Arriving At The Sect

As soon as Ashenn stepped out of the pillar of light, he was left breathless. What unfolded before him is a breathtaking sight, they were on top of a mountain peak! Though, observing from the surrounding mountains, anyone can tell that the mountain they're on is the smallest one. Still, it is high enough to have such a breathtaking sight.

From where Ashenn is currently standing on, he could see eight mountains surrounding them. Just at the east of them is a very tall mountain full of luscious trees. Just like the east, to the northwest was also a mountain, while beside it, which is directly north of the mountain Ashenn is on, are vast and grassy plains. The plains spans up to the north of the eastern mountain. Also, the plains are surrounded by three more identical mountains. And at the south, is a river that is split into two branches by a mountain almost south where Ashenn is. It was quite a weird mountain actually. It was as if it's peak was pulled by a gigantic hand upwards, making it pass the clouds and have an odd looking extremely steep upper part. Because of this, the mountain was no doubt the tallest mountain out of all the mountains. Making that mountain even more weird is that it is covered with very tall rainforest looking trees. Ashenn can also see from where he is, a peeking mountain behind that odd one. And lastly, just directly southwest, after crossing the river, there is another normal looking mountain. Beside from the mountains and plains were just all thick forest. In fact, they're so thick that they completely covers some part of the river.

Just as Ashenn was mesmerised from the breathtaking scenery, a voice behind him interrupted him.

"Mountains huh? I actually thought he was gonna drop us at the doorsteps of hell." Said the voice from behind with a slight chuckle. It was actually Gram. When Ashenn looked at him, he saw that the pillar of light from where they came from was now gone. But he had no time to think about it as his gaze was redirected to Gram who said:

"I guess his judgement is still not clouded by his corrupt Elders. Well atleast not yet." Gram said pessimistically, Ashenn could only look at him with questioning gaze.

Clap!.. "Nonetheless we're finally here." Gram added. After that, he gave a piece of paper to Ashenn before finally signaling to the three slaves to come. When Ashenn read what's on the piece of paper, he was shocked.

*****

Gap Filler

Slaves (3)

1 - Level 4 Foundation Realm (Light Blue Core) (Male)

1 - Level 5 Foundation Realm (Light Blue Core) (Male)

1 - Non-cultivator (White Core) (Female)

Starter Necessities

- 1000 Gold Yield

- Core Checker

- 1 Box; Essence Coralling Pills(50)

- Essence Corralling Pill Recipe

- 1 Box; Lower Healing Pills (10)

- Ciqor Cultivation Technique Manual

- Mille Fist Strike Technique Manual

*****

'Slaves? But why?' He thought to himself, but his thought was immediately cut off by Gram who said:

"I'm pretty sure you had a different gap filler before and not slaves. But because you didn't choose a cultivator advisor and instead chose a cripple like me, your 'gap' or should I say flaw, became the lack of fighting capability. That's how you ended up with slaves. I'm sorry about that." Gram explained and apologised.

"It's okay grandfather." Ashen comforted.

"Good." Gram then replied with a big smile. It seems that he didn't really care much even if he was blamed for it. He then added:

"Alright now, introduce yourselves." He said to the slaves as he signaled to the guy who was carrying the wooden box to put it down. After that the three formed a line side to side while bowing.

Only at this moment did Ashenn got a better look at the three. Two of them are male and the other a female. All of them are wearing ragged clothes, with holes here and there and stains and dirt everywhere. But there is a peculiar eye-catching and identical tattoo that is present on the body of each and every one of them. The tattoo looks like a group of intricate symbols that formed into a circle. From what Ashenn knows, those are called [Obedience Array].

"This lowly one greets the masters." The first one stepped forward with his hands cupped and his head lowered. He had quite a rough voice.

"What's your name?" Ashenn asked.

"Thorvaldsen young master." Thorvaldsen said, still in the same position.

Thorvaldsen has a very buff build and a perfect tan. He is also bald but has a brown square-shaped beard. Because he's clothes were tattered, Ashenn could see the [Obedience Array] on Thorvaldsen's left chest area. But the array isn't the most eye catching sight on Thorvaldsen, the most eye-catching one is the black dot on the middle his forehead. In Ashenn's memories, such marks symbolises one's belief to Buddhism.

