"I heard there are ancient ruins deep within the Black Forest Mountains in the south," Althea said, her gaze steady with unshaken resolve, "It is suspected that these were left behind by cultivators of the Mahayana Realm. I have decided to go see for the ancient ruins myself."
Originally, she had planned to invite Ethan, but after much contemplation, she decided against it.
She suspected that Ethan, with his own unique affinities and preferences, might not find the relics and treasures of Mahayana cultivators particularly compelling. More importantly, the journey promised peril, and she wished to spare him unnecessary risks.
"Ancient ruins... Are you sure, Senior Sister Althea?" Ethan asked, a flicker of concern crossing his face.
"I’m reasonably sure," Althea replied after a mont’s thought.
"Though, it’s impossible to be certain."
Ruins and secret realms were notorious forbidden zones for cultivators, brimming with deadly traps, fearso beasts, and inscrutable energies. The lure of treasures and resources was often matched only by the peril faced by those who dared enter.
Only a handful ever erged alive, bearing relics and treasures to enrich their sects.
Despite the grave dangers, Althea remained unwavering. After all, in cultivation, treasures and progress were inseparable from risk and challenge.
No cultivator who entered such realms could ever claim the certainty of safe return.
Althea’s visit had more in it than casual conversation; it was a veiled farewell.
"Senior sister, I want to give you sothing," Ethan said thoughtfully, retrieving the puppet he had acquired from Bram.
This wasn’t an ordinary puppet; fueled by enough spiritual stones and crystals, it could match the second turn of the Mahayana Realm in strength.
The creations of the Mahayana puppets, though not invincible, were unmatched salvation tools in dire straits.
"This is... the puppet I obtained from Bram," Ethan explained.
"No, this is far too precious!" Althea protested, shaking her head.
"Please, Senior Sister, accept it. I would be devastated if anything happened to you," Ethan pleaded earnestly.
Althea paused before accepting the gift, carefully tucking it away.
"Ethan, promise you’ll wait for to return," she said softly.
Strangely, she abandoned calling him "Junior Brother," opting instead to use his na.
"Of course," Ethan replied with a nod.
After she left, Ethan found himself walking toward Serene Mirror Lake.
There, Elias was practicing his martial arts near the water’s edge.
"Huh? Are you just breaking into the Blood Removal Realm?" Ethan mused.
With Elias’s talent and the elixirs and body tempering fluids Ethan had given him, he should have reached at least Bone Refining Realm by now.
"Could it be his spirit body is unawakened, or perhaps his understanding is lacking?" he wondered.
Approaching Elias, Ethan watched as the young man punched a piece of bluestone, muffled thuds marking each blow.
Ethan frowned.
The sounds indicated his internal strength was increasing — two levels of inner strength cultivated in a brief three months with the martial arts.
His progress was decent.
But still, why was Elias only moving into the Blood Removal Realm?
Sothing about this didn’t make sense.
Elias stopped, wiping sweat from his brow, only to find Ethan standing silently behind him.
Seized by excitent, Elias hurriedly raised his hands and saluted.
"Disciple greets Master Ethan."
Ethan nodded. "Your two levels of internal strength developnt are good."
Elias’s heart soared at the praise.
"But!" Ethan’s next words brought a serious shift to the young man’s face.
"With your talent, and relying on the elixirs and body fluids I gave you, your essence and blood power shouldn’t be limited to this."
"Tell honestly—what troubles have you t in cultivation?"
Elias hesitated, head bowed, weighing his confessions.
"I’m sorry, Master Ethan. I fear I’ve disappointed your expectations. The resources and opportunities you’ve given ... they are of no use."
"No use?" Ethan’s voice was calm but probing.
"Where did they go?" he asked again.
"To be truthful, disciple exchanged those resources for dicinal elixirs to heal injuries and illnesses, then sent them ho."
"Sent them ho?"
"My mother has been bedridden for an entire year. The local doctors cannot help her. We had no funds to buy better dicines. I heard that joining a great sect would grant access to life-saving elixirs."
"That’s why I took the apprenticeship examination for the Azure Origin Dao Sect," Elias said quietly.
"Because of no spiritual roots but innate physical strength, I beca a handyman in the outer sect, then gradually progressed into the inner sect’s disciple ranks."
"Were it not for your precedent, Master Ethan, I never would have advanced so far. But receiving your teachings and gifts... I still have failed."
"Please punish ." Elias knelt, gripping his robe tightly.
Ethan considered the confession carefully.
So, this young man’s innocent heart was not this’s own ambition, but the desperate hope to save his mother.
Watching Ethan’s silence, Elias’s anxiety grew—his heart pounding like a drum. Had his path ended here?
"Get up," Ethan said softly, eyebrows raised.
Elias looked confused. "Uncle Ethan, aren’t you angry?"
"Why would I be?"
"All those pills, elixirs, and spiritual herbs are precious."
To Elias, yes — but to Ethan, they were re tools, not the true treasure.
Ethan laughed. "Don’t overthink it. I’m relieved."
"Elixirs are re externals things. You’ve found sothing far more valuable."
Though Elias didn’t fully grasp the aning, he was grateful for the reprieve.
"Take this." Ethan handed him a book titled, "Detailed Explanation of the Basics of Physical Cultivation."
"What is this, Uncle Ethan?" Elias asked.
"No need to ask. Study it well."
"Thank you, Uncle Ethan!" Elias bowed with profound respect.
"How is your mother?"
"She’s much improved," Elias replied.
Ethan nodded silently and left, hands clasped behind his back.
The book chronicled the first stage of body cultivation: skin refining, blood removal, bone refining, organ refining, steel and iron bones—five realms of critical progression illuminated by Ethan’s own insights.
To the watchers, this scene spoke volus.
A/N:
Extra Chapters
100 power stones - 1 Extra Chapters
200 power stones - 2 Extra Chapters
Capsule - 1 Extra Chapters
Massage Chair - 3 Extra Chapters
Luxury Car - 5 Extra Chapters
Magic Castle - 15 Extra Chapters
...
Thanks for the Massage Chair: @Sheng_i
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