A figure descended onto the arena.
His golden robe fluttered like a divine banner. Every step he took was silent, yet carried an immense weight. His blue eyes fell briefly upon the mutilated body of Vincent, but he soon shifted his gaze away, as if the corpse did not matter.
On the other end, Alister, who had been injured and trembling, looked up at the descending sect leader.
He seized the opportunity by changing his face and displaying the righteous mask
"Sect Leader, please uphold justice for us!"
He cried, his voice echoing throughout the outer sect.
"That man barged into our sect, attacked me, and left my disciple nearly crippled!"
Alister pointed his trembling finger toward Damon's master.
"Enough."
A voice resounded across the entire outer sect, calm yet heavy.
"Alister, you do not need to teach me what to do... I have seen everything you and your dear disciple have been doing."
"Do you think my Celestial Sect is your clan's backyard?"
The sect leader's voice held clear anger.
Alister's expression darkened. He had expected the sect leader to take his side, yet the man didn't even glance at the outsider; instead, he scolded him.
"As punishment for interfering in a life-and-death match between juniors," the Sect Leader continued, "you will be stripped of your position as Inner Elder and sentenced to one hundred years in the Cold Palace. Only after completing this sentence may you regain your former post."
Hearing the sect leader's judgement, everyone at the sect was shocked.
Alister's face turned pale.
He fell to his knees in panic.
"I admit I interfered in the match, but to send me to the Cold Palace… that punishment is far too severe!"
"Sect Master... Please reconsider; I have served the sect faithfully for three thousand years. I have always obeyed your judgment!"
"Please, do not send me to the Cold Palace. I know I was wrong…"
As the name suggests, Cold Palace was one of the forbidden places of the Celestial Sect. A prisoner sent there would have their cultivation sealed, and what's even worse is the extreme cold erodes one's foundation. Even a Soul Transformation elder like Alister would suffer irreversible damage after a hundred years.
This will ruin his hope of reaching the Void-Piercing Realm.
As Alister continued pleading continuously, the sect master looked down at him.
A burst of energy erupted from him... the heavens and earth started changing its color. Though the disciples were not harmed, the phenomenon was utterly terrifying.
The unearthly pressure descended upon Alister.
Under the crushing force, he coughed out a mouthful of blood.
Regret flooded his heart; he wished he had never come to the outer sect with his disciple.
"Contribution?" the Sect Master said coldly. "Alister, do you think I don't know what you have been doing for thousands of years? Just because you're a member of the Heavenly Feather Clan, don't think I cannot punish you."
"Even if your clan patriarch Lucas came to plead for you, I would not reduce your sentence by a second.
Consider it my mercy that I'm not expelling you."
He paused.
"And if you keep showing that pathetic face, I don't mind adding another hundred years."
"Now get out of my sight at once."
Terrified, Alister fled with his disciple.
After they left, the sect master's gaze fell on Elder Rudra.
"Are you still going to keep this act up? You've been here less than a year, and already you're making me clean up your messes."
Rudra chuckled. "Who asked that skinny chicken to come here? I don't mind plucking a few more of his feathers."
Rudra laughed...
The Sect Master went speechless. How can someone be this shameless?
Even the discipline who is been on the arena were left speechless.
With a sigh, he said, "You've already caused a scene here. Let's return to my residence."
Turning toward the disciples, he surveyed the devastation.
Half the disciples had fainted, some were barely standing, and others were still on the ground, shaken by the pressure of witnessing two powerhouses clash.
"What are you staring at?" the Sect Master said.
"Take the fainted disciples to the infirmary. The rest of you, resume your duties. Everyone present will be compensated with one hundred low-grade spirit stones."
The disciples brightened. Though the experience was terrifying, it came with rewards; this is what they call "suffered the worst, gained the best."
Stiles, on the other hand, felt the trip had been fruitful. Counting everything, he can now have two hundred low-grade spirit stones along with his upgraded resource.
Then his gaze drifted to the arena, watching Damon and his master disappear with the sect master.
He sighed. It no longer mattered. He had come only to report his breakthrough, yet ended up witnessing the true terror of the world.
Stiles didn't complain; instead, he took it as an experience to grow stronger.
Without delay, he headed to the Sect Management Hall.