After that, the second male stepped forward with the same position as Thorvaldsen before saying:

"This lowly one greets the masters."

"My name is Michael." Michael then added, not waiting to be asked for his name.

This time Michael only has a healthy build, he also has white but rough looking skin. He also has a blonde hair. From the looks if it, he appears to be in his late 20s. Lastly his [Obedience Array] is located on the right side of his neck.

After Michael's introduction, Ashenn only nodded and waited for the last one. But the last one who is a girl was so nervous that she couldn't respond. So Ashenn gave her a kickstart by saying:

"And lastly?" He said, looking at the nervous girl. After realizing that she was up already, the girl stepped forward and mimicked the first two's position before saying:

"Thi-this lowly one greets the ma-masters." She nervously said with a bunch of stutters everywhere.

"And what's your name?" Ashenn asked.

"A-anne young master." Anne replied as she stuttered again.

Anne was a bit different from the two, she was thin in build. But though thin, she is still not considered malnourished, but not healthy either. From her looks, her age appears to be just the same as Ashenn. What makes her more different from the two is that she has whip marks almost all over her body. Following this, she also has a black uneven and untidy hair. And her [Obedience Array] is on the top-middlepart between her undeveloped chest area.

After finishing the three's introduction, it was time for the other party's.

"I'm Ashenn Vanheid. Nice to meet you all. You can just call me Ashe-" But before Ashenn could finish, he was interrupted by Gram.

"Ah ah ah ah. No your not, from this point onwards you three will refer to him as grandmaster." Gram ordered.

"And I'm Gram Vanheid and you all will refer to me as Advisor." Gram then added, wherein the other three slaves responded with a bow.

"But grandfather, why?" Ashenn asked.

"I may not know much about sect building and management. But I am sure with one thing a sect needs to have, and that is discipline and proper etiquette, grandmaster." Gram explained, heavying his tone on the 'grandmaster' part.

Sigh... "Fine." Ashenn said after heaving a sigh of helplessness.

"Good... Now what should we do... Grandmaster?" Gram asked, with a bit of tease. So much for discipline huh?

Ashenn was caught a bit off guard by this question but he immediately recovers because he had already planned this moment long ago.

"I guess since the two of you men are cultivators. You will do a one kilometer perimeter around this point. And we three will stay here." Ashenn ordered as he sat on a big rock near him.

"It is said in the manual that there is small house just near the starting point. So that should be your goal for now. To find the house. If you encounter any danger, don't hesitate to flee and save your lives." He added.

""Yes, grandmaster."" Said the two men slaves while bowing. After that, they left and proceeded to do their mission.

Once the two had left, Ashenn was about check what's inside the wooden box when he noticed Gram looking at the direction of the weird mountain. Curious, Ashenn approached him to see if he has any insights about that mountain.

"Quite an odd mountain." Said Gram as he noticed Ashenn approaching him.

"That's exactly what my reaction is when I saw it too. Do you know anything about it?" Ashenn asked the contemplating Gram.

"I have no idea..." Gram replied while shaking his head.

"Anyway, let's see if what they've given us is correct." Gram added as he walked in the direction of the wooden box, putting the topic of the weird mountain on the back of his head. Ashenn can only follow his suit.

As the duo arrives near the wooden box, Anne who is beside it the whole time bowed to them, even though she tried her best to hide the fact that she was exhausted and her legs were shivering, these details didn't escape the duo's eyes. Seeing this, Ashenn waved his hand and a bread manifested out of thin air and dropped on his hands. He then gave the bread to the Anne before saying:

"Eat this... Also, you are allowed to sit." He said as he handed the bread to Anne. He can see the sparkles on Anne's eyes as soon as she saw the bread, but she restrained herself and said:

"I-I wouldn't want to i-impose grandmaster." She hesitantly said, she was actually having a hard time keeping her urge to pounce at Ashenn and snatch the bread from him.

"This is an order." Ashenn said as he reached the bread closer to her.

"Ye-yes, grandmaster." Anne said helplessly but also with a tinge of joy. She then reached and slowly took the bread before bowing to Ashenn.

