A few days earlier, right after the carriage with Michael and Grandpa Yin left the scene. Jason was filled with emotion having just left his childhood friend and Grandpa Yin who had become his master, behind. After nearly 16 years, this was the first time he was truly alone. Excitement, fear, sorrow; he felt so many emotions at once, however the biggest was determination.
He reminded himself why he started his journey of cultivation. Picturing the desolate landscape of his old hometown of Rigante Village, the screams of pain and sorrow that littered the land in the wake of the inferno. His own family and many others, never to witness another day.
Gripping his fist Jason once again vowed to find out who had done this, to become strong enough to avenge those that were forced to leave this world prematurely.
Suddenly the sound of rustling trees snapped him out of his reverie. Looking up, Jason watched in awe as a giant boat soared through the air, scattering the trees in its wake. Grandpa Yin had told him stories about such things in Jianghu, but to see it in person was something else entirely.
As the boat passed by, the man on the bow looked over at Jason and gave him a nod. Jason felt a shiver run down his spine, he could sense the power emanating from the man even from this distance. His 1st level of Qi condensation felt paltry in comparison.
The giant boat floated in the air like a beast ready to pounce on its prey. Its wooden exterior was adorned with intricate carvings of dragons and phoenixes, giving the vessel an aura of power and majesty.
The man on the bow looked out with a fierce gaze, surveying the land below as if it belonged to him. His black beard and hair whipped in the wind, and his eye-patch added to his menacing appearance.
As the boat drew closer, Jason could see other youngsters that he could only assume were also new disciples crowded on the deck, some looking intimidated, while others looked full of pride and arrogance.
The boat drew closer and closer until it was hovering just above the clearing, causing the trees to sway and the grass to rustle beneath it. Suddenly, the man on the bow raised his hand, and the boat began to descend slowly to the ground. As it touched down, a loud thud echoed through the clearing, and the ground shook beneath Michael's feet.
The man stepped off the boat with a thud and looked over the new disciples with a critical eye. He was tall and muscular, with a face that was chiseled from stone. Jason could feel his gaze piercing into him, and he tried to stand straighter, hoping to make a good impression.
The man's gaze shifted to the other side of the path, where a middle-aged man had suddenly appeared with his hands clasped behind his back. Jason followed his gaze and was shocked, when he was here earlier there was no one present, yet the man appeared without a sound.
The group of young men and women followed suit, leaving the boat in an orderly fashion. Jason suddenly felt many sets of eyes on him, inspecting every inch of his body making him feel embarrassed. He held steadfast and resisted the urge to cover his private areas.
The group made its way silently to the area Jason was standing in. Judging by their orchestrated movements they had obviously been briefed on the proceedings beforehand, this only served to exacerbate the awkwardness Jason felt. The crowd surrounded him and faced the middle-aged man who had been standing there silently this whole time.
"Welcome to the Soaring Dragon Palace!" a voice boomed out with authority. A tall man with a stern face stood at the head of the group, his aura radiating power and authority.
"I am Elder Chen, and I will be your guide and mentor in the outer sect. From this day forward, you are all disciples of the Soaring Dragon Palace, and you will be expected to work hard and follow our rules and traditions."
Looking around, he continued "You will be rewarded based on your merit, and punished for any disgrace you bring to the sect. But worry not, if you are insulted or treated poorly by others outside. The Soaring Dragon Palace will protect and fight for you."
"This is what it means to be a part of our sect." Elder Chen looked over the new disciples, he could see that most were merely at the 1st level of Qi condensation, the minimum required to become an outer sect disciple. However, there were a few at the 2nd or even 3rd level among them. He mentally took note of these people.
"If these conditions are not satisfactory and you wish to not join our Soaring Dragon Palace, this will be the first and last time you will have a chance to change your mind. Once you join, if you attempt to leave it will be considered traitorous and will incur the wrath of the entire Sect." he said gravely.
A few of the young disciples gulped, feeling fear at the prospect of becoming traitors. Jason however was resolute, his expression not changing in the slightest.
'This is merely the beginning. If I'm scared off by this little bit of pressure then I won't achieve my goals' he thought to himself.
Seeing that no one had spoken up, Elder Chen continued "Good! Then let me be the first to welcome you as disciples." He cupped his fist, saluting the young disciples.
"Thank you, Elder Chen!" a cacophony of voices echoed in response to the welcoming.
"Very good, I will now show you to the outer sect" Elder Chen turned and began to walk, his steps heavy and deliberate, as if each one carried the weight of the entire sect. The group followed him closely, their hearts pounding with anticipation.
As they walked, the surroundings gradually changed. The air became cooler and fresher, and the sounds of chirping birds and rustling leaves filled their ears. They passed by blooming flowers, gurgling streams, and towering trees that seemed to reach up to the heavens.
Suddenly, a massive gate appeared before them. The gate was made of solid gold and engraved with intricate dragon patterns. The gate was so tall that it seemed to pierce the clouds themselves. Elder Chen stood before the gate, and with a wave of his hand, it slowly creaked open.
The disciples' eyes widened in amazement as they stepped through the gate. The sight before them was breathtaking. The Soaring Dragon Palace was a massive complex of towering pagodas, glittering lakes, and elegant bridges. The palace was situated on a mountaintop, overlooking a vast expanse of land that stretched as far as the eye could see.
"Behold, the Soaring Dragon Palace," Elder Chen announced, his voice filled with pride. "This is your new home, and it will be your duty to protect and uphold its honour."
Jason was gob smacked, he took in the sights which seemed too beautiful to be real. He suddenly felt that he was a frog in a well and that his horizons had now been suddenly expanded.
One of the disciples saw Jason's stunned expression and sneered "Country bumpkin." A few others giggled, clearly showing their contempt for him this early on.
Jason however ignored these people. One thing he had in common with his sworn brother Michael is that he was good at playing dumb. Only bearing his fangs at the most opportune moment.
Elder Chen spoke out "Alright, this way to the outer sect."
As they made their way deeper into the palace, the surroundings began to change. The grandeur and opulence of the previous areas began to fade away, replaced by a more humble and practical design. The buildings were still elegant, but less intricate and more functional. The disciples noticed that the crowds of people became more dense.
Finally, Elder Chen led them to a large building with a sign that read "Cultivation Rooms - Outer Sect." The building was not as grand as the others they had seen, but it was still well-built and spacious. Elder Chen led the group inside and gestured towards the rows of doors lining the corridor.
"Each of these rooms houses four people," he explained. "You will be living, sleeping, and cultivating here for the foreseeable future. Take care of your rooms and take care of each other. Although we encourage competition in the sect, fighting other disciples outside of official means are strictly prohibited."
Some of the disciples clicked their tongues in dissatisfaction. They were looking forward to asserting their dominance within the outer sect. It looked like they would have to find other ways to do so in the future.
The disciples entered their rooms, taking stock of their new surroundings. The rooms were simple, with a few beds, a table, and a chest for storage. The walls were adorned with some basic cultivation diagrams, and a faint spiritual energy could be felt permeating the air.
Jason looked around and was satisfied with the room. It wasn't luxurious, but it was clean and functional. He could tell that it was designed with cultivation in mind, and that was what mattered to him most right now.
He sat down on his bed quietly, his thoughts germinating. 'I wonder how Michael is going? Is he taking his alchemist servant test already?'