I slipped out of Uncle Zhang's hideout and felt my way back up to the third floor through the dim light of the stairwell. The apartment was quiet — Jade Lin and River had long since fallen asleep. River's breathing was even and steady. Even in sleep, Jade Lin's brow was faintly creased — she'd been worrying about me too much lately. I tiptoed to the bedside and tucked the blanket snugly around her. The familiar scent of her shampoo drifted up around me — some cheap brand bought on sale at the supermarket, yet it settled my nerves more than anything else in the world.

"Old man," I murmured to the bronze ring, "what's the deal with this Fundamentals of Pill Refinement? Weren't you saying the reward was already in my hands? So why can't I use it?"

The ring warmed slightly, and the System Elder's holographic projection flickered into view with a wobble. "Idiot! Pill refinement — refinement — how are you supposed to refine anything without fire? You think you can just grab a pot and stir-fry spirit herbs? The very first step of Fundamentals of Pill Refinement is 'Fire Control.' You don't have a single decent fire-element spell to your name. What exactly are you planning to refine pills with — your meteoric iron anvil board? Going to roast peanuts on it?"

I instinctively reached down and touched the meteoric iron anvil board at my waist. Its dark-gold talismanic runes gleamed faintly in the night. He wasn't wrong. From the third level of Qi Refinement all the way to the sixth, I'd focused exclusively on water-element spells — Water Arrow, Condensed Water Shield, Flowing Wave Slash... not a single one had anything to do with fire.

"So how do I learn fire-element spells?" I swallowed my frustration. "Don't tell me I need to go buy a copy of Fundamentals of Fire-Element Spells?"

"At least your brain works some of the time. Fire-element spells are divided into three stages — 'Kindling,' 'Fire Control,' and 'Fire Mastery.' Kindling relies on natural talent or spiritual objects. Fire Control relies on cultivation techniques. Fire Mastery relies on magical treasures. You're at the sixth level of Qi Refinement right now — you could try a 'Fire-Kindling Talisman' for the Kindling stage, but the success rate is extremely low. As for Fire Control..." He paused, a crafty gleam in his eye. "That meteoric iron anvil board of yours is a fragment of the Dao Ancestor's divine treasure. It might just be able to draw on the fire-attribute energies between heaven and earth — though you'll bear full responsibility for any risks."

The corner of my mouth twitched. "So this pill refinement reward is just an empty promise?"

"Obviously! If it were easy, what would be the point of cultivation? You think this is like Auntie Wang downstairs haggling over vegetables? Hurry up and get your Concealment Technique properly drilled. Baizhen Pavilion's core disciples will probably arrive within the next day or two, and at the sixth level of Qi Refinement, you're no different from a freshly hatched chick in their eyes."

The mention of Baizhen Pavilion's core disciples sent a chill through me. The scattered cultivators and outer members who'd come before were already enough to keep me scrambling. The real core disciples would be at Foundation Establishment at the very least. Against a Foundation Establishment cultivator, my sixth-level Qi Refinement really wasn't worth much.

"I know." I let out a long breath and walked to the balcony, gazing out at the heavy darkness beyond the complex. "I'm thinking of lying low for a while. One reason is to keep Jade Lin and River out of harm's way. The other is to find somewhere I can focus on cultivating — push my strength a little further."

"At least you have some self-awareness." For once, the Elder didn't jab at me. "But where? You can't exactly wander around on the street."

I was still turning it over in my mind when a faint knock came from the other side of the front door — three short, one long. Uncle Zhang and the others' usual signal.

Something stirred in my chest. I crept silently to the door and peered through the peephole. Sure enough, Uncle Zhang stood outside leaning on his walking stick, his stooped silhouette outlined by moonlight, carrying with it an air of quiet composure.

I opened the door. Uncle Zhang pressed a finger to his lips and slipped inside. We left the living room light off — only the pale glow filtering in from the window outside.

"Ethan," Uncle Zhang said, his voice barely above a whisper, "I know you're planning to leave."

I blinked. "Uncle Zhang, you..."

"I felt it the moment you came up from the underground hideout." He made his way to the sofa and sat down, his walking stick tapping the floor softly. "Baizhen Pavilion is serious this time. Their core disciple — 'Chi Lin Zi' — is already on his way. Early Foundation Establishment. With where your cultivation stands, you're not his match yet."

My heart dropped. Early Foundation Establishment. So it had come to that.

"I was just about to discuss this with you." I sat down across from him. "I want to find a place to go into seclusion and train. Come back once my strength is at a different level. I just don't know where would be suitable."

Uncle Zhang was quiet for a moment, then his eyes lit up. "If you trust me, go to Donghai City. I have an old friend there — surname Hai, people call him 'Elder Kai.' He used to be with the Demon Demon Suppression Bureau too. He's living in seclusion now, somewhere near Yan Mountain on the outskirts of Donghai City. He has a hidden coastal secret realm there — rich in spiritual energy, well-suited for a water-element cultivator like you to train in. And Baizhen Pavilion's reach doesn't extend that far, at least not for now."

"Donghai City?" I hesitated. That was thousands of kilometres away. "Elder Kai... can he be trusted?"

"Don't worry." Uncle Zhang patted the back of my hand. His palm was dry and warm. "Elder Kai and I go back to life-and-death territory — we've walked through more than a few dangerous places together. He has a place called 'Wave-Listening Lodge.' Go there, mention my name, and he'll look after you."

He reached into his coat and produced a small object wrapped in oilcloth, pressing it into my hands. "Take this — a 'Water-Pattern Message Talisman.' Once you reach Donghai City, find a body of water and crush it. Elder Kai will receive the message."

End of Chapter 29: Leaving