Mystical Journey

“Welcome to the Scarlet Snow Sect,” said the middle-aged man in a clear and loud voice while stretching both of his hands once Garen and the other young man approached him. This man had long thick golden curls that resembled a large hairy towel that was draped over his head. It looked somewhat strange.

Simultaneously, the remaining One Hearted Disciples opened their mouths and spoke in a synchronized manner.

“Welcome to Scarlet Snow!”

“My name is Garen and I’ve come here to gain knowledge. Please guide me,” Garen bent his body slightly and bowed respectfully.

“You’re the Elite who rushed over from the Central Metropolis. By choosing our sect, you displayed your faith in us. Please put this on,” the middle-aged man smiled while taking out a tiny black jewelry box. The cover automatically snapped itself open quickly and exposed an exquisite crystal carving inside.

People would find it surprising when they noticed that the crystal carving was actually floating in mid-air slowly and was not merely laying inside the box quietly.

Rays of nearly scorching sunlight were shining on the surface of the crystal, causing a faint silver glow to reflect off it.

“This is…?” asked Garen because he was somewhat unable to comprehend it.

The middle-aged supervisor smiled faintly. “This is the symbol of entering our sect, the Communication Crystal. It will disintegrate into a tiny structure on its own to enter the human body. It also possesses special abilities that allow it to modify Willpower gradually.”

Garen understood now. Although he knew that this item was definitely not as simple as the man had described, he was aware that this represented a necessary procedure for entering the sect that was similar to an identity verification. This crystal would definitely possess measures to restrain the disciples as well. However, he was sure that they were necessary. Cruel sects would not be easily passed off as others as there were also sects that did not interfere with their member’s freedom.

A thought stirred in his mind. Garen reached his hand out and used his fingers to pinch the crystal gently. Suddenly, he felt a slight chill flash past the moment his fingertips came into contact with the surface of the crystal. He then realized immediately that the crystal had quickly disappeared despite being right in front of his fingers.

“It has disintegrated already,” said the supervisor, smiling. “Alright, your room has been arranged. You’ll need to rest in the public base for some time, probably a month or so. Next, there will be internal competitions within the sect. Highly ranked competitors can choose to listen to the teachings of various Elders on their own at different bases. If you’re able to breakthrough to Level Four, you can request for the Elder examination. Once you’ve passed that, you can become an official disciple of one of the three main Elders.

“Understood,” Garen nodded.

“Then follow me,” the supervisor brought a group of One Hearted Disciples and turned around before clustering around Garen and walking towards the forest.

A strange phenomenon appeared. When the crowd approached the lush green forest, the greenery disappeared at once and was replaced by a white fish shaped Flying Ship that was parked on the grassy lawn.

Along the way, the supervisor explained the Scarlet Snow Sect’s situation. It was mostly similar to what Bainster had said except that it was less detailed.

Garen nodded while sizing up the One Hearted Disciples beside the supervisor.

There were both male and female disciples. Some of them had solemn expressions on their faces while others were gazing at him respectfully. The Forces surrounding their bodies were mostly only Level One or Level Two.

After speaking for some time, the supervisor finally became silent. Next, he went into another room inside the Flying Ship and answered a phone call.

His actions seemed intentional as Garen and these One Hearted Disciples now had space and time to interact. As expected, the group of disciples rushed over automatically right after the supervisor left.

One of Garen’s junior sisters who was slim and beautiful was the first to speak.

“Senior brother, welcome to Scarlet Snow. I was certain right away that you weren’t an ordinary person when I saw you walking out of the Flying Ship dashingly! This is a little gift from me. I hope that you remember my name in your Trusted Slip…”

She smiled like a beautiful flower and quietly passed a tiny blood colored ball into Garen’s hand. It was shaped like a peach but its surface was filled with fine and closely woven lines that looked like they were tinged with blood.

“This is… Beast Root!” Garen recognized this material. He could use it on his experimental platform when he was leveling up. It was used to increase the success rate of creating experimental Energy Machinery by about ten percent and was worth a hundred crystals.

“Dear senior brother, this is a little gift from your junior brother. I hope that you will be able to remember my name in your Trusted Slip…” Another person gave him a present with a respectful look on his face.

Next, while Garen was scratching his head and trying to figure out something to do, most of the disciples in the group gave him presents.

