The attention that Mikael received was particularly high because hours earlier, Amelia with results only a little under his appeared and now this maiden and three elders from the Three Overlords Sect were waiting for this young man which inevitably started a lot of speculation.
Still while there was a lot of discussion nobody dared to approach, neither the curious nor the other recruiters of less powerful sects as it was clear that Mikael and Amelia were target of recruitment by the Three Overlords Sect and nobody dared to offend these Three Overlords if they cared about their life!
Mikael, uncaring of everything that was happening, closed the distance between him and the small group. He gave Amelia a small smile before he cupped his hands in the traditional cultivation salute—right fist cupped by his left palm, held before his chest—and bowed slightly.
"Greetings, esteemed elders."
The three responded in kind, each displaying subtle differences in expression—calculation, curiosity, and calm appraisal—though none of them spoke immediately.
Amelia rose with effortless poise, her emerald eyes softening as they met his gaze. "Mikael. You're finally out."
He gave a small nod, his voice even. "Where are Lyra and Kiara?"
"They're still undergoing their breakthroughs," she replied. "I was the first to finish stepping into the Spiritual Foundation Realm, so I decided to wait out here in case you or the others emerged."
"Then I'll wait with you." Mikael took in his surroundings for a moment before settling beside her, his demeanor composed and calm.
It was the elder in black robes with hints of silver—representing the Wandering Sword Sect—who broke the silence first. His eyes studied Mikael with a glint of approval before his lips curved into a satisfied smile.
"So, you're the one this talented maiden chose... Impressive." His tone carried both amusement and recognition. "I can see why. With potential like yours, a Prodigious Cultivation Aptitude Level 5 will certainly allow you to go far on the path of cultivation. I am Elder Han of the Wandering Sword Sect. It's a pleasure to meet you, Fellow Daoist Mikael."
He didn't need to say more. His confidence stemmed not only from Mikael's potential, but also from the subtle momentum already tilting in his sect's favor. After all, Amelia had made it clear earlier—for herself, her husband, and her dao sisters—that they were leaning toward the Wandering Sword Sect.
At that time, he had already been pleased at the thought of gaining an incredibly talented disciple—but who could have imagined that his sect wouldn't just gain one extremely talented disciple, but four?
Honestly, upon seeing Mikael's potential, Elder Han had nearly laughed out loud. With this, the contribution he would make to the sect by recruiting these four talents would undoubtedly be extremely significant.
The next to speak was the elder draped in flickering crimson and gold, his robes subtly shimmering with fiery energy. He folded his arms, his brows drawn slightly in restraint as his loud and vigorous voice rang out.
"So this is the one..." He gave Mikael a measured once-over, then nodded grudgingly. "I am Elder Rong of the Flame Sovereign Sect. Your foundation is solid—very solid. With the right guidance, your path could reach great heights."
Lastly, the woman in flowing, ice-blue robes offered a brief, composed nod. Her presence was elegant yet distant, her beauty sharp and aloof. Her voice, cold like a millennia-old glacier, wasn't necessarily hostile—it was simply her natural state.
"I am Elder Xue of the Frozen Serenity Sect. Your potential is indeed impressive."
She added nothing else. After all, her sect did not accept men. The only reason she had taken the time to address him, despite knowing recruitment was impossible, was because she didn't want to leave a poor impression on Amelia and her two dao sisters. After all, she wished for the three of them to join her sect.
With the introductions complete, Amelia stepped forward, her tone steady and sincere.
"When the seniors arrived earlier, I informed them of my intentions. I plan to join the same sect as my husband and my Dao sisters. Of the three represented here, the Wandering Sword Sect is currently the one that resonates most with our path."
Elder Rong's expression stiffened almost imperceptibly. Though he maintained a courteous tone, there was a subtle edge behind his words.
"Choosing a sect is not a decision to take lightly. Rushed choices often lead to regret. Once all four of you have emerged, we can discuss things again. The Flame Sovereign Sect offers strength—true strength—and should not be so easily dismissed."
Elder Xue's voice was serene, her words clear and measured.
"Our sect accepts only women. If Daoist Amelia and her sisters wish to follow a path of stillness, discipline, and spiritual clarity, then the doors of the Frozen Serenity Sect are open to them. That is all."
She gave Mikael a final, polite nod—acknowledging him without interest—before turning her gaze back toward the sealed chambers.
Elder Han remained silent, a calm smile lingering on his face. With Mikael offering no resistance and Amelia's preference clearly leaning toward his sect, there was little need for him to speak further. The flow of the situation was progressing exactly as he hoped.
Mikael reclined slightly in his seat, his eyes resting on the still-glowing chamber doors.
'Let's wait for them.'
And so, time began to seemingly pass quickly as the five of them remained seated, waiting for the chambers in which Lyra and Kiara had entered to undergo their breakthroughs.
However, while time might have felt like it was flowing swiftly, the perception varied between them. For the three elders, all seasoned cultivators, the passing hours posed no issue. Unlike individuals hailing from modern worlds such as Earth (Origin World) or Dirarnia (Unique World), they possessed a vastly different mindset. Waiting, for them, was neither tedious nor dull. Raised and shaped by the principles of cultivation, they had grown accustomed to enduring long stretches of time with patience and serenity.
