Sunlight Sword Sect

Perhaps because the guard could immediately tell that Karsha was a slave, the color drained from his face. This did not escape Xian's notice. "Is something troubling you? You look pale," he asked, looking even more concerned than Karsha. Xian wanted to repay the person who had saved him from the jaws of death. But seeing that person appear as though he had just escaped death himself made Xian act like a caring younger brother.

"I am fine. I just remembered something frightening. Nothing to worry about." Of course, Karsha wasn't going to tell him the truth. He knew he would forever be branded by the slave mark, but he didn't really care. He also knew that once he became strong enough, his status as a slave would change because no one would dare oppose him even if they knew.

The only solution to his problem now was to become strong and popular, whether in a good way or a bad way.

'Although I can't become strong now, I still have ways to become an important figure, at least in this city.' Indeed, Karsha was now a Grandmaster stage Alchemist. All he needed was to tame a fire and practice a few times to fully assimilate the knowledge into his muscle memory.

"Xian, take me to the identity guild, and after that, we can go to your sect so that I can sign up." Karsha had made up his mind. He would become a disciple of the Sunlight Sect, and once he was strong enough, he would leave and explore all the other amazing places Quinox had to offer. He also planned to eradicate the entire slave Mine, as his suffering in Quinox began there.

Many families suffered because their loved ones were captured and sold into slavery. Of course, some families bathed in wealth because they sold their children, deeming them useless. Most of these children were nieces and nephews who had lost their parents in one way or another.

Karsha was well aware of all this, thanks to what the mysterious being had shown him and the memories he had inherited from the old man. He understood the far-reaching influence of those Legacy families, so he knew he had to become stronger before making any move.

His system and class were still undergoing rebirth, so for the time being, he would stay with the sect. Once he felt confident enough, he would take action. And what was the best way to do that? If not by making a name for himself through Alchemy. 'If what Old Rizz said is true, a Grandmaster Alchemist in this city will fetch me some money.'

If there is one thing Karsha loves, it's money. His previous life was hard, but he always made sure his family lived comfortably. He consistently worked hard for money, and now, armed with a whole encyclopedia of Alchemical knowledge, he knew he had to make good use of it and make a name for himself while earning some money on the side.

'I will become the talk of the town.' Karsha didn't even stop to consider the possibility that drawing attention might bring doom to his doorstep. He didn't have the luxury to think about that now. He was too excited about the gains he would soon reap from his alchemy skills.

---

After registering at the identity guild, he and Xian headed to the Sunlight Sect. They spent nearly two hours at the guild due to the number of people there.

"Thank you for paying the fees for me," Karsha said to Xian, who wore a happy smile. Xian knew that spending ten gold coins wouldn't be enough to repay the person who saved him, but he still went ahead and paid. 'Baby steps,' he thought. He knew if he tried to put a price on being saved, he wouldn't be able to repay it anytime soon. But taking it step by step seems like the way forward.

Because of that, Xian wanted to handle the smaller tasks, like running errands and paying for cheaper items, to ensure his benefactor didn't experience any hardship while in the sect. Of course, Xian wasn't doing this without expecting something in return.

Coming from a poor family, spending ten gold coins was a significant expense for him. However, if he managed to recruit Karsha to his sect, he would be awarded 500 gold coins. Karsha would have to pass the entrance test for Xian to earn that reward, but Xian was confident that someone who could kill a Tier 5 monster would pass the test easily.

"Big brother," Xian called out, prompting Karsha to snap out of his thoughts. Seeing he had Karsha's attention, Xian continued, "The outer area of the sect is not very comfortable. You will also receive minimal resources, which will only contribute to small advancements in your cultivation. So, when you take the test, show them your potential. If you are lucky, you will be directly admitted as an inner disciple."

"Although you are a Peak Master, the sect can make an exception and make you an inner disciple," Xian said earnestly. He wanted Karsha to join him in the inner area, so he exaggerated a bit. Karsha could sense Xian's enthusiasm but chose to go along with his plan.

