Han paused in his tracks and turned around to face the two men.

"What do you two want following me? Are you here to teach me a lesson on behalf of your gods?"

The tall man in gray spoke first, "You seem unfamiliar, friend. You're not from Qinghua County, are you?"

Han frowned, "What does that have to do with you?"

"Why be so distant? We're all martial artists here; it’s fate that we meet. How about joining us for a drink?" The tall man continued with a smile. "You're new here. If you’re facing any troubles, perhaps we can help."

Han's face showed a trace of impatience, but he ultimately agreed, his mind still calm.

First step of the Fog Plan: Achieved.

Anlan's intelligence had indicated that the Heavenly Mother Cult was eager to recruit both martial artists and cultivators. If they saw a chance to pull someone in, they wouldn’t hesitate.

Liang Hai and his companions had been discovered by the cult and then dragged into their ranks.

In a high-class tea house in Qinghua County, the three of them sat in a private room, chatting.

Han had specifically chosen the tea house for their meeting.

During their conversation, Han learned that the tall man was named Wang Hao, and the slimmer one was Li Zhe.

"Jia Ming, from Baihua County."

Han gave a false name—who would use their real name when venturing into the martial world?

"From Baihua County? That’s quite far from Qinghua," Wang Hao noted.

"I've been traveling for several years," Han replied.

Wang Hao and Li Zhe were very friendly, continuously striking up conversations with Han. The atmosphere grew warmer, and their relationship deepened.

"Jia, as a martial artist, why not enjoy life at home? What brings you wandering around?" Li Zhe asked.

Han sighed deeply. "My cultivation has stagnated. There’s no hope for a breakthrough, so I came out to see if there’s any opportunity, but alas, I've found nothing."

"May I ask what level of cultivation you’ve reached?" Wang Hao asked.

"To avoid any offense, let me tell you first: my brother and I are both at the Small Completion stage of the Flesh Realm."

"Started training at twelve, and now at twenty-nine, still at Small Completion—nothing impressive."

Han casually lied, although in reality, it had taken him seventeen years to reach the peak of the Flesh Realm, which was hardly anything extraordinary.

Wang Hao and Li Zhe exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with surprise.

"Jia Ming, you truly have outstanding talent."

"..."

Seventeen years for a breakthrough, and you call that ‘outstanding talent’?

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

If you had no more compliments, you could just say I look handsome. No need to blow smoke like this.

"Jia Ming, have you made any progress toward the Meridian Realm?" Wang Hao asked.

Han shook his head. "I came to Qinghua precisely to see if there’s any opportunity for advancement."

Wang Hao chuckled. "Well, Jia Ming, you’ve come to the right place."

"We know of an opportunity that can help someone break into the Meridian Realm."

Han sneered. "There’s no need to make such promises. If you really knew of such an opportunity, would it be offered to someone like me?"

"I've traveled far and wide these years and encountered similar promises before. Could it be that you two are plotting something against me?"

Li Zhe interjected, "How could we ever deceive you, Jia Ming? This opportunity requires no risk from you. It’s within your grasp."

Wang Hao’s expression grew serious.

"Jia Ming, please allow me to introduce our deity, the all-powerful and great 'Goddess.'"

"As long as you worship her and do her bidding, she will reward you, and reaching the Meridian Realm will be as easy as flipping your hand!"

"Heretic nonsense," Han muttered, shaking his head. "There are no gods in this world. If such a good thing really existed, no one would need to cultivate."

With that, Han stood up to leave. Wang Hao and Li Zhe exchanged a look before standing to stop him.

"We wouldn’t deceive you, Jia Ming. In all of Qinghua County, the worship of the Goddess is widespread. If there were no miracles, how could she be so revered?"

"This is the power of the Goddess. You will soon see that what we say is true."

Wang Hao pulled out a crimson crystal, and a mysterious force emanated from it.

"This is the power of the Goddess. A single breath will strengthen your body. Can you feel it, Jia Ming?"

Wang Hao and Li Zhe wore expressions of enjoyment, and Han couldn't help but show a hint of surprise.

"I do feel a slight strengthening of my body..."

But in reality, Han had separated his soul from the crimson crystal’s influence, not absorbing any of its power. He couldn’t trust something so unknown—who knew if it was poisoned?

"The power of the Goddess is infinite, her might boundless. Jia Ming, do you believe us now?" Wang Hao asked, smiling.

"You don’t need to worry about trying to take it by force. We, the Heavenly Mother Cult, are many, and if you steal from us, you won’t escape."

"How about it? Will you follow us and worship the Goddess?"

Han remained silent for a moment, then replied, "Let me think it over."

"Of course. Once you’ve made your decision, come find us."

Wang Hao gave him an address. Han checked it against Anlan’s intelligence and realized it wasn’t the Heavenly Mother Cult’s headquarters.

The two men paid for their tea and left, but they didn’t go far. Instead, they found a nearby place to watch Han.

"Brother Wang, do you think he’ll agree?"

"Of course he will. What martial artist can resist the temptation of a breakthrough? Many have joined us over the years because they couldn’t break through on their own."

Wang Hao’s face hardened. "But if he doesn’t agree, we’ll have to deal with him."

"Let’s hope he’s wise about it."

"He’s probably struggling right now," Li Zhe chuckled. "I’ll head back first. You stay here and keep an eye on him."

Meanwhile, Han... was simply enjoying his tea, feeling quite comfortable.

A free meal—nothing lost here.

The Goddess was to be "worshiped." There was no avoiding it.

This was Han's best way to gather information on the Heavenly Mother Cult’s headquarters and deal with the situation. Although Liang Hai and his group had been captured, they hadn’t revealed much—stubborn and resistant, with the cult’s methods likely affecting their souls.

That’s why Jia Ming had to infiltrate their ranks.

But Han also needed to give Jia Ming time to think—time to show his internal struggle, his reluctance, but also the unavoidable pressure of reality. Eventually, he would descend deeper into the abyss, with no way to turn back.

"Young master, you’re so bad," Anlan’s voice suddenly echoed.

"What’s that supposed to mean?"

"But I like it," she teased.

"..."

You little schemer, playing that game, huh?

In the end, "Jia Ming" couldn’t resist the temptation of a breakthrough and succumbed.

Han went to the address given by Wang Hao. After meeting Li Zhe, Han asked seriously:

"I don’t believe in gods, but I know which faction you belong to."

"If I join you, will I really be able to break into the Meridian Realm?"

Li Zhe laughed heartily, "Of course. As long as Jia Ming sincerely worships and contributes to the Goddess, breaking through will be a piece of cake."

"With your strength, Jia Ming, it will be effortless."

"Alright," Han nodded seriously. "From this moment on, I am a follower of the Goddess."

"I will serve the Goddess!"

From this moment, he became the Goddess’s most devout follower.

Wang Hao appeared, and the two men laughed together, growing even more enthusiastic toward Han.

With this new recruit, the Heavenly Mother Cult’s Qinghua branch was truly on the rise!