Grey-Shadow
After hours of quiet meditation and adjusting to his new strength, Robert opened his eyes.
He felt a lightness in his body, but it wasn't weakness; it was as if the force inside him had gained a sharper focus and greater precision.
Achieving Level 6 in the Body Tempering Realm had given him a fresh wave of power, yet he realized it still required time to settle and ingrain itself deep in his core.
The night was still thick outside the cave, but Robert's stomach reminded him of reality.
He grilled the remaining tiger meat over the glowing embers, letting the mouthwatering scent waft through the quiet chamber.
After the meal was ready, he quietly enjoyed each bite, taking his time to appreciate the flavors.
When he took that last bite, he finally gave himself the chance to take a break.
Wrapped in warmth and the smell of firewood and bloodied steel, he slept.
By the time dawn crept into the cave, Robert was already awake.
He stood, stretched his limbs, and let out a breath that turned into mist in the cold air.
"System," he commanded, his voice calm and firm. "Convert both beast cores into cultivation pills."
[Conversion Request Detected: 2x Medium Grade Beast Cores]
[Conversion Cost: 500 System Points]
[Confirm?]
Without hesitation, Robert replied, "Yes."
The beast cores vanished from the inventory as his point total dropped instantly.
[Processing…]
[Conversion Complete.]
[You have received: 11x Body Cultivation Pills (High Quality)]
[Remaining system point: 2000]
He inspected one of the pills briefly—its surface etched with five fine glowing lines, indicating high purity.
A faint herbal aroma lingered from it.
"Store them," Robert said.
The pills shimmered and vanished back into the system inventory.
There's no rush here. He'll use them wisely when the time comes.
With everything stored and the morning sun warming the forest edge, Robert stepped out of the cave.
Three long days had slipped by in the wilderness—three days filled with challenges, struggle, and personal growth.
It was time to return.
He activates his "Shadow Step".
His form blurred and vanished, moving through the forest like a phantom wind.
Trees passed in flashes, animals flinched at his presence, and within an hour, the outer walls of the city finally came into view.
But this time, Robert didn't arrive as a barely tempered wanderer.
He came back stronger.
Sharper.
Robert walked through the bustling streets with practiced calm.
The city was waking up.
Market stalls rolled open their shelters.
Shopkeepers yelled out morning deals.
Cultivators walked in pairs or squads, their robes decorated with symbols, blades, and scroll pouches.
During all the chaos and hustle of life, Robert kept his eyes sharp and focused.
His destination was Grey-Shadow Hall.
To most, it was just a high-end auction house—selling rare pills, treasured martial arts manuals, and enchanted weaponry.
But those who truly understood the undercurrents of the cultivation world knew that the Grey-Shadow Clan wasn't a merchant guild.
It was a shadow empire.
A force that existed behind kingdoms.
Their roots were old. Older than any known dynasty.
Their reach extended through branch halls across continents.
Some whispered that even certain sect elders owed debts to the Grey Shadow.
In Magical City, the one in charge of this branch was a man known only as Elder Delvin Lie, a Soul Manifestation Realm expert with enough power to level a sect with his bare hands.
As Robert walked through the expansive arched gate marked with the Grey-Shadow insignia—a winged serpent entwined around a dark blade—he entered a whole new world.
Inside, the marble floors sparkled with intricate glowing designs.
The walls, enchanted to silence, kept the outside noise at bay.
A team of attendants in crisp grey uniforms moved effortlessly, their presence exuding a refined elegance.
Weapons hovered in display cases, radiating faint spiritual energy.
Rare herbs floated inside crystal containers.
But Robert's eyes drifted beyond everything in front of him.
He walked up to the central reception desk, where a graceful woman with white-gloved hands and striking golden eyes welcomed him with a gentle bow.
"Welcome, cultivator," she said gently. "What can the Grey Shadow do for you today?"
Robert didn't waste words.
I've got some top-notch body cultivation pills up for auction—three in total. They're five-lined refinement, so don't miss out!
Her eyes flickered—almost unnoticeably—but then she responded with a soft nod.
"May I verify one?"
He withdrew a single pill from his sleeve and placed it on a black-glass tray.
With curiosity, she inspected it under the radiant glow of the sigil rune, captivated by its enchanting aura.
"…Confirmed. Five-lined, high-purity. Very rare."
She looked up, her tone slightly more respectful now.
"Please accompany me to a private appraisal chamber."
The chamber was expansive yet silent, its walls decorated with runic sound wards that made each footstep feel like a whisper.
At the center, an elderly man in grey robes stood next to a stunningly beautiful woman.
She moved with grace, her eyes shone with intelligence, and her aura was composed, yet carried an underlying power.
She was speaking softly to the elder, discussing something in low tones, until the door opened with a hiss of spiritual energy.
Their conversation stopped.
Robert and the attendant stepped inside, his expression calm and guarded.
But the moment his eyes met the woman's, something shifted.
Just for a moment… he faltered.
Her presence tugged at something unspoken in him—not love, not lust, but a strange sense of familiarity and danger all at once.
His gaze lingered no more than a breath before he steeled himself and looked away.
The elder turned to his attendant. "What is this about?"
The attendant bowed lightly.
"Elder Lie, this cultivator has brought pills to be auctioned: three high-quality body cultivation pills."
The elder held out his hand and said, "Show me the pills."
The attendant placed a velvet-lined tray in his palm.
The moment Elder Lie saw the pill, his brows jumped.
His eyes, normally dull with experience, sharpened instantly.
He raised the pill closer to his face.
Five glowing refinement lines.
Perfectly concentrated spiritual energy.
High-grade craftsmanship.
"This… this is a five-line pill," he muttered. "Body Tempering enhancement of this quality… Only a handful of master alchemists on the continent can refine such pills."
The woman beside him leaned closer, her lips parting in faint surprise. Her gaze shifted to Robert, intrigued.
Before she had a chance to ask who the person was standing in front of her, Robert calmly pulled away the dark cloth draped over him and revealed his face.