As expected, just as the cave master had said, the spiritual energy here was exceptionally abundant, even denser than that surrounding the sanctuary. The vital energy of heaven and earth surged into the body through every bone and sinew, transforming into streams of true qi. That feeling was truly exhilarating to the extreme. Gradually, Brian Sutton also sank into self-cultivation, quickly entering a state of deep focus.

No one knew how much time had passed when Brian Sutton awoke in a daze, not fully conscious yet, and heard a familiar voice cursing outside the cave: “Jason Sutton, you little brat, and that reckless kid, both of you get out here for me. Hmph, Jason Sutton, I know you have nowhere else to go, you must be hiding in this hidden valley. Let me tell you, if you don’t hand over the first volume of the Xuanming Manual, don’t expect to have a good time. No matter where you run, I’ll find you. Come out, come out! I know you two brats are hiding in here, don’t think you can escape... Damn it, you think you’re safe if you don’t come out? If you won’t come out, I’ll go in myself. I’ll search every person.”

Hearing this, Brian Sutton was startled awake. Who else could that voice belong to but Jason? It seemed Jason knew Jason Sutton extremely well, having tracked them here so easily.

Turning his head, just as he was about to wake Jason Sutton, he met Jason Sutton’s open eyes.

“Shh! Jason is playing tricks. There are so many caves here, and no matter how skilled Jason is, he wouldn’t dare act recklessly in this hidden valley. If he dares to cause trouble, there are people who will deal with him.” At some point, Jason Sutton had also awakened. With just one glance, he understood Brian Sutton’s intention to go out and stopped him.

Sure enough, a thunderous roar came from outside the cave: “Who dares to act so brazenly in my cave!” Clearly, the cave master of the cave Jason had barged into was awakened, and from the sound of his voice, he was extremely angry.

“Hmph. Old man, have you seen any newcomers enter the valley? One of them is wearing a white scholar’s robe, looks no more than forty, but has the face of a youth. Tell me, and I’ll leave. Otherwise, you’ll regret it!” Jason was clearly not someone to be trifled with either. His voice was so loud it echoed throughout the entire hidden valley.

“Scoundrel! I have been cultivating my entire life and have never left this place!” The cave master was already furious.

“Hmph, do you take me for a fool? Even though cultivators close off their six senses during training and ignore the outside world, that only applies to those with great supernatural powers. Which of you cultivators doesn’t leave a trace of spiritual sense around when cultivating? How could you not know what’s happening in the valley? Damn old man, take this!”

“You dare! This is—” The words were cut off abruptly. After a brief, almost unnoticeable silence, a sudden thunderclap exploded in the valley, followed by a powerful stream of energy shooting into the cave like a giant wave, crashing heavily into Brian Sutton.

Ugh! Brian Sutton let out a muffled groan as a tremendous force lifted him up and slammed him against the wall, pinning him tightly as if nailed there by a great power. His lungs ached as if twisted, and a trickle of fresh blood flowed from the corner of his mouth.

Just the force of a punch’s aftershock had already injured Brian Sutton’s internal organs. By comparison, Jason Sutton fared much better—aside from a slightly pale face, he was otherwise unharmed. As for the cave master, it was as if he hadn’t noticed at all; the massive shockwave from the exchange didn’t even lift the hem of his gray, wrinkled robe.

“So this is the absolute difference in power?” The intense sense of defeat only worsened Brian Sutton’s injuries. He suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood and then slid down from the wall, collapsing weakly to the ground.

Chapter 10: Uninvited Guest

A surge of powerful and pure internal energy suddenly rushed from every acupoint into the body, circulating once through Brian Sutton’s meridians. In just a few breaths, most of Brian Sutton’s injuries were healed.

“All right, you can get up now. I wonder if that person practices demonic arts, to behave so brazenly. How did you end up provoking someone like that?” The familiar voice of the cave master sounded in his mind.

Though his injuries were severe, Brian Sutton had not lost consciousness. From start to finish, his eyes were wide open, and there was no one standing behind him to heal him. Jason Sutton was busy with his own troubles and couldn’t possibly help. Thus, this mysterious, traceless, and powerful internal energy could only have come from the cave master.

“Thank you, senior, for your help,” Brian Sutton said gratefully, estimating in his heart that the cave master’s cultivation was truly unfathomable. This ability to transmit energy across space was beyond his imagination.

“It should be soon,” Jason Sutton suddenly muttered to himself.

Brian Sutton was puzzled, not understanding what he meant. Just as he was about to ask, he sensed two vast, ocean-like auras rapidly approaching, and in a flash, they appeared not far outside the cave.

A shout came from midair: “The sacred land of the hidden valley does not tolerate disturbance. Jason, how dare you violate the valley’s rules!”

“Elder!” came the startled cry of a cultivator from another cave outside.

“El—Elder... Ah, so it’s the two elders. I am Han Chi Tian Mo Jason... Um, just now...” The previously arrogant Jason suddenly stammered, as if he had met his nemesis.