Chapter 41 Don't You Want to Become an Immortal?

Just as Xia Ye had anticipated...

When Xia He demonstrated her ability to control human desires, Tu Junfang did not hesitate at all. Without even requiring Xia Ye to step in for further negotiation, he directly chose to join them.

The reason was very simple: this was precisely the ability he had been searching for all along, bearing a striking resemblance to the secret arts of the Three Corpses Sect recorded in ancient texts. "Slaying the Three Corpses" was his lifelong aspiration, and this was an opportunity he would never let slip away!

And at the very moment Tu Junfang nodded in agreement...

Over on his end, Xia Ye had just finished chatting with Xue Fan. Inside the wooden cabin, he smiled faintly, "I understand. Your idea is quite wonderful..."

"Your wish will be fulfilled, and much more than that. Pacifying the spirits of the deceased across the world is merely the foundation. Follow me, and you will be capable of achieving far greater things."

"Come over with Old Xiao and the others; I will be waiting for you here."

With that, Xia Ye hung up the phone. At this moment, his vision was simultaneously sharing the perspectives of both Xiao Zizai and Xia He. Seeing the scene of Tu Junfang nodding, the smile on his face deepened.

Everything was proceeding precisely according to his plan. Soon, two new members would be added to their ranks. He couldn't help but glance at the cabin before him, murmuring softly to himself:

"There won't be enough room..."

After all, his place was still operating openly as a medical clinic. Expanding by three rooms in a short period was already the absolute limit; continuing further would inevitably arouse suspicion.

Thus, he simply decided to construct another cabin deeper within the mountain forest. As long as it was sufficiently concealed, no one would ever discover it:

"We'll start building as soon as Old Xiao gets back."

Having made up his mind, Xia Ye gave it no more thought. By now, both groups of people had already embarked on their return journeys, and there shouldn't be any unexpected trouble, which set his mind completely at ease.

Subsequently, he walked into the treatment room, retrieved his computer, and opened a file named "Test Subject Profiles" from within the folder. Listed right there were the experimental subjects he had selected in the initial phase:

[Red Dust — Domain-Transforming Poison]
[Flesh — Xiao Zizai]
[Soul — Tu Junfang]
[Desire — Xia He]
[Disease — Chen Duo]
[Death — Xue Fan]
...

Up to this point, six individuals had already been gathered from the original list of ten. Except for the Domain-Transforming Poison experiment, which still required preparation, the other five were all in place, and progress had been remarkably smooth.

However, Xia Ye did not let his guard down, for he knew that the remaining four targets were truly formidable opponents. To recruit those four as well would require a considerable amount of effort.

[Birth], [Aging], [True Qi], [Furnace Refining]...

Looking at the names corresponding to the final four items, Xia Ye narrowed his eyes, pondering the order in which to approach them, as well as how to find a breakthrough point to make headway.

A moment later...

"Hmm..."

"Once Tu Junfang and Xue Fan are settled, I'll start with this fellow first. Compared to the other three, this one is actually the simplest. Calculating the time, it should be about right."

Xia Ye tapped his finger against the item labeled [Aging] while murmuring softly to himself. A plan quickly took shape in his mind, causing the corners of his lips to curl upward into a smile...

...

...

Following that, Xia Ye began preparing the medicinal prescriptions tailored for Tu Junfang and Xue Fan. He had long since formulated plans for both of them; drafting a rough outline now meant that once they had a detailed discussion later, execution could begin immediately.

Just like that, time flew by in a blur, and soon it was the morning of the next day. Since Jiangxi was closer to Hangzhou than Henan, Xia He and Tu Junfang had managed to return a step ahead.

"Brother Ye, I'm back~"

The moment she pushed open the door, Xia He called out cheerfully. Immediately afterward, her eyes lit up at the sight of breakfast neatly arranged on the dining table.

"You're back? Haven't eaten breakfast yet, have you?"

