20 Unrealistic

The climb took well over an hour but they had finally reached the main area. It was a collection of large buildings high over the city but still well below even the middle level of the entire mountain.

The buildings looked slightly different from the ones he had seen in other villages or the city below as instead of bricks and wood, a lot of these buildings seemed to have been made of some smooth stone.

There was a large palace-like building in the middle as various other structures were scattered to both left and the right.

It seemed like certain structures bore into the mountain itself as well as Jin could see a tunnel-like structure where people could be seen entering and exiting.

The majority of these structures couldn't be seen below due to the large and tall trees that grew below but it was truly a sight to behold. It was like a miniature city.

There were various people all over the places but he could make out that a lot of them had a similar style of outfits on. It was a tight martial arts robe, similar to the taekwondo robes but either completely white or black.

Luca noticed Jin's gaze as he glanced over and chuckled.

"Those are the people from the Tiger Sect. That giant main tunnel you see is the tunnel that connects the sect's area with the Ho Family area, they are closely integrated after all. As for the colors, white is outer sect and black is for inner sect disciples. There's also a red version that's reserved for the elders but you won't be able to see them as easily as the majority of them are either within the sects teaching or somewhere far off completing missions." Luca explained.

"What about those long purple robes?" Jin asked as he pointed to another group of 4 people who had purple kimono-like robes over their robes.

"Ah, those are the elites. Both the outer and the inner sect have a rudimentary ranking system that is decided once a year at a tournament. The top 10 of each area get a special robe and certain benefits but mainly fame." Luca smiled. "The one with the golden hair over there is Samaek, the current rank 2 of the outer sect I believe. He's not from any of the four families but rather a commoner that rose up, if you get the chance you should get to know him better."

"Understood." Jin gazed at the boy with long, golden hair. He didn't look particularly muscular or strong but Jin knew better to not judge by appearances.

"Alright let's head to Baek's residence, she should be waiting for us." Luca continued up the stairs towards the building located at the very top as Jin followed quickly.

It didn't take long for them to reach the small palace-like structure. Jin almost asked why there were no guards around the area before quickly realizing how useless they would be.

"Look closer Jin." Luca smiled as he pointed in a specific spot.

Jin gazed towards the location Luca pointed and focused before quickly realizing there was a strange wave to the wind elements in the shadows.

"We can see you, come out." Luca chuckled as he spoke.

A pair of eyes opened out of the air before Ahn's figure stepped out from thin air.

"Haha, it seems even the powers of her holiness cannot hide us that well." Ahn smiled as he walked up to them. "Please don't reveal the others, we're just doing our jobs after all."

"No problem." Luca smiled back. "You should explain yourself to Jin though."

"Ah right, hey Jin. Nice to meet you again! I'm glad you accepted the invitation." Ahn bent down and ruffled Jin's hair as Jin tried to move out of the way in discomfort.

"How did you do that?" Jin asked, still confused as to how Ahn walked out of thin air.

"It's just a party trick her holiness teaches us. Think of it as an optical illusion, how it actually works is a bit complicated." Ahn explained kindly. "As for 'us', we're just one of the special corps of the Tiger Army."

'Refraction..? Probably condensing a specific area around them and refracting the light to hide away their bodies from certain angles... I'll have to try that in the future...'

"Well, is Baek in?" Luca cut off Jin's thought of train as he asked Ahn.

"...Maybe? We can't really tell before we go in ourselves either." Ahn shrugged as he returned to the location he had been standing at. "Go ahead and enter, if she's not there then you know how to notify her."

Ahn then disappeared before Jin's eyes again.

Jin tried to focus and outline Ahn's figure but was quickly dragged inside by Luca.

"Don't bother, it's an easy trick you can deduce when you have the free time." Luca explained.

Jin nodded as he looked around the small palace that they had just entered. It was a majestic hall with an asian theme but only had a few large sofas and beds near the center.

A small white cat slept in one of the sofas.

'Wait.'

'That is not a cat.'

Jin noticed a tremendous amount of wind element condensed around the small white cat.

But instead of flowing violently as they usually did when they were condensed to such a degree, they were almost motionless. As if they were a part of its body.

"Baek, wake up." Luca shouted at the cat.

The cat's eyes opened up wide with a jolt before the entire body of the cat disappeared.

Luca quickly grabbed onto Jin and sidestepped.

But in Jin's eyes, nothing out of the ordinary happened.

"Dang it Luca! You know not to do that!" The small white cat appeared before their eyes in the air as it spoke out in an annoyed tone.

Drip. Drip.

Jin noticed a few drops of blood on the ground before looking up and noticing a deep scratch wound on the side of Luca's face.

"I almost killed you!" The white cat growled angrily. "Ugh, you seem to almost have reached the peak of the mortal realm at least. Otherwise you might've actually died."

"Mmm, close enough." Luca grinned as he let go of Jin. "We came as you invited."

