"Incredible!"
"I heard the guard was at the peak of Spirit Apprentice. To defeat him at such a young age is no small feat, and in one punch, no less."
"His talents must be amazing!"
The crowd whispered to each other about the events that had just transpired.
As Apex had anticipated, someone emerged from the Black Pearl.
A young lady, likely around the same age as Apex's disguised form or a year older.
She had long, glossy, and beautiful green hair, with striking blue eyes.
She walked out of the Black Pearl and stood in front of Apex.
The crowd gasped in shock.
"That's Hu Xin, Madam Mei's daughter! It's shocking to see her personally come out to address this situation!"
A person within the crowd informed those who were unaware of the girl's identity.
"My mother would like to meet with you."
The crowd was captivated by Hu Xin's elegant voice.
The only person not caught off guard was Apex.
"Thank you!"
Apex bowed and maintained its act, knowing that its role was not yet complete.
Hu Xin guided Apex through the Black Pearl to her master's location.
The guests within the Black Pearl looked on with curiosity at Apex.
"Who is that young man that Hu Xin is personally escorting?"
"Perhaps he is a young master from one of the three prestigious families?"
They speculated that Apex must come from a powerful background, the only explanation for Hu Xin's escort.
As Hu Xin led Apex through the floors, Apex could sense the presence of powerful treasures and beast cores that would greatly benefit its cultivation.
This was precisely why Apex sought a personal connection with such a prominent figure.
After two more minutes of climbing stairs, they arrived at the 10th floor and stood before a door.
Hu Xin knocked on the door and said,
"Mother, I have brought him."
A voice from inside the room resounded,
"You may enter."
Hu Xin opened the door and waited for Apex to enter first before closing it behind them.
The room Apex entered was larger than most houses, a testament to the immense size of the Black Pearl.
Apex was led to the farthest part of the room, where they stopped before a curtain that concealed what lay beyond.
"Hello, young man."
"It is an honor to meet you!"
Apex expressed utmost respect and bowed.
"Haha, no need for such formality. I heard that you wish to become my disciple. May I ask why?"
Apex straightened up from the bow and responded.
"I possess a heaven defying talent, but without proper guidance, my potential would go to waste. That is why I seek to become your disciple, to gain access to greater treasures and receive guidance from one of the most powerful figures in the Lower Realms."
The room fell silent after Apex's words, but after a few seconds, the woman spoke again.
"To claim to possess a heaven defying talent is not a light statement, but I understand why you say so. Achieving the 8th Stage of Spirit Apprentice at such a young age and defeating my guard, who was at the peak of Spirit Apprentice, is impressive. How old are you?"
"Seventeen."
Hu Xin was stunned upon hearing her mother's and Apex's words.
'He's only seventeen and already three stages ahead of me!' Hu Xin thought to herself, shocked by the revelation.
She had been regarded as one of the most talented cultivators of her generation, so to hear her mother acknowledge that Apex was already at the 8th Stage of Spirit Apprentice was disheartening for her.
"Incredible! Seventeen and already in the 8th stage. Tell me, how long have you been cultivating? My daughter began at the age of twelve."
Apex sensed that Hu Xin was a highly gifted individual, reaching the 5th Stage of Spirit Apprentice by the age of eighteen, a remarkable achievement accomplished in just six years.
However, what Apex would reveal next would make her accomplishments pale in comparison.
"Just one week."
After Apex uttered those words, both Hu Xin and her mother were left in shock.
"Wha-what?!"
They couldn't believe it. It was impossible for someone to advance their cultivation to such a high level in just one week.
If Apex's claim was true, then its talent surpassed the description of "heaven defying."
"That can't be possible! One week of cultivation couldn't possibly elevate your cultivation base to such heights!"
As she expressed her disbelief, the curtain opened, revealing a stunning woman who bore a resemblance to Hu Xin but possessed a more mature aura.
"I know it's hard to believe, but I wasn't lying when I mentioned my heaven defying talents."
Apex assured them, and they continued to stare, still stunned by what they had heard.
"If that is true, then your talents are more than heaven defying! What is your physique?"
She inquired urgently. Apex didn't possess a physical body since it was an artificial creation, but it had prepared a response in case such a question arose.
"Above the Heavens."
Apex replied calmly. Apex understood that its statement was mind-boggling, but it acted as if it were a trivial matter, leaving both Hu Xin and her mother with jaws dropped open.
"A physique with such a name is unheard of! But if your physique bears such a name, it could explain how you elevated your cultivation base so rapidly within a week."
Hu Xin's mother explained.
"With such talent, you could have joined the best sect in the Lower Realm and received 100% of their support, even more than what I could offer."
Apex sensed the skepticism in her words, and it understood why.
However, it had already prepared answers for inquiries of this nature.
"Sect Masters are often the most arrogant and proud cultivators in the Lower Realms. If I were to join them, they would likely boast about my talents. Even if they promised not to disclose it, I couldn't trust their words. If rumors spread about my talents, jealous and spiteful cultivators would target me. On the other hand, you don't lead a sect, and I've never heard any rumors of you boasting about anything, not even your daughter's talents. That is why I believed you were the best option."
Apex conveyed this with a serious expression. Its performance was so convincing that it could have garnered multiple awards.
She stared at Apex in silence for a while before finally saying,
"I understand your reasoning. Therefore, I will accept you as my disciple."