Acquiring Immortal Housekeeper for the user... please specify if the user prefers a temporary hire or a permanent one!

"Permanent should be fine."

Acknowledged! Withdrawing 150 Spirit Jades from your account... Completed!

Congratulations! Your Immortal Housekeeper will be available once the user owns a temporary or a permanent establishment.

"Well... great I guess. Having someone to clean up it's good and thankfully, I don't have to be the one fishing. I always ruin more than half of the bait..."

Acquiring Inspector title for the user... please specify the period for which you want the title to be bought!

Warning! 50 Spirit Jades will be charged for every 30 years the user wants to hold the title.

"Hmm... it might seem like a lot, but one bout of reclusive cultivation would make at least 10 years pass in the blink of an eye at higher realms. I have a lot of SJ now, so I might as well use it properly... Should I buy 3.000 years at once? Nah, that seems a bit exaggerated... Let's start with only 300 years and we'll go from there. 300 years it is!"

Acknowledged! Withdrawing 500 Spirit Jades from your account... Completed!

Congratulations! You will now hold the title of Inspector for the next 300 years from your entry in the Immortal World.

All advantages while holding this title have been fully unlocked!

"Well... if past me could see myself spending 650 SJ in one go and that being only the start, he would probably strangle me. But I don't want to repeat the past and die dog's death again, nor do I want my life to be as harsh as it was before. I want to be able to climb as high as my potential would take me and then retire with a beautiful fairy on an isolated floating mountain. There, we will leave the rest of our lives in reclusion... Damn! That sounds so good that tears are coming out of my eyes... I wonder if it's because of the hard life I lived or because of the huge amounts of SJ I am losing?"

...acquiring Censor title for the user... withdrawing 168 Spirit Jades from your account... Completed!

Congratulations! You will now hold the title of Censor permanently!

All advantages while holding this title have been fully unlocked!

"Well, that's that! Now all that's left is the Realm Oracle title. The rewards are not much, but they will come in handy given that I cannot necessarily use my proprieties on Earth anymore for anything but exchange of SJ..."

Acquiring the Oracle title for the user... currently available is the Realm Oracle tittle... checking to see if the user has met the requirements...

The user barely meets the required number of proprieties. 5% will be deducted from your possession!

Warning! For future titles such as Servant Oracle, Immortal Beast Oracle, and Spirit Oracle further expansion of your proprieties it's required!

All advantages while holding the Realm Oracle title have been unlocked!

"The current land I own would put a small country to shame and you say it's not enough!? How greedy can you get? Plus that the type of land I own should be right up your alley as well... *Sigh* Your greed will be the death of me one of these days..."

Taking his laptop out and sending instructions for further purchase to his newly formed business cartel, Herman was formulating his plan and thinking of which starting point to chose in the Immortal World. Then he remembered his past life and the horrible things he went through.

There were many he met, but a certain group left an everlasting impression on him. Furthermore, because of him, this group died and that resulted in a mental demon forming in Herman's spiritual world. It might not seem like anything more than trauma, yet this mental demon slowed down his cultivation speed by more than 15% and nearly killed him multiple times while undergoing tribulations.

"Since all other worlds had smaller numbers recruited, they should have already ascended to the Immortal World, yet for them not to have a headstart due to the time difference, they will be stuck at the crossroad between world until we ascend as well. The Asura World, the Heavenly Chasm, and the Blood World will be among them. That means for certain that those guys will as well... They can be categorized as psychotic, with a Doctor Jekyll and Mister Hyde type of disorder, yet they did saved my life on more ocasions than I am willing to remember. If I already paid them back, I might as well set things straight with the other group I owe just as much...

With that decided, Herman picked Mount Taihang as his starting point. The sect he would first join will be the Valley of the Fallen Blossoms since it's in accordance with his plans as well.

"They should be choosing it in this life as well since it's a righteous sect and a female-only accepting type. Luckily I have the Censor and the Inspector titles, so I can join it forcefully. *Sigh* I did say that I will try to avoid revenge since once going down that path it's hard to come back safely out of it, but for the sake of ridding myself from a mental demon, I cannot help but eradicate one pest or two... Oh!? Hehehe! That would be a good way to solve my Spirit Stones problem as well..."

