Luo Heng

What a small world!

If not for Luo Heng, how could Fang Huai have suffered such humiliation in the Human Puppet Hall?

Lin Yan knew nothing of the old grudge between the two. After introducing Luo Heng, he raised his hand to point at Fang Huai and recommended him:

"That is Junior Brother Fang Huai, recommended by Junior Sister Wu Liu.

Though he has no spirit root, he relied on sheer perseverance to advance to mid-stage Qi Refining. His Skinning Technique is exquisite and unique. Please look after him a bit."

He then instructed Fang Huai: "Junior Brother Fang, Luo Heng has already cultivated to late-stage Qi Refining. If you have any confusion in your cultivation in the future, feel free to ask him for guidance."

Fang Huai's gaze met Luo Heng's, but the other did not recognize him.

Thinking about it, that made sense—six years had passed, and that night had been dark with a high wind.

Back then, he was nothing but a nameless handyman who couldn't even find his way to the Outer Sect Hall. In Luo Heng's eyes, he probably hadn't left even a moment's impression.

Luo Heng's gaze was warm, and he gave a slight nod: "Since Senior Brother Lin has entrusted this person to me, I will certainly treat him well."

Fang Huai bowed in return, but at the same time, shock stirred in his heart.

[Luo Heng] [Qi Refining Layer 7] [Blood Jade Body (Red)] [No Spirit Root (Black)]

This tag was far too bizarre.

No spirit root, yet he had charged to late-stage Qi Refining in six years—an unfathomable cultivation speed.

And this Blood Jade Body...

Back in the Nanze Zheng Family, he had seen Zheng clan members bearing this tag, but theirs were only gray or white.

Luo Heng's tag, however, was red. It must have come from prolonged exposure to Blood Jade Insects.

After Lin Yan left, Luo Heng stepped forward, exchanged a few pleasantries with Fang Huai, and then went around talking to each disciple one by one.

Fang Huai's mind was heavy with worry. Luo Heng's cultivation was so fast—it had to be thanks to the Blood Jade Insects.

No wonder back in the Human Puppet Hall, when Jiang Miao caused such a ruckus, those two guarding disciples remained completely unmoved, utterly absorbed in their cultivation with Blood Jade Leaves;

No wonder the Nanze Zheng Family would rather relocate their entire clan and use the Clan Protection Array to desperately guard that Blood Jade Tree.

This Blood Jade Insect had such marvelous uses—it could truly be called a shortcut on the path of cultivation.

Only...

Fang Huai's eyes darkened slightly.

Those who used Blood Jade Leaves to cultivate would probably never know, even unto death, that this cultivation treasure came from such a sinister thing as the Blood Jade Insect.

"All junior brothers, let us disperse early today. I have some personal matters to attend to." Before dusk had even arrived, Luo Heng was already clearing the room.

When Fang Huai passed by him, Luo Heng stopped him: "Junior Brother Fang, please stay."

Fang Huai's heart tightened. The look in Luo Heng's eyes was wrong—had he recognized him?

A mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator facing a late-stage one was almost certain death, but he couldn't just wait for it.

Secretly mobilizing the Little Corpse Meteor Insect, he also refreshed Luo Heng's tag, trying to find a breakthrough to turn the situation around.

"May I ask what Senior Brother Luo's instructions are?"

Luo Heng just smiled without speaking, waiting until all the other disciples in the Skinning Room had left before opening his mouth:

"Junior Brother Fang, do you think you can achieve Foundation Establishment?"

Foundation Establishment?

Seeing no sign that Luo Heng recognized him from before, Fang Huai's hanging heart settled slightly: "I have no spirit root. I'm afraid I have no hope of Foundation Establishment in this life."

"Not 'I'm afraid'—it's absolutely impossible to achieve Foundation Establishment!"

Luo Heng's face was cold and stern, his teeth clenched as he spoke: "There are three methods for Foundation Establishment—Heavenly Dao, Earthly Dao, and Pill Dao.

Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment requires a heaven-defying opportunity. In the thousand years of the Corpse Sha Sect, not a single person has succeeded;

Earthly Dao Foundation Establishment requires exhausting the origin power of an entire spirit vein. Only the sect master's successor can use this extravagant method;

As for Pill Dao Foundation Establishment, it requires the aid of a Foundation Establishment Pill. For someone without a spirit root, it is also a flower in a mirror, a moon in water—barely any succeed."

