"Janitor?"
The Sect Master’s imposing voice faltered. He blinked, thrown off balance.
The aura that had been suppressing the summit wavered for a split second. "You reached the hundredth step of the Path of Howling Thunder... as a janitor?"
"Well, technically, I haven’t started yet," Theo clarified, scratching the back of his neck. "The deacon at the bottom said I had mortal roots, so I figured I’d take the scenic route up here before getting to work."
Down below in the VIP pavilion, the elders were experiencing a collective crisis.
"Mortal roots?" Elder Silas rasped, his hands gripping the railing so hard it splintered. "He walked up the Path of Howling Thunder without a single bead of sweat. The suppression array was completely nullified beneath his feet. What kind of mortal root devours heavenly lightning?"
"It’s not possible," Elder Thorne muttered, his eyes wide. "Unless... he possesses a hidden constitution that the testing stone couldn’t read. Something incredibly ancient. Or..."
"Or the testing stone is simply broken," the female elder in purple sneered. "It was likely overloaded by the Crimson Sovereign’s aura. The boy just got lucky."
Back on the summit, the Sect Master was having similar thoughts...
A Supreme Sovereign Grade was a once-in-a-millennium miracle. Lightning striking twice in the exact same spot defied all logical cultivation theories!
The Sect Master narrowed his eyes and took a step toward Theo.
Without any warning, he released a localized burst of his profound Soul-Severing pressure, aiming it directly at the boy’s chest.
It was a test designed to force a hidden physique to reveal itself in self-defense.
Great Sage, Theo thought, sensing the crushing wave of energy.
[Host’s ’Primordial Abyssal Meridians’ are preparing to devour the attack.]
No, Theo commanded instantly. Let the Minor Purity Water Body take the hit. Suppress the Abyssal Meridians completely.
[Acknowledged. Suppressing Abyssal Network.]
The Sect Master’s pressure slammed into Theo.
With only his Minor Purity Water Body active to defend him, the impact felt like getting hit by a speeding carriage.
Theo was thrown backward, skidding across the stone summit. He coughed, a small trickle of blood escaping the corner of his mouth.
The Sect Master immediately retracted his aura, his expression shifting from suspicion to profound disappointment.
"A minor fluid affinity," the Sect Master sighed, shaking his head. "Nothing more. The purple-robed elder was right. The testing stone was merely exhausted by Liana’s overwhelming talent, and the Path’s suppression array must have short-circuited when Liana shattered the formation on her way up. You simply walked up a broken staircase, boy."
Theo wiped the blood from his chin, feigning a look of wide-eyed innocence. "Broken? Oh, wow. I really thought I was doing something special there."
Liana watched the exchange in silence. Her eyes narrowed slightly.
She had seen the way he absorbed ambient energy in the barracks. She had watched him toss a Titan Physique down a mountain. A Reborn Empress wasn’t easily fooled by a simple feint. He was intentionally hiding his true strength from the most powerful man in the sect.
Why? Liana wondered. What is his endgame?
"Since you technically reached the summit, sect rules dictate you must be offered a place in the outer sect," the Sect Master said, turning his back on Theo. "However, with your pathetic roots, do not expect any special treatment. You are dismissed."
The Sect Master turned to Liana. "Come, my disciple. The Heavenly Peak awaits."
With a wave of his hand, a localized teleportation array activated beneath their feet, enveloping them in a flash of white light.
Before she vanished, Liana locked eyes with Theo one last time.
She gave him a subtle, almost imperceptible nod.
Theo grinned, watching the light fade.
The investment was secured. The Reborn Empress was officially the most protected and pampered person in the entire sect, and she owed him a massive favor!
Now, he just needed to figure out his own situation.
...
An hour later, the official intake ceremony concluded. The hundreds of successful outer sect disciples were herded into a massive courtyard to receive their basic supplies and peak assignments.
Theo stood in line, rubbing his bruised chest. The Sect Master’s attack had stung, but the Primordial Abyssal Meridians were already healing the minor tissue damage.
A sect steward stood at the front, calling out names and handing out tokens.
"Kaelen! Assigned to the Herb Gardens!" "Mara! Assigned to the Beast Pens!"
The assignments were essentially glorified chores meant to build character before the real martial training began.
Theo wasn’t particularly worried. With his System Shop and his monster-hunting capabilities in the deep caves, he didn’t need the sect’s standard resources to grow stronger. He just needed a quiet corner to operate from.
"Theo!" the steward barked, glaring at the boy who had caused so much confusion on the mountain.
Theo stepped forward.
"Due to the... irregular nature of your ascent," the steward sneered, "you have been assigned to the most demanding sector. You will report to the Ninth Peak."
Several of the older outer sect disciples who were helping distribute the supplies recoiled.
"The Ninth Peak?" one of the disciples whispered, looking at Theo with genuine pity. "He’s a dead man."
Theo frowned, taking the token from the steward. "Is there something wrong with the Ninth Peak?"
The steward smiled, a mocking expression. "There is nothing wrong with the mountain itself. It’s the elder who resides there that you need to worry about. Elder Vespera. She is... eccentric."
"Eccentric how?" Theo asked, genuinely curious.
"Let’s just say she doesn’t take disciples," the steward replied, turning back to his ledger. "She takes test subjects. Now move along!"
Theo walked away from the line, turning the wooden token over in his hands.
A crazy elder who experimented on her students?
For a guy with a Parasite class that allowed him to absorb and merge traits without genetic rejection?
Theo couldn’t help but smile...
"Hey, Great Sage," Theo whispered as he walked toward the path that led to the infamous Ninth Peak. "What do you think the odds are that this Elder Vespera works with non-human entities?"
[Analyzing sect rumors and available data...]
[Answer. The Ninth Peak is associated with chimera research, toxic alchemy, and the cross-breeding of high-tier demonic beasts. The probability of encountering non-human entities is 99.9%.]
Theo’s smile widened into a full-blown grin.