Chapter 189: First Meeting with Other Core Disciples! (2)

Despite the attention now squarely on him from several disciples far stronger than himself, Mikael leisurely took a sip from his teacup, appearing wholly unbothered. Inwardly, though, he grimaced—the tea was bitter and far from his liking. Still, he calmly placed the cup back on the table, seemingly ready to respond to their growing curiosity.

A Core Disciple with dual blades strapped across his back and a sharp, assertive aura was the first to speak. "You're that genius who was recently recruited, aren't you?"

"What's he talking about?" asked another, clearly confused.

"You haven't heard!?" exclaimed a third, incredulous.

Seeing the first disciple shake his head, the Core Disciple elaborated, "It caused quite a stir throughout the sect. Recently, four geniuses were recruited from outside. Normally, that wouldn't be anything unusual—after all, each of us here could be considered a genius in our own right."

The other Core Disciples nodded in agreement, acknowledging his point.

"But the reason this incident stood out," the disciple continued, "is because those four were given unprecedented treatment. They were all directly promoted to the rank of Core Disciple upon arrival. And more than that—they were each accepted as Direct Disciples by one of the Great Elders!"

The clueless disciple's eyes widened in disbelief, and several others who had also been unaware let out similar exclamations of surprise.

Amid the murmurs, the sharp-aura disciple remained calm, his gaze still fixed on Mikael, quietly observing him without any signs of agitation.

Realizing what they meant by "genius," Mikael gave a small nod before calmly replying, "Yes. That's me and my three wives. We joined the sect about a week ago."

The aura surrounding the blade-carrying Core Disciple softened, and he offered Mikael a welcoming smile. "Welcome to the sect, Junior Brother…" He paused, clearly waiting for Mikael to introduce himself.

"Mikael Angelini."

"Unique name," he murmured, before continuing with a friendly tone. "Junior Brother Mikael, if you ever need anything, don't hesitate to come see me. I'm Zhang Yen—you can call me Senior Brother Zhang."

Following Senior Brother Zhang's warm introduction, the other Core Disciples eagerly joined in, each taking turns to introduce themselves with enthusiasm.

"I'm Mei Xuehong. You can call me Senior Sister Mei," said the crimson-eyed spearwoman.

"I'm Li Shunyi. Feel free to call me Senior Brother Li—or just Brother Li," added the tall man.

"I am…"

"I'm…"

The introductions continued one after another, creating a vibrant and welcoming atmosphere, until finally it was the turn of the sleepy Core Disciple who had, up until now, been slumped over the table. After receiving a nudge and a brief explanation from someone nearby, he mumbled his introduction.

"Chen Ryoyu," he said slowly, before immediately resting his head on the table again, continuing his nap as if nothing had happened.

Following the round of introductions, the conversation among the Core Disciples picked up once more—now with Mikael added to the mix. Unsurprisingly, he quickly became the center of attention. The Senior Brothers and Sisters, evidently delighted by the arrival of a new Junior, welcomed him with open enthusiasm.

A teasing Senior Sister that he learned was called Su Qingya leaned forward, her eyes sparkling with curiosity and mischief. "Junior Brother, you mentioned earlier that you joined the sect with three other geniuses who are your wives. Do you mean to say… they're your Dao Companions?"

In the world of cultivation, the term Dao Companion often served as a synonym for wife or husband. However, unlike ordinary mortal marriage, which was typically bound to tradition and earthly customs, the concept of Dao Companions was deeply spiritual—sacred, even.

It represented far more than a legal or emotional union. To be Dao Companions meant to share a path, to walk the road of cultivation side by side, through hardship and harmony alike. It was a bond of eternity forged in both the heart and the Dao.

From that concept also emerged terms like Dao Family or Dao Sisters—each carrying the profound implication of shared growth and mutual purpose within the cultivation journey.

Mikael didn't respond immediately. His gaze drifted toward the distant horizon, calm and reflective, as if weighing the truth in his heart before giving it form.

"They're not just my wives," he said at last, his voice quiet but unwavering. "They are the ones who walk the Dao with me—through storms and serenity alike."

Then he turned back to face her, tone resolute. "They are my Dao Family."

"Ahhh, so romantic!" gushed several Senior Sisters, their eyes gleaming with admiration.

"If you sword fanatics were half as romantic as our Junior Brother," another Senior Sister added playfully, "maybe you wouldn't be so lonely with just your sword to keep you company at night—if you catch my drift."

Laughter rippled through the group, though it was mostly the women who were entertained. The men, by contrast, wore expressions that were somewhere between annoyed and exasperated.

It was within this lively and cheerful atmosphere that the Hebdomary Meeting of the Core Disciples continued. As the minutes passed, the initial buzz surrounding Mikael gradually settled, and conversations drifted back to more familiar topics, allowing him to simply observe and listen in quietude.

