"There is a war coming," Abdin said. He fell silent and looked at their faces.

"War? Against whom? What's going on?"

Abdin sighed and decided to use the 'plaque' as an excuse. "You don't need to know. I'll give you the chance to step into the foundation establishment stage. We'll then talk about my terms afterward."

He stood up and walked to the door. He stopped at the gate and turned to look at them. "You can use the spirit ki. Make sure to make up your minds before I come back." He turned around and left.

As soon as he left, Renga and Sulat gasped for breath. They weren't friends. Being the local leaders of the area, they had attacked each other on several occasions. Disputed agricultural fields were mostly the source of their conflicts, each claiming the lands belonged to their ancestors. Therefore, as soon as they regained their senses they distanced themselves from one another. Renga sneered, while Sulat glared at him. They didn't say anything to each other for a while.

Then Sulat stood up, shocked. "This... This spirit Ki..."

Renga also felt the spirit ki, which was why he narrowed his eyes. For a while, they forgot everything that had happened and focused on the spirit ki. Their eyes were filled with wonder, which slowly turned into greed. But as soon as they remembered the person that kidnapped them, they shook their heads and abandoned all thoughts. They had no power in the face of that kind of authority.

The person didn't even chain them. He must be nearby and watching. Escaping wasn't possible before they understood their new environment.

Having come to this conclusion, Renga folded his legs and began to examine the spirit ki. Seeing this, Sulat also decided to sit down. He wouldn't let his main opponent surpass him, even though he felt deeply unsettled about the whole thing.

After a while, Renga said, "Have you found out where we are?"

Sulat lowered his eyes. How could he find out where they were when he hadn't left the room? He shook his head. "And you?"

Renga also shook his head. Neither of them wanted to leave the room. It was said that powerful cultivators had a very wide range of divine senses, and there was a possibility that every move they made was being watched. Therefore, they silently agreed to stay and work together.

But what they didn't know was that at this time there was no one in the entire castle except for them. Abdin was far away, standing at the front gate of the only sect in the area, Will of San. And tens of guards currently stood on the wooden gate of the sect, glaring at him.

Not long after, a handsome young man with a dark robe appeared on the top of the wall.

Abdin looked at him. This young man was Tairen.

"Welcome to Will of San. My name is Tairen, and I represent elder Muwadd San. What brings Senior here today?"

Because he still hadn't seen Juwaira, Abdin's mind was not at ease. Therefore, he had already used the soul fragment of his cousin to augment his cultivation, allowing him to fly at will. As if he wanted to scare them, he was floating in the air as he faced them.

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Since Abdin was at the core formation realm - obvious from him being able to fly - the sect should have sent another core formation expert. Instead, they sent a foundation establishment upstart, Tairen. Many people would understand this as an insult, but Abdin didn't care.

"The name is Commander. I have established a town a little distance from you and I need at least a thousand workers. I prefer the level of the foundation establishment, but it can be done with the ki condensation as well. Tell me the price you want."

It was not new for kings or rich people to ask the sects around them for such assistance. But what caught Tairen's attention was the term 'I established a town'. A town was built, not established - yes, it could mean the same thing but the way Abdin said it sounded as if he established the thing out of thin air. And when was the town built around them and they didn't know about it despite their spy network?

"If you don't mind, I want to know where the town is and what kind of work you need to be done."

Abdin handed the young man a map with a layout of the castle borders. The young man was shocked to see that the castle was within their jurisdiction, but he quickly hid his surprise. If Abdin didn't pay close attention, he wouldn't have noticed the change.

"I established it two days ago. The job you'll do for me is guarding... For ten years. Tell me your price."

The young man was silent. He still didn't believe there was a town. Although Muwadd sent him, he didn't want to overdo it. It was the first time he was facing a peak expert in such a mission, and as the son of the sect leader, he wanted to show himself that he could one day lead the sect.

After a while, he took a deep breath. "Why don't we go and see this town of yours first?"

Abdin narrowed his eyes. "Aren't you afraid I will kidnap you?"

Tairen burst out laughing but said nothing. He'd already realized that Abdin was in the realm of core formation, far above his level. But he had a return scroll and could escape at any time. Besides, it was clear Abdin didn't just come to attack him. There was something that brought him there, before he achieved this thing, it would be unwise for him to do something stupid.

And what no one knew was that the eyes of Muwadd San were on them, and if Tairen wanted, he could summon him at any time. With an expert like his uncle, this person in front of him couldn't pose a threat at all.

Tairen alighted to the bottom of the wall. The guards were not surprised to see that either, having known his nature. At least they didn't think the stranger could hurt the Young Master, so they let it be.

At the same time, ten personal guards came down from the top of the wall and stood behind him.

"Let's go and see."

Abdin nodded nonchalantly. It was a reckless decision, nonetheless, he applauded the young man for his bravery.

Tairen and his men flew into the air on a magic veil. Abdin flew a few meters ahead of them.

Their flight to the castle was uneventful.

After arriving at the castle, the first thing that attracted their attention was the spirit ki. Tairen and the ten guards behind him sat on the veil in meditation, prodding the unnatural spirit ki.

After a moment, Tairen opened his eyes and looked at Abdin with greed. For the first time in many years, he felt his cultivation base move a step forward. Although he didn't get to cultivate any lifespan if he was given time to stay in the castle for a while, he would progress. Once he reached the core formation stage, Will of San would become the first sect in the empire that had more than five core formation experts.

Such a chance wouldn't come twice.

"A thousand students in exchange for 70 percent of the castle." Tairen thought it was fair. His uncle might not agree to this. Even if the castle was empty, it was within the lands of the sect. According to the law, they already had fifty percent of it. Therefore, they only received twenty percent more in exchange for a thousand guards that would be provided to protect the castle. But since they would be relocating there, the guards would just be serving them instead of Abdin. "All of them would be at the ki condensation stage. You won't find even one foundation establishment expert."

He laughed to himself. Does this person think that raising a cultivator to the level of the foundation establishment was easy? The young men and women in the foundation establishment stage would be the backbone of the sect in the future. How could they afford to let them go just like that?