"It doesn't matter if they don't know the difference," Ling Fan thought.
"Then go quickly and save Xueyi! Having this toad here is enough!" Li Huimei urged.
Ling Fan nodded, "I will go find Xueyi. Don't worry, Xueyi carries the inheritance of an ancient sage, a top-tier one at that. Her safety should not be an issue."
"That's good! But you still need to find Xueyi as soon as possible. We won't be at ease with her alone," Li Huimei said, slightly relieved. Even though Xueyi was now a true powerhouse, in her mother's eyes, she was still a child.
"Yes, I will depart immediately after settling things here." Ling Fan understood Li Huimei's concern. While he had confidence in Xueyi, his own heart was filled with worry. He wouldn't be able to fully relax until Xueyi was found.
Ling Fan left some of his cultivation resources, which he no longer needed or found very useful, with the Lan Family Fort. He believed that with these resources, the Lan Family Fort's strength would leap forward significantly in a short period. Lan Junjie had decent talent and should be able to reach the Giant Spirit Realm soon. As for breaking through to the Core Formation Realm, it would depend on his comprehension and innate talent. Ling Fan also re-established a grand formation for the Lan Family Fort. With his current Golden Core Realm strength, the formation he set up was naturally far superior to anything before. As for the reconstruction of the Lan Family Fort, Ling Fan left it to Lan Tianxiong and Lan Junjie to arrange.
Just as Ling Fan was preparing to leave, Liang Hutou unexpectedly sought him out. He wanted Ling Fan to help him improve his strength. Ling Fan looked at the stubborn, bald man with slight surprise. "Your current peak Heavenly Yuan Realm strength is not weak in Liuyun Kingdom; it can even be considered top-tier. Why are you in such a hurry to improve?"
Liang Hutou's expression was serious. "Master, you don't know, but when those people from Tianyun Kingdom came, I deeply understood what despair meant. I was like a frog in a well. In reality, my strength is nothing in front of true powerhouses..." He chuckled self-deprecatingly. "I'm ashamed! I don't want to be useless anymore. I beg Master to fulfill my wish."
Ling Fan nodded. Liang Hutou had always been diligent and loyal. Although his current strength was of little use to Ling Fan, he appreciated the man's intentions. Ling Fan said, "You are not like Toad. Toad is from the Demon-Eating Golden Toad clan and can consume Nascent Pills to increase his strength. But you are a martial artist with mediocre talent. You don't have such bloodline or talent. I do have a way to rapidly increase your realm and strength, but the price will be correspondingly great, even to the point of death if you can't withstand it. Are you mentally prepared for this?"
Liang Hutou replied, "As long as I can become stronger, I can bear any price. A quick death is better than a cowardly one!"
"Good." Since Liang Hutou had this resolve, Ling Fan didn't say much more. Ling Fan took out a Nascent Pill and said, "Some sects, in order to quickly increase their combat power, select disciples with average or below-average talent as 'death warriors.' They implant strong cultivators' Nascent Pills or even Golden Core Pills into their Dantian. However, the result is often that the implanted disciples explode and die, or they commit suicide unable to bear the inhuman pain. But if they can endure it, they can rapidly gain the power of a Nascent Pill or even a Golden Core, becoming a battle-ready force of the Martial Venerable or even Martial Sovereign level."
"What's the success rate?" Liang Hutou asked.
"If one out of ten can barely succeed, that's considered good," Ling Fan said.
"It truly is a matter of life and death." Liang Hutou smiled, but his eyes were firm. "Master, I have a request."
"What, having second thoughts? Just say it. There's no shame in it. Such rapid advancement methods are against the heavenly way, akin to cheating, directly stealing decades or even centuries of hard work from others," Ling Fan said with a playful smile.
"No, I mean, I want three!" Ling Fan looked at Liang Hutou with some surprise. "Do you know what you're saying? You might not even be able to withstand one Nascent Pill, and you want to implant three?"
Liang Hutou said, "The power of one Nascent Pill is only that of an ordinary Core Formation Realm Martial Venerable. Since it's a gamble with my life, why not bet big! If I can withstand it, I should be able to leap to the top tier among the Core Formation Realm experts!" A glint of ambition flashed in Liang Hutou's eyes. At this moment, he seemed to have regained a trace of the spirit of the great bandit who once roamed Mount Mogan.
Ling Fan smiled. "Three it is. These things are of little use to me. I can even leave a few more for you. If you survive this, you can continue to gamble!"
"Haha, Master, you understand me!" Liang Hutou grinned broadly.
However, Liang Hutou's laughter abruptly stopped. He could no longer laugh. Ling Fan casually clapped his hand, and three Nascent Pills were sealed into Liang Hutou's Dantian. Three domineering and powerful forces instantly erupted within Liang Hutou's body! Liang Hutou's face contorted in pain. His consciousness was about to blur.
However, Ling Fan coldly warned, "No matter how much it hurts, you must endure. If you pass out, the power of the three Nascent Pills in your body will be completely uncontrolled, and you will immediately explode and die."
"Yes!" Liang Hutou's teeth chattered. He felt every part of his body tearing apart. The pain was indescribable, no different from being sliced to death by a thousand cuts. The power of three Nascent Pills was too terrifying for him! They rampaged through his flesh and meridians, wreaking havoc within his body. This was even with Ling Fan deliberately controlling the release of the Nascent Pill power. Otherwise, if the power of all three Nascent Pills had erupted, Liang Hutou would have exploded instantly. Even so, Liang Hutou was struggling immensely.
Seeing this, Ling Fan gave Liang Hutou several bottles of pills. Additionally, he pointed at Liang Hutou's forehead, transmitting a martial skill to him. "These pills should help you endure the initial phase, but that's all. The rest depends on you. This is a high-grade Profound tier martial skill, the Golden Wall Art. You must quickly absorb the power of the three Nascent Pills and successfully cultivate the Golden Wall Art. Otherwise, as the power of the three Nascent Pills accumulates within you, you will eventually be unable to escape death."
Liang Hutou nodded. His veins bulged, and even speaking was difficult.
From that day on, continuous sounds of agony emanated from Liang Hutou's room, chilling to the bone. It also made people marvel at what kind of indomitable will could withstand such prolonged torment. Were Liang Hutou's nerves made of steel!
Meanwhile, Ling Fan had already left Liuyun Kingdom with Toad to find Xueyi.