"Aren't there any Qi Refining disciples on this peak?" Leo asked.

  "Of course there are. The Azure Snake elder's descendants can reside here. As for others, even Foundation Establishment masters can only have at most two of their children living on Azure Lotus Peak, and visits from relatives and disciples are limited to no more than three times a month. Because the conditions are so strict, many Foundation Establishment masters choose to establish their cave dwellings on other peaks, where they aren't bound by these restrictions. I've only been to Azure Lotus Peak once before. If not for accompanying you, Junior Brother Leo, I probably wouldn't have another chance to come here anytime soon. If only I could cultivate on Azure Lotus Peak—my speed would be several times faster than elsewhere. If I could become the disciple of some Foundation Establishment master..." Fin said, his voice full of longing.

  The two of them walked to the foot of the main Azure Lotus Peak, where two peak-guarding disciples at the Great Perfection of Qi Refining immediately swept their gazes over them. "Halt! State your business!"

  "Grrr!" Two spirit tigers, at least peak third-grade demon beasts, rose to their feet and roared at Leo and Fin. Their aura was overwhelmingly powerful. If not for the enormous spirit locks restraining them, they would have already pounced. Further away, an elephant spirit beast lay sprawled, casting them a lazy glance before closing its eyes again.

  Leo's heart leaped with fright. Truly a major immortal sect—even a single main peak was guarded by two third-grade spirit tigers, and that elephant spirit beast was even more impressive, its aura vaguely reminiscent of the Crystal Toad he had encountered. It might well be a fourth-grade spirit beast. The two peak-guarding disciples also possessed spirit artifacts and spirit armor of formidable power. Although Leo was bold, he couldn't muster the slightest thought of opposing them.

  "Master Mist instructed me to bring this junior brother to his cave dwelling. Here is the token." Fin respectfully presented the token.

  "You may enter." A tall, sturdy peak-guarding disciple examined the token repeatedly before speaking coldly.

  "Don't speak. Just follow me closely. If we disturb any other Foundation Establishment masters, we won't be able to bear the consequences." Fin retrieved the token and repeatedly cautioned Leo.

  According to Fin, the higher one ascended Azure Lotus Peak, the denser the spiritual energy. Even at the foot of the mountain, it was already several times richer than elsewhere. The cultivation world truly was a place where the strong ruled—not just in Moonwatch Immortal City, but here in the Palace of the Heavenly Apex as well. However, they hadn't walked far before reaching Mist's cave dwelling, built beside a small stream with a stone pavilion nearby. The setting was quite elegant, but it seemed Mist's rank among the many Foundation Establishment cultivators on Azure Lotus Peak was not particularly high.

  "This junior, Fin, has brought Leo to pay respects to Master Mist, as instructed." Fin stood before the cave dwelling, his expression exceedingly reverent.

  With a soft whoosh, a layer of rippling water before the cave parted, revealing a dark, cavernous opening within.

  The stone pavilion and the small stream had vanished. Leo was startled. So it had all been an illusion—a formidable formation. He had observed for a long moment without detecting the slightest flaw.

  This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  "Mm. Wait outside. Leo, enter." Mist's voice came from within.

  Leo stepped into the cave. It was quite deep, but the temperature was pleasant, and there was none of the dark, oppressive feeling one might expect from a cavern. Azure Lotus Peak was truly a blessed land of spiritual energy.

  After walking several dozen meters, he saw Mist seated at a stone table, his expression unreadable.

  "Junior Leo, pays respects to Master Mist." Leo's heart was filled with trepidation.

  "Mm. I've reviewed your records. You were originally a mortal from Asgard, stumbled upon the path of cultivation by chance, eventually made your way to Moonwatch Immortal City, sold a large quantity of Verdant Pill Palace spiritual herbs, and chose to join the Palace of the Heavenly Apex. Is that correct?" Mist's triangular eyes blinked as he spoke.