After all, how else could one endure seclusion training that lasted for years—where all they did was sit motionless, without uttering a word, while focusing entirely on their internal growth?
In contrast, Mikael and Amelia came from worlds deeply embedded in modernity and rapid progress. In their eyes, everything was expected to move fast, and delays were often seen as irritating or wasteful. As a result, they were the ones growing impatient, even though they were the ones personally connected to those undergoing the breakthroughs.
Ironically, it created a situation where the three strangers—who had no deep personal ties to Lyra or Kiara—could wait for hours without concern, using the opportunity to cultivate in peace, while Mikael and Amelia—those closest to the ones they were waiting for—found themselves battling boredom and restlessness.
Eventually, after enough time passed doing nothing, Mikael decided to introspect his body once more. Although he had already done so earlier, there was still something that caught his curiosity—something he had not yet sensed until now. That 'something' was divine sense, a unique capability that awakens once a cultivator reaches the Spiritual Foundation Realm.
Divine sense is notoriously difficult to master. Even after one breaks through to the Spiritual Foundation Realm, it usually takes weeks, if not months, to develop proper control over it. Moreover, specialized techniques are typically required to harness it effectively. Without such methods, the process becomes even more arduous.
Due to this, Mikael hadn't attempted to control it earlier. But now, with time to spare and little else to distract him, he figured he might as well give it a try.
And so, more hours slipped by as Lyra and Kiara remained in their chambers. They eventually emerged one after the other, with 'just' a couple of hours separating their exits. During this interval, Mikael made only minimal progress in his practice. He was now merely able to sense the presence of his divine sense—a mental field resembling a form of radar—but beyond that, he couldn't manipulate it in any meaningful way.
Of course, while Mikael viewed this as a frustratingly slow advancement, anyone else would have considered it extraordinarily fast—like a rocket shooting through the skies—especially since he lacked even the most basic cultivation method for controlling divine sense.
Still, Mikael wasn't deeply versed in the topic. While he assumed that his rate of improvement was unusually fast, he couldn't be sure by how much. Even knowing objectively that his progress was exceptional, he couldn't help but feel slightly dissatisfied and irritated by what he perceived as a lack of results.
But all those feelings vanished the moment Kiara and Lyra finally emerged from their respective chambers, both carrying outstanding results. Kiara had attained a Prodigious Cultivation Aptitude Level 4, and Lyra followed with a Prodigious Cultivation Aptitude Level 3. Upon witnessing this, Mikael no longer gave any thought to divine sense. It simply stopped mattering.
Once everyone was present, the elder from the Wandering Sword Sect proposed that they relocate to a more private setting to further discuss recruitment matters. However, Mikael declined the suggestion with polite firmness, subtly steering the conversation in a different direction.
After all, while the elder from the Wandering Sword Sect appeared genuinely pleased with them, the same could not be said for the other two elders. For the moment, their greatest protection remained their presence within the Evolution Center. Leaving this sanctuary for the sake of a discussion—no matter how important—would have been a needless risk.
Elder Han didn't insist after noting their polite refusal. His suggestion had merely been a casual one; he simply preferred that such significant conversations not take place in a relatively public space. But if the potential disciples of his sect preferred to remain here, he was more than willing to accommodate them.
Following this, a few moments of small talk passed between Elder Han and the group of four. Then, perhaps growing impatient, Elder Rong of the Flame Sovereign Sect decided to cut straight to the point. His deep and direct voice resonated in the chamber.
"Let's not waste any more time on idle chatter. The Flame Sovereign Sect is prepared to offer the four of you the position of Core Disciples, along with privileged access—beyond even most Core Disciples—to our Scripture Pavilion!"
A brief silence followed his declaration before Elder Han gave his response, his tone calm but confident.
"The Wandering Sword Sect is willing to offer you the same privileges proposed by the Flame Sovereign Sect."
Elder Xue of the Frozen Serenity Sect then stepped forward, her eyes settling on the three young women as she addressed them with dignified warmth.
"Talented maidens, should you choose to join my Frozen Serenity Sect, each of you will be granted the rank of Core Disciple. You will receive privileged access to our Scripture Pavilion, even among other Core Disciples. Furthermore, you shall be allocated a greater quantity of cultivation resources than your peers. And finally, either a Core Elder or even a Great Elder will personally accept you as her disciples."
The eyes of both Elder Han and Elder Rong widened subtly upon hearing the offer. The terms presented by the Frozen Serenity Sect were clearly beyond generous. It was obvious that they were determined not to let the three talented young women slip away to a rival sect—they were pulling out all the stops to secure their allegiance.
But before the two of them could make a counteroffer, Kiara's voice resounded, "Thank you for your generous offer, Elder, but my dao sisters and I are determined to join the same sect as our dear husband~..." she took a small pause before continuing, "As such, we won't join your sect no matter the terms. Still, we are grateful for the generous offer." She finished her words with a small cultivation salute.
Elder Xue's cold eyes lingered on her and the two other beauties for a moment before she let out a disappointed sigh. "Another talented maiden wasting her life for 'love'." From the way she said the word love, with obvious disdain, her opinion on the matter was clear.
"It's your choice. The Frozen Serenity Sect won't force you. I just hope you can stand proud with your decision," she said with disappointment as she began to walk away. Her cold, yet voluptuous and elegant figure gradually receded into the distance.
Author Note:
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