Wang Fan slowly withdrew the hand pressed on Zhang Hu's head.
Spiritual energy surged within his body, and a comfortable feeling of Breakthrough flowed through his limbs and bones, but his face remained expressionless.
Qi Refining Stage - Second Level.
In just two days, he had crossed a threshold that would take ordinary people several months or even years to reach.
The dominance of the Flame Fire Art and the 'miraculous use' of the spiritual slave were fully demonstrated at this moment.
On the bluestone slab beneath him, Zhang Hu was curled up, his body trembling violently like chaff.
His face was as pale as paper, sweat soaked his worn clothes, clinging tightly to him, outlining the twisted muscle contours caused by the pain.
Beneath his skin, green veins bulged and wriggled like twisted earthworms. These were the marks left by the violent medicinal power repeatedly impacting and tearing through his Meridians, a shocking sight.
He opened his mouth but couldn't let out a complete groan, only producing gasping, leaking sounds. His eyes were filled with bloodshot and extreme pain.
However, even greater than the physical pain was the fear that penetrated to his bones.
He could feel that the Master of the cold hand on his head was watching him indifferently, as if looking at a tool that had just been used and whose wear and tear was being evaluated.
Enduring the tearing pain, Zhang Hu struggled, trying to prop himself up and kowtow to Wang Fan.
His movements were clumsy and slow; every movement pulled at the intense pain throughout his body, and cold sweat instantly covered his forehead again.
But he dared not show the slightest resentment, nor even appear too painful, for fear of angering this capricious Master.
His life was only within the other party's thought.
Wang Fan's gaze swept indifferently over Zhang Hu's twisted face, evaluating the endurance limit of this 'spiritual slave'.
The effect is good. One Low Grade Blood Coagulation Pill to explore the way, one High Grade Blood Coagulation Pill to impact, maximizing the use of the medicinal power, while the risk is borne by the spiritual slave.
Although Zhang Hu was in pain, he did not collapse. His Low Grade metal Spiritual Root foundation was more durable than expected.
This 'furnace' can continue to be used.
On the other side of the courtyard, the other four servants watched this scene from afar, their faces filled with undisguised fear and the desolation of rabbits lamenting the death of a fox.
The beautiful woman named Jiang Xue buried her head even lower, her body trembling slightly, not daring to look this way.
They pressed tightly against the wall of the side room, wishing they could shrink into the shadows.
Wang Fan withdrew his gaze, no longer looking at Zhang Hu on the ground.
'Adjust yourself.'
These four words, to Zhang Hu, were like the sound of heaven.
He felt as if he had been granted a great pardon. Ignoring the severe pain in his body, he struggled to get up, sat cross-legged, and with trembling hands began to circulate that rudimentary incantation, trying to calm the turbulent residual energy within his body.
Looking at Wang Fan's back, besides fear, there was a subtle, almost imperceptible shadow in the deeper part of his eyes.
Zhang Hu entered the sect two terms ago and has been cultivating for two and a half years now. He is on the verge of breaking through Qi Refining Stage - First Level. Now, he only needs to refine the residual medicinal dregs in his body, and the second level is within reach!
Wang Fan ignored him further, turned around, and walked back into the main building's quiet room.
Quiet room.
Wang Fan sat down cross-legged.
Crimson and emerald spiritual light slowly circulated within his body, more condensed than before.
The aura of Qi Refining Stage - Second Level, under his deliberate control, was restrained and steady.
He did not rush for quick success but spent half a day thoroughly consolidating his rapidly increased cultivation, familiarizing himself with every bit of increased strength.
The night passed without a word.
Early the next morning, Wang Fan pushed open the door of the quiet room.
In the courtyard, Zhang Hu could already stand with difficulty, his face still pale. In his eyes, looking at Wang Fan, besides fear, there was more awe, and even... longing.
He had personally experienced the pain brought by the pills and also felt the signs of his cultivation Bottleneck loosening.
The other four people were still working at their respective posts, their movements stiff, their gazes evasive.
