Ma Pei was lost in thought for a moment before his eyes snapped back to Bubai."When did all this start happening?"

  Some matters can’t be hidden, but stories must be well-written.

  So, Bubai recounted his experience, weaving a tale of truths and falsities.

  "When junior first started cultivating, junior noticed something odd. It felt as though a good portion of my gathered Qi was vanishing, like water leaking from a cracked cauldron."

  "Junior couldn’t find any traces of where it went. So, junior didn’t think much of it at the time. Just chalked it up to bad talent. Due to this, my cultivation progress was sluggish, to the point where junior almost lost all hope."

  Here, Bubai painted himself with a grateful attitude.

  "It wasn’t until elder bestowed the Sun Furnace method to junior that junior finally managed to make some obvious progress. And thanks to this progress, junior finally found more obvious signs."

  Bubai wasn’t sure if the old man bought his act, but seeing the old man nod along, Bubai kept it at that and mixed in more sand.

  "Over the past months, junior realized that all that lost Qi wasn’t wasted. It was being funneled into my body, strengthening it in ways I never expected."

  "My stamina, vitality, and physical strength have grown far beyond what’s normal for someone at my level. Even my skin became as tough as stone."

  “Hoho, yes. It’s hard to tell at a glance, but this old man’s divine sense can easily see your muscle density is almost at the same level as those body builders.”

  Ma Pei squinted his eyes and gave his toned arm a squeeze. “Truly impressive for someone at your level. It seems this strange physique of yours is developing faster than expected. But...”

  A switch was flipped, and the elderly man’s aura changed!

  “How come you didn’t report this to this old man about this until now?”

  The casual Golden Core pressure exerted on him made his body tense, but Bubai wasn’t intimidated, still acting his part.

  "Junior originally assumed it was just the natural potential of late-stage cultivators, and didn’t deign to bother elder with my menial problems. But Miss Hong…"

  Bubai shot a glance at the kneeling performer with hair as hot as her Fire Style: Torch Blowing technique.

  "Miss Hong hinted at something more when she came to… harvest. She suggested junior come to elder and make a report."

  "Hoh? Is that so?" The pressure shifted away and Ma Pei dropped his gaze down to the busy Xiao Hong. "Anything to add?"

  Xiao Hong visibly swallowed down her nervousness.

  Then, lowering her head with an air of demure elegance, she softly reported.

  "Master, when Hong’er discovered his essence to be an excellent resource for both recovery and dual cultivation, the first thought was to let Master know."

  “Hoh? A rare essence you say? Then this old man must examine it more closely.” Ma Pei shot Bubai a knowing look. "Go on, extract a vial for this old man to see."

  “Hong’er will do as Master wishes.”

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  Without hesitation, Xiao Hong shuffled over to Bubai on her knees.

  She wore a mask of disgust, but still obediently began the process of extraction...

  “Hohoho, the young dragon really bears a fraction of semblance to when this old man was young!”

  With a smile in his eyes, Ma Pei continued his interrogation.

  “Tell this old man more. Have you noticed anything else? Any unusual celestial phenomenons or dreams?”

  Seeing the chance, Bubai took the initiative to drop another important fact.

  “There is one more thing. Junior has noticed...” He paused and met the sharp, upturned eyes of the red hot beauty. “It’s still growing.”

  “Still growing?” Ma Pei’s face finally grew serious.

  Tapping his fingers rhythmically on the tea table, the elderly man mumbled under his breath.

  "Gradual awakening, just like a bloodline returning to its origins. This routine… it can’t be. No... Hoo..."

  Ma Pei sucked in a breath and his eyes nailed onto the ugly face of Bubai, "Yes, I see now. That’s it. It must be... the legendary…"

  Then, there was no more.

  Bubai stared at the old geezer, waiting and waiting, but... the old man only stared back without adding a word extra.

  Merlin’s beard! The legendary what?! Please don’t leave him hanging like this! He really doesn’t like it when the sword in the stone gets stuck halfway!

  To make matters worse, that strange look the old geezer was giving him…

  It was scratching at his curiosity just like the cat below!

  Bubai could hardly bear the suspense and couldn’t resist imploring, “May the esteemed elder bestow some insights upon this humble junior?”

  As if snapping out of his trance, Ma Pei blinked, and his face donned a mask of grave seriousness.

  "This isn’t information a junior like you should be privy to at your level."

  Gah! Of course the old fart would say that! Why do all these old folks like playing the same old game?

  If only they could all be like his fairy godmother… ugh.

  Bubai’s frustration was simmering like someone dealing with a crazy little brother, but he bit back his urge to vent outwardly.

  He wasn’t just about to let this go so easily.

  Delay and talk more. He wanted to know what brain fart had lodged itself in this old geezer’s brain, just to be prepared for whatever game might follow.

  So, Bubai tried again.

  "Elder Ma, junior is just afraid of unscrupulous ones forcing their way into my living space. So, please forgive junior for my bold request and give junior some guidance."

  “Hoho. Young ones really do like to worry. But...”

  Ma Pei dismissively waved his hand. "Don’t worry. With this old man here, nobody will secretly take what you have."

  Is that a promise?!!! Bubai’s heart fluttered like a free bird after a spring rain. Could it be… he just got another golden umbrella?!

  If all the elders of this sect were this easy to talk to, then this demonic sect really wasn’t that bad after all!

  But just when Bubai’s optimism reached its zenith, the old man’s next words came crashing down on his hopes like a thunderclap.

  “Hoho… For us here, the rules are clear. If we desire your talents, we will seize it openly!”

  The load of thanks ready to be blown was caught in Bubai’s throat and his body tightened like a bowstring under the old geezer’s predatory gaze.

  One moment he was about to reach the moon, the next, a rabbit cornered by a hungry fox.

  Ma Pei seemed to sense his discomfort and burst into hearty laughter.

  "Hohoho… Okay, okay, this old man won’t scare you anymore. Don’t worry, my days of chasing after ultimate power are long behind me. My foundation is set in stone. It’s far too late for any changes now. I’m too old for that nonsense. "

  "Maybe if this old man had a junior of my own, I might’ve fought for it. But this old man has always been afraid of trouble. Why should I start a family and spawn little brats to share my resources when I can enjoy life without worries?"

  Ma Pei let out a weary sigh, his eyes momentarily clouded with memories.

  "As for other juniors… since ages ago, this old man knew I wasn’t cut out for the whole master-disciple relationship thing."

  "The last direct disciple this old man took in was only to repay a debt of gratitude and this old man never planned to take in another, especially since the last one was a walking trouble."

  "Now that I’m free, this old man won’t be foolish enough to tie myself down again. This old man’s honorable name can be used once or twice to liven up my garden at best."

  Bubai nodded along, agreeing with the old geezer’s life philosophy. Stable, practical—even enviable.

  When humans grow old, how many could really stand the loneliness of not having descendants?

  Even cultivators were the same. A longer lifespan doesn’t mean it will never come to an end.

  According to what he gathered from a certain fairy, this golden core old man’s four centuries of life should be nearing its closure.

  To still stick to a simple, carefree creed... it seemed this old man had life all figured out, and that was hard to not admire… assuming he really stuck to it.

  The longer the lifespan, the spicier the ginger.

  Who knows how much sand was mixed into the speech of this four-century-old ginger?