Return

"Hmph, looks like a peasant's Sect."

I turned around and saw the girl with scarlet hair. "Shush, this prince is thinking."

Aerion was making fun of Jasmine calling herself a princess in the first person by doing the same thing, calling himself a prince.

She laughed mockingly "Prince... since when?"

"Since I was born."

"Prince of what?"

"The Seven... nevermind, you wouldn't know. What are you doing here anyway? I don't remember letting you tag along."

"Unfortunately, you will have to deal with me until I get a real body."

"What!? How long will getting a "real body" take?"

"It will depend on how long you take to gather the materials that this princess requires..."

"I have to help you, the girl who almost killed me? Do you think that I, Jun Long, will bow down and do as you say? No! You should find someone else who will, for that person is not me. Since I own the Sky Poison Pearl now... I should be able to take you out of it and be on my way."

Aerion wasn't going to allow some random girl, especially someone who attacked him, freeload in the Sky Poison Pearl nor was he going to help the girl regain her body. Jasmine needs Aerion (the Sky Poison Pearl more specifically) to remove the poison but Aerion doesn't have a reason to need her. Unless...

"No... wait."

"Hmm?"

"I can... teach you in exchange for shelter in the Sky Poison Pearl."

"Now you have my attention... what can you teach me?"

"Profound skills, how to use your Evil God veins, I can tell you the lo-"

Aerion smiled. New profound skills... most likely the ones that boy used, they were quite powerful (*cough* they almost killed him) and Aerion couldn't wait to get his hands on them. He also didn't want to limit himself, if there was a method to get stronger... he would do it. After all, he must find a way to return to his World and strength was the only clear way. He had heard that the realm above Sovereign Profound makes a cultivator into a God and allows them to travel to other planes, other worlds. Even if its a rumour, there must be some truth behind it.

(Aerion was getting better at squeezing out good offers, he should become a car's salesman!)

"Enough... I accept your offer."

"Re...really?"

"Of course, now can you stop disturbing me. I have some business to attend to."

"Hmph, then this princess shall rest."

Right.

Tywin, the Chimera cub, looked up to me, waiting. Why did I name it Tywin? I think you can figure that out for yourself.

"Let's go to the Sect now, Tywin."

Tywin nodded and follow my every step, isn't he a good boy? Taming him might be easier than I thought. I temporarily put him in the Sky Poison Pearl.

~

I spotted the Silver Cloaks at the market checking out the goods, I'll talk with them later. Before all of that, I need to talk with the Grandmaster. The question is... should I go through the gate or just sneak over the walls? It's pretty damn sunny... so, me getting caught is pretty darn likely. Meh, I'll go through the gate. Sneaking up to the grandmaster might be cool but it would take too much effort.

"Who is it?"

"Jun Long."

"The Jun Long who made that poor Liu Lei enter closed doors cultivation? He's been there ever since he returned to the Sect."

I did? My disappearance must have affected him quite a bit. I... perhaps, I shouldn't have trained that long. I hope he's doing alright.

"Is he still cultivating?"

"Of course, you can go in now that you've been verified. The grandmaster wishes to see you as well, I suggest going to him immediately."

"He knows I'm here?"

"No, he predicted that you would return... just not when. All guards were told to keep their ears peeled for the name 'Jun Long', until further notice."

The gate slowly rose up. Once it was done rising I walked into the castle. It didn't change much since my arrival apart from the activity. There were so many disciples buying, selling, turning in missions, starting missions and training. It was a whole different fortress.

I walked up to the gate of the library in a quick minute.

"Silver hair, lilac eyes and tall... you meet the criteria. Welcome back, Jun Long."

A guard with a leather shoulder pad welcomed me and unlocked the gate, it was a different one from last time. I guess they rotate every once a while. I enter and walk up the staircase to the library. Compared to the rest of the fortress, the library was like a ghost town. The grandmaster must like silence...

I push the large doors of the library open and gaze up at the man standing on top of the library. The bright light of the sun shone through the glass window and blinded me for a short time.