"Why?"

Luo Heng's assertion about Foundation Establishment seized Fang Huai's attention, making him unable to resist pressing further.

"A Heavenly Spirit Root disciple taking a Foundation Establishment Pill has a ninety percent chance of success, Dual Spirit Root seventy percent, Triple Spirit Root forty percent, Quadruple Spirit Root twenty percent, Quintuple Spirit Root five percent. As for someone without a spirit root..."

He paused, then emphasized: "Less than one percent!"

"Less than one percent?" Fang Huai was greatly shocked and pressed on, "Then if one took Foundation Establishment Pills without regard for cost, couldn't they eventually hit that lucky success once?"

Luo Heng's tone carried mockery: "All pills have resistance, and Foundation Establishment Pills even more so.

After taking three, they become completely ineffective."

Fang Huai's face darkened. "Senior Brother Luo, I'm still a million miles from Foundation Establishment—I don't even dare hope for late-stage Qi Refining. Why are you telling me all this?"

Luo Heng said, "I have a method for Foundation Establishment. It gives you a fifty percent chance."

"Senior Brother Luo, you're not joking with me, are you?" Fang Huai asked, incredulous.

Luo Heng pressed a wooden box sealed with spiritual power into his hand and said in a low voice, "When you get back, shut the door tight and let no one disturb you. Burn what's in the box inside an incense burner, then circulate your technique. You'll know whether I'm telling the truth or not."

Fang Huai's face was dark, and he said nothing.

Li Sirou could tell he was in a bad mood and didn't dare speak. She quietly stepped forward with a bowl and chopsticks.

The food was still the same as half a year ago—burnt congee, half-raw potato rice, and wild vegetables.

After a moment's hesitation, she reached out and pressed her hand on Fang Huai's shoulder, helping to ease his tense muscles.

After living together for half a year, Li Sirou had long since changed her initial impression.

The man before her seemed harsh and had set down a pile of rules, but in truth, he wasn't unreasonable.

She never went hungry, and even when she made mistakes, she wasn't severely punished. Apart from not being able to cultivate, life was fairly decent.

Fang Huai swallowed a mouthful of food, his irritation mounting, and threw his chopsticks onto the table.

"I'll do better next time..." Li Sirou thought he was angry about the meal and hurriedly explained.

Fang Huai stood up and sighed. "It's not your fault."

He walked to the corner of the room, lifted a stone brick, and softly chanted the incantation: "Quicksand Technique."

He had learned many spells from Li Sirou, but because he lacked the corresponding elemental spiritual root, their power was minuscule.

The soil beneath the brick swirled into a small vortex. Fang Huai tossed the wooden box Luo Heng had given him into it, watched it sink into the earth, then covered it back with the brick.

Inside the box were two crimson leaves—Blood Jade Leaves.

Fang Huai hadn't been tempted to use the Blood Jade Leaves for cultivation.

Luo Heng's astonishing cultivation speed was right there in front of him. To say he wasn't tempted would be lying to himself.

But reason quickly overpowered greed. The sect would never allow such a forbidden method to circulate. If he were caught, he would surely have his soul extracted and his body shattered.

On the other hand, the leaves were ultimately composed of Blood Jade Insects. While they seemed to accelerate cultivation, they would irreversibly erode the Dao foundation, possibly even severing the path to immortality entirely.

This kind of short-term fix was like drinking poison to quench thirst—the cost far outweighed the gain.

After weighing the pros and cons, he ultimately decided to abandon this hot potato.

But the Blood Jade Leaves couldn't be burned by fire or drowned by water. With his cultivation level, he had no way to destroy them.

After much thought, the only option was to bury them in the earth for now and figure things out later.

"Bad guy, get some rest early. You still need to earn contribution points tomorrow to buy me out," Li Sirou said, seeing Fang Huai lost in thought. She helped him remove his outer robe.

Fang Huai was slightly stunned. In the past half year, this was the first time she had spoken to him with such concern.

He couldn't help but wonder: Could it be that keeping someone locked up by your side for long enough actually breeds feelings?

Stockholm syndrome?

The victim developing feelings for the perpetrator?

Sigh, this damn charm of his!