"I've decided sect master."
"Hmm, tell us then."
Vishnu took a deep breath. Choosing a master is not a small task, you've to choose one carefully as they'll be your support from early on, so after thinking hard Vishnu thought that this is the best choice for him right now.
"I'd like if both Elder Veronica and Elder Lomio would become my master."
"huh!" this was the reaction of almost everyone.
"I mean with my talent I could simultaneously cultivate both elements right? And sect master, Don't we have any Darkness-element elder? even if they're not gold-level it's still no problem, I could still learn a lot from silver-level elders too."
Hearing this Jin didn't know how to reply. Yes, there has never been a 9-star talent recorded in their history. Maybe some other faction might have but decided to conceal the truth but that is unlikely. Even their sect founder was only a 7-star talent with an exceptional affinity for earth and a high affinity for metal. On top of that Vishnu has an exceptional affinity in two elements and high in the other one so it is a no-brainer to not train in all three.
Generally, people only focus on a single element as it gets much more difficult the higher realms one reaches but if one has a high-level of affinity for two elements and at least 4-star talent then they could reach higher realms using both elements and they also tend to be stronger.
All these people here knew of these things and some of them even use two elements too it was just that they haven't met anyone who uses three different elements but after thinking things through they also realized that it is a sensible decision to make.
"Okay, so from now on you'll become the disciple of both Elder Veronica and Elder Lomio as for the darkness element we have a gold-level elder who uses darkness element but he is currently out of sect on a mission when he returns I'll introduce you to him, Now take your leave there will be someone outside who'll show you around and take you to your place."
Vishnu bowed and then left. The hall became silent. Everyone is now calculating how this news will affect them and the sect. They couldn't stop this news from spreading they are sure of it. In every Entrance test, some spies from other factions were mixed in trying to get into the sect, but they never succeeded as the background check for every person is strictly done, and if even a single doubt rose they'd either get rid of that person or monitor him/her every moment.
Why didn't they check Vishnu's background too much? Which sect would be fool enough to let go of talent of this caliber, that's why there is no need to become suspicious of him.
...
Outside the resident of Sect Master now an additional person is standing other than the two guards.
"Hey, you baldy who is this newbie that the sect master himself asked me to show him around huh?" asked the black-haired black-eyed muscular man to one of the guards but he got no response. They just ignored him like he was some fly.
"Hey, you f*ckers answ...."
"Oh! that'd be me"
At this moment Vishnu came out.
"I'm Vishnu nice to meet you"
Vishnu extended his hand forward for a handshake. The Muscular guy looked at Vishnu then at his hand not knowing what that meant.
"I'm Jacob"
Jacob also extended his hand forward and then introduced.
Vishnu noticed that Jacob doesn't know what a handshake means and realized that he's now in an entirely different world so the culture must be different too.
Vishnu took a step forward and then held Jacob's hand for a handshake when the fire came out from Jacob's hand.
'Woah!'
"Don't go around touching me like that"
"Oh no no, it is a handshake a type of formal greeting that's what I was doing" Vishnu tried to explain.
"Don't go around doing that, someone could cast a curse on you if you aren't prepared, If you want to greet someone one short bow would do"
"Thanks for the advice, I'll be careful from now" Vishnu learned that this world is much more dangerous than he had thought it to be. One can cast a curse on you if you aren't careful that'd be scary.
Following that Jacob took Vishnu to show him around the sect and then finally took him where he'd be living from now on.
It was a 2-story manor with a garden in the front and a small pond in the back. The whole area is roughly the size of a football field.
"You'll be staying here from now on. I've shown you my place also so you can come to me in case of emergency, Only gold-level students stay in this area so you better get acquainted with others."
After Jacob left Vishnu entered his manor. Inside the manor, 5 people were standing. The guy standing at the front bowed then introduced
"Master Vishnu My name is Josh and I'm the head servant assigned to you. These two maids are Lily and Rose for any house chores or for anything you may need the other two are guards. If you need, you can get more servants in the future."
Vishnu's first thought was to just dismiss them saying he doesn't need any servants but on second thought he doesn't know this place very well and these guys might be helpful in that regard so he just told them to do as standard and barred anyone from entering the upper floor of the manor.
