Someone Better Will Always Come Along

The Crescent Moon Sect. It is one of the oldest sects within the continent. Its rich history can be trace during the Invasion of Kulfagar Demons. Rumors say that their Ancestors had participated during the great battle.

*Splash

Patriarch Muka pulled his fishing pole revealing a blue finned fish wiggling to its death.

“What a great catch.”

Patriarch Muka took out a knife and a basin and started to prepare the fish for grilling.

With his strength as a Nascent Soul cultivator, he could have had easily caught the fish but he choose to bait it like a normal man. His master originally wanted to teach him patience by teaching him how to fish but never did he know that it has become a hobby.

He is not a social person and he would always stay on his flat raft in the middle of a lake at the center-most part of the sect whenever he needs to relax.

Yesterday, he came back from his trip. As the current Patriarch of the sect, it is his duty to always scout for cultivators who have potentials to become an Elder of the sect or maybe even the next leader.

However like many of his usual travels, he returned empty handed but he never loses hope as tomorrow would be the sect competition in which he can closely observe.

As soon as he soon as he removed the gills of the fish, he felt an aura of one of the Elder approaching his spot. He knew it was something important so he stored the basin of fish in his spatial ring used his aura to clean his hands and stood up.

*Tick

Elder Numar softly landed on the raft creating ripples above the lake.

“Remember that human who joined us back four years ago?”

“Amuse me.”

*Mrrgggh

Elder Numar cleared his throat and handed a small wooden box and said, “He went on a 6-year mission and sent me a message saying he found or rather discovered a young Elven who can manifest Fire Dao. I was careless and opened the box thinking it was a joke and I hope Patriarch can still feel the Dao energy residue within that blood.”

As soon as Patriarch Muka touched the box, he felt a trace of an unusual power. As a Dao Practitioner himself, he knew this type of energy cannot be faked. Even without opening the box, he already knew that that it was a drop of blood containing Dao.

“Where?”

“Outskirts of Cheaneya near neutral zone, northeast.”

Upon hearing the location, Patriarch Muka activated his wings and flew into the horizon.

Meanwhile, the sun is about set and Clay is sitting before a table of unknown delicacies. To his far side is Kamar grilling his favorite fish.

Nearly four years had passed since he came to this village and after that issue with the forest bandit has been resolved, the village had been peaceful and even he started run out of ideas to entertain his boredom.

Clay picked up a grape-looking fruit on the table then looked at Rimar who came to serve him a plate of fish his grandfather-in-law grilled for him.

“Later when you join the sect and become an official Alchemist, find time to study about and Ancient Tribe called Barnachea and delve in their knowledge about Formation. There is nothing I can teach you about Dao but understanding their culture may help you improve your Dao Comprehension.”

“I understand, senior.”

Clay ignored the clueless look of the early adolescent Rimar. Like him, he does not have any outstanding looks or a captivating facial feature. Just a regular you would see beside a street.

Clay activated his Godly Eyes to observe Rimar one last time. That time when he let Rimar meditated in the temple where he planted the Naraheim Enlightenment Tree, the blue mist within Rimar’s soul grew exponentially large and is now around 1 meter. Following that, Rimar had been able to incorporate his Dao Powers within his aura and exhibited a slightly stronger Dao power that of the Sword Dao Darwus manifested.

However after a year, the blue mist within Rimar’s soul stagnated.

Clay has no idea why the Rimar’s blue mist stopped expanding. Thinking back during his previous life, Lord Lao said that Midi absorbed that mysterious energy produced by his Psuedo Spiritual Vein however when he observed the Naraheim Enlightenment Tree, the blue mist within the tree was still the same size. Nevertheless, Clay still instructed Rimar to continue meditating within the temple.

Three years gone by in an instant and Rimar’s Dao or the blue mist within his soul still did not improve except for his cultivation which is now Peak Late Qi Condensation.

