The Competition

"Attention! The grandmaster is here!" The butler outside said loudly before going back to his station and bowed to an old man outside. He is the current grandmaster of the Glorious Dragon Sect, William Lockheart.

Upon noticing the person with the highest authority in the sect step in, everyone including Ashenn stood up and lightly bowed, before saying, "Grandmaster."

William seems to be in his 50s. But the age of a cultivator like him can't, after all, be accurately estimated, he can be hundreds of years old already. He is wearing a long green robe. It has golden patterned stitches on it and the sect's crest covering the whole back part. William has a very long, straight, white hair that stretches down to his back. He also has white beard and a moustache connected to it. And he has a silver metallic colored pupils coupled with that. As he entered, every step he takes exuded an aura of superiority, power, strong fairness, and most of all, unassailable dignity.

Arriving at his seat, William sat down while signaling to everyone to do the same. As he sat down, Ashenn noticed that the seat of William, the grandmaster of the Glorious Dragon Sect, is just like every other seat everyone are sitting on. At that moment, he 'remembered' from 'his' memories that William is actually a strong believer of fairness. And that it is that belief that is keeping Ashenn, a cripple like him, from being thrown away and being disowned. If not for the fact that William's love for strong cultivators is only second to his belief in fairness, Ashenn wouldn't even have the status as his grandson. For Ashenn is neither strong nor a cultivator. So even if William doesn't detest him, he doesn't favor him either.

Now that everyone is seated, William finally spoke.

"Today is a big day for all of us, for the whole world will witness yet another figure step up and take the title of grandmaster of the Glorious Dragon Sect for himself. And even though I still have about 6 decades of years to live, I decided to step down the throne and choose the successor already. But why is that?" He asked. He is observing if someone is brave enough to relay to him the spreading rumors about him. But to no avail, no one even breathed. He then continued speaking...

"I know there is a circulating rumor about me that I'm sure many of you know already. But I want all of you to hear it officially from me. Yes, I have been in the pinnacle rank of the Saint Realm. And I want to use my remaining life to attempt and breakthrough the last and the apex of realms, the Immortal Realm!" He said in a serious tone, but excitement and joy can be seen and heard from him when he mentioned the Immortal Realm. Upon hearing this, many in the room were overjoyed and are proud for their grandmaster, as many of them cheered for him, especially the Elders.

"Back to the topic. You all know that I'm gonna choose from my grandchildren right?" William said, the noise settled down and everyone nodded in agreement.

"Well, it's more like they will compete for it." William added as his lips curled into an evil smile. Everyone had confused looks on them until they started whispering to each other. Even the Elders were quite oblivious of their grandmaster's plans. Well the meeting was indeed called only regarding the new heir and not choosing one. But still, everyone thought that their grandmaster will just choose the next one. Unfortunately, the grandmaster has other plans himself.

"What are you implying, grandmaster?" An Elder said as he stood up, his hands cupped and his head lowered.

"I will open up a competition." William answered.

""... "" Everyone stayed quiet and only waited for William to continue.

"It's pretty simple actually. My grandchildren, stand up." William said while gesturing his hands to stand up. When Ashenn, Lily, and all of their cousins stood up, William continued.

"Each of you will be given a piece of land area owned by the sect. This land area will be put directly under your names. Meaning, even if you lose or not in this competition, the land is still yours. You in turn will build your very own sect there. You will make your sect prosper and flourish. And in ten years on this very day will then and then only will I declare an heir who has led his own sect the farthest." William explained.

'Hell no! I have better things to do in this life than to build a sect!' He cried in his mind but can only stay quiet outside.

"Simple isn't it?" William asked, many nodded in agreement.

'Yeah! It's actually pretty simple!' Ashenn thought sarcastically.

"Simple? Yes... Easy? I think not." William said, many people were shocked by this, it is because William isn't always like this. It seems that he is taking this selection of heir too seriously.

"In your ten years of path to glory, you will have to meet some requirements and follow the rules of the competition. These requirements and rules are written on a manual which will be promptly given to you once you arrive at your rooms later. Failing to meet the requirements or simply breaking the rules will result in elimination from the competition." William explained. Once he is finished talking however, he noticed the worried expressions of everyone, they seem to be thinking that this competition is a bit too much for the teens.

"Worry not, for every each and one of you will receive the starting necessities in building a sect and some special and specified items that would fill in the gaps in you." He reassured, upon saying so however, almost everyone looked at Ashenn, they must be thinking that those special item rule was meant for him. Some of Ashenn's cousins scoffed lightly. William noticed this and intentionally coughed to regain everyones attentions.

"No one in this world is perfect, so every each and one of us has a flaw. So if you're just a musclehead and only know fighting and war, expect an assistant manager as your gap filler." He said while looking at one of his grandchild.

Everyone turned silent upon hearing this.

"Lastly, all of you will receive an advisor to aid you. Everyone's advisor is experienced in managing a sect, all in the 1st level of the core building realm, all have red cores, and their ages range from 30 to 35. They're basically almost the same. All of you will meet them later on as they are the ones who are gonna you the manual. But for now, I have here their names and other information about them." William continued explaining.

"First is Grindel, you will have an advisor named Garett." William then passed a piece of paper to Grindel, one of Ashenn's cousins. There it contained his own advisor's background.

"Next is, Anastasia, you'll have Lina."

"Next is..."

The name and background giving continued until it is Ashenn's turn. To be honest, he didn't even thought he'd even receive one.