"Psh, I didn't do anything. It's those kids and Hiru. They're awfully afraid of you, did you know that?" A small tornado covered the shape of the white cat before expanding to reveal Baek's childish appearance once again. "What's your real goal for coming anyway, I was sure you'd not accept it. Not that I'm disappointed or anything."

"Would you believe me if I told you I came to kill someone?" Luca responded with a smile.

The air suddenly grew extremely heavy as Jin felt a tremendous amount of pressure pushing down on him from above. He looked up and noticed the glowing eyes of Baek who had been glaring at Luca.

A few drops of sweat appeared on Luca's forehead as he had been trying to divert the pressure Jin was receiving onto himself as well.

The pressure lasted for a moment before quickly dissipating as Baek flopped onto a sofa.

"You wouldn't win." Baek replied lazily. "I know you're here to send Jin to the sect."

"Haha, you're correct. However, I once again ask for a clearance for a spar." Luca walked up and sat upon another sofa before gesturing to Jin to come over.

"Ugh. You know I really don't like fighting. Must you ask this every time you come over?" Baek rolled over and glared at Luca before looking over to Jin. "Hmm. However, if he can bring out a satisfactory result, I wouldn't mind broadening his visions."

"I'm sure you won't be disappointed. You already know his bloodline density, you just need to check his innate talent right? Jin, close your eyes and stay still." Luca ordered.

"Okay."

"Haha, right onto the point huh? Impatient as ever." Baek giggled as she got up. "His acceptance into the sect is guaranteed for the sole reason of him being a Ho, how much care he will receive is dependent on his talents."

Baek then walked up to Jin before resting her palm onto his head. "You know, it's a real privilege for a guardian to assess a mortal like this. I haven't done this in years, you should be honored."

"Let's first see his talent in the domain of training the body." Baek spoke as ten orbs of wind appeared before her. "Jin, you're going to experience some pain. Try to endure it as long as possible."

Then.

A force that seemed to have teared every fiber of muscle in Jin's body struck him like a truck as his eyes opened up wide in pain as he gasped for air.

He quickly regained his focus as the orbs of wind slowly turned red one by one.

This lasted for a while.

And as Jin almost passed out from the pain.

Ssss.

The pain subsided as Jin fell back onto the sofa in pain.

"Haa...Haaa..." Jin gasped for air as he tried to recover from what he had just experienced.

He noticed the seven red balls in the air before looking over to Luca.

Luca nodded as he started to speak. "Well, seven is pretty good but not enough for him to tread upon the demonic path unless his elemental talents are much weaker which I doubt."

Baek waved her hands as the orbs of wind disappeared. "You know, seven orbs could still be called a genius you know. Even the current commander of the Tiger Army only had 8 orbs when he was first assessed though I'm sure it's around 9 now."

"Just test his elemental talent." Luca patted Jin's shoulder and motioned him to get up. "You've experienced much worse during your bone enhancement, get up."

Jin groaned as he sat back up as Baek smiled at him. "This won't hurt, you might feel a bit tired though."

She then opened her palm to reveal a small pill. "Eat this, it's a forbidden medicine that makes the qi go berserk for a few minutes that soldiers use when their lives are on the line. It's a modified version that has almost no side effects except only lasts around five seconds. I'm going to cover you in ten layers of shields and the more you can break the better."

"Isn't this dangerous?" Jin asked, afraid of what could happen.

"Well, it does seem very rudimentary but it's the safest method of testing for elemental talent. Most people test by pushing themselves to the limits and break through the shields one by one but we have the luxury of this pill so the entire process takes much less effort and time." Luca explained. "Just get ready to pop it into your mouth."

"...Alright." Jin stared at the small black pill in his hands as Baek waved her hands and 10 almost transparent balls appeared around Jin in layers.

"Go for it" Baek chuckled.

Jin popped the pill into his mouth and closed his eyes.

Weirdly, nothing happened.

"Hmm?" Baek tilted her head before staring at Jin. This shouldn't be... Unless Jin had no elemental talent? But that can't be...

At that moment

Jin's eyes opened up wide to reveal two shining eyes.

"ROAR!!!!"

-----

Hayes, who had been making a bowstring in the backyard of his shop heard a strange roar as he looked up at where it originated from before his jaws dropped open.

And that's when the explosion happened.

BOOOOM!!!

A giant white explosion blew out a small portion of the mountain as every cloud in the vicinity of the explosion were blown away.

Then.

WHOOOOOSH!

A tremendous wind pressure tore throughout the entire city, causing some buildings to actually collapse and cause chaos onto the city.

Various trees broke off from the wind pressure above their city as they started to fall.

Thankfully, the cultivators and soldiers of the army quickly used their qi and bodies to divert the damage as much as possible.

Hayes quickly stepped out of the shop to gaze at the once prosperous city that had almost been torn into ruins.

"What in the world..."