The trial tower, floor 30. Xiao Fei was in a sorry state, his magic robe torn to shreds, his skin covered in numerous wounds.
He was facing a Swift Wind Leopard, a wind-attribute beast of extreme speed, almost appearing and disappearing at will.
The Swift Wind Leopard would suddenly charge at Xiao Fei, leaving a wound before retreating, while Xiao Fei was unable to land a single blow.
Even with his robust physique, he could only be defeated in such one-sided exchanges.
He had lost to this Swift Wind Leopard’s claws more than ten times in a row recently.
Facing such a high-speed opponent, his entanglement technique could be useful, but he couldn't bring external items into the trial tower.
With this thought, his consciousness attempted to connect with his space, and a seed of Iron Thorn appeared in his hand.
However, he shook his head and returned the Iron Thorn seed to his space.
He was currently honing his combat instincts, and cheating in such matters would be meaningless to him.
Just as he was putting the Iron Thorn seed back into his space, the Swift Wind Leopard reappeared beside him, its claw slashing towards his throat.
Xiao Fei did not dodge. He wrapped his arms around, finally managing to grip the Swift Wind Leopard’s neck.
This time, Xiao Fei broke the Swift Wind Leopard’s neck, and the leopard, before dying, also slit Xiao Fei’s throat.
Man and beast perished together, quickly dissolving into spiritual energy light points and disappearing without a trace.
In the first-floor hall, Xiao Fei turned around. The feeling of dying just moments ago was very real.
After so many battles, he had a significant weakness in his combat ability.
His body-refining combat style required him to be in close proximity, but his speed was insufficient. Even with immense power, it was useless if he couldn’t hit his opponent.
This deficiency could only be compensated for with long-range spells or artifacts during combat.
Of course, he could also seek a secret technique to increase his speed, or some artifacts that could boost his speed.
However, both were difficult to find. Xiao Fei had searched the library and the sect’s treasury but had not found anything suitable.
Lost in thought about how to enhance his strength, Xiao Fei unknowingly returned to his cave dwelling.
At the entrance of his cave dwelling, a young cultivator stood. Upon seeing Xiao Fei return, he quickly stepped forward and said enthusiastically.
“Senior Brother Xiao, we’ve finally been waiting for you!”
“May I ask what guidance Senior Brother has?”
Xiao Fei was bewildered, not knowing what this was about.
“Guidance is too much to ask. I am merely delivering a message. True Person Guang Ling has sent word, requiring your presence for an important matter.”
This made Xiao Fei even more confused. Apart from the alchemy competition and the award ceremony, he had not had much interaction with True Person Guang Ling.
Although he had won first place in the alchemy competition, compared to a Golden Core elder of the sect, he was like the earth compared to the sky.
Why would he be summoned without reason?
With a head full of questions, Xiao Fei followed the young cultivator to the mountain peak where True Person Guang Ling resided.
The sect did not have many Golden Core elders, and each could possess their own mountain peak.
True Person Guang Ling had named his mountain peak after himself, calling it Guang Ling Peak.
The entire Guang Ling Peak was enveloped by a grand formation, and outsiders could not enter without permission.
The two reached the foot of the mountain and were blocked by a luminous barrier of the formation. The young cultivator sent a communication talisman into the formation and then cupped his hands towards Xiao Fei.
“Senior Brother Xiao, my task of delivering the message is complete. I shall take my leave now.”
As the young man spoke, he turned and left!
Leaving Xiao Fei standing alone before the formation’s barrier.
After a long while, the barrier still showed no reaction. Xiao Fei even suspected if he had been pranked by the young man.
Just as he was contemplating whether to turn and leave, a gap of about ten feet opened in the formation’s barrier, and a woman walked out from within.
“Are you Xiao Fei?”
The woman was at the Foundation Establishment stage, her features cold yet beautiful, and she did not smile. Her divine sense scrutinized Xiao Fei from head to toe, putting significant psychological pressure on him.
“It is this disciple!”
Xiao Fei quickly bowed and cupped his hands in greeting.
“Follow me. My master wishes to see you!”
The cold and elegant woman ignored Xiao Fei’s greeting, merely dropping this sentence before turning and walking inside.
Xiao Fei did not know if this was good or bad, his heart filled with unease. He could only follow cautiously.
Observing her demeanor, he surmised that this cold and elegant woman was likely True Person Guang Ling’s disciple. Judging by her expression, it didn’t seem like good news.
However, if True Person Guang Ling intended to deal with him, there would be no need for such trouble; he could crush him with a single finger.
Could his space have been exposed?
