Chapter 11:
A heavy silence fell over the hall after Lin Fan halted the sudden pain, leaving the clan leaders and Ding Xia's father engulfed in feelings of shock and fear. None of them expected Lin Fan to possess this deadly treasure that gave him control over their lives and deaths at will. Their features tightened, and the slight trembling in their hands was unmistakable; they had witnessed a new dark side of his power they could never have imagined.
Ding Su felt a bitter disappointment. He had thought that allying with Lin Fan would be a lifeline for his clan, but he now realized that this alliance had turned into a choking noose around his and his daughter's necks. He thought angrily, 'Did I make a mistake by placing my life and my clan's future in the hands of this young man?' Fear loomed in his mind, but he forced himself to maintain an outward calm, knowing that any reckless action would only lead to his demise.
However, Zi Jian, another clan leader, could not suppress his rage. His facial features twisted with intense anger as he glared at Lin Fan with a hostile look. The sudden burst of violence against them pushed him to act recklessly; he could no longer endure it.
"I'll kill you, you scoundrel!!"
He suddenly lunged to attack Lin Fan, brandishing a sword that glowed with the energy of a golden core, delivering a powerful strike directly towards Lin Fan's head. It was a swift and fierce blow intended to kill Lin Fan.
But Lin Fan, completely unperturbed, stood and calmly raised his right hand as if dealing with a child, easily grasping the sword with a terrifying ease before shattering it into pieces, leaving shock etched on everyone's faces. Then, in a swift motion, he delivered a powerful punch with his left hand that struck Zi Jian's head directly, causing it to explode in an instant, scattering into shards before the astonished eyes of the onlookers.
An oppressive silence settled in; no one moved, their eyes wide with disbelief at what had just transpired. They stared at the remnants of Zi Jian in shock and horror, as if what they had witnessed was an unbelievable nightmare. Cold sweat began to bead on their foreheads, realizing that Lin Fan not only had them in his control but could also end their lives in an instant if he wished.
Lin Fan smiled a cold smile, then looked at the others with a scrutinizing gaze, speaking in a calm yet domineering voice, "I can control your lives and deaths as I wish, but that doesn't mean I will tolerate rebellion with mere pain as punishment. Those who defy me will end up like this fool." He pointed to Xi Jian's lifeless body, and their expressions grew increasingly desperate with every word he spoke.
The impact of his words was like casting them into the depths of hell; they understood that any attempt to rebel or refuse to submit to him would only bring them doom.
Lin Fan smiled with satisfaction as he observed them, then said in a tone that was both sarcastic and cold, "You can either choose death or become my followers. The decision is yours, and I believe you know the better option." His tone was calm, but it carried a clear warning.
With hesitant voices and faces glistening with cold sweat, they replied in unison, "We will be your followers, my lord."
Lin Fan smiled with an arrogant grin, relishing his moment of complete victory. He then pulled out several shimmering scrolls from his pocket and presented them to the remaining leaders, saying, "Since you have shown obedience, I will reward you."
The remaining two clan leaders, both at the golden core level, received two techniques: one agricultural and one combat, both of the fourth grade, which impressed them even if fear still lingered in their expressions. These techniques were rare and considered a priceless treasure to them, but they knew that acquiring them meant committing to total loyalty to Lin Fan.
As for Ding Su, he received techniques of a different kind, as Lin Fan gifted him two techniques of the fifth grade, one agricultural and another combat. It was a heavy and valuable gift, with the potential to quickly enhance his power to match the deep sky realm he had reached, making him feel a bittersweet gratitude; these techniques were something he could never have dreamed of, but the price was his freedom.
The leaders then bowed in submission, any trace of rebellion vanished from their faces, replaced by a happiness mingled with bitterness as they thanked Lin Fan, "Thank you for your generosity, my lord." A triumphant smile spread across Lin Fan's face, realizing that his plan had come to fruition.
'I have gained additional followers I did not expect from this journey; I only wanted to recruit the devil twins at first, but I did not anticipate that this city would hold such a number of rare beauties; I am indeed fortunate.'
Lin Fan then slowly left the hall, followed by Ding Xia and Xue Bing, each holding his hand, and a short distance behind them was Yi Xian, accompanied by the girl-in-chair, whom he had also given a pill to ensure her loyalty. Lin Fan's smile mixed a sense of victory and dominance, for he had obtained what he desired and demonstrated his control completely.
Upon arriving at his luxurious suite, he entered with the girls and then closed the doors, looking around with satisfaction as he spoke in a calm tone that still held a glimmer of authority, "Ding Xia, Xue Bing, this is a gift for your performances today." He pulled out two techniques of the fifth grade, one agricultural and one combat, and tossed them towards them. The girls caught the techniques with astonishment, realizing their power and value.
Ding Xia felt gratitude, but she could not hide a mix of excitement and desire to perform better in serving Lin Fan. She stepped forward and said with a grateful tone, "Thank you, my lord; we will not disappoint you."
Lin Fan laughed with relief, smiling, "You have a whole day to learn these techniques. I want to see tangible results when you finish. Show me your seriousness."
