After My Favorability Level Is Up to the Top

C70 – If You Want, You’ll Be The Next King Of Martial Arts

Pa.

Startled, Huo Bai swiftly caught the wine jar and descended from the roof. Her gaze fell upon the unconscious Xiong Zexi, who lay on the ground, missing an arm. She wrinkled her brow and voiced her concern, “What… What happened to him?”

“It’s nothing.” Guo Fan shook his head. “Just a minor punishment. I’ve disabled his upper dantian, so he’ll feign idiocy for three days before regaining consciousness.”

In the realm of bodily cultivation, martial arts and inner growth were interrelated. Both required harmonizing with three dantians.

The space between the eyebrows was the upper dantian, housing the spirit; beneath the heart was the middle dantian, housing the qi; and situated below the navel was the lower dantian, containing the essence.

Put simply, the lower dantian symbolized the economic foundation, while the upper dantian represented the higher tiers of development.

The so-called Divine Soul Realm pertained to the cultivation of the middle dantian. By incapacitating Xiong Zexi’s upper dantian, Guo Fan effectively stymied his ascent. Severing an arm served as an unequivocal warning.

Regarding his unconsciousness… That wasn’t his doing. What he intervened with was to diminish the mental BUFF, not the unconscious BUFF. Young Master Wei was left pained and stunned, leading to his fainting on his own accord.

Guo Fan employed Spiritual Energy to conjure some cold water, successfully rousing the dazed individual. Upon awakening, the person gazed at Guo Fan with a tremulous expression, seemingly lost in a daze.

The individual who had rushed over happened to be the manor’s butler, Huo De. When he spotted Guo Fan, he promptly bowed and greeted him, inquiring about the situation. He then instructed his subordinates to escort Xiong Zexi for treatment. Addressing Guo Fan with a quivering voice, he said, “Mr. Xiaobo, kindly temper your anger. This… This Xiong Zexi…”

“The spell’s effects only rendered him dull-witted for three days. If he still doesn’t learn his lesson or believes that his lineage is too grand… [Send him my way, I’ll simplify things for him.]” Guo Fan snorted, “Let him ponder the repercussions of provoking a Nascent Infant Stage Immortal.”

Noting that Frost River Manor wouldn’t be held accountable, Huo De breathed a sigh of relief and promptly departed to address the issue.

Given that cultivators often ended the lives of regular powers without concern, there was little apprehension about the Wei Family getting ahead of themselves. They could merely endure in silence, and Xiong Zexi might even face backlash.

Guo Fan even questioned his own negligence. How could someone dare to harass his mother verbally and even entertain the idea of marrying her? And the audacity to believe marrying him was an honor. What the heck were they thinking?!

Huo Bai offered an acknowledging sound and glanced at the wine jar she held. Tucking her hair behind her ear, she remarked, “Why do you still remember… I was simply tossing words around back then. You went off to the Wide Ocean Sect, and yet you especially returned. What a hassle.”

He was really looking forward to it.

If he said that trouble had died, then he would be very happy.

Guo Fan comprehended the situation fully. He lifted his gaze and glanced at the progress bar, which had shifted from Unwavering to Devoted Partners.

The phrase “small world” seemed quite fitting in this context. The concept of Devoted Partners was essentially an uncomplicated commitment he made to Huo Bai after promising her a jar of fine wine.

“No worries. Being an Immortal cultivator, traveling back and forth won’t take much time. Moreover…” Guo Fan cast a glance at the fallen Xiong Zexi and remarked, “Aren’t you punctual? If I hadn’t shown up, you would’ve been forced into marrying him.”

A touch of sadness crossed Huo Bai’s expression, and she murmured, “I lack a significant background…”

A sudden thought struck Guo Fan, and he proposed, “Well, you have one now.” He gestured at the wine jar and stated, “Consider it betrothal gifts.”

“Huh?” Huo Bai was taken aback, her gaze fixed on the wine in her hand. A sudden flush colored her cheeks, and she turned her head, saying, “Can it be that casual!? I, I… I can’t accept this!”

