Luo Heng

What a small world!

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

Lin Yan knew nothing of their old grudge. After introducing Luo Heng, he raised a hand and gestured toward Fang Huai, introducing him:

"That's Junior Brother Fang Huai. Junior Sister Wu Liu recommended him.

"Though he has no Spirit Root, he reached the middle stage of Qi Refining through sheer perseverance. His Skinning Technique is especially skilled and distinctive. Please look after him."

He then advised Fang Huai, "Junior Brother Fang, Luo Heng has already reached the late stage of Qi Refining. If you have any questions about cultivation, feel free to ask him."

Fang Huai met Luo Heng's gaze. The other man didn't recognize him.

That made sense. Six years had passed, and that night had been dark and windy.

Back then, Fang Huai had been a nameless menial who couldn't even find his way into the Outer Sect Hall. In Luo Heng's eyes, he probably hadn't left so much as a fleeting impression.

Luo Heng's gaze was gentle. He gave a slight nod. "Since Senior Brother Lin has entrusted him to me, I'll be sure to treat him well."

Fang Huai bowed in return, but a flicker of alarm rose in his heart.

[Luo Heng]

[Qi Refining, seventh layer]

[Blood Jade Body (red)][No Spirit Root (black)]

What a bizarre set of labels.

He had no Spirit Root, yet had reached the late stage of Qi Refining in just six years. His cultivation speed was utterly inconceivable.

And that Blood Jade Body...

Back at the Nanze Zheng Family, Fang Huai had seen members of the Zheng Family with this label, but theirs had been gray or white.

Luo Heng's label, however, was red. It was probably the result of prolonged exposure to Blood Jade Insects.

After Lin Yan left, Luo Heng came over and exchanged a few pleasantries with Fang Huai before chatting with the disciples one by one.

Fang Huai was troubled. Luo Heng's astonishing cultivation speed was likely thanks to the Blood Jade Insects.

No wonder that back in the Human Puppet Hall, even when Jiang Miao had caused such a commotion, the two disciple guards had remained unmoved, wholly absorbed in cultivating with Blood Jade Leaves.

And no wonder the Nanze Zheng Family had been willing to move the entire family rather than let anything happen to the Blood Jade Tree, protecting it with their Clan Protection Array.

The Blood Jade Insects had such marvelous uses—they were practically a shortcut on the path of cultivation.

But...

Fang Huai's gaze darkened.

Those who cultivated with Blood Jade Leaves would likely never learn, even on their deathbeds, that this cultivation treasure was made from the sinister Blood Jade Insects.

"Junior Brothers, let's call it an early day. I have some personal matters to attend to," Luo Heng said, dismissing everyone before dusk had even fallen.

As Fang Huai passed him, Luo Heng stopped him. "Junior Brother Fang, please wait."

Fang Huai's heart tightened. Something was off about Luo Heng's gaze. Had he recognized him?

A cultivator at the middle stage of Qi Refining facing one at the late stage would almost certainly die. But Fang Huai couldn't just sit and wait for it to happen.

He secretly roused the Little Corpse Meteor Insect and refreshed Luo Heng's labels, trying to find a way to turn the situation around.

"May I ask what you need, Senior Brother Luo?"

Luo Heng merely smiled without answering. He waited until every other disciple from the Skinning Room had left before speaking:

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

Foundation Establishment?

Seeing no sign that Luo Heng recognized him from the past, Fang Huai felt some of the tension leave him. "I have no Spirit Root. I'm afraid I have no hope of achieving Foundation Establishment in this life."

"Not 'no hope.' It's absolutely impossible for you to achieve Foundation Establishment!"

Luo Heng's expression turned stern. Gritting his teeth, he said, "There are three paths to Foundation Establishment: Heavenly Dao, Earthly Dao, and Pill Dao.

"Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment requires a heaven-defying stroke of fortune. In the Corpse Sha Sect's thousand-year history, no one has ever succeeded.

"Earthly Dao Foundation Establishment requires exhausting the source of an entire spirit vein. Only the Sect Master's successor can afford such extravagance.