Bainster then explained everything to him softly.

“Every Two Hearted Disciple has the right to be placed in an optimized radiation villa as their own dwelling. These villas can release radiation that will optimize and accelerate their computing powers while improving their vitality. It provides many benefits towards our bodies. Clusters of houses have been placed around the area as well. These houses are provided for the followers and servants of Two Hearted Disciples. As these clusters of houses are too close to the main villa, the benefits of the optimized radiation will affect them too. Therefore, the houses that were meant for the servants were rented out to the One Hearted Disciples by the Two Hearted Disciples instead. Unfortunately, there weren’t enough houses to satisfy the demand.”

“In other words, they’re coming over for the sake of those clusters of houses? So the Trusted Slip that they were talking about was merely a sort of permission slip?” responded Garen immediately.

“You could say that,” Bainster nodded. Next, he whispered beside Garen’s ear and said, “Of course, there could be a possibility that they weren’t eyeing the clusters but the main villa instead,” he smiled pervertedly.

Garen understood suddenly and glanced at a fiery golden-haired young lady who was batting her eyelashes at him not far away.

Incidents like these were very common everywhere.

After the disciples had given him their presents, the supervisor returned and acted as if he had an abundance of free time. He chatted with Garen leisurely and allowed him to walk around on his own and take in the Scarlet Snow Sect’s scenery.

Through the Flying Ship’s side window, stretches of green forests and mountains passed them continuously. The whooshing sound of wind could be heard occasionally as well.

Whoosh!

A white Flying Ship flew past the outside of the window suddenly from the opposite side. A bald youth was sitting with his legs crossed on top of the Flying Ship. Both of his eyes were tightly shut and his arms were intertwined in front of his chest in a twisted pose that resembled a snake. He gave off a strange feeling, especially the fact that there was a faint red scar in the middle of his forehead that looked like an unopened third eye.

Garen’s gaze fell on the youth for a moment before he felt a faint but stabbing-like pain in both of his eyes. In an instant, the other person’s Willpower Energy Field had attacked him. It passed through his Energy Field and hurt his eyes which caused him to fall into a state of shock!

“This power… Even the previous Nine-Headed Dragon Queen Nadia was not this strong!”

Garen secretly compared these two individuals in his mind. He noticed that Nadia’s power was truly unlike the power of the man from earlier. Although he had only caught a glimpse of that man’s power but he could already detect the grade of his Willpower. He could also feel the spatial distortions that were produced from a natural flesh body that was too strong. He had seen power like this in Nadia previously but had never experienced it so intensely.

“That’s the Third Elder of the Scarlet Snow Sect, Lord Copper Sera,” Bainster explained softly.

The moment that person flew past, everyone inside the Flying Ship lowered their voices unconsciously.

“Lord Copper Sera?” murmured Garen softly.

The Flying Ship flew above a lush green forest and passed it quickly.

They could occasionally see Energy Machinists who were engaging in combat on the flat platform in the forest below. The white circular platforms were abnormally eye-catching in the middle of the forest. Some of them were empty while others were filled with numerous people that were sparring. They fought extremely intensely while people stood on the side and cheered loudly.

Some disciples who were escorting the slaves of losing groups walked on the path below where the Flying Ship was traveling. They raised their heads and looked at the Flying Ship where Garen was located and gazed at him in admiration.

On top of Scarlet Snow mountain on a lonely silver circular platform stood numerous people in white who were already waiting there.

Their leader was a quivering old woman who was fully dressed in white. She raised her head and looked at the Flying Ship that was flying over from afar. A cute and charming young girl in a red skirt stood beside her. Her little mouth was fully pouted as if she was in a bad mood. Her long black hair cascaded down her vest in braids and reached her bright red miniskirt that was tight around the waist, emphasizing her girlish charm.

“Another Two Hearted is here. Why do I have to meet him this time? I’m not happy with this. I’m not happy at all!” the girl muttered to herself quietly.

“Both of the two other senior brothers have had their turn while you’re the only one who has yet to do it, senior sister. It’s very likely that the Two Hearted Disciple that has arrived this time is going to be one of us. As long as he passes the identity origin examination and does not have any temperament issues to be found, this is something that has already been set in stone. Teacher told you to come for a similar reason, so that you would leave a good impression on the new person,” explained the old woman quietly.

