The Time for Cultivation is Always Fleeting

"Senior Brother says nothing—could it be that you're shy? If you won't move, then Junior Sister will have to make the first move."

Jin Xiaoxiao's almond eyes brimmed with affection as his index finger traced upward along Fang Huai's pant leg, teasing the taut muscles beneath.

If not for Fang Huai's astonishing composure, his Steadfast Dao Heart might have already wavered!

A woman like this—whether from a great or modest family in the mortal world—how could she ever set her sights on a beggar covered in festering sores?

A swan never deigns to look at a toad. If it truly does, there's only one reason:

The swan is hungry and wants to eat that toad.

The Body Forging Technique within the Hundred Sha Technique, once mastered at the entry level, allows one to seize the blood and qi of the living to refine the body. If a Qi Refining cultivator uses it, they can kill directly to plunder; if someone not yet at Qi Refining uses it, they can only rely on seduction to extract blood and qi.

Jin Xiaoxiao's actions could only mean one thing: he had already entered the entry level of the Body Forging Technique and had his eyes on Fang Huai's blood and qi.

"Get lost!" Fang Huai's tone sharpened.

"Hehe, Senior Brother, don't play hard to get. Surrender quickly!"

At Jin Xiaoxiao's coquettish cry, Fang Huai leaned down, drawing close to him, his expression subtle, as if about to fall at his feet.

Ha, men!

Saying no, yet still easily wrapped around his finger.

Jin Xiaoxiao felt a flicker of pride. Men like Fang Huai—hypocrites, he'd seen plenty. Sanctimonious on the surface, filthy inside.

"Senior Brother..." His eyes grew hazy, cheeks flushed.

"Bang!"

Dizziness... warm liquid trickled down his forehead.

Jin Xiaoxiao stared in disbelief at Fang Huai, who gripped a bluestone caked with blood.

Fang Huai swallowed hard and backed away several steps.

After cultivating the Body Forging Technique, Jin Xiaoxiao's physical resilience far exceeded an ordinary person's. If it had been anyone else, that blow would have knocked them out or killed them. But Jin Xiaoxiao seemed barely fazed.

"What if I said the stone jumped up and hit you on the head on its own? Would you believe me?"

"You damned cripple—refuse a toast and you'll be forced to drink the penalty!"

Among the Corpse Sha Sect's menial disciples, many were slaves to lust. Jin Xiaoxiao had never failed with his beauty—until now. Being bested by Fang Huai and drawing blood stoked his fury.

Burning with rage, he lunged at Fang Huai: "I only meant to take a little, but you've pushed me too far!"

Blood and qi drained away...

Enraged and humiliated, Jin Xiaoxiao shed all pretense of tenderness and plundered wildly.

Fang Huai writhed in agony. Such brutality—if this were his past life, forget three years in prison, thirty wouldn't be enough!

He had to find a way to interrupt Jin Xiaoxiao's extraction, or he might die right here in this room.

Heaven above, let me refresh a usable gray tag.

Only two points remained. Fang Huai prayed, then silently chanted: Refresh.

Jin Xiaoxiao's tags changed: [Half-Step Body Forging (Gray)], [Steadfast Dao Heart (Red)]

[Half-Step Body Forging: As the name implies, one step short of completing body forging.]

Something usable!

Jin Xiaoxiao suddenly lost strength, his body growing weak. What shocked him more was that Fang Huai beneath him tensed his muscles, his aura surging.

"Six hours—that's enough!"

Outside the hut, Demonic Beasts howled; inside, agonized moans filled the air...

Not until the rooster crowed at dawn did Fang Huai end the brutal struggle. He glanced at the information on the light screen with satisfaction:

[Body Forging Technique Entry: 51/100]

Cultivation time was always fleeting.

Fang Huai opened the door. The sunlight outside was blinding. Behind him, Jin Xiaoxiao's hair was disheveled, his face pale as paper.

Heaven's cycles turn fairly—last night, Jin Xiaoxiao was at Half-Step Body Forging; this morning, Fang Huai was too.

When Fang Huai's gaze flicked toward him, Jin Xiaoxiao trembled all over and scrambled to grab a vine, climbing down in panic.

But his body was too weak. After only a few moves, he fell from the height, startling the crowd into cries of alarm.

"You stinking beggar—committing such beastly acts!"

"No wonder you're crippled—it's divine punishment!"

"Miss, don't be afraid. Come to my hut tonight—I'm a gentleman."

"..."

