When charisma conquers: When others are captivated by your charisma, there’s a high chance they’ll heed your call.

Du Ge was absorbing Xu Heming’s spiritual power while opening his personal interface.

Then.

He saw a new advanced technique and instantly understood why, when he called upon the disciples of Tianlan Valley to join the Seven Stars Sect, so many had flocked to his side.

It turned out they were all won over by his charisma.

Charisma?

He stripped clothes, chopped arms, siphoned others’ powers, yet still earned the respect of most. Indeed, the saying was true: Martial Arts are not inherently evil; it’s the wielder who may be.

It seems that plundering and charisma aren’t mutually exclusive!

With his wholehearted consideration for others, even if he used the most malevolent Martial Arts, he remained righteous and noble…

Nobility is relative, not something you can simply act out.

…

Seventh junior brother went to help the Elders preserve their arms.

Lu Dong and two intact Foundation Establishment stage experts were responsible for the transition between Tianlan Valley and the Seven Stars Sect.

Qian Dajin led Du Ge to Xu Heming’s retreat, finding the nameless secret manual that had made him famous.

Without further cultivation techniques, no matter how much spiritual power was plundered, one couldn’t break through the shackles of their realm.

If the realm doesn’t advance, more sophisticated techniques and spells remain unusable.

The realm of cultivation is akin to academic qualifications.

Qi Refining is like elementary school, Foundation Establishment like middle school. Elementary knowledge might solve middle school problems, perhaps even correctly, but not as efficiently as middle school formulas;

Higher-level calculus and the like are beyond the comprehension of elementary knowledge, let alone solving those problems.

Therefore.

Advancing one’s realm is essential.

Otherwise, no matter how much spiritual power is accumulated, facing someone of a higher realm means being passively beaten.

Du Ge, at the peak of the Qi Refining stage, had clashed with a Foundation Establishment stage expert purely by virtue of his attributes and skills; otherwise, even if he drained those Elders of their spiritual power, he wouldn’t stand a chance against Xu Heming.

With this in mind.

Du Ge decided not to waste Xu Heming, his human power bank, planning to use his cultivation technique to break through to Foundation Establishment before absorbing his spiritual power.

Xu Heming’s attempt to reach the Golden Elixir stage with this manual proved that his technique had room for advancement.

Of course.

It took him fifty years just to begin the Golden Elixir assault, indicating the technique was mediocre.

But Du Ge didn’t care. As long as he could find more experts, even the trashiest technique could rapidly build up his realm.

If he could find a better technique, even starting over would be quick…

To prevent Xu Heming from despairing and committing suicide, Du Ge kindly had his seventh junior brother preserve his severed limbs, giving Xu Heming a sliver of hope for life.

Sure enough.

When Xu Heming saw Du Ge preserving his severed limbs, his curses quieted down, and he let Du Ge manipulate him.

…

Du Ge’s mental power was high, his physique improved by attributes, his talent MAX.

Moreover.

His accumulated spiritual power was high enough that changing techniques didn’t affect his realm breakthrough; in just half an hour, he advanced from the Qi Refining stage to Foundation Establishment.

Then.

He placed his hand on Xu Heming, activated the technique to enforce justice, and in one fell swoop, broke through to the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment.

Of course.

He also dragged Xu Heming’s realm down from its peak.

Xu Heming watched, dumbfounded, drooling with envy. Even demonic techniques weren’t this easy, right?

And.

Demonic arts come with various side effects, be it bloodlust, insanity, or murderous urges. How come this guy’s power surged without any side effects?

Could stripping people’s clothes in battle be considered a side effect?

He’d want such an aftereffect too!

After hesitating, Xu Heming tentatively said, “Sect Leader Wang, I truly didn’t know about the plundering of the Seven Stars Sect; it was an undeserved disaster, my karma. You forgave those who plotted and killed your master, I wonder if I could seek a position in the Seven Stars Sect? After all, my cultivation experience is richer than that of the younger generation…”

“Figured it out?” Du Ge memorized the entire secret manual, smiling at Xu Heming, asking.

“I have. Only a chosen one like Sect Leader Wang can carve out a legacy in the cultivation world. I am inferior, so I’d rather settle for a lesser role under your command,” Xu Heming said with a forced smile.

“Valley Master Xu, I can spare your life, even find someone to heal you. But in return, your spiritual power must serve me; I need it to enhance the realm of our disciples. Are you willing to be a behind-the-scenes contributor, your hard-earned spiritual power freely used by me to win hearts?” Du Ge asked.

“…” Xu Heming fell silent, then looking at his maimed body, he said bitterly, “I am willing.”

“Valley Master Xu has indeed seen the light.” Du Ge smiled, “That’s right, if you don’t want to die, I can take your power anytime without asking. But I, Wang, am forthright; I prefer to take things with consent. Your willingness is most appreciated.”

Taking things with consent?

That’s like committing the act and then wanting to stand up for it!

Xu Heming scoffed.

But he had to admit, after Du Ge’s frankness, he felt much more at peace, no longer as aggrieved and awkward as before.

After all.

It was his choice to offer his spiritual power, not coercion…

“Old Xu, the Seven Stars Sect is just starting out; I have no choice. I’m a kind-hearted person, and I don’t wish to seize another’s sect,” Du Ge stood up, sat opposite Xu Heming, and sighed, “But as Sect Leader, there are things you have to do, even if you don’t want to; you have to be responsible for those who follow you!

My master died, my senior brother died, my junior brother died too. I want to avenge them, take Ma Chuanzong’s head to honor my master who raised me.

But I can’t do that. My master’s last wish was for the Seven Stars Sect to gain renown. Old Xu, I have to fulfill my master’s last wish!

In this world, people are everything, and the Seven Stars Sect lacks people!

So, I must be magnanimous, I must be tolerant.

Only then will the Seven Stars Sect grow, will more follow me. If I can forgive even my enemies, who wouldn’t want to join the Seven Stars Sect?

Old Xu, don’t resent me.

When my power increases, when I catch higher realm enemies, I’ll return the power you lost. The power I return to you will be more, not less, than what you gave. By then, not just Golden Elixir, perhaps I could push you to Elemental Infant…”

Xu Heming was shocked, looking at the candid Wang Chong, suddenly unable to speak.

Du Ge smiled, looked at Xu Heming, stood up, and said, “Old Xu, I know you don’t believe me. As a businessman, if you believed what everyone said, you’d have been devoured long ago, bones and all. But I don’t expect you to believe. As a Sect Leader, there are things I can’t say to others, but it’s uncomfortable to keep them inside. I tell you, and no one will believe you anyway…”

“I believe,” Xu Heming suddenly interrupted.

“You believe?” Du Ge was taken aback.

“Yes, I believe. I’m already at your mercy, you can deceive me if you wish, there’s no need for these words. So, I believe you. Don’t forget, I too was a Sect Leader,” Xu Heming smiled, “And I believe you can expand the Seven Stars Sect. I can’t compare to your tactics, your magnanimity. In this game, I’ve lost willingly.”