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The two days passed in the blink of an eye and the Immortal World was preparing to greet its recruits for quite some time now. Rumors of the talented mortals and their marvelous performance have already reached the ears of common folk and were discussed in high spirits in every lounge, restaurant, or bar cultivators would find themselves in.

The non-affiliated cultivators were not the only ones in high spirits though. It was still a year away due to the time difference, but Floating Clouds Jing would return today to the Lake Palace and executive members of the Neutral Faction were already waiting while holding their breaths.

[Old Lake, has the matter been confirmed? You are not blowing this out of proportions due to your advanced age and senility, are you?](?)

[*Sigh* Qin, old friend, it's the 13th time you've asked me today. Are you sure you aren't the one losing their marbles? Little Jing is heading here as we speak, so you will hear his report as well. Plus, didn't you hear about the ruckus caused by that old monster of the Ling clan a couple of days ago? Hahahaha! He punished that brat for lying to him and sent him to the Solitude Tower for two decades.](Clear Lake)

[Tsk, tsk, tsk! You shouldn't enjoy other's misfortune that much Old Lake. Retribution comes to those who deserve it!](Qin)

[Enough you two! Act your age already! We're the heads of Neutral Faction and are supposed to act with dignity! Stop being so petty about every small matter...](?)

[Come on old Cheng! You must admit that it feels good to see that Ling monster losing his temper over such a matter. I heard that he coughed a mouthful of blood after hearing the report that brat brought to him. Hahahaha! I heard... I heard the young man was expecting a reward for such a report... AHAHAHAHAHA!!! A reward! From that old monster! Ahahahahaha!](Qin)

[*Chuckles* That's true. Honestly, when Little Jing contacted me using the communication talisman I also doubted what I was hearing. If I didn't trust in him as much as I do, I might've reacted the same way.](Clear Lake)

[*Sigh* You two are going to drive me to an early grave... Since we are three of the five heads of the Heaven Rank sects in our continent, we have a say in everything that goes in our 'backyards'. However, even in such a case, I am worried that we might not be able to protect the younglings coming to join our branches this time. Just the other two Heaven Rank sects' disciples would probably do everything in their power to destroy as many recruits as they can. Do not forget that as a fully righteous or evil sect, their set of morals is quite a bit different than our own.](Cheng)

[I also thought of the same thing and remembered the story of the examiner's Fang world. It became dubbed as the Blood World due to the continuous wars brewing there and their numbers were reduced to not even 10% of what it was originally. That 10% though, they are geniuses without bounds which will undoubtedly reach great heights in the future. *Sigh* Even if we will lose some recruits in the process, the remaining ones would be the elites among the elites. I understand everyone's desire to protect these fledglings, however, do not forget that our Immortal World is also one created through immense bloodshed and loss of lives.](Qin)

The old sect master Qin remained quiet after saying his piece and was just patiently looking outside the window while stroking his beard. The other two sect masters agreed, while the sect elders, sect custodians, and the chief disciples present kept mum while the big trio was talking. Which one of them didn't vie for resources with their life on the line on more than one occasion? Which one of them hasn't shed enemy blood in their lifetimes at least hundreds of times? The older generation has even participated in the regular wars between the righteous sects and the evil ones. After all, as a neutral faction one cannot sit on the fence when your territory, life, and the lives of your disciples are put at risk.

Every single person in the room could tell by the agitated bearings of the three sect masters that a new war would start soon. The unsealing of a new Heaven would only serve as a means-end.

[It seems that we need to make preparations, don't we?](Clear Lake)

[It does appear so. To be fair, the smell of blood was already in the air for a while now. This recruitment would only serve as a spark for a fire that would eventually engulf the entire Immortal World. We have been peaceful for far too long...](Cheng)

[Peaceful? We have been warring against the evil sects and their atrocities for thousands of years... not to mention the beast clans that we have never been at peace with either. Just when exactly have we stopped warring?](Qin)

[It's different this time old friend... The scale of this war won't end with just a few skirmishes here and there. Do not forget that the System doesn't differentiate between good cultivators and evil ones. Not to mention that geniuses of the beast clans can also participate in the race for Heavens. *Sigh* This time around we will have to use everything in our warehouses and more if we want our disciples to stand a chance... Clear Lake, I don't doubt your servant's capabilities since a precedent for such an impressive world already exists, yet...](Cheng)

