As Zhishi Wu reached the core area of the inner sect he saw the majestic structure that stood there.
It was akin to a shrine, vegetation had mingled with man-made materials and reclaimed it, the walls were lined with flowers and a small pond with fish was in the courtyard.
"This feels ancient." Zhishi Wu said out loud unknowingly.
"Indeed this structure has been here since the treasure has been discovered, no one knows its true age." the elder replied as they walked through the shrine's courtyard.
As they walked through the courtyard Zhishi Wu felt his skin glow the surroundings were resonating with him, it was as if the vines, plants, flowers and even the fishes in the lake were speaking to him but he couldn't understand.
"Not everyone has a chance to meet with the sect master."
"Then-" Zhishi Wu was surprised that they would allow a complete outsider to see their ever elusive sect master.
"It is because the sect master summoned you when you walked into the sect, you must be special."
They both reached the enormous double door at the end of the courtyard and a voice boomed from the inside.
"Come in child."
Zhishi Wu tensed up, he was surprised that this sect master had managed to discern that he was a child despite his current appearance not showing it in the slightest.
"Go on in sir Sage, this is where I stop." Elder Kong bowed slightly and began to walk back.
"Thank you for your guidance." Zhishi Wu returned the bow and proceeded to walk into the building.
Within the hall a man was sitting midair in a lotus position, he had a large stature and his muscles were well defined, far more than any body tempering cultivator Zhishi Wu had seen.
His Eyes had a purple hue and traces of electricity seemed to bounce from his person as he slowly descended, his hair was long and occasionally flickered alongside the traces of electricity.
"Greetings to the sect master." Zhishi Wu bowed slightly, yet he couldn't take his eyes off the man, the Qi surrounding him was different, it had a purple color and violently collided with its surroundings denying the presence of any regular Qi around him.
"It has been far too long since I've seen a Sage." The man's voice reverberated throughout the room.
…
In the heart of an old city the sun shone at a small courtyard where a young boy was swinging his sword repeatedly while his grandfather watched.
"Son you've got heart, I can promise that you can achieve great things in the future." the old man sat on the ground side alongside the young boy.
"Will I be able to fight the bandits like you once did grandpa?"
"Of course even better, you're almost at the middle stage of body tempering at almost 11, I'm sure you can get into a cultivation sect soon."
The young man raised his hand into the sky and balled it into a fist, checking to see if the sun could fit in the palm of his hand.
Suddenly the door of the courtyard flew open and hooded figures began to rush towards the both of them.
"Little Maoi RUN!" The grandfather grabbed a sword and ran headfirst into the assailants.
Maoi was too scared to do anything other than what his grandfather had told him, he quickly dashed out of the front door and discovered a nightmare.
Screams filled the city as people ran around attempting to flee from the crazed cultivators that roamed the streets.
"I BEG YOU KILL ME BUT SPARE MY DAUGHTERS!!" A lady leaped at the feet of a hooded individual wielding a sword and pleaded to him with no avail.
The hooded individual quickly swung his sword and dispatched of the entire family before storing their bodies into a storage pouch.
Maoi continued to run down the street and as he looked side to side he saw the same scenes, an endless repeat of the same begging and murder.
He suddenly ran into someone, the man he ran into had dark red pupils as if they were bleeding, his face was scarred all over and was bald.
He lifted the child up and inspected his face.
"Good good, you'll do just fine." he put the kid down on the ground but before letting him go he said something else.
"Let them all know, the Scourge King shall take what is his, for he will soon rise from his deceitful slumber."
Maoi could barely breathe in this man's presence so he ran away quickly after being told that.
His mind was in disarray "I'll kill them, I'll kill them." was the only thing he thought of as it repeated itself in its mind endlessly.
"The king shall finally achieve Spiritual Awakening." The man with the red eyes said to himself and burst out laughing.
…
Zhishi Wu was speechless, all the sect master had done was run around him and inspect his body.
"Is there something you are curious about?" Zhishi Wu asked as he got annoyed.
"Your body tempering, it wasn't done through conventional means. In addition, you somehow tricked my disciples into thinking you were at the foundation establishment level when you had just achieved the middle stage of Qi Condensation."
The difference between other's bodies and Zhishi Wu's body was like night and day, it was like comparing hand soap to an extremely expensive beauty product.
Although Zhishi Wu had no idea how the Sect Master had obtained this information he did not deny it as this man seemed like he could see through all of his secrets.
"May I ask how senior saw through me with such ease." Zhishi Wu was defeated, he may as well gather information on how to stay safe in the future.
"Indeed, your ability to mask your Qi signature is great, however it doesn't do a good job of hiding your cultivation from those on higher levels than you."
Zhishi Wu frowned as he head this.
"However do not worry I have a technique that can make you a walking phantom." as the sect master said this he vanished.
Zhishi Wu looked around the room scanning everywhere, after a few minutes of searching he stopped, he realized that maybe reinforcing his eyes with Qi may be enough to find him but it wasn't worth the toll.
"Are you willing to learn ?" the sect master reappeared right beside him.
"Yes." Zhishi Wu found it incredibly difficult to deny new knowledge it was nearly engraved into him even in this second life.
"Than represent our sect as an elder within the annual spar and win."
Zhishi Wu wanted to decline, but a silent new urge in him emerged, he wanted to test his power, to see the effects of Qi usage alongside his greed for the phantom technique.
"I'll do it." he said while his mind wandered.
"Splendid, I'm sure you would want to hide yourself as a 13-year-old fugitive on the run from most of the continent." the sect master said as he returned to his lotus position.