"Master Mist's perception is as sharp as a torch. This junior has indeed encountered some fortune. However, what I obtained was nothing more than some spirit stones and a large quantity of Qi Refining stage pills. My current cultivation is entirely the result of relying on pills. I possess no miraculous medicine capable of advancing several layers in a short time. I'm afraid I must disappoint Master Mist."

  Leo spoke with a wry smile. Though his words were humble, inwardly he sneered. Back then, the black-robed old man had also accepted him as a disciple, but only as a tool to be used. No matter how powerful that old man was, without genuine willingness to teach, Leo had learned nothing of value. Moreover, the Palace of the Heavenly Apex had a Scripture Depository hall containing numerous cultivation techniques that could be purchased directly with spirit stones. There was no need to beg Mist for anything. And in truth, he did not possess any miraculous medicine that could rapidly increase cultivation—on this point, he was not lying.

  As for the mysterious space within his body, he would never breathe a word of it to anyone. Even a Golden Core master would covet such a thing, let alone a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator like the one before him.

  "Very well. I merely asked casually. Since you have none, then there is nothing more. You may go."

  Seeing that Leo's expression did not seem like that of a liar, Mist's initially amiable demeanor turned cold and stern. However, as a Foundation Establishment cultivator, he was not so lacking in dignity as to lay hands on Leo directly here on Azure Lotus Peak. So Mist simply dismissed him.

  "Yes, this junior takes his leave!" Leo withdrew from the cave dwelling and happened to catch Fin winking and grinning as he walked in. He must have received a sound transmission from Mist. As he made his way down the mountain path away from Azure Lotus Peak, Leo breathed a sigh of relief, but also felt a growing sense of urgency.

  He had no interest in the fact that this unscrupulous old man Mist had a son around thirteen years old. Reaching the eighth layer of Qi Refining at thirteen was, according to Mist's tone, apparently not even considered fast. Moreover, the scarcity of Foundation Establishment Pills was far greater than Leo had previously imagined. He had thought that as long as he could enter a major immortal sect, he would eventually have the opportunity to obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill.

  Now he realized that was completely wrong. Even a Foundation Establishment cultivator like Mist couldn't simply obtain one; his son had to earn a spot through the sect's quinquennial minor competition, and even then, only the top fifty qualified. Considering that the Palace of the Heavenly Apex had tens of thousands of Qi Refining disciples, among whom late-stage and Great Perfection cultivators were everywhere, the difficulty of ranking in the top fifty was immense.

  What's more, a significant portion of these disciples were descendants or direct disciples of Foundation Establishment cultivators. From childhood, they had received resources far beyond what ordinary loose cultivators could obtain—better pills, superior techniques, and personal guidance from Foundation Establishment masters. They were simply not comparable to self-taught loose cultivators like himself. And there were even a few descendants of Golden Core masters, whose foundations were even more formidable.

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  Now, only two paths lay before him. The sect's minor competition was a contest for Qi Refining disciples, held once every five years. The next one was in two years, and he definitely couldn't make it in time. At only the sixth layer of Qi Refining, even if he gulped down pills like beans, he couldn't advance to the Great Perfection in two years.

  Even if he had hidden cards to play, they would be seen through after a few rounds by these disciples with family backgrounds, who would quickly find ways to counter him. He would be eliminated after a few bouts. Whether in spells, cultivation level, or spirit artifacts, he held no advantage over them.

  However, the trip hadn't been entirely fruitless. At least he now knew about the Void Spirit Root. Although Mist had ulterior motives, his explanation of the Void Spirit Root seemed to fit Leo's situation. He would have to find some time to research ancient texts about it.

  Following Fin's earlier instructions, Leo descended Azure Lotus Peak, rented a spirit crane, and flew towards the bamboo mountain he had chosen. It was over a hundred miles from the main Azure Lotus Peak. Even by air, it was a distance. If traveling on the ground along the winding mountain paths, it would indeed be quite troublesome.

  Leo found a sunny hillside with good ventilation and prepared to carve out a small cave dwelling. But when he struck the ground hard with his short sword, he found he could only cut less than a foot deep. The hardness of the rock was astonishing.

  "Even the rocks on this mountain are a kind of spiritual material, so incredibly hard. At this rate, it would take months just to carve out a simple cave dwelling." Leo scratched his head and abandoned the idea. Spending months building a dwelling was time he couldn't afford to waste.

  Clang!

  When his short sword struck a verdant bamboo stalk, it produced a sound like metal striking metal. These spirit bamboos were also incredibly tough. Leo had to strike several times before he could cut one down.

  While Leo was busy constructing his dwelling, Fin emerged from Mist's cave dwelling full of questions. He couldn't quite figure out the relationship between Mist and Leo. Logically, a mere sixth-layer Qi Refining cultivator like Leo, probably the lowest of the low in the Palace of the Heavenly Apex, shouldn't even be on Mist's radar.

  Yet reality defied common sense. Mist had actually ordered him to keep a close watch on Leo's every move, to see if he did anything unusual.

  Could it be that Leo possessed some treasure that even a Foundation Establishment cultivator coveted? An involuntary flicker of greed flashed in Fin's eyes, but he quickly shook the dangerous thought from his mind. Competing with Mist? Only if he was tired of living. Thinking of the rewards Mist had promised him, Fin's heart burned with anticipation. If he handled this task well, he would have a powerful backer. Who would dare bully him within the Azure Lotus Peak domain then?

  Finally finished! Three days later, Leo looked with a sense of accomplishment at the small bamboo building before him.

  Screech! A sharp eagle cry rang out.

  Leo looked up. A large spirit eagle flapped its wings and descended, stopping about two stories above the ground. Fin leaped down, his face beaming with enthusiasm. "Junior Brother Leo, you live in such an out-of-the-way place! It took me quite some time to find you."

  Leo smiled faintly. "May I ask what advice Senior Brother Fin has to offer?"

  "It's like this. Master Mist is concerned that you are new to the Palace of the Heavenly Apex and might be unfamiliar with many things. He specifically instructed me to move here and stay with you, Junior Brother Leo. If you encounter any difficulties in the future, just come to me." Fin patted his chest, putting on a great show of loyalty, then added ingratiatingly, "It seems you have a close relationship with Master Mist. If your foolish senior brother ever runs into trouble, I hope Junior Brother Leo might put in a good word for me."

  Leo responded with a few polite words of agreement, then made an excuse about needing to refine pills and returned to his bamboo hut. Fin watched Leo's retreating figure and chuckled to himself. Although the spiritual energy here was sparse, with the pills Mist provided, his cultivation might actually progress faster than at his old dwelling. As for Leo's expression, it didn't seem like anything was amiss. But Fin didn't care; he secretly hoped the task Mist had assigned him would continue indefinitely.