A figure in black robes leaned on a crutch made of deadwood, his face deathly pale, standing right in front of Leo not far away. The black-robed man turned around first upon noticing someone behind him.

  The black-robed elder! Leo instantly felt his hands and feet turn icy cold. However, the elder seemed seriously injured, his complexion even worse than before, and he had lost a leg. The only difference from when he left months ago was that several black pouches now hung at his waist.

  "You're still in the valley? Good, very good, cough cough..."

  When the black-robed elder saw Leo, his eyes lit up. But the movement triggered his injuries, causing him to cough violently, with traces of blood seeping from his abdomen.

  "Mas... Master Ragnar!"

  Leo inwardly cursed his luck. If the black-robed elder discovered that the small green insects in the cave had mostly cannibalized each other, who knew how great his fury would be. However, seeing the elder's missing leg, Leo couldn't help but take two steps back, an urge to flee rising within him.

  "Come back!" The black-robed elder's eyes were sharp as a hawk's. He instantly sensed Leo's intention to flee and beckoned with his hand from a distance.

  What... what's happening? Panic surged through Leo as an immense force bound his body, pulling him involuntarily towards the black-robed elder.

  The elder drew Leo close and asked, "Why did you want to run when you saw me? Am I that terrifying?"

  "I... I..." Leo stammered, not daring to tell the truth.

  "Forget it. You really want to learn magic, don't you? Before, I didn't want to take a disciple. But now, I'm severely injured and probably don't have long to live. My legacy still needs someone to inherit it. Are you willing to become my disciple?" A strange glint flickered in the black-robed elder's eyes as he grasped Leo's wrist, speaking with a pleasant expression.

  "Take me as your disciple?"

  Leo was astonished. Before, the black-robed elder had only ordered him to do chores and barely spoke to him. Now, he actually wanted to take Leo as his disciple? While joy surged in his heart, a sliver of doubt lingered in the shadows.

  "Exactly. I don't have long to live. If I don't take a disciple now, should I just take all my skills to the coffin with me?"

  The black-robed elder coughed up a few more streaks of blood. That fourth-grade talisman had been truly formidable. He had used every trick up his sleeve to withstand most of its attacks, yet still got hit by two arrows. Losing a leg wasn't fatal; what truly left him in a dire state was the arrow in his abdomen, which had damaged his internal organs. Forget a Qi Refinement Great Perfection cultivator; even a Foundation Establishment cultivator without top-grade healing spiritual pills would find it fatal.

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  "Yes, Master! Disciple pays his respects to Master!" Leo was overwhelmed with excitement. He never expected the black-robed elder would be willing to take him as a disciple now. He immediately bowed down to prostrate himself.

  "Enough, enough. Let's dispense with formalities. Quickly take your master back to the cave dwelling. My time is short. If we don't hurry, I'm afraid I won't have time to teach you anything." The black-robed elder grabbed Leo's wrist, preventing him from bowing fully.

  "Yes, Master. But... but I haven't been back for nearly two days. Those Shadow Ants probably..." Originally, Leo had planned to leave directly. However, now that the black-robed elder was willing to take him as a disciple, he decided not to hide his mistake any longer and confessed directly.

  "A few Shadow Ants are nothing. If they die, we can cultivate another batch. Let's go back first."

  The black-robed elder shook his head. Leo felt a bit surprised; his master's attitude had changed so drastically.

  "Then disciple will carry you back." Though puzzled, Leo finally breathed a sigh of relief. He thought, being a disciple should be different from being a menial servant.

  "No need. Just follow me." The black-robed elder shook his head again.

  Before the words faded, Leo felt a gentle breeze pushing him from behind. The black-robed elder tapped his crutch on the ground, and they floated out several yards together, their movements incredibly light and agile.

  Leo was secretly amazed. His master was indeed formidable. Even with his spiritual energy fully channeled, he could only manage half a yard per step. Yet his master, severely injured and missing a leg, while carrying him along, still covered about three yards per step. Having acknowledged him as master, Leo felt their relationship had become much closer than before. So he asked,

  "Master, what magic are you using? It's truly amazing. Will I be able to learn it in the future?"

  "You'll learn it in the future, and become even more powerful than your master. I'm injured; don't talk." The black-robed elder breathed heavily.

  Hearing the heaviness in his master's voice, Leo immediately shut his mouth, saying nothing more.

  Five or six miles wasn't far at their pace. Moments later, the cave dwelling blocked by stones appeared before them.

  The black-robed elder waved his hand. A whirlwind swept past, blowing away the stones blocking the cave entrance. Leo watched, utterly fascinated. He was about to speak but, remembering his master's instruction, quickly swallowed his words.

  "Hurry, boil a bucket of water. Once it's hot, pour this medicine into it." The black-robed elder handed Leo a small medicine vial, then spat out another mouthful of blood. The effort of their rapid travel had drained a lot of his strength, worsening his injuries further.

  Seeing his master's injuries were this severe, Leo quickly nodded and did as instructed. Water had been stored in the cave previously. Soon, he boiled a bucket of water as told and, following the elder's instructions, blocked the cave entrance again with stones.

  "Heaven hasn't abandoned me. I've finally made it in time. If I hadn't run into this kid, maybe I really would have perished in this canyon." The black-robed elder sighed in relief, muttering to himself.

  "Master, the cave entrance is sealed again." Leo clapped his hands, reporting.

  "Mmm, get into the tub." The black-robed elder nodded, his expression genial.

  Under the lamplight, Leo hesitated for a moment. He felt there was something odd about the way the black-robed elder looked at him, but couldn't pinpoint what it was.

  "Get in already." The black-robed elder urged.

  He's already accepted me as a disciple; it shouldn't be anything bad. At worst, if I mess up, I might get another whipping. Thinking this, Leo complied and sat in the tub. As soon as the medicinal liquid touched his skin, he became alarmed. He felt as if all his pores were being sealed shut. Immediately afterward, his entire body felt as if pierced by countless steel needles, an excruciating pain. He cried out in agony, instinctively trying to get up and leave the tub.

  At that moment, the black-robed elder's withered finger pressed against his forehead, rendering him immobile. Simultaneously, the elder let out a strange, cackling laugh, his face turning sinisterly malevolent as he sneered, "How does my dear disciple find the taste of my Soul-Locking Brew?"

  "You... what are you going to do to me?" Leo didn't understand what "Soul-Locking Brew" was. Seeing the black-robed elder's completely changed, sinister, and terrifying face, he felt a chill run down his spine as he asked. By now, he had realized that the black-robed elder's offer to take him as a disciple likely harbored malicious intent. But what exactly that scheme was, he couldn't fathom.