As much as Clay wanted to have Rimar reach higher levels of cultivation, he was hesitant to further influence Rimar’s path of cultivation as he was afraid he will end up like him. It is already enough that Rimar can extend his aura and shape his own Qi projections. His objective is to have Rimar refine pills for him in the future and the past three years, he had only taught him to control his Qi and his Essence Flame.

As an Elven, Rimar’s Qi reservoir is twice Clay’s source of Qi when he was still at Qi Condensation and Rimar’s Qi control had already exceeded Clay’s expectation. Like him, Rimar can now as well condense his Qi into thin threads.

Clay had been thinking if he should send Rimar to a nearby sect however one afternoon, the two women who had been taking care of his residence attempted to serve him the same grilled fish which is Rimar’s grandfather-in-law’s specialty. To his surprise, he was served a plate with better taste and milder smell.

It was then he got reminded about the fundamental law within a society. Someone better will always come along.

He had been stuck in understanding the Barnachea Blood Arts and to this day, it is still not a guarantee that he will be able to successfully refine pills with his current Essence Flame once he read the entire book in the future.

Now that he has met Rimar, maybe this young Elven’s existence is a precursor to reviving the long lost arts.

In truth, Clay is only thinking of himself and it doesn’t really matter if along the process means helping the Elves recover their legacy.

Two weeks ago, he sent out a messenger to Crescent Moon Sect. Since Rimar’s Dao comprehension had stagnated, it should be right time to have him a capable master. From his estimate, Elder Numar should have had received his message and if the sect really do value promising disciples, Elder Numar or the Patriarch should show up himself.

Originally, he wanted to show his Dao potential but since he met Rimar, he will let this young Elven take the limelight and observe for now if there really is a true benefit.

Clay was about to take a bit from his favorite dish when he sensed two approaching powerful auras. He stood up and spoke.

“Stop what you’re doing and come to meet our guests.”

Laur was speechless upon hearing Clay’s instructions. Earlier this afternoon, Clay chased everyone within the training grounds and invited Rimar’s Family including Rimar’s fiance and relatives. He was expecting a wedding ceremony but he is now confused after Clay mentioned guests.

Laur was about to say something when himself suddenly felt the approaching powerful masters.

“Everyone to your knees.” Laur shouted and kneeled and looked to the ground. He has an idea how terrifying Clay is and today, he felt the same pressure coming from these two guests. Seeing the village head kneeled, everyone did the same.

Clay on the other hand stepped forward and after a few seconds when the two guests landed, he slightly bowed and kowtowed with his fist.

“I greet the Patriarch and Elder Numar.”

“If this is joke, I will remove your hands. Do you understand?”

Clay inwardly laughed and reminded himself to control his emotions and ignore Patriarch Muka’s threat.

“It is not joke and I thank the Patriarch for coming himself.”

Clay was anticipating the same polite leader but it was beyond his expectation that he will see the serious side of Patriarch Muka.

Patriarch Muka spread his divine sense. Of the people present today, he could not feel anyone with unusual strength so he expanded his search. As the most powerful figure in the sect, inspecting everyone in the village pose no challenge.

He wanted to search further beyond the village but he still could not feel anything. He did sense the presence of a Naraheim Enlightenment Tree nearby but he is more interested with the boy reported to him. Since he cannot find him, he looked at Clay again and asked.

“Tell me where he is?”

Clay noticed the eyelids of Patriarch Muka. It slightly moved when Muka’s divine sense came in contact with the Naraheim Enlightenment Tree. To have been able to sense it just proves his ability.

He composed himself and looked to his side. Everyone is silently kneeling including Rimar.

“Get on your feet Rimar and I want you to try attacking these two men with your real strength. If you want to bring your fiance along with you, then show them your real strength.”

Clay emphasized on the word, real.

Rimar timidly look at Clay. He is confused with Clay’s instructions. For a normal Elven, they would immediately display their powers when asked but being raised in a community where arrogance is punished, Rimar is bound to feel inferior and must bow down towards these two Elders.