Despite her declaration, she gripped the wine jar tightly, almost risking its shattering.

So, this was perfectly acceptable, wasn’t it?

Why did Guo Fan sense that it was so effortless for his mother to guide him? He didn’t need to put in much effort to elevate his likability. Why hadn’t he noticed this before…

Perhaps because he’d only incited conflicts in the past?

Clearing his throat twice, Guo Fan adopted a solemn expression and said, “I’ll hire you as a gift to present to my mother.”

“… Oh.”

A shy expression gracing Huo Bai’s face momentarily froze. Just as she was about to express her irritation, an unexpected realization struck her, halting her in her tracks.

“Wait, look at Mother Pan?” She inquired with a puzzled expression, “What does that mean?”

Guo Fan explained, “The face of a sect.”

Huo Bai’s eyes widened even more with confusion, “A sect’s face?”

Guo Fan nodded affirmatively. “In the future, I’ll establish my own sect. From a business perspective, a sect needs a figurehead, someone who can attract attention and promote the sect’s growth. Think of it like a metaphor. Li Xieren of the devil religion plays that role for the devil religion. Her reputation showcases the terror and brutality of the devil religion. This creates fear among the righteous path, drawing in more curious deviants and cultivators. Joining the Devil Cult becomes a self-sustaining cycle.”

“Another example is Song Na, the prominent figure of the Soaring Wisdom Sect. Many cultivators are drawn to the Soaring Wisdom Sect due to her fame, hoping to glimpse her appearance. Ultimately, they become disciples and are imparted with the sect’s teachings through the Monument of Wisdom.”

“Things like that, wait, wait…”

“It sounds quite reasonable.” Huo Bai felt a bit overwhelmed by the lengthy explanation and nodded in a puzzled manner, “So, in short, you’re asking me to join your yet-to-be-established sect.”

Guo Fan nodded affirmatively and said, “You possess the talent for cultivation. Otherwise, there wouldn’t be cultivators vying to recruit you into their ranks. The ability to employ martial arts to achieve Dao is exceptionally remarkable among the Immortal Cultivators. Moreover… your appearance is a significant advantage.”

Huo Bai blushed slightly, retorting, “Well then, by your logic, you should also be able to employ martial arts to achieve Dao. Even the old Manor Lord couldn’t manage it, how can I?”

Guo Fan smiled with conviction, saying, “You can! In the northern part of the Middle Continent, beneath a forested cliff lies the hidden Martial Monarch Cave. A millennium ago, Hee Junhao, a Martial Emperor at the pinnacle of the Martial Path despite being a mortal, left his legacy there. His body and cultivation essence are still there, waiting for someone like you. I can make you the second Martial Emperor.”

Huo Bai was taken aback, her emotions in turmoil. Even her heart raced. In a near-whisper, she repeated, “Martial Emperor.”

Seeing the dreamy glint in her eyes, Guo Fan felt a sense of fulfillment. He reached out and cast the Vajra Subduing Devil Curse upon Huo Bai, the Thorn Halo bestowed by the Twin Ridge Temple. Each below the Core Forming Stage would receive it, and those below the Nascent Infant Stage, too. If conflict arose, it could gravely wound an opponent.

“Take your time to consider. Over the years, you’ve surely realized that giving up your cultivation for your parents might not have been worth it. Once I’ve resolved affairs with the Wide Ocean Sect, I’ll venture north to retrieve some items. When the time comes, I’ll seek your counsel.”

Guo Fan concluded before departing, “I was just joking about the Jixin Wine. It’s not a formal betrothal gift. I’ll present it properly someday.”

He renewed the Demon Subduing Spell on Gu Yaling. He hadn’t pondered it deeply in the past, but he currently held no intention of revealing himself. If Gu Yaling spotted him now, she’d undoubtedly pester him endlessly.

It seemed wiser to avert such high-risk situations in the Asura Arena.