As Leaf Gray dashed out, the baby-faced cultivator who had shouted became increasingly frantic, his attacks growing more fierce.

The man fighting him was already at a disadvantage, and now, with Leaf Gray joining the attack, his situation became critical.

The moniker 'Mountain-Passing Tiger' had originated from The Arcaneum Gate's side, but it was also well-known among The Ennead Star Sect cultivators. It could be said that Leaf Gray had carved out this fearsome reputation through his killings over the past few days.

Reputation is a strange thing. Facing an ordinary Third Layer cultivator, any Fourth Layer wouldn't feel much pressure. But if this Third Layer cultivator had killed several Fourth Layers and earned his own moniker, then the situation changed entirely.

The Fourth Layer cultivator from The Ennead Star Sect now felt immense pressure. Fighting one against two, he was hard-pressed and in a precarious position. In just three breaths, he was almost completely suppressed by Leaf Gray and the baby-faced cultivator, with little ability to fight back.

Seeing Leaf Gray's blade slash towards him, he hurriedly tried to activate a spirit talisman. However, the baby-faced cultivator thrust his sword cunningly, striking the man's wrist. His grip loosened, and the talisman fell to the ground.

Seizing the opportunity, Leaf Gray swung his blade down, striking the cultivator to the ground.

"What a sharp blade!" The baby-faced cultivator's eyes narrowed slightly. He thought to himself, just as Shixiong Andrew Scott had predicted, this Mountain-Passing Tiger indeed possessed an extraordinary spirit artifact. Otherwise, with his Third Layer cultivation, he shouldn't have been able to so easily break through a Fourth Layer cultivator's protective spiritual power, let alone severely injure his opponent with a single blow.

Then, the baby-faced cultivator's face broke into a wide smile. "Good brother, I've decided you're a friend for sure!"

This was because Leaf Gray, without even a glance, had already charged into the heart of the battle, leaving the severely injured enemy lying before the baby-faced cultivator.

"Spare... spare me!" The Fourth Layer cultivator lay there, the ground beneath him stained red with blood, looking at the baby-faced cultivator in terror.

The baby-faced cultivator's smile vanished, and he said calmly, "You're a Fourth Layer cultivator. Don't say such naive words!" His long sword pierced the man's chest. The man's body stiffened abruptly...

A point of red light emanated from the back of the dead Fourth Layer cultivator's hand and drifted into the baby-faced cultivator's hand. The baby-faced cultivator smiled broadly again, raised his sword, and charged towards where Leaf Gray was fighting, shouting, "Good brother, I'm coming to help you!"

The time it takes for one incense stick to burn later, the fierce battle subsided.

The Ennead Star Sect cultivators were completely wiped out. It wasn't that they didn't want to escape, but they simply had no chance. In a fight within these narrow gorge paths, once defeated, there was basically no way out. Turning your back to the enemy to flee only led to a quicker death.

The Arcaneum Gate side also suffered losses – three dead, and almost all the survivors were wounded. But overall, it was a resounding and satisfying victory. The survivors weren't overly mournful; instead, they were jubilant.

This was the norm in the Spirit Creek Battlefield. Countless Spirit Creek Realm cultivators fought and killed each other on the battlefield; death was a common occurrence.

In this major battle, only two had fallen directly to Leaf Gray's blade, but at least four or five were wounded by his hand.

After the battle, no one from The Arcaneum Gate moved to collect the spoils of war. They all just quietly watched Leaf Gray. It wasn't that they didn't want the spoils, but Leaf Gray's way of operating over the past few days had formed a tacit understanding between them.

All the spoils of war belonged to The Arcaneum Gate. Correspondingly, The Arcaneum Gate cultivators would compensate Leaf Gray with some spirit pills.

The baby-faced cultivator was the leader of this group. He stepped forward, clasped his fists, and said, "How should I address you, Shidi?"

Five zhang in front of him, Leaf Gray was applying powdered healing medicine to his wounds. This was the first time he had experienced a melee on this scale. The battles he had participated in before involved relatively few people on both sides – the largest fight involved less than ten cultivators.

