*1st Pov*
[Senior brother, welcome to the Yang Palace.] he said
Looked good enough to suit my tastes. As for the soul energy in the air, it is slightly stronger, considering we are much higher than before. He probably thinks that I would be surprised by the amount of Qi in the air. Yes, it could be useful for refining my body, and controlling it in the air to form attacks from nothing, but that's really it. I could've done that since before.
[Its above average. Barely suits my tastes, but I wont completely rule out this place.] I said simply. He looked at me with a little confusion before nodding.
[I get it, its your first time being in such a place, so you are confused. Try to sense the Qi in the air.] he said. How stupid.
[I already did. It is sub-optimal. Now continue on your flight.] I said simply. I added a little of arrogance there to not cause any suspicion of being some kind of emotionless freak. There was a difference with being cold and being emotionless.
[Alright then. Shall we visit Elder Yang?] he said. I nodded while following him.
[Whats your name?] I asked simply. I wanted to see if this "Elder Yang" was the only one with a Chinese name, or if it was spread through the whole world.
[Aha, Senior brother must think that everyone has a special name like Elder Yang. Unfortunately, that is not the case. Normally, we are given different names. In my case, senior brother can address me as Junior Josh. You see, the higher we climb the ranks, the more syllables we get in our names. I believe Elder Yang's full name is Yangirusu, containing 5 syllables, while mine contains only 2 syllables. And a persons name can also be completely changed, which is what happens after a certain rank, like with the case of Elder Yang. Might I ask what Seniors name is?] said Josh.
[I see. Refer me as Senior Frey. Explain to me more about names.] I said. He looked with a hint of surprise.
[I see that Senior Frey has a unique name, not belonging to any kind of naming group. My name is from what mortals call a normal sense of naming. While they call someone like Elder Yang as a "Chinese" name. Of course, These were eventually divided into 3 categories. The Odd names, like Elder Yangs, the Normal names, like mine, and then the irregular names, like yours.
The reason why names are so important and were divided into 3 categories were because of inheritances. It was invented to categorise the many expert inheritances. I'm sure that it was just made out of a sign of respect, but thats kind of a thing people know, but don't say. If you get what I am saying.] he said. As the conversation flowed, his voice naturally followed and became less respectful. Of course, I prefer it like this. Having someone call you a brother is weird in itself.
[Alright then. Ill forgive your rudeness in exchange for the knowledge you shared with me. For now, bring me to this "Elder Yang".] I said. He nodded, and started to speed up. By the time he was at full speed, I was at 2% speed. And that was without any kinds of enhancements.
Finally, along with that Josh guy, we appeared in front of a mini house on top of a hilltop. We directly entered through the door, and appeared within a room with several seals I could recognise, while some I could only ponder about after piecing the knowledge of what was in there with my own knowledge.
[Junior Frey, was it? Take a seat. Disciple Josh, you are dismissed.] the elder said. He had suddenly appeared, but I just saw through it. He literally walked into the room. He was at the Nirvana Monarch II level. The fifth great cultivation rank. I measured his strength with mine. If I were to fight him without Susanoo, Stand powers, or any Titan failure lighting, then it would result in a 3 move defeat for me.
[So then, what would senior like from this junior?] I questioned passively. He raised his eyebrow.
[You can fly, and faster than a Golden Core Peak IV rank, yet you don't even have any cultivation. You must be using Soul energy. Would Junior like to join the Yang palace, and train in cultivation? Soul energy along with Cultivation will prove to be a deadly fusion.] he said. Personally, I didn't want to be bound by anything, so I swiftly refused.
[*Sigh, I guess it cant be helped. Then, how about a disciple-in-name?] he said. Disciple-in-name. Sounded weird enough for me to ask.
[Being a disciple-in-name means you get all benefits from an Inner disciple, yet you can retain your freedom. Of course, if there is a situation where the Yang Palace is being destroyed, you must help. What do you say?]
[No thanks. I'm good.] I replied.
[I insist.] he says
[I would rather not.]
[Treat it as a favour from this old man.]
[I would rather you save that favour for someone more fortunate.]
[You yourself are already fortunate.]
I looked at him with a weird look. I refused him thrice, yet all three times he ignored it.
[Unfortunately, I'm quite busy right now, so I cant afford to join as an in-name disciple.]
[Thats no problem. It only takes a couple of minutes to complete the procedure.]
I gave up. I dont want to have to deal with this every time I come to this city.
[Fine then. Hurry this process up.] I said, losing all respect in my tone.
[Junior Frey, even if you may be a Soul Master, don't you think you are treating your elders a little too harshly?] he questioned
[Dont you think it's annoying enough for you to refuse my rejections time and time again? And I am a free man, I can still refuse at any time. Dont mistake my kindness for giving up.] I replied in an equally offended tone.
[It seems like Junior Frey indeed has guts. Well then, this Elder Yang shall not persist. Place a drop of blood on this golden token.] he said. I did as he said, quickly slicing a cut in my finger, and dropping exactly a drop of blood on the token. Every other drop of blood that fell floated in the air and returned back into my body, and sealed the wound.
[Alrighty then, Disciple Frey. Your dwelling will be in the Inner disciple area, room #69. Come to this old mans house tomorrow evening to receive your daily resources. You can do whatever your mind desires after that.] said Elder Yang. I nodded and left with the golden token he gave me.
Well, that was bothersome. However, not entirely fruitless. Now I have a rough estimation of my power, being at the 5th great realm, the Pre-Ascended Core realm. Ill just claim my dwelling and then meditate for the rest of the evening.
Yet, I cant help but feel that I'm going to have to humiliate someone... It must be a foreshadowing.