Adam's breathtaking dance with nature finally came to an end.

His feet came to a halt, and his breathing turned slightly uneven. Resting his hands on his hips, he took a deep breath and sighed.

That… that was great! He thought happily.

For a brief moment, his ears started ringing. He frowned when he realized that the ravings of the Faceless Mask didn't affect him. But soon, they enveloped his shattered mind.

Stroking his chin, he thought to himself:

So a trance-like state can drive away the whispers of the Laughing God, eh? Well, it is not entirely unexpected…

The Way is superior to even a God!

The leaves of the plum blossom tree rustled, sounding like a distant melody in the air. The wind picked up, turning chilly.

Adam raised his head towards the twin moons and smiled.

It's already nighttime. I've been training for more than twelve hours straight, huh. Time flies quickly when you're deeply engrossed in an activity.

Suddenly, he frowned. His Sphere of Resonance picked up a faint ripple. It was extremely minute, but it was there.

The youth abruptly turned his head, facing the steep cliff that was overlooking this clearing.

"Auhh?" He frowned.

I was sure I felt a presence there…

Or am I just being too paranoid? He wondered, perplexed.

"Auhh." He shrugged, then turned to leave.

His absence must have sent Elder Zhen Ren into a state of panic. Adam planned to visit him and make up some random excuse by saying "auhh" repeatedly. Just thinking about it made him chuckle.

That Elder… he's not a bad guy, he thought to himself.

Just as he turned around, Adam noticed a figure standing right in front of him.

Every fiber of his being tensed up in the split second. His heart sank, and his back was drenched in a layer of cold sweat. Adam hadn't even sensed this person's arrival, yet there he was… standing just a meter away from him.

Im-Impossible! He thought, alarmed.

His body acted on instinct and he quickly jumped back, retreating to a safe distance. Still, he couldn't stop his heart from pounding in shock and nervousness.

Adam gulped involuntarily as he gazed at the elderly figure standing before him.

The man's aura felt like a boundless ocean. It seemed unfathomable. It was as if he was one with nature. Adam had never felt an aura so vast and deep. This was a Mana Core Magus, yes. But it was also the most powerful Mana Core Magus he had ever come across!

The elderly man had medium-length white hair tied into a topknot. His posture was straight and firm, like a sword. He was tall and had broad-shouldered. Though there were wrinkles on his face, the man radiated a strong aura of vitality.

He wore simple white robes and didn't even wear slippers, appearing at first glance like any ordinary mortal. But anyone who understood true strength would see something far greater…

They would see a towering figure with a presence so vast and awe-inspiring that it compelled reverence!

Adam couldn't stop his figure from trembling. By now, he was already drenched in sweat. He was utterly paralyzed.

The youth had faced off against Mana Core Magi before, but he'd never felt this way. Neither Headmaster Blackwood nor Marden Benton radiated such a deep aura for their levels.

Seeing Adam's reaction, the elderly man's eyes narrowed ever so slightly. His lips parted, and he calmly said:

"So you can see it."

The stronger a person was, the clearer their eyes became to the strength of others.

Power recognized power.

Those who have walked the path could sense the weight of another man's aura, the depth of their will, and the sharpness hidden beneath calm faces.

To the weak, all seemed alike.

But to the strong… every heartbeat revealed a measure of truth.

Adam was so overwhelmed by the man's presence that he almost spoke in Acaros. He bit his tongue hard, trying to compose himself. As pain flooded his mind and the coppery taste of blood enveloped his mouth, he slowly gathered himself.

He took deep breaths, then slowly stood straight.

Then, he cupped his hands—just like he'd seen the local Magi do—and greeted the elderly man before him:

"Auhh!"

The elderly man intently looked at Adam, then murmured, "I see. You are blind and also a mute. No wonder your other senses are so sharp."

"Auhh," Adam muttered, utterly confused.

He couldn't understand a single thing these people said, so all he could say was "auhh".

"A pity," the elderly man murmured. "I would have liked to discuss the Way with you."

The Way? That was the only word Adam picked up on.

But before he could think further, the elderly man in front of him had vanished.

Just like that…

Adam remained standing inside the clearing, thinking to himself in awe, That was pure physical speed!

I didn't see him cast any hand seals.

A gust of wind blew by, causing the hems of Adam's robes to gently flutter.

My hypothesis about the Magi of Yen-Lu is very likely to be true, he thought to himself.

Recalling his battle with the hundred Magi near Ichigane Town, as well as his brief interaction with this powerhouse, who was very likely the Sect Leader of the Baihua Sect, Adam became more and more certain about his theory.

But I need to observe more to confirm it, he thought.

He soon left the clearing, making his way to the guest quarters. Whistling a merry tune, he wondered:

I wonder how things will unfold now. This old man is definitely going to question Elder Zhen Ren about my presence in the sect.

Hah, looks like I'll be thrown out earlier than I thought. I would have loved to explore more of the Baihua Sect.

But, oh well, at least now I can resume my journey.

***

The Heavenly Pavilion stood at the peak of Baihua Sect, overlooking the entire mountain.

Built of pale jade and sandalwood, it served as both the Sect Master's residence and the sect's seat of power, where major matters were decided.

At the far end of the grand hall, seated on a raised dais, the Sect Master of the Baihua Sect, Bai Tianji, glanced at the elderly man kneeling before him.

The elderly man was none other than Elder Zhen Ren, who had just been summoned to the Heavenly Pavilion.

Bai Tianji's lips parted, his calm voice resounding like distant thunder in Elder Zhen Ren's ears:

"Explain yourself, Zhen Ren. For what reason have you brought a stranger into our home?"

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