Back to the Cultivation World (3)

I stepped out of the hut, mulling over the crucial information Ria had shared.

I had a sparkle in my eyes after learning all the awesome information, but a sigh escaped my lips as I contemplated my feelings.

When I woke up, energy had coursed through me, but now I couldn't quite decipher my emotional state because...

Usually bustling with disciples going about their routines, the sect should have been alive with preparations for practice. Yet an eerie stillness hung in the air, a stark departure from the norm.

The events from yesterday at the martial hall had a brimming impact. Every inner court disciple of the Heavenly Aqua Flame Sect who participated in the competition suffered a resounding defeat at the hands of their counterparts from the Heavenly Thunder Sect.

The outcome had sent shockwaves through the elders, the outer court disciples, and even the inner court members of the Heavenly Aqua Flame Sect.

And then learning that the Sect had been stripped of their heavenly status—a blow that was unexpected and surprising enough to send everyone into a frenzy.

While I wasn't sure of the extent of the impact on the sect, I sensed that the exodus of disciples was merely the beginning of a downward spiral for the Heavenly Aqua Flame Sect.

As I walked toward another hut, one familiar to Allen Caliber and now me, I slipped into the cheap wooden boots provided to outer court disciples upon their arrival the previous year. The damp soil clung to my shoes like a candy coating, evidence of a heavy downpour the previous day.

*****

"What the hell happened?" I inquired as I faced the three individuals before me.

"Wh-what happened!"

"Ahhh-no happened!"

Their responses came in a staggered sequence, leisurely and nonchalant.

I studied the trio standing before me: Allen Calibre's friends, Carl, Kell, and Virat.

They had horrible expressions on their faces and even dark circles that would have made darkness fade into Shame.

"You guys didn't sleep well?" I asked.

"Yup, but it seems like you slept like a baby after getting your ass handed to you."

"Yeah."

"Perfectly. What did you say yesterday? Oh, can I shake your hand? Shake my dick for me, Allen, please."

Their words and tone didn't sound like people who didn't sleep; instead, they sounded like those of drunken hooligans.

"Come on, you know why we didn't sleep. The sect's situation is affecting us, and we can't find peace. But why did you call us? Today, we don't have organised practice; the elders told us to train on our own." Kell said.

The three shook their heads, their expressions a mixture of embarrassment and frustration, clearly recalling the embarrassing events of the previous day.

Yesterday marked a dark day for the sect, with more than seventy per cent of the disciples departing. As their attention returned to me, I took this moment to speak.

"Look, it's obvious that our sect will undergo significant changes due to the removal of our heavenly title. What this means for the sect is still uncertain to me. So, what I do know is that we are outer court disciples, and our knowledge of the cultivation world and its workings is limited."

Limited?

That was an understatement.

We had no knowledge of this vast cultivation world, heck we didn't even know how our sect functions.

We didn't know anything but that they too realised, as they somewhat understood where this conversation would lead, and nodded their heads.

My countenance and tone grew more serious as I continued, "The future is unclear for us. We are powerless, with no influence whatsoever over what lies ahead."

My expression turned even more sombre, and my gaze grew more intense. "We can't predict what's in store for us, given our limited capabilities."

Virat, Carl, and Kell mirrored my seriousness, their expressions matching the gravity of the situation.

"I think I know one potential consequence," Carl said, breaking the minute-long silence.

All eyes turned to Carl as he continued, his voice reflecting the weight of his words. "I overheard two elders discussing that—a high-ranking elder in the sect who has shown undue favour to his son, nephew, and other family members.

He has considerable influence and is likely to ascend as the new sect leader due to the current leader's incompetence, which has brought the sect to this sorry state. I also learned that the current leader was appointed only two years ago, barely a year before we joined, and he's young."

He then took a deep breath, and while shaking his head a bit, he continued, "Like I said, he's young, but we all know this, so how young? We don't know. Anyway, so the resentment towards him has grown within the sect, fueled by his allocation of mystic realm spots to disciples with less influential backgrounds."

Carl paused, shaking his head in disbelief. "I don't know, guys. It all feels like a nightmare, yet it's all too real. Elder Sun's words seemed credible to me. For the future of the sect, things appear bleak. However, if you're wondering why I've decided to stay," Carl glanced at each of us, his dedication apparent.

He was the most diligent among us, and his background hinted at privilege, even aristocracy. He continued, "It's because of you guys. Together, we've confronted a terrifying situation, and honestly, if it weren't for both of you, Kell and Allen, I might have met my end."

Kell joined the emotionally crucial conversation, chiming in, "Hey, let's not word it like that."

I heard this crucial detail about the high ranking elder.

'A shady character, rotten to his core, all this information is correct, and if he becomes the sect leader, there's no guarantee that he'll turn this sect into his family clan in reality and a sect only in name.'

And the sect leader.

'I don't know why, but ever since Allen Calibre joined, he has only heard about how powerful his sect master was, how young he was, and how talented he was for his age to be a sect leader of a heavenly titled sect, and now they are using his young age against him?'

Fishy!

Salty Fishy!