Karsha wasn't one to hold back when dealing with problems. Back on Earth, to kill a drug kingpin, he had loaded barrels of petrol and dropped them from a helicopter, setting the entire 12-acre complex ablaze. It was a barbaric way of killing, yet he did it with a huge smile on his face.

He didn't care about the opinions of those he deemed unworthy, so hearing the varied tone of the person he wanted to take as a subordinate made him sigh inwardly. Initially, he planned to tone down his approach, but after hearing Xian's opinion, he knew he had to adjust his plans. He hadn't spent almost a month in the forest for nothing.

"What will the test be like?" he asked.

"It varies based on your class, but it mostly involves battling monsters," Xian replied.

Karsha nodded as they continued toward the sect, which he could see in the distance, shining magnificently. Soon, they arrived at the front gate, which looked like it was made from diamond jade. It stood 100 meters tall and 70 meters wide, looking majestic and shiny.

"Look who's finally back. I hope you manage to pass this time," a woman in her 50s said, casting a knowing smile at Xian, who returned it with equal confidence.

"I passed this time, Elder June," Xian replied confidently, causing the Elder to arch her eyebrow. "And who might your friend be?" she directed her attention to Karsha, who had a curious look on his face. The presence of the woman before him was formidable, making him wonder if he could survive a single blow from her.

He considered using his [Info] skill to gauge her strength and perhaps uncover her true identity, but he quickly advised himself against it. Despite sensing something unusual about the old woman, he decided not to dwell on it.

"He is Karsha; he wants to join the sect," Xian said with a smile.

"I hope you are not bringing another lazy worm this time," the Elder remarked with a hint of warning, suggesting she wouldn't defend him if he wasted the sect's resources again.

Sensing her skepticism, Xian smiled and reassured the Sect Elder that Karsha was the real deal. "You will get your token as an outer sect disciple once you pass the test," Elder June said after taking down Karsha's details.

"Xian, take him to test area 13. It seems to be empty at the moment." Xian and Karsha slightly bowed and entered the sect, heading toward the exam area. They saw many people there, each with different emotions on their faces. Some smiled, while others frowned or had teary eyes, clearly having failed their tests and now wallowing in self-pity.

"Ha, that kid is not simple. I hope he wins you those 500 gold coins, Xian, I really do," the sect elder said as she watched the two boys walking away in the distance.

She had been watching over Xian ever since he joined the sect. His parents had helped her mother when she was attacked by some dangerous people years ago. She was on the brink of death, but the couple, despite having little themselves, gave what they could to nurse her back to health.

When she regained her health, she made them a promise: if they ever had a son or daughter, she would personally take him or her to the Sunlight Sect and ensure they grew up to become a powerful cultivator.

She sighed and then sat back. The boy currently with Karsha was going through a lot and needed to take care of himself while also supporting his family. The 500 gold coins he could earn would help him buy a few things and send some money to his parents.

"He is here to take the Swordsman trial," Xian said, placing the brown paper Elder June had given them in front of a timid-looking young man who seemed to hate everything about life. The young man stared at the paper for a while before pointing toward a specific door.

"Nineteen years old and still a Master stage cultivator. What a waste," he smirked, shifting his gaze away from Karsha, who was almost at the entrance.

"Good luck, Brother Karsha; I'll be waiting for you here," Xian spoke, encouraging Karsha, who would soon win him 500 gold coins. Karsha smiled at him before entering the door.

However, when his eyes landed on the instructor inside the room, he couldn't help but gulp.

"Don't just stand there. Get into the formation; I don't have all day," a lady spoke in an annoyed tone. Her irritation made Karsha wonder what could possibly make such a damsel have that unpleasant look on her face.

'Here we go,' Karsha thought as he stepped into the formation. "Start," the instructor commanded.