[One? One precedent? I can think of at least four beside Old Lake's this time around...](Qin)

[...*Sigh* Please stop interrupting people when they speak Qin! That's bad manners! Anyway, like I was saying, I don't doubt your servant, but we need to make sure that these new disciples are worth our grooming. There's no point in feeding delicacies to a dog, as it couldn't tell the difference...](Cheng)

[I've kept all elders waiting! My apologies! Master, your servant has arrived!](Jing)

The voice of the person everyone has been waiting for filled the now quiet room and expressions of anticipations appeared on the faces of those present. Clear Lake was also relieved that he wouldn't have to keep reassuring these old fogeys that dove him insane these past couple of weeks.

[Little Jing, you're here! Good, good! Don't worry, we old fogies have nothing but time. Come, these two sect heads want confirmation of the recruitment process. You can start your report.](Clear Lake)

[Yes, master! Greetings to all elders present! Greetings to all fellow and junior cultivators! The world I served as an examiner for is called Earth. After the System finished its investigation about the history behind it, we found out that except for fantasy books, earthlings never had contact with cultivation. The main race on Earth are humans and there are no other intelligent species that can cultivate.](Jing)

[Oh!? A planet were the humans reign supreme? That's interesting. What about their evolution? How technologically advanced are they?](Qin)

[Replying to sect master Qin! They are very technologically advanced when compared with their planet's age. Their history shows countless wars fought among each other for territory, yet except for this one time, they never allowed in-fighting to damage their world's ecosystem. Due to the lack of Qi in any form, their bodies were much more susceptible to disease. They persisted through quite some nasty ones and their descendants became partially immune to even the worse of the lot. Like usual, due to their focus on science and technology rather than on cultivation, their insight is much higher and they comprehended the basic knowledge we grant newbie worlds with ease. After only one week, their standing in the ranking competition was 179th, making this one quite pleased.](Jing)

Floating Clouds Jing could see people nodding in the room and was feeling quite sorry for them and himself. Yes, a world like that is worth grooming even if in big numbers, yet besides telling the ones present that this world has many geniuses and they need to be split among the neutral faction to properly nurture them, his old master left all other details out. And he couldn't just jump to showing them the recording... he first needs to give the verbal report, else it would be considered insubordination. Stupid rules...

[Due to our sect coming under attack multiple times in the past decades, I was forced to show myself only a handful of times and guide them with few words. Even worse, since the last attack on our faction was very intense, I couldn't leave the frontlines until the day of the trials. Therefore, I had no idea what sort of growth they would have and could only hope for the best. Joining me because of reasons everyone here is aware of, were young master Ling of the Ling clan, three of his min.. *Cough* close friends, and Purple Snake Luo. All five of them can attest to my words being true, as well as the recording talisman used for the entire duration of the trials.](Jing)

[Do not worry Floating Clouds. We are aware of your reputation as an honest and hard-working man, so nobody here would doubt your words.](Cheng)

[I thank sect master Cheng for his kind words! It's just that... even if was to hear the story myself and not have seen it with my own two eyes, I won't believe it.](Jing)

[Hehe! It seems like there was a reason for Old Lake to get so agitated after all. Go on little Jing! Recount the story.](Qin)

[Understood, sect master Qin! When we were supposed the start the usual trials, young master Ling brought out two of his clan's treasures, the Heaven Ascending Steele and the Warring Drums and pressured me into using them instead.](Jing)

[Preposterous!](Qin)

[The nerve! Does that old monster from the Ling clan need a reminder of his position!? Did he go senile because of his old age? To dare to pressure you on a recruiting made by our faction!](Cheng)

[Old friends, calm down and listen to the rest. I was also infuriated when I heard it at the time, yet, it does seem that everything worked out in our favor in the end.](Clear Lake)

Hearing Clear Lake's words, the two sect heads that got up to their feet and seemed ready to storm the Ling clan any second now, calmed down and sat back on their chairs. Seeing his master nodding at him, he continued recounting the events that came to pass.

Here and now, those present would gasp, yell, or even pound the table with their fists in annoyance. Just like old Jing and his master Clear Lake thought, it would be hard to believe without hard evidence. Taking a deep breath, Clear Lake expanded his domain and used his Immortal Qi to create a barrier around the room, startling the ones present.

