Writer's Note: As stated a few chapter ago, this is the last for a long time. I started this story before The Snake Immortal but posted it afterwards as a side project because I liked the other story better. I am also writing a xianxia novel as another side project and enjoy that. Thanks for reading and sorry for the disappointment.
Chapter 14: Rain Dragon Sect
"Yah, look at you boy! Stream-lined body like a real man," Sean praised as Rex appeared in his uniform the next day. "The only thing I don't like is that grizzly bear with gold armor on your robes. Did you gain any stats during your training?"
"Show status," Rex said and his mother and grandfather saw the status table appear.
Name: Rex Cerberus Valentine
Level: 18
Class: Black Mage
Title: Fire Lord (hidden); Ancient Berserker (hidden); Thousand Soul Eater
Health: 1750 (1690+60)
Mana: 830 (810+20)
Ki: 700 (660+40)
Stats
STR: 60 (56)
AGI: 47 (43)
SPR: 58 (56)
STA: 50 (46)
"I gained 2 strength, 5 agility, 9 spirit, and 6 stamina. The 9 additional stats increased my mana by 90 while the additional stamina increased my Ki by 60 and health by 90," Rex said.
"That's it? Only 2 strength? You focused too much on your magic," Sean sighed.
"He is a black mage," Mary said.
"For Cheat Hunters, we gain additional stats just by training based on the stat. Hell, even studying increases your spirit stat while jogging can increase the stamina stat. My stats would have risen a lot higher," Sean explained and looked at Rex. "Why didn't your stats go any higher?"
"I learned about elemental affinities," Rex answered and revealed the wisps that flew around him. Mary and Sean were shocked as they saw wisps of spirit energy in nine different colors. They were cerulean, indigo, purple, red, orange, brown, green, jade, and gold.
"You've already determined your body's natural five elements?" Mary gasped.
"Water, fire, earth, wood.....and is that lightning? Yes, it is," Sean said as he scrutinized the gold wisps of spirit energy. "Since when could you see those?"
"Since I learned the Prey Instincts passive skill when I awoke as a Night Hunter. Now, it is the Prey Domain skill," Rex answered. "My training included more magical studies during the second year."
"No wonder your spirit stat increased so much," Sean muttered. "You've got monstrous stats though, boy. How many free non-class slots you got left?"
"Three active and two passive slots," Rex answered.
"Level 18 and will join the Rain Dragon Sect. Plus, there's the nine factions to consider.....good," Mary nodded with approval.
"You did practice my self created skill: Oblivion Wave, right?" Sean asked and beamed as Rex nodded. "Yah, creating your own skill is pretty fucking difficult. Your Ink Moon Cutter skill is one-of-a-kind, but made by that Three-Legged Golden Crow. You got five affinities and Night Hunters are lucky to make even one skill. You should consider that in the future. Evolving those skills are even more difficult as it is the same as creating a new one."
"The assessment test is later today, right? Can I learn more about the sect first?" Rex asked.
"Ah, right. We should talk about that," Sean said. "Gretel, you start off while I make system messages about each faction."
"Alright," Mary said and turned to Rex. "The Rain Dragon Sect is founded by the Lord of Black Water City. He is sure to be above level 250 as no one dares anger him and cause a ruckus in Las Vegas. The disciples of the sect are first separated into one of nine factions. Those not chosen by a faction can only become an outer disciple, not truly a member of the sect. Only the talented are first chosen by seven possible factions as thee of the nine are class exclusive. Once the factions choose you, you choose among them. However, you won't have a problem being chosen with your background and stats. Your problem lies on what faction you choose."
"So Gary was right about factions choosing first. He chose the rogue only faction so I won't be able to see him much," Rex noted.
"Within those nine factions, there are rankings. When you are first chosen, you are either a inner sect disciple or recorded disciple. Inner sect disciples are those chosen by the sect to bolster their numbers and have some potential. Recorded disciples are those explicitly chosen and accepted by the elders of the factions. They are sometimes trained by the elders and leader of their faction," Mary continued. "Faction leaders are also the nine assistant headmasters who serve under the three vice headmasters. At the highest is the patriarch who is also the Lord of Black Water City! Naturally, those of the Rain Dragon Sect are more respected than outsiders within Black Water City."
"Okay, now here comes the system messages," Sean said and nine white boxes appeared before Rex. "Do remember that you cannot possibly join the exclusive warrior and rogue factions. That means a total of seven faction representative can choose you first before you select which one to join. Juniors who reached level 10 throughout the globe will come to Rain Dragon Sect. It seems many wish to be tested to be the Chosen of Water and possess the Trident of Water. You just forget and avoid such idiots."
*Ding*
Mech Matrix: Rogue class exclusive faction. Rex, you don't need to learn much about it but they combine Ki and machinery to make interesting weapons and armor similar to science fiction movies. You better get some neat stuff through your friend, Gary Hill.
