Chapter 190 - Elders and sect master

In the meeting hall, sitting on the royal chair above the others was Nightin. Ahead of Nightin, there was a long bench and four chairs.

Sitting on the furthest right was Isabella, this was followed by the other two elders from the psychic hall and the lotus hall. To the furthest left was Aiden who was sitting there without leaking the slightest living aura, his face was also covered up by a black mask while wearing black clothing that covered his entire body.

One may ask, how are four elders and a sect leader going to manage a sect with hundreds of thousands of disciples all alone by themselves. But that's only in the usual case.

"Sect master, why have you called us here?" Being the one with the biggest authority compared to everyone present, Isabella stepped out and posed the first question. Even though Cloud and Xinyi might have built up some reputation by now, it was Isabella who has been managing most of the sect affairs and relationships with external forces while enforcing discipline within the sect.

"I want to discuss with all of you about the sect's future development. In these five years, I'll spend all my time in the sect unless there's a need for me to leave." Nightin stated upfront, four cards of different colours appearing before each of the elders.

A purple card with one eye imprinted on it stopped in front of Cloud.

A pink card with one lotus imprinted on it arrived before Xinyi.

A black red card with a dagger imprinted on it appeared before Aiden.

An emerald card with an arrow imprinted on it forming before Isabella.

"From today onwards, all of you will be holding this card wherever you travel. This card will be your proof of identity and in order to enforce rules and fairness in the sect, all elders will start from the first grade to the ninth grade and the symbol for each of your cards will be unique."

Taking over the cards, they kept it and retreated backwards, Xinyi staying behind as she took the card out and asked. "Sect master, just what other secrets does this card possess? You may try to conceal it, but my instincts tell me that there's more to this card than what you have told us."

Still sitting, Nightin smirked and took out a card from his system storage before saying, "These cards will allow us to communicate regardless of the distance between us and each of them possess a formation array that relies on renewable spirit energy to replenish its energy. The formation array has been custom built and should be able to increase your cultivation speed slightly."

"Thank you sect master." When they heard the increase in cultivation speed, all the present elders bowed down to Nightin willingly. It might only be a slight increase in cultivation speed, but all of them present were in the Martial Emperor realm while Xinyi and Cloud while nearing the Martial Saint realm. Under such a situation, every second of cultivation counts and even if it's only a percent faster, the amount of time saved would accumulate and provide a huge advantage to them in their cultivation.

"Aiden, you may leave to settle your matters first. The rest are to stay behind and await further orders, Isabella is to follow me." Nightin said as he turned around and walked out of the main hall while Aiden just left without reporting.

"Sect master, who is that Aiden guy and just how is he qualified to become an elder as well?" Right after they left the main hall, Isabella immediately asked with a disgruntled face with her arms folded, legs rooted to the ground to await an answer.

"That's a friend of mine whose strength is at least comparable to mine." Nightin stated calmly as he approached the wooden log designed as a swing while getting Isabella to sit opposite to him.

"But he has absolutely zero contribution to the sect and if you are going to promote him to the ranks of an elder immediately, I'm worried that many of the disciples will stand out and question your actions."

"It doesn't matter, I don't plan on letting anyone besides the four of you know about this anyway. Remember this is classified information and his presence is of paramount importance to the sect, we need someone who is capable of killing those with unique mindsets in our sect."

"You mean those particular few who have been designated as dangerous and always under constant watch to prevent them from attacking anyone else?" Isabella asked while reaching her hands out to tie a bun neatly behind her head.

"Yes. Even though I can tame them myself, what I need is someone who is capable of containing those demons while getting them to listen to him willingly and guide them back onto the right path, helping them to find the reason for their weapon to shed blood.

"I see, but why did you call me out here to speak in private?" Seeing that Aiden was just a backup plan of utmost importance, Isabella then asked another question to fulfill the satiety of his mind.

Nightin then explained to Isabella about the military academy that will be located near to this place and how he plans to link the military academy to the sect, not as a subsidiary force, but another branch of it which ranks equally to them.

"Sect master, aren't you afraid that the person you tasked with being the leader won't be corrupted by power and turn his blade towards you?" Isabella immediately asked when she realised that it's an outsider being entrusted with such an important job that might affect their sect to a huge extent.

"Don't worry, it's one of my closest friends that I'm entrusting this to and of all people, there's no way he'll betray me. You can ask me for the reason behind this blind confidence in him, but just believe me that I have never been wrong when it comes to judging people."

"Just like how you rope me in before considering if I would prove to be helpful or a threat to the sect?" Isabella asked cheekily as she broke out in laughter.

"Are you asking this intentionally while knowing that I was still clueless as to how to face this world at that point of time?" Questioning back, his sword suddenly slashed towards Isabella who leaped back immediately without the slightest bit of hesitation.

Pulling the string on her bow, an arrow condensed out of energy appeared and fired off, spiralling towards Nightin while containing the immense amount of wind energy within it. It was a suppression arrow and even though the attack radius would only be the arrow's tip, it at least doubles the speed of her arrow.

"Sect master, are you planning to play the same game again? I'm no longer the young lady who once lost to you, but someone who stepped into the Martial Emperor fourth gate before you."

"But you aren't the only one who's moving forward in life, your cultivation speed might have been faster than mine, but that's because I spent most of my time trying to find the true meaning behind life."

Sticking his finger out, a sword energy formed and flew towards the arrow, colliding in the air as the attacks cancelled each other out.

"Not bad, but you won't win me with this, you can call for Cloud and Xinyi to join your side as well." Nightin said with the intention of helping her out, but with the unpredictable mindset that a woman has, it sounded like a provocation to Isabella who played along.

"Elder Cloud and elder Xinyi, please come out and assist me in this battle with the sect master so that he can hone his combat strength." When calling out for them, Isabella emphasised on the hone his combat strength part so that Cloud and Xinyi will be serious in the battle.

"Sect master, do you truly want us to fight you without holding back in the slightest despite the gap in our cultivation base?" Cloud asked solemnly as he took out his chakram, now reforged and enhanced to be comparable to the low savior grade.

"Make your move." This little devil will regret it. Nightin thought to himself as he made the first move and dashed towards Isabella first before anyone was even ready.