Chapter 302: Chapter 156: Vomiting Blood
Qin Fang squinted and smiled. "Isn’t that what you said, Brother Qian? As long as I’m here, they’re not going to let me off easy anyway. Instead of waiting for them to make a move, I might as well strike first... At least this way I don’t have to take their crap, right?"
"That may be true... but the Shen Family is a famous Divine Family in Lanyang City. Brother Qin, aren’t you... afraid of offending them too deeply?"
Qian Ruhai hesitated for a moment before asking in a low voice.
"I offended Shen Han. What does that have to do with the Shen Family?"
Qin Fang, however, wore a slight smile. "Weren’t my words just now in defense of the Shen Family? Shen Han is Shen Han. He hasn’t reached the point where he can represent the entire Shen Family, has he? As for the Shen Family, I hold them in high admiration... One should always show some respect for experts with Divine Techniques."
Qin Fang’s words left Qian Ruhai momentarily stunned.
He felt like something wasn’t right, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on what...
In the end, he just shook his head and said with a wry smile, "But that was a bit too vicious. You’ve really, thoroughly offended Shen Han now. I’m afraid he won’t let this go easily..."
"He’s just a scrub. If I offended him, I offended him. Besides, even if I hadn’t, would he have just stopped targeting me?"
Qin Fang asked with a smile.
Qian Ruhai was suddenly at a loss for words.
...As long as Shen Han still had his sights set on the twelve seats, Qin Fang, who had already caught his attention, would certainly be seen as his greatest threat. He was bound to cause trouble for Qin Fang.
"But..."
Qian Ruhai subconsciously started to say something, but in the end, he could only sigh. "In any case, as long as you know what you’re doing, Brother Qin..."
Qin Fang smiled. After a brief pause, he suddenly said, "Oh, right. Those two women who went up on the stage earlier... who are they? I saw them following Shen Han the whole time. It seems... their Cultivation is quite remarkable."
Hearing this, Qian Ruhai’s expression turned serious. "Those are two of Shen Han’s Maids. Their Cultivation is... the True Essence Realm."
Qin Fang’s expression immediately hardened. "True Essence Realm? Maids?"
’Seriously? Are all these Divine Families this extravagant? Using True Essence Realm experts who have stepped into the Divine Domain as Maids?’
"They aren’t True Essence Realm cultivators who reached that level through normal, orthodox training. Rather... they are True Essence Realm cultivators ’created’ by the Shen Family through an immense expenditure of resources and effort."
Qian Ruhai said, shaking his head.
"Hm?"
Qin Fang raised an eyebrow in surprise. ’The True Essence Realm can be ’created’?’
Seeing Qin Fang’s confused expression, Qian Ruhai simply explained, "We say ’created,’ but it’s actually more like... pulling up a seedling to make it grow faster."
"Divine Families like the Shen Family possess some extremely domineering Secret Techniques, which they use in conjunction with massive amounts of rare resources—Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures like the ’Transcendence Pill’ and ’Primordial Marrow Liquid,’ which can forcibly break through the Divine Gate Meridian and condense True Essence."
"They usually select disciples from collateral branches with decent Talent and foundation but who are already too old or have limited potential, or even talented children from among their household slaves. They use a Secret Technique to lock away their consciousness, supplement them with massive quantities of medicine, and recklessly assault their meridians and Key Points."
"The process... is said to be excruciatingly painful. The success rate is less than one in a hundred, and the cost is enormous. Even a Divine Family would find it hard to bear. But if successful, they can reach the True Essence Realm in a short amount of time..."
Qin Fang’s heart pounded as he listened.
Then he asked, "And the price?"
Qian Ruhai glanced at Qin Fang with a raised eyebrow before saying, "Their Cultivation will be permanently fixed at that level for the rest of their lives, with no possibility of further advancement."
"Furthermore, because their foundation is unstable, their actual combat strength is often a notch weaker than an Ascetic Cultivator of the same realm."
"Even more seriously, their lifespan is drastically reduced, and their Qi Blood decays prematurely... A proper True Essence Realm Martial Artist has a lifespan of four hundred years, but for people like them... their Divine Gate is forcibly shattered, damaging their very foundation. They often only live for a few years. The longest I’ve ever seen one live was no more than ten years."
Realization dawned on Qin Fang, and a glint appeared in his eyes.
’A four-hundred-year lifespan, compressed into a mere ten years?’
Qian Ruhai shook his head. "They’re less like Martial Artists and more like... ’Humanoid Weapons’ built from the resources of the Noble Families and Clans."
"They seek only rapid creation, with no regard for the future."
"So don’t be fooled by the Maids’ imposing auras. In a true life-or-death battle, there’s no way they could be a match for someone who reached the True Essence Realm through steady cultivation. In fact... even someone like you, Brother Qin, who has reached the Huajin Third Realm, might not necessarily be able to defeat them."
"But if they’re just used for intimidation, to run errands, or... to serve as a status symbol on certain occasions, they are more than sufficient."
Qin Fang finally understood completely. "So that’s how it is."
His eyes flickered.
Although this method was incredibly expensive and its results were mediocre, they were still bona fide True Essence Realm Martial Artists. That was an existence at the Extraordinary Level! This offered a glimpse into the true power of the Divine Families.
"It’s just about noon," Qian Ruhai suddenly invited. "Care to join me at Tingyu Pavilion for a bit?"
After thinking for a moment, Qin Fang smiled. "No, thanks... I still have to move soon."
Qian Ruhai was taken aback. After a long moment, he shook his head with a wry smile. "Alright, then... I’ll take my leave."
"Yeah, go on."
Qin Fang waved his hand dismissively.
Qian Ruhai and his group left.
Everyone else had also departed.
Squinting, Qin Fang returned to the C Courtyard.
Along the way, he ran into many people from the D Building. Upon seeing him, they would first freeze in surprise before greeting him with great respect.
Qin Fang watched them with a grin, gave a slight nod in return, and continued on his way back to C Courtyard Three.
After packing up his belongings, Qin Fang went out into the courtyard and looked at the sky.
Before he knew it, noon had arrived. Qin Fang stood up.
...He had given the other party the entire morning to pack, and an entire morning it was.
Now, it was time for him to move into the A Courtyard.
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