The crowd buzzed with chatter.

Fang Huai couldn't be bothered with them. Before, when his body was weak, he might have feared these people.

Now that he had seized Jin Xiaoxiao's blood and qi, his tag had changed to [Half-Step Body Forging]. Facing ordinary, withered mortals, he had no fear of being outnumbered.

Body Forging Technique was good. Cultivation was good!

Seeing the crowd seething with righteous indignation, Jin Xiaoxiao couldn't stop his tears. He said in grief and anger, "Don't blame him. It's my fault. It's all my fault. I'm just too weak!"

His already delicate features, combined with eyes brimming with tears, made him pitiable and endearing.

The women sneered coldly, but the men couldn't hold back. Several self-proclaimed righteous men surrounded Fang Huai, intending to teach him a lesson.

"Get lost!"

Fang Huai's face was expressionless. His plan for today was to exchange for some Miasma-Clearing Pills, then head to Miasma Valley to harvest miasma. He didn't want to delay his schedule.

As for Inedia Pills, they were completely unnecessary. The Corpse Sha Sect was overrun with wild vegetables and potatoes; if he got hungry, he could just find something to eat.

"You stinking beggar, you're asking for it!" The man had wanted to play the hero in front of Jin Xiaoxiao, but Fang Huai had thwarted him. Anger surged in his heart, and he swung a fist at him.

Fang Huai sidestepped the blow and casually punched the man in the jaw. "From now on, call me Senior Brother Fang!"

The man's body went stiff, and he fell straight to the ground.

In any place, at any time, force decides everything. Whoever has the bigger fist speaks the truth.

The crowd scattered in all directions, leaving only a burly man. With a full smile, he clapped his hands and stepped forward to strike up a conversation.

"Pei Long of the Pei Family. May I ask your name, brother?"

"Fang Huai."

"In the demon sect, no matter how high one's personal martial prowess, it's hard to make a name alone. Huddling together for warmth is the long-term plan."

Pei Long's hand landed on Fang Huai's shoulder, and an invisible pressure surged over him.

As the eldest son and heir of the Pei Family, Pei Long was no idle good-for-nothing. He had trained in martial arts since childhood, and his strength had already surpassed Half-Step Body Forging.

"Pei Long values talent. I'd like to invite you, brother, to join the Pei Family, to advance and retreat together!"

"Sorry, but this Fang has no hobby of advancing and retreating with men."

The Pei Family had killed the original owner of this body and bullied him many times since. If he worked under Pei Long, it would inevitably disturb his Dao heart.

Besides, the Pei Family had many eyes and ears. If his abilities were exposed, it would be disastrous.

"Damn it, I'm giving you face, and you throw it away!" The Pei Family guards had already drawn their weapons.

Pei Long raised his hand to stop them and advised, "If a handyman doesn't huddle together for warmth, he's only heading for death. If you don't join the Pei Family, are you going to team up with those chickens and dogs?"

Fang Huai looked around. The Pei Family guards stared at him with burning eyes, while the ordinary handymen all hung their heads.

"I appreciate your good intentions, Brother Pei, but I'm used to going it alone. I'm afraid I can't agree to your request."

Seeing that Pei Long showed no sign of letting him go, Fang Huai smiled. "If you won't let me leave, could it be that Brother Pei truly wants to advance and retreat with me in front of so many people?"

Pei Long withdrew the force from his hand, a smirk curling at the corner of his mouth. "That's not impossible. If you ever change your mind in the future, brother, the Pei Family will still welcome you."

After Fang Huai left, a Pei Family guard spoke up. "Master Pei, should we kill that arrogant brat?"

Pei Long shook his head. "The Hundred Sha Technique contains a body-forging method. Once you enter the gate, you can plunder living people. Last night, I tried to cultivate it, but I couldn't find the method all night.

The woman who just walked out of Fang Huai's room had been plundered. This shows that the brat has already entered the gate of the Body Forging Technique and cultivated a demonic path technique.

Before I've fully probed his strength, I can't rashly make an enemy of him."

Pei Long gazed in the direction Fang Huai had left, his eyes deep and unreadable.

He didn't tell the Pei Family guard that when his hand had rested on Fang Huai's shoulder, he had secretly placed a Black Death Spider on him.

For those poisoned by this spider, the toxin would concentrate around their heart. At first, there would be no symptoms, but after three hours, the poison would erupt, killing without a trace.

"Fang Huai, since you don't want to join the Pei Family, then go die."