"Clay, what a unique name," Liuyue whispered rubbing its head. "Why did you put this pearl in here? Won't Master be angry at you for throwing it away?"
She wanted to pick it out of the pot but Clay wound its tail around her finger, stopping her. "Oh! Then I won't move it. Do you like this plant? What is it?"
She caressed its leaves which were more healthy looking than the day before.
Clay hissed as if answering her before sliding from her finger to curl on a thin branch of the plant.
It had grown taller since she first saw it. Yet for some reason, she couldn't remember her master having a special tree in the future. 'Maybe it died or was used for alchemy.' She shrugged it off.
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"An evaluation?" The City Lord echoed surprised.
"Yes. Where can I find such a place?"
"You could go to the city hall, but that would cause a fuss. Other than that, only sects have the tools to evaluate one's strength. I can request a private visitation in any sect of your choosing."
Something flickered in Ren's red eyes. "Duanpei Sect!"
"Um...that...that is out of my league, Master Renshen. I only have some influence in the sects within Xiayang City. The truth is that most of these sects do not take us as equals. We're merely tools they can use as they please. But we continue to exist for the sake of the common people who need a light to shine in their lives."
Ren wasn't concerned about the power struggles. He just wanted to know what stage he was at since his body was different from that of a human. He had already understood that power levels did not fully impact one's stages.
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The day set for the visitation came faster than Ren anticipated. He had spent the whole week behind closed doors, secluding himself along with Clay.
The city Lord failed to acquire the core needed to feed the little snake, which resulted in Ren feeding it his roots while grumbling and scolding himself for buying it in the first place.
"DIVINE WIND SECT", the large plague stuck to the tall gates read.
Located on the outskirts of the city, with a forest behind it and a cliff in front, it was quite eye-catching.
The City Lord had said that it could be ranked tenth among the forty sects in the city, and the current sect leader was a distant relative of their family. This connection made it easier to gain access to their private evaluation hall.
"Stop right there!" One of the three disciples guarding the gates ordered, stepping forward. "What business do you have he-"
Liu Ming stretched out his hand which held a purple token. Seeing it, the disciple's brows crinkled in heavy doubt. "Anyone can forge a token. Now turn around and go back to wherever you've come from before you lose a han-"
Impatient, Ren ignored him and moved past him, his anger hidden beneath the devil mask he wore. Liuyue and Liu Ming also concealed their identities with the porcelain masks, the same masks he used to sell back in his hometown.
"Hey, brat!"
"Stop!" The other two ordered bringing out their weapons and pointing them at Ren. "You dare act ignorant in our sect! You deserve to die and burned and your ashes scatter by the-" Ren slapped both of them simultaneously using his qi.
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A new insignificant skill he had taught himself to deal with these blabbermouths that never seemed to stop yelling to his face. Quite irritating.
They moaned rubbing their left cheeks and scowling at Ren with hostility. The first disciple pounced at Ren with his sword, intending to stab him from behind, but he stabbed the void and it snapped the sword in half closing.
'A week in seclusion has paid off a little. All I need now is to confirm what I already know and try to fuse with the technique. But I'll need training as well.' He wasn't even focusing on the disciples busy attacking him...whom he defeated with ease.
If they were to fight his disciples, they might have had a chance, but not at winning.
As he had come to learn, Liuyue was very familiar with her sword and Liu Ming's technique had helped him improve his physique. His punch was equivalent to an elephant's kick.
Panting and drained, they could only set off the help signal. The flare exploded in the sky, alerting the sect members and masters alike.
'Another unnecessary confrontation. Do they only think with their swords? What happened to their brains?'
"Master?" Liu Ming called stopping by his right side. "Some powerful masters will be here in less than-"
"Let them come. It'll be easier to deal with mature brains lest I find myself hurting these weak losers."
Liu Ming said nothing more. He, like Liuyue, relaxed and waited as backup arrived. The sky was suddenly filled with disciples in blue-black robes, riding their swords with determination to face the supposed threat and bring honor to their sect.
Some elders appeared as well, but they did not need swords to fly, their inner qi was enough to propel them through the air.
