I quickly ducked my head down and suppressed my aura to the absolute minimum.
Right now, I was drenched in cold sweat.
If Star spotted me, I''d be dead for sure!
Star stared toward my direction, remaining silent for an extended period.
"Lord Star, is something wrong?" A Marquis beside him inquired quietly.
Star stayed quiet for a moment, then shook his head. "Nothing. Let''s move."
He guided the others away from this ce, and I couldn''t help but let out a relieved breath.
Still, I didn''t dare move carelessly, worried that Star might return.
A full thirty minutes passed before I was certain Star had left, and I finally rxed.
"Weird," I whispered under my breath.
"Did he really not sense me?"
A Martial Saint''s spiritual awareness is incredibly sharp - a half-step Martial Saint would have no ce to hide from it.
Was there something off with Star''s spiritual sense?
"Whatever, no point dwelling on it," I dismissed with a wave.
As long as I stayed undetected, that''s all that mattered.
So I stood up, got on the boatman''s vessel, and headed toward the opposite bank.
Over an hourter.
I finally made it to the other side sessfully.
After getting off, I gazed at the expansive forest several kilometers ahead.
A tourist area surrounded the woods - once past that, it would bepletely deserted territory.
I didn''t waste time, pulled my hat low, and hurried toward the forest.
Before long, I reached where Paul Randall was staying.
Paul Randall, who had been meditating, cracked his eyes open slightly.
He nced in my direction, confusion flickering across his features.
"Mason Raymond?" Paul Randall called out tentatively.
I stepped forward quickly, bowed, and said, "I''vee to visit Senior Paul Randall."
Paul Randall looked even more puzzled.
He rose from the ground. "How did you get here?"
I gave a bitter smile. "I came to learn from you."
Paul Randall seemed to have realized something.
He stroked his beard and grinned. "You want to study the Nine Secrets?"
"Exactly," I didn''t try to hide it.
I told Paul Randall about everything that had happened recently.
After hearing my ount, Paul Randall appeared slightly stunned.
"Mabel Sean was kidnapped? By someone who might be from the Mighty Realm?" Paul Randall was utterly shocked.
I sighed. "Yes, I waspletely powerless against him. I don''t even remember how I lost consciousness."
Paul Randall went quiet for a short while.
After some time, he got up. "For this situation, you could try asking Jerry Sean."
When Jerry Sean was mentioned, I suddenly recalled something.
"Could it actually be someone from the Sean family''s Secret Realm?" I gasped in shock.
Paul Randall sighed slowly. "If it''s truly a mighty realm practitioner, then I''m afraid it''s not the secret realm."
"What do you mean?" I asked urgently.
Paul Randall waved dismissively, offering no further exnation.
"Oh right, I spotted Star on the other bank earlier." At this moment, I suddenly remembered something.
Paul Randall''s brow creased slightly as he said coldly, "Star? You ran into Star?"
"I''m not sure how to put it," I said with a rueful smile.
I recounted the incident to Paul Randall.
After listening, Paul Randall fell silent for a while.
"With Star''s capabilities, detecting me shouldn''t be an issue, but he just stared at me briefly and left," I said quietly.
Paul Randall sighed slowly. "Back then... he spared me once too."
I gasped in amazement. "He let you go as well?! What... What''s really happening here?!" I stared wide-eyed.
Paul Randall didn''t borate. Instead, he said, "Star values talent - maybe he meant to spare you."
With that, Paul Randall dropped the subject.
"Come, I''ll teach you the Nine Secrets now," Paul Randall dered.
I didn''t hesitate and nodded right away.
"The Nine Secrets are Daoism''s supreme techniques. Not just in today''s world, but even in the cultivation realm, they''re considered top-tier methods," Paul Randall exined.
"Understanding this technique is incredibly challenging - it doesn''t depend on ability, but on destiny."
"Only those with the right fate can master the Nine Secrets."
I nodded seriously. "Senior Paul Randall, I get it. I''ll give it everything I''ve got."
"Well, even for those destined to learn it, mastering the Nine Secrets requires considerable time," Paul Randall went on.
"When I first studied the Nine Secrets, it took me two weeks."
I nodded repeatedly - no matter the time required, I had to learn it.
So Paul Randall fell silent, settling cross-legged on the ground. A strand of spiritual consciousness emerged from his forehead.
"My spiritual awareness will enter your mind through your brow and instruct you this way. Don''t fight it, or it might backfire," Paul Randall warned.
"Yes, Senior Paul Randall," I nodded quickly.
The strand of spiritual consciousness touched my forehead.
I closed my eyes slightly, and soon Paul Randall''s image materialized in my consciousness.
My mind filled with golden radiance, which formed his figure, beginning to receive the spiritual teaching from Paul Randall.
——
Capital City Martial Arts Association''s Conference Room.
"Paul Randall escaped my grasp," Lord Star announced in a grave tone.
Garcia Coleman''s brow furrowed.
"Uncle Star, how did a Half-step Martial Saint slip away from you, ate-stage Martial Saint Realm cultivator?" Garcia Coleman asked, perplexed.
Star bowed respectfully. "Paul Randall has learned the Nine Secrets - his speed surpasses mine."
Upon hearing this, Garcia Coleman knitted his brows, appearing somewhat doubtful.
"Hehe..."
Just then, a menacing voice came from the side.
The voice was none other than Walton Greer''s.
By now, Walton had grown even more ominous - he was shrouded in a ck cloak, and his body radiated a rotting stench.
"I once encountered Lord Star''s image in old texts..." Walton said ominously.
"ording to those records, Lord Star had many disciples back then, mostly young prodigies. The book mentions that you''re someone who greatly values talent..."
"It was precisely because of this that the Guardians showed you mercy. I didn''t mention this before, did I, Lord Star?"
Star red coldly at Walton Greer. "What are you getting at?"
Walton Greer spoke in an eerie tone. "You appeared to have shown Paul Randall mercy once before, letting him - who should have died by your hand - be the strongest person below the Martial Saints."
"What exactly are you trying to say?" Star''s voice carried a hint of frost.
Walton Greer sneered. "What I''m trying to say, Lord Star, you should understand perfectly well..."
Star''s eyes narrowed, and he suddenly struck out, pping Walton!
Walton''s body flew sideways and crashed violently into the wall!
A stream of fresh blood spurted from his mouth like a geyser!
"Who do you think you are to spout nonsense before me," Star said icily.
"If the entity within you still wishes to survive, mind your tone when speaking to me."
At these words, Walton Greer''s body shook slightly.
He picked himself up from the floor and bowed toward Garcia Coleman.
"Mr. Tenny, let me deal with Paul Randall. What do you think?" Walton said menacingly.
Garcia Coleman raised an eyebrow and said with amusement, "You? A Half-step Martial Saint going after Paul Randall?"
"Why should I fear him when we''re in the same realm?" Walton Greer rasped.
Garcia Coleman''s interest was immediately piqued.
"Fine! If you can capture Paul Randall, I''ll reward you generously!" Garcia Coleman said excitedly.
"No need... Just give me Paul Randall..." Walton said.
Garcia Coleman considered for a moment and nodded. "Agreed! But you only get three days!"
"Fine, three days will be plenty," Walton said coldly.