Wang Jian used his Soul Board technique to assess Fairy Ming Lan's abilities. He discovered she had 23 untapped points of potential.
Deciding to demonstrate his claim, Wang Jian allocated four points. Two went into enhancing her Sea of Qi, and the other two bolstered her Spiritual Energy.
Fairy Ming Lan felt an astonishing transformation sweep over her. Her Spiritual Energy surged in density and purity, while her Sea of Qi expanded nearly fourfold. For her, this was a monumental leap.
"No way!" she gasped, her disbelief evident. "My spiritual energy is incredibly dense and pure now, and my Sea of Qi has expanded beyond my wildest dreams. There's not a trace of impurity!"
"This is just a glimpse of what I can do. I can even elevate your cultivation realm, within the limits of your latent potential," Wang Jian assured her confidently.
Fairy Ming Lan regarded him with a mixture of shock and curiosity, her mind buzzing with questions about this enigmatic individual and his true identity.
"So, what's your price?" she inquired, her curiosity tempered with caution. "I can't believe you'd offer such a favor without expecting something in return."
Wang Jian leaned in, his tone unwavering. "I'll ensure you become the Sect Mistress of the Spirit Affinity Sect. In exchange, I seek the allegiance of the Spirit Affinity Sect, through you."
"You merely wish to exert control over the Spirit Affinity Sect through me," Fairy Ming Lan retorted, a skeptical sneer on her face.
Wang Jian replied casually, "Indeed, but not in the way you might imagine. You will retain the autonomy to govern and lead the Spirit Affinity Sect. I simply require your obedience when I assign tasks."
As he spoke, Fairy Ming Lan sensed her Spiritual Energy and Sea of Qi returning to their normal state. It was as though Wang Jian had used his ability to temporarily suppress her awakened potential.
She grasped the implication. Wang Jian was illustrating that he could easily revoke the abilities he had unlocked for her.
"Is there a limit to the number of individuals whose abilities you can enhance?" Fairy Ming Lan inquired.
"No, there's no such limit. If I wish, I can activate the latent potential of every member of your faction, allowing your group to surpass Sect Leader Bi Xia's faction effortlessly," Wang Jian stated confidently.
"And you genuinely won't meddle in my leadership of the sect, as long as I continue to obey your commands?" Fairy Ming Lan sought clarification.
"Yes," Wang Jian affirmed calmly.
"Then let's establish a contract," Fairy Ming Lan proposed after careful consideration.
"I had a feeling you'd arrive at this decision. You struck me as a wise woman who recognizes the value of seizing opportunities," Wang Jian remarked before advancing toward her.
"Before we finalize this contract, can you disclose your identity?" Fairy Ming Lan inquired curiously.
"Once the contract is sealed," Wang Jian replied.
"Very well, I agree," Fairy Ming Lan consented.
The Golden Radiance Oath Scroll was presented, and Wang Jian promptly employed his Spiritual Energy to inscribe all the stipulations onto the parchment. He then handed it to Fairy Ming Lan to peruse the terms.
The scroll contained numerous conditions, and the further she read, the more her brow furrowed in consternation.
Eventually, she encountered a clause that ignited her anger. "What in the world?! There's a condition here that dictates I must comply with all orders concerning my body!"
"So what?" Wang Jian responded nonchalantly.
Clutching her fists in frustration, Fairy Ming Lan seethed, "This condition explicitly implies that if you issue any lewd commands, I must obey them as well!"
"Well, yes," Wang Jian conceded. Then, with a sinister undertone, he added, "Did you truly believe you wouldn't have to sacrifice anything for such an exceptional offer? Let's not forget what you'll gain from this arrangement—position, power, and influence you've long yearned for. So, don't portray this contract as if I'm exploiting you. If anything, it's you who benefit from my abilities through this agreement."
"Now, decide swiftly. If not you, there are plenty of women in the sect vying for the position of Sect Leader who would be willing to make the same sacrifice and give up their bodies and purity for their dreams. I'm sure you can think of a few names," Wang Jian stated with a sinister tone.
