“Sister is back?” he asked in surprise. He looked inside the ball of ice that was floating in the air and saw something yellow inside with occasional hints of green.

The elder that was refereeing the match suddenly stepped in and stopped Luo Mei. The ball of ice that was floating midair crashed onto the ground and the disciple that was inside fell out, unconscious.

Luo Mei was quickly pronounced victorious and the crowds of disciples looked around in awe. Luo Mei walked down from the stage and continued huffing. Alex ran up.

“Sister!” he shouted. “You’re back.”

Luo Mei turned around and chuckled. “It seems you’re finally out of your room. Honestly, were you sleeping? I called you out so many times,” she said.

“Oh, you did?” Alex asked shyly. It must’ve been when he was still logged out, so he couldn’t have heard her call him out.

“Wait, if you’re here. That means… Uncle is okay?” Alex asked.

“Yes, all thanks to you,” Luo Mei said softly. “Thank you, junior brother. Taking you on my journey back home was the best thing I ever did.”

“Aw, you don’t have to say that. But you’re welcome. I will always help you if you need it again,” Alex said.

“No, seriously, Junior brother. Thank you for what you did,” Luo Xing came from the side and said. “Do not hesitate if there is anything you need help with. Call us, and we will be there.”

“Oh, thank you. Actually, I do have a small favor to ask of you,” Ning said. “Let’s talk about that later though.”

“Anyway, who were you fighting, sister? Did you decide to beat someone because you saw your badge number was low?” Alex asked with a chuckle.

“No, I just took my rank back,” Luo Mei said with a smile.

“Wait…” it took a moment for Alex to comprehend what she had just said. He immediately stretched his neck to look at the green-haired disciple that was no longer there.

“You beat Trevor? He was quite strong from what I heard,” Alex said.

“I saw. He was strong, much stronger than I imagined. However, his abilities hadn’t matured. He doesn’t have any skill at fighting at all, and his knowledge wasn’t that good either,” Luo Mei said.

“I saw that too,” Xiao Huang said from the side. “Like what sort of idiot continues fighting against Water with Metal and Earth? That kid needs to learn a lot before he advances to the True realms.”

“He’s one of those stupid, but talented ones that have been appearing lately I believe,” Luo Xing said.

“Anyway, let’s go back. Please tell me what happened after I left,” Alex said.

The four of them walked back up the mountain. Luo Mei explained everything that had happened in Rubyroad city for the last few days.

She explained how her father was healed and how eating the pill that Alex left him helped get rid of the rest of the parasites.

Luo Keng was now starting to show signs of recovery. His pale face was starting to show color once again. He then ate pills that healed him and were now on his way to making a swift recovery.

Luo Mei also explained how the Mind Elating pills that Alex left her had helped her.

“I knew little brother was an alchemist and a healer, but I didn’t know he was such an experienced fighter too,” Xiao Huang said.

“Oh, you fought today? When?” Luo Mei asked.

“Yeah,” Alex said. “It was right around the same time as when you fought, so you didn’t realize.”

“Oh, someone dared challenge you even after reaching the 3rd rank, huh?” Luo Mei said. “They must’ve lost their mind.”

“It was Yang Ma,” Alex said.

“What?” Luo Mei asked.

“It was Yang Ma who challenged me,” Alex said.

“And you won?” Luo Mei asked.

Alex smiled. “Yeah, easily. I’m strong now too sister,” he said.

“Nice. Good one. I always like it when I get to see his sour face,” Luo Mei said.

“You really do hate him, don’t you?” Alex asked. “Did he try to go for the 1st rank before too?”

“No, it’s his arrogance. He comes from an aristocratic family, not unlike our own, but really likes to show it. Just because his family apparently has a Saint realm expert, he used to act like he owned the whole world.”

“He’s way more refined now compared to how he was back then. But still, I can’t help but remember his arrogant looks and hate him,” Luo Mei said.

“I see,” Alex said.

The four of them reached Luo Mei’s house and entered.

“Oh, hey Meng Yun, good to see you again,” Alex said.