Elder Numar and Patriarch Muka were bewildered when Clay spoke to a young Elf near them. The boy is supposed to manifest powers beyond their comprehension yet the boy looked ordinary to them like everybody else in the village. However it is difficult to doubt Clay as the droplet of blood sent to them was infused with Dao.

Patriarch Muka suppressed his aura and with a warm smile, he approached kneeling Rimar.

“What is your name young Elf?”

“Ma…. …My… Ma” Rimar stuttered and looks like he cannot speak all of a sudden.

“Really now!” Clay thought to himself as he observed scene. He is beginning to think that Rimar will embarrass him.

“Don’t be shy young man. My name is Muka. I am the current Patriarch of Crescent Moon Sect. What is your name young Elf?”

Rimar looks like he wanted to cry but he still tried to answer. “M…. Em… My … na…. name is Ri…”

Before Rimar could say his name, a burst of murderous and sharp Qi tentacle came to attack him.

Rimar had lost count as to how many times he had been secretly attack as part of his training with Clay and defending had become automatic to him however this time, the attack is far more powerful.

Seeing that Rimar may become too shy and unable to manifest his Dao during this meeting, Clay decided to launch a surprise attack. Almost every week for the past three years, he had been painstakingly training Rimar to ensure this Elf will not die early. He had thought him how to defend and properly control his Dao.

Rimar came to his senses and forgot he is in the presence of a Nascent Expert. He already felt a ripple of Qi right before that Qi tentacle could even form and his body automatically moved. He wanted to dodge however he felt another trace of an attack. He had no time to think and the first thing he had in mind is to deflect the incoming attack.

*Whish

Rimar stood up and with the activation of his Dao Power, a crimson aura manifested around him creating an outward ripple of energy. Even Patriarch Muka was apprehensive he had to stake a few steps back.

Rimar slowly placed his right foot backwards and when the Qi tentacle was about to reach him, he materialized his own Qi projection hand to deflect the attack upwards.

*Crash!

He did not stop as he had already anticipated two more attacks to his side. He spread his hands to side and formed a Qi barrier.

*Boom!

Clay was delighted Rimar revealed his Dao. Just now when he attacked him, he did not imbue it with his Dao and only relied on his strength as a Peak Foundation. Although he may have overdone it. He had practiced with Rimar this morning as preparation and it looks like Rimar exhausted himself.

*Thud

Rimar dropped to the ground.

“Rimar!!”

Rimar’s mother could not take it and stood up and went to her protect her child. “Please your lordships. He is only a child. I will do whatever….”

Before Rimar’s mother could say more, Laur was already standing behind her and delivered a soft blow behind her head. The attack was infused with his Qi to knock her out.

Laur supported Rimar’s mother as she fell then kneeled again. “May these Masters forgive our village ignorance.”

Everyone held their breaths and silently observed and controlled their mouths including the two sect Elders.

Patriarch Muka himself was speechless. Right before Clay was about to attack, he already knew it will not really touch Rimar and does not know what Clay was planning but when Rimar activated his Dao, he felt like time stopped moving. That aura that surrounded Rimar was dangerous and beautiful at the same time.

Even their current Ancestor and Dao Masters of Anongus Royalties cannot manifest their Dao the way Rimar did.

For the first time, he felt his talent is inferior.

While Patriarch Muka was in disbelief, a slight breeze blew the smoke of a fish being grilled and spread towards the training ground and its aroma reminded Clay of his meal.

Clay decided to break the silence.

“I was only thinking of teaching him Alchemy but he is far too different. I hope Patriarch will nurture him properly.”

Patriarch Muka came to his senses. To cover his stupefied look earlier, he released a bit of his aura again to look majestic again.

“You’ve done great this time. I will bring him to the sect together with that troublesome tree on that newly constructed building.”

“Patriarch is wise.” Clay saluted with his fist.