  "That is correct." Not knowing what Mist was driving at, Leo could only nod and wait for him to continue.

  "Your spiritual roots are somewhat peculiar, impossible to test accurately. I've encountered some ancient records describing such a situation. Cultivation will not be easy."

  Leo's spirits lifted. Spiritual roots were a source of great frustration for him. One of the benefits of joining a sect was access to properly inherited cultivation techniques, which would allow him to advance more quickly. But if he didn't even know his spiritual roots, how could he choose a technique? Would he really have to test techniques one by one, as that Foundation Establishment senior had suggested? That would waste so much time. Hearing that Mist might know something, he seized the opportunity to ask.

  "I cannot be entirely certain. But I have read some ancient records describing an extremely rare spiritual root, which cultivators call the Void Spirit Root. It can be said to exist within the five elements, yet also outside them. Your spiritual roots have no specific attribute; you should be able to cultivate any technique. However, achieving significant progress will be extremely difficult. You are only just over fourteen years old. With your aptitude, even if you had been cultivating since birth, and as a mere loose cultivator with limited resources, by normal standards, it would be impossible to have reached the sixth layer of Qi Refining at such a young age. Do you possess some secret?"

  Old fox! Leo cursed inwardly. Every cultivator had their own secrets, not to be shared lightly. Yet Mist, relying on his status as a Foundation Establishment cultivator, had the audacity to ask so bluntly. It was utterly shameless. But with their cultivations worlds apart, Leo dared not show the slightest disrespect. He could only steel himself and reply, "This junior has some talent in alchemy and has never lacked for pills. Although my aptitude is poor, through uninterrupted cultivation over the years, I have barely managed to reach the sixth layer of Qi Refining."

  "Show me your alchemy furnace and the pills you have refined." A sharp glint flashed in Mist's eyes as he closely watched Leo's expression.

  Cunning old fox! If any other Qi Refining cultivator with weaker mental fortitude were subjected to such pressure from Mist, they might well slip up. But Leo had no intention of letting that happen. To convince Mist, he produced his alchemy furnace and even took out a bottle of high-grade Qi Gathering Pills.

  He also had a top-grade Qi Gathering Pill, but he thought better of revealing it. A high-grade pill would suffice. It was better to keep the top-grade one hidden.

  "High-grade Qi Gathering Pills? You have only been taking Qi Gathering Pills?" Mist asked, surprised. Even within the Palace of the Heavenly Apex, among Qi Refining disciples, those capable of refining high-grade pills were rare. Though the Palace could not match Verdant Pill Palace's achievements in alchemy, its legacy spanned tens of thousands of years, and its foundation was considerable.

  "Yes, this junior has some insight into refining Qi Gathering Pills. My success rate with Qi Condensation Pills is not high." Leo nodded.

  Mist's face flickered with uncertainty for a long moment before he spoke. "You need not be overly nervous. My concern stems from paternal love, which is why I asked. I have a son, a year younger than you, currently at the eighth layer of Qi Refining. The sect's minor competition is only two years away. Only the top fifty will obtain Foundation Establishment Pills. With his current strength, unless he advances further to the Great Perfection, he has absolutely no chance of ranking in the top fifty. My situation is somewhat similar to yours. I was once an ordinary loose cultivator. Later, I entered the ruins of an ancient cultivator and consumed a miraculous spiritual medicine, which dramatically increased my cultivation. Unfortunately, that medicine was exhausted at the time. Otherwise, I would not have need to ask you."

  "When I saw you in Moonwatch Immortal City, I took notice because, with your poor aptitude, you had still reached the sixth layer of Qi Refining at such a young age. I suspected you might also have encountered some fortune. Rest assured, I am not an unreasonable man. If you possess such a spiritual medicine and offer it to me, I will certainly not treat you poorly. I will accept you as my disciple, granting you every convenience in your dealings within the Azure Lotus Peak area. If you encounter any difficulties in your cultivation, you may also come to me for guidance. What do you say?"