'Jiang Xue.'
The voice was not loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears.
In front of the side room in the corner of the courtyard, that beautiful figure suddenly stiffened.
Jiang Xue slowly turned around, her head lowered, taking small, hesitant steps towards the main building. Her face, hidden by her long hair, became even paler, her thin body uncontrollably trembled slightly, and her hands in her sleeves tightly clutched the hem of her clothes, her knuckles white.
Zhang Hu's miserable state was still deeply imprinted in her mind.
This Master was capricious and had cruel methods.
Calling her in... what did he want?
Wang Fan scanned indifferently, his eyes devoid of any warmth.
'Come in.'
He turned and walked into the pavilion.
Jiang Xue hesitated for a moment, then bit her lower lip and followed Wang Fan into the main building's pavilion, a place she had never set foot in before.
The spiritual energy inside the pavilion was richer than outside, and the furnishings were simple yet revealed extraordinary quality everywhere. However, this did not alleviate the fear in Jiang Xue's heart; instead, it made her feel as if she had fallen into an ice cellar. She kept her head down, not daring to look around, standing nervously at the door, feeling helpless.
Wang Fan ignored her unease and walked directly to a corner of the quiet room.
He took out the half-human-tall black Pill Furnace, skillfully placed it, and then took out the remaining seven sets of Blood Coagulation Pill ingredients, laying them out one by one.
Jiang Xue's heart instantly leaped into her throat, and she felt cold all over.
Pill Furnace? Medicinal ingredients?
What was he going to do?
Connecting this to Zhang Hu being forcibly given pills yesterday, and the rumors she had heard in the Outer Sect about demonic Cultivators using human furnaces for cultivation, a terrifying thought uncontrollably surfaced.
Could it be... could it be that he wanted to refine her into a pill? Or... was he going to use that dual Cultivation Technique... to Cultivate with her?!
Fear, like a cold venomous snake, instantly coiled around her heart, making her almost unable to breathe.
Wang Fan did not explain, nor did he look at her. He began to process the medicinal ingredients and ignite the furnace fire on his own.
Having entered Qi Refining Stage - Second Level, his spiritual energy was more abundant, and his Divine Sense was also slightly sharper. Controlling the furnace fire and the Fusion of medicinal ingredients was much smoother than yesterday.
The crimson fire-attribute spiritual energy was dominant, hot and overbearing, while the emerald wood-attribute spiritual energy wrapped around it like silk threads, assisting and injecting a subtle trace of vitality and control. His movements were precise and steady.
Jiang Xue held her breath, watching Wang Fan's every move with fear.
Time passed little by little, and the expected violation did not come.
He was just... refining pills?
Zhang Hu's miserable state yesterday was still vivid in her mind, but Wang Fan's actions at this moment seemed like... a demonstration?
She suddenly remembered that she had been brought here a day ago.
Could it be that this was today's task?
Learning how to refine pills?
She was not a foolish person; on the contrary, if her family hadn't fallen into decline, she would have been a young lady from a prominent family.
She instantly understood something.
The Master needed useful tools, not useless vases.
Three days!
No, two days!
A deadline inexplicably appeared in her mind.
Wang Fan had clearly said that if she couldn't show her value, her fate would probably be even more miserable than Zhang Hu's!
The instinct for survival suppressed her fear. Jiang Xue no longer dared to think wildly, forcing herself to widen her eyes, and firmly memorized Wang Fan's every gesture, every subtle change in the circulation of spiritual energy, and the order and timing of adding the medicinal ingredients.
Her gaze was focused and sharp, like a dry sponge, frantically absorbing all the information before her.
From the corner of his eye, Wang Fan noticed Jiang Xue's change, from fear to focus.
His heart was calm.
It seems that fear is indeed the best driving force.
He withdrew his thoughts and focused on the changes within the Pill Furnace.
Seven sets of medicinal ingredients. He must master them quickly. Blood Coagulation Pill is just the beginning.
The furnace fire leaped, and the scent of medicine and blood began to permeate the air again.