This time, there were twenty people. He realized that a melee of this scale was dangerous for any cultivator. Even those with higher cultivation could be injured or killed because one's energy and attention were limited; it was impossible to guard against all attacks.

He had several wounds on his body, all left by the deathbed counterattacks of The Ennead Star Sect cultivators.

Hearing the baby-faced cultivator's question, Leaf Gray pondered briefly.

Before entering, the Sect Master had told him not to reveal his identity as a disciple of The Vermilion Guild. And the name 'Leaf Gray' was obviously unusable; his recruitment by The Vermilion Guild was known by many sects.

He didn't want the moniker 'Mountain-Passing Tiger' either...

"Oneleaf," Leaf Gray said, having truly weighed his options.

"So it's Shidi Oneleaf." The baby-faced cultivator smiled and cupped his fists again. "I am Samuel Castillo of The Arcaneum Gate!"

Leaf Gray clasped his fists in return, maintaining an aloof and unapproachable demeanor.

"It's like this..." Samuel Castillo organized his words slightly. "A few days ago, Shixiong Andrew Scott sent a message saying that if the opportunity arose, he would like to invite Shidi Oneleaf to visit The Arcaneum Gate as a guest. I wonder what Shidi thinks?"

"Andrew Scott?" Leaf Gray frowned.

Samuel Castillo said with a smile, "He is a Shixiong stationed at our sect's stronghold."

Leaf Gray wasn't very surprised by the invitation to visit The Arcaneum Gate. These days, he had saved quite a few The Arcaneum Gate cultivators, and his practice of exchanging spirit pills with them had also allowed many The Arcaneum Gate cultivators to profit. By reason and by sentiment, the other side should show some gesture.

Inviting him as a guest was clearly a gesture of goodwill.

However, his identity could not be exposed, so he dared not have too close contact with unfamiliar sects. Moreover, he was just passing through here and wouldn't have a long-term association with The Arcaneum Gate.

"No need," Leaf Gray shook his head and refused, having made up his mind.

Samuel Castillo wasn't annoyed in the slightest, as if he had anticipated Leaf Gray's response. He still smiled and said, "If that's the case, then let it be." As he spoke, he shot a glance at one of the people behind him. That person immediately sprang into action, taking out a storage bag and going to each of his fellow disciples to collect spirit pills.

While waiting, Samuel Castillo said again, "Shidi Oneleaf, if you find it convenient, could you leave a method of contact? That way, if any situations arise, we can exchange messages with The Arcaneum Gate."

Leaf Gray didn't know how to leave contact information, but he had some guesses. Over the past few days while killing enemies, he had seen many The Ennead Star Sect cultivators, when near death, would press a finger to the back of their hands, causing their Battlefield Mark to emit light – just like the initial action of the severely wounded Daniel Rivera.

The Battlefield Mark probably didn't just record information; it could likely also be used for communication.

Thinking of this, Leaf Gray nodded. "Alright!"

Samuel Castillo then swiped a finger across the back of his own hand. A point of blue light, like a burning flame, coiled around his fingertip. He flicked his finger, and the blue light flew towards Leaf Gray like a blue butterfly, landing on the back of Leaf Gray's hand.

Leaf Gray's heart stirred slightly. The blue light imprinted into his mark and disappeared.

At the same time, he faintly felt that his Battlefield Mark now contained something more, but now wasn't the time to investigate it. He continued maintaining his cold and proud demeanor.

The Arcaneum Gate cultivators' spirit pills were quickly collected and, at Samuel Castillo's indication, were handed over to Leaf Gray. Leaf Gray put them away without inspecting them, called to Amber, and mounted the tiger's back.

"Shidi Oneleaf!" Samuel Castillo suddenly called out to him.

Leaf Gray sat upright on the tiger's back and turned his head to look at him.

Samuel Castillo said seriously, "It seems there's someone from The Infinitas Isle on The Ennead Star Sect's side. Shidi, you must be extremely careful."

Leaf Gray nodded slightly. The great tiger turned and sped away, leaving a cloud of dust.

Samuel Castillo watched his departing figure, stroking his smooth chin. "Disciples from these major sects are indeed incredibly arrogant. He doesn't even seem to regard The Infinitas Isle highly!"