Jingmu Residence
Five figures stood in the courtyard.
No longer as filthy and unkempt as they were in the Outer Sect, all five had changed into coarse but clean clothes, washing away the dirt from their faces and revealing their original appearances.
Although they still carried fear and unease, they at least looked much more presentable.
Wang Fan nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over them.
“Name, Spirit Root, Cultivation.”
The five figures tensed.
The first young woman chosen stepped forward, her head lowered, her voice as thin as a mosquito's buzz: “This servant… Jiang Xue, Lower Grade Fire-Wood Spirit Root, just… just entered Qi Refining.”
Her figure was graceful, and even in coarse cloth clothes, her beauty was undeniable. However, her face was still pale, her eyes darting away, not daring to meet Wang Fan’s gaze.
Wang Fan’s gaze lingered on her for a moment.
Fire-Wood Spirit Root, it was the same as his own, but the grade was vastly different.
Next, a rather sturdy and seemingly honest young man stepped out and said in a muffled voice: “This servant Zhang Hu, Lower Grade Metal Spirit Root, Qi Refining first level.”
He had an ordinary appearance, but deep within his eyes, there was a shrewdness that did not match his honest exterior.
Then came a petite and delicate young girl who looked only thirteen or fourteen years old, speaking timidly: “This servant… Xiao Xiao, Lower Grade Wood Spirit Root, Qi Refining first level.”
She was very pretty, her large eyes filled with timidity, her hands nervously twisting the hem of her clothes.
Standing next to Xiao Xiao, a thin young man with slightly high cheekbones immediately followed, his tone a bit hurried: “This servant A Gou, Lower Grade Earth Spirit Root, Qi Refining first level!”
He subconsciously shielded Xiao Xiao behind him, his eyes looking at Wang Fan with vigilance.
Finally, there was the ordinary-looking, average-sized young man, who seemed the most composed, or rather, the most resigned: “This servant Chen Bin, Lower Grade Water Spirit Root, Qi Refining first level.”
Five people, five different Lower Grade Spirit Roots, and their cultivation levels had just entered the first level of Qi Refining. It was clear that after being sold into the True Devil Sect, they had been forcibly instilled with the most basic Qi Refining methods.
Wang Fan listened quietly, a general judgment already formed in his mind.
Lower Grade Spirit Root, Qi Refining first level.
The bottom layer of the True Devil Sect, and also the 'Materials' that were most easily consumed.
His gaze fell on Jiang Xue.
Fire-Wood Spirit Root, although it was Lower Grade, it had commonalities with the Flame Fire Art, making her more suitable for handling matters related to fire and plants.
“Jiang Xue.”
The young woman's body trembled, her head buried even lower: “This servant is here.”
“You possess a Fire-Wood Spirit Root, so from now on, you will be responsible for refining pills,” Wang Fan said indifferently. “Additionally, I will impart a cultivation method to you. Cultivate diligently.”
Refining pills?
Cultivation method?
Jiang Xue was bewildered, then immediately felt a sense of foreboding.
She vaguely felt that the cultivation method was probably not a good thing.
Wang Fan then looked at the timid Xiao Xiao.
“Xiao Xiao.”
“This… this servant is here!” The young girl was so frightened she almost jumped up.
“Wood Spirit Root is suitable for cultivating spiritual plants. There is a small empty plot behind the side room; from now on, you will be responsible for managing it. I will provide the necessary seeds.”
He paused, then added: “Just like Jiang Xue, you must also Cultivate the method I impart.”
Xiao Xiao's face instantly turned pale, and she looked at A Gou next to her for help, but did not dare to speak.
A Gou suddenly looked up, seemingly wanting to say something, but upon meeting Wang Fan's cold gaze, he swallowed his words back, only shielding Xiao Xiao more tightly.
Wang Fan ignored these small movements and turned his gaze to Chen Bin.
“Chen Bin, Water Spirit Root. You will be responsible for the daily irrigation of the spiritual plants and the cleaning of the courtyard.”
Chen Bin nodded numbly: “Yes, Master.” He seemed to have completely accepted his fate.
Next was A Gou.
“A Gou.”
“This servant is here!” A Gou jutted out his neck, his eyes vigilant.
“You will be responsible for everyone’s meals. Every morning, you can go down the mountain to the Outer Sect mess hall to collect them. You have one incense stick's time for the round trip.”
Wang Fan was indifferent, but with an undeniable authority: “Exceed the time limit, or make any other mistake, you die.”
A Gou's body visibly stiffened, his face turning pale, but he still gritted his teeth and said: “Yes!”
Finally, it was Zhang Hu.
“Zhang Hu, Metal Spirit Root.” Wang Fan looked at his relatively sturdy build. “There is an empty forging room in the west of the courtyard; from now on, you will be responsible for forging iron essence there. I will provide the necessary Ore.”
