Brothers Grow Distant, True Feelings Cannot Withstand False Intent

The moment he stepped out of the room, Zhou Liang began to regret his actions.

"Why was I so bewitched as to stuff it into my robes? Zhou Hai must have grown suspicious, and Zhou Minghu will likely find out soon."

"What will I do then?"

Although the Zhou family treated him as a kinsman, how could they tolerate him brazenly stealing a cultivator's treasure?

He walked swiftly along the path, openly placing the ancient text atop a stack of documents and rapidly copying it. The servants who passed by all knew his status and only dared to stop at a distance to bow respectfully, none daring to look closely-a true case of hiding in plain sight.

Having only skimmed through it once, Zhou Liang's face lit up with joy, and his heart settled considerably.

This Flesh and Blood Alchemy Method was a demonic cultivation art. It required fifty men and fifty women as medicinal ingredients, with a cultivator or demon beast as the catalyst, to refine a Spirit Pill that would grant a mortal a chance at cultivation!

Although the spiritual light achieved through this method was only one inch-the lowest grade of talent-it still allowed one to cultivate!

And if there was anyone in the Zhou family who craved the path of cultivation the most, it was none other than Zhou Bai. In previous years, he had fallen into a state of madness and obsession over cultivation, exhausting every method without success before finally giving up in despair.

Zhou Liang believed that as long as he told Zhou Bai about this method, Zhou Bai would surely protect him.

He quickly ran back to the clan school. Zhou Minghu was already nowhere to be seen. Zhou Liang knew there was still some time before the truth came to light, so he naturally had to seize the opportunity.

Zhou Bai was sitting at his desk compiling the history of the Eastern Village. Zhou Liang approached and whispered urgently, "Brother Bai, I've found a way for you to cultivate!"

The brush in the man's hand suddenly dropped, ink splattering everywhere, but Zhou Bai was oblivious, staring intently at Zhou Liang. "Are you telling the truth?!"

Zhou Liang then pulled out the ancient text. "I found this cultivation secret manual on the Third Young Master's desk while retrieving the documents."

Zhou Bai frowned. Though excited and thrilled, he had not lost all reason and felt somewhat displeased with Zhou Liang's unauthorized taking of things.

But since they had grown up together from childhood, he naturally had great tolerance for him.

Zhou Liang noticed the change in Zhou Bai's expression and said urgently, "Brother Bai, I only took it because I thought of how desperately you seek cultivation."

Zhou Bai's heart was slightly moved. He then flipped through the text, but the more he read, the more horrified and terrified he became. He cried out in alarm, "How can this use living people to refine pills?!"

Zhou Liang quickly soothed him, "Brother Bai, the method itself has no distinction between good and evil; it lies in the user. It is like a blade and its wielder-using a blade to kill the innocent is evil, but using it to eliminate evil and slay the wicked is good."

"Although this method requires taking lives, we can use vicious bandits and criminals as ingredients, and demon beasts as the catalyst. This way, not only are we not violating heaven's principles, but we are also benefiting the people. When the time comes, Brother Bai will even be loved by the masses."

Zhou Liang's words were like bewitching demonic whispers, causing Zhou Bai's heart to waver several times before his eyes grew firm.

"Copy this down. I will speak with Big Brother about it later."

Hearing this, Zhou Liang's heart suddenly settled. He knew he would be fine and could even take the opportunity for revenge. He quickly ground ink and began copying, his brush strokes flying wildly, as if wishing he had eight hands.

Zhou Bai had not yet gone to find Zhou Minghu when Zhou Minghu came to him first.

Zhou Minghu said urgently, "Zhou Bai, hand over that demonic art quickly. You cannot practice that thing."

Back when he had killed a Demonic Cultivator and obtained this technique, he had already read through it and understood its drawbacks. That was why, even when his own cultivation base was broken, he never considered practicing demonic arts.

"Why can't I practice it?" Zhou Bai demanded with bloodshot eyes. "You and Second Brother are both cultivators-why am I the only one who isn't?"

"Even when there is a method that could let me cultivate, you hide it from me. Do you truly see me as your own brother?"

He was nearly hysterical, almost roaring, his eyes filled with madness.

He even developed hatred toward Zhou Minghu. "You are my own brother-don't you know how much I want to cultivate? Don't you know?"

"Why won't you give it to me? Why?"

Zhou Minghu was silent, gazing with a complicated expression at his brother, who was like a wild beast gone mad. Then he slowly said, "Brother doesn't want to give it to you, but this demonic art has a great flaw. Refining pills from a hundred people's flesh and blood leaves behind a terrifying resentment that will affect your mind and body, turning you into something neither human nor ghost."

"Listen to your brother. Give it to me. Later, I'll find a better method-I'll definitely let you cultivate."

Zhou Minghu was not lying to Zhou Bai. All demonic arts under heaven had drawbacks. At the mildest, they drastically changed one's temperament, making one extreme and stubborn; at worst, they muddled the mind and twisted the body, eventually turning one into a bizarre and terrifying monster.

And this Flesh and Blood Alchemy Method, with such severe drawbacks, could only grant a person one inch of spiritual light, essentially trapping them at the Spirit Awakening Realm for life. Not only would they suffer torment and pain their entire lives, but their lifespan would be no different from an ordinary mortal's. How could Zhou Minghu possibly give this method to his younger brother to practice?

Rather than that, it was better to let his brother remain a mortal, using Spiritual Qi to nourish his body and Spirit Pills and treasures to extend his life. At least he could live a peaceful, happy life for several more decades-far better than becoming a ghost or demon.

But Zhou Bai was already stubbornly fixated. How could he possibly listen?

"Then why didn't you tell me before? You're lying to me!"

Once suspicion appears, trust will completely collapse.

Zhou Bai thought back to how, when he was young, Zhou Minghu and Zhou Xuanya had cared for him, yet there was always a trace of pity in their eyes. He thought of how he had vaguely felt excluded from the family bonds, and his heart grew increasingly bitter and angry-even if all of this was merely his imagination.

Zhou Minghu sighed. He knew that Zhou Bai was in a rage right now, and nothing he said would be of any use. He could only point at Zhou Liang and say, "He stole things from my room. He cannot stay."

Although Zhou Bai now knew the technique, as long as Zhou Liang was removed from his side, Zhou Bai's ability to act would be hindered.

Zhou Liang let out a pitiful cry, and Zhou Bai immediately shouted angrily, "If it weren't for Liang, I would never have known how long you'd keep me in the dark. He is my brother-you are not to touch him!"

Zhou Liang hid behind Zhou Bai, putting on a sorrowful expression, but inwardly he sneered coldly. With Zhou Bai protecting him, he was one step closer to revenge.

Zhou Minghu looked at his brother in this state, his eyes filled with heartache. In the end, he could only let out a long sigh and turn to leave.

He could use his spiritual power to forcibly take Zhou Liang away, but he knew that acting now would only create a rift between the brothers-one that might never heal. Everything required careful long-term planning.

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