"I have been expecting your return..."

"Oh? You knew that I would survive an encounter with the Demon King?"

"Well, not exactly. I thought you did at first... but after hearing that his Sect's vault was completely emptied, I had some hope of your return. Then, after the rumours of a Silver Calamity reached me I knew that it was you. Now... what will you do?"

His razor-sharp cold eyes stared at me, focusing on me only... not daring to look anywhere else.

"Well?"

"I wish to stay with the Sect, as long as it does not hinder my growth."

He smiled.

"Is that so? Very well, I shall promote to you to the rank of Adept. At this rank, as you already know, you can start missions and join one of the Divisions. I assure you, some missions are very rewarding. We have many rich clients who would pay a fortune to get something done."

"So I don't have to complete my one hundred day training anymore?"

"No, you have shown great promise in your first twenty days. There will be no need for that. Your room is still the same, do you have still have its keys?"

"Of course."

"Good, Tai Quin will join you there and guide you through the things an Adept must know. Your two-striped uniform will also be there."

"Alright, I'll go there. See you later, Grandmaster"

"Farewell, Jun Long."

Looks like all of my problems were sorted.

Tai Wentian turned around and walked up the stairs, Shun Zhi was waiting for him there.

"True Profound Stage Seven... at this rate, he will reach Nascent Four or higher. Not only that, he has great battle power..."

"Yes, by the time the Blue Wind Ranking Tournament begins, Jun Long will be able to contend for a good ranking... but I wish to make him even stronger. I wish to see him at the very top."

"And how will you do that?"

"I have a plan... but it will change on whether he joins the Blades or Guards. We will have to wait for his decision at the quarterly assembly. Only thirteen more days..."

His cold eyes stared through the large decorated window. Shun Zhi smirked.

"Still scheming as always..."

~

I walked down to my room and saw Tai Quin waiting. So quick...

"You're just as fast as before..."

"And you're just as visible as ever. Where is your uniform?"

"Some guy tore it apart..."

"Oh, so you have a boyfriend now?"

I laughed. "No, that's not what I meant. I..."

"Alright, alright. Unlock the door, you need to get suited up. Those clothes make you look like a client instead of a disciple..."

"Right."

I unlock the door and enter. Tai Quin stood behind the door. "Go ahead, change, I'll be outside."

I closed the door and looked down at my new uniform. How did they get it in here? I thought I had the one and the only key, perhaps they have a spare copy somewhere. Then I take two minutes getting dressed into the uniform.

So comfortable! The two crimson stripes on the hood stood out on the white surface. There were some knives attached to the belt. The left hand had a beautiful silver gauntlet. When I flicked my wrist a small blade came out of that gauntlet.

"It's pretty damn amazing, right?"

I jumped up and saw Tai Quin behind me. "Do you ever knock the door?"

"Never... anyway, I knew that you were done dressing so it wasn't a problem. That right there is what we call the "Hidden Blade". We use it as a reliable weapon in assassinations, it can also be used as a secondary weapon in combat."

"Uhoh, how come I didn't get it before?"

"Trainees don't get Hidden Blades, as they are still in training. Initiates and above get one. Masters and above get a highly advanced version that can shoot projectiles such as arrows."

"Really!? Then I need to get myself promoted to that rank."

"Tch, it's not that easy. You need to have a battle power equal to or above Earth Profound One. In the last one hundred years, there has only been one seventeen-year-old master and that was my father. It will take you a few years to reach that stage..."

"Only Earth Profound? Tsk, tsk, tsk. You are truly underestimating my talent. Give me one year and I'll be stronger than a sky profound cultivator!"

It took a few seconds for Tai Quin to get over that statement, was Jun Long serious?

"That's the biggest stretch I've ever heard, but it's good to believe in yourself."

He clearly doesn't believe me... I'll show him.

"Well, what do we do now?"

"I don't do anything, but you begin your first mission."

"What, like now?"

"Yes, now."