Understandably, the four of them were surprised—shocked, even—by his abrupt declaration. However, it didn't take them long to recall what Senior Brother Han had told them earlier. This was likely connected.
Kiara stepped forward, her tone respectful but firm. "May we ask to whom we have the honor of speaking?"
The Great Elder blinked twice, clearly just realizing something. "...Right, of course. You're newly accepted disciples, so you wouldn't know me. I am Great Elder Jianhai."
Amelia followed up without hesitation, her voice calm but serious. "You said you wanted to accept us as your disciples. Were you referring to all four of us? Because it's extremely important to us that we stay together."
Jianhai waved his hand, brushing aside their concerns with a carefree gesture. "No need to worry, little ones. I've already discussed the matter with those two old coats, and they agreed. I'll be taking the four of you as my disciples, no exceptions."
Following the Great Elder's words, the four exchanged glances, a silent conversation passing between them without a single word spoken. The question hung in the air—should they truly accept this eccentric Great Elder as their master?
After several seconds of quiet deliberation, they all arrived at the same conclusion: yes, they should. Accepting him was not only logical, but necessary. Without a knowledgeable and experienced master to guide them, embarking on the path of cultivation with nothing more than a few manuals or raw talent could prove reckless—dangerous even. At worst, it could lead to permanent damage, crippling their potential before it even had a chance to bloom.
With someone like Great Elder Jianhai—a powerful figure with deep cultivation and years of insight—many of those risks could be avoided. They would gain access to knowledge, practical experience, and methods refined through countless years. His guidance could make the difference between stagnation and growth, between surviving and thriving in this new world.
And now that their most important condition had already been met—that they be accepted together under the same master—they found no real reason to refuse. Jianhai might have been a little unorthodox in manner, perhaps even quirky, but that was far from being a deal breaker.
Mikael was the first to act. Dropping to one knee, he bowed his head respectfully. "Disciple Mikael Angelini greets Master!"
Amelia followed without hesitation. "Disciple Amelia Mournsky greets Master!"
Next came Lyra, her voice soft but resolute. "Disciple Lyra Mystoria greets Master!"
And finally, Kiara stepped forward, her tone clear and smooth. "Disciple Kiara Dreyfus greets Master!"
"Good, good, good," Jianhai said with a broad grin, clearly pleased by their choice.
As he gently stroked his long beard, the old man spoke in a tone that carried both pride and warmth. "In the Akashic Records Universe, a master is often more than just a teacher. In many cases, a master becomes like a parent, and sometimes even more important than one. You may treat me as such. If you ever have a problem, a question, or anything on your mind, don't hesitate to come see me."
The four disciples nodded in unison, giving the appearance of agreement, but inwardly their feelings were far more complex. Despite his friendly tone and their formal pledge, Jianhai was still a stranger to them. No title could instantly turn that into trust. The idea of suddenly treating this old man as a parental figure felt premature—if not outright absurd.
Thus, while they showed deference on the surface, their opinions remained guarded. Whether this man would become a trusted ally or a future foe would depend entirely on how he chose to act moving forward.
With a wave of his hand, Great Elder Jianhai summoned an invisible film of Qi that wrapped itself around his four new disciples like an invisible energy. "Let's go to my Sword Heart Peak. Once we're there, I'll teach you the fundamentals of cultivation."
Without giving them the opportunity to respond, he shot forward into the sky, dragging his four new disciples along with him as they hurtled through the air at staggering speed. Their pace vastly exceeded that of Senior Brother Han's flying boat, and even left Mikael's top speed—when pushing himself to his limits using the Weightless Wind-Explosive Style—far behind.
At such a velocity, they should have been at risk. The crushing air pressure alone could have inflicted serious damage, even to their reinforced physical bodies. However, the Qi barrier surrounding them, emanating from Great Elder Jianhai, absorbed the brunt of these forces and kept them completely unharmed.
In this manner, they swiftly traversed the sect's expanse. Interestingly, there wasn't much vertical elevation throughout the journey, as the Core Disciples' Cultivation Manors were already situated in the upper regions of the Skycleave Mountain Range. There was, therefore, little elevation left to climb.
Nonetheless, they did ascend slightly higher before finally coming to a halt atop Sword Heart Peak—a summit that, for belonging to a Great Elder, was unexpectedly sparse in terms of infrastructure. There were no rows of residences, no elaborate buildings, no extensive training facilities or pavilions. In fact, it was the sheer absence of such man-made structures that made the scene all the more striking. What dominated this peak instead was unspoiled nature, reclaiming its space with quiet insistence.
Towering trees rose high above the ground, their canopies rustling in the wind. Crystal-clear rivers wove their way between what few buildings existed, merging into powerful waterfalls that thundered down the slopes. The entire landscape exuded a raw, almost primal vitality—a natural splendor that soothed the soul and stirred something ancient within the heart.
Yet their master gave them little opportunity to admire their new surroundings. He descended with quiet grace and landed beside a broad, open-air training ground nestled within the natural splendor of the peak. There, a remarkably handsome young man was immersed in sword practice. He possessed long black hair that flowed freely behind him, and sharp, jet-black eyes that seemed to slice through the air with the same exacting precision as his blade.
