Who could've guessed that my first experience of the first real sect would be so painful. And not just in terms of being physically hurt! Can you imagine how hard it is for me to walk in a way that won't give up the state of my lower body?
Considering the reaction of this nonamed arrogant youngling from earlier, there was a high chance that we will encounter some problems on the way. My only hope is that the amount of influence that sect master authority holds amongst the younger generation will be enough to prevent them from stirring up any problems for me right now!
"Can you tell me something about this sect? I kind of feel strange walking through this place with all those people looking at me like I was some kind of strange animal…"
Trying to put my mind out of the raging problem down there, I try to strike a conversation with Eve.
"Blop!"
"Charm skill raised!"
Meh, I can't be bothered by this Bonger anymore. I already learned that allowing him to provoke me is far from profitable!
"This is Wandering Sword sect. We are currently waling through the inner part of the sect, where only cultivators at or above the level of surfacing can stay. All those embracing energy and body reinforcing masses are kept in the outer sect, where they have to duke it out among themselves to get as many resources as necessary to reach higher stages of cultivation."
While she speaks, her hands point out to me ever so often when we are passing by more distinctive buildings.
And let's be honest here. Earth can't compare to this beauty in any way. And I'm not even speaking about the girl right now! With the rapid development of the towns, more and more concrete blocks took the place of the old architecture, that still had some kind of beauty in it.
On the contrary, this sect was a place when an ordinary-looking building would look out of place! Every single of the building's elevations were decorated in a fancy manner, grabbing one's attention while just passing by them. Local might already be used and numb to this delicate beauty of the surroundings, but as someone pulled out from the modernist world of earth, I could only gaze at the portions and portions of art that by mistake called itself a hotel, shop or a simple inn.
"Compared to the outer sect, the inner part is the place to live! While there is still a higher level, the core stage, only those at the mind menace level can get there. It would be too dangerous for them to keep them banded up with all the common folks here!"
While I cached a bit of sense in her small monologue, my knowledge about cultivation was severely limited. As someone without enough talent to attain even Embracing energy realm, I was forever done as a typical mortal. In the end, I only heard some stories about hurdles that people had to go through to attain greater strength. While the first realm was basically about learning how to sense the energy in the surroundings while keeping inner peace, the second one was a bit harder because it required a lot of effort to direct said energy to enrich one's body.
While at that point people used to call them cultivators, only when the surfacing stage was achieved, there could be any talk about cultivation.
"Right, I heard this little, arrogant guy stating that you are a great surfacing cultivator. How long did it take you to reach that stage?"
As soon as I said those words, I could see a proud smile appearing on Eve's delicate face. With a slightly blushed cheeks and excitement seeping through her eyes, it was a wonder that I didn't stumble while walking through the streets!
"It took me only four months to break through the energy embracing stage and another seven months to enter my previous realm of surfacing! Thanks to your help and the drink that you served me, I managed to finally enter the soul hazard stage!"
Speaking happily, Eve couldn't help but turn her head a bit and send me a cheerful look. There was no greater joy for a cultivator than to breakthrough thanks to a fortuitous encounter. Considering both her and sect master's reaction to the gourd, maybe it wasn't a simple drink in the end? If she states that she managed to break through the second hardest phase in the mortal realm thanks to it, the worth of this single bootle should be astonishing!
"Hey guys, look at this mortal trash!"
Eh… Exactly as my gut feeling told me, there was no way that this arrogant kid from before would let me go. If he really harboured some ulterior motives towards Eve, he would never let me get away scot-free from the humiliation that he had to belive that he suffered!
"What did you just say?!"
Instantly placing her hand on the handle of her sword, Eve took a fighting stance, ready to lash out at the person pestering us.
Sighing deeply, I place my hand on her shoulder and pat it lightly.
"Don't bother with them. With the level of intellect that those people represents, they are here only to provoke you. Why bother with them? Dog's will always bark, but cultured people don't pay any attention to those noises!"
Can it be any simpler than that? With the warning issued straight by the sect master, if we were to pick up any glove thrown in our face, I'm sure the elders would be notified and the whole matter would blow out of proportions in mere moments. I might be a weak mortal, but I have read enough manga and novels in my time on earth to see through this kind of plot in an instant!
"Look, this pile of trash is actually touching the surfacing realm expert! If I were in her shoes, I would slash his head off to wash off this disgrace!"
Noticing that we simply ignored this bunch of young masters sneering at us, they become visibly unsettled. If someone provokes you, the best thing to infuriate them even more, is to simply ignore them!
On the other hand, even if with the help of the Banger I would be able to survive their attack, I have a lot more important matters on my head right now. This pile of resources in my storage ring heavily tempted me to try my luck at smithing! If I were to be successful, maybe the stats would stop being a major headache for me!
As we passed those younglings by, they still kept shoutings stupid threats like:
"We will kill you later!"
"Your head will be a nice decoration for my room!"
"Let's eat some noodles guys!"
Let them bark. Dogs are always allowed to bark.
Soon later, we arrive before the entrance to a massive, bulky building, with loads of smoke coming out of its chimney. Without a doubt, this is the smithy that I really wanted to visit!
"Let's go inside. Knowing my master, she already reserved a comfortable workshop for you!"
Pulled by Eve's hand inside, I could see how the bright outside turned into a dimly lighted hall, with a multitude of doors placed on both sides of a long corridor. Only it's the very end was furnished with a small desk overstacked with papers, and a cabinet next to it that stopped serving its role a long time ago.
"Inner direct disciple Eva reports for her duty. I was ordered by the Sect Master herself to lead our important guest to the smithy. Do you have any free rooms maybe?"
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