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Zhao Yu was on his way back to his room when suddenly, the token in his hand lit up, and a voice rang in his ear.
It was an authoritative voice, one that allowed no defiance, but it still sounded like the voice of the manor's master, Noah Drake.
"A task has been assigned to recruit new members for the manor. The prospective new members are currently waiting outside. You are to act as the examiner and conduct the assessment. Will you accept?"
Zhao Yu paused. The token had issued a task... Was this the master's will? But I've only been here for less than a day... He glanced toward the master's room. The manor's master had shown him great kindness... He would carry out the task with his utmost effort.
"I accept the task."
The token shone, and a stream of necessary information flowed into his consciousness.
Following the token's guidance, Zhao Yu made his way to the gate, opened it, and saw five groups of people waiting outside.
"This group… they seem somewhat unusual," he thought to himself.
...
Outside, after witnessing the breathtaking scene from a very close distance, it took quite a while for the group to recover. Once they did, they immediately grew vigilant. As the gate opened, a figure emerged—a person with an imposing, dignified demeanor. However, the entire figure was shrouded in a mist, making it clear only that this person was of human lineage.
But why could they only see a blurred figure?
Among the group were two prominent scholars of the time: Elliot Royce from the Great Prosperian Dominion and Wu Ding Xi from the The Land of the Ancestors. Both were more astonished than anyone else.
At their level of cultivation, anyone who stood before them would be seen clearly, with nothing escaping their perceptive eyes.
In the Confucian Way, there are seven stages (Student, Scholar, Teacher, Master, Confucianist, Great Confucian, and Sage).
The person before them must be a Sage... Only a Sage could stand before Great Confucians without revealing anything. A Sage, the highest realm of the Confucian Way. And yet, there were only two known Sages in the world, one from the Aurelius Empire and one from the Heavenly Silkworm Kingdom. This Sage was certainly not one of those two.
Looking at the only military general present, General Bui Tuyen was trembling all over, staring at the two Great Confucians with disbelief in his eyes.
"A Sage…" he whispered.
Immediately, the two Great Confucians and the military general stepped forward, bowing respectfully.
"Greetings to the honored Sage," they said in unison.
After hearing these words, the entire group fell silent. A Sage... The five great empires were divided into two factions because of the support of two Sages.
The Martial Emperor was invincible in battle, possessing overwhelming strength, capable of moving mountains and rivers. A Sage, however, was different. Each Sage could command the loyalty of heroes across a region. Their words carried the weight of law, revered by tens of thousands. Whenever a Sage emerged, a new era would dawn. The influence of a Sage was so profound it could shift the balance of power in the world.
And now, here in this desolate place, a hidden Sage had appeared…
Crown Prince Luna Victor, along with the other princes and princesses, led the group forward to bow, but the Sage waved his hand and asked,
"Are you the group preparing to join the manor?"