“Hello,” Meng Yun greeted him back. She sneakily checked his aura and realized how much further and further behind she was getting compared to him.

“Are you and sister Xing staying in the city for the night, brother Huang?” Alex asked.

“Yes. The Beast horde will be attacking any day now, so we will have to stay here just to be safe,” Xiao Huang said.

“I see. That’s not a bad idea,” Alex said. “Are you staying somewhere nearby?”

“Uhh… we were thinking of getting a lodging outside the sect,” Xiao Huang said.

“Nonsense, we have so many rooms. Just stay with us,” Alex said. “Sister Xing can stay here, and you will stay with me, brother Huang.”

“Haha, if you invite me like that, then I can’t refuse, little brother,” Xiao Huang said.

The four of them continued talking for a while. Alex was also consumed by the conversations and forgot about the passage of time.

Suddenly he remembered something. “Oh no!” he shouted.

“What? What’s wrong?” Luo Mei asked.

“Uhh,” Alex made a wry smile and said, “Nothing. Everything is fine. I just forgot something. I will take my leave for now.”

“Little brother, what about your favor? What did you want to ask me?” Luo Xing said.

“Uh… I don’t know if I can ask that out here,” Alex said. “Can you come into this room real quick?”

“Is it something we can’t hear?” Luo Mei asked.

“I can’t be the judge of that,” Alex said. “I will tell sister Xing, and if she deems it okay to share, I will share.”

“Very well, go on in then,” Luo Mei said and the two of them entered the room.

“What is it, little brother? What do you need help on?” Luo Xing asked.

Alex sent out his spiritual sense to make sure no one was listening, especially Xiao Huang. At the same time, he took out a talisman and handed it to Luo Xing.

Luo Xing took the talisman and read what was inside. She saw a formation blueprint inside that didn’t depict many things that a normal formation blueprint should.

Instead, it only had the rough drawing of the formation.

“What’s this?” Luo Xing asked with confusion.

“It’s something I need help on, sister,” Alex said. “I didn’t know who to ask. Fortunately, you came here.”

“What’s this formation? Where did you get this? I’ve never seen one like this before. I can’t even tell what base formations make up this formation,” Luo Xing said.

“Also, there are so many strokes. This almost looks like a Saint formation too,” she said.

“I know, sister. This is a formation I got from a man I… from the clone of a man I killed. He had this formation carved onto the ground, and he was making use of it.”

“You told me formations without metal were possible… can you tell me how I can get that one to work?” Alex asked.

Luo Xing looked at the formation and contemplated. “Did he really not use any metal?” she asked.

“No,” Alex said. “In fact… he didn’t even use any Qi to start it.”

“Huh? How is that possible?” Luo Xing asked.

“Also, he used this as a power source instead of a regular spirit stone,” Alex said as he brought out a Yang jade.

“What’s this?” Luo Xing asked.

“It’s jade with yang energy in it. You can find a few from time to time behind our sect,” Alex said. “He was making use of it to use that formation to strengthen himself. Can you figure out how?”

“I… I don’t know. I will have to ask brother Huang,” Luo Xing said.

“Is that alright? I thought that bringing up information about the metalless formation was against the sect rules of yours,” Alex said.

“I can explain to him that you brought it up first,” Luo Xing said. “Either that or I can be truthful. That should work too. Don’t worry, he’s my senior brother. Besides, this formation could be the key to figuring out how those things work.”

“Well, if you are confident about it, then sure,” Alex said. He handed her the yang jade and left it all up to her.

“I will have to go now. I made a promise to someone and I’m already late,” Alex said.

He walked out of the room and saw the curious faces of Luo Mei and Xiao Huang. He chuckled and said, “if you want to learn more about what it is, ask her.”

He then tossed his badge to Xiao Huang and said, “you can use this badge to enter my house. Just take any room you like and make yourself home in there. I will see you guys later.”

Alex said his goodbyes and walked out of the house. He checked the house next over and quickly ran up to his master’s manor.

“Brother Yuhan, I’m sorry I was late,” he said as he walked into the training room while apologizing for his tardiness, but when he went inside, there was nobody.