The Foundation Establishment cultivator that released the black gas staggered back in pain and fear. Seeing his black gas consumed by the Nascent Soul Transformation cultivator, the backlash was huge and unexpected. He then looked at the Nascent Soul Transformation expert with fear and shock. But most importantly, he was stunned.

And it wasn't only him that was stunned, the Qi Accumulation cultivators that were huddled in a small corner all looked on with stunned expressions. Even the other Foundation Establishment cultivators were surprised at the turn of events.

Not even minding them, Grey was even more stunned.

After witnessing the Nascent Soul Transformation expert unhurriedly swallow the black fog of the Foundation Establishment cultivator, the cave fell into a suffocating silence. No one dared to breathe too loudly, as if even the faintest sound might draw that man's attention.

The cultivator whose technique had been devoured staggered back several steps, his expression twisting in disbelief. "You… I—" he began, but before he could finish, the Nascent Soul expert's eyes opened slightly.

That single glance was like a lightning bolt piercing through his soul. A dull bang resounded inside his mind, and he instantly coughed up a mouthful of blood. His face drained of all color, and cold sweat rolled down his temples. He didn't dare to meet that gaze again. Trembling, he turned his head away, his shoulders hunched as if trying to make himself invisible.

After witnessing this, the others exchanged quick, fearful looks. No one dared to utter a word, much less cause trouble. The air itself felt heavy, pressed down by an unseen force.

Seeing that the crowd had understood his silent warning, the Nascent Soul Transformation expert slowly closed his eyes again. Even so, none among them relaxed. His presence alone filled the small cave with an oppressive tension, like the weight of a mountain pressing down on their chests.

Everyone knew the truth—between Foundation Establishment and Nascent Soul, there was an unbridgeable gulf. A single thought from a Nascent Soul cultivator could erase them from existence. The fact that this man allowed them to remain in his shelter was a mercy none dared to question. For now, at least, they were safe.

Grey sat quietly at the corner of the cave, his face pale and drawn. Fear lingered deep within his eyes, but beneath that fear was a glimmer of something else—resolve. He clenched his fists slightly, forcing himself to breathe steadily. The scene just now had shaken him, yet he knew panic would not help him recover.

He closed his eyes and began to regulate his breathing. Threads of faint spiritual energy slowly circulated within him, repairing torn meridians and mending his battered flesh. The aura surrounding his body flickered, then grew steadier with each passing moment.

After a while, several people noticed it—Grey's body was emanating strong energy fluctuations, the kind that belonged to someone at the Ninth Level of Qi Accumulation. Whispers began to spread through the group, their tones a mix of surprise and disbelief.

They had all witnessed when he entered the whistling gales. Only to come back shortly after with a completely battered and beaten body. Grey's injuries had been severe, his vitality nearly drained dry. No one expected him to recover this quickly, much less break through a whole level amidst the chaos.

It sounded impossible. And yet, the proof was right before their eyes.

The Foundation Establishment cultivator who had first opposed Grey stared at him in disbelief. His eyes trembled slightly as he watched the youth sit cross-legged in the corner, quietly recovering. He couldn't understand it. The same person he had driven out of the cave, humiliated and half-dead, had not only returned but done so with higher cultivation.

It was unnatural—something that shouldn't be possible. When Grey had rushed into the storm outside, he'd thought the boy was as good as dead. A part of him had even felt a cruel satisfaction watching him disappear into that deadly wind. But now, seeing Grey walk back in alive, stronger than before, that satisfaction turned to anger that burned deep in his chest.

His fingers twitched slightly, and for a brief moment, he wanted to unleash his Special Brilliance form and crush Grey where he sat. The thought of seeing the boy's newfound calm shattered under his attack tempted him greatly. But just as that impulse grew, his gaze flicked toward the figure seated at the center of the cave.

The Nascent Soul Transformation expert remained still, his eyes closed, yet his presence alone was like an invisible mountain pressing down on everyone's shoulders. The Foundation Establishment cultivator felt his heart skip a beat. The reckless urge in him vanished immediately, replaced by cold fear.

He reminded himself where he stood on the cultivation ladder. Even though he had reached Foundation Establishment and cultivated two balls of Spirit Fire—a feat that once made him proud—such accomplishments meant nothing before a Nascent Soul Transformation cultivator. Even a Core Formation expert could crush him with a single hand. Compared to someone who had stepped into the Nascent Soul realm, he was less than dust—something that could be erased with a flick of a finger.

And if that wasn't enough, there was the terrifying possibility that the Nascent Soul cultivator could enslave him completely—turning his body into a mindless puppet or clone with just a single thought.

Knowing all that, the man had tried to restrain himself. But when Grey returned, calm and alive, his humiliation and anger had simply overwhelmed his reason. Against all logic, he attacked. He wanted to reassert control—to erase the reminder of his earlier failure.

Yet what he could have never imagined was that the Nascent Soul Transformation expert would intervene on Grey's behalf.

When his black fog—his carefully nurtured malicious spirit, cultivated since his days in the Qi Accumulation Realm—was devoured without resistance, a deep ache filled his chest. That ghostly mist had taken years of effort to raise, but in front of true power, it was nothing.

Sadness flickered in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by relief. At least he was still alive. In the face of such an existence, losing a spirit ghost was a small price to pay.

The Nascent Soul Transformation expert, however, was not as indifferent as he seemed. Though his eyes remained closed, his mind stirred slightly as he examined Grey's aura.

"This kid is quite interesting," he thought, his divine sense brushing faintly across Grey's body. "He entered the whistling gales outside and not only survived but broke through a whole level. That shouldn't be possible. Could it be that the Cold Yin energy of the storm fused into his meridians? But even if that's true, how did it not destroy him? There's something more to this boy than meets the eye…"

The faintest trace of curiosity flashed across his mind before he suppressed it. For now, he had no intention of interfering further. But the image of that youth remained etched in his thoughts.

Grey, unaware of the expert's attention, continued to regulate his breath. His eyes were half-closed, his expression calm, though traces of weariness still clung to him.

"So this is the power of a Nascent Soul Transformation expert," he thought quietly. "Even without doing anything, his presence alone suppresses everyone here. And to think… this is the kind of person the captain wanted us to plunder."

He let out a silent sigh, his lips curving faintly in self-mockery. The motion sent a ripple of pain through his chest, and his face twisted for an instant.

"If we had really gone through with that plan, we'd have all died. Instead of plundering the Nascent Soul expert's clone, we'd have been stripped of our own cultivation and turned into empty husks."

The memory of that moment flashed in his mind—the captain's sharp eyes, her confidence, her daring words. He had thought she was insane back then. Now, after seeing the truth with his own eyes, he knew she wasn't just insane; she was courting death.

Grey exhaled slowly and allowed a trace of relief to pass through him. "It seems rejecting that plan was the smartest thing I've ever done," he thought.

For now, the cave was silent once more—filled only with the faint sound of breathing and the distant howling of the storm outside.

Nobody talked while the ceaseless storm was ongoing outside for a long time.

-----

Wow, I wonder what will happen next? If you have any thoughts or ideas about what should happen or what will happen next, leave a comment in the section below.

Please if there are any incorrect spellings or grammar, don't hesitate to point it out in the comments and I'll get into it.

I also noticed that he have quite low golden tickets and power stones, please vote for me so that we'll make it to the too 100 rankings. Our rating is also quite low, please dear readers, leave a review so that our rating will increase as well.

Thanks!

**☺️😉**

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.