The huge white palace was getting closer and closer. It was actually an illusion, because it was too big. In reality, it was still a long way to go. It was just such a gigantic building, as if it was pressing down on you with its scale.
Over the past half hour, Kai had already gotten used to this environment around him. No one paid much attention to him. The members of the Shadow Sect didn't seem to care much about the ordinary people Kai seemed to be. Other than his handsome appearance, he was no different from anyone else.
Right now, Kai's aura was under his complete control. If he didn't release it on his own, it was unlikely that anyone would pay attention to him.
- Wow, what is this? - Kai said in admiration.
He saw another dividing wall in front of him. But it wasn't too high or imposing. It was only three metres high and shining. Most of all, he was surprised by the structure of the structure itself.
The walls were translucent!
It seemed as if they were made of crystal with energy spilling over them. It looked mesmerising.
- The Shadow Sect is really rich... - Kai said to himself.
Seeing another guard, Kai moved towards him. This time, he didn't hesitate and immediately took out a scroll from his ring.
- Hello, I was told that here I could find help for my problem. - Kai said politely and smiled, -Where can I take the exam to become a Core Disciple? - He asked, handing over the scroll.
- Hello. Let's see... - The man said sternly, and accepted Kai's item.
He slowly unfolded the scroll and began to read. With each passing second, his face grew more serious. But unlike the first guard, there was no fear in this one's face.
- Oh! So Brother wants to try to become a Core Disciple? - The man said excitedly.
- Yes. I've been given a letter of recommendation, but this is my first time in the Shadow Sect's territory. I don't really know what it's all about. Hehehe. - Kai replied with a laugh.
- Hey Marin! Stay alone for now, I'll take the guy to the Shadow Dungeon! - A man suddenly shouted, addressing another guard standing nearby.
- Don't worry, I'm a Core Apprentice too, so I know where you need to go! Haha. - Laughing said the guard.
- Erm... Yes. Thank you. - With a strange smile, Kai replied.
- What's that expression? Do you think that's why the Core Disciple is working as a security guard? - The man asked with a sneer.
- To be honest, I don't know much about the hierarchy of the Shadow Sect... So I apologise if I reacted strangely. - Kai replied kindly.
- Don't worry about it! There are many ways to earn points in the Shadow Sect. Although I managed to become a Core Disciple, I didn't advance much in my cultivation afterwards. I'm not going to become a High Disciple anymore... So if I want to continue to be here, I have to earn my points somehow! - The man unashamedly explained, 'I'm Bran, by the way! - He continued.
- Kai! Nice to meet you. - With a smile, Kai introduced himself.
Thinking about Bran's words, Kai realised that there are different situations. Some people in the Shadow Sect cannot develop their potential indefinitely. Stuck in their development, they prefer to stay in the Shadow Sect and work for its benefit.
The Shadow Sect itself also didn't want to lose the people it had nurtured over the years. In Kai's understanding, any Cloud Sphere master was very valuable. Especially if you gather them into a huge army.....
- Listen Bran... You said something about some glasses. What are they? - Kai asked.
He was immediately interested in this point in the guard's words.
- Ahh... In the Shadow Sect, you can't buy everything you want just because you have money. People from many powerful families join here... Such a system would create inequality. Although money does solve a lot of things... But you can't get access to the really important resources if you don't have the points you've earned. - Bran explained.
- What can I buy with them? And how do I get them? - Kai asked a clarifying question.
- Anything... Time in cultivation zones, various items produced by the Shadow Sect's alliances. Access to information or different levels of the library... Lots of things... - the man said thoughtfully, naming the first options that came to mind, - What about the second question... It's just as variable. You can earn it like me, working as a security guard. Or in many other ways...' Bran said.
- Like what? - Kai asked.
- Hmm... Well, like working for the Alliances. If you're good at something, you can provide them with your skills. It's much more profitable! I just don't know how to do anything... Hehe. - He explained self-deprecatingly.
- I'm sorry for always asking stupid questions... But what are the Alliances? - Kai asked apologetically.
He really didn't understand the Shadow Sect's system at all. Kai wanted to find out how things worked and how to develop. It was better to be prepared in advance, so as not to get into unpleasant situations later.
- Well... They're separate groups of people engaged in various crafts. For a huge force like our Shadow Sect, they need stuff all the time. There's the Hunter Alliance, the Tamer Alliance, the Blacksmith Alliance, the Artefact Alliance, and so on...' Bran said slowly, 'The Shadow Sect needs all sorts of resources. That's why it gathers the best people of the four empires under its wing! What you can buy with points, you can't get anywhere else! - Proudly declared the man.
- Oh! That's how it is... Listen, is there an Alchemist Alliance? - Kai asked.
At this moment, his eyes glistened. If there was such an alliance of people, he could definitely safely earn points for his needs. Kai wanted to go straight to the library after joining. He had a lot of different information to learn. From the structure of their world, to the abilities of the Spirit Sea. And ideally, to find secret information that could give him even more clues that would shed light on the nature of his secrets.
Kai had many secrets, the nature of which he himself did not know. For all of this, more information is needed. Perhaps the one that could be bought for points could clear something up.
- Of course there is. This is one of the most reputable Alliances. Everyone needs pills...' the man replied calmly.
- Thank you Bran! If I had points, I'd even share them with you in payment for the information! Hehe. - Laughing, Kai replied.
- I'm grateful for your words, but even if you had them, passing them on to other people isn't easy! - Smiling, the man replied.
- Why is that? - With a strange expression on his face, Kai asked.
- The transfer of points from one Shadow Sect member to another is strictly controlled. This is to avoid corruption and the creation of factions. A free transfer of resources would lead to the formation of groups where the older disciples would cover for the younger six. In the Shadow Sect, this is strictly discouraged! Every ball transfer must be witnessed! Who, to whom, and for what! - Said the man.
- Hmm... That makes sense... - Kai said thoughtfully.
It seemed that the order here was quite different from that of the Border City of the Beast... All fundamental resources are bought for points. In turn, they could not be handed over for nothing. A person must earn them on their own! And if you exchange, the item or service must really be worth the amount of the transfer... The entire system is designed to maximise the control of the Shadow Sect and the development of each master individually....
- Don't worry Kai. If you pass the exam, you'll know everything! There are a lot of nuances that can't be explained in one evening. Hehehe. - Bran said cheerfully, seeing Kai's pensive face.
- Thank you for explaining at least that to me. - Kai replied with a smile, -By the way, how is the Basic Apprentice exam? - Kai continued to bombard Bran with questions.
- Hmm... You must have heard what I told my partner? The Shadow Dungeon... It's a special area for the test of an applicant's strength and potential. It's common to all students. - Bran replied.
- What do you mean? - Kai asked without understanding.
- The Shadow Dungeon is a dark and deep circular vortex... Or gorge... - Bran explained, - It is divided into 7 levels, which are determined by the depth of your descent. Each level is filled with destructive energy and the creatures that are created from it. It is incredibly dark, and the creatures themselves merge with the darkness... If an apprentice can make it to level 2, they are worthy of becoming a Core Apprentice. If a person can advance to the 3rd level, they can become a Superior Disciple. In order to become worthy of becoming a Personal Disciple, one must descend to level 5! But the difficulty of the sixth level goes to a completely different stage. Only elders or the strongest disciples train there! - Looking ahead, Bran said in one breath.