"As for Pill Dao Foundation Establishment, it requires a Foundation Establishment Pill. For someone without a Spirit Root, that too is a castle in the air. Few ever succeed."

"Why?"

Luo Heng's pronouncement about Foundation Establishment caught Fang Huai's attention, and he couldn't help asking.

"Disciples with a Heavenly Spirit Root have a ninety percent chance of achieving Foundation Establishment after taking a Foundation Establishment Pill. Those with Dual Spirit Roots have a seventy percent chance, those with three Spirit Roots forty percent, those with four twenty percent, and those with five half a percent. But for someone without a Spirit Root..."

He paused, then spoke more emphatically. "Less than one percent!"

"Less than one percent?" Fang Huai was shocked. "Then if I ignore the cost and keep taking Foundation Establishment Pills, won't I eventually get lucky and succeed?"

Luo Heng's tone was mocking. "All pills build up resistance, and Foundation Establishment Pills are no exception.

"After three pills, they have no effect."

Fang Huai's face darkened. "Senior Brother Luo, I'm still a long way from Foundation Establishment. I don't even expect to reach the late stage of Qi Refining. Why are you telling me all this?"

"I have a method for Foundation Establishment that gives you a fifty percent chance of success."

"Senior Brother Luo, you're not making fun of me, are you?" Fang Huai asked, incredulous.

Luo Heng pressed a wooden box sealed with spiritual energy into his hand and said solemnly:

"When you get back, shut your door and don't let anyone disturb you. Burn what's inside the box in your incense burner, then circulate your cultivation technique. You'll understand whether I'm telling the truth."

Fang Huai's face was dark. He didn't say a word.

Li Sirou could tell he was in a foul mood and didn't dare say much. She carried the dishes over quietly.

The food was just as it had been six months ago: scorched porridge, undercooked sweet potatoes, and wild greens.

After a moment's hesitation, she placed a hand on Fang Huai's shoulder, soothing his tense muscles.

Over the past six months, Li Sirou's initial impression of him had changed.

The man before her seemed harsh and had laid down a pile of rules, but he wasn't actually heartless.

She had enough to eat and drink, and even when she made mistakes, he didn't punish her too harshly. Apart from being unable to cultivate, her life was pretty decent.

Fang Huai swallowed a mouthful of food, his mind in turmoil. He tossed his chopsticks onto the table.

"I'll do better next time..." Li Sirou thought he was angry about the food and hurried to explain.

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

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

He had learned many spells from Li Sirou, but without a Spirit Root of the corresponding attribute, they had very little power.

The dirt beneath the stone slab swirled into a small vortex. Fang Huai tossed the wooden box Luo Heng had given him onto it and watched it sink into the earth. Then he replaced the slab.

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

Fang Huai had considered using Blood Jade Leaves to cultivate.

With Luo Heng's heaven-defying cultivation speed right before his eyes, it would have been a lie to say he wasn't tempted.

But reason soon overpowered greed. The sect would never allow such a forbidden method to spread. If he were discovered, they would surely rip out his soul and shatter his body.

Besides, the leaves were made of Blood Jade Insects. They might speed up cultivation, but they would irreversibly erode one's Dao Foundation and might even completely sever one's path to immortality.

That was a reckless gamble, and hardly worth the price.

After weighing it all, he had decided to get rid of this hot potato.

But the Blood Jade Leaves couldn't be burned or drowned, and with his cultivation, he had no way to destroy them.

After turning it over in his mind, he could only bury them for now and decide what to do later.

"Bad man, get some rest. We have to earn Contribution Points tomorrow so I can redeem myself." Seeing Fang Huai lost in thought, Li Sirou helped him take off his outer robe.

Fang Huai paused. In the past six months, this was the first time she had shown him such concern.

He couldn't help wondering: Had keeping her by his side for so long made her develop feelings for him?

Stockholm syndrome?

The victim had fallen for her abuser?

Sigh. His damnable charm!