While moving along with Elder Ovian, Kai had one thought on his mind.
'If my old man is so strong, why was he allowed to be outside the Shadow Sect?' - Kai thought to himself.
- Look, Elder Ovian... If Master Mo is one of the seven strongest people of the Shadow Sect. Why isn't he coming back here? - Cautiously asked Kai.
He realised that he didn't know much about all the nuances of the Shadow Sect yet. Therefore, Kai didn't know if it was okay to ask such a question.
- ''Kai... People like Old Man Mo are quite eccentric... Even among them, your master has always been a free-spirited person. It's simply impossible to hold them back by force. But most importantly, in order to continue progressing on the Star Sphere, mere cultivation is not enough. You must constantly be in situations between life and death. Only by putting your life on the line time after time can you achieve anything.'' - Ovian explained vaguely.
- I don't really understand... - Kai said awkwardly.
- True masters can't stay cooped up and cultivate quietly all the time. At one point, you need to go out into the outside world to find adventures... This world is amazing... It has places that are unsafe even for the strongest people like our Patriarch. But with great risks always comes great luck. Only those who were able to take a huge risk and justify it will be in the leadership of their generation. All others will fade into oblivion. - Your master also decided to try his luck and go to one very dangerous place. He never stopped striving forward. So, he decided that he would try to find an opportunity for a breakthrough. - With respect in his voice, Ovian said.
It seemed that Master Mo didn't want to accept the idea that he had no way to break through to the Core Sphere. He had purposely gone out to seek adventure in the outside world. But what kind of place could be considered dangerous for a Peak Star Sphere master?
'The old man said something about it... He said he found my technique somewhere...' - Pondered Kai.
- 'Thank you for answering me Elder...' replied Kai gratefully.
- You're welcome. If I didn't have the many administrative processes of the Shadow Palace hanging on me, I would have gone looking for a breakthrough too... - Ovian said calmly.
It seemed that the old man had fully accepted his fate and was not sad about it. Although he obviously wanted to advance a little more. But at the same time he realised that he didn't have such an opportunity.
- I'm sure that without you, everything would have fallen apart. Hehehe. - Kai said encouragingly, ''Listen... I'm still wondering... What kind of place could be dangerous even for Master Mo? - Kai suddenly asked.
Originally, he had decided that he would stay out of it. But in the end, his curiosity won out.
- Hmm... This place is a sacred area of our entire Mysterious Sea Region. In fact, even the disciples enter it. But only in its outer regions. Not even the Patriarch of the Shadow Sect would dare to enter the deepest part! - Ovian gave out a serious expression.
As soon as Kai heard this, his eyes instantly lit up!
- Can I go there?! - Kai shouted out in excitement.
- Hehehe. Don't be in a hurry! Listen to me!' the old man said with a laugh, 'Our region is so called because it has the Mysterious Sea at its centre. The sacred zone is located on a small island in these waters. We call it the Island of Reincarnation... If a person can get his benefits there, he will undergo a global metamorphosis! But the entrance there is closed by a strong barrier that is usually impossible to break through. - Ovian began to narrate.
- Normally? So there are still some cases where it can be done? - Kai asked quickly.
- Yes, you're right. Every three or four years, the barrier is weakened. At that time, the main forces of the Shadow Sect, Sword Sect, and Spiritual Fire Sect are sent there. - Ovian continued to explain, ''The strongest people of the controlled forces also go there. For example, from our side, the Emperors of the four empires and the leaders of the various forces come there. The Spiritual Flame Sect also has many smaller Sects under its control. - An Elder was speaking.
- Wow... So many people? - Kai asked in surprise.
- There's a reason for all this. They are needed to work together to create a gap in the barrier and enter the Sacred Zone. Then, it all depends on your skills, luck and fate. Many die and never return. But those who are lucky... They are reborn as new people! That's why Reincarnation Island is the most appropriate name for it. - Elder Ovian said with a melancholy smile.
Looking at the old man's face, one could realise that he had many memories of his own related to this place. Most likely, he has firsthand knowledge of how dangerous it is there.
