As Michael ascended the stairs that led to the balcony, he felt a sense of trepidation wash over him. He knew that he was about to meet the legendary Master Yi, one of the most powerful cultivators in the entire Soaring Dragon Sect. As he approached the balcony, he saw a figure standing there, waiting for him. It was Master Yi, dressed in a simple blue robe that belied his immense power.
"Come closer, Michael," Master Yi said, his voice calm and measured. Michael obeyed, feeling a strange sense of awe wash over him. He had heard stories about Master Yi, but seeing him in person was a whole other experience.
Master Yi looked at Michael closely, his piercing gaze seeming to take in everything about him. Michael felt as though he was being scrutinized, and it made him nervous. But Master Yi seemed to be satisfied with what he saw.
"You are not like the other new disciples," Master Yi said, his voice low. "You carry yourself with a certain confidence that belies your lack of cultivation."
Michael was surprised by Master Yi's words. He had not expected the elder cultivator to be aware of his true identity. But it seemed that Master Yi was far more perceptive than he had given him credit for.
"Your potential is great," Master Yi continued. "But you lack cultivation. I can sense that your Qi is weak and unformed."
Michael blinked a few times in disbelief 'Maybe if my Qi didn't keep resetting it wouldn't be an issue' he remarked internally.
"However," Master Yi said, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "I believe that with the right guidance, you could become a great cultivator."
"Thank you, Master Yi," Michael said, his voice filled with gratitude. "I have harvested the herbs you've requested" He said, pulling the Bloodwort and Jarrin root that he had just harvested beforehand.
With a wave of his hand, Master Yi kept them into his storage ring without another look. "Very good, it would have been difficult to keep my word and accept you as a servant if you couldn't even identify and harvest 2 herbs" he said nonchalantly.
'2 herbs! So that skinny bastard Randolph did try and set us up' Archie whined loudly.
Michael nodded calmly, keeping his grievance close to his heart.
"I will now lead you to the servants quarters" Master Yi said gently.
Master Yi led Michael down from the balcony and through the winding halls of the Soaring Dragon Sect. Along the way, Michael couldn't help but feel a sense of awe as he passed by other cultivators and disciples, all of them seemingly focused on their own training and cultivation.
As they walked, Master Yi turned to Michael and asked him a question. "Tell me, Michael, what is your goal here in the Soaring Dragon Sect?"
Michael paused for a moment, considering his answer carefully. "I wish to become a powerful cultivator," he said at last. "I want to learn all that I can about cultivation and the martial path."
Master Yi nodded thoughtfully. "A worthy goal," he said. "But remember, cultivation is not just about strength and power. It is about balance and harmony. You must cultivate not just your body, but your mind and spirit as well."
Michael listened carefully to Master Yi's words, feeling a sense of deep respect for the elder cultivator which even Grandpa Yin held in high regard.
He followed Master Yi down a series of hallways until they arrived at a small courtyard. The area was surrounded by simple wooden buildings that looked like they had been built decades ago. The buildings were not grand, but they were clean and well-maintained.
"This is where the alchemy servants stay," Master Yi said, gesturing toward one of the buildings. "You will be sharing a room with two other servants."
Michael nodded, taking in his new surroundings. The building was simple but functional, with a small communal kitchen and dining area on the first floor. The second floor was where the sleeping quarters were located. Michael's room was small but tidy, with three simple beds and a few shelves for storage. A window at the far end of the room let in a small amount of light.
"It's not much, but it will suffice for now," Master Yi said, noticing Michael's reaction to the room. "As an alchemy servant, your duties will include helping the sect's alchemists with their work. You will also be responsible for gathering herbs and materials for them. It is not glamorous work, but it is important."
"This will be your home for the time being," Master Yi said, gesturing around the room. "You can have the rest of the afternoon off to get accustomed to your quarters. At dawn tomorrow, I'll see you at the balcony for your duties."
Michael bowed respectfully and thanked the Elder for his guidance. Master Yi smiled and left the room casually.
Michael looked around his quarters, although it was not luxurious it was definitely comfortable. Sitting on the bed he looked outside the window and saw the sun high in the sky. 'It's only noon, I still have time to cultivate. Maybe I can reach the first level… again' he said internally.
As he was ruminating about his cultivation, a small girl dressed in a gray robe entered the room. She was walking with a limp and looked pale. She hobbled over to one of the beds in the room next to Michael and their eyes met briefly.
She was a small and frail-looking girl with short, curly brown hair and wide, anxious eyes. She wore a plain grey robe that marked her as an Alchemy Servant, one of the lowest-ranked members of the Soaring Dragon Sect.
Seeing the girl in pain Michael frowned "Are you okay?" he asked.
The girl nodded gingerly. "I'm okay"
"Well it doesn't look that way, what happened to you?"
She looked around the room carefully to make sure that no one was around before replying "You must be new here. Stuff like this isn't all that uncommon for us servants" she said bitterly.
Michael was taken aback by the words of this young girl 'What have I just signed up for?' he asked internally. Shaking his head in disapproval he gently questioned "What's your name?"
"Elena… Elena Hyde. I've been an Alchemist Servant for almost 2 years".
Elena had always been timid and shy, and her experiences within the sect had only made things worse. As an Alchemy Servant, she was often the target of bullying from the higher-ranked cultivators, who saw her as little more than a lowly servant.
Despite this, Elena had a natural talent for alchemy. She had a keen eye for detail and a steady hand, and she could concoct potions and elixirs that even some of the more experienced alchemist servants struggled with. But her lack of cultivation made her an easy target, and she often found herself retreating into her work, seeking solace in the familiar routines of brewing and distilling.
Michael nodded and introduced himself "I'm Michael, I just passed the herb gathering test to become an Alchemist Servant for the sect," scratching his chin he inquired "Who did this to you?"
"Randolph" She said hatefully, scrunching her face. "That bastard is the worst, always 'accidentally' walking into me, or kicking me."
Michael's eyes glowed briefly "So it's that beanstalk" he said, his voice oozing with venom.
Elena was startled and quickly looked around the room to make sure no one was within earshot. "Shhhh, you must be careful, there are eyes and ears everywhere" she said in a hushed tone.
She continued "So you've met Randolph before?"
He nodded "Yeah that bastard tried to make me harvest an Elderflower and waste my life force".
Elena cried out in shock "He what? Did he give you the right tools to harvest it properly?" she asked.
Michael shook his head "But don't worry, I didn't let his plan come to fruition. Let's just say, he might come into trouble with his next pill refining". Chuckling, he stroked his bare chin with an amused look on his face.
Seeing the devious look on Michael's face, Elena didn't know what to think about her new roommate.
Somewhere in one of the pill refining rooms: "ACHOO" Randolph let out a loud sneeze. "Who is talking about me?"