I looked at Paul Randall with eager eyes, hope filling every part of me.


    But Paul Randall shook his head. "You get how dao techniques work now, so you should know that only your own understanding can get you to Martial Saint level."


    "After all, nobody else can walk your path for you."


    I had nothing to say to that.


    He was right. If I hadn''t figured out my own way forward, how could anyone else do it for me?


    "Got it," I said with a small nod.


    "Understanding dao techniques isn''t something that happens overnight. Some folks spend decades on it, maybe their whole lives," Paul Randall exined.


    "Being a Martial Saint is like reaching a fork in the road. You''ve got to pick which way you''re going."


    I got to my feet and nodded. "Right. Thanks for the advice, Senior."


    After that, I left.


    Over the next few days, when I wasn''t making pills for Jimmy Ysabel, I spent all my time trying to find my path.


    ——


    Word about Paul Randall reaching Martial Saint level spread like wildfire.


    The news hit everyone like a shot of pure energy, letting them breathe easier.


    But when stories from the Nine Pinnacles Mountain battle got out, people went absolutely wild!


    "This proves our current Martial Saints are tougher than those old-school saints in the Mystic Realm!"


    "Anyone who bes a Martial Saint can take on ten enemies at once!"


    "Wonder who''s gonna be the next one to reach Martial Saint!"


    While everyone was buzzing with excitement, Garcia Coleman headed to the Immortal ying Sect.


    The ce looked like it was falling apart, nothing like the powerhouse sects he remembered.


    Besides the white bone army, only Iris Darren was left there.


    "What brings you here?" Iris Darren barely opened his eyes when he saw Garcia Coleman show up unexpectedly.


    Garcia Coleman dropped down in front of Iris Darren. He rolled a bead between his fingers as he spoke casually, "You''re the one who''s been wanting to steal martial artists'' divine senses, right? I know just the spot."


    "Nine Pinnacles Mountain?" Iris Darren''s mouth twitched like he might smile.


    Garcia Coleman jerked back. "How''d you know that?"


    Iris Darren let out a harshugh. "Garcia Coleman, you trying to use me as your chess piece? Think you''re good enough for that?"


    Garcia Coleman''s face tightened up right away.


    "What, getting cold feet?" Garcia Coleman taunted.


    Iris Darren shot back, "You scared? Why don''t you go yourself?"


    "I don''t have your white bone army. You lend me that army, and I''ll level Nine Pinnacles Mountain by tomorrow!" Garcia Coleman said through gritted teeth.


    "So you''re saying your white bone army''s afraid of Paul Randall?"


    Iris Darren snorted. "Paul Randall is nothing against my white bone army. But I''m not going to Nine Pinnacles Mountain."


    "Why not?" Garcia Coleman''s brow creased.


    Iris Darren spoke without emotion. "Don''t need to anymore. I found the Immortal ying Sect''s secret techniques."


    "Secret techniques? What kind?" Garcia Coleman pressed.


    But Iris Darren just shut his eyes, clearly done talking.


    Garcia Coleman didn''t stick around to embarrass himself more. He scoffed and walked out.


    Once he got in the car, Barret asked, "How''d it go, Young Master Garcia?"


    Garcia Coleman scoffed. "Guy''s turned into a coward. Looks like his white bone army''s all bark and no bite!"


    Barret sounded worried. "What do we do now?"


    Garcia Coleman narrowed his eyes. "Some things you can''t just skip because you don''t feel like doing them!"


    "If he won''t move, I''ll make him move!"


    Then he waved his hand. "Drive."


    Inside the Immortal ying Sect, Iris Darren slowly opened his eyes.


    He waved his hand, and thirteen skeletons materialized before him!


    Every single one of those thirteen skeletons could rip a Martial Saint apart!


    Looking at the thirteen skeletons lined up in front of him, Iris Darren''s face broke into a victorious grin.


    He raised his hand, and the thirteen skeleton bodies started glowing.


    The light flowed into Iris Darren''s forehead, and pure joy spread across his face.


    After a moment, a wicked smile crept across Iris Darren''s lips.


    "The Immortal ying Sect once used a secret technique to suck up divine senses from tens of thousands of martial artists. That''s how they built their empire!"


    "Today, I''m bringing back that ancient method, using the secret technique again to build my ultimate body and return to the top!" Iris Darren dered with wild ambition.


    He didn''t go to Nine Pinnacles Mountain because he''d found the Immortal ying Sect''s secret technique!


    If he could pull off this secret technique, he could absorb divine senses from tons of martial artists all at once to make himself stronger.


    "Just wait and see. You''ll all be part of me!" Iris Darren bared his teeth in a cruel smile.


    ——


    Things were calm and peaceful on Nine Pinnacles Mountain.


    Lots of people followed Paul Randall around, learning his techniques.


    But I was different. My technique skills were just as good as Paul Randall''s, so I didn''t need to learn from him.


    I spent most of my time looking for my own path.


    But every time I closed my eyes, hundreds of different paths seemed to spread out in front of me.


    Every path seemed to be calling out to me.


    Which way should I go? Even I didn''t have a clue.


    In just a few days, I''d gotten noticeably skinnier.


    Even worse, blood kept trickling from the corners of my mouth over the past few days.


    The damage to my golden core seemed to be getting worse.


    "This is really getting to me..." I muttered under my breath.


    "Once I figure out my path, maybe I should go hunt for that Heavenly Vani," I thought to myself.


    ——


    Capital City Martial Arts Association.


    In Garcia Coleman''s office, a man stood waiting.


    This guy was giving off seriously dark vibes, his whole body wrapped in a ck robe.


    The man was Walton Greer!


    "Young Master Garcia, what do you need from me..." Walton Greer''s aura got even more menacing, sending chills through anyone nearby. Even Garcia Coleman felt ufortable.


    He frowned, then said, "I want you to kill someone, but make it look like Iris Darren did it."


    "Basically, you need to absorb divine senses. Can you handle that?"


    Walton Greer shed a grin. "For me... that''s child''s y. Just tell me who to kill."


    Garcia Coleman pulled out a document and tossed it at Walton Greer.


    The document had a long list of names written one after another.


    After reading the names, a smirk spread across Walton Greer''s face.


    "So many people... the Capital City Martial Arts Association''s gotten pretty gutsy..." Walton Greer said ominously.


    Garcia Coleman said coldly, "It''s not that the Capital City Martial Arts Association got braver. It''s that Iris Darren got cockier."


    Walton Greer sneered. "Got it. I''ll get this done tonight."