**: Willing to be a Servant**

Han Ming seemed to think of something. She looked at Ning Zhuo, her eyes shining brightly, full of curiosity.

She swallowed hard and cautiously asked, "Dare I ask, sir, was it you who eliminated this old ape?"

Behind the mask, Ning Zhuo narrowed his eyes slightly. "Hmm, what if it was me?"

Han Ming immediately gasped, adjusted her posture, knelt on both knees, and bowed deeply to Ning Zhuo. "Sir, this humble woman is willing to become your maidservant! I am willing to sign a soul contract and serve you for life!"

Ning Zhuo couldn't help but frown, finding Han Ming's behavior quite strange.

Initially, when Ning Zhuo captured Han Ming alive to supply himself with Soul Essence, she deeply resented and hated him.

Later, her attitude softened because she feared death and had no choice but to submit.

But now, Ning Zhuo could sense her sincerity and genuine willingness.

Of course, his feelings might be wrong. But Han Ming's attitude truly gave him the feeling of a qualitative change!

"Why?" Ning Zhuo looked down at Han Ming and asked calmly.

Han Ming took a deep breath, straightened her upper body (while still kneeling), and looked up at Ning Zhuo. "Sir, are you aware of Fate's Measure?"

Ning Zhuo frowned, thought for a moment, and replied, "I know a little."

"'Qi' in Fate's Measure refers to breath."

"From the moment we are born, we begin to breathe. When our lifespan ends, our breath ceases. The number of breaths is our Fate's Measure."

"That's why many cultivators discourage conflict and advocate maintaining a peaceful state of mind."

"Because injuries from conflict greatly reduce one's Fate's Measure. Intense emotions like anger, fear, despair, or even extreme joy often make breathing rapid, also reducing Fate's Measure."

"So, many cultivators emphasize avoiding disputes with others and keeping a calm heart, which often leads to longevity."

Han Ming nodded. "This explanation of Fate's Measure is indeed the most widespread in the cultivation world. It does reveal a part of the essence, but it's not complete."

"This servant had the fortune to read a text in my sect called 'Treatise on Fate's Measure, Volume One,' a secret calculation classic from the Celestial Track Manor."

Ning Zhuo raised an eyebrow slightly.

He had heard of the Celestial Track Manor.

It was a super sect, extremely mysterious with very few disciples. But whenever a disciple emerged into the world, they often brought great changes to the entire cultivation world. This was because each generation's disciple would select the True Son of Heaven, guiding the major trends, causing the destruction of old cultivation nations and the rise of new ones.

Ning Zhuo sighed inwardly. *"The Soul Devourer Sect Han Ming belongs to is indeed a major Demonic Ability sect, to have a text of such quality in its collection."*

As for himself, over the past ten-plus years, he had only read in the Ning Family's public library, not even the secret texts pavilion.

"Continue," Ning Zhuo said.

Han Ming swallowed hard, still kneeling. "The 'Treatise on Fate's Measure' says that each person's Fate's Measure is different. Some have more, some less; some have stronger, some weaker."

"The higher the spiritual root, the higher the natural talent, the greater and stronger that person's Fate's Measure tends to be."

"Among them, supreme natural talent is known as Immortal Aptitude. Those with it have the greatest and most robust Fate's Measure."

"Those with Immortal Aptitude often constantly encounter noble persons and have opportunities fall into their laps."

"They are never easily driven into desperate situations; there's almost always a thread of survival. If they seize it, they can endure, snatch life from the jaws of death, even turn bad fortune into good, finding great blessings after surviving great calamities."

"Those with ordinary Fate's Measure, when trying to deal with them, always encounter various accidents—either making mistakes themselves or external forces interfering—ultimately failing just short of success."

Hearing this, Ning Zhuo's heart stirred slightly, beginning to understand the reason for Han Ming's change in attitude.

"Quite interesting. Don't stop."

"Yes." Han Ming continued, "This servant remembers the 'Treatise on Fate's Measure' listed many examples, all from real events."

"Many possessors of Immortal Aptitude faced various forms of suppression. As long as they could withstand it and adapt, they would basically experience rapid improvement in some aspect because of that very suppression."

"Those who opposed the possessors of Immortal Aptitude often met bad ends."

"In the process of opposing those with Immortal Aptitude, their own Fate's Measure would be depleted, affecting their minds, confusing their spirits and emotions, leading them to make all sorts of erroneous judgments and actions."

"Ultimately, they brought suffering upon themselves and sought their own doom."

"Those with Immortal Aptitude cannot be killed by ordinary people!"

At this point, Han Ming looked at the youth-disguised Ning Zhuo with clear fervor in her eyes.

"I understand your meaning," Ning Zhuo said, habitually maintaining humility. "However, although I eliminated Yuan Dasheng this time, I relied on external help. This action might be because the sum of my Fate's Measure and others' surpassed Yuan Dasheng's."

But Han Ming immediately shook her head. "Sir, according to the exposition in the 'Treatise on Fate's Measure,' when two parties cooperate, their Fate's Measures don't simply add up. Sometimes they even internally conflict and subtract."

"The 'Treatise' gives the example of Nie Xiongfeng and Chu Liuyun. You must know, sir, both were possessors of Immortal Aptitude and enemies. Initially, Nie Xiongfeng looked down on Chu Liuyun and sent subordinates to constantly hunt him."

"Chu Liuyun used each pursuit to temper himself, growing stronger with each battle, eventually counter-attacking and destroying Nie Xiongfeng."

The struggle between Nie and Chu was widely spread in the cultivation world. Their conflict led to the fall of one super sect and the rise of another.

Han Ming sighed. "Those with Immortal Aptitude—there's only one among a million cultivators. And that's based on the number of cultivators, not a million mortals."

"Each possessor of Immortal Aptitude has a remarkably strong Fate's Measure and naturally encounters strange fortunes."

"Even if two individuals with high-grade talent cooperate sincerely, and their Fate's Measures fully combined, it would still be far inferior to a single person with supreme-grade talent."

"I see." Ning Zhuo snorted coldly. "So you saw through it. I indeed possess Supreme Grade Talent!"

Han Ming was stunned, then overjoyed, bowing again. "Sir, this humble woman is willing to be your servant, serving you with all my heart and soul."

She had already submitted before.

This time, after deducing that Ning Zhuo possessed Immortal Aptitude, any pride from being a disciple of a major demonic sect vanished.

One must know that even in a major demonic sect, the number of those with Immortal Aptitude wouldn't exceed ten.

Aligning with such a person promised a bright future!

Of course, Han Ming acted this way also out of fear.

Recently, she had devoured far too many monkey souls. She absolutely did not want to turn into a female monkey-human hybrid!

Ning Zhuo nodded slightly.

He himself wasn't sure about his hidden aptitude, but at this moment, regardless of the truth, accepting was the best choice.

"This old man will reluctantly accept you then," the youth-disguised Ning Zhuo's voice remained hoarse.

"Thank you for your mercy, sir!" Han Ming激动ed, immediately kowtowing.

Lifting her head, she added, "And congratulations, sir, for eliminating another possessor of Immortal Aptitude! Your own Fate's Measure will surely increase greatly!"

"Oh? What's the reasoning behind that?" Ning Zhuo asked curiously.

(End of )