At the Capital City Martial Arts Association, a massive hunt for Mason Raymond hadmenced.


    At the same time, I had been secluded for days now.


    My internal energy was surging at breakneck speed, and after consuming forty-eight Golden Cores, I could finally sense the edge of a breakthrough approaching.


    "Looks like I''m about to enter the Consummate Inner Strength Grandmaster level," I mused.


    I couldn''t afford to waste a second; I shut my eyes and gulped down another golden core.


    With this core''s power, my energy started rocketing upward! I felt like I was only one step away from reaching the Consummate Inner Strength Grandmaster level!


    Right then, Cleo had reached the Mystic Realm''s entrance.


    He stared coldly at the gateway, then positioned his hand in the empty space ahead.


    Rays of light started glowing, and gradually, an entrance materialized in front of him.


    "This is the Gyeon City Mystic Realm?" a young man next to Cleo questioned with bewilderment.


    Cleo said nothing and walked into the Mystic Realm.


    Not wanting tog behind, the young man hurried after him.


    The moment both men entered the Mystic Realm, I immediately sensed their arrival.


    "This fast?" My face shifted involuntarily.


    I had expected my hiding spot would eventually be found, but I hadn''t thought it would happen this quickly!


    This was the critical moment for my breakthrough, and I couldn''t handle any disruptions.


    If they found me, I worried all my hard work would be wasted!


    My expression turned extremely grim, and my mental focus was severely shaken.


    "No, if I keep thinking like this, my breakthrough will definitely fail!" I grumbled.


    I drew a deep breath, forcing myself to steady my mindset, doing everything I could to avoid getting distracted.


    Outside, Cleo was already marching toward the house with long strides.


    That''s when Ste Lucas spotted Cleo approaching.


    She rushed over and questioned, "Who are you?"


    The young man next to Cleo immediately yelled, "This is Elder Cleo from the Michelle Sect!"


    "Elder Cleo of the Michelle Sect?" Ste''s expression shifted slightly.


    "And who might you be? Why are you in the Michelle Sect''s Mystic Realm?" the young man demanded coldly.


    Ste quickly responded, "I''m also part of the Michelle Sect, working under Alexa Madron. I''ve met Elder Cleo before."


    "Part of the Michelle Sect?" Cleo''s eyebrows creased, and his face looked somewhat doubtful.


    Ste frantically dug into her bag and pulled out a token.


    This token was definitely from the Michelle Sect.


    Cleo grabbed the token and examined it, then said quietly, "Yes, a Michelle Sect member."


    "But I thought Mason Raymond eliminated everyone in the Mystic Realm. How did you make it out alive?" Cleo asked icily.


    Ste quickly exined, "Since I joined recently, I haven''t been in the Mystic Realm for long."


    Cleo seemed too bored to keep talking with Ste, gestured dismissively and asked, "Where''s Mason Raymond?"


    Ste clenched her teeth and answered, "About Mason... he''s not here..."


    "Not here?" Cleo''s brow creased.


    "Didn''t Leigh Simpson say he was hiding here? And where''s Leigh?"


    "Ah... Mason found out that Leigh had tipped you off, so he killed him," Ste lied with struggle.


    "So, to be safe, Mason chose not to hide here and went to the Immortal ying Sect instead."


    Cleo stared at Ste with suspicion, clearly doubting her story.


    "Elder Cleo, if you don''t trust me, I can show you Leigh''s body!" Ste said quickly.


    "Take us there now!" the young man next to Cleo barked.


    Ste didn''t dare argue, and quickly guided both men to Leigh''s corpse.


    Staring at Leigh''s body on the ground, Cleo said coldly, "It takes the Michelle Sect years to train a Mystic Realm Master; Mason Raymond actually killed him!"


    "Not only is he dead, but he also warned Mason about ouring," the young man next to Cleo couldn''t help but swear.


    Ste went on, "Before Leigh died, he asked me to wait here for you and tell you that Mason went to the Immortal ying Sect."


    Cleo took a deep breath and said coldly, "Let''s head to the Immortal ying Sect!"


    "Yes!"


    Both men turned and exited the Mystic Realm.


    Watching them walk away, Ste finally breathed a long sigh of relief.


    She walked to Mason''s room door and whispered, "Mason, you need to hurry. If they don''t find anyone at the Immortal ying Sect, they''ll definitely return..."


    Inside the room, I was making a frantic push to break through.


    My energy was climbing rapidly, and from my body, beams of light radiated outward.


    For me, every breakthrough was aplete transformation!


    The difference between the Consummate Inner Strength Grandmaster and the Peak Form of Military Marquis was even more massive!


    I even thought that once I reached the Consummate Inner Strength Grandmaster level, I wouldn''t fear Half-step Martial Sages!


    If I made it to the Half-step Martial Sage level, I would fear nobody in this world!


    Ste stood outside the door, watching the beams of light streaming from the room, and felt some joy in her heart.


    "This kind of scene should mean a breakthrough ising!" Ste whispered.


    But right then, the Mystic Realm''s entrance opened again!


    Looking back, she saw that Cleo and the young man had actuallye back!


    Ste''s face changed dramatically, and her heart filled with terror.


    "Elder Cleo... why did you return?" she asked, trying to hold back the panic inside her.


    Cleo narrowed his eyes and said, "Since Leigh died in front of Mason, why didn''t he kill you as well?"


    Ste''s face changed drastically! She knew she was caught!


    "Because... because Mason was rushing, so he..." Ste still tried to make excuses.


    However, the young man next to Cleo cut off her words.


    "Elder Cleo, Mason Raymond is in that room!" the young man shouted.


    Cleo nced at the glowing room and looked coldly at Ste, saying, "Do you understand what happens to those who betray the Michelle Sect?"


    Ste''s face went white as a sheet.


    The deep terror in her heart made her body shake uncontrobly.


    "Elder Cleo, I..."


    "Bang!"


    Before Ste could finish talking, Cleo had already hit her with his palm!


    This strikended right on Ste''s chest, and the tremendous force crushed her ribcage!


    "Anyone who betrays the Michelle Sect must die!" Cleo said coldly.