"How do you think you'll perform this time?" someone asked, sparking a shift in topic.

A proud-looking Senior Brother raised his chin confidently. "I'm optimistic. Lately, I've made significant breakthroughs in my understanding of the Sword Dao, and my mastery over my Sword Art has improved as well. I believe I can aim for the 20th rank!"

"Impressive," several voices replied, followed by a chorus of congratulations as many disciples expressed their admiration and support for their peer's progress.

Unfamiliar with the context, Mikael leaned slightly toward a Senior Sister Su Qingya who was seated beside him and asked for clarification. She responded with enthusiasm.

It turned out they were referring to the upcoming Core Disciple Ranking Trial—a major event held once every five years. The trial was a duel-based tournament among the Core Disciples, used to determine their current rankings within the sect.

Lower-ranked disciples were allowed to challenge those above them, and should they emerge victorious, they would claim their opponent's rank. In the Wandering Sword Sect, however, ranking was far more than a simple matter of pride or face.

No—ranking was a matter of resources. The higher your rank, the greater the quantity and quality of cultivation resources you received, which directly impacted your progress on the path of cultivation. As a result, this Trial always attracted considerable attention from the Core Disciples.

After all, even though the Wandering Sword Sect fostered a harmonious environment, it was still a sect at its core. Competition was inevitable. The stronger and more talented one was, the more attention they garnered from the sect's upper echelons—after all, those individuals would one day become the sect's pillars.

Senior Sister Su Qingya concluded her explanation with a smile. "The Core Disciples Ranking Trial will be held in two months in the Martial Courtyard. If you're interested, you could come and watch. It might give you some ideas for your own cultivation."

"Watching cultivators from higher realms battle can always offer insights and inspiration for one's own growth."

Mikael raised an eyebrow. "Watch? Can't I participate?"

She stared at him blankly for a moment before breaking into soft laughter, then gave his shoulder a light tap. "Of course you can… it's just that your cultivation is still far too low. Wait a few years—or decades. Once you reach the sixth layer of the Spiritual Foundation Realm, you can start thinking about challenging the others."

Then, as if remembering something, her teasing almost seductive demeanor dimmed slightly, and a mildly worried look crossed her features. "You're not actually planning to participate, are you?"

Mikael shook his head. "No. I'm not on the same level as the other Core Disciples. There's no point in trying to raise my rank."

The Senior Sister nodded approvingly. "Good. It's refreshing to meet someone sensible enough to recognize their own limits. If only more Core Disciples were like you…"

She gestured toward a Senior Brother chatting animatedly in the distance. "See Brother Li over there? During the last Ranking Trial, he acted like a lovesick fool and made a public declaration of affection for Sister Lian'er."

Mikael arched a brow, intrigued, and continued listening.

"He said he'd take her out on a 'date' if he managed to defeat her. Naturally, Sister Lian'er refused. So he challenged her anyway—supposedly to prove his love by trying to take her rank." Su Qingya shook her head, both amused and exasperated. "Let's just say the usually cheerful and gentle Lian'er turned into a demon that day. She beat him so thoroughly he didn't leave his Cultivation Manor for a month."

In this fashion, amid casual conversation and light teasing, the Hebdomary Meeting continued until it finally came to an end. Not only had Mikael gained a clearer picture of the sect's internal dynamics, but he also learned more about its various members—who they were beyond just titles and cultivation levels.

When he left the gathering, Mikael found himself unexpectedly reflective. At first, he had attended only to gather information. But as the meeting progressed, he realized he had enjoyed it more than he thought he would.

'I wouldn't mind coming back again… Of course, only if it doesn't happen too often, and as long as it doesn't interfere with my training.'

With that lingering thought still echoing in his mind, Mikael flew back to his Cultivation Manor, where he was soon reunited with the girls—each of whom had made noteworthy progress during the few hours he had been away.

All four had reached the Entry level of the Divine Sense Refining Method, just as he had earlier that same day. Remembering their Master's instructions to come see him once they achieved that milestone, the group activated the newly installed teleportation formation. After a brief moment where they felt themselves crossing a vast expanse of space, they reappeared amidst the verdant, serene landscape of Sword Heart Peak.

"How are we supposed to find Master?" Kiara's question rang out, breaking the quiet—and with it came the abrupt realization that none of them actually knew the answer.

After all, every previous meeting with their Master had been initiated by him. He had always come to find them. But now that the situation was reversed, how were they supposed to locate him? Especially on Sword Heart Peak, which spanned over ten kilometers and was filled with countless nooks and hidden places where he could be residing—or perhaps he wasn't even present at all.

Amelia let out a sigh. "Let's take flight and try to spot him from above. If we don't see him, we can go ask Senior Sister Lian'er."

Author Note:

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