Grabbing onto Damian and the cuffs that had fallen onto the floor, the great elder dashed away and left those that were watching, shocked by what had occurred.

'It is unfortunate that you couldn't become my direct disciple. But the great elder is an amazing cultivator and will help you grow so that you can explore the rest of the continent and the world' thought Ivan to himself as he also left the scene.

Damian's friends all let out a sigh of relief, but were once again shown the difference between themselves and Damian and they all knew that if they were in his position, they would probably be too frightened to speak and would have been punished for no reason.

However, all of their drives were fortified as they all left to cultivate after seeing that Damian now had a powerful master that could teach him and help him increase his strength faster.

Reaching the library, the great elder entered his room while carrying Damian with one hand, then placed him on the ground.

"How the hell did you get the handcuffs off and how do you always seem to be getting yourself into trouble" exclaimed the great elder scoldingly as Damian had a wry smile.

"I didn't do anything. My opponent dealt me an unexpected blow while the match was meant to be paused, so I retaliated with a powerful attack when the battle resumed" answered Damian.

"Then what about the cuffs," asked his master.

"Um, I'm not sure" answered Damian who couldn't reveal anything to do with the Shadow Kin or the Shadow Steps Skill Book that he acquired, along with the soul fragment of the Shadow Kin King.

"Hmmm, I am your master now, but I won't force you into revealing your secrets and I will find them out through observing you" stated the old man.

"From now on you have the potential to become a Core Student with me as your master, but your cultivation is increasing too quickly. Although it shows your talent and potential, you must make sure to train in different skills and techniques and lay a strong foundation down for your cultivation, otherwise, your prowess will lag behind your cultivation level" advised his master.

"Yes, master I will take your advise into consideration" accepted Damian who appreciated everything that his master had done for him.

"Master, now that you are taking back your role as the great elder, who will protect the library," asked Damian who knew how valuable skills and methods were to cultivators.

"No one would dare to attempt to steal from the academy, that has been left to me by the principal to be protected. The array within the library that has the intent of the principal has complete control over the building and guards it to an extent, while I will also make sure not to stray too far away from it at all times" answered the great elder confidently.

Damian was seeing a new light to the old man that seemed to be feeble and weak, but was now a strong, powerful and influential figure within the academy that was feared by all.

"So what do I do now" asked Damian who was unsure what would change after the past event.

"You are now a direct disciple of a great elder and there are only 5 great elders in the entire Akegria Academy, one stationed in each branch. With that role comes the responsibility and fame of being my representative in all events, and in my absence. It also means that everyone has their eyes on you as a target to prove themselves and increase their fame, while people might also just hate you out of jealousy" answered his master.

"However it isn't all bad and I can allow you to chose one skill from the F Rank Library each month if you please and I will also give you an allowance of 100 contribution points each month which you can spend on whatever you need. It isn't much, but I don't want you to be reliant on me as that will weaken your resolve and will make you dependant on somebody else" added his master optimistically.

"Now you must increase your strength as much as possible while also trying to stay out of trouble and out of the public eye. Then after less than 5 months, which will mark the middle of the year, you will take the test to become an Inner Disciple. Even if you reach the requirements earlier, you should wait for the public test where there will be other students competing with you for the opportunity to become an Inner Disciple and it will be a chance for you to prove yourself and put yourself out there as a candidate for a future Core Disciple" planned his master.

Damian nodded in agreement with his master but was shocked to see that his master's plan didn't stop there.

"After you become an Inner Disciple you will then have slightly less than 6 months until the yearly Akegria Academy tournament that is held in the most central academy and you must have gained enough strength by then to be a applicable candidate for it and will allow you to become an Inner Disciple" continued his master.

"Throughout all this I can give you passive support, but will not be there to oversee your training and can only give you tips once in a while when I have time. I am also not planning to restrict you to the academy and like you must know, the cultivation realm we are in isn't the limit and there are higher cultivation levels while there are also much larger countries on the continent and also other continents. This is only the beginning of your journey and most that have a high aptitude after reaching a certain level leave the country" revealed the old man, wanting to inform his disciple of the truth of the world that they lived in.

Damian wasn't overwhelmed and after all the unusual and miraculous things that he had experienced, his master's revelation wasn't a shock as he felt excited to explore the vast world and improve his strength.

"Master I appreciate everything you have done for me, and I have remembered everything you have told me. I will work hard to make you proud and be able to return this favour to you in the future" declared Damian.