Hae-Hyuk was still smiling as he told Jin: "Do you remember our original deal? The reason I picked you as a disciple?"

Jin recalled Hae-Hyuk's words: "You need something that only your disciples will have the opportunity to get for you...Does that mean you need people under the tenth stage to get it?"

Hae-Hyuk clapped his hands: "Bingo~ I need you to stay at this level so that you can participate and after investing so much, I hope that you can understand why I locked away your progress"

Jin nodded. He could understand it. Hae-Hyuk did invest a lot in him and Min-Su. If he needed them to remain at this realm to get something for him first... He didn't mind it too much. To be honest, for their age, they were already far behind their peers. Just looking at Sophia who was already past the 30th stage before he entered seclusion... But it is true that time was very important to cultivators. Restraining their progress could limit their future achievements.

While Jin was grateful to Hae-Hyuk. A lot. It was still his future that was at stake. He asked Hae-Hyuk: "How long?"

Hae-Hyuk was pleased. Jin understood his reasons and, with this question, gave his accord. He answered him: "Three years. I need you two to remain at this stage for three more years and then win something for me"

Jin asked back: "Win what? How?"

Hae-Hyuk lifted his palm to stop him and said: "I will explain everything once it's time. For now, I will have you and Min-Su train. So that you two become undefeatable at this stage"

Jin nodded. He was unhappy about not being given answers but Hae-Hyuk had always been this way. In the end, he would be told once it's time. Regardless, he owed Hae-Hyuk and had made a deal back then. He would uphold the words of his past self. The benefits he received...He believed they were worth giving up some more years. Also, becoming undefeatable at his realm sounded perfect. This would enable him to deepen his understanding of spiritual energy and battles with it. But there was a little problem.

Jin asked Hae-Hyuk: "How will we train? Will you teach us new techniques?"

He was answered: "No. I prepared an arena and people from all around the world have come to spar with you two. You will fight constantly for the remaining days until we leave"

Jin was a little perplexed. Fighting? Sure, he wanted nothing more than that. But there was this little problem. Be it him or Min-Su, they didn't know any techniques aside the secret eye one... How were they supposed to fight without knowing any movement techniques, any attacking techniques and any defensive techniques? He asked Hae-Hyuk and was told:

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"You have the technique master's eyes now and people from all kinds of backgrounds to fight with you. Learn by yourself, steal all their techniques if you can. What I prepared for you two isn't simply a way to have unlimited spars, it is also a library of techniques to learn. Don't disappoint me, I have high expectations"

After a few more words, Jin left to find Min-Su. It seemed that he had exited seclusion earlier, even though he was lagging behind the eye technique... Now, he had mastered it and reached the peak of ninth stage before Jin. Quite the speed.

Jin was led to him by a clan servant. He had returned to the home of his family, in the branch under the floating city. He found him playing in a big garden with his Carnassid. That little beast had grown to the size of a big dog. It was ugly now even though it had been so cute back then... It had brown skin and some herbs and plants were growing on its head and back. And it was salivating madly as it ran around along Min-Su.

Min-Su only stopped after seeing Jin appear. He waved at him. Jin looked at his fellow disciple. He had changed somehow. He looked more...handsome? It was difficult to tell. He was still the same guy with long dark hair and brown eyes but his facial feature seemed to be more defined and he oozed happiness. For the first time, it felt like his smile was genuine...Maybe his familial situation had weight him all along?

Regardless, it wasn't Jin's role to ask. His role was only to rejoice for his friend. He went up to him and they had a chat. About Min-Su's family, their secluded cultivation, their future... They had a chat until the sun came down. That's when Min-Su's sister came home...along with Sophia. The two had become great friends in the time both guys had disappeared.

They all ate together. And days went by in a similar fashion. Jin would train with his new spear in Min-Su's garden while that guy played with the three beasts. The girls would be there sometimes or come back later.

And finally, after ten days, Hae-Hyuk came to pick them up: "It's time"

They went back up to the floating island and the Ryu Patriarch led them to a different area. There were two square rings surrounded by thousands of people. Hae-Hyuk brought Jin and Min-Su up with him and began to address the crowd: "Thank you everyone for answering my call. I give my thanks to the Seven Waterfall City for allowing me to stay and organize this event of mine. As you have heard, from today on, you will have the opportunity to spar with my two disciples for rewards"

The crowd cheered. And Hae-Hyuk continued after earning silence back:

"My disciples are at the ninth stage of spiritual accumulation and you will only be allowed to fight them after restricting yourself to this realm. There is no ban on techniques and elements though. You are free to demonstrate your might and use all your abilities"

"You will win if you manage to push my disciples out of bounds, if you incapacitate them or if you make them give up. Of course, if you dare to kill them, I will find you, your family and friends to ask for compensation so beware"

"Finally, for every ten individual wins or a hundred group wins, I will impart one technique"

The crowd cheered louder. After some more time, Hae-Hyuk continued:

"The Ryu clan will be keeping tabs on everyone's win streaks and at the end of every month, I'll be giving out the rewards"

"Now then, I declare this arena opened!"