"What's the matter?" Shuro asked.

"John's disciple Leonard was found dead in a cave dwelling of an immortal family. The immortals from Solitary Moon Mountain came asking about this incident. John denied it and apparently, the immortals were very displeased. The Lord of the Mansion took the opportunity to request selecting talents from the secondary mansion to participate in the selection at York Old Lady's birthday feast along with John and other talented youths from the major families. The immortals agreed."

Faithe gave a soft sigh, "If a talent like John's could also emerge from my secondary mansion, then there would be a 90% chance of escaping this calamity."

Upon hearing this, Shuro was slightly disappointed.

The South Desolation River Lord's mansion was originally set up by him to frame John and sow discord between him and the Gu Yue immortals. From Faithe's words, it seemed the immortals were only slightly displeased and did not investigate further.

A fiery gaze shot over. Shuro looked up to see Faithe staring straight at him, her expression exceptionally vivid.

"Previously I was still worried there would be no moldable talent found in the third generation of my mansion. Now I have absolutely no worries because there is you!"

In high spirits, Faithe embraced Shuro again, completely forgetting that her ample, erect and elastic bosom was sheer torture to a virile youth.

"Little Chuan, if you can be selected by the immortals, it would be a grand opportunity for you and also the destiny of my mansion. I knew from the beginning your father was hiding a big secret, it seems he left that secret for you, and that's how this opportunity came about."

A secret left behind by Father? Could it be that copper coin he rescued from the Nine-Dragon Sovereign?

Shuro understood. No wonder Faithe was not surprised by his cultivation advancement. Speaking of which, that copper coin contained the arcane talisman from the Tynche continent, how did he obtain it?

Shuro did not think deeply about it. His attention returned to the present.

"To participate in the immortal selection at the birthday feast..."

All along, his plan was to deal with the crisis and avenge himself through Blanche. But he had forgotten, behind John stood the immortals, York Old Lady, and the entire main mansion. It would be very difficult to overturn John relying only on Blanche.

Since that was the case, why not defeat him fair and square in front of everyone at the feast?

All under heaven, strength is supreme.

By then, he could also rescue Blanche. No matter how much John argued, he would not be able to defend himself.

"Although the three chosen talents of Solitary Moon Mountain are all at the Great Spiritual Realm, and you are only at the Small Spiritual Realm, you are after all just fifteen. Such aptitude is definitely enough to catch the immortals' eyes. " Faithe spoke more excitedly as she pressed Shuro tightly to her abundantly curved chest, completely disregarding Shuro's blushing embarrassment: "You should know, that Solitary Moon Mountain is stimulated because of Marco."

"Auntie, let go of me first."

Only then did Faithe realize her lapse in propriety due to excitement. Her face flushed as she hurriedly released her hold.

"Marco? The Tera legend? What happened to him?" Shuro took a deep breath and asked steadily without looking aside.

"You only know he is the Tera legend, but don't know how unlucky he was these past few years." Faithe's interest rose as she unreservedly told Shuro: "I only found out today that in the years Marco disappeared, he was constantly searching for immortals and the Way around Tera. You probably cannot imagine that the unworldly genius Marco was actually rejected from every immortal sect and clan because his talents were insufficient."

"Then what happened?" Shuro asked.

"Then..." Faithe's expression was filled with admiration and envy: "Just today, he condensed Primal Energy in Caelius Capital. You should know, in the alchemical and martial path, at most one can reach the Realm of the Unbound. Only when innate qi becomes liquid and Primal Energy is condensed can one possibly embark on the immortal path and break through the Realm of the Unbound."

It seems Marco finally took his advice.

Shuro understood why Faithe was not surprised by his own cultivation advancement. He asked again, "How is Marco condensing Primal Energy related to provoking Solitary Moon Mountain immortals?"

"After Marco left the society, the first immortal sect he went to was Solitary Moon Mountain. I happened to overhear when the Lord of the Mansion spoke with York Old Lady. It's said Marco waited three days and nights outside Solitary Moon Mountain's gates before they finally sent someone out who directly rejected Marco on the spot, and spread the word that Marco's talents were insufficient. You can imagine what happened when Solitary Moon Mountain immortals personally went to visit Marco just now. How would the proud Tera legend choose Solitary Moon Mountain after being humiliated by them back then?"

