"Mr. Zhang, are you serious!? You're not joking with me!?" Chang Yuqing's expression turned solemn as she seriously stood up and questioned Zhang Rongfang.

"I naturally wouldn't joke. However, your illness doesn't require medicine, but rather strengthening the body!" Zhang Rongfang replied naturally.

"Practicing martial arts? You may not know, but I've tried before, and practicing martial arts only worsened my illness." Chang Yuqing had tried every method, and hearing this, she shook her head in disappointment.

"It's naturally not simple martial arts practice. The condition within your body is very complex. Some standard martial arts movements can't be performed; a set of martial arts tailored specifically for you is required." Zhang Rongfang was in a good mood.

Surprisingly, he could reap additional benefits from Chang Yuqing, which increasingly piqued his interest in her.

While Taoism doesn't emphasize serendipity like Buddhism, such coincidences had led Chang Yuqing to give him such a significant gift.

Even if the other party was unaware, not reciprocating wouldn't align with Zhang Rongfang's consistent personal principles.

Since he gained benefits from the other party, he must reciprocate.

Whether the other party was aware or not, it adhered to his own principles.

Just as if he suffered a loss, he would definitely seek compensation in return.

Similarly, whether the other party knew or not.

Immediately, he began explaining to Chang Yuqing one by one, pointing out if she would experience pain or discomfort when practicing certain movements while learning martial arts.

Every time he pinpointed a location or feeling, it astonished Chang Yuqing to no end, for none of them were wrong!

She gradually started believing that the other party could really cure her illness.

Zhang Rongfang was also considering taking her under his wing.

With Chang Yuqing's talent, if not limited by her physical condition, practicing martial arts would be a natural fit for a highly perceptive martial arts prodigy.

Although her martial arts training started late, if a different path was taken, the future holds substantial prospects.

Compared to the former Dang Mountain Tiger, Ding Yu, he actually valued this woman's kind of talent more.

Because the scent he detected from her was only slightly less than that of his powerful master uncle, Jin Yuyan, just slightly.

"Tailored... exclusive martial arts?" Chang Yuqing recognized the implication.

The significance of exclusive martial arts is that only direct disciples can receive instruction.

She hesitated.

Although what the other party said made sense, and many points were indeed related to her actual symptoms.

But...

Becoming a disciple was not something to be decided lightly.

One day as a master, a lifetime as a master, often a mentor can be closer than parents.

"Of course, if you're unwilling, that's fine too, as matters can't be forced." Zhang Rongfang smiled.

He was now satisfied that his blood and flesh supplementation had reached ninety-five, a height that was satisfactory for him.

And extracting more blood from the person before him wouldn't need to be so intricate.

He was merely curious about the person's constitution.

She was the first person he'd encountered who could be absorbed for blood and flesh supplementation a second time.

Plus, this woman's extraordinary talent, perhaps... could be cultivated in the future.

People always worry about the future, concerned that when they are weak or powerless, there will be someone by their side to hold up the sky, preventing the world from collapsing upon them.

And this is fundamentally why many take on disciples or have offspring.

"May I think about this carefully?" Chang Yuqing hesitated.

For her, though she had essentially been abandoned here, waiting to recuperate or await death.

Becoming a disciple was an extremely serious matter for someone who places great importance on such things.

Zhang Rongfang didn't mind.

"Take your time thinking. By the way, squeeze out some blood for me again. Let me confirm that I didn't see wrongly just now." He reached from his back waist pouch and handed over a cup.

"..." Looking at the cup as large as her water glass, Chang Yuqing fell silent.

This... squeezing out some blood... was it necessary to prepare such a large cup? How did he come up with the idea to carry such a large cup around?

"Oh, it's nothing. This is my regular cup for other uses; you just need to squeeze out a few drops of blood." Watching her, Zhang Rongfang quickly explained.

"Alright..." Chang Yuqing felt something seemed odd.

Nevertheless, she lifted her finger and forcefully squeezed out some blood, dripping it into the cup.

"Hm? Your wound hasn't stopped bleeding?" Zhang Rongfang suddenly frowned, noticing this.

"Yeah... it's always been this way for me. From a young age, it takes much longer to heal compared to others." Chang Yuqing appeared accustomed to it.

"Is that so." Zhang Rongfang thought for a moment and pulled out a paper packet from his pouch, pouring a bit of pale yellow medicinal powder into his palm.

"If you're not afraid, press this powder on the wound and count a hundred heartbeats while you remain still. If you're scared, then forget it."

He handed over the medicinal powder.

"...." Looking at the powder in the other's palm, Chang Yuqing paused then suddenly laughed.

"There's nothing to be afraid of." She wouldn't be living much longer anyway, what was there to fear?

Actually, Zhang Rongfang realized that her family background wasn't bad, but it was likely she had been abandoned.

Otherwise, with such talent, how could she be left alone here with only a maid accompanying her?

For a common person, parents would definitely be constantly around, worried and caring, unable to bear leaving her side.

"Since that's the case, I'll return and if you make a decision, we can talk then. Farewell for now."

Having achieved his goal, Zhang Rongfang turned and left with the cup, without lingering.