Indomitable Dragon: Warrior exclusive faction. You can't join this one either but the strongest and most talented warriors join this faction. One of the top three factions, it obviously has many disciples and much in-fighting to accompany it. The patriarch's favorite faction so try not to anger disciples from this faction. Well, at least don't kill any.
Elemental Raze: Mage exclusive faction. Bunch of mages wearing fancy robes and hats who think they're all that because they got magic. You are a battle mage so you should not join this faction. They don't approve of battle mages and the representative probably won't choose you. The idiot.
Mysterious Formation: All classes really. Formations are created using spirit energy, mana or Ki, does not matter which one. Pretty much the most mysterious sect, pun intended. Bunch of sissies if you ask me, but they make good money for making formations which have a variety of effects. Recommended.
Sealing Jade: Warriors and rogues preferred. This faction specializes in controlling the battlefield. Tactics, torture, assassination, combat, and other stuff. They are the most annoying sect as they can seal someone's spirit energy. Course you got that Ink Qilin Neidan's anti- spirit energy sealing effect. Don't join these guys.
Myriad Ghost: Rogues and mages preferred. Illusion magic, stealth, and assassination in a nut shell. Why fight face-to-face if you can just kill from the shadows. Not my cup of tea as I raise mayhem and destroy opponent and environment at the same time. Personally, I wouldn't bother learning illusion magic if I were a mage.
Corpse Refinery: All classes. Pretty much the most bloody, cruel, and evil faction. You kill people or creatures of the Night and use their souls to refine a corpse of a more powerful entity. It will become your puppet or even host your own damn soul. I'd be more worried about my own faction killing me than other factions. One of the top three factions. Recommended.
Abyssal Ruin: All classes but is the smallest faction. This faction is the only one personally founded by the patriarch. This faction focuses on researching the Night and its inhabitants. They also possess interesting formations and have skills found nowhere else. The best benefit is lack of in-fighting and large living space. Recommended.
Howling Sky: Warriors and rogues preferred. Pretty much a combat-focused faction. My kind of faction that just focuses on killing creatures of the Night on the battlefield. Battle mages are especially accepted if they know healing magic. If you want to learn flying skills early on, this faction is it. One of the top three factions. Highly recommended.
"See any faction you like?" Sean asked.
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"You don't seem to like any but the Mech Matrix Faction," Rex said.
"Can't help it. They got some neat tools," Sean shrugged.
"Well, Corpse Refinery, Abyssal Ruin, and Howling Sky seem ideal," Rex said.
"There is no greater prize than your own corpse. Should they discover you are a Cheat Hunter, they would instantly kill you and make it look like an accident. Plus, I don't want you messing with corpses," Mary said.
"In the end, you got to impress them first. Let's go," Sean said.
They rode Mary's car to the underground parking lot of the largest corporate building in Los Cientos. The elevator there took them to the Rain Dragon Sect which was situated deep below the city in a underground valley. Even though it was not in Black Water City beneath Las Vegas, Los Cientos was the hometown of the Lord of Black Water City and where he founded the sect.
Sects were secluded from the world, unlike Night Hunter Academies. Thus, the Rain Dragon Sect was not located in Las Vegas. The corporate building was just a front of a private bank and financing firm that made most of its money by the Night Hunter employees.
"This is Rain Dragon Sect? So amazing," Rex gasped as he arrived atop of a mountain overlooking a valley farther than the eye could see. It was as if he were atop a beach house on the hill overlooking the sea. Judging by the Chinese architecture, Rex assumed the patriarch was Chinese. It was as if Rex traveled through time to ancient China!
High above, a serpent-bodied dragon made of azure crystals, black wood, and gears covered the ceiling of the underground valley. For reasons unknown to Rex, the valley was lit as if the sun was shining but there was no light source for him to determine where it came from.
"Not a bad place, right? I only know five others as grand as this. One in Japan, one in England, One in Mongolia, and two in Mexico," Sean agreed. "Hansel and Gretel actually attended that sect in Mexico. I think it was the one closer north."
"The Blazing Sun Dial Sect," Mary answered and Sean nodded.
"Yeah, that's the one. Heh. I remember the patriarch wanted his son to marry you. You rejected the boy so many times, I literally had to ask for you to leave the sect when it was discovered you subjected that boy to your potion testing experiments. You fucked that boy up," Sean roared with laughter.
"Enough," Mary waved and Sean led the two toward the entrance of the sect, still laughing all the while.
"Halt! You approach the entrance to the Rain Dragon Sect. If you seek to cause trouble, the Rain Dragon Guardian above will slay you without mercy or trial," a guard in pure black robes with gold hemming on the bottom of their robe and sleeves. Unlike most martial robes, their robes fell to the ground and did not only cover their upper body.