As Faithe spoke, her expression was complex, showing admiration, regret, and a hint of sadness.

"Solitary Moon Mountain lost face when rejected by Marco, they will definitely try to find a talent to match the Tera legend." Deeply glancing at Shuro, a trace of slyness flashed through Faithe's eyes: "Yesterday morning when I came to see you, I happened to see Pang Guan sneaking into the back garden. I found it strange and originally wanted to investigate Pang Guan, but didn't see him appear again after that night."

"I never imagined you actually killed Pang Guan. A fifteen-year-old at the Small Spiritual Realm defeating opponents at the same level, and just now forcing me, your auntie, to be completely helpless. You really hid yourself deeply."

"Auntie praises too much." Shuro saw Faithe about to embrace him again in excitement and hurriedly dodged.

"But I'll have to trouble you to endure a few more days." Faithe's face reddened as she coughed and said, "To avoid John becoming wary, this trump card of yours will have to wait until the final moment to reveal itself. A few days before the feast starts, I will arrange for someone to secretly bring you into the main mansion to participate."

"Auntie has thought it through thoroughly."

After discussing matters of the feast with Faithe, Shuro saw her off. Through the iron window, Shuro saw Lewis sitting in meditation under the withered tree, but no sign of Lee.

"That guy Lee, he's so slow even when asked to do simple tasks."

"My demonic compassion... comprehending this nameless martial art, could it be related to my state of mind at the time?"

Shuro had already vaguely understood something from the nameless martial art, with philosophical meaning contained in the first technique, but as feelings of warmth rose in Shuro when Faithe's identity was exposed, his comprehension also ceased.

"Even an unparalleled beauty like the Nine-Dragon Sovereign spent ten days and nights before enlightening the first move of the twelve arcane techniques of the Heavenly Sword. I gained something on the first day, what more do I have to ask for."

Shuro was able to take things philosophically. Sitting cross-legged, he circulated his inner qi and continued expanding his Destiny.

Yet Shuro did not know that not long after Faithe left the secondary mansion, she was being watched.

At night, the water-like hue, on a street corner outside the secondary mansion's eighteen li alley, two silhouettes stood.

"Among the secondary mansion, she is the most suspicious with the strangest movements, and only she has this kind of boldness. It appears the deaths of those two fools Pang Guan and Leonard are not unrelated to our young miss."

The youth was dressed in snowy white robes, his face like the full moon, brows like star swords, graceful and carefree, the very image of a handsome gentleman.

"Thanks to the Third Young Master's ingenious planning finding this clue, otherwise we really would have been fooled by Faithe."

The short elderly man at the side chimed in. His eyes faintly flashed with electricity, shockingly at the half-step Realm of the Unbound. When standing next to John, he was stooped and fawning, the very image of a servant.

"But there are some points I still don't understand. First, how did she find out about the River Lord's cave dwelling? Second, her expertise lies in thunder spells, yet Leonard was killed by water art. Third, even if she killed all my disciples, how would that change anything? She is not some brainless busty woman."

John spoke gently, his brows relaxed, exuding the very air of a humble gentleman.

"Everything is under the young master's control. In this old slave's opinion, Faithe is also desperately taking chances." The old man flattered.

"Let's not make absolute statements." John smiled and waved his hand, a trace of vigilance flashed through his tranquil eyes: "At the very least, the emergence of that Marco exceeded my control. But it can't be helped, who would have thought Marco's destiny could defy the heavens to this extent, with all the immortals of the South claiming he has no affinity with the immortal path, yet he stubbornly carved out his own immortal opportunity! A figure of this level truly lives up to being the Tera legend... my rival."

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"But I heard the reason Marco was able to comprehend the immortal opportunity was due to guidance from someone claiming to be Master Chuan."

"Do you really believe that?" John glanced at the old man, and a trace of disdain flashed by as he smiled, "Leo, you underestimate Marco's intelligence too much. Being able to become the Tera legend, how can he be reckless and bold? If the southern immortals knew Marco relied solely on himself to break through their prophecy, they would definitely lose face. But with the addition of a mysterious Master Chuan guiding him, it would look much better."

"The young master sees far." Leo marveled, this was not the first time he had heard the term "South", but each time still couldn't help secretly admiring how the worldly knowledge of his young master exceeded mundane people.

