28: Condensing Evil Ground

The blood jade tree was entirely crimson, with a thick liquid flowing through its branches.

The crimson leaves actually displayed the [Insect Leaf Body] tag in dense clusters.

Fang Huai took one look and immediately felt a sense of mental pollution.

Based on the number of tags on the leaves, each leaf held at least a thousand Blood Jade Worms.

Taking a deep breath, a few wisps of Malevolent Qi entering the body. Fang Huai was surprised; the Evil Qi here was completely different from that in the Poisonous Miasma Valley.

Normally, the Deathly Malevolence condensed from corpses would be grayish-white, of mottled purity, and mixed with resentment and poisonous curses.

But the Evil Qi here was light red in color and extremely pure in quality.

Upon closer observation, Fang Huai understood the reason.

The grayish-white Evil Qi generated by the corpses was drawn in and swirled around the blood jade tree, while the Blood Jade Worms that made up the tree would inhale and refine this impure Deathly Malevolence, exhaling a purified, light red Living Malevolence.

Attempting to circulate the "Hundred Fiends Art," he actually felt as if he was achieving twice the result with half the effort.

No wonder the Zheng Family could still provide Qi Refining Disciples every year despite being so exploited by the Corpse Fiend Sect; it was all thanks to this blood jade tree.

Fang Huai looked at Family Head Zheng, who was staring at the blood jade tree, unable to hide the look of pained regret in his eyes.

"In the end, I've been forced to this point; I can only destroy you. But first, I'll let you have one last full meal."

He said in a low voice, "Feed the three of them to the Divine Tree!"

The Zheng Clan Members immediately stepped forward and dragged the three of them to the blood jade tree.

They raised the blood-red roots high and plunged them into the trio's bodies.

Fortunately, the blood-red roots were also composed of Blood Jade Worms, and shortly after entering Fang Huai's body, they were suppressed by the Small Corpse Meteor Worm.

"Zheng Xianguang, Zheng Xianrui!"

"Here!"

"The two of you are already at the Qi Refining Third Layer Perfection. Shed your mortal skin here and charge for the Qi Refining Fourth Layer."

"I'll give you three days. If you succeed, you'll be promoted to Family Protectors. If you fail, blame your own poor fate."

Based on past experience, Family Head Zheng calculated that the Sect would forcibly recall these Corpse Fiend Sect Disciples in five days at most.

If the Disciples did not respond, the Sect would surely know they were in danger and send high-level Cultivators to investigate.

"Three days?" The two Zheng Clan Members turned pale with fright.

If one had exceptional Aptitude and invited a master from the Corpse Fiend Sect's Skinning Peak to help shed the skin, it might be possible to complete the entire process within three days.

But their Aptitude was mediocre, and the Zheng Family's skinning techniques were very poor. If the mortal skin wasn't completely stripped away, the growth rate of the new skin would be exceptionally slow.

Let alone three days, even with a week, it would be impossible to complete the three steps of skin-shedding, Breakthrough, and Spiritual Root generation.

If forced to stop by then, they would surely suffer Qi Deviation and die a sudden death.

Zheng Xianguang and Zheng Xianrui looked at each other and said, "Patriarch, we can't even get past the skinning stage. We know we aren't capable of completing a Breakthrough in three days. Let's wait until we reach the new Sect."

Family Head Zheng shook his head. "No. The journey to the new Sect is long. As the only Qi Refining Middle Stage Cultivator, it will be difficult for me to escort the Family safely. That's why I need your help after you break through."

"Just focus on your Breakthrough; I will protect you during this time."

"If you're truly worried, there are still three 'blood bottles' with decent cultivation here."

Family Head Zheng had his own calculations.

The reason these two clansmen hadn't been conscripted into the Sect was because their Aptitude was too poor to catch the Sect's eye.

If they succeeded in charging for the Qi Refining Fourth Layer this time, the Family would gain two more capable hands, which would naturally be a good thing.

If they failed, feeding them to the blood jade tree to let the Divine Tree grow more leaves to bring to the new Sect would also be a merit.

Fang Huai's heart tightened under Family Head Zheng's gaze, and he spoke up, "Patriarch Zheng, I am a Skinning Peak Disciple. Perhaps I can offer some help."

"A Skinning Peak Disciple?"

Family Head Zheng hesitated. Skinning Peak Disciples were skilled at handling Yao Beast hides, so they would naturally be able to handle human skins as well.

If he could help the two clansmen shed their skin and nourish them with the special Evil Qi here, they might truly be able to complete the Breakthrough within three days.

