Precaution! . . .
Cha Eun Xiao was taken aback. He began to speak, "Sometimes, you must be willing to relinquish something to gain in exchange. Perhaps, if you can endure it for ten years, you will be rewarded with a lifetime of possibilities... We should perhaps reevaluate the current circumstances. Look at your condition. What can you contribute right now? You are barely more than a burden to the rest of us. If your brothers lose their lives fighting for your cause, you might avenge them in the martial world a decade from now."
"It is never too late. As things stand, you may become a hindrance to us. If we take you along, our adversaries may take advantage of our vulnerability and annihilate us. If we all perish, there will be no opportunity to counter them in the future," Cha Eun Xiao explained, his tone even and resolute.
"You must contemplate this carefully," he continued.
Li Wuliang huffed and retorted icily, "I will become invincible after enduring this pain for ten years. But must I rely on this method to attain invincibility?"
"I would rather stand beside my comrades and fight, even if it means that I won't achieve invincibility," he declared, his voice filled with determination. "I'd rather die alongside my brothers than become invincible in isolation."
Cha Eun Xiao let out a sigh. He understood Li Wuliang's decision. Their characters were cut from the same cloth. While many might perceive their choice as imprudent or even foolish, no one could deny that individuals like them shone the brightest in the world. They were the ones who cherished glory, honor, and the bonds of brotherhood. They were willing to lay down their lives for the sake of their comrades.
Li Wuliang locked eyes with Cha Eun Xiao, the intensity of his gaze unwavering. "I wish to expedite the process. I want to return to the world outside, to laugh and to battle. I want to recover as swiftly as possible and stand alongside you in our struggle against the three factions."
"The title of 'invincible Li Wuliang' can wait for the future. While I might spend a decade waiting in the shadows to achieve that supposed invincibility, I will never shed the label of 'coward.' I refuse to compromise my integrity," he declared.
Li Wuliang stared at Cha Eun Xiao, his eyes ablaze with fervor. "Tell me, what can I do to expedite this process? How much time can be shaved off it?"
Erhuo, overhearing the conversation, meowed in admiration. Li Wuliang had relinquished the opportunity for ten years of blessings that countless people could only dream of. He hadn't done it out of fear or a reluctance to endure pain. Even Erhuo could sense that he had a profound and noble reason for his decision. It was an instinctual understanding Erhuo had, and it trusted in it. That's why Erhuo was eager to help.
"Erhuo, what steps should we take to remove a portion of the power from the Ghost Ganoderma? We cannot jeopardize Brother Li's life," Cha Eun Xiao quickly inquired within the confines of the Space.
"Your East-rising Purple Qi should be adept at negating various forms of demonic forces. If your cultivation were stronger, the dark power within the ganoderma would pose little threat to you. To extract power from the Ghost Ganoderma, you must simultaneously harness the bipolar power within you, the cold and hot power, to draw both powers out of his body. This should extract a portion of the powers," Erhuo nonchalantly explained.
Cha Eun Xiao's eyes lit up, "I see. In your opinion, how much power should I extract? I cannot remove it all, can I? Doing so could seriously harm him due to the adverse effects."
Erhuo rolled its eyes and suggested, "The simplest approach is to remove all of it, granting him relief from his torment. His body has been enduring the pain for a considerable period, so it should be able to endure the process. Nevertheless, I recommend extracting eighty percent of the power."
"Eighty percent?" Cha Eun Xiao looked at Erhuo in astonishment. The suggested amount surprised him.
Cha Eun Xiao had a good understanding of Erhuo's nature. The cat was undoubtedly a selfish and possessive creature, known to go to great lengths to obtain what it wanted. Thus, Cha Eun Xiao found it quite surprising that Erhuo had willingly forfeited twenty percent of the enormous power contained within the Ghost Ganoderma.
"Why are you looking at me like that? Twenty percent of that power still resides in his body. He should be able to fully assimilate it within a year and regain his strength. It might not make him invincible in the realm, but he will undoubtedly be significantly stronger than before!" Erhuo nonchalantly declared, swishing its tail with an air of indifference.
"I understand and agree with your reasoning," Cha Eun Xiao replied. "But I'm surprised because you're not known for your generosity. You're typically quite greedy."
Erhuo meowed in acknowledgment, attempting to appear unapologetic. "Yes, I can be a bit greedy from a certain perspective. However, I have shared all the good things with you, and my greed has generally benefited you. I know it may not seem like it, but I'm always looking out for your best interests. Meow! I won't argue further. Li Wuliang seems like a decent person, and his words are filled with honor. That's why I've chosen to leave him twenty percent of the power."
Then, a hint of regret crossed Erhuo's demeanor. "If you'd rather I didn't leave him any, that's okay. I quite like that power myself, after all."
Cha Eun Xiao recognized the significance of this gesture. He nodded and said, "I think the twenty percent is likely the maximum amount that Brother Li can handle. It will take him one year to fully absorb and assimilate it. This is an excellent plan you're providing."
He went on to explain the plan to Li Wuliang, who was eager to begin the process. The urgency in his friend's tone made it evident that he couldn't wait to put this plan into action. Li Wuliang didn't even question the potential risks involved in the reduction process, and he seemed unfazed by the miraculous skill that Cha Eun Xiao had acquired. He simply urged Cha Eun Xiao to proceed.
Cha Eun Xiao, however, wanted to clarify the details before initiating the procedure. "I am entirely ready to start, Brother Li. There's just one crucial aspect we need to address. Inside your body, there are two types of power, and I don't believe it's safe to remove all of it at once. Doing so could potentially subject you to adverse effects once the immense power is extracted. This might lead to a year-long period of recovery in bed."
He continued, "My suggestion is to leave twenty percent of the power within you. As you're already familiar with this power, you should be able to fully digest it within a year. In essence, you would need to spend a year in recovery, either way. Therefore, you must remain here in this cave for the foreseeable future. You can't show yourself in the martial world, and you should stay hidden."
Cha Eun Xiao emphasized the importance of this condition, knowing Li Wuliang's fiery temperament. He continued, "You have to promise me this before we proceed with the process." He knew his friend well, and he understood that if Li Wuliang were freed from his suffering too soon, he'd undoubtedly rush back into the world, putting himself in grave danger despite his current weakened state.
Taking such precautions was crucial to avoid any unnecessary risks.