Ping!
[Main Storyline Arc 1: King's Challenge
The Biron King issues his challenge. Challenge him into combat. If he does find you worthy, he shall make you his representative warrior in the cultivation world.
The Game Master wishes to set up the Flowing Blade Sect as his vassal Sect and make it the sect that you shall represent in the King's Challenge.
Only you can represent the Flowing Blade Sect.
Prerequisite: 4th stage cultivation base, Level 120.]
Ping!
[Updating the System! Max level is now Level 160.]
The Immortal City devolves into chaos. The denizens know what is the King's Challenge about which only further exacerbates the chaos.
Hou Shing who was abandoned by Nee Chen doesn't know what to do. The only thing he has been doing since his abandonment was to mingle with the people of the Immortal City.
According to his observation, the cultivators of Immortal City are not that many. Considering they were mortals just a week ago or so, it is understandable that they lack an understanding of combat.
But Hou Shing still doesn't underestimate them. It's because of one reason— resurrection.
Hou Shing sighs in reluctance as a new age is upon them. It is not like their sect is a big deal, but that still means something as their sect is quite old fashion.
For whatever shape might the 'new fashion' take, it doesn't matter anymore as the way Hou Shing sees it, his sect has long thrown its lot to the System's Providence Sect. Not that it is confirmed, just that Hou Shing knows his Sect won't dare to be on the System's Providence Sect's bad side.
Abruptly coming from the corner of his eyes is Lurker. This scary man is at the 4th stage already. It was like just some minute ago since he had a conversation with the man... and now he is suddenly at the 4th stage?
"You look so happy, senior Lurker. Congratulations on your advancement of cultivation. It must be this is why you are so happy, aren't you?"
"Sure I am! To be more accurate, only at level 81, but it is 4th stage nonetheless."
Hou Shing doesn't know about levels, but this makes him nervous. This Lurker is on par with his sect master already!
Lurker's smile just gets wider as he stares into the empty air.
It must be the so-called system again, Hou Shing reckons. Hou Shing had some understanding of this system for some time now. What he knows is that it is something like a representation of a cultivator's essence. It also serves as a method of communication for the Game Master to issue instructions to his disciples.
Lurker comes to Hou Shing with a friendly pat on his shoulder. "You are from the Flowing Balde sect, correct?'
Hou Shing meekly nods.
Lurker smiles and calms down a bit, trying his best not to scare Hou Shing. "I received a personal mission from the Game Master. He wants me to go to your sect and establish a contract with them."
Hou Shing nervously asks Lurker. "What contract?"
Lurker explains what the Game Master desires. "In the King's Challenge, our game master wishes to use your Sect's name to represent one of his disciples. If the disciple wins the King's heart, your sect will have rights as the backing sect of the Kingdom."
Hou Shing's thoughts come to a halt.
"This is too... big... You would need to talk to my sect master about that."
With Hou Shing leading the way, the two proceeds on two boars for their journey.
Lurker presents himself to the sect master with his best attire paired with the manner he scrunches up from Lu Gao's teachings.
He bows to the sect master of the Flowing Blade sect. Not too low though lest the sect master thinks he is above him.
This is not Lurker's pride talking, but just the appropriate behavior of a cultivator in the 4th stage to a fellow cultivator in the 4th stage.
"Greetings, sect master of the Flowing Blade Sect. I have come on behalf of the great master of the System's Providence Sect."
"Your greetings are welcome here, cultivator of System's Providence Sect. The Flowing Blade Sect shall receive you with honor."
The two 4th stage cultivators sit on their respective spots. On Lurker's side is him alone, and Ruan Kong, the Flowing Blade sect master, has Hou Shing and an elder of his sect seating beside him.
Lurker is feeling a bit lonely, but he is a crocodile, so he easily removes the emotional constraint in his heart and immediately dives into the heart of the matter.
"My master wishes you to become a vassal to our sect."
Lurker was expecting gasps or some sort of shock in their faces. But contrary to his expectations, Ruan Kong and the elder beside him is very calm. Hou Shing not having any reaction is understandable as he already knows what the Game Master wants from them.
Ruan kong calmly sips on his tea, and with a comfortable smile gives Lurker a counteroffer.
"My sect has something better for you..."
Lurker frowns not imagining the sect master in front of him to be a sly fox. Speaking of cunning, Lurker is prideful of his crocodile origins.
A fox would never outsmart a crocodile.
"We have immortality on our side. My master knows the secret to resurrection. Are you sure you want to decline our offer? This might be your only shot for eternity?"
Lurker teases the old man Ruan Kong.
Ruan Kong has that panicked look in his eyes, however, that quickly subsides as a sense of euphoria replaces it instead. The elder beside him is fidgeting anxiously.
"No, I insist on this better deal that I have in mind. You have to hear me first!"
Lurker reluctantly nods at Ruan Kong's wishes. And Ruan Kong didn't disappoint him.
"I don't know what your master might think about this. But I plan to disband our sect and join your Sect's banner. We wish to become your direct affiliate!"
This time, it was Hou Shing who looks panicked. He never realizes that his sect master would resort to such drastic actions.
Lurker similarly had a panic in his heart but he calmly hides it with his unmoving facial expression.
Becoming a direct affiliate is different from becoming a vassal sect.
If a sect were to become a direct affiliate, they would be giving up their independence, and rights to the sect name 'Flowing Blade,' moreover the martial arts scroll shall be shared with the parent sect.
It has a lot of benefits, but also a lot to give up.
Lurker might lack human knowledge, but he is privy to sect matters, especially after his humanization and induction into System's Providence Sect.
"You don't have to be so harsh, sect master. We aren't threatening you. You have to think about this twice over."
"We have thought long and hard about this. I have consulted the elders of my sect and even the disciples. Our sect might look to be doing fine, but we are not. The disciples we have are simply children of the old cultivators in our sect. Our renown is so poor, we haven't seen a new disciple from the outside in a hundred years!"
Lurker nods approving of Ruan Kong's words. It should be true as the laws of the kingdom makes it hard for sects to recruit new disciples.
But Lurker is still averse to agreeing to Ruan Kong's wish. Firstly, Lurker's mission is to make the Flowing Blade Sect their Sect's vassal and not a direct affiliate. Second, the power of resurrection must be shared with them if they were to become a direct affiliate which by no means Lurker doesn't have any power to.
"Sect master Ruan Kong. The decision of turning you into a direct affiliate can only be permitted by my master. For now, I suggest you accept the vassal contract. I would surely put a good word for you to my master to allow you to become our Sect's affiliate."
Ruan Kong is stumped, but he was already expecting this. Becoming an affiliate is so much a bigger deal than being a vassal.
He reluctantly jots and signs up the vassal contract that Lurker brings to the table.
Ruan Kong gets curious as to why now? Ruan Kong didn't expect the Game Master to personally move and even go to the lengths of sending a vassal to the 4th stage Spirit Mystery realm.
"Hmmm... Would you please tell me? What is the exact reason why the Game Master sent you here?"
Ruan Kong's imagination gets wild with theories. Is there a hidden treasure somewhere here? Perhaps some other business?
Lurker exasperatedly sighs.
"Don't overthink. Looks like my master wants to borrow your name to secretly back the Biron King from the shadows. My master wishes for your sect to become the sect state of this kingdom. That's what Lu Gao told me at least..."
Ruan kong and the elder beside him are utterly surprised. Hou Shing is getting tired of surprises anymore but that doesn't stop him from gasping either.
Lurker nonchalantly gazes at his Personal Messages and casually chats with Lu Gao.
"People of the Flowing Blade Sect... I have to go now. I still need to do a lot of leveling up..."