Chapter 116

Chapter 116: Xu Changsheng’s Confession

Returning to Zhou Garden, the gathered wives and concubines began preparing upon learning his wedding to Fifth Miss was in five days.

Though Tenth Elder Lin Ze had promised to oversee the nuptials, the interior of Zhou Garden still needed proper decoration to avoid becoming a laughingstock before the guests.

While they bustled about, Zhou Luo took the materials previously obtained from the Immortal Sect and the rare treasures later awarded by the clan into a room, sealing it with the isolation symbols he had forged.

Inside the room stood a massive copper cauldron.

Clear water filled the cauldron, rippling gently.

Zhou Luo affixed several heating symbols to the cauldron’s body and began heating the water.

The greatest advantage of being a spiritual symbol master was the convenience it brought to daily life.

For instance, he could use cleaning symbols for bathing, heating symbols for hot water, or isolation symbols to prevent snooping.

These were low-level spiritual symbols, not difficult to craft.

Still, for caution’s sake, he largely used them in secret.

The spiritual symbols glowed faintly upon the cauldron as the water gradually reached a boil.

Zhou Luo produced the materials and dumped them all in.

Sizzle—

Under the intense heat, the materials reacted violently. The clear water thickened into a murky medicinal solution, releasing a pungent odor.

The Giant Bear Body Refinement Technique comprised five phases.

Completion of the first phase allowed one’s body to withstand attacks below the fifth layer of Qi Refinement.

The subsequent four phases corresponded to forces equivalent to the sixth through ninth layers of Qi Refinement respectively.

Admittedly, this endurance had its limits, but at least it ensured one wouldn’t be instantly wiped out by a higher-level cultivator.

Time passed slowly, and the pungent stench in the air grew thicker.

The medicinal broth bubbled and boiled.

Releasing their properties under the high temperature, the materials emanated an intense aura.

Zhou Luo stripped off his clothes and stepped naked into the copper cauldron.

The moment his fair skin touched the solution, a fiery sting surged through him.

Gritting his teeth, he plunged his entire body into the medicinal liquid.

Instantly, violent forces penetrated his skin, invading his internal organs.

Excruciating pain erupted within.

It felt like a wild beast tearing at his flesh. An agony so soul-rending, it threatened to overwhelm his consciousness.

Only the significant tempering his soul had undergone within the Immortal Sect prevented him from blacking out.

Zhou Luo urgently initiated the Giant Bear Body Refinement Technique.

As the technique activated, spiritual energy surged from his Qi sea, traveling through his meridians to circulate throughout his body.

Simultaneously, the potent medicinal properties within the solution relentlessly assaulted his physical form.

That scalding heat felt as if it were piercing his flesh with thousands of blades.

Blood seeped out from his crimson skin, and excruciating pain crashed over him in waves, again and again.

Zhou Luo clenched his focus, using the power drawn from the Body Refinement Technique to constantly ease the pain, enabling his body to endure within such a terrifyingly fierce medicinal liquid.

Time passed slowly.

Zhou Luo’s face turned pale and bloodless; he gritted his teeth fiercely as sweat streamed down his forehead.

Body refinement was the ultimate test of one’s mental fortitude.

That sensation of being torn apart by countless knives deterred countless cultivators from attempting it.

Only those with immense perseverance could endure it.

Once they persisted, with their robust physiques, Body Refinement cultivators often overpowered Qi Refinement cultivators of the same level, even fighting opponents above their rank.

It was unknown how much time had passed, but Zhou Luo, engulfed in pain, could think only of the Bear Body Refinement Technique’s guiding method.

Eventually, when the spiritual symbols lost their effect, the scalding medicinal liquid gradually cooled.

Zhou Luo’s pain slowly receded.

He suddenly opened his eyes, his whole body radiating a spiritual glow as a surge of potent physical strength rippled beneath his skin, like beasts poised to strike, making him feel an unending flow of power.

He clenched his fists, hearing his tendons emit cracking sounds.

His once pale skin had now become a healthy wheat-like hue, every inch smooth and brimming with power.

A few more refinement sessions, and he could advance to the Second Level.

But this body refinement was truly not something an ordinary person could withstand.

Zhou Luo rose from the copper cauldron, dressed himself, and walked out of the room.

Outside, servants were busily tidying Zhou Garden, while little Chang An and several other children dashed around the courtyard, chased by Maids.

To care for these youngsters, Zhou Garden now had well over a dozen Maids, plus other servants and guards, totaling at least twenty or thirty people.

All their daily expenses added up to his burden.

Fortunately, he had recently received many gifts as tribute.

He wasn’t exactly wealthy now, but he had hundreds of ordinary spiritual stones on him.

That didn’t even count the herbs he had gathered from the Immortal Sect.

"Daddy… Daddy… I want to fly…"

Lost in thought, Zhou Luo noticed little Chang An spotting him; the child ran over, threw his arms around his leg, and spoke in a sweet, childish voice.

Zhou Luo crouched down, smiling as he picked him up.

After dinner, Zhou Luo welcomed an old acquaintance.

It was Xu Changsheng.

Unbelievable how efficient the main family was—in just half a day, they had brought him here.

A year later, Xu Changsheng still wore the same white robe, his face etched with wrinkles and a weathered look.

"Brother Xu, long time no see."

Zhou Luo stepped forward and greeted with a smile.

"I dare not accept such honor, I dare not," Xu Changsheng hastily shook his head, his expression respectful.

On the journey home, he had learned about Zhou Luo’s promotion to a top-level Pill Master.

The thought that this confidant, to whom he had bared his soul, now achieved such lofty success made his heart tremble and left him speechless.

For he understood all too clearly that henceforth, their statuses and positions would undergo a dramatic, earthshaking change.

Seeing this attitude, Zhou Luo smiled and said, "Brother Xu, the two of us need not stand on such formality."

Xu Changsheng’s eyes reddened slightly, his voice choked as he responded, "Brother Zhou, if not for you, I would have remained ignorant of how long I might have been trapped in that mine. Thank you."

He bowed deeply, his demeanor utterly solemn.

Zhou Luo helped him up: "Aren’t we friends? There’s no need for such ceremony."

Hearing the word "friend," Xu Changsheng felt as though his heart suffered a heavy blow.

"From now on, you will be the steward of Zhou Garden. You may bring your wife and children there as well," Zhou Luo continued.

Though he knew he was coming to Zhou Garden as steward, hearing these words spoken aloud stirred profound emotion within Xu Changsheng.

A pained look crossed his face as he asked, "Brother Zhou, do you truly trust me so much?"

"Trust those you employ; doubt those you don’t. Since I chose Brother Xu, naturally I trust you completely," Zhou Luo replied with absolute sincerity.

Xu Changsheng’s eyes widened as those earnest words filled him with boundless guilt.

He could restrain himself no longer. Thud! He dropped to his knees, weeping openly. "Brother Zhou, I have betrayed your trust!"

Zhou Luo’s brows rose faintly.

"In truth, I am not one of the Great Elder’s followers. I belong to the main family. From the start, I deceived you."

Kneeling on the ground, Xu Changsheng spoke thickly with regret and self-blame.

This, Zhou Luo had already deduced.

Yet he hadn’t anticipated Xu Changsheng volunteering the confession.

Seeing Zhou Luo remain unmoved.

Xu Changsheng proceeded to detail everything: how the main family deployed him to the spiritual mine, leaving nothing untold.

His words rang with remorse as he offered endless apologies.

"Brother Zhou, I truly never fathomed such depth of your trust. I, Xu Changsheng, swear henceforth to be loyal solely to you!"