"Just like that the newbie protection period has ended and the Outer Sect Competition will start tomorrow," a man said.
"Yes, yet another competition," another man said unenthusiastically.
"This one should be quite interesting, this year's group has some of the highest scores in the last 500,000 years according to some of the elders except for outliers like Elder Silverstorm," a woman said this time.
"Yes, two people tying for 1st place is quite the shock," a different woman said.
"Especially with such a high score, achieving full marks in 2 tests is incredible," the first man said.
"Adam, you have been quiet during the whole meeting, is something bothering you," the first man said having noticed that Adam had not said a word.
"Head Deacon my mind is elsewhere, I apologise," Adam said quietly.
"I understand, what happened to your son was horrible but that is the nature of the sect the strong devour the weak, you, yourself have killed to reach this point," the Head Deacon said trying to remind him of his path to becoming a deacon.
"I understand Head Deacon," Adam said barely able to contain his anger.
"Yes, I have killed lots of people but my son is far more important than those weaklings, but I know who to blame, Outer Sect Prodigy Kraven, you were there when my son died and you stole his body and belongings, so I will spare no expense in killing you," Adam thought seething while planning his revenge.
Silvia's gang had grown by quite a bit after most of the people begging outside Kraven's house realised he was not testing them and that they had no chance of him protecting them, after this, they decided to follow the new Outer Sect Prodigy who was actually recruiting people, even if she was making extortionate terms for them after the newbie protection period ended they would be working hard for the contribution points to afford the protection fees, but they desperately needed the protection.
"These weaklings are completely useless to think they wasted half of the protection period begging in front of Kraven's door, I highly doubt he even knew they were there, the only thing they will be useful for is gathering contribution points," Silvia thought looking at the groveling disciples begging to join her gang.
"You can enter but after the protection period ends you will need to provide a certain number of contribution points every month if you fail to provide the points you will be kicked out of the gang, understand," Silvia said addressing them.
"Why should we have to pay you anything, shouldn't you protect us because we are also humans, you're just going to use us to earn points without doing anything," a man said but was quickly interrupted by Silvia.
"You're right, I am going to use all of you to earn points, but more importantly what are you going to do about it," Silvia said condescendingly.
"You admit that you're going exploit us and you expect us to stay," the man said before being interrupted again.
"I think you're misunderstanding something, you're the ones asking to join not the other way around if you don't want to pay then fuck off," Silvia said threateningly.
"You damn bitch I'll kill you and show them that you're nothing," the man said launching an attack.
The man drew a dagger from his storage ring and used the
"So slow how can someone be so slow," Silvia said as she moved faster than he could react and used a single palm strike to the chest that shattered his ribs and burst his heart.
"Now I'll have to deal with the deacons," Silvia said annoyed but the deacons quickly appeared.
"We witnessed the battle and you were the attacked party, therefore, you do not have to pay the fine for his death, his storage ring is forfeit if you would like to claim it," the deacon said before disappearing.
"What would that weakling have that I need, you can have it," Silvia said pointing at the first person that followed her a man named Caleb.
"Thank you, leader," Caleb said rushing to grab the ring, his cheeks slightly red.
"Now, that's out of the way would anybody else like to say something," Silvia said while smiling menacingly.
"Damn, Silvia you're crazy," a voice said.
Silvia turned to look who said that and was delighted to realise it was Kraven.
30 Minutes Earlier
The doors to Kraven's house opened for the first time in 12 months, what greeted him was a group of 5 people praying outside his door for him to save them.
"What the fuck are you doing," Kraven said.
"Have we passed your test, we sat and waited outside you're home for 12 months to obtain your protection," one of the group said in reverence, the rest of the group soon parroted this.
"I've got no idea what you're on about, I was in seclusion I didn't even know people were out here, I thought the people that followed me home last year would have left by now," Kraven said before being interrupted.
"You didn't know we were here," the man said dejectedly.
"No, Seclusion mode cuts out all outside stimulus," Kraven explained.
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"NO, YOU HAVE TO PROTECT US!!" the man shouted as he went to grab Kraven's shirt.
"No, I really don't," Kraven said grabbing the hand before it could grab him and breaking the man's arm.
"I was a GODDAMN noble before I was betrayed by my servants and sold to that slave market and brought here now I have to suffer like this while you peasants get to live the high life," the man with the now broken arm shouted from the floor.
"I thought you said you were like us," the woman trying to help him said.
"Like low-class people like you, you wish, I was so far above you it's ridiculous but know I have to suffer in this hell hole," the man said berating the woman.
"If you're so much better than us why don't you cultivate and show us how much better you are," Kraven said.
"I tried, the cultivation techniques hurt so much," the man cried.
"This is the man you all decided to follow," Kraven said addressing the group.
"I don't know, he just seemed so convincing," the woman said.
"Well you can see his true colours now, what will you do?" Kraven asked.
"We will go and join the other Prodigy's group," the woman said as the 3 people behind her nodded agreeing.
"Wait are you saying Silvia has started her own group?" Kraven asked.
"Yes, we know where her group is if you want to go," the woman said.
"So Silvia has established a gang, interesting, let's go pay her a visit," Kraven said with a smile as he followed the 4 people leaving behind the man.
Present Time
"If it's you saying that I'll take that as a compliment," Silvia laughed.