Zhang Hu was stunned for a moment, seemingly not expecting to be assigned this kind of work, but he immediately responded: “Yes, Master!”
Five people, five tasks, clearly arranged.
Wang Fan no longer looked at them, turning around and walking towards the pavilion.
“Go do your work. Remember your duty.”
The cold words, like the final shackles, completely locked the fates of the five people.
Wang Fan returned to the quiet room in the main building and sat down cross-legged.
After a moment, he opened his eyes, his thoughts stirring slightly.
There were soft footsteps outside the door.
Soon, the door of the pavilion was gently pushed open, and Jiang Xue and Xiao Xiao walked in one after another, their heads lowered, like two startled fawns, not daring to breathe heavily.
Inside the quiet room, the light was soft, and the air was filled with a faint spiritual energy and a hint of sandalwood, which was out of place with the humble aura of the Outer Sect that still clung to them.
The two walked a few steps before Wang Fan, then dared not go any further, standing with their heads bowed, their bodies trembling slightly.
Wang Fan did not look at them, taking out a thin black-covered booklet from his storage bag and casually throwing it on the floor in front of the two.
On the cover of the booklet, three words were written in an ancient script—Mystic Yin Skill.
“This is the cultivation method for you.”
Cultivation method?
Jiang Xue and Xiao Xiao's bodies stiffened simultaneously.
Xiao Xiao timidly raised her head, quickly glanced at the black booklet, then immediately lowered her head, her little face pale.
Jiang Xue's reaction was more restrained; she only blinked her eyelashes, and her fingers at her side curled slightly.
She understood better than Xiao Xiao that in this True Devil Sect, especially a cultivation method bestowed by this Master whose emotions were inscrutable, it would definitely not be a smooth path.
“Pick it up,” Wang Fan ordered.
Jiang Xue took a deep breath, suppressed the unease in her heart, stepped forward, bent down, and picked up the thin booklet.
It was cold to the touch, carrying an unspeakable evil aura.
She held the booklet in her hands, returned to her original position, and kept her head lowered.
Only then did Wang Fan turn his gaze to her, and took out a Jade Slip from his storage bag, which was the one containing the Blood Coagulation Pill formula.
“You take this too.”
The Jade Slip floated up and slowly drifted in front of Jiang Xue.
Jiang Xue was stunned for a moment, looking up at the faintly glowing Jade Slip with confusion.
“This is the formula for the Blood Coagulation Pill,” Wang Fan explained. “A first-grade pill.”
Jiang Xue’s pupils constricted, and her breathing suddenly quickened.
Pill Formula?
Master actually gave her a Pill Formula?
She trembled as she reached out and took the Jade Slip.
“You have three days,” Wang Fan said indifferently. “Within three days, thoroughly comprehend this Pill Formula.”
Jiang Xue suddenly raised her head, a clear look of shock appearing on her pale face for the first time, her lips slightly parted, as if she wanted to say something, but no sound came out.
Three days? Comprehend a Pill Formula thoroughly?
“Three days later, I will personally test you,” Wang Fan continued, ignoring her shock. “If you don’t pass…”
He paused, his gaze sweeping over Jiang Xue's beautiful but pale face, then over the terrified Xiao Xiao beside her who was trembling.
“If you don’t pass,”
“You will no longer need to consider refining pills.”
“From now on, you will only be a furnace.”
Furnace!
These two words were like two heavy hammers, striking hard at the hearts of Jiang Xue and Xiao Xiao!
Xiao Xiao's tears instantly streamed down, biting her lip tightly, not daring to cry out, her body shaking like a leaf in the wind.
Jiang Xue's body trembled violently, the color draining completely from her face in an instant. She clenched the Jade Slip and the booklet in her hands tightly, her knuckles turning white from the force.
She looked at Wang Fan's cold, emotionless eyes, and for the first time, she truly felt despair and… unwillingness.
To only be a furnace… she knew very well what that meant.
To become a tool that was only used for harvesting, drained of value, and then discarded at will, not even as good as the lowest-grade Outer Sect disciples!
“Do you understand?” Wang Fan asked.
Jiang Xue closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and when she opened them again, the unease in her heart had been forcibly suppressed, leaving only a deathly silence of obedience.
“This servant… understands,” she replied hoarsely.
“Get out.”
Wang Fan waved his hand.
Jiang Xue and Xiao Xiao were like prisoners granted amnesty, stumbling as they turned, almost fleeing from the quiet room.
The door of the pavilion closed again.
Wang Fan looked at the empty space in front of him, his thoughts swirling.
The Mystic Yin Skill combined with the Flame Fire Art, one yin and one yang, might have miraculous effects.
As for Jiang Xue… three days was enough to see her potential.
If she was useful, she would stay.
If useless, she would be used as waste.
Within the True Devil Sect, there was no sympathy, only value.