Eric Brooks's expression was uncertain. Normally, with his personality, he would never offend Henry Bolton for the sake of a disciple. After all, Henry Bolton was the most powerful person in the sect apart from the sect master—even Franklin Clark, who was also an elder, was not quite his equal. Although Franklin Clark offered some protection, given how much Henry Bolton doted on Richard Bolton, if Henry Bolton were angered, even Franklin Clark might not be able to shield him.

However, Brian Carter had swallowed the millennium inner core of the Eight-Winged Purple Python, and now, after so many days, he should have finished digesting it. I myself have refrained from cultivating recently, just waiting for him to finish so I can seize his body by force. This would definitely take my cultivation to the next level. Once I possess his body, even the young Eight-Winged Purple Python can be fed to me as well—the benefits are simply unimaginable!

Now that Brian Carter has finally finished absorbing the Eight-Winged Purple Python's inner core, I can soon have such a powerful body. Just thinking about it makes me excited. But now, these three have seriously injured him. Even if I take over now, his abilities would be greatly diminished. I have to wait until he fully recovers—how could I not be angry?

Still, looking at Richard Bolton's actions, they are commendable. I can't push him too far, or if I anger Henry Bolton, the loss would outweigh the gain.

"Since that's the case, I'll give Master Bolton some face. Just hand the jade over to me directly, and I won't hold this matter against you any longer. Take Stephen Grant down quickly for treatment!" In his heart, he secretly praised Brian Carter for his tenacity. With only mid-stage fasting cultivation, he managed to put Stephen Grant in such a state—this was beyond his expectations. Eric Brooks privately attributed this miracle to the wonders of the Eight-Winged Purple Python's inner core, and couldn't help but look forward even more eagerly to possessing Brian Carter's body!

After Richard Bolton and the other two left, Eric Brooks put the jade into his own storage pouch, as if it had always belonged to him. He walked up to Brian Carter. "Boy, stop putting on an act in front of me. I saw you absorb the millennium inner core of the Eight-Winged Purple Python, and I also saw Richard Brooks strike you. With your current body, how could you possibly be unable to even stand? The movement technique and power you used don't look like they come from the Wuji Demonic Art at all. What is really going on? Tell me honestly, or don't blame your master for cleaning house right now!" Eric Brooks said in a sinister tone, staring at Brian Carter.

Brian Carter secretly cried out in distress. He had known Eric Brooks might come looking for him, but hadn't expected that during the fight, Eric Brooks had been hiding nearby, watching. Their cultivation levels were far below Eric Brooks's, so they hadn't noticed him at all. Richard Bolton and the others assumed the technique he used was taught by Eric Brooks, but how could Eric Brooks not know exactly what techniques he had passed on?

"Master, the technique I used is indeed from the Wuji Demonic Art. It's just that while digesting the Eight-Winged Purple Python's inner core, perhaps some mutation occurred, resulting in this odd technique, which led to your misunderstanding." Brian Carter immediately decided to deny everything to the end. Eric Brooks, wanting to maximize the benefits of taking over his body, definitely wouldn't act immediately.

"Oh? I've never heard of the Wuji Demonic Art mutating with other things. So you discovered it first, huh? Even so, that ghostly movement technique you just used—how do you explain that?" Eric Brooks said coldly.

"Ghostly? Master, you must be joking. It's just that after absorbing the Eight-Winged Purple Python's inner core, my body became a bit stronger and my speed increased a little, that's all. How could it be called ghostly? Master, you surely know more about the effects of the Eight-Winged Purple Python's inner core than I do, so you should know I'm not lying!" Brian Carter quickly added.

Eric Brooks didn't believe a word of it. From their first meeting, he knew Brian Carter was no honest fool. Seeing that he couldn't get any useful information, and unable to kill and search him immediately, he simply ordered him to focus on healing. Once recovered, he was to come to Eric Brooks's residence, saying he had other techniques to pass on to him.

Of course, Brian Carter didn't believe he had such good intentions, and didn't argue. Right now, the most important thing was to recover from his injuries. Whatever happened next, at least he'd have some leverage!

After Eric Brooks left, Brian Carter began to heal. Just as Eric Brooks had said, Brian Carter's injuries weren't as serious as they appeared. His body was strong, and after being tempered by the Wuji Demonic Art, it was even tougher. Although Richard Bolton's strike had caused internal injuries, it hadn't deprived him of the chance to fight back. Knowing the gap in their cultivation, he had feigned serious injury, and because Richard Bolton was so confident, he hadn't pressed the attack, so Brian Carter's injuries hadn't worsened.

While Eric Brooks and Richard Bolton were arguing, Brian Carter had already begun using demonic arts to heal. By the time their dispute ended, most of his injuries had already healed. He only pretended to be weak out of fear that Eric Brooks would strike again!

After a night of meditation, his injuries were fully healed, and his power even showed signs of breaking through to the mid-stage fasting level. Perhaps yesterday's battle had consumed so much of his demonic power that all the medicinal energy from the Eight-Winged Purple Python stored in his body had been fully activated. It seems that fighting is indeed an effective way to improve one's cultivation!

Eric Brooks must be getting impatient by now. The way he looks at me is as if I'm an inner core—his greedy gaze is completely unrestrained!