Chapter 118: Pain

Due to his preconceived notions, Li Huowang had always assumed that the Ao Jing Sect worshiped Ba Hui. But he now realized that wasn't the case; he had been terribly mistaken.

After a few moments of consideration, Li Huowang, unable to comprehend Hand Three's words, spoke again. "What makes you think you can steal Ba Hui's power? Do you really not perceive its immense strength? You're not even ants in its presence!"

Even though Li Huowang could no longer recall its appearance, he still understood Ba Hui's immense power; it was certainly not something a few mortals could accomplish.

Hand Three looked at Li Huowang with determination in his eyes. "Why not? I control my own destiny! If the Ox God can, then we naturally can too!"

Li Huowang's mind recalled the statue at the Cross Temple, whose body was enveloped in flames. "Was that statue once a mortal too?"

Ignoring Li Huowang's thoughts, Hand Three continued speaking as if to himself. "What those bald monks often say: 'Buddhas are those who have traversed the path, and humans are future Buddhas.' Regardless of anything else, I agree with this point. It is the current Ba Hui, but that doesn't mean it will be the future Ba Hui!"

After Li Huowang digested this unexpected revelation, he took a deep breath and said, "Alright, what goes on between your sect and Ba Hui doesn't concern me. Let's get back to the main topic. Do you genuinely have a way to get rid of Dan Yangzi?"

Hand Three nodded. "How about it? What do you say? As long as you perform the Ascent of the Azure Dung Beetle again, we'll take care of your Half-Immortal master."

Hearing this, Li Huowang recalled the moment he summoned Ba Hui using the "Great Thousand Records." His face immediately contorted slightly; it had been an extremely painful experience.

The dual pain of body and mind was not easy to bear. Whenever he thought of that experience, Li Huowang would feel suicidal.

Calming himself down, Li Huowang slowly said, "I want to, but it's easier said than done. I can't do it right now."

Summoning Ba Hui was extremely difficult, especially as it required a resonance of extreme physical and mental anguish. This was a very rare emotion, not something one could simply conjure up.

"Heh heh." Hand Three chuckled and said very enthusiastically, "No matter. For Grandmaster Jingxin's sake, we can help you with this."

Staring at the charred smile on the other's face, Li Huowang felt a chill run down his spine. That seemingly light remark implied a great deal.

Looking at the person he had only met once before, Li Huowang contemplated for a long time before hesitantly speaking. "Senior Hand Three, let's put that matter aside for now. May I first ask what method you intend to use to deal with Dan Yangzi?"

"I also possess your sect's 'Great Thousand Records.' As far as I know, it doesn't even contain anything to help others, let alone expel a Half-Immortal."

Frankly speaking, Li Huowang didn't trust the Ao Jing Sect, especially after Grandmaster Jingxin had specifically warned him.

"Heh heh, young man, you're taking too much for granted," Hand Three chuckled. "Of course, things like the 'Great Thousand Records' must be used in conjunction with other methods. To get as close to the Sea of Bitterness as possible, one must try as many things as possible. For instance, your current state — we've naturally tried that too."

"As the saying goes, 'a long illness makes a good doctor.' When it comes to treating people, throughout the four seas and eight wildernesses, others might not truly be as skilled as us."

Li Huowang had almost a conditioned reflex to the word "illness." "Illness? I'm not ill, and this isn't an illness," he retorted. "Part of Dan Yangzi is now in my stomach, and part has truly become an immortal."

Hand Three watched Li Huowang's continuous explanations with a playful glint in his eyes. "This *is* an illness," Hand Three declared. "These Daoists are all driven mad by their desire to become immortals. They've all become lunatics."

Coming from the mouth of someone attempting to steal Ba Hui's power, these words had absolutely no credibility.

Faced with this person's rhetoric, although Li Huowang still harbored doubts, he didn't voice them. He didn't want to argue. He had come to ask these people to get rid of Dan Yangzi, not to debate scriptures with them. As long as the method worked, they could call Dan Yangzi a dog for all he cared.

"Have there been many cases like mine in the past? Do you treat others?" Li Huowang asked again cautiously.

"Naturally," Hand Three replied. "All branches of the Five Pecks of Rice Sect emphasize 'slaying the three poisons': the upper poison, Peng Ju; the middle poison, Peng Zhi; and the lower poison, Peng Qiao."

"It is said that those who seek immortality must first eliminate the three poisons, become tranquil and free of desires, achieve a serene spirit and clear nature, accumulate good deeds, and then become immortal."

After reciting this with a grandiloquent shake of his head, he turned his gaze back to Li Huowang. "Of course, this old man naturally doesn't believe such nonsense. Over the years, I've seen many Half-Immortals, Battle-Immortals, and other evil entities, but I've never seen a true Golden Immortal."

His charred, blood-red, inverted-skin fingers lifted and pointed towards Li Huowang's head. "You ox-nosed Daoists are all crazy with desire to become immortals," he spat. "You've cultivated yourselves into something neither human nor ghost, only caring about superficial skills and having no idea what the essence of power is."

Faced with these words, Li Huowang showed no reaction and directly spoke to Hand Three again. He patted the torture implements on his lower robe with his hand. "Senior, I can inflict extreme physical pain on myself," he said. "How will you help me with mental anguish?"

Seeing him say this, a hint of delight flashed in Hand Three's eyes. Since the young man had said this, it was tantamount to agreement.

With a slight lift of his chin, a sect member in a gray robe walked towards a tunnel in the cave. A moment later, he returned with a somewhat gaunt young woman.

This young woman, like other Ao Jing Sect members, wore a wide robe and a tall hat. The only difference was that her hat didn't cover her eyes.

"A woman? How does this relate to extreme mental anguish?"

However, it was clear that the young woman was even more surprised than Li Huowang, staring fixedly at him. With a powerful shove, the braided young woman was instantly pushed in front of Li Huowang. She quickly lowered her head, clenching the corners of her robe tightly with both hands, her body involuntarily trembling.

Li Huowang looked past the young woman's frail shoulders at Hand Three. "Senior, what is the meaning of this?"

"Take this girl," Hand Three instructed. "You two should become as intimate as oil mixed with honey. Then, get her pregnant with your child."

"When she is six months pregnant, and your son is almost fully formed, you'll cut open her belly, dig out your son, and then—"

"No! Don't say another word!" Li Huowang, his voice trembling slightly, interrupted him.

Just listening to him, Li Huowang could already feel a throbbing pain in his temples. He had been calmly talking with this person for so long that he almost forgot what kind of person he was dealing with. He now understood how the other party intended to bring his body and mind to extreme anguish. These Ao Jing Sect members were no better than Dan Yangzi!

However, facing Li Huowang's interruption, Hand Three clearly misunderstood. "Right? Do you also think the intensity is a bit mild?" Hand Three said. "No matter. First, you've already been seen by Ba Hui. Plus, this old man has some spiritual elixirs that can help you take it to the next level!"