This was a rare sight for Ren who had only seen four cultivators flying. Leaving him curious about what it'd feel like to move against the wind. 'How do they breathe?'
One elder descended till his feet were on the ground.
To Ren, he looked like a twenty-something-year-old male, but he was over a century old.
"Who are you and why do you cause trouble at our gates?"
Ren opened his hand and Liu Ming placed the token carefully in his palm. "Here!" Ren tossed it at the elder who caught it with his qi, letting it suspend in the space between them. "Your disciples have no manners whatsoever. Will you blame me for disciplining them?"
The elder, whose long black-brown hair was dancing in the wind, moved his hand, and the token levitated back to Ren. Liu Ming received it and put it away like a good disciple.
"Apologies for the misunderstanding. You're a guest for the sect leader, you deserved a better reception. I will personally take you to him and oversee the punishments of these three idiots," he assured saluting Ren.
Ren reciprocated it, but his bow was shabby. "I'll appreciate that."
Murmurs warmed the air as the elder guided the three inside the sect. Some wondered about their background, while others just wanted to know why they wore the mysterious masks. All kinds of speculations arose but were immediately silenced by one of the elders as they retreated.
The central courtyard was surrounded by several buildings, some of which were at least twenty feet tall while others were regular heights, as he had observed. The large building they were heading to was labeled "Main Hall." It was surrounded by an odd breath, like a beast's breath. Ren felt it because his perception had changed after spending time bonding with Clay.
He had heard that every sect had a beast guardian. This had him concluding that the beast was either in the hall or under it.
Busy watering some plants potted by the dais was the person Ren sought. He wore a plain white dress with narrow sleeves. His hair was black but silver at the ages.
"You must be the one my cousin mentioned."
"Greetings, sect leader," both Liuyue and Liu Ming saluted bowing slightly.
The man turned, putting down the clay watering can. "You are indeed a mystery. I can hardly feel any breath coming from you."
While that was true, Ren could feel the sect leader's cultivation, a stable two thousand. Not weaker than himself or the elder who had guided him here.
He felt something twist in his heart...determination. He thought he was strong after reaching his current level, but feeling this man's level, he felt challenged by what he'd find in those high-ranking sects.
Ren didn't say anything; he was experiencing a moment of self-reflection.
Understanding the nonverbal conversation, the sect leader just asked them to follow him.
The room connected to the hall was where the Crystal of Dao was hidden. Standing over seven feet, it looked majestic and exuded a special breath that could be felt by everyone above the Qi foundation.
Liu Ming felt it due to his innate ability.
On their way here, Liuyue had already explained the different colors and their stages: 1) Qi foundation was, 2) Core formation was green, 3) Nascent soul was yellow, 4) Soul transformation was blue, 5) Spirit severing was gold, 6) Dao infusion was purple, and 7) Immortal transformation was red. Each stage had three realms, which were Early stage, Mid-stage, and Late stage.
A cultivator's stage impacted how bright or dull the colors shone.
"Place your hand on the stone," the sect leader directed and Ren followed.
His disciples stared wide-eyed, ready to be blown away by their master's high level. But as the seconds ticked away, there was no response.
"Ahem! Perhaps you're placing it wrongly."
Ren moved his hand to a different spot, yet nothing happened.
"Master, let me try," Liuyue offered and Ren stepped aside.
Upon placing her hand on the stone, it immediately glowed a bright green color that illuminated the room, bringing a smile to the sect leader. He was aware that she was his niece but didn't want to make their relationship apparent when she hadn't initiated any family talk.
"Late Core Formation."
Liu Ming came up, and it shone jade white, indicating he was at the Mid Qi Foundation.
Ren touched it once more but the stone remained neutral. He then remembered that his void could fully hide his cultivation. With that in mind, he opened a black hole on the hand placed against the stone. Instantly, it glowed bright white but then glowed green, blue, gold, purple, and red. The colors began interchanging, going from bright to dull and from the highest to the lowest. "Is it now a disco ball?" He breathed glaring at the large stone.
"Hwoo!" Liuyue's mouth opened as she stared at the crystal flickering all these beautiful lights. A sight she had never seen and one so attractive.