Chapter 3182: Rely on Me! Trust Me, It's Very Stable! Both Frustrated and...

Rolford’s heart churned with deep resentment, convinced he was likely about to be duped by Wang Teng.

A thick wave of malice seemed to drift from Wang Teng’s direction—faint, yet unmistakable.

He wouldn’t be mistaken.

This kid wasn’t even trying to hide it anymore.

It was outright brazen!

“Ahem~”

Wang Teng muttered a silent curse, quickly clearing his throat and saying:

“I just thought this method might suit you perfectly. I have no selfish motives—I’m doing this entirely for your own good.”

“For my own good?” Rolford didn’t buy it, snorting. “Your eyes tell me you’re far from selfless.”

“But what about trust between people?” Wang Teng asked earnestly.

“No,” Rolford replied without hesitation.

“…”

Wang Teng fell silent, clutching his chest in mock anguish.

But then—

“Go on. Tell me more. I’ll listen.”

Rolford ultimately couldn’t resist the allure of the new method, continuing to inquire.

He still didn’t fully grasp what Wang Teng called the ‘Butterfly Cocoon Breaking Method.’ The core of it eluded him.

If Wang Teng’s logic held water, he wouldn’t mind considering it.

At their level, they never lacked courage for risk.

It simply came down to whether the reward justified the danger.

If the odds were slim and the results insufficient, he wouldn’t dare gamble.

Because there was no need.

Wang Teng glanced at him with a smirk—half-smile, half-sneer.

Cute.

So tough-talking, yet already giving himself away.

Still, he said nothing, only continued explaining:

“This so-called cocoon-breaking method involves covering your entire body with your own power.”

“When pushed to its peak, your body should continue crystallizing—eventually turning your whole being into a crystal.”

At this, Rolford’s lips twitched involuntarily.

The more he listened, the less plausible it sounded.

Though he had long known what happened when one pushed their inner power to the limit.

He hadn’t expected Wang Teng to suggest transforming his body completely into crystal.

It felt dangerously reckless.

He’d once imagined what would happen if his body turned entirely to crystal.

The consequences would be terrifying.

Even an immortal-level cultivator, under such conditions, would likely have to abandon their physical form.

And to rebuild it later? The cost would surely dwarf whatever price he paid now to resolve the internal crystallization.

Yet, seeing Wang Teng’s confident expression, he decided to keep listening, not interrupting.

Wang Teng had expected a storm of objections from Rolford, but this time, the man actually held back.

So he pressed on:

“Once you become a crystal, your body will be extremely close to the essence of power.”

“The essence of power?!” Rolford’s pulse quickened—he seemed to grasp something.

“Yes,” Wang Teng smiled. “I want your body to approach the essence of your cultivation technique.”

“You see, your current problem is that your physique can’t keep up—can’t get close to the power of your technique.”

“But my method takes a different path—allowing your body to approach the essence of your technique.”

Rolford stroked his chin, his gaze flickering as he pondered.

“I think I’m starting to understand.”

“You want my body to reach that state, then use that power to break through the limitations of my physique?”

…

“Right, but also wrong,” Wang Teng shook his head.

“My main goal is to use your toxic energy to corrode and erode your body, then reinforce it with wood-based energy to sustain and renew life.”

“This cycle—between destruction and healing—creates balance, maintaining your body’s condition.”

“And throughout this process, impurities within your body are removed, allowing your body to undergo transformation and ascension.”

Rolford fell again into the vision Wang Teng painted—his eyes glowing brighter with each word.

He didn’t realize it, but once more, he had been swayed by the beautiful outcome Wang Teng described.

This wasn’t because Rolford was naive—it was because Wang Teng’s theoretical knowledge was truly terrifying.

In this regard, Wang Teng might not crush Rolford, an immortal-level master, but fooling him was hardly difficult.

Not just Rolford.

Even someone like the Starfall Master of the Machine Clan, who possessed vast information, would probably find it hard not to be deceived.

“How does it sound?”

Wang Teng stared into Rolford’s eyes, as if trying to read his thoughts, and grinned.

“What do you think of my method?”

