Chapter 30: She Is My Dao Companion

During the days of waiting for news from Zhong Haoran, Leo focused on silent cultivation.

He even rejected Qin Jiuyou's invitation to shoot another "work," stating he had no time.

Before entering the Leaving Mountain, he had to reach the 'Congealing Spirit level'; otherwise, the 'Heart of Heaven Sword Formation' would be useless!

"Brother, are you still cultivating? Come play with me," Reina said, her little hands reaching from behind, hanging onto Leo like a koala.

Feeling the two soft lumps on his back, Leo still couldn't get used to it and quickly pushed Reina away.

"Stop messing around, Reina." He put on a serious face and acted sternly, "Boys and girls shouldn't be so close; you're an adult now, just like me!"

"What's wrong with adults? No matter how much you grow, you're still my brother," Reina replied confidently, puffing out her small chest.

Since not being a little girl anymore, this kid was becoming more articulate every day, and her rebuttals could leave Leo momentarily speechless.

"Then tell me, how do adults express affection?"

Reina circled around to face Leo, looking up at him like a little kitten, then dived under his arm and lay down on his lap.

Her delicate, snowy-white figure arched back in the most alluring pose, and her innocent face looked up at Leo with a mix of innocence and helplessness.

Leo averted his gaze, slightly at a loss for words:

"Uh… the way adults express affection is, of course, different from yours…"

"Then tell me quickly! From now on, let's express affection like adults!"

Reina hugged Leo's arm, rubbing it affectionately.

Looking at Reina's maturing face and figure, along with her pair of lively, innocent big eyes, made Leo feel overwhelmed.

"...Fine, come here for a hug."

Leo gave up resisting and chose to give Reina a hug, hoping to divert the topic.

Holding the warm and soft little girl in his arms, Leo told Reina that he might have to go far away in the next few months. He left her with seven hundred thousand spirit stones, and he had also paid for a year's living expenses in the Hidden Hero Valley. In case he didn't return, she could find Elder Xuanji.

Without warning, the cheerful Reina instantly darkened, her expression akin to someone who had just killed a person.

"Brother, don't you want me anymore?"

Her eyes were vacant as she stared blankly at Leo, her lips trembling slightly, making him feel anxious.

"No, no, it's just a plan… If Reina doesn't want to, I'll bring her along!"

Reina's expression softened a bit, tears welling up in her eyes as she threw herself into Leo's arms, clinging tightly. Leo had to comfort her for a while.

It seemed that leaving Reina alone at home wouldn't work; the little girl was already distressed after being away from him for an afternoon. How could she bear being apart for several months? The expression Reina had just shown truly frightened Leo, bringing back memories of their first meeting in the cold, dirty slum (the pitiful, stubborn, fearful look she had, filled with a hatred for the world).

In the days that followed, Leo didn't mention this matter again but focused on making more preparations.

For example, a mask to conceal his identity, protective armor, wild survival gear—these were all prepared for Reina.

After accumulating resources for nearly half a month, Leo finally felt he had touched the threshold of the 'Congealing Spirit Level'!

Nine strands of 'Heavenly Harmony genuine qi' exuded a unique blood aura belonging to Leo.

Wrapped in spiritual power, this aura soared into Leo's mind, merging seamlessly with his consciousness.

Ultimately, after a long period of brewing, Leo officially broke through to the 'Congealing Spirit Level'!

Beneath his 'Heavenly Spirit Point,' where his consciousness resided, a strand of grayish-blue spiritual soul floated.

This was his spiritual soul, the foundational power for controlling magical treasures and flying swords in the future! The grayish-blue hue indicated that it was the initial 'Stone Bamboo Soul'!

As Leo extended his spiritual consciousness, he could clearly see every blade of grass and tree within the small courtyard, only to find that the 'Absolute Cloud's Defiance Formation' was preventing him from peering beyond the courtyard.

He then reached out his consciousness toward the sword that Elder Xuanji had gifted him.

