As the competition concluded, only the members of the Sunrise Sect remained in the square.
"Brother Ghost, you really did it!"
The girls, in particular, were overflowing with excitement, surrounding him like ants drawn to sugar.
Elder Mark placed his hand on Michael's shoulder and nodded in appreciation.
"System, transfer ten thousand gold from the ring to the storage."
[Ding! Transfer successful.]
"I should give this to you."
After transferring the amount he received from Sadie, he handed the ring to Sect Leader Claire. Initially, she seemed hesitant to accept it, but after exchanging glances with the other elders, she took the ring from him.
"No offense, but please don't ask me to wear those orange uniforms because they're just too ugly."
Laughter erupted among the sect's disciples upon hearing his comment. They were well aware of how unattractive the orange uniforms were, and it was refreshing to hear someone openly voice their opinion to the elders. The elders, in a good-natured mood, also joined in the laughter, creating a lively atmosphere.
"First, we should return to the sect and settle some of our debt," Elder Sandra sighed.
*************************
At that moment, Michael followed the elders down a rural road toward the sect, and his once-black robes now had a brownish tint due to the dust.
"Brother Ghost, you never told us where you came from?" one of the girls asked curiously.
"Well, since I was born, I never stayed in the same place for long. I like to travel, so I can't give a direct answer to your question."
"What about your parents, Brother Ghost?"
"I don't have any."
Although he had answered this question countless times during his upbringing, it still pained him to say it again. Their expressions changed suddenly upon hearing his response.
"I'm sorry, Brother Ghost."
"Don't be, it's alright."
His gentle smile quickly put the girls at ease, and because of his easy-going demeanor, they felt comfortable around him, establishing a good relationship.
"Young man, then how did you cultivate to this point? Those spells you used looked extremely rare and precious," Elder Miles joined the conversation and asked.
"As I said, Elder Mark, I traveled a lot, met many people, and explored many ruins. Since I don't have anyone to teach me or guide me on the path of cultivation, I had to do all that to make the most of my talents."
"Worry not anymore, young man. Even though we don't have many resources to provide you, we can teach you and guide you on the right path," Elder Mark proudly stated as he patted Michael on the back. All the disciples of Sunrise felt a sense of pride looking at him, nearly placing him at the pinnacle of their world.
None of them were fools, especially after witnessing his capabilities. For someone as exceptional as him, even if he were in one of the three major sects, he would be among the top disciples, and the sect's leadership would focus heavily on his development. Moreover, after today's competition, his name would spread throughout the Bredia Kingdom, making him a superstar among the younger generation.
With him as their core disciple, which the elders would undoubtedly make him, they now had the means to hold their heads high in front of those who once ridiculed them and their sect and had bullied them whenever they could.
"And don't think that you don't have a family, young man. As Elder Miles said, we may lack resources, but we treat everyone in our sect as our family, and now you have become one of us," Elder Sandra gently brushed his head, displaying a motherly smile. For the first time in his long life, Michael's heart felt warm as he returned the smile.
He had developed a favorable impression of the people in the sect. They may have been modest in terms of wealth, but they were rich in kindness. In his previous life, he had been the greatest assassin and hitman, a solitary figure with no family, friends, girlfriend, or anyone who had seen his true face except for his mentor. All he had cherished was his job and an abundance of money in offshore accounts, but no warmth or connection with others.
In this life, he yearned for something different. He desired family, friends, a loving partner, and a sense of belonging. He didn't want to be lonely anymore.
"We must guide him to reach higher levels of cultivation. Alex and Celina won't easily forget that he refused to back down and stood alongside them on the top steps," Elder Mark expressed his concern as they continued walking. The joyful expressions of everyone quickly turned somber, and even Elder Miles furrowed his brow.
"Don't worry about them, Elder Mark. It's just a matter of time before I surpass them. If they cross my path again, I'll handle them," Michael stated with a casual smile, but the disciples detected the hint of murderous intent in his eyes and felt a shiver down their spines.
********************
Michael and the Sunrise Sect disciples continued chatting as they made their way to their destination.
Decades ago, the Sunrise Sect had been an esteemed and powerful sect, even surpassing the three major sects in prestige and strength. However, its decline began when Claire's grandfather met his demise during one of his adventures, and her father, the previous sect leader, mysteriously disappeared. The sect's reputation and influence dwindled drastically.
Claire, armed with her remarkable innate talents and the limited resources available, managed to ascend to the Body Refining stage within just 26 years. She assumed the role of Sect Leader, becoming the sect's beacon of hope. The Sunrise Sect's survival relied heavily on Claire and the four Sect Elders, making their days strenuous and challenging. As Michael crossed the sect's gates, the stark reality of their impoverished state became evident.
Many of the buildings lay in disrepair, their aging facades revealing that renovation had been neglected for a long time. Courtyards were overgrown with dried leaves, and numerous cobwebs adorned the structures, showing signs of prolonged neglect.
In the course of their conversation, the disciples informed Michael that the sect had around 30 disciples in total. The strongest among them, aside from Michael, had reached Foundation Stage level 8, while the rest remained below Foundation Stage level 5.
