A short while later, the group of The Arcaneum Gate cultivators, led by Samuel Castillo, found a tunnel to rest and recuperate.

Samuel Castillo leaned against the rock wall, waiting for supplies to be delivered from the sect while simultaneously sending messages via his Battlefield Mark.

At The Arcaneum Gate stronghold, large clusters of buildings were scattered among numerous spirit peaks. Spiritual energy coiled between the mountains, and the entire stronghold was enveloped in a thick mist, making the interior unclear from the outside – clearly protected by a large formation.

In a courtyard on one of the mountain peaks, the handsome and elegant Andrew Scott, dressed in white robes, stood by a fishpond, casually scattering fish food and watching the koi carp compete for it.

Behind him, Susan stood quietly.

Suddenly, Susan activated her Battlefield Mark to sense something briefly, then looked up and said, "Young Master, Samuel Castillo encountered the Mountain-Passing Tiger. He invited him to visit, but was refused."

Andrew Scott remained silent. After finishing scattering the fish food in his hand, he clapped his hands together, walked to a nearby chair and sat down, picked up a cup of tea and took a sip, then said unhurriedly, "As expected. Such individuals won't easily enter another sect's stronghold."

"Then why did Young Master still invite him?" Susan didn't understand.

Andrew Scott chuckled softly. "Many of our junior disciples owe him their lives, and have even profited from their dealings with him. It's only proper that we extend some courtesy. The invitation itself is our responsibility to offer - whether he chooses to accept it remains entirely his prerogative."

Susan uttered an understanding "Oh."

"Anything else?"

"Samuel Castillo said that Mountain-Passing Tiger indeed has a decent spirit artifact in his hand. And he called himself Oneleaf."

"Oneleaf?" Andrew Scott showed a thoughtful expression, then shook his head after a moment. He had never heard this name at all. The cultivation world of The Novem Lands would occasionally produce new stars that attracted attention. Before those new stars burst forth with dazzling brilliance, few people had heard of them. But once they shone, they became the focus of everyone's attention.

Of course, many new stars were extinguished before they had a chance to shine. The cultivation world was full of dangers everywhere, especially in this chaotic Spirit Creek Battlefield. Countless geniuses died in the Spirit Creek Battlefield every year.

"Samuel Castillo also said that this person seems to have mastered a defensive Spirit Pattern. In battle, that Spirit Pattern can be activated at will and can block attacks from Fourth Layer Spirit Creek Realm cultivators."

During the major battle, Leaf Gray frequently activated Spirit Patterns. The Sharpness Spirit Pattern was relatively concealed because it was applied to his long blade. Even when activated, others would think it was an innate restriction of the blade itself and wouldn't think too much about it.

But the Defensive Spirit Pattern was different. Although that Spirit Pattern flashed by each time, under Samuel Castillo's intentional observation, it still couldn't be hidden.

"A Defensive Spirit Pattern activated at will? By a Third Layer Spirit Creek Realm cultivator?" Now Andrew Scott was truly somewhat shocked. "A Third Layer Spirit Creek Realm?"

He knew that Spirit Patterns were extremely complex and profound, requiring a great deal of time to study and delve into. He had studied them before when he was bored. However, the lines and diagrams recorded in those texts were extremely complicated and mysterious, making him drowsy and his head buzz every time he looked at them... ultimately ending with him tearing up that book...

"That's what Samuel Castillo reported."

The corner of Andrew Scott's mouth twitched slightly. "Just what kind of freak has run out from which major sect?"

That's right, Andrew Scott was certain that Leaf Gray was absolutely a disciple from some top-tier major sect. Because his cultivation wasn't high, he had come to the outer circles to gain experience.

The reason for this speculation was entirely due to Leaf Gray's astonishing performance over the past few days. According to The Arcaneum Gate's own statistics, just from what they had witnessed over these past few days, no less than twenty The Ennead Star Sect cultivators had died by Leaf Gray's hand, including several Fourth Layer Spirit Creek Realm cultivators.

Being able to kill enemies across cultivation levels was a mark of originating from a major sect; minor sects couldn't cultivate such disciples.

Moreover, he had a beast pet. That majestic beast pet wasn't something an ordinary person could subdue. Added to the intelligence Samuel Castillo had just fed back, it further confirmed Andrew Scott's conjecture.

Only by originating from some top-tier power could one have such profound foundation, enabling him to activate Spirit Patterns for battle at the Third Layer Spirit Creek Realm.

The moniker 'Mountain-Passing Tiger' had actually spread from Andrew Scott's own mouth, because in Andrew Scott's view, Leaf Gray was precisely a fierce tiger crossing the mountains!

"This style of letting disciples fend for themselves somewhat resembles the practices of that sect in Xanthia Province. They have many top-tier Spirit Pattern Masters over there!" Andrew Scott said thoughtfully.

Susan didn't know which sect Andrew Scott was referring to, but she knew that this Mountain-Passing Tiger named Oneleaf must have an extraordinary background. She spoke up, "Then, Young Master, should we assist him secretly?"

"That's not necessary." Andrew Scott waved his hand dismissively. "He's here for real combat experience. Whether he lives or dies is his own affair. What would we accomplish by intervening? If handled improperly, we might even earn his resentment instead."

Many major sects had the habit of letting their disciples fend for themselves. These disciples with uncommon talent would leave the protection of their sect when their cultivation wasn't high and venture alone to temper themselves. Although this involved great risk, once they grew up, their strength would far surpass their peers.

Therefore, there was an unwritten rule in the Spirit Creek Battlefield: even if these experienced disciples were killed, those major sects wouldn't retaliate.

This was the necessary price for growth. Major sects lacked geniuses the least; they wouldn't lament dead geniuses, unless they were relatives of high-ranking members within the sect – but that would also be private revenge, unrelated to the sect.

If Andrew Scott could deduce that Leaf Gray was a disciple from some major sect, then The Ennead Star Sect side naturally had similar deductions. Yet even so, The Ennead Star Sect hadn't given up their pursuit of Leaf Gray. It wasn't that The Ennead Star Sect wasn't afraid of those major sects, but they knew those major sects wouldn't trouble them over this matter.

"Moreover, the trigger for this current war was still this person. My The Arcaneum Gate has already shouldered enough pressure for him. If he were tactful, he should dutifully come pay a visit to the mountain and thank me properly!" Andrew Scott chuckled lightly.

Susan rolled her eyes discreetly. As Andrew Scott's personal maidservant, she was privy to far more information than others. While this declaration of war appeared to be The Arcaneum Gate seizing an opportunity on the surface, it had actually been carefully planned all along. Andrew Scott had simply been waiting for the right moment, and Leaf Gray's elimination of The Ennead Star Sect's Young Master had presented him with the perfect pretext.

To Andrew Scott, Leaf Gray was simply a godsend.

Andrew Scott was going to the inner circles of the battlefield. There, a Seventh Layer cultivation was nothing special, and he was highly likely to encounter life-or-death crises.

So, before he left, he wanted to find a way to strike a heavy blow against The Ennead Star Sect. This way, even if something happened to him, the situation here could remain stable for a while, until someone could replace him.

"What are the casualties?" Andrew Scott asked again.

"Thirty dead, but seventy percent of those were loose cultivators," Susan replied.

Andrew Scott nodded. This result was still satisfactory to him. He instructed, "Increase the intensity. End this declaration of war as quickly as possible!"

Only by ending this declaration of war quickly could the plan truly begin!