Luo Mei looked at the flower in her hand as tears started streaming down her eyes. He hands holding the lily were slightly shivering.

Alex was surprised to see this. He had expected to see her surprised face, or maybe even eyes bulging out of their sockets. But never had he expected her to just cry.

“Is Spiritual Sense really that good?” he couldn’t help but ask.

Luo Mei wiped her tears and answered, “Of Course it’s good. It’s something you can only unlock after reaching the Saint realm, if that’s not good then I don’t know what is.”

“Saint Realm??” it was his turn to get shocked now. Luo Mei took out a small jade box and kept the Spirit Cleansing Lily in there. She then kept the bag in her storage bag and thanked Alex once more.

“I will take my leave now, Daoist Yu. I hope we will meet again.” She said her goodbyes and started walking back towards the city.

“Wait, Daoist Luo.” He immediately cried out.

Luo Mei stopped and looked back. “What is it, Daoist Yu? Do you require something now?” she asked.

Alex looked a little embarrassed and scared as he said, “This area is too much for me to handle. Would you mind if I tag along until I got a bit out of the forest?”

“Oh. I’m so sorry Daoist Yu. I completely forgot you were weak. Please come, we don’t mind you tagging along with us.” She said.

Alex felt like crying at the fact that she just called him weak so nonchalantly. ‘Alchemy is important, but I need to get stronger too.’ He thought.

They walked back in a different direction from the previous one under Alex’s request. Along the way he found many more alchemy ingredients.

By now, he had more than half the ingredients for most of the recipes he knew. For some, he even had all the ingredients. He couldn’t wait to return and perform some more alchemy.

On the way back, a silver fox-like monster appeared before them. Alex read its name, [Swift Wolf: Bone Tempering 4th Realm]. The monster was a realm higher than him.

Luo Mei casually took out her sword and slashed it horizontally. The swift wolf immediately jumped to the side but was still grazed by the incoming slash. There was a long gash on its back and was now bleeding into its silver fur.

The moment it got hurt, it ran away. It really did live up to its name and was very swift.

“Should we follow it?” Alex asked.

“No need. Unless that monster finds a monster core of a monster stronger than it, it won’t survive my attack. The most it can live for now is 2 days.” Luo Mei was very confident in her attack.

“What does a monster core have to do with other monsters?” he asked.

“Monsters cultivate very slowly, so one way to cultivate faster for them is to hunt down other monsters and eat their cores. Similarly, when they are hurt eating other monster’s cores helps them heal as well. But the monster core should also come from a relatively high-level monster for it to work. Otherwise, it would have to eat many low cultivation monsters.” Luo Mei replied

“I see,” Alex was grateful for her teaching him different things.

After a while, they were nearly out of the forest when all 3 of them stopped. There was noise in front of them.

Suddenly, a green-robed young man appeared from behind the trees. He was surprised to see the 3 of them as well. He saw a single outer disciple among the two yellow-robed females.

‘Are they threatening him? Is he in trouble?’

“Junior brother, do you need any help?” he tried to see if he was being forced by them or walking on his own accord.

He looked at Meng Yun’s robe and was surprised to see a blue lining. ‘Inner sect disciple of Tiger Sect?’ he was surprised. He doubted he could take her on if the junior disciple really needed help.

He then turned to look at Luo Mei. The moment he saw her red linings, his eyes went wide.

Alex decided to answer, “Thank you but I don’t need any help, senior brother. These fellow Daoists are taking me out of the forest since it was dangerous for me.”

“I-Is that s-so. Th-Then I s-shall take my l-leave.” He bowed towards Luo Mei a bit and ran off.

‘What’s up with him?’ Alex was confused. Meng Yun looked at the young man running away and was surprised.

She walked up to Luo Mei and slowly whispered in her ears, “Senior Sister, that man’s robes are darker in color than this guy’s.”

Luo Mei was surprised when she heard this. She immediately compared the robes and realized Alex’s robes were lighter in shade. She knew what this meant.

“Daoist Yu, is that man a core disciple from your sect?” she asked.

“Hmm… I don’t think so. He should be an inner disciple. ” Alex thought of nothing when he heard this question.

Luo Mei’s eyes went wider, “Then why are you calling him senior brother?”

“What else would I call an inner sect disciple? Anything else from an outer sect disciple like me would be considered disrespectful.” Alex simply replied.

Luo Mei was surprised. ‘An outer sect disciple? No way. He is so talented. Even in our sect, a bone tempering realm cultivator would automatically become an inner sect disciple. How is he still an outer sect with his amazing ingredients-finding ability? Should I try to rope him in?’ she thought.

“Why aren’t you an inner sect disciple already Daoist Yu?” she decided to tread the waters slowly.

“I haven’t completed the requirements for becoming an inner sect disciple yet.”

Luo Mei was surprised. ” A bone tempering realm cultivator like you doesn’t meet the requirement? What are the requirements then?” she asked.

“Oh, I just have to make 10 different recipes mortal grade pills, that’s all.” Alex didn’t hide anything.

“I see… and how many have you made so far?” she asked meekly.

“Well, as of yet, only 1,” Alex replied