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The sun's gentle rays painted the sky with hues of orange and gold, heralding the arrival of a momentous day in the Heavenly Sword Sect.
All the qualified disciples gathered atop a mountain summit, the sacred ground where the legendary Heavenly Sword Secret Realm would be unveiled.
The secret realm's opening was a rare and momentous event, occurring only once every hundred years.
Amidst the crowd, disciples stood in groups, organized according to their respective factions.
The sect was abuzz with excitement and anticipation, and each group discussed their expectations, plans, and what they had heard about the secret realm.
Among the disciples, some preferred to remain independent, standing alone on the mountain summit.
These individuals were often the most exceptional talents in the sect, those who had yet to find a faction that could match their ambitions.
Arthur, sat cross-legged on a rock, flanked by Luke, Balor, and Sun Wukong. His eyes closed in meditation, he remained undisturbed by the chatter surrounding him.
Around him were the members of his faction looking at him with respect as they discussed among themselves.
He had already given instructions on what will be done in the secret realm and their plan of action.
At the same time he had them well equipped with safety treasures while earned their gratitude and strengthened their loyalty.
Although it cost him nothing, he gains loyal followers in return. Followers whom will serve him well in the future beyond the walls of the sect.
Mark, an inner disciple and a friend of Arthur, observed him with a mix of awe and bewilderment.
Arthur's rapid rise in strength had left Mark in awe of his friend's accomplishments, which seemed almost beyond belief in such a short time.
"Arthur... to think he's reached such a level within a short timeframe I never thought possible," Mark thought to himself, contemplating whether he should approach his friend.
However, he hesitated, not wanting to disturb Arthur's focus before such an important event.
"Maybe later..." He thought.
As the disciples continued their discussions, a sudden commotion erupted among them.
A disciple's excited voice rang out, "Crixus is here!"
The crowd quickly parted, making way for Crixus, the powerhouse of the Heavenly Sword Sect.
His arrival brought a mix of admiration and tension, as everyone knew he was a force to be reckoned with.
Crixus strode forward with an air of confidence, his crimson hair standing out like a blazing flame.
He was a legend in the sect, having long surpassed the cultivation level of all the other disciples of the sect and reaching the peak of the Martial King Realm, a feat almost no one at his age could accomplish.
There were whispers that he might have even taken half a step into the Martial Emperor Realm, a cultivation realm that few could attain at his age.
If that were the case then he is sure to breakthrough to the Martial Emperor Realm by the end of the grand martial arts tournament.
His presence drew the attention of all, including Arthur, who opened his eyes slightly to glance at the approaching figure.
Luke, Balor, and Sun Wukong maintained their calm demeanor, but their eyes gleamed with curiosity and vigilance.
"The peak of the Martial King Realm... and perhaps even half a step into the Martial Emperor Realm," murmured one disciple, awe-struck by Crixus's strength. "He's incredible."
"Will he have a face-off with Invincible? Their factions are opposing each recently, and Crixus might not tolerate the resistance," speculated another disciple, sensing the tension in the air.
As Crixus approached, the atmosphere became charged with anticipation. Many wondered if a confrontation between the two powerhouses was inevitable.
Yet, just as the tension reached its peak, Crixus suddenly stopped in his tracks.
His intense gaze locked onto Arthur's calm expression, and the world seemed to fall silent around them.
A hushed murmur spread through the crowd, and all eyes focused on the potential confrontation between the two formidable figures.
The disciples held their breath, waiting for the slightest sign of hostility or aggression.
But instead, a flicker of acknowledgement flashed between Crixus and Arthur, and the tension in the air dissipated.
Crixus nodded slightly, acknowledging Arthur's presence, and then continued on his path without a word.
The atmosphere shifted from apprehension to relief as it became apparent that no fight would break out between the two powerhouses.
Arthur smiled in his heart, 'What an interesting fellow. It seems I need to make Balor even stronger before I make him challenge Crixus.'