"I am Sean Gorgon, the War God. This is my daughter, Gretel the Dark Queen. I am here for my grandson to take the test and join the sect," Sean said as he looked at the long lines of people standing in line behind the gates. Sean and company had arrived at the outer gate. After inspection, they would enter the outer sect disciple area and wait for the test there. Seeing this, it was evidence that outer sect disciples weren't really considered true members of the sect.
"T, the War God?" a guard cried and stopped the guard who first spoke, the guard obviously about to yell and say something stupid. "It is an honor for the War God to come. We had heard of your grandson appearing in the last first level promotion test. There is no need for the three esteemed guests to wait in line."
"You know this guy?" a guard frowned as other guards immediately appeared and bowed.
"Greetings, War God!" they all cried and stared at the guard who still didn't pay his respects.
"Don't tell me you don't know the identities of the top twenty Night Hunters? This is THE War God, not a fake like all the others. Sean Gorgon slayed over forty Code Keepers, conquered many areas in the Night to make various cities! He even saved the patriarch's life once!" the guard captain answered as he appeared and bowed to Sean as the other guard paled and bowed in apology several times. "Apologies, War God. He is a new guard and took his post last month."
"I saved him? Must have been long ago. Anyway, don't tell anyone of my relation to Rex. No one needs to know his background. He'll wait in line with the others. Let the parents and guardians in so they don't suspect anything. Oh, and forbid any status inspections. I don't people to sweat bullets when they can't read mine if they use a device or is actually a Cheat Hunter," Sean advised.
"Of course, we'll wait thirty minutes before doing so. We'll have to yell at you three to get in line to avoid suspicion. All sounds outside the outer gate cannot be heard inside. Sects like to isolate themselves from the troubles of the outside world. No one heard us guards pay our respects. Rest assured," the guard captain said and turned to his men. "Alert the the three vice headmasters of the War God's arrival and have all the parents and guardians enter the spectator stands in thirty minutes."
"Yes, captain," the guards said and left.
"So sects have guards. Are you not disciples?" Rex asked.
"We guards are part of the City Lord's private army. Us guarding the outer gates and enforcing the sect rules in the outer disciple area display the connection of the City Lord and the sect," the guard captain answered. "All matters inside the sect are unknown to us as well. You will have to inquire others of the sect's rules within the factions"
After thirty minutes of waiting in line, Rex waved goodbye as the parents and guardians were led out of the line and into the giant field up ahead. When Rex and the others were led inside, they appeared in what seemed like the coliseum in Rome but the size of a professional football stadium. Rex and all the applicants had been changed into brown robes with yellow seams. Those were the robes of outer sect disciples and only faction disciples could wear their personal robes with colors pertaining to their status within their factions.
"You lot don't mind those people in the stands. Your first test is simple: a status inspection. A proctor will come to determine your name, level, class, and title. In our sect, those below the age of twenty five and above level 12 will pass the first test. Don't bother using shady methods. You can't fool us," a man wearing pure white robes with azure collars and sash said as he arrived with four others. "Once your status is inspected, and you meet the requirements, you will be given an identification tag with your application number on it. The faction disciples, elders, leader, and representative are watching you through hidden cameras during each assessment test. Your results determine whether you get picked or fail and become an outer sect disciple."
"Such harsh requirements."
"They're watching us? Is there no privacy at all?"
Many applicants were disturbed by the requirements. Those who didn't were clearly confident or knew about it. Some were even a little over ten years old. Rex realized these were kids from powerful clans or organizations. They were truly talented but Rex was a Cheat Hunter and did not feel inferior to them.
"Next!" the proctor called and Rex stepped forward, feeling a tingling down his spine as he got appraised.
"Name is Rex Valentine. Level 18? Quite the monster. You're a black mage! Whew. Haven't inspected one of those in a while. Thousand Soul Eater title? You ate souls?" the proctor cried, many applicants and spectators muttering in awe and fear. Level 18 meant he had some sort of background. Not as high as he was fifteen, but he had a title and it involved souls.
"A black mage would be valued by Corpse Refinery and Abyssal Ruin. Kid, don't expect much from Mech Matrix, Indomitable Dragon, or even Elemental Raze," the proctor said as he saw the sword on Rex's back. "Sealing Jade, Howling Sky, and Myriad Ghost are also options for you."
"Which faction would Proctor think suits me?" Rex asked.
"The first two I mentioned. Black mages study the most ancient of magic and that coincides with Abyssal Ruin. Soul skills, like Yin Yang Gate, and other skills work well for disciples of Corpse Refinery," the proctor answered and gave Rex his identification tag. Rex thanked the man and waited for the first assessment test to be concluded. Along with him, a total of over five thousand passed. Not surprising, those who were all around ten, eleven, and twelve all passed.
"The real assessment starts now," Mary said.
"He better get some results," Sean nodded as they watched among the stands.