Seeing Family Head Zheng hesitate, Fang Huai knew he had a chance and continued, "I only do this in the hope that you will spare my life, Patriarch, and let me serve the Zheng Family like an ox or a horse!"

Hearing Fang Huai's words, the two clansmen also found a lifeline and begged Family Head Zheng to agree.

Seeing the other clansmen pleading one after another, Family Head Zheng finally said with a cold face, "Your meridians are already ruined. How can you help?"

"The Art of Skinning is not difficult. With a teacher's guidance, progress can be made at a tremendous pace. Patriarch Zheng, you can handle the knife yourself, and I will direct you from the side."

Fang Huai looked directly into Family Head Zheng's eyes, his face full of sincerity.

Finally, Family Head Zheng nodded.

He cut the Blood Jade roots on Fang Huai's body and ordered people to hold him up. Family Head Zheng concentrated his energy and, under Fang Huai's direction, sliced open Zheng Xianguang's skin.

In the past, when clansmen underwent the Mortal Shedding, it was always the Corpse Fiend Sect Disciples who handled the knife. Now that he was doing it himself, he was inevitably a bit nervous.

But under Fang Huai's guidance, his operations became increasingly fluid, and he even had the illusion of a sudden realization.

Half an hour later, Zheng Xianguang's skin was perfectly stripped away. He sat cross-legged and entered a state of Breakthrough.

"As expected of a descendant of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, Patriarch Zheng, you can operate like a fish in water with just a little reminder," Fang Huai said.

Family Head Zheng chuckled. "You do have a way with words. It wouldn't be impossible to take you as a Family slave."

He had found the "Essentials of Skinning" in Fang Huai's Storage Pouch. In the future, as long as he followed the manual to train his clansmen, he could completely replace Fang Huai's role.

He only said these things to stabilize Fang Huai and trick him into continuing to help with the skinning.

Once the skinning was successful, he would immediately kill him to eliminate any future trouble.

The Zheng Family members were in a good mood, as they could preserve two prospective Qi Refining Fourth Layer Cultivators.

Fang Huai was also in a good mood, as his plan was proceeding smoothly.

Time passed. The Zheng Family's attention was focused on the Patriarch and Zheng Xianrui. Fang Huai seized the opportunity and shot a glance at Liu Xiange not far away.

Liu Xiange was incredibly clever; she understood instantly and quietly mobilized the Spiritual Qi in her body.

"Quickly cut forward three inches with the skinning knife!"

Lost in a state of Epiphany and fully focused on skinning, Family Head Zheng subconsciously executed Fang Huai's command.

"Clan Chief!"

Hearing his clansmen's cries of alarm, Family Head Zheng looked closely and saw that he had actually slit Zheng Xianrui's throat.

At this moment, Zheng Xianrui's head and torso were connected by only a thin layer of skin and a few strands of flesh.

His face was filled with disbelief as he held his head with both hands, circulating his Spiritual Qi with all his might to keep his head and body connected.

"You!" Family Head Zheng didn't understand why Fang Huai would sabotage him at this moment. Just as he was about to question him, he felt a sharp pain in the sole of his foot.

He lifted his foot and saw a hole in his shoe. A black beetle was wiggling its rear as it burrowed into the sole of his foot.

"Patriarch Zheng, you should also taste the sensation of insects devouring your body."

"Yin Ming Claw!"

After Fang Huai spoke, two pale demonic hands suddenly appeared beside the Zheng Clan Members holding him and pierced through their bodies.

"Mystic Ice Slash!"

Family Head Zheng roared, and an ice blade slashed toward Fang Huai.

Fang Huai nimbly dodged and circled around to the side of the blood jade tree, using his hand like a blade to cut the roots that had pierced into Liu Xiange's body.

"Rotting Curse!" Liu Xiange immediately cast a Spell, and foul-smelling rot instantly appeared on the bodies of the Zheng Family Disciples.

"How can both of you be unaffected by the Blood Jade Worms?" Family Head Zheng demanded angrily.

"I'll tell you when you're in your coffin."

Seeing Zheng Shuzu deploy a spiritual energy barrier to try and stop the Small Corpse Meteor Worm inside him from advancing, Fang Huai and Liu Xiange cast Spells to constantly harass him.

On the Zheng Family's side, besides Family Head Zheng, the two most capable fighters were out of commission—one was in the middle of a Breakthrough and unable to move, and the other had his throat slit. Neither could help.

As for the remaining small fry, they had almost completely lost their ability to act under the assault of Liu Xiange's curses.