[Old Lake, this?](Qin)

[Appologies for doing this without notifying you in advance, however, we cannot afford to let this information leak.](Clear Lake)

[Old Lake, if it did there won't be many who'd believe it anyway. Even if you want us to nurture these young prodigies, it's a bit exaggerated to describe it as such, isn't it?](Qin)

Hearing his old friend and seeing how sect master Cheng also held the same opinion since he kept mum, Clear Lake looked at Floating Cloud Jing and gave him permission to use the recording talisman to recount the recruitment process visually this time.

They listened to the speech made by cultivator Jing and nodded in appreciation to his work ethic. However, they saw something on the faces of the six examiners present that made everyone in the room curious. Then, young master's Ling words filled the room.

[To think that there is someone as ignorant as this person in such a small world. He probably barely earned 25-30 Spirit Jades and he used almost all, if not all of it to show off. He would probably rip every strand of hair on his head once he finds out how important this currency is in the Immortal World.](Young master Ling)

Everyone was casting curious glances at cultivator Jing who stopped the recording and calmly explained how someone used a Communication Jade purchased probably from the System, coupled with the anonymity option to stay hidden. The elders, custodians and elite disciples present had the same reaction as the rest, some smiling wryly while others gloating... only the three heads looked different. They looked suspiciously at the recording since it didn't make much sense.

Using their Qi, they transmitted their voice between the three of them.

[This... something seems off.](Qin)

[I also think so.](Clear Lake)

[That's because it's impossible to buy a Communication Jade during the first six months after coming in contact with the System. We all know that while the System is greedy for Spirit Jades, it won't give out information for free. That means that someone on Earth discovered all these details of its inner workings and made use of it to send a message to the rest. There is an additional problem though...](Cheng)

[[Oh!?]](both)

[Do you two think that the System would sell anything to someone that doesn't have immense potential before their ascension to the Immortal World? That would be a breach of its original settings.](Cheng)

The three all wore a solemn expression on their faces and waited for the recording to continue. Time and time again, they would be shocked silly by what they saw, just like everyone else in the room.

[Eh!? Why are they so slow? Hmm!? Damn! Those people are using the Steele to temper themselves!? How? A newbie shouldn't know that!](?)

[Crap! Look at the huge numbers that climbed over 750 steps! Eh!? Why are the ones at the 250th step climbing down? Your mom! What do you mean you stayed there only to temper yourselves!](?)

[That young master Ling is too much! 7 reverberations!? He barely passed 8 himself and almost died in the process... Eh!? Holly shit! Just how many are gonna pass 10 reverberations!?

Continuous yelling and swearing could be heard in the room. The looks on the faces of those in attendance made Floating Clouds Jing smile and nod his head approvingly. Looking at the three sect masters who were both pale and red in the face at the same time, he couldn't help but nod again in understanding. They were red because of the huge number of absurd prodigies they gained this time around, but pale when thinking that even after spreading them between sects under their factions, they might not have sufficient resources to nurture all of them.

The recording ended and the three sect masters looked at each other silently for a while, after which seemingly reached an agreement.

[All here present would sign a life-and-death spiritual contract! The other option is death! I am sorry but we cannot allow the contents of this recording to spread.](Cheng)

[We understand sect master Cheng! However, what about the Ling clan? They were present there as well.](?)

[Without the recording which we won't give them, they would only have the ravings of those four. Purple Snake Luo will also sign it as well.](Clear Lake)

Everyone signed the contract and the meeting ended. The participants flew out like headless bees in all directions, hoping to prepare a bit more for when the huge wave of geniuses that would soon join their factions. The three sect heads were the same.

[It seems that a blood storm is unavoidable...](Cheng)

[Hahaha! These old bones have lived for quite a long time! Finally, I get to put them to work!](Qin)

[We should let all of the new blood from Earth join sects at the Yellow Rank, right?](Clear Lake)

[No! They need to temper themselves properly and with the unsealing of Heavens happening, they should start from the Basic Rank sects given that they are newbie cultivators. Let's go, you two! We have much work to do!](Cheng)

An entire year passed in the Immortal World, but only a single day back on Earth. Nevertheless, today was the day of ascension. The many prodigies that passed the trials were preparing themselves, just as portals and a worldwide message resounded through the skies.

Herman was looking at the blue gate while basking in melancholy. The true struggle was only about to begin!