Starting as a stray dog, I embarked on a journey of cultivation.

Seeing that Xiao Hai still dared not, Master Fu Hai did not get angry, but suddenly asked, "Do you know how many steps are involved in the cultivation of immortality?"

Xiao Hai shook his head, looking puzzled.

Master Fuhai stroked his beard and revealed: "The cultivation of spirituality for ordinary people involves three steps!"

"These are respectively Qi Refining, Core Formation, and Spirit Transcending!"

Master Fuhai raised three withered fingers and continued to explain: "Each step is further divided into three minor realms."

"Qi cultivation is divided into four stages: Qi Induction Stage, Meridian Opening Stage, and Qi Sea Stage!"

"The Core Formation stage is divided into three realms: Void Core, Primordial Core, and Golden Core!"

"The path to godhood is divided into three realms: Divine Control Realm, Primordial Spirit Realm, and Divine Transformation Realm!"

It's a pity that after more than 180 years of hard work, I've only reached the late stage of the Qi Sea Realm!

I've only ever heard of realms like Core Formation and Divine Transcendence.

But these days, I will use a secret method to quickly open your meridians and guide your Qi.

Your cultivation level has now reached the mid-stage of Qi Refining!

Under the influence of the elixir, their physical strength far surpasses that of ordinary people.

As he spoke, he held the fiery red pill between two fingers, turning it over and over as if admiring some treasure.

He added, "This pill is called the Fire Essence Pill. It contains pure fire spirit power, which is a great tonic for people like us who are born with a fire element."

"Taking just one pill is equivalent to several years of arduous cultivation!"

After listening to Master Fuhai's words, Xiaohai mustered his courage and replied, "Since it is such a good thing, Master, you should eat it. Your disciple would not dare to waste it."

Master Fuhai merely coughed once, and said calmly, "I am old, this pill is useless to me, and it would be a waste to take it."

"My previous search for suitable children to test medicines was simply to select someone suitable to inherit my mantle."

"And you are the only one!"

"So... don't worry about me harming you. From the moment you successfully tested the drug, you were destined to be immortal."

After hearing this, Xiao Hai seemed to believe what Master Fu Hai said and slowly raised his hand to accept the pill.

He held the pill up to his face, examining it carefully, clearly still harboring some lingering concerns.

Master Fuhai sat to one side, his tone calm and composed, neither hurried nor angry: "Eat it! This pill is most effective when eaten while it's hot!"

Xiao Hai glanced at Master Fu Hai beside him, then looked back at the pill in his hand.

After hesitating for a moment, he finally put the pill into his mouth.

The pills almost melted upon entering the mouth, turning into a scalding hot liquid that was swallowed into the stomach.

"Immediately sit cross-legged!" Master Fuhai said hastily as he watched Xiaohai swallow the pill. "Use the method of circulating energy that I taught you to digest this energy."

Xiao Hai felt a burning sensation in his abdomen and, not daring to delay, immediately did as instructed.

Sit cross-legged, place your hands in front of your abdomen, close your eyes and take deep breaths.

As Xiao Hai circulated a certain technique, his body was slowly enveloped by a fiery red aura.

Upon seeing this scene, Master Fuhai's originally cloudy eyes widened considerably, and the look in his eyes gradually changed from surprise to astonishment and madness.

"It's done!"

"It's done!"

Master Fuhai laughed heartily.

"After searching for decades, I've finally found the right person!"

As he spoke, he reached out and flipped his hand, and a black rope appeared out of thin air.

Then the rope automatically flew towards Xiao Hai, coiling around him like a serpent.

In the blink of an eye, Xiao Hai was bound hand and foot and hung from the roof beam, his entire body suspended in mid-air.

Sensing something amiss, Xiao Hai suddenly opened his eyes. Upon realizing his situation, he immediately asked, "Master, what does this mean?"

Master Fuhai simply laughed, his voice hoarse: "Nothing else, it's just that your mission is complete!"

"Disciple doesn't understand!" Xiao Hai tried to break free of the restraints, but found that the ropes were too strong and he couldn't break free at all.

"Since you've figured it out, then I'll tell you!"

Master Fuhai stroked his beard, looking with satisfaction at Xiaohai, who was hanging in mid-air, and then said, "I did indeed choose you to inherit my mantle, but the way of inheritance is quite different!"

"I'm ready to switch bodies with you!"

Xiao Hai was dumbfounded: "What?"

"It's like my soul and your soul are swapped!" Master Fuhai was in high spirits and laughed maniacally. "My lifespan is coming to an end, so I need to get a younger body."

"Under sixteen years old, and like me, a person with a fire element in their birth chart, with all seven meridians and eight extraordinary vessels fully open!"

"You perfectly meet all the requirements!"

"Master, no!" The child finally panicked and begged for mercy, "Disciple can help you find another body, please Master, don't switch my body."

"There's no time to search again!" Master Fuhai waved his hand and scolded, "Although people with the fire element are easy to find, there are very few who can open their meridians in a short time."

"The pills I gave you during the drug trial were called the Meridian Opening Pills! After taking them, the medicinal power will forcibly open up the meridians in your body."

"Those without the aptitude for cultivation will suffer excruciating pain and die if they eat it!"

"Only those with the aptitude for spiritual cultivation can survive after consuming it."

Master Fuhai stepped forward and reached out his large, aged hand to pinch Xiaohai's face.

"And... I've already tested your aptitude during this time!"

"It can be said to be of superior quality!" Master Fuhai stared at Xiaohai's face, examining him closely.

The more he looked, the more satisfied he became, his eyes filled with greed and excitement.

"Such a young body, and such superior talent...tsk tsk tsk!"

Fuhai Zhenren's smile grew increasingly excited.

"Once I'm in your body, I'll definitely be able to break through to the Core Formation Realm!"

At this point, Master Fuhai paused suddenly, then gave a sinister smile: "However, don't be discouraged."

"You wouldn't be at a disadvantage if you swapped bodies with me!"

"Although this old body of mine is old, I am still a cultivator in the late stage of the Qi Sea Realm."

"Although he only has about ten years left to live, it's not bad."

Hearing this, Xiao Hai couldn't help but curse angrily, "I knew you old bastard were up to no good!"

"You want to switch bodies with me? I'll make sure you don't get your way!"

"I'll bite my tongue off and kill myself right now!"

As he spoke, Xiao Hai was about to bite his tongue.

Seeing this, Master Fuhai tightened his grip on Xiaohai's face, making it impossible for Xiaohai to close his jaw.

"What do you want to do to my body?" Master Fuhai roared in anger, his left hand forming a hand seal, and the rope wrapped around Xiaohai's body began to wriggle rapidly, now positioned across his mouth.

At this point, Xiao Hai was so badly unable to speak that he couldn't even bite off his own tongue.

After doing all this, Master Fuhai finally relaxed his grip on Xiaohai's face.

Then, slowly, he said, "Relax a little, it's not the auspicious day for a body change yet!"

"I'll hang you up for three days first, let you fast and detox!"

"In three days, your body will be mine!"

After saying his last words, Master Fuhai turned around and walked to the side, sat down cross-legged, closed his eyes and regulated his breathing, no longer paying attention to Xiaohai hanging in mid-air.

At this moment, Xiao Hai was unable to speak or move.

They could only struggle in vain; even with all their might, they could only sway gently in the air.

Just then, the swaying Xiao Hai turned its head to face the broken window.

His gaze met that of Gou An, who was standing outside the broken window.