"...You trapped me. You first displayed to me your abilities to entice me. Now that I know your abilities are truly real. Because if they aren't real, this contract would lose its binding power over me," Fairy Ming Lan spoke.
"Exactly. The more you talk, the more I'm convinced I made the right choice by approaching you before the Sect Leader Fairy Bi Xia. From what I understand of her, she's headstrong and somewhat impulsive, prone to acting on emotions rather than reason. But you're different. Even though you're aware of the truth, you'll still sign the contract. That's because you've realized I have multiple options to gain control over the Spirit Affinity Sect, whereas you only have this single opportunity to fulfill your dreams in one fell swoop, or they'll remain out of reach for the rest of your life," Wang Jian concluded with a confident and sinister tone.
Fairy Ming Lan desperately wanted to refute Wang Jian's words. She had an urge to rip apart the contract and prove to him that her pride was of utmost importance.
However, an inner voice silenced her protests. It reminded her that this sacrifice was a small price to pay for her dreams.
With a bitter smile, she dipped her finger in her blood and began to sign the contract. "You're right," she conceded, "I'd rather achieve my dream than let my foolish pride stand in the way."
Wang Jian's smile widened at her response. "I knew you'd make the wise choice."
"Now, as I promised earlier, since you've signed the contract," Wang Jian continued, "I'll reveal my identity." He pulled down his hood and removed his mask.
Fairy Ming Lan couldn't hide her surprise when she saw the handsome face hidden behind the mask. She stammered, "Y-you're Wang Jian, the partner of Bixi Zhuoran."
Wang Jian raised an eyebrow, his smirk growing mischievous. "I thought I'd have to introduce myself, but it appears you're already aware."
Fairy Ming Lan quickly composed herself and explained, "It wasn't difficult to guess. Rumors about Bixi Zhuoran's partner being remarkably handsome have circulated widely in the Spirit Affinity Sect. Details like your distinctive silver hair and those piercing blue eyes were already common knowledge."
She added thoughtfully, "Furthermore, if someone with such extraordinary abilities hailed from the Central Region, they would have revealed themselves long ago. The fact that you come from the Southern Region explains why your talents aren't widely known here."
"An impressive deduction," Wang Jian replied, his smirk revealing his satisfaction. "But let me correct one thing. This ability I've just revealed to you isn't widely known even in the Southern Region."
"I always ensure that those privy to this truth can't leak it. Just like how I have ensured it with you," he added confidently.
Fairy Ming Lan nodded thoughtfully and spoke with seriousness, "I see. So, what's our plan now? Are you going to accompany me back to our camp and enhance the abilities of my faction members?"
Wang Jian shook his head, his expression grave. "No, that would raise suspicions. If everyone in your faction suddenly experiences such a dramatic boost, Sect Leader Fairy Bi Xia's faction will become suspicious, thinking you provided them with a potent drug or special elixir."
Seeing Fairy Ming Lan about to pose a question, Wang Jian interjected, "I'll enhance your faction members' abilities during their battles with the devils. In the chaos of combat, even if many of them experience a sudden power surge, Sect Leader Fairy Bi Xia's faction will likely chalk it up to the life-and-death circumstances. It's in that crucial moment that I will enhance your abilities and make you significantly stronger than her."
"When you've reached a sufficient level of strength, challenge the mightiest devils in the Devil Nest. This act will not only showcase your prowess but also earn the respect of all sect members, even those aligned with Fairy Bi Xia's faction who are your rivals," Wang Jian concluded.
After hearing Wang Jian's comprehensive strategy, a whirlwind of emotions swept through Fairy Ming Lan. She felt a mixture of shock, excitement, and a tinge of fear.
His words filled her with hope and excitement, realizing that her dream of becoming the Spirit Affinity Sect Leader might not be so distant after all.
Yet, beneath this newfound hope, a growing fear simmered. Fairy Ming Lan now grasped the true extent of Wang Jian's strategic prowess, and it both awed and terrified her.
She understood that having Wang Jian as an ally was a blessing, but it also made her acutely aware that having him as an enemy would be a chilling prospect. With this realization, she resolved to do everything within her means to maintain their alliance.
