Raven was shocked to hear that Khal knew about the Soul World. She could still clearly remember the way she has unlocked hers as it was through complete sheer luck and a small amount of external help.
Also, she was perfectly aware that no one except her knew about the existence of the Tenth Cultivation Stage, thus hearing that Khal had knowledge about it was rather shocking and confusing.
Khal seemed to understand Raven's thought hence just smiled and said, "What can I say? Sometimes my genius... it's almost frightening."
Raven felt her lips twitch slightly upon hearing Khal's arrogant declaration, but in the end, she just sighed and asked, "And who else knows about it?"
"Only a few from Moon Academy," Khal replied casually, his eyes continuously scanning the scenery outside.
Although he showed he was relaxed, in fact, he was not. It was because he was currently on an unknown planet with unknown dangers lurking around together with many weak beings that he had to protect until Elder Rene does not arrive.
After remaining silent for moments as Raven didn't continue to speak even after getting her answer, Khal decided to ask, "And you? How did you figure out that there was one final stage beyond the Ninth Cultivation Stage? No, more importantly, how did you even ascend? Didn't you say you wished to create a sect in the First Realm?"
"Yeah, I did say that, but just as life things won't go as smoothly as we plan them to go." Raven showed a bittersweet smile and slowly began to narrate the events to Khal until the point where she was now.
It was a rather long story as even after thirty minutes she was still speaking, but in the eyes of Khal who was left shocked right at the very start, it only felt a few minutes at most.
It turned out that after the Thousand Life Tournament Raven decided to focus on her cultivation and reach the peak as soon as possible before starting her dream to build a sect.
And to his great shock, Raven was able to reach the peak in less than 1 week!
Yes, under one week which was unheard of before and even the word heaven-defying would be a huge underestimation!
However, as great power comes with great responsibility and even greater oppositions in the path of cultivation, Raven found herself many enemies just because of her terrifying cultivation talent alone.
Many wished to make her join their Families and Sects, but as she rejected all of them what she earned was not their respect but their jealousy and wrath instead!
As the saying goes,' if you are not with me then you are my enemy' here immediately took effect and many wished to see her dead because of her immense potential; they looked at her like a threat, someone who can wipe them out in the future at any given moment.
Hence, with many powerful cultivators trying to claim her life because of fear, Raven had no choice but to flee as not even her own family had the ability to help her more than giving her a little more headstart.
But even before she could have escaped to the Eastern Continent safely, she was forced into a corner where hope didn't look promising for her. However, who would have thought that just when she thought she will get killed, fate would give her another chance by finding a strange plant, forcing her Soul World to open and help her ascend!
"And that is how I ascended and got captured by those creatures," Raven said, her complexion filled with many emotions as she recalled her past.
"If it were not for you, I don't even know what would have happened with me. That is why I still can't thank you enough when I said I owe you my life, I was not joking- I really do."
Khal examined Raven's expression and when he saw how serious she was he just sighed and shifted his gaze back at the scenery outside.
"Do as you wish."
"I will."
Silence fell on the cave and time seemed to pass relatively slowly but in the end, seven hours still went by and Elder Rene finally arrived.
With his help, Khal was able to get back to Moon Sect safely. As for the beings that had been freed by him, after getting in touch with some of his old friends that hailed from different races he was able to find them a place to recover and stay for the time being.
"So this is Moon Sect?" Raven asked with curiosity her now no longer hollow eyes staring at the gates of the sect.
"It indeed is." Elder Rene nodded and stopped before the edge of the gate, "However if you wish to join us, you need to take a test. It will decide if you will become an Outer, Inner, or Core Disciple."
"You are also a disciple, right? What is your title currently?" Raven asked from Khal, who stood beside Elder Rene with a tranquil expression.
"Well... Not quite." Khal showed an awkward smile upon hearing the question but when he saw the confusion on Raven's face he quickly added, "It is quite a long story, but shortly, through several major events and a bit of luck I have become an Elder. I am not a disciple."
"What?! You are an Elder? But you are... How?" Raven's eyes widened before her face turned serious and said, "Then I will become one too!"
"I fear that is not how it works, young lady." Elder Rene shook his head and quickly explained the requirements.
After he finished talking, he crossed his arms before his chest and said, "So with the current strength of yours, you can only become an Inner disciple at most but even that would be hard to say. Of course, with hard work and patience, anything is possible."
Raven remained silent and surprisingly, instead of throwing a tantrum or scoffing at Elder Rene's derogatory words, she nodded and bowed, "I see, then let me take the test, please."
"You have pretty good manners, not like a particular somebody.." Elder Rene said as he gave a sidelong glance at Khal before turning around and gesturing at Raven to follow him.
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