As the sun began its descent, and Michael felt the fatigue of the day weighing on him, Sect Leader Claire generously offered him their finest residence with a courtyard.
At this point, he had already reached the first level of the Body Refining Stage. With the experience points he had saved, he estimated that it would take only three or four days to reach level 5 of the Body Refining Stage.
"Brother Ghost, it's not much, but this is the best house we have," Jack explained as he led Michael to a weathered, old house that, in their estimation, was their best accommodation.
Michael couldn't help but inwardly speculate about the conditions of their other houses, and he quipped, "If this is the best you've got, I shudder to think about the other houses. Even my maids wouldn't stay in a place like this."
Gaya expressed her displeasure at the sight of the withered front lawn and the aged house.
Jack looked somewhat embarrassed, but Michael reassured him with a smile and a pat on the shoulder. "It's okay, Jack. This is more than sufficient for me."
Jack left him on the lawn with a sigh and headed inside. The house consisted of a small hall and a room with an attached bath, with virtually no furniture apart from an old bed in the room.
Gaya, frustrated with their accommodations, jumped out of Michael's body and kicked some pebbles on the ground.
"We can renovate the place later, but for now..." Michael interrupted himself as he entered the system's shop and purchased a large white sofa, a small golden silk bed, and high-quality blankets, placing them strategically around the room.
"What the fuck? Do you carry these things around in your space ring all the time?" Gaya's eyes sparkled as she looked at the sofa and bed in amazement. She couldn't resist the temptation to jump onto the fluffy bed, as it had been a long time since she had enjoyed such comfort.
But before Gaya could claim the bed, Michael had already jumped onto it, wearing a mischievous grin as he contemplated a new way to tease her.
"Come on, don't be shy. The bed's a bit small, so we can cuddle up while we sleep," he teased.
Gaya's anger and shock combined, leaving her utterly speechless for a moment. She struggled to find the right words to curse him.
As a princess and a powerful cultivator from Nagaland, she had never experienced such brazen advances before. What irritated her even more was the manner in which he had made his proposition.
"You fucking arghhh fuckk you!"
Gaya pounced toward him, mouth agape like an angry dog ready to bite. However, Michael swiftly dodged to the side, causing her to crash face-first onto the bed. When she turned around, he was on top of her.
"You!"
She attempted to shout, but her throat tightened, and her face turned beet red. This was the closest she had ever been to a man, and she swallowed hard, her heart pounding as she felt his warm breath on her face, accompanied by the fragrance of his skin.
"What... are... you..." Gaya's voice trembled as she realized her vulnerability. She understood that if he intended to take advantage of her, there was little she could do to stop him.
"Jeez, would it kill you to apply some makeup?" Michael asked casually as he moved to the side, leaving her momentarily frozen by his comment.
"AH!" Suddenly, Michael felt a sharp pain in his hand and looked down to see Gaya furiously biting it in anger, much like a child throwing a tantrum.
"Did you at least brush your teeth?"
"I'll... ki... ll... yo..." Gaya's response grew even more furious as she attempted to bite his hand with increased intensity.
***********************
Michael lay down on the bed, gazing out of the window at the beautiful moonlight, and also stealing glances at the stunning girl on the sofa in front of him. The moon's gentle glow cast a captivating radiance upon her, enhancing her extraordinary beauty. Even if she tried to disguise herself as a ghost to frighten him, it would have been an impossible feat given how naturally beautiful she was.
"Hey," Michael spoke softly, breaking the silence.
"What?" Gaya replied, her eyes betraying a hint of shyness beneath her annoyed expression, a residual effect of their earlier encounter.
"I'm planning to break through, so I need you to make sure no one disturbs my cultivation," Michael said as he sat upright.
"This soon? You just reached the Body Refining Stage two days ago!" Gaya's skepticism was evident, but having spent some time with him, she knew that this unusual individual might actually be telling the truth.
"Cultivation is a walk in the park for a talented person like me," Michael boasted with a wink. His confidence and self-praise reached an all-time high, leaving Gaya rather taken aback by his narcissism.
She sighed, pondering how to regain some of her lost power. An idea formed in her mind, and she adopted a cunning expression. "What can I do? Bite whoever comes knocking? You'll have to offer me something in exchange for my help," she suggested, her eyes gleaming with slyness. She had a particular request in mind: a healing pill to mend her damaged meridians.
Michael grabbed a pill from the stash he had purchased earlier and tossed it to Gaya. She caught it but seemed unsatisfied. "Only one?!" she growled, realizing that a single pill wouldn't be nearly enough to fully repair her meridians and begin cultivating again.
"One now, and if you succeed in helping me, I'll give you two more pills," Michael negotiated.
Gaya was quick to counter with a higher demand. "Four pills."
"Three pills," Michael proposed.
After brief consideration, Gaya accepted. "Deal," she said with a smug grin, confident in her bargaining skills. Suddenly, she remembered something and inquired, "Why didn't you ask those old folks for help?"
"I forgot, and it's too late to bother them now," Michael admitted.