"Th-thank you grandmaster!" She said while bowing, but after that, she still didn't eat the bread.

"Well, I'll go now, carry on. And you are also allowed to sit alright." Ashenn said as he walked in the direction of Gram who is already sitting on a big rock a bit further from them, inspecting the already opened wooden box.

As Ashenn walked away, Anne couldn't help it anymore and fell on the grassy ground to sit and hurriedly munched on the bread.

"Is everything there grandfather?" Ashenn asked once he got close to Gram. Gram didn't answer, but instead threw two thin books to Ashenn, which Ashenn barely catched.

"Since you have a storage ring, It'll be best if we put all of these things in there." Gram then said. Ashenn only nodded and looked at the two books.

*****

Ciqor Cultivation

Mille Fist Strike

*****

They were basic cutivation and combat manual. Ashenn recalled from his memories that 'Ciqor' is a type of common tree that is said to be a predecessor of many other rare trees and even plants. So the manual must be based to mimic how a Ciqor tree gathers and processes essence.

The other manual however is only a mediocre fist technique with nothing too outstanding on it.

After examining the manuals, Ashenn waved his hands and the two books disappeared. Noticing this, Gram then handed Ashenn a crystal orb and a piece of paper, he can't afford to throw it since the orb was fragile. Ashenn then walked closer and took the two items before examing it again.

He first examined the piece of paper which obviously turned out to be the Essence Corralling Pill Recipe. After taking a glance at the contents, Ashenn moved on to the crystal orb. For the first time, Ashenn saw something that 'his memories' didn't recognize so he asked Gram what it does.

"It's an old fashioned relic made to see the color of one's core." Gram answered while he diligently counted the pills on a small box.

"I see..." Ashenn said before putting the two items inside the storage ring again. Seeing this again, Gram signaled his hands to the now finished eating Anne to come over, in which she hurriedly did.

Noticing this Ashenn couldn't help but be curious and ask why Gram needs her.

"Since you already gave her bread, might as well push it further eh?" Gram answered as he throwed a red pill at Anne who is now close to them. Gram then said:

"Eat it, it will heal your whip marks." He said before handing two boxes to Ashenn and continued to count the last item which were the sack of gold. Anne who was still holding the pill looked at Ashenn as if asking for an approval. Ashenn noticed this and said:

"Just eat it." He said while smiling as he waved his hands in approval before putting the two box inside his storage ring. Anne then promptly ate the pill and bowed at the two of them.

"Thank you masters!" She said, suppressing her urge to cry. Gram didn't mind her and only raised his hands signifying that it was nothing. Ashenn also only said:

"It's fine." But in reality, he was actually disappointed to see nothing happen. He actually thought he'd see the whip marks heal visibly but, you can't expect much from the most basic of the basic healing pills can you? But what the duo didn't know was that the view of the both of them from Anne' eyes changed entirely into that of a good one.

*****

Half An Hour Later

Ashenn and Anne were both sitting on a rock talking with each other. Although Anne has a timid and shy nature, she was still able to respond to Ashenn's questions.

As the two conversed, Gram is currently standing still, staring at the direction of the weird mountain. He also seems to be contemplating about something, because of this he didn't notice that Ashenn was calling out to him.

"... ndfather... Grandfather!"Ashenn said, Gram who was finally pulled back to reality looked at Ashenn and gave him a 'what is it?' look.

"They're back. They found it." These were Ashenn's only respond. He then stepped aside and revealed the three slaves not far away standing side to side in a line again.

"Let's go..." Gram said as he walked past Ashenn. But as soon as he did so, he stopped and pointed at Ashenn before saying:

"And that's an 'advisor' for you by the way." Gram added, reminding the other party of how he should address him before continuing to walk again, Ashenn can only helplessly shake his head while smiling and follow suit.

As the five people left, a bush not far away from the five's position earlier moved, and there, two figures emerged.

"What should we do leader?" Said one of the figure.

"Perhaps they're just wandering cultivators and will leave this place sometime, so we'll let them be. But if they stay here for more than five days, we'll approach them." The 'Leader' said as he stared at the five's tiny back views before saying:

"Let's go." He said and then left and walked in the opposite direction, the other figure only followed him.