Techniques are divided into Heaven, Earth, Profound, and Mortal grades. Mortal-grade techniques only allow one to cultivate to the third level of the Spirit Creek realm, Profound-grade can reach the sixth level, and Earth-grade can reach the ninth level.

The Spirit Creek Realm only has nine levels. In theory, an Earth-grade technique should be enough for a Spirit Creek Realm cultivator to reach Great Perfection.

But that's not actually the case. Earth-grade techniques only allow cultivators to open one hundred and eighty spiritual apertures, while the human body has a full three hundred and sixty apertures.

After cultivating to one hundred and eighty apertures, to open more, one must switch to a Heaven-grade technique.

A Spirit Creek ninth-level cultivator who practiced an Earth-grade technique and opened one hundred and eighty apertures can open the 181st aperture after switching to a Heaven-grade technique. However, switching techniques will cause their original realm to drop several levels. In the classification of Heaven-grade techniques, one hundred and eighty apertures is only equivalent to the sixth level of the Spirit Creek realm.

In short, the number of spiritual apertures a cultivator has opened is not the standard for judging their cultivation level; the number of minor cycle systems within their body is.

Cultivators who have opened the same number of spiritual apertures do not necessarily have the same cultivation level.

During the only preaching session he attended, the Sect Master had told Leaf Gray about the differences between techniques, so he remembered these things.

This Benjamin Patel seemed to be only a Spirit Creek second-layer cultivator, but in reality, he had opened at least over fifty spiritual apertures! Because his spiritual power fluctuations when casting spells were much stronger than Leaf Gray's.

For Heaven-grade techniques, opening eighteen apertures constitutes the first layer, and forty-five apertures are required for the second layer!

Upon realizing this, Leaf Gray immediately understood that this Benjamin Patel was the most powerful opponent he had encountered so far.

One must know that below Earth-grade techniques, opening forty-five apertures is the standard for the fourth level of the Spirit Creek realm. In other words, Benjamin Patel, who cultivates a Heaven-grade technique and has only second-layer cultivation, truly has a cultivation base between the fourth and fifth layers of an ordinary cultivator. Coupled with his proficiency in spells, he wouldn't be at a disadvantage even against an ordinary fifth-layer cultivator.

This is the foundation of a disciple from a top-tier sect.

They determine their future path at a very young age, then continuously study and explore on this path, tempering their bodies. When they reach a suitable age, they begin cultivation, but they are not in a hurry to improve their cultivation level, because each level they advance requires opening two or three times more spiritual apertures than ordinary cultivators.

Such individuals, when their cultivation level is not high, can often fight across two or three minor levels. Even when their cultivation improves, defeating enemies above their level is commonplace for them.

Once such individuals grow up, they are all strong figures on the Spirit Creek Ranking!

Leaf Gray had the honor of encountering a future ranking powerhouse...

The brief exchange ended with his complete defeat. When Benjamin Patel appeared, he charged forward, but after a few spells from the opponent, he was forced back to his original position.

For a weapon cultivator like him facing a spellcaster, closing the distance for close combat is the key. But it was clearly not that easy to get close to this Benjamin Patel.

"Which sect does this brute belong to?" Benjamin Patel did not press his advantage because he held the winning cards. It wasn't that he looked down on Leaf Gray, but the environment here wasn't suitable for a weapon cultivator like Leaf Gray to display his skills; instead, it made his own spells more threatening. In the early stages of cultivation, being able to cast spells gives a significant advantage.

And this tunnel was narrow, leaving Leaf Gray no room to maneuver.

Leaf Gray clearly realized this. Retreating through the exit behind him was the sensible choice, but he didn't plan to do so.

Because he vaguely felt that if he retreated now, then the next time he met this Benjamin Patel, he might not have the courage to face him directly. From the guy's first sentence, it could be inferred that this person had specifically come looking for him.

Hiding was not an option!

Then there was only one choice: fight!

The opponent had an extraordinary foundation, but didn't he have one too? Ultimately, the spells Benjamin Patel was currently using were all small-scale ones; his Defend Spirit Pattern could block them.

His right hand gripping the blade tightened. Leaf Gray leaned his body slightly forward, lowered his center of gravity, adopting a posture like a leopard pouncing on its prey.

He took a deep breath. The spiritual power within the three minor cycle systems in his body began to surge and roar. The next instant, he burst forward abruptly, sending rubble flying beneath his feet.

"White Blaze!" Benjamin Patel shouted loudly.

Having been tricked once before, and with his eyes still sore, upon hearing Benjamin Patel shout this, Leaf Gray immediately squinted and raised his left hand to block his sight.

However, no intense light erupted. Instead, an Icicle filled with cold intent shot towards him, accompanied by Benjamin Patel's mocking laughter: "Fooled you!"

Damn scoundrel! Leaf Gray was furious, finally understanding why this guy shouted before releasing each spell – it was to set up for this moment. Truly sinister!

He raised his blade and slashed, shattering the Icicle. But right after, more Icicles came one after another, the sound of them cutting through the air wailing incessantly.

The other party seemed to cast spells without any pause. If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, Leaf Gray would almost suspect this guy had secretly activated an ice-based spirit talisman.

Clanging sounds rang out. Leaf Gray swung his long blade, shattering the Icicles one by one. Those he couldn't slash in time could only be blocked with the Defend Spirit Pattern. He advanced with difficulty. The tunnel began to grow cold due to the massive generation of ice fragments.

For a full ten-plus breaths, Leaf Gray had only moved forward three steps! The successive Icicles flying towards him carried immense impact, hindering his advance.

From the rock wall behind Benjamin Patel, Evie's small head suddenly popped out. But before she could take any action, Benjamin Patel, as if he had eyes on the back of his head, suddenly turned to look and simultaneously raised his hand, pointing. A Golden Arc Slash shot towards Evie.

Evie screamed in surprise and quickly pulled her head back.

"Roar!" Amber roared, thinking Evie had been harmed.

This tiger roar was clearly somewhat different. When the roar sounded, Leaf Gray felt as if someone had hit his head with a small hammer. Benjamin Patel on the opposite side staggered a step, muttering in surprise: "Strange beast?"

He had seen Amber before but hadn't paid much attention until now, when he realized this majestic white tiger seemed to have some special ability.

There was no time for him to think more, because just as he was disturbed by Amber's roar, Leaf Gray had taken the opportunity to charge forward.

Benjamin Patel shouted loudly: "White Blaze!"

Having been fooled once, would Leaf Gray fall for it again? He only squinted slightly and charged forward relentlessly.

Crack, crack, crack...

The ice fragments shattered around him suddenly converged towards Leaf Gray, rapidly freezing together. It seemed they were trying to encase and freeze Leaf Gray inside.

At the critical moment, Leaf Gray had no choice but to retreat. As soon as he steadied himself, a huge block of ice stood between him and Benjamin Patel. If he hadn't run fast, that ice would definitely have trapped him. Once that happened, given Benjamin Patel's methods, Leaf Gray would be dead for sure.

"Whew..." Seeing Leaf Gray blocked by the ice, Benjamin Patel let out a sigh of relief.

The intensity of this battle exceeded his expectations. Originally, when The Ennead Star Sect asked him to deal with Leaf Gray, he thought it would be an easy task. Even if the other party came from some top-tier force, his strength was evident – a Spirit Creek third-layer cultivator practicing an ordinary technique – so he didn't really take him seriously.

But after actually fighting, he discovered that this third-layer cultivator was somewhat... different from the third-layer cultivators he had encountered before.