After a few days, the relationship between the two sects became steady. Although they were secretly exchanging messages, they still kept a lookout for the start of the fire.
Meanwhile, Lucas, who remained aimless again, was left with two options. Should he create a sect or find a sect to study how a sect works?
He particularly didn’t feel like joining one of the two sects since he would feel off. And so, with the decision to join a sect, he now chose what type of sect he should join.
The initial plan after going down from Mountain Temple was to buy techniques. But after stumbling upon the treasure of techniques in Jeric’s room, he couldn’t think of buying techniques anymore.
’Still, those techniques were all ranked from Mortal to Heaven grade. These gems are rare to stumble upon again.’
While flying aimlessly, Lucas saw a city below him. He didn’t know where he was but he didn’t care to ask the knowledgeable sect masters.
Where was the fun if all of the things given to him were prepared? He didn’t particularly like being spoon-fed.
Lucas activated an invisible spell and then descended on the city. After landing, he looked for a shaded and secluded place away from the public, then deactivated his spell.
He left the shade and then looked at the crowds in the city.
’Typical.’ Lucas sighed, disappointed that he had thought he had discovered something interesting earlier.
Nevertheless, he still continued walking and went with the flow of the city.
He saw different stalls. There were also businesses where only highly regarded individuals were permitted. There were also some neutral shops that sell to people indiscriminately.
He smiled as he felt that these places were normal. Although he thought it was typical, he just ignored it and tried to get used to the place.
After some walking and observing around the place, the crowd in a street suddenly moved to the side and made a path.
Curious, Lucas peeked at the street using his eye’s ability.
Apparently, there were carriages passing through. It was a spectacular view, but something questionable to witness. Were those people in the carriages highly regarded people?
Lucas tried to peek into the carriages and noticed that there were profound formations in the carriages. He raised his eyebrow in perplexity and also curiosity.
’Who are these people?’
The carriage passed smoothly, and after that, Lucas tried to ask one of the bystanders.
"Brother, may I ask who were those people?" Lucas asked.
The bystander looked at Lucas with uncertainty and gazed upon him up and down. After a few seconds, he opened his mouth.
"A traveler?"
Lucas nodded.
"Those who passed were the Shin Family. They were the leading family of an array-specialized sect. I forgot the name... wait..."
As the bystander thought of the name of the sect, Lucas returned his eyes to the carriage and realized that it was reasonable there were plenty of formations around the carriages. After all, that carriage’s owner came from the leading family of a sect that specialized in arrays.
"Ah! I remember now! I need money!" Then the bystander smiled viciously, exploiting Lucas’s needs.
Lucas knew it, and as he was interested in it, he sighed and picked up a silver coin from his pocket.
He handed it over to the bystander, but the bystander remained stupid.
"Only this?" the bystander raised his eyebrow.
"You want more? Or I will ask someone else." Lucas uttered.
"No. Don’t worry... this is enough." Then an awkward giggle came after.
’You think I was not used to this? It’s hard searching for information.’
"The name of the sect was Profound Symbol. That’s the name of the array-specialized sect that passed earlier," the bystander said.
Lucas took more silver coins just in case the bystander would ask more.
"And they were top sect? What region is this?" Lucas asked.
"They are indeed one of the famous sects, but I won’t say they are at the top. And right now, I don’t know why you ask the second question, but this is the southern region."
Lucas nodded and left the bystander, who was grinning in delight. After gaining a useful little bit of information, Lucas finally had a thought about what to do next.
’This is amazing. What if I study an array that can collect energy and I create an array that can gather mana? Wouldn’t that be amazing?’
And finally, after thinking about what he should do and trying to find a way to have fun, Lucas decided to create a sect of mages. As magic is called a "mystical art" in this world, wouldn’t it be amusing to see people become curious about them?
’I don’t like unnecessary attention. But I also want to try to challenge what I find bothersome. Now... Let’s try to have a meaningful life in this realm before Immortal Realm.’
***
In the eastern region, the most eastern part of the region, there were people inside a wide cave, a seemingly human-made cave that had a symmetrical distribution of space. It was more appropriately called a dome, but since it was under a mountain, it was still a cave.
Inside it, there were three strong cultivators, sitting in a triangle. They were doing nothing in particular; they just decided to gather as a group.
They were all old but still strong as their bodies weren’t growing weak. Their bones were as if they were built with steel, as they could still sit in an awkward position.
"Do you think that weirdo can gather an appropriate number of cultivators? After the Red Moon Castle was wiped out, I forgot about the dream of ascending. But that weirdo who can use mystical arts despite being mortal was something interesting."
"Yet, he was stupid to follow us. Kekekeke. We just said that we know his master. He gave us an idea to raise our cultivation base. Kekekeke."
"Don’t be complacent, Usa. That weirdo is still a weirdo and someone who was knowledgeable about otherwordly alchemy."
"Hoo... Right. He gave us information that alchemy can also gather spiritual energies. I thought that arrays were the only way."
"Kekeke. But his method was something inhumane. Kekeke. He had something on his brain that after gathering people, he could extract their energies and turn them into a stone."
"Don’t be complacent, Duha. We are still not sure. The Red Moon Castle was something out of the blue, as we thought. Perhaps the one who did that killing knew about what the weirdo knows."
"Hoo... Are you serious? Do you think people like us, the Mortal Heaven’s strongest trio, wouldn’t recognize that kind of cultivator? If he was normal, he would surely be on the edge of dying. And with how you make it sounds like, I agree with you, Tulo."
"Kekeke. Don’t think about that bullshit. We have to wait for that weirdo. After we reach the peak of the Emperor Spirit Realm, we can finally ascend to upper heaven."
"But what about that weirdo? Don’t you think he could kill us after lying to him that we know about his master?"
"We are already strong by that time. We can kill him. But still, don’t be complacent as we have to know how he can ignore the law of cultivation. We have to know how he can do mystical arts while being a mortal."