Ed made his way towards the restaurant in the middle of the plains. As he moved, the air, leaves, and grass, seemed to avoid him. If one looked closer, they would notice they were moving in sync with him, allowing him to move past without causing a change to anything in his way. If one looked in his direction, they would not even see him or sense him. He was so much signed with his surroundings, that he was almost not there. Even though the plain was flat and the plants were no taller than his knees, one would still miss him passing through.He opened the rickety restaurant door to see a woman looking at him as though he had defied the heavens. He looked to the side to meet the grinning face of Tie Nse."I see you have reached the perfect foundation state. It is time you try breaking through to the spirit-picking stage," the grinning Tie Nse said."Wait... he has not yet done his spirit-picking and you put him in there?" she could not even continue. This mad man, did this boy offend h

When Si Namfi appeared in the alliance, he called for an immediate meeting. All the council elders and old Protectors made their way to the great hall where Si Namfi was waiting. They saw his solemn face and assumed the worst. Before he rushed to Madam Ge's restaurant, he had informed some high-ranking elders that something went wrong in the Baju Valley and he need to check it out."Council Head Si, you left in a hurry for the Baju Valley. What happened there that is so urgent to call a meeting?" an old man asked. Si Namfi recognized him. He was Di Tietie, his rival in the council. He had once hoped that Patriarch Tie Nse would make him council head before leaving. Even though no one was vying for the Patriarch's seat because of his strength, the patriarch was still never around and the next best thing was the council head seat. When he lost to Si Namfi, he did not hide his dissatisfaction, causing a division in the council."I left in a hurry because I felt an anomaly in the Baju Val

Tie Nse looked at the struggling Ed with a serious expression."Boy, this heavenly tribulation if anything, should have happened if you succeed in breaking through. It seems the heavens are not taking any chances," he said to the contemplating Ed, whose situation was getting worse. His skin had started to die and peel off, landing in the pool of his blood. This was a pitiful scene. Tie Nse sighed and moved the rock to open the cave with a wave of his hand."I will hold back the lightning. But when you wake, you must be the one to face it. Better hurry up and break through boy," he said, glancing back at Ed's pitiful form, then closing back the cave.Tie Nse looked up at the thunder clouds and his eyes shrunk. It was spread several kilometres across the sky. This kind of lightning would not be sent just for Ed right? Was there already thunder loudly signalling the lightning brewing before it arrived? Tie Nse analysed what was coming by the strength of the thunder ahead in wonder. He so

Ed cursed the old pervert inwardly as he looked around to find his way. He felt to see if his cultivation still remained and it was still there. With a sigh of relief, he tried to stretch his being to see farther; a skill he had learnt in the Baju Valley, but could not penetrate the whirling band of sand. If he did not move, he would be buried in this sand. He started a forward movement but the sand pushed back hard. It was as if it was alive."Don't move!" someone shouted. Ed looked around to find who spoke but could see nothing."Hold out your left arm!" the person said, but Ed hesitated. Who was this person, and why was he helping him?"I will not harm you. Besides, do you have a choice?" the person asked. Ed held out his left arm and immediately someone grabbed it and pulled him out of the swirling sands. His vision cleared, allowing him to see who had saved him. The person was garbed head to toe in black, but the fitting male pants and shirt did nothing to hide her curves."Thank

He saw the veiled woman coming in after them and turned solemn. The heaven alliance must have an information leak, or was it him? Why would she be here? He did not remember calling her. how did she know that Tie Nse was here?The two old men that stepped in behind her were quickly recognized by Old Iba. They were the council head Si accompanied by an elder from the Heaven alliance. They were the ones he had called, knowing full well that Tie Nse was more afraid of getting caught by his alliance and forced to go back than meeting the head of one of the other eight powers. Looking at their frowning faces, he was sure they had already noticed that their alliance patriarch was long gone.He regretted calling them. Now, he had to explain things he wished he did not have to. Talking was too tiring."Lady Mi," he said, ignoring the other two. As far as he was concerned, the one he had to be wary of was the woman. They too frowned at her timing. Did Old Iba call her too?"Cottage master Iba,"