In the next few days after the announcement of results, all selected children were given their living quarters and were given an orientation of the faculties of the tower.
Michael settled in the dormitory quickly and enrolled in the martial arts, extra arts and body cultivation towers. This decision led to some unhappiness among the royal court of the kingdom, but they understood that Michael was trying to focus on body cultivation as soul arts did not have much of a future. Only Mubal, who understood Michael's skill in soul methods understood that there was nothing he could learn from the tower.
Michael learned the body cultivation techniques and internal energy cycles from the body cultivation tower every morning and practised cultivation till afternoon. Then from afternoon to evening, he developed his fighting method in the martial arts tower. In the evening, he went to the extra arts tower to look around the different books to research different arts present there. In the eyes of the academy, kingdom and all other forces spying on him, he was diligently cultivating.
But, only Michael knew that there was peerless soul research hidden somewhere in the walls of the extra arts tower. In his past life, it was only discovered when the devils had invaded. Michael needed to find the research notes as it had an extremely important use for him: the technique of disguising. The person who had obtained it later came to be known as thousand-face. Using soul arts to create illusions was known to all people. Some unknown senior had researched illusions in great detail and had created methods to disguise one's appearance, aura and even cultivation base. Michael had heard that the research had allowed a pretty ordinary soul cultivator to become the plane's greatest spy! Michael planned to control the technique in this life. It would be helpful in concealing his movements in the present and establishing a spy organisation in the future. Thus, it was of paramount importance to find it.
Time continued to pass and an entire month quickly went by. Ramsus also settled in his dormitory and started his cultivation. He had decided that he needed to maintain the crown prince's status. If he was too weak and got bullied, he would be losing face for his master. Thus, he started cultivating with great diligence.
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One day, Michael was looking through the records in the extra arts tower library when he realized that he was already looking through that particular section third time. He had thought that he would be able to find the soul art by looking through the library but it seemed now that he was too optimistic! Now, this was a troublesome situation. His future plans were heavily dependent on leaving the tower at will. This would be very difficult without changing his appearance.
While Micahel thought that no one knew of his intentions, the library elder was looking Michael with weird eyes. He had seen this particular student come and search the library for an entire month. It was easy to see that he was looking for something. Thus, he had asked Michael about what he was looking for. The reply had given him a huge shock! Michael had replied that he was looking for research in illusion techniques. Others may have ignored him but the elder just nodded but kept an eye on Michael's every move in the tower.
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After looking into it for another 2 months, Michael decided that his time would be better spent on developing his fighting art as there was simply no clue for the disguising technique. But, just as he decided to stop going to the library, the library elder called for him. When Michael went to meet the elder in his office, he felt the activation of a formation! Thinking of this to be an assassination attempt, he got alert. But, the elder just looked at him with sharp eyes without making a move. Then, he said:
> Elder : This old man's real name is Demitrus. I have been working as an elder in the extra arts tower for the past twenty years. I am a bit talented in the way of illusions. I have observed you for some time and looking at your talent, you might be able to inherit my legacy. Thus, I intend to teach you my arts. But, in return you will have to do something for me.
Michael was quite surprised by the offer. He started considering this new situation in front of him. He was indeed looking into illusion techniques but it was for the purpose of disguising himself. It would be useless for him to invest his time on a different branch of illusions as there were many other things that he had to do. Thus after taking his time, he replied:
> Michael : Senior, I will agree to your conditions if your techniques can help me do what I want. Also, I would accept only after you tell me what you want me to do.
>
> Demitrus : Hmm, very well. I will tell you what my techniques can do and what I want from you. I am from the moonflower race. It is a very small race that is a subordinate race of the elves. There are not even ten thousand members in my race. I could be said to be the ancestor of my race. You may not know this but I am only in the saint realm even if you feel my cultivation is at the perfect realm. This brings me to my technique. It is an application of my research on illusions. I can disguise myself and change any aspect of my appearence including my cultivation. Of course, my realm will not increase like that. I can only change my presence and appearence. The task that I want you to do it to protect the moonflower race for a thousand years after you reach the perfect realm!
Michael was truly astounded at the working of fate. He only knew the name of the moonflower race and had never seen any member of this race in his two lives. This was a very small race and was one of the first races to be massacred when the war started.
Who would have thought that the greatest spy of Aterna allied army was created by someone from the moonflower race? He also understood why the research was left in the library when the devils invaded. All this was done by this senior in front of him in hopes of revenge against the devils. In his previous life, Michael considered it shameful to hide his identity. He would definitely not think the same in this life. In fact, looking at this senior in front of him, all he felt was respect!
> Michael : Senior, I will protect your race when I have sufficient influence. I will make the moonflower race the subordinate race of humans when I take control of my race.
Michael's statements, if made public, would offend both the royal family of humans as well as all the elves. But someone who dared to make such comments was definitely not someone with normal ambitions. Demitrus understood this but it was still very difficult for him to trust Michael. He did not think that this kid in front of him was the cheating type but that it was still unreasonable to make a deal based on just trust. Michael understood this as well and he took out a paper and started writing a decree! It was commonly known that only experts with authority could make decrees. Thus, it was profoundly shocking for Demitrus to see this. This was a great audacity!
After writing his acceptance of Moonflower race under his protection, he placed his blood seal on it! In the future, this decree could represent his will. If he really decided to cancel a blood decree, it would damage his reputation beyond everything. Blood decrees were the highest level of decrees that could be issued.
Looking at the elder squarely in the eye, he said:
> Michael : This is my blood decree. It naturally is useless right now. But, I want you to gamble on me. When you feel one day that my standing and power is enough, you can bring out this decree.
>
> Demitrus : Very good! I will teach you my disguising arts in return for this promise. Let's see what fate has in store for you kid. I also want to gamble once in this long life of mine!
Once this meeting ended, Michael started practising the illusion-disguise arts under Demitrus in the evening. Thus, time continued flowing as Michael kept growing stronger.