“Oftentimes, a lot of immortals with talent and potential are never given an opportunity, and conversely, so many opportunities are wasted by the incompetent.”

Qai immediately interviewed his young guests.

Apparently, the 3 young Qi Condensation stage cultivators, namely Fang Zhao, Fang Yue, and Fang Liang, were natives of a nearby village clan—a small family called Fang Clan—some miles north of the Rising Sun City.

The 3 were supposed to participate in an entrance examination of the Scarlet Feather Sect but the scheduled regular examination was caught in the middle of the war—so they decided to return home taking the route of the Rising Sun City in the hope that they would find some fortune along the way.

Upon further inquiry, Qai learned that the Fang Clan was initially a mortal village. However, it once produced a genius who was now currently its clan patriarch.

The said patriarch, in his youth, eventually became a disciple of Scarlet Feather Sect but subsequently left for home after experiencing a major bottleneck in his cultivation.

Ever since then, he would share his own cultivation technique among the clan’s descendants and see if anyone had Spirit Roots.

Currently, the clan had 2 other elders in the Qi Condensation stage but they weren't talented enough to qualify to enter a sect.

However, the clan recently pictured the rise of their family when 3 talents emerged among their younger generation. They were exactly Qai's guests at the moment.

Immediately, the patriarch ordered the entire clan to pour their resources on the 3 promising youth.

And after reaching level 5 in the Qi Condensation before the age of 15, they were finally sent to participate in the sect entrance examination.

Little did they know that even before reaching the Scarlet Feather Sect, war would soon break out.

Fang Zhao, the only boy of the three had the most potential—in fact, he was already being groomed to be the next Patriarch. He was already at the same level as the other 2 at the level 5 Qi Condensation stage but just turned 14.

“How about this, why don't the 3 of you help me build this Saints Hall. We don't have much cultivation techniques here. All the methods in our possession are basically attained through our own abilities. But if it is the cultivation resources that you need, I can say that we don't lack them. I can guarantee that the 3 of you can achieve Foundation Establishment stage if you work for the Saints Hall.”

Qai explained further that Saints Hall was not strictly a sect—if any, the best comparison would be a cultivation clan. Besides, there were not so much structural rules yet.

“But once you join in, we could only hope that you swear your loyalty to the Saints Hall.”

“Senior, how about responsibilities!? We can't just be freeloaders in this place.”

Qai thought for a moment then took a deep breath.

“Well, apart from fighting for the prestige and honor of the Saints Hall, you will have plenty of tasks here to choose from. You can help take care of our herb garden or help in breeding your ‘nemesis,’ the Blood Horses.”

The faces of the 3 slightly twitched upon hearing the word nemesis.

They couldn't tell whether the young lord in front of them was trying to be sarcastic or not.

“Or you can even go after a much ambitious responsibility. As you can see, we have 3 Foundation Establishment stage cultivators here who are respectively well versed in Talisman refinement, Pill alchemy, and Tool refinement respectively. I myself have some attainments in Array formations..”

The thoughts of the 3 went wild upon hearing that there were such cultivators hiding within the confines of the Saints Hall.

They have already heard about such side cultivation methods from their patriarch so they were not fully ignorant about their value.

“I suggest each of you pick a ‘mentor’ and try to learn from them. But I must warn you that they may not have a kind demeanor. It will be up to your abilities if you can ask them to guide you.”

The 3 young cultivators somehow already fell inattentive to the last words of Qai. They seemed to be already dreaming about what they wanted to do.

When Qai saw their reactions, he felt overjoyed. So he cut whatever he wanted to say further and immediately asked them if they intended to join the Saints Hall.

“What say you? Do you think my Saints Hall is worthy of your attention?”

“Senior, you jest. This place is more than we could ask for.”

Right then and there, Qai flicked his hand and instantly a streak of light beamed revealing 3 sets of the refined ‘Robe Armor.’

“Here, each of you, take one of these. Also, when you get out of this hall, bring the Blood Horses back to Ji Wuheng and tell him that I assign those Spirit Beasts as your beast mounts. And when you're all done, you can go pick a manor each.”

The Blood Horses weren't branded but they were forcefully ‘tamed’ by the overwhelming aura of the Ant Soldiers when they were caught—so basically, they were still ownerless Spirit Beasts.

“And when one day, you have the ability of your own, you can place your spiritual mark on them. So I suggest you start taking care of the assigned Blood Horses to you on your own so they eventually recognize you.”

Before the 3 were sent off, Fang Zhao suddenly approached and kowtowed right before Qai.

“Young lord, I may be young but my eyes cannot deceive me. You are truly a dragon amongst men, please take me as your disciple.”

Qai was taken aback.

In truth, he was just about 5 or 6 years older than Fang Zhao and just in the great circle of the Qi Condensation stage so he did not know what qualities did he possess to qualify as a master.

“Stand up, Fang Zhao. I admire your confidence in me. But you may not know, I am also in the Qi Condensation stage like you. So how can I have the privilege to arrogate upon myself to take a disciple.”

‘What!? Qi Condensation?’

All 3 Fang cultivators were stunned.

They always thought that Qai had unfathomable cultivation and we're simply hiding his strength.

“You might be confused by how could I possibly use Spiritual Sense with my cultivation, right? Well, let’s just say I had a fortuitous encounter before. So quit thinking of taking me for a master. It’s enough for me that you follow me as the lord of this Saints Hall.”

Qai sent the 3 young cultivators with perplexed faces.

Without a doubt, the Fang cultitvators found it truly bizarre that Qai became the master of such mountain peak who were followed by few strong cultivators despite being only in the Qi Condensation stage.

Qai sat back and thought of the days when his own noble father, Count Augusto told his children stories about how his father started when the latter was promoted to a count.

“There’s no way a noble can please everybody within his territory. There would always be someone who would lust for the power and authority you wield.”

That’s what his father told him and his brothers.

But his time now as a cultivator was different. Even if he tried to impose some of the aristocratic systems he once knew in his small founded territory, things were really operating differently.

Just as Qai was about to ponder a lot more things, a sudden disturbance in his dome-like Array formation reverberated throughout the mountain peak.

He immediately extended his Spiritual Sense and found a middle-aged looking Foundation Establishment stage cultivator surrounded by a hundred bunch of Qi Condensation stage cultivators.

The middle-aged man wore a thin beard and red robe which was obviously made from costly materials.

If he were not mistaken, it was the city lord himself together with the recruits he recently assembled.

However, what Qai found a bit worrying was that he could not find the reported Core Formation stage Devil Dao cultivator that the city lord hired.

‘How troublesome.’

He took a deep breath and stood to look for all the cultivators in his Saints Hall.

“Master of the Saints Hall! Come out!”