"For Ashenn, you will hav-" But suddenly, William was interrupted by a hand raised from the seated crowd.

"What is it?" William couldn't clearly see whose hand it was. At that moment, an old man who seemed to be in his 60s stood up.

Everyone looked at him, including Ashenn. To his surprise, the old man is actually a very familiar figure, he is his paternal grandfather! Gram Vanheid.

Gram had quite the handsome face for an old man. He also has a short white hair. And even though William also has a white one, Gram's hair outshined William's. It's because Gram's hair has a silver luster in it, while William's are only plain white. Gram also has a white short pointed beard, that like his hair, also has a silver luster. He is also wearing a short white robe, looking at it, the robe seems to be a bit damaged and discolored in some parts, it's clearly an overly used clothing. Gram's body exuded an aura of calmness and nothingness.

"I would love to apply as Ashenn's advisor." Gram said while smiling and having a calm face.

"What? I will not allow it! You're needed here!" William rejected.

"Nonsense! I'm just a lay-by old man here waiting for my death. What could I even possibly do here to help?" Gram defended.

"But..." William was still thinking of an excuse when Gram interrupted him again.

"Besides, you know I'm a cripple and that I'm not gonna live any longer. So I want to spend my remaining time with my only family left... my two grandchildren." He emotionally said as he looked at Ashenn and Lily.

"Do you agree with this Ashenn?" William asked Ashenn. The man in question took some time thinking before eventually nodding in agreement.

Sigh... "Fine, you will be Ashenn's advisor." William declared after heaving a sigh of helplessness. Gram only smiled warmly, bowed, and sat down again. At that moment, the whole place was dead silent. Noticing this, William decided to break the silence break the silence and continued on.

"Okay, uhhmm... moving on. Lily you will have Wendy." William said.

*****

The meeting went on for an hour more, before finally coming to an end.

"Everyone may leave now, the contestants must remember not to be late tomorrow. The teleportation gates can only be opened for a short amount of time. Elders, stay for report." William ordered.

'This is pathetic, I can't believe I can't forfeit.' Ashenn disappointingly thought. As he is about to exit the room, his grandfather, Gram, approached him.

"Welcome back Ashenn! It's good to see you again, I've missed you and Lily." Gram said as he hugged Ashenn.

"Me too, grand... father." Ashenn replied while smiling. He is so satisfied right now, he felt the love of a grandfather this time.

After a few seconds, Gram broke free from the hug. He then gestured his hands to lead the way before saying...

"Here, let me escort you to your quarters and I'll explain to you the basics of sect building." He said while smiling warmly. Ashenn only nodded and led the way.

After the duo left the meeting hall, an Elder inside stared sharply at their disappearing back views. After the doors were closed that the Elder only stood up and said to William,

"Grandmaster, I'm sorry but I can't keep my urge any longer. Can this Elder ask his grandmaster a bit of a personal question?" The Elder asked, his hands cupped and his head lowered. This piqued the interest of some Elders and listened silently from the sidelines.

"Go ahead." William permitted while looking at some documents. He didn't seem to mind it that much.

"I know it's a bit rude but... whg argue with that crippled old man? Isn't it more convenient if we let them go together with his crippled grandson into the wilds and let them die there? They're worth nothing anyway." The Elder asked with a bit of an irritated tone. He's also not bowing anymore, but William paid no heed with this Elder's absence of respect. Some Elders however, also wanted to know the answer so they butted in while bowing and cupping their hands.

"I too, want to know why, grandmaster."

"Me too, grandmaster."

"They're right. Why, grandmaster?" Some Elders stood up and said. But most of the others only remained silent and stayed neutral.

William only smiled as he put down the documents. It was as if he knew that they are gonna ask these questions and expected it to be asked sooner or later. He then looked at the originally asking Elder before saying...

"Have you interacted with that man before? Atleast even once?" He answered with a question while lightly smiling.

"No grandmaster." The Elder replied.

"Then you wouldn't understand!" William said with a slightly high tone of voice and his face is that of a serious one. All of the Elders were startled by the sudden mood swing but can only remain silent.

"Then, have any of you, at least once, interacted with that man?" William then asked in a calm voice while staring at the Elders. After a few seconds, a hand is raised and the Elder who raised it stood up.

"I have, grandmaster. Once." He said while bowing and cupping his hands.

"Then what do you think of him." William asked while smiling again.

"I mean not to offend the grandmaster but, I think of him as wise." The Elder replied. All of the other Elders were infuriated by this and was gonna rebuke but William butted in.

"It doesn't offend me. In fact, I'd even agree to you. I'm even confident enough to say that he's smarter and wiser than me." William said. The Elders were shocked by this big revelation. But they really just can't believe it, even if the grandmaster says so. That crippled bastard? Smarter than the grandmaster? Preposterous! Even the now prepared for scolding Elder who raised his hands earlier was shocked.

"And with today's encounter, I'm now sure that he's also once a strong cultivator before he got crippled. He is a threatening existence even though he is crippled. That is why I am keeping him from becoming our enemy." William added as he stared at the doors.

"Then this is the perfect opportunity grandmaster. If he really is a threat, we can just send them to the wilds with his worthless grandson to die." The originally asking Elder suggested. Majority of the Elders nodded in agreement. Almost only the Elder that raised his hands did not.

William can only smile lightly while slowly shaking his head in helplessness before audibly mumbling, "You wouldn't understand."

But he quickly recovered and said loudly, "Enough of this, moving on to the reports."

*****