''Probably, at one time, many of Elder Ovian's acquaintances didn't return from there.'' When he spoke of the dead, his face became visibly saddened...' - Kai thought as he listened to the old man.
After the last words, Ovian became silent and thoughtful. He seemed to be immersed in memories. Kai did not hurry to interrupt his thoughts, and spoke only after a few minutes.
- Elder, you still haven't answered. Can I go there? - Kai asked with a smile.
- Well... Let's just say you're both lucky and unlucky at the same time. - Said Ovian, deliberately building up the intrigue.
- Please don't make me long. Hehehe. - Kai replied with a smile.
- Okay... - the old man replied with a feigned displeasure, - Lucky for you at that moment, only the Personal Disciples of the three major Sects can go there from the younger generation. And as you realise, we are one of them. - Ovian said with a smile.
- What is my bad luck? - Kai asked calmly.
- The fact that only the top hundred go. I'm sure you're very strong, but you're only 14 years old. All of the Personal Apprentices are geniuses... And when the best of them have a few years' head start... You must realise that breaking into the top hundred would be a miracle. - Ovian said frankly, 'Personal Apprentices advance to the status of Elders after 25 years of age, or leave for long wanderings around that age. That means that the strongest of the Personal Disciples will be 10 years older than you! Even if you take the 100th or 99th rank, they'll be a few years older...'' The old man said sympathetically.
- Hmm... That's really a problem... - After thinking for a bit, Kai replied.
Kai realised that he was very strong. But each of the Personal Disciples were not weaklings either. They were the best people of their generation! At this moment, they were much stronger than him. Kai had no doubt about that at all.
- Don't worry Kai... The next opening will be in about a year. I'm sure that in four years you'll be among the hundred chosen ones. - Ovian said with a smile.
The old man realised that Kai would not be included in the next visits to Reincarnation Island. But in four years he would be eighteen years old. Considering all of Kai's talents, he would definitely be able to pass there.
'Four years... Hmm... That's a very long time.' - Kai thought. Now he was faced with a dilemma.
- Look, how is the top hundred determined? - Kai suddenly asked.
- You don't want to give up I see. - Ovian said with a smile.
He didn't believe that Kai would do well this year. But he really liked the boy's attitude. In Ovian's opinion, this was what a true martial artist should be like!
- At least I'll have a clear goal for the coming year. If I don't succeed, it's no big deal! Hehe. - Laughing, cheerfully replied Kai.
- That's a good attitude! Okay, I'll tell you. - When you touched the chest, you should have noticed your Rank. It's determined by the system by many different factors. But the fastest way to rise in Rank is to defeat others in a duel! - With a teasing smile, Ovian gave out.
It seemed as if he was inciting Kai to do something crazy. This old man also had his own sharp features. No matter what, he was also a martial artist. One could not be deceived about Elder Ovian, or else one would pay dearly. There was a reason why he was so highly respected by those around him.
- A duel? Hehehe... I like that sort of thing! - smiling evilly, Kai said, 'But how do you challenge someone to it? - Continuing to smile, Kai asked.
- It's simple. Find someone who agrees and give them Reputation Points. But keep in mind that fighting someone lower in rank does not honour the opponent. If you want to fight someone higher up, you'll have to pay a lot of money! Otherwise, no one will agree to a dishonourable fight! - Smiling, the old man replied.
It was quite logical. Why would a self-respecting martial artist beat up someone weaker than himself? Such behaviour was quite disgraceful... Naturally, unless the opponent was willing to put up a sufficient amount of Reputation Points. Such fights were not considered as something bad in the Shadow Sect. They were seen as 'teaching a lesson from an older student to a younger one'. And that was fair enough, as it usually ended with the defeated challenger being defeated.
In the Shadow Sect, the older disciple was not the one with the higher age, but the one with the higher Rank!
- Hehehe... I hear you Elder Ovian... Thank you very much for this most enjoyable conversation. I learnt a lot of interesting things today! - Laughing thanked Kai.
At that moment, they finally started to approach the Shadow Palace....