due to excessive blood loss, Ji Ming's face had turned pale. He clutched his right wrist and gritted his teeth, saying, "Before, because of the consumption, I became a useless person and didn't know the meaning of living."

"But the Immortal Master cured my consumption. You are like a parent reborn to me. Whether you are deceiving me or not, if you want me to do something, I will surely do it!"

Fang Huai nodded; such a believer was worth cultivating.

He picked up Ji Ming's severed hand and held it against his wrist. Reciting a mantra, a stream of emerald-green Spiritual Qi flowed into the wound.

Under the nourishment of the Spiritual Qi, skin, flesh, tendons, and bones quickly reconnected. The arm that had just been in two pieces was instantly restored to its original state.

If not for the blood remaining on the ground, no one would have known what had just happened.

Fang Huai took out a blood jade leaf, turned it into red mist, and let it surge into Ji Ming's body.

At the same time, a wisp of black fiend appeared at his fingertips:

"Ji Ming, I want you to swear that you will be loyal to me in this life and never betray me!"