Inside the Master bedroom, there was four sets of black-colored robe with gold accent, a book that explained all the rules and facilities of the sect, and a bracelet with a piece of paper.
Vishnu memorized all the rules of the sect and what facilities he could use as a gold-level discipline. Then he read the piece of paper, It explains the use of the bracelet and how to use it.
It is a defensive artifact that can withstand attack up to a certain threshold and he just has to use a single drop of blood to bind the item to him.
Vishnu dropped a single drop of blood on the bracelet. Now he could feel that the bracelet is bid to him and he could even control it up to a certain distance from him. He wished the artifact to activate and a thin transparent layer appeared all around his body.
As he was wearing the bracelet he noticed the ring on his finger.
'Could this also be an artifact?' It was a valid guess cause this ring has almost saved him when he was coming to this place from that hole.
'Maybe the same defensive artifact, well let's give it a try'
He then dropped a drop of blood on it. This time the ring began to shine with a faint, dim light.
'Finally' Vishnu heard a voice inside his head. Spooked out he looked around but found no one.
'Hey, kid you're looking at the wrong places' again he heard that voice but didn't know where it is coming from then it clicked and he looked at the ring.
'Yeah, now send a little bit of your energy inside the ring'
Vishnu is now sure that the voice is coming from the ring but he wasn't sure if he should do as it said. hesitant but he still sent a little bit of his energy inside the ring.
To Vishnu, it appeared as if a part of his consciousness has been sucked into the ring now he could see a vast place, and there stood an old man with white hair and a white beard in a black robe. His brown eyes seemed to see through all of Vishnu.
The old man smiled and then came close to Vishnu.
'You must be wondering what is this place right? This is the place inside the ring it's called a storage ring but this one's a bit special it might be the only one of its kind in the entire universe. And I am Arthur Hugo'
'huh' Vishnu was stunned. what is a storage ring? universe? he didn't understand those but he understood enough that the ring is a precious treasure and old man Arthur is its owner of some sort.
"So are you the one who saved me back then?"
'yep, I've been in the dark universe for who knows how long so when a portal opened and the ring got sucked into it that's when you found the ring, It is once in a million years phenomenon that portal to the dark universe opened on its own and you're lucky to have survived that phenomenon thanks to me, your natural talent and foundation increased thanks to it too'
Now it all made sense as to how his talent is so high but he still has some doubts.
"Why did you decide to help me?" Vishnu is naturally suspicious as to why would anyone help another person.
'Naturally, I didn't help you out of goodwill or something, I helped you out to make a deal with you'
'Here it comes' Vishnu waited.
'You see, I am dead but thanks to this ring I was able to save my soul from vanishing so the reason I helped you is because I want you to make an alchemical product that'll help me create a body with almost 100% compatibility in return I'll teach you all sort of stuff which will make you stronger
'oh' Now Vishnu understood but there is still some doubt
"But why me? Now that you're out of this dark universe or something you could find anyone to do your bidding right?"
'There are two reasons why I choose you, first is to create that alchemy product you need a certain level of cultivation and knowledge in alchemy and the people who are capable of that are mostly greedy and I currently don't have anything to offer to them so my best bet is to make a low-level cultivator reach that level then help me as I've helped them through their journey they'd probably help me and the second reason why I chose you not anyone else is obviously because of your talent'
Now he understood, The only factor that differentiated him from all the other low-level cultivators is talent. It isn't necessary to have great talent to reach a higher realm, but you'd reach a higher realm easier with great talent.
"Okay then once I reached that realm I'll be sure to help you old man"
'Hey you brat, just call me gramps as we'll be together for a long time so get used to it'
"Hmph" Vishnu acted like he didn't care but it felt good that now in this unknown place there is at least someone dependent on him and although he still didn't trust the old man fully, he isn't that suspicious now.
"Are you stronger than the sect master? you must have seen him from the ring right? What could you teach me if you aren't even stronger than him?"
'Oh! that brat. When I was alive I could've killed him accidentally just by breathing so don't even mention him. Let's start your Lessons now shall we?'