His movements appeared deceptively simple—slow, deliberate sword strikes that, at first glance, seemed basic and unrefined. But the longer one observed, the clearer it became: each motion was executed with an extraordinary level of grace, balance, and honed power. Beneath the surface of that calm rhythm lay a profound understanding of the Sword Dao. The flow of his technique was nearly hypnotic, drawing the eyes and entrancing the mind, as though every swing of his blade whispered the secrets of an ancient truth.
The young man paid no attention to their arrival. He remained completely focused on his practice, undisturbed by the sudden presence of his master and four strangers. It wasn't until Great Elder Jianhai called out—his voice echoing sharply through the air:
"Renjiro!"
Only then did the young man finally pause. He turned his head slowly, his eyes meeting the elder's without hesitation. The four newcomers, however, might as well not have existed; he didn't spare them so much as a glance.
"Greeting, Master," he said, offering a brief bow. His tone was calm, composed, and devoid of emotion, his gaze never leaving Jianhai's figure.
Jianhai made a small hand gesture toward Mikael and the girls.
"These are your new junior brother and sisters."
Renjiro studied them for a moment—just long enough to acknowledge their presence—before offering a curt nod.
"Greeting."
And just like that, he shifted his attention away from them and resumed his training, fully absorbed once more in the rhythm of his blade, as though the brief interruption had never occurred.
Observing this, Jianhai let out a faint sigh and muttered to himself,
"Maybe they do have a point… Perhaps Renjiro's social skills really are a bit lacking."
He then turned to his four new disciples.
"Don't take his reaction personally. He isn't trying to be rude, nor does he harbor any ill intent. It's simply that social interaction has never interested him. His focus lies almost entirely on advancing along the Sword Dao."
"But even so, he's still dependable. As your Eldest Senior Brother, you can approach him if you ever find yourself in need. He may not be expressive, but he will do his best to assist you."
Mikael and the girls gave understanding nods in response, yet to Jianhai's experienced eyes, their expressions told a different story. It was clear they remained unconvinced. Considering the cold welcome Renjiro had just offered, he couldn't exactly fault them for it.
Suppressing another sigh, he chose not to press the matter. With a second wave of his hand, the group once again took to the skies. As they surged forward, already slicing through the air, Jianhai's voice carried back to them.
"Let me introduce you to my other disciple. You'll see—she's the complete opposite of Renjiro."
In this manner, the five of them cut through the sky at incredible speed. The air roared past them as they covered distance rapidly, leaving trails of Qi in their wake. It didn't take long before they had crossed over ten kilometers, reaching the far side of Sword Heart Peak.
The sheer scale of it astonished Mikael. A peak stretching over ten kilometers in width?
'On Earth, that would've been the stuff of science fiction,' he mused. 'Even on Dirarnia, where everything tended to be larger, nothing came close to this scale.'
And what amazed him even more was the knowledge that other peaks surrounding this one were generally even bigger. A sense of awe stirred within him as he wondered, 'Just how vast is the territory of the Wandering Sword Sect?'
However, Mikael's thoughts were short-lived. Their flight came to a sudden halt in mid-air as they reached their next destination. His gaze was immediately drawn downward, where a lone figure lay comfortably sprawled across the soft grass below.
Bathed in the gentle golden glow of the sun, the young woman resembled something out of a dream—like a scene painted by a master of ethereal beauty. Her long, silky brown hair cascaded freely down her back, flowing like a waterfall spun from the finest silk. A delicate butterfly had come to rest upon her shoulder, its wings unmoving, undisturbed by her slightest motion—as if even the smallest creature had been captivated by her presence.
Her hazel eyes sparkled with life, glimmering with a vibrant, playful energy that danced across her features. There was a natural brilliance to her aura, something bright and untamed, as though the very world around her couldn't help but respond to her joy. Her lithe figure and effortless grace gave the impression of someone who could dash across treetops while laughing, or duel with the poise of a drifting flower petal. She bore modest curves that complemented rather than overshadowed her charm—a perky, well-shaped chest that added to her appeal like the perfect touch of sweetness in a well-brewed cup of tea.
In that moment, she looked like the very embodiment of those extravagant descriptions so often found in cultivation novels: a peerless fairy who had descended from the heavens, whose smile could cause empires to fall and whose laughter could tame the wildest of spirit beasts.
Mikael blinked slowly, his expression unreadable, before releasing an inward sigh. 'Alright, let's not get carried away. She's gorgeous, no doubt about that. But I seriously doubt butterflies worship her or that flowers bloom in her footsteps.'
Still, even if she wasn't some celestial being, there was no denying her charm. She radiated energy—cheerful, lively, and mischievous in a way that reminded him of a younger sister who could tug at your heart one moment and trick you the next. Even while resting, she exuded motion—her entire presence seemed to shimmer with joy, with spontaneity, with life.
The beauty's gaze, which had been fixed intently on the butterfly as if carefully studying its delicate wings, suddenly shifted upward. She had sensed them despite their silent arrival.
The moment her eyes landed on the group above, her entire face lit up with joy. A bright, unrestrained smile spread across her lips as she sprang to her feet.
"Master!" she called out, her voice brimming with excitement.
Unfortunately, her sudden movement startled the butterfly, which fluttered its wings and took off into the air.
"Ohh… don't go!" she exclaimed with playful disappointment, pouting as she watched it disappear into the sky.
Author Note:
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