“Wait—wait a moment. Let me sort this out.”

Rolford tried to piece it together, searching for flaws.

Something about this method didn’t feel simple.

Beyond the difficulty, the real issue was…

“That’s right—how do you guarantee my body won’t be completely corroded?”

Rolford suddenly pinpointed the flaw and demanded.

Using wood-based energy to sustain life was fine in theory—but the balance between toxic and wood energy? That was nearly impossible to maintain.

“I know your concern,” Wang Teng said calmly. “Sustaining life with wood energy requires an additional force.”

“An additional force?” Rolford frowned. “Are you going to rely on another spiritual object?”

“No,” Wang Teng raised his thumb, pointing at himself. “I’m the one.”

"You!?"

Rolford froze.

"Yes, it's me. The method is actually the same as the first one—both require my intervention to assist." Wang Teng nodded.

Rolford stared into his eyes, thoughtful. "It seems you're quite confident in your methods."

At this point, if he still couldn't grasp the crux of the matter, he would truly be unworthy of being a peerless immortal cultivator.

The first method was like that, and now the second one too—clearly, Wang Teng possessed some kind of technique capable of aiding him.

Then, recalling that Wang Teng also had talents in both wood and poison elements, more speculations surged through his mind.

Talent?

A celestial oddity?

Or something else...

As for what exact method it was, he could not yet fathom—it would have to wait for another time.

To this, Wang Teng merely smiled, saying nothing more.

"What do you think are the chances of success with this method?" Rolford pondered for a moment, then asked the crucial question.

"Currently, only seventy percent confidence. It might go higher later," Wang Teng said cautiously.

"How much? Seventy percent?!?" Rolford exclaimed, stunned, repeating the words in disbelief.

"You heard right—seventy percent!" Wang Teng affirmed firmly.

"How can it be so high?" Rolford still found it hard to believe.

Seventy percent!

That level of certainty was enough to make him gamble!

Yet from Wang Teng’s tone, it seemed this was already an extremely conservative estimate—and he even claimed it could rise further.

Real or fake?

Unbelievable.

How could Wang Teng possibly have such high confidence?

"High?" Wang Teng raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised. "I feel it's already low."

"...”

Rolford opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but ultimately no word came out.

Low?

Where the hell did you get the idea that seventy percent was low?

He seriously suspected his brain circuitry differed drastically from Wang Teng’s—otherwise how could there be such a massive misunderstanding?

Damn it!

"Just trust me. Believe me. It'll be stable," Wang Teng said confidently.

"...”

Rolford wanted to retort, but after thinking carefully, he realized Wang Teng was indeed reliable—his performance on the battlefield proved that.

Moreover, having followed Wang Teng for so long, he’d seen many things about him, and never once had he found anything unreliable.

"Fine. What's the third method?"

Rolford dropped the topic and asked about the third plan.

"For this third method, I intend to start with the ancient poison butterfly."

Wang Teng spoke calmly.

"The ancient poison butterfly."

Rolford exhaled in relief—the method finally aligned with what he knew.

"So, you already knew this method?" Wang Teng said meaningfully.

"Yes," Rolford smiled. "Your third method must be about absorbing the power of the ancient poison butterfly to strengthen my physique, enabling its breakthrough, right?"

"No! You're completely wrong!" Wang Teng shook his head. "If it were that simple, I wouldn’t have placed it third."

"Hmm?" Rolford blinked, puzzled, staring at Wang Teng.

He had guessed wrong!

How was that possible?

Besides direct absorption to strengthen the physique, what other way could there be to use the power of the ancient poison butterfly?

"Hehe, clueless, aren't you?"

Wang Teng smirked teasingly.

"Speak up! Speak up!" Rolford glared at him irritably, urging.

This guy was truly sadistic.

He finally understood—this man wasn’t going to reveal it unless he wanted to see him embarrass himself.

And just moments ago, he'd been smug, thinking he'd finally come up with a method matching Wang Teng's.

He had to admit—Wang Teng truly had some skill.

So much so that Rolford felt a sense of pride, believing that if his own method could match Wang Teng's, it would be an honor.

