’System, is it possible to enter the dungeon now?’
[Yes it is.]
’Will I need a portal? How fast will it take for to get into the dungeon?’
[No portal need. The teleportation is instantaneous.]
’Perfect, since it’s like that, I might as well probe things out...’ Leon sighed inwardly.
’I was already thinking of getting stronger quickly. And since killing monsters gives strength, then why are you telling just now that I can enter a dungeon?’
The system should have inford him of its features earlier, but now wasn’t the ti to scold it...
The system itself was remorseful. It had been overwheld with the joy of reunion with its master that it forgot all about his goals.
[Sorry Leon, I’m the one at fault.]
Hearing that, Leon sighed.
With no ti to waste, he slipped inside the store. The interior looked as polished and enchanting as ever, filled with a faint herbal scent that lingered even at night. He quickly brought out his torchlight and headed straight to the surveillance cara. He already knew its location.
The cara was placed in a ridiculously discreet position—unnatural even. A spot no one would look twice at. It was even smaller than most spy cams, barely two inches in diater, blending into the decor like it belonged there.
If he hadn’t researched the place beforehand, he never would have known it was there at all.
Without hesitation, he stuck a piece of black tape over the lens, blocking its view entirely. Then, with barely a mont to breathe, he headed straight for the shelf where the pill was kept.
He didn’t need anything else. He only needed that one item. The Alchemy Pill.
He could feel his gut tightening. That uneasy feeling was growing stronger with each passing second—louder, sharper, clearer. His instincts were screaming.
Run.
All he wanted now was to snatch the pill and dash back through the open window. No hesitation.
But even as he moved, his mind was swarming with doubt.
’Why is this place so quiet? Like...no one’s here? Is it really empty? Did soone tip her off? How did she know?’
’Maybe I’m just overthinking all of this...’
The thoughts spun wildly through his head. He knew better than anyone not to underestimate Cultivators. With Qi, they could do almost anything.
They could shield sound so not even a whisper could escape. They could create illusions, form constructs tied to their affinities—fire, ice, void, lightning, earth, and more.
To mortals, Cultivators were walking gods.
He kept that thought close as he reached the shelf, swiped the small white jade bottle containing the pill—and turned to run.
Or rather, tried to.
Whoosh!
The sharp sound of sothing slicing through air hit his ears, and before he could blink, a hand slamd down onto his shoulder like an iron vice.
His body locked up. His breath caught in his throat.
"Hmm... a Mortal?" ca a cold, dismissive voice from behind.
Panic hit him like a wave. That voice carried no warmth, no pity—only superiority and a glint of malice.
A sinister aura spilled out from the man’s body, wrapping around Leon like a noose. He could feel it trying to probe him, scanning him for details. Within seconds, the Cultivator had confird it: Leon had no dantian. No ridians. No cultivation base. Just a plain, weak mortal.
No matter how hard he struggled, he couldn’t break free. The man’s grip was unyielding, rciless—like an apex predator gripping its prey.
[Should I teleport you now?] the system asked.
’Not yet... It’ll be bad to vanish without getting more info. I need to understand my enemies before coming back. The more I know, the better...’
After replying, Leon forced his mind into analysis mode, studying everything. The man holding him wasn’t an ordinary Cultivator—he had broken through the 7th Stage of Body Cultivation and entered the Qi Realm. Judging by his aura, he was probably at the late stage of Qi Absorption.
’Why... why go this far for ? Why such preparation?’ Leon thought furiously. ’Wait—could it be... that day! The fight! Did she see beat those gang mbers?’
That must have confird her suspicion, combined with the way he looked at the pill. But that alone wasn’t enough. It had to be sothing more. She must have a treasure, a rare one that could see fragnts of the future or intentions.
Even now, caught in the act, the idea of such a treasure made Leon’s eyes flash with greedy curiosity. Rare items always ca with great power. And this one—this one would be worth dying for.
Strangely, they hadn’t removed his mask. His face and hair were still well-hidden.
They should be unmasking him. That would be logical. But instead, they were talking—discussing sothing that could wait until after they confird his identity.
He glanced at each of them.
Four n and one woman.
He was sure the woman was Miss Alex.
One of the n stood out—1.85 ters tall, tall even by regular standards. Leon’s instincts shrieked when he looked at him. There was sothing deeply wrong about this one. His aura wasn’t just strong—it was wrong.
A swirling storm of chaos, devouring energy, and nace seed to twist around him. His presence made Leon feel like he was standing at the edge of a black hole. He didn’t know what affinity that was—but it wasn’t natural. It was far more dangerous than anything like water or earth.
His mind raced. Since this whole operation started, his intuition had been flaring up constantly. Right now, he even had a slight headache from all the warnings.
Still, he was grateful. That intuition might just save his life.
The one gripping him finally moved and dragged him outside. The group followed, their discussion continuing like he was luggage.
"I thought you said the thief was at the Qi Refining Realm. You made co here... all for a petty mortal trying to steal a pill from a Cultivator’s store?"
"It was supposed to be him," Alex replied tightly, her brows furrowed. ’My treasure, Senohe, has never been wrong before. Sothing’s not right.’
"You dare try to deceive us?" one of the n barked at her.
"I’m sorry. You can leave now—just tie him and leave him there."
"Hmph." The one holding Leon snorted and dropped him like trash. He began tying him up. If he hadn’t been paid for the job, he might’ve killed Leon out of sheer irritation.
’This is a disgrace. Calling a high Cultivator to catch a mortal thief. Only a fool would do that.’
anwhile, the tall, silent man hadn’t said a word the whole ti.
And that silence... that was what scared Leon the most.
He was watching. Listening. asuring.
Even Miss Alex didn’t carry the sa sense of dread.
’Just say sothing, damn it... Anything,’ Leon thought, his heartbeat pounding in his ears. The loudmouths weren’t a problem—but that man...
That man was a problem. Even Alex wasn’t threatening to Leon.
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