Early on the fourth day, Sam Bolton was already prepared, pulling a large sword out of his Qiankun Bag with both hands. “Mark, this sword is pretty good, it’s for you.”

Mark Carter took the sword, but didn’t say much. He figured it was traded from those third-generation disciples. Even if it wasn’t worth much, there was nothing he could do—circumstances were out of his control.

Heading outside, weapons were a must. Within the boundaries of the Sanctuary, there was generally no danger; whether demon, beast, or demonic cultivator, none would easily provoke the Sanctuary. But once you left its territory, all bets were off.

Mark Carter swung the sword. “Not bad, just a bit light.”

Immediately, Sam Bolton gaped. “Seriously? This sword is really heavy.”

“Is it? I don’t feel it. Maybe I’ve gotten stronger from farm work these past couple of days.” Mark Carter clenched his fist—he truly didn’t feel anything.

“Mark, I bought two life-saving talismans, a guiding talisman, oh, a swift-travel talisman, and bait to lure tiger eagles, our food, and two life-extending pills. I’ve thrown in everything my old man gave me—burning my bridges, it’s do or die.”

Sam Bolton said pitifully. His expectations were low; he just wanted to pass the test.

“Look at you, have some ambition. We’ll definitely make it. How’s it going with Grace Brooks? Have you seen her?”

“No. Beautiful Grace is in the area where the elders and senior disciples stay. We’re just nobodies, we can’t get in.”

The chubby one was a bit envious. Grace Brooks’s talent and family background meant her fate was fundamentally different from theirs—it had always been that way. Yet, Grace Brooks’s personality and friendship made them forget this at times.

“Let’s go!”

Mark Carter glanced at his spiritual field. He had to admit, he’d grown a bit attached. The chubby one activated the guiding talisman, which turned into a ball of firelight floating ahead of them.

Each of them had a swift-travel talisman. These were all low-level talismans, made for rookie cultivators like them, but they were indeed practical.

The two immediately experienced the thrill of sprinting at high speed. The chubby one tried to speak, but got a mouthful of wind and quickly shut up.

It was several hundred li from Thunderlight Peak to Thundering Peak. For elders, this was nothing, but for rookies—even with the swift-travel talismans—it would still take several days.

The scenery of the small world was captivating for the two young men, and soon, all thoughts of danger were forgotten.

“Sam Bolton, are we on the right path? My legs are about to break. Where is Thundering Peak, anyway? They’re both ‘Thunder’ peaks, but we’ve been running for three days.”

Jason Bolton wiped the sweat from his forehead. This kind of long trek really didn’t suit him. “The guide says this is the way, so it must be right.”

“Could that senior brother have given us the wrong guide?”

Mark Carter looked at the dense forest around them, feeling frustrated. To save time, they’d been traveling day and night. By now, they should have arrived.

“No, he said this task is common for bow cultivators, but…” Sam Bolton also looked around, feeling a creepy vibe.

“Does this place look like Thundering Peak to you? The guide is still pointing us forward. Something’s off—let’s stop here!”

By now, even if they hadn’t reached Thundering Peak, they should at least be able to see it. Instead, it felt like they’d wandered into some unknown forest, and the eerie atmosphere made him uneasy.

As if in response to their suspicions, a thunderous growl echoed from deep within the forest, and the ground began to tremble.

The two exchanged glances. Dusk was falling, and the path ahead had disappeared. Who knew where they’d end up if they kept following the guide?

“Sam Bolton, how did you get all this stuff?”

Mark Carter asked. The chubby one was starting to feel uneasy too. “My old man gave me money and some good stuff, but they said it wasn’t enough and insisted on my spirit stones…”

“You gave them?”

“No way, I’m not that dumb. The guy who sold me the stuff is called Peter Scott, a third-generation disciple who specializes in reselling trinkets. But I really needed these things, so I got Senior Brother David Harris to witness the deal. If we complete the task, I’ll give him the spirit stones. If not, then forget it.”

“And the spirit stones?”

“…They’re with David Harris. Crap, could they be working together to screw us over? Damn, we’re all from the same sect—do they have to be this ruthless???”

The chubby one looked at Mark Carter with teary eyes, face full of misery.

“They’re not screwing us, just you. Still, it’s a good lesson!”

“Mark, looks like they want us to never come back. How is this good?”

Sam Bolton looked around at the creepy forest, feeling even colder.

Mark Carter licked his lips. “Remember this, chubby—this is the rule of the cultivation world. It’s even more shameless than the outside. Learn from your losses. Besides, we’re not done yet!”

Cultivation was all about seizing the power of heaven, extending life, and gaining strength. Resources were limited, so competition was fierce. Even though righteous cultivators weren’t as ruthless as demonic ones, it was no child’s play.

Getting tricked just meant you were dumb. Newcomers always had to pay a price.

But for these two, the price was a bit steep.

“Mark, what do we do? Should we turn back now?” Sam Bolton couldn’t shake the feeling that something was watching him.

Chapter 14: Fusing the Godhead