“Good impression?” the little girl continued to pout. “Are you sure that’s not just lip service? It’s a good thing that I’m naturally pretty and possess an abundance of beauty. Would I still be here to meet people if I was as ugly as an old man?”

The old woman merely smiled bitterly and nodded without refuting her.

A few disciples behind her had impatient looks on their faces as well. The young mistress’s bad temper was infamous throughout this branch. She had a good face but every time she opened her mouth to speak, two out of her three sentences would be self-praise. Moreover, she would only compliment herself by putting others down. She was also the most famous person within the entire sect.

“Senior sister, please don’t speak for a while. Let me handle everything,” said the old woman helplessly.

“I know, I know. So annoying!” the young girl nodded impatiently.

The Flying Ship floated above them slowly and stopped there before making humming noises and descending slowly.

The ship door was opened with a ‘puff’ before the One Hearted Disciples walked out from the inside. When they saw the crowd that was waiting for them, they lowered their heads and bowed respectfully before separating themselves on both sides and spreading out. Bainster was one of them.

Next, the supervisor and Garen walked out.

“Two Hearted Disciple Garen has arrived. Your subordinate requests to withdraw,” said the supervisor softly while bowing to the old woman.

“Yes, you may leave,” the old woman nodded. She looked at Garen who was walking towards her as her gaze considered him for awhile.

Garen’s entire body had been cleaned up inside the Flying Ship, making him extremely clean and neat. His disposition was steady and strong while his body was muscular but balanced. Both of his eyes particularly made people feel as if they were staring into a deep abyss. His shoulder-length black hair was arranged behind him neatly without a strand that was out of place.

“Disciple Garen, I’m here to learn!”

He walked forward and lowered his head slightly while illuminating his Energy Machinist key. They could clearly see that he was a Level Three Energy Machinist from there.

“I’m your senior sister, Rainy and my rank is number five. She’s also your senior sister, Eva Regar and her rank is number three. You may just call us fifth senior sister and third senior sister,” said the old woman quietly. Her voice was throaty and weak as if she could start panting at any moment.

“Yes,” Garen nodded.

“This special treatment is only given to new people like you who choose to join our division. Take it,” the old woman moved her hand and threw a little black ring towards Garen.

When he picked up the ring, trembles ran through Garen’s mind slightly. This ring apparently possessed faint traces of spatial distortions.

“Space Equipment?!”

“Not bad. Take a look at it yourself and check it. Everything should be there already. Within a month, you can visit the speaker’s halls and the first floor of the library to read anything and listen to the talks. The other places within your field of vision that are displayed as red zones cannot be entered. You will be punished if you trespass into these places, so remember that. You may freely enter the places that are displayed as green areas,” the old woman explained quickly.

“Understood,” Garen checked the ring for awhile. This was his first time using Space Equipment. Apparently, it was the size of a little bedroom. So many large materials were placed inside it and most of them were used to create Biochemical Pools and experimental platforms.

“You should create your Biochemical Pool and experimental platform as soon as possible. However, our sect’s main principle is that self-modification is the best path to power. Don’t invert it,” reminded the old woman.

The greeting from the supervisor and the guidance and explanation of the Three Hearted Disciples showed that they had already treated Garen extremely well. Garen was also able to experience the high positions of the Scarlet Snow Sect for himself on the inside. It looked like the people who were only trying to make a fortune from the one-time selections at the Central Metropolis had a different experience. They had missed this accidental opportunity by being blinded by the prospect of the bigger sects. After receiving praises from the Inherited Level Masters, it now seemed as if this sect had been painted with a bright layer of attractive gold paint. Moreover, he had also received such exceptional treatment upon stepping into this place.

“The Scarlet Snow Sect is the ultimate ruler within a range of ten thousand kilometers from here. Alarms will be released around you automatically when you encounter dangers so don’t panic when that happens. The nearest powerhouses will come and assist you then. Of course, if there are disciples who are facing similar risks nearby, follow the rules of the sect and help them to the best of your ability. Everyone here has a responsibility to help others when needed.”

Garen listened to the old woman as she explained the house rules while following the line of people down the side of the high platform before walking down the little mountain path.