Chapter 68: Chapter 68: The Offer [1]
Damon lifted Selene’s unconscious form into his arms. She was lighter than he expected. He adjusted his grip, one arm under her knees and the other supporting her back and turned toward the mansion’s main entrance.
Hector walked ahead and Mei walk beside Damon, so close her perfume washed over him.
"My~ What a lucky boy. You are carrying a beautiful Heavenly Spirit Realm elder like she’s a sleeping child." Mei murmured, her voice a low purr beside his ear.
Damon didn’t answer her.
"Through there, It’s her private room. Lay her on the bed." Hector said, pointing to a doorway on the left.
They entered a room that felt more like a cave of ice than a bedroom. The walls shimmered with embedded frost crystals, and the large bed was draped in silver and white.
Damon placed Selene down gently, her silver hair fanning across the pillow. Her face was peaceful in sleep, the usual stern lines smoothed away.
Mei immediately sat on the edge of the bed. She placed a slender hand on Selene’s forehead.
Hector crossed his arms; his gaze fixed on Damon. "Now. Explain from the beginning. She summoned you after the test?"
Damon turned to face the sect leader. He kept his posture relaxed, his hands at his sides. "She said about her nephew, Jack Frostborn. Then she ordered me to follow her here."
"And you came willingly?" Hector’s eyes narrowed.
"I had no reason to refuse an elder. But when we arrived, she asked about my sword aura." Damon told him.
Hector’s eyebrow burrowed. "How does she know about sword aura it usually only knowledge around Emperor Realm cultivator or above that use sword as their weapon, also who can you use it?"
At first, she didn’t know about it but I told her it was a sword aura. Also, I told her I inherited the knowledge from my late master’s implanted memories." Damon said.
Hector’s eyebrow twitched. "Implanted memories. It’s a rare and dangerous art. Go on."
"She said she wanted to felt it herself. She asked me to attack her with my full power with Sword Aura. She said there no way a True Spirit Realm can hurt her."
Damon gestured toward the bed. "And you know the result."
Mei chuckled softly, not looking up from Selene. "She always was a sword freak. Couldn’t resist testing a new type of power, even if it meant getting knocked out cold."
After a moment, Mei withdrew her hand and stood. "It’s just a spiritual energy exhaustion. Her pride is more wounded than her body. She’ll wake in an hour or two with a headache."
Hector let out a slow breath, some of the tension leaving his shoulders. "Good."
He looked at Damon again. "Show me this sword aura."
Damon nodded. He moves back outside into the more open space, with Hector and Mei following. He summoned his wooden sword from his storage ring.
He didn’t use much power, since it’s just enough to make a point. He raised the sword, and a visible ripple of energy coated the sword.
Hector stared, his expression unreadable. "Sword Aura. it’s a real Sword Aura not just sword intent. This makes you a Sword Grand Master at eighteen." He shook his head, a mix of awe and disbelief in his eyes.
"Elder Alder’s report said you only use Sword Intent, when did you learn sword aura."
Damon let the aura fade away and lowered the sword. "It was a couple week ago. It was my master’s final gift. It was locked until my understanding of sword deep enough. My master design it that I keep honing myself."
"What a great master you had." Hector said.
He rubbed his chin, thinking. "These changes things. A disciple with your potential cannot remain an inner disciple. With The resources you’ll need and the attention you’ll draw..."
"I don’t want special treatment, Sect Leader" Damon said.
"It’s not about what you want," Hector replied with his firm voice. "It’s about what the sect needs. The Eastern Continent tournament is in seven months. I intended to send a team of core disciples. Now, I’m looking at you."
Mei’s smile widened. "Oh, he’d be perfect. A hidden blade. No one expects a new disciple to wield Sword Aura."
Hector nodded. "You will be promoted to core disciple. Effective immediately. You’ll be given a residence in the core disciple peaks, a monthly stipend of spirit stones, and access to the high-level technique library." He paused, his eyes sharpening. "But this comes with conditions."
Damon waited.
"You will tell no one the full extent of your abilities. You will continue to present yourself as a talented sword cultivator, but the aura remains a secret until the tournament. Secondly, you will take Elder Selene as your personal instructor in sword arts."
Mei burst out laughing. "Oh, Hector, you devil. That’s brilliant."
"And now she owes you her life, in a manner of speaking," Hector said. "You knocked her out, but that was her wish. More importantly, you possess something she craves—advanced sword knowledge. She will be conflicted, but her obsession will win. She will teach you everything she knows, if only to be near your aura and understand it."
’It makes sense. A powerful, conflicted elder, bound to him by interest and debt. The system would probably call it an opportunity.’ Damon thought.
"And the third condition?" Damon asked.
Hector’s gaze shifted to Mei. "The third condition is that you accept Lady Mei as your... patron. Your protector within the sect’s political circles. Her daughters are already attached to you. This formalizes it. She will shield you from the fallout of Jack Frostborn’s death and from any other enemies your rise will inevitably create."
Mei pushed off the door and sauntered over to Damon. She stopped inches away, looking up at him through her long lashes.
"Don’t worry, boy. I don’t bite... unless you ask nicely. Consider me your new Sugar Mommy in the sect. Hoho~" Her smile was all promise and hidden teeth.
"Wait, Sect Leader I think I have better idea." Damon said.
