"So, you are telling me that the real killers are the Elders of the Sect. That is true, but that does not change the fact that it was Lucius who killed him with his fist."

"That's understandable, hate him as you must, but the truth of his death is an irreversible fact. If Lucius is gone you can try and kill Leo or me to dissipate your anger but the truth is that the remaining killers are still at large. They will come for me and Leo, and their group and I will fight, I can fight them off, we can always run and hide, but you and your Family? You will never be able to hold out for long enough.

"A sect has many ties, and with your Family facing the Beyonders it will only be a matter of time before your Family whither away and disappear from these lands. In the end, the Sect would be the one to survive and will overtake your properties, leaving them victorious letting them replenish what they have sacrificed."

Unless it's a Sect focused on Blacksmithing or Alchemy, money would be hard to get.

Sects at their very cores are businesses meant to rake in money. They seek out many cities for donations and claim Spirit Mines.

The Star Seeking Sect most probably wanted to avoid the eradication of the Lopus Family because they provide money and men for them. However, if they are not eradicated considering the situation at hand, the Sect would instead suffer.

If they win this war, they'll be able to take over the businesses of the Lopus Family, and with the treasures, they would gain they'll be able to lick their wounds.

"It will also result in them gaining the goodwill of the Lopus Family's enemies thereby creating new relations. The Family's who has a connection with the Lopus Family will also send out men and money to them so, in hindsight, they'll gain more than they could ever hope for."

Irta was left unable to speak, Wang Ling had just laid out the possibilities that the Lopus Family would face if nothing was done. But one thing was left unanswered, "Why are you telling me this?"

"Because I plan on eradicating the Star Seeking Sect and to do that, I need your Family's connection and strength. So, will you extend your hands and help me?"

"I… I need to talk to my father about this. If Grandmaster Wang is willing, I wish to take you to him as soon as possible."

"I was already planning on visiting your household in a month's time anyway. We can leave as soon as you wish."

Irta nodded his head, "I see, then we shall depart when Alchemist Jiru recovers."

The talk was finally over and Wang Ling got what he wanted. Soon, night came and inside a room, the Alchemist awoke in a fit of rage.

"That bastard, I'll get back with him!" even a Saint has a tipping point and Wang Ling attacking the doctor who wished nothing more than to help him was Jiru's tipping point.

"Not to disrespect but don't waste your breath and just give up, you're too weak for me and I can just always join the Alchemist Tower to avoid any conflict."

Alchemist Jiru turned his head to the side and saw Wang Ling sitting right beside him. Alchemist Jiru wanted to stand up in haste but found his body incapable of moving, "What did you do to me!?" he was enraged.

"Don't worry, that's the effect of my attack on your earlier it will be undone in about three more hours. Try not to overuse your qi, I invaded your body with mine, try and ignite a flame and you will burn to death."

Wang Ling's words needed not to be tested for the truth was already confirmed by Alchemist Jiru. His qi couldn't be circulated, his meridians were blocked by foreign qi and his flame was too agitated to be used.

If he ignites his flames he would die. He should be angry, but he was more in awe rather than angered, "How did you do this? It's impossible to interfere with my flames this much, it feels more foreign than the qi you left in my meridians."

For Alchemist Jiru, his flames he cultivated for years felt like a foreign substance he had not once touched in this life. Wang Ling did not answer his question, instead, he asked him something, "I owe you an apology for attacking you despite your goodwill."

"No, I understand why you reacted in such a manner. For me to invade the body of someone of your caliber was my mistake. I'm glad to still be alive considering your capabilities." Alchemist Jiru who had calmed down already grasped his standing.

He had heard that Masters were eccentric, if someone else other than Wang Ling had their body invaded by foreign qi, Alchemist Jiru knew his death would have been assured.

This Alchemist could still remember the eyes Wang Ling showed him. Those beastly eyes with unfathomable depth could still make Jiru quiver from fear, "You spared my life must have been quite hard. I am just glad to still be breathing."

Smiling, Wang Ling nodded his head, "Hoooh, it seems like Leo was indeed right, the people of the Alchemist Tower really are quite the gentlemen. For you to be this level-headed despite my attack, I am impressed. Whoever leads the Alchemist Tower deserves my praise, okay, I made up my mind, I wanted to compensate you by giving you a lesson about alchemy but rewarding someone like you might just prove beneficial."

"What do you mean, Grandmaster? Do you mean to say that you are also proficient in the ways of Alchemy?"

Alchemist Jiru found this hard to believe, but Wang Ling simply laughed at his question, "It is not my main path but I did dabble in Alchemy for a long time. I also have sufficient background in terms of controlling flames, and speaking of which, it would be best to give you the first gift."

Before Alchemist Jiru could ask anything, Wang Ling moved his hand and punctured the alchemist's body freeing his meridians. Before he could get used to it, Wang Ling touched Jiru's glabella.

"Do not move else you risk scorching your meridians."

Jiru did not know what Wang Ling was trying to do, but he didn't dare disobey.

Wang Ling closed his eyes and when he opened them again, in front of him was a young lady floating around Jiru.

'What do you want me to do, Ling?' the incarnation of the Holy Qi asked Wang Ling.

'The trace of rampaging Holy Qi you left in his fire, integrate it on the essence of power.' Wang Ling instructed.

'But you asked me to put it there so he wouldn't be able to control his flames. If I integrate the Holy Qi, his fire will grow stronger. Didn't you want him to lose power?'

'I changed my mind. This man is wise, he knows what he should do and doesn't act beyond what he doesn't need. His age already limited his future. If he rises from where he is now then he'll be indebted to me. That would let me gain a connection to the Alchemist Tower.'

'I do not get it, but I'll do it if Ling asks me to.'

The incarnation did what was asked of her and as the refreshing sensation of the Holy Qi invaded Jiru's body, the rampaging flames in his body turned quiet and then exploded into a much brighter blaze soon after.

Wang Ling let him go, and when he did, Jiru looked at himself with disbelief.

'This…. This is.' Jiru's eyes widened from shock, 'My flames, it is getting stronger… yet it is also much calmer than before. How astounding.'

It was as if he had just been reborn. What he had just been given was beyond what he could ever accomplish for a decade. Wang Ling just boosted his cultivation and very well changed his fate for the better.

Jiru was prepared to kowtow and thank Wang Ling but he was stopped.

"Okay, listen to me now, I will not repeat myself. Okay, Alchemy and fire correlates like—"

Without any warnings Wang Ling began a leisurely lecture, he did not stop his words. He did not accept any question he only rambled on without letting anyone stop him.

When he finished talking, it was time already time for Leo to call Wang Ling for dinner.

He went to the room where Wang Ling and Jiru had been staying and when he opened the doors, a peculiar sight entered his ears.

"Thank you, Grandmaster Wang! I Jiru ask of you to please accept me as your disciple — no, even just a half-disciple would be the greatest blessing I would receive in this lifetime."

Leo watched as Jiru begged Wang Ling with tears streaming down his face to be accepted in discipleship.