"I'm glad you did," Old Bao said calmly, then passed the items back to Aladdin. "Here, take these."
He handed over the five Thunderroot Camellia flowers along with the Thunderclaw Drake Lizard's demonic core.
Aladdin looked at him in confusion. "Didn't you send me to Arkania Valley to get the Thunderroot Camellia flower for you? Why are you giving them back to me?"
Old Bao snorted lightly. "Who said I sent you to Arkania Valley just to fetch the Thunderroot Camellia for me? If I truly wanted it, I would've gone there myself. Why would I send you?"
Aladdin was left speechless. So all this time, he hadn't even needed the flower? Did that mean the mission wasn't about the flower at all?
"Keep them for yourself," Old Bao said. "They'll help refine the foundation of your thunder attribute cultivation further."
"You can keep them, Old Bao. I already consumed and refined the Thunderheart Pod Fruit. My thunder attribute foundation is solid enough," Aladdin said plainly.
"I said I don't need them—keep the..." Old Bao suddenly stopped mid-sentence, his expression freezing in shock. "Wait, what did you just say? You consumed the Thunderheart Pod Fruit? Where did you get it?"
"From Arkania Valley," Aladdin replied. "The same place where I got the Thunderroot Camellia flowers."
Old Bao narrowed his eyes. "Ah! So that's why you're so eager to hand me the flowers. You already helped yourself with the real prize, huh?"
Aladdin didn't know how to respond. Just moments ago, Old Bao said he didn't care about the flower—so why was he getting angry over the fruit now?
"Didn't you just say you didn't want the Thunderroot Camellia flower?" Aladdin asked, genuinely confused.
"You... you ungrateful brat!" Old Bao snapped. "I sent you there for experience—to temper you against the real dangers of the world. Whether you brought the flower back or not wasn't the point. The mission was for you to become stronger, to prepare yourself for life beyond Kunlun Mountain!"
He sighed, then continued, "And yet you came across the Thunderheart Pod Fruit—something that cultivators dream of—and you just assumed I wouldn't be interested?"
Oh... so that was the real intention behind the mission, Aladdin realized.
"Looks like I miscalculated," Aladdin admitted with a slight grin. "But it's not a big deal. You can still have the Thunderroot Camellia flowers."
"Listen to this brat," Old Bao muttered. "Gets his hands on a rare treasure and thinks tossing some flowers back my way makes up for it. Just keep them. They're useless to me now anyway. The Thunderheart Pod would've been useful—but you've already devoured it."
"That's a shame, then. Maybe I can go find another one for you?" Aladdin offered, still wearing a faint smile.
Old Bao shook his head. "The Thunderheart Pod Fruit isn't something you can search for. It's a chance encounter. If fate gives it to you, you take it. If not, it stays hidden forever." He turned serious again. "Whatever. Just prepare to leave the mountain tomorrow."
Aladdin blinked. "But Old Bao, there are still seventeen days left until the one-year mark. You can't just kick me out early because of the Thunderheart Pod Fruit!"
Old Bao looked him in the eye and spoke with finality. "You're already strong enough to protect yourself. If you stay here any longer, you'll only stagnate. The outside world is where you'll find danger, fortuitous encounters, and real opponents. Staying here would only slow your progress."
He paused, then added in a quieter tone, "Besides... I'm leaving too."
Aladdin's eyes widened. "Wait, what? You're leaving?"
"Yes," Old Bao said, his expression turning solemn. "I've been at the peak consummation of Martial Lord for years. But recently... I can feel my bottleneck starting to loosen. I'm close—close to breaking through to Martial King."
He paused again, then continued, "But advancing to Martial King isn't like the lower realms. With each major breakthrough, you have to face lightning tribulations. And this place isn't suitable for that. I'll have to go deeper into the mountain."
Aladdin stepped forward, concern rising in his voice. "Then that's all the more reason I should stay. You can't go through this alone. What if something goes wrong?"
"Brat! Are you cursing me?" Old Bao barked, but there was no real anger in his tone. Then he continued more seriously, "Everyone has to face this alone. Lightning tribulation isn't something anyone can help you through. At that level, only your foundation matters. It decides whether you break through, collapse... or die."
His eyes grew sharp. "If you truly want to become powerful, you'll have to face the lightning tribulations on your own. Otherwise, stay a Martial Lord forever and die with regret."
"But you'll—" Aladdin began, still not ready to let him go.
"There's no 'but,'" Old Bao cut in firmly. "You'll wait for me outside the mountain. And when I return, we'll spar, and I won't hold back this time. Understood? So go and get stronger."
He didn't wait for a response.
Aladdin felt a heavy weight settle on his chest. He was still deeply worried for Old Bao, but he remembered what had just been said—this stage of cultivation wasn't something others could influence. Your survival depended on the strength of your foundation and nothing else.
Sensing the tension, Old Bao shifted the topic.
"Alright then. Tell me the full story of your journey in Arkania Valley," he said, settling down.
Aladdin sat down with him, recounting the events in detail. Old Bao listened carefully, interrupting occasionally to offer sharp insights, corrections, and valuable pointers drawn from his years of experience.