But…

He had oversimplified it again.

Wang Teng’s method was fundamentally different from his.

This damn bastard.

Seeing Rolford flustered, Wang Teng couldn’t help but smile, then stopped teasing and said plainly:

"My method is also simple—using the soul of the ancient poison butterfly to create a resonance with your physique!"

"The soul of the ancient poison butterfly? Resonance!?" Rolford frowned, deep in thought, unable to comprehend.

What benefit could the soul of the ancient poison butterfly bring to his physique?

Though there was indeed some connection between physique and soul,

to rely on the power of the ancient poison butterfly to enhance the physique seemed utterly backward.

The core essence of the ancient poison butterfly was what truly mattered for physical enhancement!

Otherwise, the method he had discovered wouldn’t have been direct absorption of the butterfly’s power.

And to recklessly invoke the soul of the ancient poison butterfly was, in truth, an extremely dangerous act.

Especially when it resonated with one’s own soul.

That would cause his soul to be influenced by the ancient poison butterfly’s spirit—perhaps even tainted by it.

This was no jest!

Even a being of immortal rank dared not easily resonate with the soul of another creature.

And yet, with Wang Teng’s third method, to provoke such resonance, the level of that ancient poison butterfly’s soul must be high—

at least on par with his own soul.

“Wang Teng, do you truly understand the risks involved?”

Lord Rofort could not help but ask.

“I do,” Wang Teng replied. “You’re worried about your soul being affected, aren’t you?”

“Yes.” Rofort nodded, watching him closely, eager to see what he would say next.

“I’ve considered this matter for you as well.”

Wang Teng stroked his chin and said, “There is certainly risk—but I can reduce it to a minimum.”

With the soul techniques he now mastered, controlling the ancient poison butterfly’s soul would not be difficult.

He could even protect Rofort’s soul body.

Thus, he had accounted for both aspects.

Moreover, the 【Starlight Primordial Brightness Holy Water】 he now possessed was a powerful means of purifying soul energy.

It could cleanse even dark forces—how much more so ordinary toxic energies?

To an ordinary martial cultivator, the soul of the ancient poison butterfly might seem insurmountable, but to Wang Teng, it was far less daunting.

“You have another way?” Rofort was stunned.

If even soul-related issues could be resolved, then Wang Teng’s methods…

He no longer knew what to say.

Suddenly, he felt that his bodily affliction, once seemingly impossible to cure, might actually be solvable in Wang Teng’s hands.

At this moment, Rofort’s heart swelled with both frustration and joy.

Three methods—all ideas he had never conceived of, utterly different from his own.

And judging by their potential, Wang Teng’s three approaches were undoubtedly more astonishing, more effective, and far more practical.

How could he not feel frustrated?

He had been completely outshone.

All his past efforts seemed to have amounted to nothing—laughable.

Yet seeing so many viable solutions, he couldn’t help but feel a flicker of hope, a surge of optimism.

Then came the question:

“So your third method—do you intend to make the ancient poison butterfly’s soul resonate with my constitution, thereby enhancing my physical form?”

Rofort sought final confirmation.

“You’re mistaken again.”

Wang Teng winked at him before explaining, “I want to make the ancient poison butterfly’s soul resonate with *both* your constitution and your cultivation technique—forming a cycle.”

“A triad cycle!”

A thunderbolt flashed through Rofort’s mind—he seemed to grasp something instantly.

“You mean to use the power of the ancient poison butterfly to allow my constitution to absorb more energy, thus achieving enhancement?”

“This method is actually quite similar to your first approach—only instead of the ancient poison wood, we use the ancient poison butterfly.”

“In a sense, yes,” Wang Teng nodded. “Both involve introducing external forces to achieve balance.”

“But the ancient poison wood is a gentler method; this one trades time for risk.”

“Whereas using the soul of the ancient poison butterfly allows for a faster path to upgrading one’s constitution—the effect is far superior to the first, though the risk is slightly greater.”

“Of course, the greatest risk remains the second method.”

“To put it plainly, the three methods I offer each carry their own risk—and their own corresponding chance of success.”

(End of chapter)