The girls nodded in compliance, and Lin Fan continued in a firm tone, "You can now go to the small rooms within my suite to practice. There, no one will disturb you."
Yi Xian looked at him, her features hiding a mix of respect and curiosity, saying shyly, "Is there something you would like me to do, my lord?"
Lin Fan looked at her with a glance that held a light sarcasm and pride in his power: "Take this technique as well, and consider yourself mine from now on." He then handed her also a combat and an agricultural technique of the fifth grade.
"Thank you so much, my lord; I am entirely at your service." Yi Xian bowed and thanked Lin Fan eagerly.
Then, as they all headed toward the inner rooms, Lin Fan sat alone on the girl-in-chair and let out a soft whistle, prompting his pets (the girls) to look at him expectantly. He then tossed pieces of food towards them, smiling as he watched them eagerly catch it, continuing his daily ritual of entertaining himself by observing them.
He then reclined in his chair, using another girl as a support, lost in thought: 'I have wasted some days trying to decide on my cultivation method, but I discovered that I cannot continue the path of the original body owner; traditional cultivation is way too boring. When I tried meditating for just one hour, I nearly died from boredom! It's impossible to follow that method; I will use the dual cultivation technique instead.'
He remembered finding a technique that perfectly suited his personality and needs, called the Divine Yin-Yang Art. This technique was on the same level as the Devil God Art that the original body owner had followed and could increase his cultivation level rapidly without affecting the stability of his foundation, unlike other ordinary techniques.
He smiled with a clever thought, as this art allowed him flexible advantages; it enabled him to channel his yang energy as he wished, whether to assist in training his girls or to keep it for himself. The only difference between him and the Devil God Art that could slightly lower him was the ability to instantly absorb the power of others to increase his level. But he decided to completely ignore that feature, as it affects the foundation of a person, unless they have a vast experience, like the one possessed by the original body owner.
With a satisfied smile and eyes reflecting on his plans, he sat comfortably, realizing that his future would be filled with the power and dominance he desired.
...
The next morning, the three girls emerged from their rooms with wide smiles, filled with enthusiasm and happiness. They approached Lin Fan, who was seated on the girl-in-chair he had given the pill to, expressing their gratitude in soft tones with evident allure. Lin Fan smiled with satisfaction, waiting for this interaction.
He spoke calmly while gently patting the girl-in-chair, "I believe you enjoyed the techniques I provided. Were they up to your expectations?"
Xue Bing replied with a seductive smile, "More than we could imagine, my lord."
Ding Xia added, with a slight bow and a shy look, "Thank you for your generosity, my lord. We are very grateful."
Lin Fan nodded with satisfaction, then said in a low tone with a smile that held a hidden malice, "Congratulations to you, you impressed me; I will make you a personal chair." He gently patted the girl-in-chair, causing her to smile shyly with happiness.
He then added, looking at the three girls with a scrutinizing gaze, "I have given you a full day to relax. Now, it's time for you to taste."
With a mischievous smile, Yi Xian whispered, "As you wish, my lord." They all eagerly approached Lin Fan, beginning to remove their clothes, as Lin Fan's smile gradually widened.
...
The next morning, Lin Fan awoke to a comfort he had never known before. His body was leaning against Ding Xia's breasts, enjoying their softness, while his arms were wrapped around Xue Bing and Yi Xian, keeping them in a fixed position without moving, fearing to wake him.
As soon as Lin Fan opened his eyes, a soft smile spread across his face, and suddenly his lips formed a small kiss shape, prompting the three girls—Ding Xia, Xue Bing, and Yi Xian—to rush toward him eagerly, showering him with kiss after kiss to express their gratitude and loyalty. Lin Fan smiled lightly and said in a satisfied tone, "You did well last night."
He then stood up energetically, gesturing for them to follow him toward the bathroom. In the luxurious bathroom, as warm water flowed gently, Lin Fan stood surrounded by them while they began to massage and clean him carefully, competing to provide the best for his satisfaction, making him feel his absolute control over them. After finishing, Lin Fan prepared to return to his lavish clothes, while the girls dried him off and dressed him with great care, as if they were attending to a great king.
While he was putting on his clothes, Lin Fan's eyes sparkled with a glimmer of satisfaction; he had managed to reach the eighth layer of the Qi Condensation Realm during the night, a significant advancement achieved thanks to the Divine Yin-Yang Technique and the benefits of his connection with the girls. Although Ding Xia was at the weak ninth layer of the Qi Condensation Realm, her virginity greatly enhanced her benefits to him. Meanwhile, Yi Xian, at the sixth layer of the Golden Core Realm, had a considerable impact on his strength growth. As for Xue Bing, despite her intense loyalty, she provided limited benefits considering her third layer in the Qi Condensation Realm and that she was no longer a virgin, but that didn't diminish his enjoyment much.
Lin Fan thought with satisfaction, 'How wonderful it is to enjoy myself and grow stronger at the same time. Why should I exhaust myself with the tedious traditional cultivation methods?'