"Now that a Marco has emerged, the immortal sects of the South will surely be unable to sit still. Although Solitary Moon Mountain is also an immortal sect, in the end, it is only a sect in my Tera region, and Tera itself is but a small nation in the South. If even more powerful immortals can be drawn here, it would be an opportunity not just for Marco, but for myself as well."

As he spoke, a flicker of faint electricity flashed through John's long narrow eyes, causing the old man to feel shock in his heart.

Others all thought the Third Young Master was only at the Great Spiritual Realm. Only a scant few knew that the Third Young Master had just broken through to the half-step Realm of the Unbound two months ago. Reaching Small Spiritual Realm at seventeen, Great Spiritual Realm at twenty, and half-step Realm of the Unbound at twenty-five. This kind of monstrous cultivation speed, while not comparable to the Tera legend Marco, was still quite close.

In Leo's eyes, relying on the Third Young Master's own cultivation level, plus the assistance of Solitary Moon Mountain immortals, subduing the secondary mansion before he entered the immortal sect was practically guaranteed, without any suspense at all.

This was an inescapable predicament without any rivals or contingencies.

Yet the Third Young Master was still so prudent, causing Leo to admire him profoundly.

"Young Master, how shall we deal with this Faithe?" His gaze fell upon that tall and graceful figure, and Leo felt a heat in his lower abdomen. He couldn't help licking his lips.

"Capture her first." John's gaze fluctuated unpredictably as he coldly laughed, "I still have many questions to ask our young miss."

"Remember to take her alive and keep her safe."

"Yes!" Leo was somewhat disappointed but did not dare defy the Third Young Master's order. In a flash, he disappeared around the street corner.

When Lee arrived at the Green Pear Convent, snowflakes were drifting down from the sky.

The moonlit night was cold. Before the convent, kneeled densely packed pilgrims seeking immortality. Among them were old men in their seventies and eighties, children with hair buns, raggedly dressed poor folk, and richly clothed wealthy people. There were even some martial artists with swords on their backs.

A quick count showed over a thousand people gathered before the convent, silently kneeling as if in an eerie fox spirit legend.

Standing outside the vast crowd, Lee stared fixedly at the round pear wood gate of the convent, breathing heavily.

After leaving the River Lord's cave dwelling in the day, Shuro had told Lee to buy some strange items in the southern market when he first returned to the secondary mansion. Lee followed Shuro's instructions and bought those items in the southern market. On the way back to the secondary mansion, Lee fell deep in thought.

The few stalks of herbs in his arms were translucent and crystalline, with a pleasant and not cloying fragrance that invigorated the spirit upon smelling them. Undoubtedly, they were immortal herbs not of the mundane world, gathered from the River Lord's cave dwelling. Yet Shuro's evaluation of these herbs was merely "passable". Lee secretly sneered, clearly, Shuro did not recognize these immortal herbs and was afraid of losing face before him, so pretended to be profound and unfathomable.

That entire journey took over half a day. By the time the secondary mansion was half a street away, Lee finally made up his mind.

His original reason for relying on Shuro was to get close to the immortals and have them restore his cultivation. Now with immortal herbs from the River Lord's cave dwelling in hand, they were on the path to advancement. What need was there to continue staying by Shuro's side when the latter was but an outer disciple of the immortals?

Glancing at the crowd, Lee coldly sneered and swaggered up to the convent's gates, forcefully pulling on the crimson cord below the old pear tree.

Dang!

The bell rang and the Tera Dynasty pilgrims seeking immortality before the Green Pear Convent universally lifted their heads, looking at Lee in shock and bewilderment.

Dang!

Dang!

After three rings, the convent's great gates slowly creaked open a sliver.

A young Daoist dressed in white yawned loudly, rubbing his eyes as he stuck his head out of the crack to look at Lee. His gaze instantly transformed, aloof and disdainful, full of coldness.

"How bold! A vulgar mortal actually dares disturb the immortals' cultivation!"

That shout from the young Daoist was like the roar of a tiger, containing almost Great Core Realm power.

Lee was secretly shocked. The previously dazed crowd before the convent also instantly sobered up.

In a flash, scolding voices rang out from the crowd, all cursing Lee for lacking propriety and disturbing the immortals. People strained their voices yelling vigorously, fantasizing the immortals inside the convent would hear and take pity, guiding them onto the immortal path.

