At the City Lord's Mansion.
"Why are you here again? I already told you that you need at least one disciple to establish a sect didn't I"
'Again? It seems that the original owner really tried to recreate the sect'
"Yes, yes, I heard you already so stop yelling. I already have a disciple right here can't you see?"
Chen Mo showed his new disciple to the city lord with a proud smile on his face.
The city lord adjusted his glasses as he looked at the dark cloaked girl peaking at him from behind Chen Mo seemingly evaluating her.
He suddenly jolted from his seat and slapped his hands on the table,
"2nd Stage Foundation Establishment! And at such a young age"
He then shifted his gaze to Chen Mo with a suspicious look.
"How did you trick her into joining your sect?"
"I didn't trick her!" he shouted at the city lord in an agitated tone,
"Anyway, just finish my sect registration" he spoke trying to calm his voice down noticing that thew were drawing too much attention.
He thought to himself that drawing too much attention to themselves would risk Mei Ling being found out.
"Okay, okay" the city lord spoke as he sat back to his chair and started writing something to his ancient looking scroll.
"Oh right, the sect master also needs to be at least at the Foundation Establishment rank"
"Yeah, I know. I'm already at the Foundation Establishment rank"
"I know you… wait what?"
"What? Don't believe me?" Chen Mo spoke provocatively as he released his suppressed aura.
"No no, I believe you, wait a moment as I register your sect. What's your sect's name?"
"Just call it The Protagonist Sect"
'This kid, it's not even been a month since his cultivation was abolished, but now... I guess it's true what they say, dragon begets dragon and phoenix begets phoenix. Just like that boy back then, if only…' the city lord thought silently to himself as he continued writing on the ancient scroll.
"Okay, its finished now" the city lord spoke as he handed over a copy of the ancient scroll to Chen Mo.
"Your sect is now a 9th rank sect, if you want to advance to the 8th rank, you'll need at least one hundred disciples five of which should be at the Foundation Establishment realm and the sect master at the Core Formation realm"
"Got it" Chen Mo spoke arrogantly as he yanked the scroll off the city lord's hands and walked away with Mei Ling behind him.
'Now that I've created a sect, I'll need to fight against the Heavenly Palace sooner or later so I'll need an army. Since I have my skills, all I need is disciples, even if they don't have talent, I can make it work somehow'
Chen Mo thought to himself that his current goal was to get to the Soul Formation realm,
'I have a feeling that something big will happen if I reach the Soul Formation realm'
…
Mei Clan Ancestral Hall
"How long have you all being searching for, why are there still no clues" the clan head bellowed at the kneeling man cloaked in dark robes.
"Please just wait a little longer clan head" the cloaked man tried to calm down the clan head but it seemed to have an opposite effect.
"You said the same thing yesterday and the day before, why is it so hard to capture and bring back a little injured girl…"
Before he could finish speaking, a man barged into the hall,
"Clan head, we found something" the man spoke fast struggling to catch his breath.
"What is it?"
"The princess was seen walking out of the city lord's mansion along with the Chen family's young master"
"Chen family young master? Hahaha" the clan head laughed maniacally,
"It seems that you still bring me trouble even in your death Master Chen. Send people, I want his head here by tomorrow!"
…
'I heard that other sects will be having a disciple recruitment event at the city tomorrow, why don't I go and join in the fun. The easiest way to get recognized is by stepping on others after all'
"Do you feel it?" Yin Mei asked as she placed her hand on her waist ready to draw her sword.
"Yes, they've been following us since we left the city lord's mansion. They don't seem to be members of the Heavenly Palace either, I guess they are here for you, or Mei Ling to be exact"
'Yin Mei has been popping out every now and then and she seems to believe that I knew her. Well, I guess she'd be really useful as an elder of the sect, I'll try creating her a body once my cultivation rank is high enough'
Chen Mo halted abruptly, his robes swishing around him. Without turning, he called out, "Since you've been following us for a while now, why not reveal yourselves so that we may walk together?"
From the shadows emerged two maidens and three men, their faces bearing the scars of many battles. The leader, a burly man with a missing eye, growled, "I did not think you noticed our presence; it seems that the rumor about young master Chen killing Heavenly Palace disciples was true. But as much as I'd like to play with the young master, we are on a mission. Just hand over the girl and pretend as if nothing happened and maybe I'll let you live."
Chen Mo's gaze hardened as it fell upon the small figure hiding behind him. "I apologize, but I cannot fulfill such a request. She is my disciple after all."
The bandit leader scowled, his hand dropping to the hilt of his sword. "Then do not blame us for discarding courtesy!"
With lightning speed, he drew his blade and lunged toward the young master. The other villains followed suit, surrounding the pair with weapons drawn and bloodlust in their eyes.
Chen Mo did not flinch but instead stepped forward. With practiced grace, he met their ambush head-on. "So, you have chosen the path of rivers of blood. But it is you who shall drown this day!" He held out his hand and a sword materialized in it.
'Although Mei Ling has high cultivation and talent, she has no combat ability so I have to protect her'
As he was contemplating what to do, "Hey, why are you leaving me out?" Mei Ling, or rather Yin Mei, spoke up as she drew her sword.