*Multiple POVs*
***
(MC POV)
The new force's appearances fit the clothing description of the Grey Hound sect. In fact they even look familiar.
Their cultivators came in as one huge group, but they moment they reached the clearing they separated into many different groups. It didn't seem like they had planned their groups though as they scuffled about and just walked around asking to join into a group.
'Ah shit, were the people who attacked our group way back then from their sect? They might have said that actually, but I kinda forgot about it. Hopefully they stopped searching for information about them. They've been dead for a long time now so that's probably the case.'
After only a few moments our sect reorganized ourselves into the drawing lines and people began grouping up with their new teammates.
'Why didn't we draw before we came here? We had like two whole days to do it and at the very last moment is when they choose it.'
When they finished organizing themselves each group seemed to contain a random amount of disciples as in the end some didn't even join a group while others had maybe forty in a group.
The forces they brought number to around 300 disciples with their scattered groups and loners around.
At that moment I finally reached the end and collected a small paper slip indicating the number nine.
"Oh! What number did you get? Nine? Ok then, let's hope I get it too!" Yao Ya appeared placing her head on my shoulder for a moment. Almost instantly leaving afterward once seeing the number written on my paper.
'I hope she could get it too, but it's probably more about luck than anything to draw a specific number.'
..
"I'm back! Look I even got the same number you did isn't that lucky?" She excitedly said showing the paper in her hands to me.
"Oh, that's great! Man, you're really lucky to be able to get a number just by hoping for it."
"I know right?.. 𝘧𝘶𝘧𝘶𝘧𝘶~"
***
(Inner Disciple)
"Ahh! My head.." Grasping my head I pushed myself off the ground.
"Hey man, are you alright?" Another disciple came towards me.
"I-I think so."
"What happened to you? We haven't even entered the realm yet."
"I don't know, I mean all I remember was that I got a slip of paper for the ninth group- wait where's my paper?! *Sigh* Well, before I collapsed I think a heard a woman's voice say 'that's perfect!', so I be you she stole it!"
"Why would anyone steal a group paper? That sounds stupid."
"I don't know, maybe they knew someone in the ninth group. She should of just asked me I wouldn't of minded switching. Her voice sounded amazing though, I could listen to it all day."
"She stole your group paper and you're fantasizing about her?"
"I'm going to another draw."
"Hey, wait for me!"
***
(MC POV)
Well that was a surprise, to be sure, but a welcome one. The end of our drawing session was nearing, only around twenty people remained at the stations.
Before the final twenty could be processed another group came from an entirely different opening wearing dark red. The sect was pretty organized as they came with their groups already organized.
They had brought around 500 disciples, twenty-five per group, and twenty groups in total. They had their weapons on them and looked prepared as they gazed toward the center of the clearing.
In all we were still one of the major groups here- the amount of disciples we brought may be the lowest of the other two major sects, but our size still dwarfs the minor sects around. The remaining cultivators around were from minor sects and at most one of the minor sects had brought two groups of twenty with them.
Once the drawings finished the elders spoke out a few words to us.
"Everyone go find your groups and organize yourselves! The Realm will open soon and when it does you should all be careful once inside."
Doing just that Yao Ya and I walked around to find our group. While doing so I saw many eyes glance towards me especially towards my right where a woman hung upon my arm.
Eventually we found out their location and it seems they had already found each other before hand. Seventeen people made a circle everyone holding a piece of paper that I could barely make out as a nine.
Before I could get to the group though I heard a male voice.
"Brother Ip! What number did you get? Oh you have nine too? Than it's fate we are together brother!" He said glancing at the paper I held in my left hand.
Hearing the slight commotion behind them the group of seventeen turned to face us. The one closest to us spoke.
"Ah, are you three... also assigned to the ninth team?" His voice stopped for a moment as he said three. I noticed he had looked at Yao Ya when the three was spoken.
Chen Huang answered on our behalf "Yes, fellow disciple we've been assigned to this group. Do any of you have a plan yet?"
With that we had stepped up and merged into their circle, creating one with a slightly bigger diameter. The group now had twenty members in total with seven females and thirteen males all wearing the given robes.
The one that spoke earlier began to speak again before anyone else could.
"We have decided that as soon as we are in we will depart immediately in any direction. Once we are away from the others we will officially start our exploration. After all the starting point of the world has been seen as the same what we have here."
As I didn't have any idea about what to do I just nodded my head agreeing to his plan. Yao Ya just leaned her head on my shoulder and Chen Huang said "Okay."
*Swoosh*
Sounds of wind being sucked in and raging around sounded out behind me. When I turned to look everyone else as well it seems. Everyone looked on at the rift like portal with many different gazes most if not all positive. It was around five meters tall and three meters wide, sitting in the center of the clearing.
The disciples of the three major sects at this time, the disciples of the minor sects and elders of every sect watched on with wonder, awe, and marvel.
Everyone looked on at the portal for at least a moment. The Spirited Sun sect was the first to make a move towards the gateway, and not long after the Grey Hound sect and our own sect moved as well.
The other minor sects around only inched forward bit by bit. They never over took any of the major forces, letting us all reach there first.
Our three sects stopped a few meters in front of the gateway and elders from each respective sect came in front of their group. Some of the minor sects did the same while others merely stood there awaiting our departure.
They must be waiting for us to go in first before they start in. The elder didn't speak out loud instead he sent messages to our minds.
"A remainder for all of you. The gateway shall reopen in one month for you, but it will have been two months already out here. Once you go in there's no going out until the one month period and if you don't leave at that time who knows what will happen to you.
The group that you all haven been assigned to should should give a hand to each other. The Once inside killing each other is ok, but be careful as if you die inside we may never be able to retrieve your bodies.
The Grey Hound sect specializes in mostly physical strength, while the Spirited Sun sect is mainly focused on flame techniques or the likes so be conscience of this. They might also be telling their own of our weaknesses as we speak this isn't something we have an advantage with.
Now let's begin!"
"Look those from the Spirited Sun sect have already started leaving!" A disciple said
Seeing that the Spirited Sun sect had already started heading in our sect along with the Grey Hound sect quickly went over as well and went through the gateway.