The momentary encounter left an indelible impression on those present.
The unexpected exchange between Crixus and Arthur left the disciples of the Heavenly Sword Sect in awe and surprise.
Even Crixus's own followers were shocked by his gesture of acknowledgment towards Arthur.
Among them was Gregor, a core disciple whose defeat at Arthur's hands had caused his status in the sect to plummet.
Clenching his fists in anger, Gregor vowed to settle the score with Arthur later.
"Stay calm, Gregor," his elder brother, Startell, whispered, sensing his brother's agitation. "Now is not the time for recklessness."
Gregor gritted his teeth but heeded his brother's advice, concealing his displeasure beneath a composed exterior.
However, Arthur's empathic ability allowed him to sense the undercurrent of hostility emanating from Gregor.
Observing from afar, Arthur's eyes narrowed slightly, but he quickly dispelled thoughts about an already defeated weakling.
With his formidable soul power, he could discern emotions and intentions, even from a distance.
As Arthur turned, he caught the gaze of Thomas, the disciple who had provided him with valuable information that had led to his rapid ascent to core disciple status.
Feeling slight gratitude towards Thomas, Arthur nodded at him in acknowledgment.
In return, Thomas responded with a warm smile, pushing up his glasses in a friendly gesture.
'But what is this familiar feeling I keep getting whenever I see him?' Arthur wondered as he looked at Thomas with veiled suspicion.
'If I make some progress with the Fate Gem I believe I can find out.'
The anticipation in the air was interrupted by an excited cry from one of the disciples. "My goddess is here!"
All eyes turned to a figure descending gracefully from the sky.
It was none other than Kira, the grand-daughter of the Supreme Guardian of the Heavenly Sword Sect.
Her presence exuded an air of elegance and power that captivated all who laid eyes on her.
Kira was accompanied by the sisters, Maria and Nadia, along with the members of their faction.
The trio of beautiful women moved with grace and confidence, commanding attention wherever they went.
As Kira arrived on the mountain summit, she scanned the gathered disciples with her piercing gaze.
Her eyes eventually settled on Arthur, who was seated cross-legged on a rock, seemingly undisturbed by the commotion around him.
The onlookers couldn't help but notice the subtle tension in the air as Kira made her way towards Arthur.
Whispers and speculations filled the crowd, wondering what connection the two might have.
"I heard they are close. I wonder if they are friends or something more."
"Kira and Arthur, both of them entered the sect at the same time. I wonder if they had any interaction before joining the sect?"
"They say Kira is the granddaughter of the Supreme Guardian, I wonder if that is true?"
Meanwhile, Luke, Balor, and Sun Wukong exchanged curious glances as they observed Kira's approach.
They were aware of Arthur's connection to her, but they couldn't help but wonder what the grand-daughter of the Supreme Guardian wanted with their faction leader.
Arthur, with his eyes closed, seemed oblivious to the attention surrounding him.
However, as Kira drew nearer, he sensed her emotions through his ability and couldn't act like he doesn't know she here already.
'My Empath ability may not be as potent as my Soul Power, but I can still sense her emotions. Is she here to discuss something specific?'
The others with her stood by her side, watching the interaction with keen interest.
"I wonder what Kira wants from Arthur. They seem to have some sort of understanding between them," one of her followers murmured.
Amid the whispers, Kira broke the silence with a neutral tone, "Invincible, have you changed your mind?"
Arthur shook his head slightly, a playful glint in his eyes. "Of course, not. I'm always ready for whatever comes my way."
Kira nodded and immediately turned and left while the sisters, Maria and Nadia flashed a smile at Arthur and followed Kira.
As the sun rose higher in the sky, the mountain summit became a stage for the beginning of an extraordinary adventure—an adventure that would test their strength, forge new bonds, and reveal secrets hidden within the Heavenly Sword Secret Realm.
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