Hearing the curses and scolding from thousands of people, Lee was unmoved, the corners of his lips curving up arrogantly.

The young Daoist observed Lee's strange appearance and then saw his nonchalant reaction. He softly exclaimed in his heart, realizing this person was not simple.

Before he knew it, Lee's face was full of fawning smiles, blossoming like an old chrysanthemum. He repeatedly nodded and bowed obsequiously, flattering: "Immortal child do not blame me! I did not intend to disturb the immortals' cultivation! It is only that I have an important matter to seek an audience with the honored immortals!"

The Daoist child froze, his expression turning ugly. He glared fiercely at Lee and was about to close the gates.

A strange and extraordinary fragrance drifted over. The Daoist child only felt the fragrance rapidly infuse his body, like a gentle stream moistening his five organs and six entrails.

The Daoist child slowly turned his head, his gaze falling upon the translucent crystalline stems and leaves in Lee's hands. His neck gradually flushed red and he pointed at the stems and leaves, voice trembling: "This... this is an immortal herb?"

"Indeed." Lee straightened his back and handed over half a stem leaf to the Daoist child, profoundly smiling: "This little one is willing to present immortal herbs simply for the sake of seeing the honored immortals' faces."

The Daoist child stared fixedly at the aromatic stem leaves in his palm. He looked complicatedly at Lee: "Wait here."

Having said so, the Daoist child shut the gates and rushed into the convent.

The scolding stopped and a buzz of discussion sounded outside the Green Pear Convent. The crowd looked at Lee with eyes full of envy and respect. Lee temporarily had the feeling of blissfully soaring into the clouds.

"Shuro, oh Shuro, you really fail to see a diamond in the rough! Calling such immortal herbs merely passable. If you could set aside your pride and personally present these immortal herbs to the immortals backing you, your future prospects would undoubtedly be limitless! What a pity, what a pity, still too young in the end!"

Lee narrowed his eyes smugly. Though he spoke as such, his heart was bleeding. These were immortal herbs, after all, the legendary flesh mending and bringing dead men back to life immortal herbs. He was about to use them to curry favor from the immortals, and moreover, he was uncertain whether the immortals could cure his strange injury to restore his cultivation.

"Fox Magistrate?"

A low exclamation of uncertainty sounded from the crowd.

Not only had Lee's cultivation dropped to the Great Core Realm from his opponent's strike, his appearance had also become freakish - his neck was three inches longer than an ordinary person's, his cheekbones highly protruded, his cheeks were gaunt, yet his body was very bloated with a large belly and thick waist, looking just like a laughable fat crane.

Glancing to the side, Lee loftily nodded. Although his looks had changed, those familiar with him in the past could still vaguely recognize him. Having immortal herbs to rely on, Lee no longer needed to keep sneaking around either.

"He's really the Fox Magistrate who awed the martial world across the two lakes over ten years ago?"

"That's right. Back then on the grand Tera martial arts leaderboard, although below the half-step Realm of the Unbound, he was ranked in the top ten for a time."

"What happened today then? First the Tera legend, then Fox Magistrate, Tera's hidden world martial arts masters from years past are surprisingly all appearing in Caelius Capital."

The intermittent discussions from several martial artists entered his ears. Lee was secretly smug.

"Fox Magistrate also somehow obtained immortal herbs, truly enviable!"

"But the most enviable still belongs to the Tera legend."

"Do you all know, Marcio had previously sought the Way and asked the immortals for guidance, and was once rejected from the sect gates." Although his talents are unparalleled, all the immortal sects unanimously judged he has no fate with the immortal path in this life. The supreme genius Marcio must have been greatly setback then."

"Otherwise, how could he be called the Tera legend."

Lee listened hazily, only understanding one thing - the conclusion reached by all the immortal sects was the same as what Shuro had said before, the Tera legend Marcio could no longer make any more progress in this life.

That brat Shuro had actually guessed right, no wonder he nearly fooled Marcio.

Lee was secretly shocked.

Footsteps sounded from the convent, drawing nearer from afar.

Lee's heartbeat quickened, his expression continuously changing. With immortal herbs from the South Desolation River Lord's abode, plus the "flattering horse stance" he had cultivated over the years, as long as he could curry enough favor with the immortals, perhaps he could not only restore his cultivation but even take a step further to accomplish what even the Tera legend Marcio hadn't - set foot onto the immortal path.