With this thought, Xiao Fei’s heart tensed. A treasure like his space, capable of cultivating spiritual herbs and accelerating the flow of time.
If word got out, he would become a public enemy, hunted by everyone.
He glanced at the cold and elegant woman’s retreating back, secretly pondering whether he should strike first and test her with some poison!
But this was the territory of a Golden Core elder. Since he had entered, even if he managed to knock this woman unconscious, he couldn’t do anything else. He still wouldn’t be able to escape the Golden Core elder’s grasp.
Moreover, this was still just his speculation, and it was not advisable to act rashly.
In a state of bewildered apprehension, Xiao Fei followed the cold and elegant woman to a grand hall. True Person Guang Ling sat on the main throne, his demeanor imposing, his emotions unreadable.
“Master, this disciple has brought Xiao Fei.”
After the cold and elegant woman bowed, she stood beside True Person Guang Ling and said no more.
“Xiao Fei! Do you know why you have been summoned today?”
Xiao Fei, filled with trepidation, quickly bowed respectfully.
“This disciple does not know. I request the elder to enlighten me!”
True Person Guang Ling stroked his beard before speaking.
“Previously, seeing your considerable alchemy talent, I felt a desire to nurture talent and wished to take you as my disciple!”
Upon hearing this, Xiao Fei’s heart rejoiced. Such a good thing, and it had almost scared him to death!
“However, your cultivation aptitude is truly too poor, which makes me hesitate.”
This turn of events from True Person Guang Ling was quite abrupt, causing Xiao Fei’s heart to sink considerably.
He knew his own aptitude best; with a mere 20 points, he was barely on the threshold of being able to cultivate.
“However, I have decided to give you an opportunity. I will take you as a registered disciple for now.
If you can successfully establish your Foundation in the future, I will formally accept you as a personal disciple.”
True Person Guang Ling was very cautious about accepting a disciple.
An excellent disciple would be a great asset to him.
He had indeed felt the urge to take Xiao Fei as a disciple due to his alchemy talent.
It was just that Xiao Fei’s aptitude was too poor; he was purely recruited into the sect to fill a quota.
What truly made him decide was Xiao Fei’s disposition, which he greatly admired.
He had witnessed it once during the alchemy competition.
After the competition, despite being showered with praise by numerous disciples, he did not lose himself and was able to extricate himself in time.
One could gauge a person’s character by observing their behavior when experiencing misfortune, success, anger, or fear.
Having lived for hundreds of years, True Person Guang Ling was well-versed in worldly affairs and had his own methods for identifying and employing people.
Compared to aptitude and talent, he valued character and integrity more.
A lesser aptitude might, at worst, result in a lack of significant achievement.
However, if one’s character was poor, it could even endanger one’s own life.
“Disciple pays respects to Master!”
Xiao Fei quickly kowtowed and performed the grand ceremony of salutation.
After receiving the three kowtows, True Person Guang Ling allowed Xiao Fei to rise.
“Since I am accepting you as a registered disciple, I shall give you a见面礼 (meeting gift) today.
I have cultivation techniques, secret manuals, and artifacts. You may choose one.”
Given True Person Guang Ling’s status, even plucking a single strand of hair from him would be a great gift for a Qi Refining disciple.
Although this disciple’s aptitude was poor, he already possessed a Foundation Establishment Pill. If he could obtain one or two more in the future, there was still hope for him to establish his Foundation.
It was a worthwhile risk investment to pluck a strand of hair now.
“May I ask if Master has any artifacts or secret manuals that enhance speed?”
Since True Person Guang Ling had allowed him to choose, he did not hesitate to state his most pressing need.
“Enhance speed?”
True Person Guang Ling pondered for a moment and then rummaged through a storage bag, finding two feathers.
“I casually hunted a second-tier demonic bird in the past, and its speed was quite good. I shall use its natal flight feathers to refine an artifact for you.”
He then took out several miscellaneous materials from his storage bag.
Next, a ball of flame appeared in True Person Guang Ling’s hand. The numerous materials floated in the flame and began to melt, their forms being freely altered according to his divine sense.
In just the time it took an incense stick to burn, a pair of cyan boots appeared in True Person Guang Ling’s hand.
“These boots shall be given to you.”
True Person Guang Ling said, and with a wave of his hand, the pair of cyan boots landed in Xiao Fei’s hand.
Although he was an alchemist and not skilled in artifact refining, with his Golden Core stage cultivation, refining an artifact for a Qi Refining disciple was quite easy.
“Thank you, Master!”
“Alright, I am feeling tired. You may withdraw now!”
True Person Guang Ling waved his hand, and Xiao Fei, understanding the situation, quickly retreated.