Elder Giles’ face turned cold as he spoke, “Kid, can you release Elder Alan now?”
“I’ll definitely release him. One of my virtues is that I keep my word. However, I do have a concern. If I let Elder Alan go now, will you immediately chase after me?” Leo asked with a smile.
This question nearly caused Elder Greg to spit out his tea. Coveting the white jade turtle, stealing the Blue Phantom Sword, and now kidnapping Elder Alan – if we don’t chase after you, the Seven Stars Sword Sect might as well disappear from Earth.
Elder Giles was composed, aware that Leo was taunting them. He maintained his calm demeanor and replied, “As long as you release Elder Alan, we won’t pester you.”
“That’s good to hear.” Leo smiled and pressed his finger against the hilt of his sword. The blade of the Blue Phantom retracted like lightning, and at the same time, Leo placed his hand on Elder Alan’s back.
Unprepared for Leo’s move, Elder Alan received a solid palm strike on his back. The powerful force sent him flying towards Elder Giles.
Elder Giles hurriedly caught Elder Alan, who had a spurt of blood escaping his lips.
“Kill him!” Elder Giles’ gaze turned icy as he issued a stern command.
The disciples received the order and began to pursue Leo.
At that moment, Leo had fully channeled his spiritual power into his legs, moving like a cheetah at its limit.
Elder Greg was astonished, quickly unsheathing his sword and infusing it with internal energy.
“Seven Stars Sword Technique, Soul-Chasing Lethal Strike!” Elder Greg’s sword emitted a surge of energy as it shot forth like an arrow, producing a sharp sound as it tore through the air, aiming directly at Leo’s back.
In the midst of his sprint, Leo made a sudden sharp turn, narrowly evading the oncoming sword.
Elder Greg’s sword lacked the finesse of Leo’s Purple Radiance Dagger; it couldn’t be controlled with intent and thus couldn’t change direction, nor could it lock onto its target like a guided missile.
Seeing Leo about to disappear into the dense forest, Elder Greg grew anxious, “Giles, we need to chase him!”
Elder Giles and Elder Greg channeled their internal energy, closing in on Leo.
Much to their frustration, Leo’s speed increased, and the gap between them grew wider. They could only watch as Leo’s figure vanished into the woods.
“How can he be so fast?” Elder Greg panted, his face filled with frustration.
Elder Giles looked in the direction Leo had disappeared, his voice deep, “It seems this lad might not be a martial cultivator. I sense no trace of a martial cultivator’s aura from him.”
“Not a martial cultivator? So, he’s just an ordinary person? That can’t be true; how could an ordinary person possess such strength?” Elder Greg found it hard to believe.
Elder Giles pondered for a moment, then said, “Perhaps this lad stumbled upon some kind of opportunity that granted him legendary power.”
“Legendary power?” Elder Greg suddenly grasped the concept, “Giles, are you talking about spiritual power? Could that be spiritual…”
He hesitated to say the rest because it belonged to mythical legends.
“It’s unlikely, but… just maybe.” Elder Greg shook his head, “If he truly possesses spiritual power, then defeating us would be as simple as squashing an ant. How could he be harmed by me?”
“Greg, I once read in an ancient text fragments about spiritual cultivation, and it mentioned that cultivators’ strength is comparable to that of martial cultivators in the initial stage. However, as they enter the second realm, a fundamental difference emerges in their strengths,” Elder Giles explained.
“In other words, if this lad was injured by me, it means he’s still in the initial stage of cultivation, and we might have a chance to eliminate him?”
Elder Giles nodded, “Yes, he escaped from us, which suggests his cultivation is likely still within the Spiritualist realm. We must capture him alive.”
“Capture him alive?” Elder Greg didn’t understand; he just wanted Leo dead.
“Yes, once the Sect Master emerges from seclusion, we’ll need to inform him immediately. We’ll figure out how to capture this lad. If we can uncover the secret of cultivation from him, the Seven Stars Sword Sect will undoubtedly become one of the top martial sects!” Elder Giles’ eyes gleamed with anticipation.
This idea enticed Elder Greg as well. The prospect of transcending from martial cultivation to the legendary spiritual cultivation was enough to make anyone ecstatic.
“Giles, I’ll arrange it immediately. I’ll gather all the resources of the Seven Stars Sword Sect to investigate everything about this lad and then capture him back.”
Elder Giles nodded, gazing in the direction Leo had vanished with a hopeful spark in his eyes.
Leo didn’t stop running until he reached the outskirts of Greenfield. His heart was racing, and his legs were trembling. The relentless sprint had drained his spiritual power tremendously.
Leaning on his knees, Leo caught his breath in gasps.
The Seven Stars Sword Sect had undoubtedly sealed off Hat Mountain by now. Returning there would be walking into a trap. Thus, he decided to abandon the white jade turtle for now.
Having acquired a treasure and three martial arts manuals was already a substantial gain. As for the white jade turtle, he could come back for it after he broke through to the Spiritualist Master realm.
Upon arriving at his parking spot, Leo noticed the villager from earlier squatting by his car, puffing on a water pipe.
It was clear the villager had been watching his car, which was a bit surprising. In today’s materialistic society, genuinely kind-hearted people were hard to come by.
Seeing Leo return, the villager quickly stood up from the ground and grinned, “Sir, you’re back. Did you find more turtles?”
As the villager spoke, he noticed the injury on Leo’s shoulder.
“Sir, what happened to your shoulder? We have a clinic in the village. Let me take you there for treatment.”
Leo waved his hand, taking out a few hundred dollars from his pocket and handing it to him, “No need. You can keep this money. I’m leaving.”
The villager shook his head hastily, “You already gave me money earlier.”
“Just take it.” Leo pressed the money into his hand, “You shouldn’t go back to Hat Mountain anytime soon.”
Leo opened the car door, started the engine, and left Greenfield.
Before returning to the city, Leo made a pit stop at a service area. He needed to refuel and take some time to study the three martial arts manuals.
Close combat had always been Leo’s weakness. The Seven Stars Fist Technique and the Seven Stars Body Technique would be perfect to compensate for that weakness.
As for the Seven Stars Internal Practice Technique, it held little value for Leo. He cultivated spiritual power, not internal energy of martial arts!
In comparison, internal energy was like a firefly to the sun and moon. They were worlds apart.