Apollo sat beneath his makeshift roof while Bluetooth and his monkey played together nearby.
He watched them for a moment before reaching into his robe and pulling out a scroll.
It was the scroll the Great Serpent Headmaster had given him.
"What could this be…" Apollo muttered as he unrolled it and began to read.
"You have been invited to join the Manida Land Exchange Knowledge, where experts can come together to share what they know, learn from each other, and make progress collectively…"
After reading for a while, Apollo flipped the scroll over and found another message written by the Great Serpent Headmaster:
"Hopefully, by joining this event, you will enjoy yourself. There's an after-party auction, and I will send you some funds if you decide to participate in it."
"What's with him?" Apollo muttered, frowning. "Is he doing me a favor or something?"
The scroll was an invitation to a gathering in another city, Manida Land City. It was described as an exchange of knowledge between experts—a glorified party, essentially. The event also featured a sparring arena for experts to test their skills and an auction afterward, which, according to the scroll, would include a rare item.
Axton had even promised to send him funds for the auction.
Apollo couldn't understand the Headmaster's intentions in giving him the invitation.
He stared at the scroll for a few moments before tucking it back inside his robe. The event was still eight days away, and he decided to think about it later.
For now, Apollo wanted peace. He aimed to focus on cultivation, increasing his strength to reach the 4th-Step Qi Condensation Stage. Although he didn't yet know the limits of his 3rd-Step body, it didn't bother him; he could figure it out later.
His gaze shifted to his disciple, Don, and a thought crossed his mind. Having a disciple was proving beneficial, as they helped him earn Alm Points.
Apollo resolved that once he reached the 4th-Step, he would recruit more disciples.
Shaking his head, he closed his eyes and began cultivating the Revised Revised Simple Breathing Technique. The world around him faded to black as firefly-like Qi began to flow into his body.
The Qi circulated within him, following a pattern he had created himself. Before long, Apollo was completely immersed in his cultivation.
Hours passed, and night fell.
When Apollo opened his eyes, the first thing he noticed was his Alm Points increasing.
He glanced to the side and saw that he had gained another 4.6 Alm Points, including those generated by the Automatic Alm Points Producer.
Smiling in satisfaction, he stood and walked to a corner where two baskets sat.
The Filly Restaurant, having noticed the arrival of a new beggar under Yoma's protection, had thoughtfully added another basket without Apollo even asking.
"They're really considerate," Apollo muttered, feeling an unexpected wave of appreciation. This made him want to do them a favor someday.
Apollo walked up to Don and handed him a basket. "Eat first."
Don and Apollo entered the beggar spot and began eating.
Nearby, the small falcon and the monkey had already become best friends. Bluetooth rested on top of Bubba's head, the two now inseparable.
The animals quickly perked up upon smelling the food.
Apollo fed them, and Don followed suit. Once finished, Apollo grabbed Bluetooth and leaped onto the rooftop.
With a wave of his hand, they were enveloped in a transparent film—a technique derived from Hydra Mirage. Apollo deactivated the Basic Shrunk Technique, allowing Bluetooth to return to his full size.
"Let's go," Apollo ordered as he climbed onto the Water-Attributed Falcon's back.
With a powerful flap of its wings, they shot into the sky.
Apollo guided Bluetooth toward the Training Ground. The journey was so swift it lasted less than thirty seconds before they arrived.
Their landing sent a gust of wind rippling through the surrounding grass and leaves.
Apollo dismounted as the transparent film dissipated into particles of Qi, revealing both him and Bluetooth.
"Oh? So they let you take a Water Falcon out of their school? You must be very important to them," a voice echoed.
Apollo turned to see Sir Guo, the Training Ground Guardian, sitting casually on one of the steps at the foot of the platform.
"It's because I'm handsome," Apollo replied shamelessly, striding over to Sir Guo. As he approached, a strong scent of alcohol hit him. "D*mn, you're drunk. What kind of alcohol can even affect a 4th-Step Qi Condensation Stage cultivator?"
"Core Creation, kid," Sir Guo corrected, releasing a sudden wave of his true cultivation.
The shift in atmosphere was suffocating, and Apollo, though already at the 3rd-Step Qi Condensation Stage, felt overwhelmed by the pressure.
Seeing Apollo's pale face, Sir Guo smirked and withdrew the oppressive aura. "It's just fake cultivation to throw people off. Impressive, huh?"
"You stink. You did that on purpose," Apollo said, taking a deep breath to recover.
"Yeah, a little payback for your lie," Sir Guo replied, his eyes glinting coldly.
"When did I lie?" Apollo asked, his expression deadpan. "I just agreed to your request. Anyway, let's go kill the Mayor!"
"Kill—" Sir Guo nearly choked on his words, feeling as though he might vomit blood. "You're still acting and treating me like a fool!"
"Drop the act! I already know everything! I even know you've got another master despite accepting me as your teacher!"
Hearing this, Apollo chuckled. "What's the big deal? I have two masters, so what?"
"You! That's a taboo!" Sir Guo shouted, his face red with anger. Though he had been drunk moments ago, one circulation of Qi erased all traces of alcohol from his system. "If you belonged to a sect or school and did that, you'd face the death penalty!"
"That serious?" Apollo asked, his eyes widening in surprise.
"Yes!" Sir Guo nodded firmly.
"I see. But I don't belong to any sect, so does that even apply to you? And besides, we have an agreement. I'm free from you now!"
"No!" Sir Guo's voice was sharp, his eyes cold. "You tricked me."
"How did I trick you?" Apollo asked, raising an eyebrow.