Thor's request to remain the "youngest disciple" amused Alaric. It also came as a relief—he had been concerned about how future recruits might react to having a three-year-old as their senior. This clever boy knows exactly how to earn favor, Alaric thought. I'll make sure he's protected.
For now, Thor was his only disciple, and Alaric was determined to play the role of faction leader well. But he soon realized Thor's comprehension was frighteningly high. With a natural talent score of 8, the boy grasped the Nine Heavens Thunder Canon and Cloud Dragon Evasion almost intuitively. Alaric barely needed to teach—he simply provided the techniques, and Thor understood the rest.
While impressed, Alaric also felt pressure. As the leader, he couldn't fall behind. Talents like Thor and Soren would inevitably attract powerful enemies. Being merely a "starter mentor" wasn't an option—he refused to become a stepping stone or a footnote in someone else's story.
He focused on cultivation during their travels. The Sky Thunder Jade was invaluable, accelerating his progress several times over. If not for needing to conserve energy for the Thunderblade, he would have drained it completely.
Thor, meanwhile, had an unusual request. Blushing, he admitted, "It's not that I need it… I just like it. Like how the village chief enjoys his fruit wine." Alaric sighed—apparently, the boy wasn't fully weaned yet. Since some adults in Oran still drank beast milk for nourishment, he reluctantly agreed.
Hunting became more complicated. They needed live, lactating females. Days later, Alaric captured a Thunder-Striped Purple-Mane Leopard—a rare breed with an extra claw, incredible speed, and the ability to breathe lightning. Killing it would've been easier, but to make it cooperate, Alaric took its cub hostage. The mother eventually yielded, serving as both mount and milk source.
After a few days, Alaric released the leopard—not out of kindness, but because Thor wanted variety. "Mixed beast milk tastes better than just one kind," the boy claimed. Alaric tapped his head lightly. "You're spoiled." I'm a faction leader and a nursemaid, he mused wryly.
They finally neared the edge of the mountains. Beyond lay the plains and Silvermoon City. Over the past month, with help from the jade, Alaric advanced from Late to Peak Qi Refining Stage and was now preparing to break through to Spirit-Forging.
Yet compared to Thor, his progress felt slow. Without any external aid, the boy had risen from Mid to Late Qi Refining in the same time.
"I'll reach Spirit-Forging before we leave these mountains," Alaric vowed. He sat in meditation, drawing in spiritual energy, circulating it through his meridians, tempering both body and soul. After thirty-six cycles, he gathered all the energy and—guided by his first six lightning nodes—assaulted the seventh, the gate to Spirit-Forging.
He struggled, on the verge of exhaustion, when the node still refused to yield. Drawing power from the Sky Thunder Jade, he spun the energy into a drill, simultaneously sending finer threads to weaken the barrier from within. Just as his strength waned, the node shattered. Energy flooded in, transforming into true Spirit-Forging thunder force.
He had broken through.
As he stood, stretching, he noticed Thor was missing. The boy had grown more energetic since learning Cloud Dragon Evasion and often wandered off.
Deep in the woods, Thor was chasing a Golden-Feathered Spirit Sparrow—a rare breed, incredibly fast. After several failed attempts, he remembered Alaric's advice: Don't rush. Learn its rhythm first.
He watched patiently, then activated Cloud Dragon Evasion, darting forward in a blur and catching the bird mid-flight.
Delighted, he turned—and froze.
A man in red robes stood under a tree, staring at him in shock.
✅ SYSTEM:
Faction Points: 750
New Objective: Assess the unknown cultivator. Ensure disciple safety.
Note: Host has broken through to [Spirit-Forging Stage]. Combat readiness improved.