The madness cultivation

Shadows of many people appeared behind Li Zhi You with lightning speed. As soon as he finished speaking, these shadows jumped out to carry out his orders.

Wang Jiao stood at the door, in pain, gently holding her son in her arms. Her face, however, was filled with guilt. She clenched her teeth, gently kissed her son's cheek, and then spoke:

"This is not your fault, my child. Their deaths are not because of you, but because your father and I wanted them to die. We are willing to do anything for you... so that you can grow. No matter what path you choose, I will support you."

Wang Jiao spoke through tears that flowed like rain.

Li Zhi You walked over to her, embraced her and their child warmly, and said:

"I've taken care of them... As you requested, I killed them quickly without letting them suffer. As for the bodies, I have let the shadows deal with them."

Li Zhi You spoke with regret, gently holding his wife and their child.

As soon as Li Zhi You finished speaking, Wang Jiao wiped away her tears, feeling a sense of doubt, and asked:

"Shadows? Can they be trusted, my husband?"

Wang Jiao, with red eyes and a sorrowful face, asked with suspicion. She had heard of the shadows before, but didn't know much about them. She showed a slight worry.

Li Zhi You, noticing her concern, released his arms from around her, nodded slightly, his confidence showing, and said:

"They can definitely be trusted because they have no independent will. They are merely puppets. If I don't give them orders, they can't do anything. Don't worry."

After hearing this, Wang Jiao's expression of doubt and worry changed into one of relief, as though the weight of a mountain had been lifted from her chest. She then asked:

"My husband, have you thought about what to do with the families of the servants who died? If you don't mind, may I make a suggestion?"

Wang Jiao, filled with guilt, wanted to make up for the families of the dead servants, but she needed her husband's opinion, as he was the head of the family.

Li Zhi You paused for a moment, his eyes seeming to contemplate before he said:

"I can only think of compensating them with money. What do you think about this?"

Li Zhi You asked with curiosity, as he truly didn't know how to handle the situation.

Wang Jiao thought in silence, her face becoming serious and thoughtful before she said:

"Besides money, we could give the children of those families the chance to train in our army. What do you think, my husband?"

Wang Jiao spoke, intending to compensate for the lives of the servants who had been killed by allowing their children to join the army.

Li Zhi You nodded in agreement and said:

"No problem, but if they become suspicious or try to investigate today's events, or even betray us, what then? They have independent thoughts, unlike the shadows."

He spoke as if agreeing and disagreeing at the same time.

Wang Jiao's face changed to one of shock. She thought for a moment, and then her eyes widened with a startling realization. She thought:

"How could I forget this? If those children become suspicious and keep quiet about it, and one day they cultivate until they're stronger than my husband, they might betray us and kill our child... No!"

Wang Jiao paused, her eyes widening with an outlandish idea. She suddenly thought:

"How could I forget that I'm an alchemist!"

As soon as she remembered, she quickly spoke to her husband:

"My husband, I have an idea. Do you remember that I am an alchemist?"

She spoke in a tone that didn't seem too eager, but for the sake of their child, she was willing to do anything, even if it meant killing someone.

Li Zhi You nodded slightly, his handsome face becoming somewhat confused before he said:

"Yes, I remember... but isn't using humans as materials for alchemy forbidden? Are you sure you want to do this?"

He asked in doubt, because alchemists have a rule that forbids using humans in alchemy, but this was a confusing question since he had just killed innocent people moments ago.

Wang Jiao shook her head vigorously before replying:

"That's true, as you said, my husband, using humans for alchemy is forbidden. But I didn't say I would use humans in the alchemy process. I just want to give them a potion that will make their lives and deaths in our hands. With just one thought, they will die if we wish it. What do you think about this?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Li Zhi You's gaze narrowed, his eyes sparkling with bright expectation as he said:

"Are you talking about a Level 3 potion? The Binding Elixir?"

Wang Jiao smiled warmly and nodded slightly.

The Level 3 Binding Elixir is a potion used in the black market for slave trade, which is illegal. But for the sake of their child, they probably wouldn't care about anything else.

After confirming this, Li Zhi You agreed without hesitation. Who wouldn't like having soldiers who obey and puppets who will never betray them? But he still had a slight reservation about the potion. He scratched his head lightly and said:

"My wife, I recommend that you keep developing the potion. Who knows, one day its effects might wear off. So let's work together to improve it."

Wang Jiao didn't object to this. Even if Li Zhi You hadn't mentioned it, she had already planned to develop it. She nodded softly in agreement.

He reached out and embraced his wife while gazing at the turbulent sky. On the fourth floor of their wide mansion, which spanned several meters, the red wooden railings adorned the front, and the roof was covered with black tiles. At the far corner of the path they stood on, there was a turn to the right and left, with red wooden posts decorated with small green plants in pots below.

From their vantage point, they could see many people in the city running around due to the sudden rain. Several houses lined up haphazardly, and children ran about with the damp scent of the rain in the air. The small cultivation mansion of a clan could be seen in the distance to the right.

The atmosphere was beautiful. Li Zhi You hugged his wife and their child as if in sorrow, whispering in her ear:

"My wife, now that we've chosen this path, we can't turn back. It's not too late if you want to stop. I can handle this alone."

Li Zhi You hoped she would reject his offer because he wanted to be the only one stained by this for the sake of the family. He would even become a demon if it meant protecting them.

Wang Jiao raised one hand, the other still holding their child. She gently caressed her husband's face and said:

"Just like you said earlier, if you ascend to heaven, I will follow you. If you go to hell, I will go with you too. All of this is for our child. I will never regret it."

Her face became sorrowful, and her gentle voice, if one listened closely, was filled with regret and guilt.

Li Zhi You could feel her sorrow. He hugged her tightly and cried out before saying:

"I love you."

She also said:

"I love you... my husband."

They stood there embracing each other under the dark and gloomy sky, black clouds swirling like an omen, with violet lightning flashing through them. Their love for each other was incomparable, without equal.