Hearing her voice, Xia Ye walked out of the kitchen, carrying two freshly made, steaming cups of soy milk, and greeted the two of them.

"Come on over and eat!"

"Hmm?"

However, upon seeing the medical clinic and catching sight of Xia Ye appearing before him, Tu Junfang's gaze suddenly tightened, shock flashing deep within his pupils.

Unlike Xiao Zizai and Xia He, he was an old veteran who had wandered through the Outcomer world for many years. Naturally, he had heard thunderous tales of the "Divine Doctor Xia of Hangzhou," and for a moment, he froze in place.

A moment later...

"You are that Divine Doctor Xia Ye?"

Approaching the dining table, Tu Junfang stared fixedly at Xia Ye before speaking up.

"I know of you."

"That's right, I am Xia Ye. I have long heard of the reputation of the All-Sex 'Corpse Demon,' and seeing you today truly lives up to the legend..."

Xia Ye nodded. His words were full of respect, though his expression remained somewhat perfunctory. He then gave a casual wave of his hand.

"Sit down and eat first; we can chat after we've finished."

"..."

Seeing this, Tu Junfang was momentarily speechless. He began to scrutinize him carefully, only to discover that with his own level of cultivation, he still couldn't see through this fellow in the slightest, leading him to think:

"Is he really only in his early twenties?"

Yet, remembering that all along the way he had likewise been unable to read Xia He's strength, he felt a sense of release in his heart. Someone capable of such extraordinary methods could hardly be ordinary, so he decided to observe and find out first.

Xia Ye, for his part, understood that compared to "novices in the Outcomer world" like Xiao Zizai and Xia He, Tu Junfang would not be so easily won over. This fellow was a "researcher" just like himself, and to conquer him, one had to start from that specific perspective.

Therefore, he was in no particular hurry, simply eating his fried dough sticks and sipping his soy milk leisurely, glancing out the window at the morning scenery from time to time with a thoroughly relaxed expression.

More than ten minutes later...

The meal concluded.

"Old Xiao and the others won't be back anytime soon, right? I'll clear the table then, you two go inside and chat..." Xia He proactively took on the responsibility of washing the dishes, picking up the serving tray and walking into the kitchen.

"..."

Seeing this terrifying woman acting here like a mere servant, Tu Junfang couldn't help but feel a surge of astonishment. His curiosity toward the young man before him deepened, accompanied by a rising sense of anticipation.

Soon...

"Then, Brother Tu, please come with me."

Xia Ye stood up, beckoned to Tu Junfang, and led him into the treatment room, pulling out a chair for him.

"Here, please sit."

Once seated, Xia Ye smiled faintly and asked, "You have already experienced Xia He's ability. What are your thoughts?"

"..."

"How did you do it?"

Without answering Xia Ye's question—or perhaps having already answered it—Tu Junfang fixed his burning gaze directly into Xia Ye's eyes.

"Heh, that's actually quite simple for me. If you want it, I can achieve the same for you as well, though I suspect... that might not be the most suitable path for you." Xia Ye looked at him calmly.

"What do you mean? Aren't you trying to help me slay the Three Corpses?"

Hearing this, Tu Junfang instantly grew vigilant. His sole purpose in coming here was to "slay the Three Corpses," and he harbored no other thoughts whatsoever.

Yet Xia Ye merely shook his head as he looked at him, his eyes narrowing slightly:

"Slay the Three Corpses? Is that truly the extent of your pursuit? If I recall correctly, even among those predecessors in your Three Corpses Sect who successfully slew the Three Corpses... none of them could rival the supreme masters of the Daoist sects of their era, could they?"

"If it's merely to that degree, then there is no real point in pursuing it; I can grant you that at any moment. But haven't you ever wanted to try and catch a glimpse of the legendary scenery that lies truly beyond slaying the Three Corpses? For instance..."

"'Becoming an immortal'?"