At this time, the sighing voices of several martial artists drifted over again.

"I wonder which eminent figure this Master Chuan is, to actually break through the immortals' prophecy!"

"Although a legend, without Master Chuan's guidance, I'm afraid the Tera legend would have difficulty continuing his legend."

"With just some words of guidance, he allowed Marcio to condense Primal Energy and embark on the immortal path. I heard this Master Chuan is a figure from Caelius Capital, truly living up to the saying, the greatest hermit hides in the marketplace!"

"Master Chuan guided to immortality with a single word. The winds of Caelius Capital will likely change."

In the cold winter, large beads of sweat actually rolled down Lee's forehead!

Master Chuan... could they be talking about... Shuro?

Standing rigidly at the convent gates, Lee's lips turned blue and trembled slightly. Scenes from the River Lord's cave dwelling continuously flashed through his mind.

"To change fate, you must first shatter the qi core."

The youth had said thus in the lightless River Lord's cave dwelling.

Marco did not believe him, and Lee believed him even less. Although Lee admitted before that Shuro's "lecture" had once enthralled him, the moment Shuro spoke his last sentence, Lee immediately sobered up.

This Shuro is a huge swindler!

Shatter the qi core? How is that possible? Once the qi core shatters, cultivation is ruined!

The footsteps from the convent grew increasingly close, yet Lee was like he had just crawled out of Rouge River, drenched all over in sweat. His legs shook like sieves, his complexion continuously changing.

A face surfaced in his mind.

What kind of face was it? One part is nonchalant and breezy, seven parts arrogant and unyielding. When wisdom showed through his eyes, it was as if holding the ultimate principles of heaven, earth, and myriads of things, yet also slightly more bewitching, like an old demon who had experienced thousands of years occasionally descending into the mortal world, playing around in the red dust.

How could a fifteen-year-old youth suddenly possess such a temperament? Even if he was an immortal sect disciple it would be impossible! From this perspective, how could he possibly be a common outer sect disciple?

Master Chuan who guided me to immortality with a single word... guided to immortality with a single word... instead of relying on the nearby Master Chuan, I ran over here with immortal herbs... I really am a dumbass!

Lee trembled. He felt every pore on his body happily about to explode, suddenly moved to tears with the urge to roar towards the sky.

The footsteps from within the convent were right before him, yet Lee did not hesitate to jump off the stairs. Under the dazed gazes of over a thousand pilgrims, he turned and fled into the night, swaying like a fat goose.

When Lee returned to the York family's secondary mansion, the long night was coming to an end and the snowless sky was lemon green.

Carefully walking into the backyard, Lee saw a scene that caused his eyeballs to protrude in shock.

A youth around seventeen or eighteen sat cross-legged. His body was as hard as cast iron, rugged and angular, emitting a glossy black luster. Dense black qi surged out of his Baihui acupoint atop his head, swaying like snakes, frightening to behold.

Lewis?How did he become like this?

Lee was frightened out of his wits.

He sensed an unfamiliar aura from Lewis, as well as power far exceeding Lewis's former Small Core Realm cultivation.

Great Core Realm?

Lee's back shivered.

Although Lewis had the great returning pellet obtained from Pang Guan, he still required forty-nine days to dissolve the cultivation base. Yet only one day had passed and he already broke through to Great Core Realm?

"The red sun will soon rise, Yin and Yang alternating! Lewis, visualize heaven and earth, generate thoughts, transform into the black flood dragon coiled under the bottomless abyss with ten thousand Zhang tall mountains on its back at the dark depths, go swallow the first ray of dawn!"

A familiar voice sounded. Lee was horrified, only now discovering Shuro standing under that withered tree in the yard. He had stood there for a long time, snowflakes covering his shoulders. If not for speaking out, perhaps Lee would not have noticed him.

His cultivation improved again!

Staring at Shuro's silhouette, Lee swallowed his saliva. After all, he himself was once a first-class expert at the Great Spiritual Realm. That day at the River Lord's cave dwelling, he could still perceive Shuro's level to be between the Small and Great Spiritual Realm.

Yet now, the feeling Shuro gave Lee had suddenly become illusory and intangible, blurry, as if he could not be noticed if not deliberately sensing. This could only mean that although Shuro did not break through his realm overnight, his cultivation had once more risen, already comparable to the Great Spiritual Realm!