Chapter 95: The Progress

After hearing this, Gu Ming’s expression turned hesitant. He looked unsure for a moment before speaking up.

“Once you pass the test to become an entry-level Pill Master, you can buy your first basic cultivation technique. The cost—” Gu Ming glanced worriedly at Cui Ning. “The cost is 50 billion starseeds,” he continued.

Xiao Ming truly had remarkable talent; he had become an entry-level Pill Master just yesterday. Gu Ming had been the one to deliver the news.

50 billion starseeds was just the expense for a single basic cultivation technique. There would be ongoing costs for purchasing Essence Concentration Pills and other necessary medicines, each requiring significant expenditure.

Gu Ming couldn’t help but feel genuinely impressed by his sister’s achievements. The Pill Sect, once solely focused on online sales of medicinal pills, now earned vast profits through selling cultivation techniques to people like Xiao Qing and distributing valuable internal medicines.

Chu Ning was already an intermediate-level Pill Master. With the Pill Sect’s secret formulas and medicinal pills, it was virtually guaranteed that she would soon advance to become a high-level Pill Master.

It was at this point that the Pill Sect truly became an unstoppable force.

When Cui Ning heard the number 50 billion, her face froze momentarily. But then, she quickly managed a smile.

“Alright, I’ll have someone prepare it in the next two days. Once you pass the test to become an entry-level Pill Master, I’ll transfer the money to you.”

She had completely given up on Chu Yan now. Since Chu Ning no longer needed her financial support and her son could use these resources, it seemed like a reasonable decision.

Gu Ming’s face lit up immediately.

“Thank you, Mom!” he quickly expressed his gratitude.

“Don’t mention it. I let you both down in the past. From now on, I’ll do my best to make up for it.”

“Work hard and try to become a mid-level Pill Master soon. Catch up to your sister’s pace,” Cui Ning suggested.

Deep down, though, she didn’t really believe Gu Ming could keep up with Chu Ning.

“Sure!” Gu Ming understood Cui Ning’s intentions but pretended to be touched by her words.

After talking with his mother, Gu Ming returned to the Pill Sect.

Once Gu Ming left, Cui Ning contacted the media and issued a statement cutting ties with Chu Yan.

From that moment on, Chu Yan had no connection left with the Chu family.

The next day.

Chu Ning visited the Orchid College for the last time.

As soon as she arrived, she saw Peony and others bullying Chu Yan.

The group, well-informed about Chu Yan being disowned by Cui Ning, now treated her with complete disregard. With Chu Ning’s enhanced prowess known to them, they saw Chu Yan as helpless as the old Chu Ning.

Noticing Chu Ning’s arrival, Peony and her friends quickly put on pleasing smiles, rushing over to flatter her.

Chu Ning glanced at their faces, feeling somewhat hesitant.

She initially planned to end this once and for all today, by taking out these bullies. But seeing how ruthlessly they had tormented Chu Yan, she hesitated.

After a moment of doubt, Chu Ning decided to postpone the confrontation until lunchtime.

So, Chu Ning let the thugs bully Chu Yan for an entire morning.

At noon, she ordered the ruffians to seize Chu Yan and take her to the same spot where Zhou Ting and his gang had once targeted her.

“Boss Chu Ning, the girl’s here. What should we do with her?” Quan Hua, acting like a loyal lackey, sidled up to Chu Ning.

Chu Ning glanced at Quan Hua, then strode over to Chu Yan, who huddled on the ground.

“Hmph, you ever think how it feels being bullied now?”

Chu Yan dared not look at Chu Ning, remaining curled up in hopes this would make her spare her.

Her mother had disowned her, leaving her a homeless orphan. To return to the Chu family, she knew she must endure the humiliation silently.

“You think a few words can let you off the hook?” Chu Ning asked mockingly.

As she spoke, two bottles appeared in her hands.

“I’ve got two potions here. It’s your chance to choose.”

Chu Yan’s body froze momentarily, but she still didn’t raise her head.

“This one is called Ants Eroding Bone Powder. Just a touch of it and you’ll feel as if ten thousand ants are gnawing at your flesh. The searing pain will make you tear off your skin and flesh until nothing but your skeleton remains,” Chu Ning explained in a chilling voice.

Hearing this, Chu Yan’s body trembled, her scalp went numb with fear.

The horrifying ordeal of Chu Lan and Lan Yu was still fresh in her mind. How could she not be frightened?

“Dad—did you really kill him?” Chu Yan asked, her voice trembling.

“Heh.” Chu Ning let out a soft chuckle.

“I didn’t harm him. He was the one who couldn’t control himself and got infected by Chu Lan. That’s how he ended up like that.”

“It’s you…” Hatred flickered in Chu Yan’s eyes, but her voice remained steady and quiet.

Chu Ning smiled smugly.

That’s right, it was her.

But what good did it do to know that? What could Chu Yan do about it now?

“The second medicine.”

“This medicine is called the Eroder Pill. Once you take it, it will erode your mental strength every day.”

“If you have level A mental strength, then congratulations. As long as you diligently cultivate your mind and stay persistent, the drug’s effect might only erode your newly acquired mental strength, allowing you to still improve overall.”

“Ha ha, but I suspect your mental strength isn’t at level A yet.”

“If your mental strength is only level B, then you’re not so lucky. After taking this pill, no matter how much you cultivate each day, it will erode your mental strength, causing it to continuously decrease.”

“It’ll drop you from B rank to C, then to D, E, until it erodes your spiritual energy to nothing. And then—”

Chu Yan’s eyes widened.

“And then, it will start eroding your life. You’ll age ten years every hour.”

“Your life will end very quickly.”

As everyone listened to Chu Ning, they felt a chill run down their spines.

Qiu Hua and the others thought that Chu Ning’s two medicines might be real, but Chu Yan’s reaction made them believe he was telling the truth.

“Now, Chu Yan, it’s your choice.” Chu Ning looked at Chu Yan with an evil smile.

No matter which medicine Chu Yan chose, she would regret it.

He wanted her to die in despair and pain, full of regret.

“Wait—Chu Ning, I was wrong! Give me a chance, spare me! Please have mercy!”

“I swear, I’ll never come before you again! I’ll take the long way around just to avoid seeing you! Please—sob—please spare my life!” Chu Yan was truly terrified now.

She was afraid of dying as painfully as Chu Lan. She feared her future would be ruined, leaving her to struggle in despair.

Finally, she realized that no matter how well she repented, she could still be easily wiped out by those she’d wronged.

Chu Ning’s expression was cold and unforgiving.

“I’ll give you three options to choose from. If you don’t pick, I’ll choose for you.”

Chu Yan’s eyes widened. She fell to her knees, begging for mercy.

Unfortunately, Chu Ning ignored her completely.

“One.”

“Two—”

Disappointment flashed through Chu Ning’s eyes.

Just as he was about to say “three,” Chu Yan blurted out.

“I choose the Eroder Pill! I-I choose the Eroder Pill!” Chu Yan cried, tears streaming down her face.

The corners of Chu Ning’s mouth curved upwards.

“Fine,” he said lightly.

He immediately took an Eroder Pill and walked towards Chu Yan.

At Chu Ning’s signal, a thug from the Hua family stepped forward. He grabbed Chu Yan, forcing her mouth open.

With a gentle flick of his finger, Chu Ning sent the Eroder Pill flying into Chu Yan’s mouth.

The thug held Chu Yan’s nose, forcing her to swallow the pill.