Suspicious occurrences

The crystals were also used in commencing, however, ordinary people were too poor to even think of using them.

They were pretty much exclusive to rank 2 and higher beings who were able to actually use them besides using them as money.

I was looking at the corpse on the ground and thinking.

Just because we're the same rank he thought he would be able to stall long enough for reinforcements.

I looked away from the body and aimed my eyes toward the pile of crystals.

This much would be enough...

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All rank 5 existences that lived on this planet were very old and especially crafty.

Since getting to rank 5 was a strenuous and time costing task few would be able to achieve such a feat.

It was like a battle royale where the winner would get the prize.

In this case, the prize is the rank 5 advancement.

I was previously too weak to be able to sense their existence but now at rank 4...

I'm still too weak.

Right now if a rank 5 wished to, they could kill me very easily.

Pride was the first step toward doom.

And the path I'm threading is already filled with dangers.

I could be walking on the street and in the next second I would be killed by a random bullet, car, human, or even a god might be there.

You never know...

Fortunately, at rank 4, I am able to touch upon laws, and such a thing allows me to do a lot more than before.

The law of water, for example, can be used for healing.

Fire is more focused on destruction.

And earth is construction oriented.

That's their specialty, that doesn't matter that water cannot hurt, nor that earth isn't able to destroy.

I chose water since that's also what I chose last time.

But to comprehend the law of water I need a place that's concentrated on that attribute.

Now I think it's time about joining a faction.

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An average-looking middle-aged man was walking through a huge garden.

His robes were black and were embodied with bloodred threads.

These threads formed demonic but incomprehensible images on the robe.

His hair was long and on his clean face was seated a goatee.

His walking was steady and proud.

His eyes were dim amber as it did nothing to diminish the fierceness in his eyes.

He was walking at a steady pace, not too slow or too fast.

With his hands behind his back, he looked like a master patrolling the mortal world for beasts to conquer.

He reached a towering pagoda as he stopped walking and waited.

Not even a minute after the doors opened a disciple hurriedly walked out and cupped his hand as he bowed and respectfully said.

<I apologize to senior for making you wait, master is waiting for you in her alchemy chamber.>

The pressure emanated from the elder made the youth sweat as he waited for a response.

<I see, lead the way then>

<Yes!>

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Upon entering the room a strong pill scent assaulted him as the room was packed with different kinds of herbs, the view created by the different plants of varying colors made for a unique, ancient feeling.

In the middle of the room was placed a cauldron that reached up to her waist as she was still with closed eyes and a focused mind.

The fire below the cauldron was a deep green color as the temperature was closely controlled by the master alchemist in front of him.

He stayed in place and waited.

After 10 minutes the fire went out as she opened her eyes, the look on her face signaling the success she had in refining the pill she wanted.

She threw a pill at the man and he caught it and started inspecting it.

<Not bad, although the temperature was a little too high and the ingredients a bit off>

She frowned as she said

<Ingredients a bit off?>

He walked over to the mortar and pestle and pointed at a seemingly empty spot.

<You used a phantom lily to make a pill before but forgot to carefully clean the pot>

She widened her eyes as she looked at the man in astonishment.

<How did you know I used phantom lily when it doesn't leave any scent or color?>

<It does leave a very faint energy trace, as well as an unnoticeable sticky feel.>

She looked closely at the pot and indeed notice the slight energy trace.

She then touched it and after a while, she noticed the slightly sticky feel.

Her opinion about the man changed yet again as she wondered how could a genius like this be kept hidden for so long.

This man was indeed me as I used the same techniques to possess another body.

Joining a sect with the previous one would rise unneeded suspicions.

A rank 4 came out of nowhere and joined the sect?

Suspicious.VERY SUSPICIOUS.

I would be a fool to even think it would work.

So I chose to possess an already respectable rank 4 elder and just play along for a chance at a law pool or something of that sort.