(Clang—)

The moment the spiritual soul infused into it, the spiritual sword emitted a joyful clang!

It startled Reina, who was sitting nearby reading the 'Haori Jue.'

The strand of sword intent within Leo seemed to come alive, resonating with the spiritual sword instantly!

Leo felt it: controlling this flying sword didn't seem challenging at all! The flying sword just a few meters away became an extension of his body, soaring up and down, even performing sword flowers.

"Brother, you're amazing!" Reina cheered, clapping her hands.

This was the assistance that sword intent offered to sword control; the better the sword, the more power it could inspire from sword intent.

"Reina, are you ready? Soon, we might have to head deep into the mountains where there are monster beasts and bad guys."

"We'll be with other strangers, but we're definitely going to encounter dangers along the way. Are you scared?"

Reina pouted, knowing what Leo was hinting at; he wanted to nudge her to stay behind.

"If there's a great danger, I still want to follow my brother."

She firmly declared, gripping Leo's arm with both hands.

Leo sighed and nodded, choosing not to mention the matter again.

Reina, this is you clinging to me after all!

...

Another month passed, and the film quality produced by Jiuyou when Leo wasn't supervising declined rapidly.

This was certainly not Leo's own assessment; it was what Qin Jiuyou said when he came to beg him to come out of seclusion, lamenting about the situation.

But Leo genuinely had no time; for the past month, he had been training intensely and had already reached the second stage of the 'Congealing Spirit Level'.

The number of stars that 'No Heaven, No Day' could condense had risen to thirty-two, and he had even successfully condensed a full moon!

Therefore, he unlocked a new spell—'Roll the Jade Curtain'!

The jade disc of the moon could expand dramatically, devouring everything, then slowly spinning and grinding, thoroughly suppressing all enemies gathered within it! Compared to 'Starry Whirl,' this spell was overtly powerful and domineering.

However, since Leo only had one full moon at present, he couldn't unleash its full power, and casting it consumed a lot of energy.

Just when Leo was getting used to this calm and stable life, Zhong Haoran suddenly visited!

"Brother Leo, the embryo of Bai Ze has arrived at Leaving Mountain!" Zhong Haoran exclaimed excitedly, clearly just receiving the news.

"We're entering the mountain tomorrow morning. Besides you and me, there will be three others—two males and one female…"

Zhong Haoran suddenly paused, carefully assessing Leo.

"Did you break through to the 'Congealing Spirit Level'?"

His tone was filled with astonishment; breaking through to the 'Congealing Spirit Level' in just a month and a half was indeed impressive.

What was even more astonishing was that Leo was only fifteen years old! He was a true child prodigy!

Leo nodded, and Zhong Haoran's face lit up with joy upon receiving confirmation.

"Great! Brother Leo, this strengthens our forces!"

"This time, when we contend for the beast 'Bai Ze,' the Confucian sect, the Justice Alliance, and the Hidden Hero Valley will come together to control things, and they won't allow 'Immortal Path Level Ninth Stage' cultivators to come, maintaining the dignity of the Aoyuan Nation's Demon King."

"However, the demon side is not under any constraints. Many experts will come, and even the old demon king himself will be present!"

"At that time, we'll just adapt to the situation."

Zhong Haoran quickly informed Leo about the details, then asked another question.

"Leo, if you have no other questions, let's prepare to set out tonight. I'll notify the other teammates."

"I have one question."

"Can we bring one more person?"

Zhong Haoran was taken aback upon hearing this, "Bring one more person? What level? Who is it?"

"She's at the peak of the Qi Refinement level; she should be able to protect herself."

Leo intentionally downplayed Reina's level, not wanting her to be seen as a combat asset.

"As for who she is…"

Leo hesitated for a moment, uncertain how to explain.

Reina had once cheered for him when she was a child during the arena matches, and he didn't believe no one had noticed.

If a sister suddenly emerged, wouldn't that easily lead to assumptions and suspicions about Reina's talents?

Thinking this over, he struggled to utter:

"She… could be considered my Dao companion."