He didn't even bother with the reserved room.

His purpose was fulfilled, staying further would be a waste of time.

In the future, if she decided to be his disciple, he would teach her well.

If she didn't, he would offer other compensations and then disappear from her life.

Just consider it an unconscious transaction.

A little way outside the courtyard, he found a sweet drink stall, bought a cup of water, diluted the blood in the cup, and drank it all at once.

Instantly, a sensation of overwhelming comfort surged through him.

Sure, here is the translation:

He felt as if the cells throughout his body were cheering and leaping, undergoing some strange transformation.

And the completion level of his flesh was further improved by two points on the basis of ninety-five, reaching 97.

This time, the enhancement points weren't many, resulting in little change in his body.

His entire body just heated up for a moment, the overall strength increased a bit, and then it quickly dissipated.

"It seems these last three points might be very hard to find. But it doesn't matter, there is still a lot I need to do next..."

The Blood Lotus state clearly surpasses his previous limits significantly and can serve as a new trump card.

Now with his body's strength enhanced, combined with the Extreme State, and using the tenfold combo of the Limit-Breaking Skill, Chongshan, the burden might not be too big anymore.

'Perhaps, the stacked Chongshan in the Extreme State can already be used regularly.'

With these thoughts, Zhang Rongfang returned in the direction of his residence.

He planned to prepare well, and once everything was ready, he would go to the Great Capital to truly see if his master was really dead or not!?

He didn't believe Old Yue, being so cunning, would die in such a wave-less, unremarkable manner.

*

*

*

Ze Province, Fuchuan City · Heaven's Edge Pavilion.

Fuchuan City, the closest to Qingchuan Prefecture, is the most beloved place by the rich people in the entire province for leisure.

Here gathers the most towers in the whole Ze Province.

Various religions once sat here in discussion, building the Dao Discussion Tower.

Nearly a hundred years ago, during the period of a hundred schools of thought contending, many sects sat and debated here, and whoever won would add a level to their respective Dao Discussion Tower.

Whoever lost, would have to dismantle a level. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

Among many towers, the tallest one must be the winner every five years.

Back then, Great Dao Teaching and Zhenyi Sect joined forces to battle the Buddhist sect, but still were defeated by the combined forces of Eastern and Western Sects.

Thus, the Buddhist sect also established its status as the national religion of the Great Spirit Kingdom.

And now, although the Dao Discussion Towers still stand, people are no longer confined to just this Fuchuan City.

Only these towers remain.

At this moment, on the highest Dao Discussion Tower, Heaven's Edge Pavilion.

Shangguan Feihua slowly stepped up, walking to the seventh floor, standing in a small hall, looking out at the distant view through four hollowed-out windows.

The setting sun was like blood, and the white gauze fluttered in the wind.

A faint salty sea smell drifted in the wind.

Shangguan Feihua reached out, gently stroking the stone table and chairs in the small hall, a look of nostalgia in his eyes.

"Hey, can you tell which of these things I made?" A sweet female voice suddenly sounded behind him.

Shangguan Feihua's body trembled as he turned around abruptly.

There was nothing but emptiness behind him.

"You're still the same as before; people say you're impulsive, dare to do anything, fear nothing.

But I understand, you just want to stay true to yourself.

So, when you're hesitant... when you still think of me, perhaps here, you might find the answer."

The voice gently sounded once again beside him.

This time, Shangguan Feihua did not turn around.

He simply stretched out his hand, letting the sunlight fall on his palm.

In a haze, a phantom pale white hand gently placed itself into his broad palm.

"Thank you for remembering me."

Shangguan Feihua lifted his head, under the blood-colored sunlight, he seemed to see a graceful familiar figure dispersing in the wind, turning into countless petals.

The petals flew away like blood and illusion, in the blink of an eye heading into the distance.

Watching the petals float far away, a hidden softness flashed across Shangguan Feihua's stern face.

He seemed to see Wan'Er once again.

As a child.

As a young girl.

At the moment she looked up when they married.

Applauding desperately for him even while holding a child.

Gently comforting him despite severe blood loss.

Lying in the sickbed, skin and bones, unrecognizable.

"That's how fate is, but I absolutely, absolutely will not kneel and beg for mercy."

In his memory, back then Wan'Er spoke with a light in her eyes.

"Because I am your wife, you are so proud... in future, future, I will surely reach the peak others can only aspire to."

"Since no matter what, one cannot escape death... then doesn't it make no difference whether you die kneeling or with your chest out?

I do not wish for you to be looked down by others... I do not want..."

"Yes...." Shangguan Feihua murmured softly. "I always forget, but every time I come here, you remind me...."

The light in his eyes gradually gathered strength.

He turned around, took one last look at the intricately carved grey-black stone table, and strode towards the bottom of the tower.

Just as he walked out of the tower entrance.

West Sect Ming Fei Heng Yu was already waiting on the outskirts of the guard circle.

"Lord Governor, may I know your decision? We are about to return to the Great Capital, awaiting your instructions."

"Decision?" Shangguan Feihua looked toward the woman. "I'm sorry to have you come in vain. Because my decision is, refusal."