"Oh, I meant it as a compliment," Kraven also laughed, despite the fact they had spent longer in seclusion than they had known each other they were it was as if no time had passed.
"So this is your gang, they are fragile," Kraven said not caring that the people he was calling fragile were right in front of his face and could hear him.
"They are but that will change in the future I hope for now they will supply us with contribution points for free and all we need to do is kick the shit out of anybody who messes with them, simple right," Silvia said smiling showing her talent for politics lying without batting an eye.
"We, are you going to protect me," Kraven asked smiling.
"If you need me too," Silvia cheekily replied, Kraven laughed and agreed to join.
"This is the new Co-Leader Kraven," Silvia announced.
"I don't have to do anything do I?" Kraven asked.
"No, I'll do most things you might have to fight some people that's it," Silvia replied.
"Oh that's fine I'll happily do that," Kraven said smiling.
"Why is she being like that towards him, she always had that cold expression when talking to me but with him, she seems so happy," Caleb thought.
Kraven felt an intense gaze from someone near the gang members.
"How's the weirdo staring at me?" Kraven asked Silvia.
"Caleb, the guy is a total weirdo for some reason he thinks that I'm in love with him just because he joined the gang first," Silvia explained her annoyance.
"Why don't you just tell him to fuck off," Kraven gave a quick and immediate response.
"I can't let them think that they can be removed from the gang on a whim," Silvia retorted.
"But it's down to you in the end so just tell him to fuck off," Kraven said restating his previous solution.
"Of course, I can kick them out if I want but to do it at such an early stage would affect the morale of the gang and that would be a problem," Silvia said.
As Kraven was about to say something there was a commotion among the gang as a large group approached.
"My my if it isn't the 2 prodigies, what a coincidence," the man said.
"Who's this fuck wit," Kraven said.
"7th place in the entrance ceremony Simon Belhaven seems here to stir up trouble," Silvia said watching the approaching group.
"I can see that you've gathered a rather modest group here and was just wondering if you wanted to join forces," Simon said.
"That is a great offer but I'd rather be in control of my own force, but thank you for the offer," Silvia said signaling for Kraven not to say anything as she had a rather solid idea of what he would say.
"That's a shame but to take the choice away from your own people is rather authoritarian isn't it, my father who is an Inner Elder always said that the opinions of your people matter and should always be considered," Simon said.
"Well they are free to leave but if they swap sides so blatantly won't they be nothing more than traitors who you can't trust with anything," Silvia said.
"To have such a shallow thought I guess no matter how talented you are you can't escape the confines of a lowly birth but those of us higher birth understand that circumstances can make a change of allegiance a better option," Simon said trying to flaunt his perceived higher status.
After he said this half of Silvia's group left and joined Simons's group but what slightly shocked Silvia was that Caleb also left.
"I hope you understand what you're doing if you leave there is no coming back remember that, "Silvia said coldly.
"He's the son of a Martial King Inner Elder he has connections that you fuckers couldn't imagine," one of the group shouted.
"That man has only been here not even 10 minutes and you've shown him more warmth than any of us in the last 6 months," Caleb shouted hoping to get a response but Silvia merely stared at him coldly as if an insect had entered her field of view.
"From the way you talk of circumstances and changing allegiances, it seems that if the sect ever suffered a period of hardship you would be ready to jump ship to get better terms, is that right," Silvia said with a cold smile.
"How dare you challenge our leader's allegiance to the sect, you filth," a man who seemed to be 2nd in command said axe in his hand radiating killing intent charging for Silvia,
"Finally," Kraven said as he moved from Silvia's side saber in hand using the
"Grant be careful," one of Simon's group shouted.
The man now known as Grant used the length of the axe to use a Sweeping attack and target Kraven's legs but Kraven saw the wind up of the attack and took 2 steps back and the attack completely missed.
"What is going Grant is a Low-Tier Body Tempering 3rd stage cultivator of the High-Tier
"My turn," Kraven said rushing Grant however Grant followed the momentum of the axe swing and spun around bringing the axe towards Kraven's head, Kraven quickly ducked under the axe and continued his attack aiming at Grant's legs he used the
"Leader save me please," Grant begged Simon to save him but Simon was frozen as he watched Kraven raise his saber to Grant's chest and pierce his heart in one motion.
"That was incredibly boring," Kraven said as he put his saber away and walked back to Silvia not even looking at Simon's group, deacons appeared almost instantly after the kill but as Kraven had been attacked it was sorted quickly.
"Kraven you can take his storage ring as loot," Silvia said.
"Oh really, nice," Kraven said as he turned around and went to grab Grant's now ownerless storage ring.
"That belongs to our group so if you would leave it we would be very grateful," Simon said barely holding back his anger.
"Make me," Kraven said taking the ring and returning to Silvia's side.
"Ah, members that left please remember that you can't rejoin after leaving," Silvia said as she saw some of them deciding if they should try and beg for forgiveness but Silvia's words extinguished any hope of that working.
"Let's leave," Simon said as he and his gang turned to leave he heard Kraven talk.
"Let's meet up again it should be more fun next time," Kraven said rubbing salt in his wounds.
"Shall we continue the meeting," Silvia said to the group that had stayed who now looked much happier about being in this group.
Just as Kraven was following Silvia his vision shifted and he appeared inside a room with his master and someone he did not know but felt odd.