"The blue treasure gourd!" Leo, arriving above the marketplace on his spirit crane, inwardly groaned. What ill-fated day was this, encountering one nemesis after another? Lowell had been a close call, but the hawk-nosed elder's sword formation had pushed him to his limits, nearly forcing him to reveal all his tricks before he narrowly won. Yet compared to the man before him now, those two weren't even fit to carry his shoes. The owner of that blue gourd artifact, the one who made Leo's heart race with fear, could only be the Foundation Establishment cultivator, Mist.
Thankfully, he was already above the Palace marketplace. If he had delayed killing the hawk-nosed elder and encountered Mist on the road, the consequences would have been disastrous. Against a Foundation Establishment cultivator, he wouldn't have even a chance to flee.
Mist, spotting Leo on the crane, first showed surprise, then shock, followed by a cold, sinister smile—his expression shifting rapidly.
Nearly seven years ago, he had suspected Leo was hiding something and sent Fin to watch him. Fin, however, had fancied himself clever with his petty schemes—until the Memory Stone laid them bare. Mist had dealt with him easily. After that lesson, he hadn't sent anyone else into the Black Water Stockade Mine. A year or two was one thing, but Leo had patience, staying in the mine for years. Mist had other matters and temporarily set aside the issue. Spending six or seven years on an ant hardly seemed worthwhile.
But Mist never expected that after nearly seven years, Leo, with his abysmal aptitude, could leap from the sixth layer to the peak of Qi Refining. Such terrifying speed he had only seen in the most gifted disciples, or the descendants of Golden Core elders.
"And he claims he has no miraculous medicine to boost cultivation! The cunning bastard. Leaving the mine and avoiding Azure Lotus Peak altogether, hiding in a marketplace inn—if that's not guilt, what is?"
Mist seethed. His son, too weak in the last minor competition, had failed to obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill. Now at only the twelfth layer, with the competition postponed, even if it weren't, securing a top-fifty spot was no easy task. Other cultivators didn't know of his grudge with Leo. If Leo had returned to Azure Lotus Peak, Mist would have found him long ago.
Seeing Leo land in the marketplace, Mist grimly descended.
You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.
"Master Mist!" Leo braced himself and bowed.
"When did you leave the Black Water Stockade Mine? And why haven't you returned to Azure Lotus Peak?" Mist's eyes narrowed.
"This junior needed spiritual herbs for pill refining and suitable spirit artifacts to prepare for the Bloody Battlefield. Good weapons and herbs are in high demand. To secure them, I had to remain in the marketplace." Leo had his answer ready.
"And your injuries?" Mist pressed.
Leo explained, "I heard of an auction at Pond Peak Town. On my way back, I encountered some bandit cultivators. A hard fight, but I escaped."
"I'm leaving now. I'll be back tomorrow noon. Come to Azure Lotus Peak then. I have matters to discuss." Mist, finding no flaw in Leo's story, could only temporarily let it go.
"That won't be possible right now. I'm injured and need to recuperate before entering the Bloody Battlefield. If I survive and return, I will pay my respects to Master Mist then."
Fin's death was suspicious. Leo didn't doubt Mist's involvement. Foundation cultivators' methods were beyond ordinary Qi Refining cultivators' comprehension. If he went to Azure Lotus Peak and Mist secretly used some trick, he might not even notice. Since Mist already suspected him and wouldn't let go, Leo hardened his heart and refused outright.
"What did you say?" Mist's face darkened. He hadn't expected such public defiance.
Passing cultivators noticed the tension, sweating for Leo. Publicly offending a Foundation master took nerve.
"I said I need to prepare for the Bloody Battlefield and tend my wounds. I have no time to visit Master Mist." This old fiend was shameless. He wanted to harm Leo, and Leo should just walk into his trap? Anger surged. Leo straightened, meeting Mist's gaze. No more groveling.
Gasps from the onlookers. They had never seen a Qi Refining disciple so boldly defy a Foundation senior.
Kael, who had come seeking Leo, hid in fear, lest Mist see him near Leo.
"Very well. Very well indeed." Mist was livid. An ant dared defy him?
"Master Mist, you have pushed me too far. I will not simply walk into your trap. You are a Foundation senior. I ask you to act with dignity."
Leo's words were hard as iron. Since it had come to this, he would make it public. He had decided: if he obtained Foundation Establishment Pill ingredients in the Bloody Battlefield, he would refine the pill quickly and become a Foundation cultivator himself. All problems solved. If not, he would leave the Palace immediately. Even as a loose cultivator, he'd be freer than under Mist's constant threat. He could try forming his foundation with the pill he had. If he failed, he could sneak back before the next minor competition.
"I have business now. When I return, you will learn the price of arrogance."
With the crowd growing, Mist had no choice but to storm off on his blue gourd, his retreat somewhat inglorious in others' eyes. That insolent brat! Looking back at the pointing, whispering cultivators, Mist nearly exploded with rage. He should have hunted Leo down in the mine and killed him then. Humiliated by a Qi Refining disciple—the story would spread. He would deal with his affairs and kill the boy, to soothe his fury.
No. The cunning Mist reconsidered. After today's public scene, his grudge with Leo would be common knowledge. If he acted too quickly, even without proof, suspicion would fall on him.
"Crafty brat. But you think publicly embarrassing me will save you? Dream on. My son will be entering the Bloody Battlefield. He'll kill you there."
Mist hadn't expected to be publicly defied and subtly outmaneuvered. His murderous intent burned hotter.