The building was like a twenty-story structure piercing the sky
He was amazed by the artistic sense of the building. Even though he is from Earth with the current technology, they can't even create a glimpse of this ancient-looking structure.
A couple of minutes later.
When Stiles reached the inner hall, he found the counter he needed. After reporting his name and his breakthrough, he received resources and a transfer paper to move from the outer area to the inner area.
This is also a perk once you reach the foundation establishment, whether it is through body cultivation or Qi.
Disciples can move to the inner area of the outer sect, where they will be able to experience stronger spiritual energy.
From his memory, the inner area has five times the energy density compared to the outer area.
After registering, he returned to his cave and still planned to relocate by today.
So he started packing his things, with most of his belongings stored in his spatial ring.
He walked toward the inner area. After checking his identity, a disciple accompanied him to show the allotted cave.
After reaching there, he found the cave residence was around 2,000 square feet and far more comfortable than the previous one. Joy filled his face as he started to clean and arrange his belongings.
After freshening up, he didn't forget to head towards the Martial Manual Hall to select his cultivation techniques.
At the entrance stood an elder with a clear glance; Stiles could tell he was a terrifying powerhouse.
Since this is the Martial Manual Hall, it is necessary for someone this powerful to guard the sect's heritage.
The elder looked at Stiles and smiled.
"Interesting. Your spirit root is half-damaged and not well accomplished in Qi-cultivation, but your body cultivation is already at early Foundation Establishment.
Also, you broke through your shackles and achieved Will—manifestation impressive.
Continue cultivating diligently, and you'll achieve great results in your future."
Stiles stiffened. He feared the elder might see through and discover his system.
Seeing his reaction, the elder chuckled. "Don't worry. Everyone has their secrets. This old man doesn't like to pry."
Stiles bowed towards the elder. "Please forgive this foolish disciple."
"It's fine. You may enter now."
"You're allowed access to the first and second floors only, and you have one day to choose two techniques. If you exceed the time, you'll be sent out."
Stiles bowed again and walked towards the hall.
The elder watched him go and murmured, "What a polite kid… but politeness alone won't keep him alive in this world."
Inside, Stiles went straight to the first floor, searching for a concealment technique and a body cultivation method.
He got 1 day, but looking at the countless books, Stiles felt helpless, so he didn't waste any time
He started browsing countless manuals.
Quiet Veil Method, Dust-Hidden Art, Hidden Pulse Method, and Breath-Dimming Method, but none suited his needs.
After seven hours of struggle, he found one.
Muted Meridian Scripture-Profound Mid-Grade
By reversing Qi-flow and sealing the meridians into a closed loop, the practitioner can completely conceal their spiritual aura and hide their cultivation realm, appearing as a mundane mortal. However, those two major realms above the practitioner can still see through it.
Stiles was satisfied. Golden Core experts wouldn't detect him; only Nascent Soul or higher can see through him
That was enough for now.
Then he went to the second floor to search for a body-cultivation technique.
Again, looking at the countless books, Stiles felt helpless.
Hours passed.
He found lots of books with fancy and domineering names, but none suited him.
Jade Marrow Technique, Iron Root Cultivation, and Crane-Bone Tempering-none impressed him.
After fifteen hours, he finally found a high-tier Profound method
Nine-Cycle Body Art
A technique that tempers the body through nine cycles with the help of intense flame
As the name suggests, one must temper their body nine times with the help of flames with different temperatures.
which includes skin, blood, sinew, muscle, bone, marrow, organs, meridians, and unity.
The more he read, the more excited he became.
After choosing the techniques, he walked towards the elder
Submitting the technique, the guarding elder raised an eyebrow.
"Nine-Cycle Body Art? That's a tough one. Are you sure you don't want to pick something else?"
"No, Elder. This one fits me."
The elder laughed. "I've heard that before from many disciples. Well, it's not my concern. Return it within three months. If you're late, it'll cost fifty low-grade stones per day."
Stiles bowed and left the martial manual hall.
A few minutes later
When Stiles returned to his cave, he realized he had spent the entire day in the Manual Hall.
Without hesitation, he summoned his system and claimed today's fortune.
'The host has received Soul Spring Nectar.'