Monster Fusion:The Path of Infinite Cultivation
Chapter 36: Let me join as elder

Chapter 36: Let me join as elder

Ray and Nyxiel stepped into the massive open grounds, their eyes sweeping over the sight before them.

Rows upon rows of sect banners fluttered in the wind, each marking a recruitment stall. Vibrant colors stood out against the sea of thousands of people, their faces filled with ambition, curiosity, or quiet desperation.

It was a sight of organized chaos, disciples moving constantly some with purpose, seeking their future sect, while others wandered, uncertain but hopeful.

The scene was uncannily similar to a bustling market. Sect stalls were no different from merchant stands, their sect representatives acting like salesmen, trying to attract the best "customers" the most talented disciples.

Each sect had its own way of drawing in recruits.

Some displayed grand performances, their elders showcasing unique and powerful techniques, while disciples demonstrated dazzling swordsmanship, streaks of light trailing behind their blades.

Others relied only on their name, their stalls marked by a single silk banner, their representatives seated in quiet confidence, knowing that their reputation alone was enough to draw talent.

"The Black Fang Sect!" A man in dark yellow robes, embroidered with golden dragons, stood atop a platform, his voice booming. "Only those who seek true power may enter! Do you have what it takes?"

A flicker of shadow danced between his fingers as a group of eager disciples stepped forward, drawn in by his words.

To the left, a woman in pristine white robes stood before a marble pavilion, her mere presence enough to gather a crowd.

"The Cloud Blossom Sect welcomes those with pure hearts and unwavering resolve," she spoke, her voice as clear as a wind chime amidst the noise. Behind her, a disciple gracefully executed a technique, delicate petals swirling around them in a mesmerizing dance.

Ray watched it all with bored eyes.

"This looks more like a shopping market than a proper Disciple Meet," he muttered.

Nyxiel shrugged. "That’s how it is. With so many sects and tens of thousands of hopeful disciples, things are bound to look like this."

She glanced at him with a smirk. "Disappointed, Vice Sect Leader?"

Ray cracked his neck lazily. "It’s not about disappointment. The system itself is cheap. Just watch I’ll take at least a thousand kids into my sect."

A sudden burst of laughter came from behind them.

"Pffft hahaha! A thousand disciples?!"

Ray and Nyxiel turned their heads.

A man in black robes, long hair loose behind him, stood casually holding a wooden stick behind his neck, both hands resting over it.

"My shoes, fellow Daoist! Please don’t joke about things like this," the man chuckled, shaking his head in amusement.

Despite the fact that Ray and Nyxiel were looking directly at him, the man didn’t stop laughing.

Ray simply sighed, shaking his head as if disappointed in the low-level vision of people here.

Without a word, he turned away and ignored him completely.

Nyxiel followed suit.

"So, what’s the recruitment process like?" Ray asked, his attention already shifting elsewhere. "How do sects traditionally choose their disciples?"

Nyxiel, also ignoring the man in black, walked beside him.

The man, however, raised a brow.

"Hey, hey, fellow Daoists! Don’t ignore me like that!" He took a step closer, sighing dramatically. "I meant no disrespect it was just a joke!"

Nyxiel chuckled. "Lame joke, boy! You successfully made my great Vice Sect Leader mad."

Ray didn’t bothered, his gaze scanning the area, analyzing how sects were handling their recruitment.

The man sighed, shaking his head. "Boy? Me?!"

"Huh Whatever. You guys seem new to this whole thing. Need a guide? I can help you."

Ray didn’t even turn to look at him.

"Help us?"

"Why? Are you just too free, or do you want something from us?"

He smirked slightly.

"Or..." Ray’s voice dropped into a mocking tone, "are you interested in the spiritual beast hidden inside my robe?"

Nyxiel raised her brows at that, finally glancing at the man.

The man, who had been casually walking beside them, suddenly paused.

Then, a slow grin spread across his face.

"Quite the sharp eye you have there, boss." He chuckled, shaking his head. "I mean, someone at novice-stage cultivation carrying a master-stage spiritual beast like it’s nothing? That’s bound to attract curiosity don’t you think."

Yeah Ray reached novice rank in this month and by fusion more small cultivation level monsters he upgraded his adept level snake into master level monsters.

Ray simply hummed. "Not worth mentioning."

He shook his head pulling his attention to surroundings.

"Umm what’s that?" Ray pointed toward a section of the plaza.

Nyxiel followed his line of sight.

In the distance, a set of massive stone boulders stood in a row, each marked with numbers. Nearby, a few smaller pipes were set up, and groups of disciples took turns striking at the stones, their numbers appearing on the surface.

Before Nyxiel could answer, the man in black spoke up first.

"That’s a strength-measuring instrument," he explained. "Sect representatives use it to assess raw power makes recruitment easier."

"Hmm." Ray nodded without saying anything.

So many stuff i never saw in my realm ray curiously wondered.

Man in black curiously look at both of them.

"Which sect are you two from?" He smirked, looking between them. "You both seem strong especially the dangerous lady over here."

He gestured toward Nyxiel.

Nyxiel raised her eyebrows looking at him head to toe. "I could say the same for you. Though you’re lacking in many places," she said casually, giving him a side glance. "Just know move or two about spearmanship, but not impressive enough. However..." she paused, her tone streched.

"Standing on the shoulders of giants, you can see far ahead but that doesn’t mean you are a giant."

The man in black paused in his steps, her words sinking in.

His expression shifted, eyes filled with contemplation.

For the first time since approaching them, the teasing amusement in his demeanor vanished.

A moment of silence.

Then

His mind raced.

"She saw through me."

His grip on the wooden stick tightened his heart starting to beat fast.

A faint light of excitement flashing through his eyes.

"This woman... she’s dangerous but mysterious."

His gaze flickered briefly to Ray.

And that man

"Seems like my instincts weren’t wrong."

His eyes darkened, yet a spark of excitement flickered within them.

"She’s a monster. Maybe even more terrifying than the man beside her... if am not wrong he must be one of that legendary beast tamers so rare to find someone like him in small place like here."

A slow smirk crawled onto his lips, but this time, it wasn’t playful.

It was full of excitement and curiosity.

"I should talk to them more."

But more than that

His gaze locked onto Nyxiel once again, his instincts screaming at him.

"Especially her."

His blood stirred, the passion of a warrior igniting in his chest.

"I might learn something... something I could never find alone."

With renewed determination, he took a step forward.

"Hey wait for me."

His voice carried a weight it didn’t have before.

This wasn’t just idle curiosity anymore.

This was fate.

As he aught up with them, his usual laid-back expression was replaced with something more curious.

"My name’s Happy." He glanced at both of them before continuing, "I heard you guys are recruiting disciples. How about it? Need an elder in your sect?"

Then, without hesitation, he added, "I can join if the miss here is willing to give me some pointers."

He was straightforward, but his confidence was evident.

Nyxiel didn’t even pause before shaking her head.

"Not happening." Her voice was smooth, unwavering. "You don’t deserve it."

Happy blinked, clearly surprised. "Huh?"

Wait what...he mumeterly slipped down

Rejecting him...dammm

"I don’t teach unless the person is worthy enough." She gave him a side glance, her eyes cold. "And you aren’t special enough."

There was no malice in her tone just simple, cutting honesty.

"..."

Happy didn’t look offended. He didn’t even frown.

Instead, he rubbed his chin thoughtfully, genuinely curious.

"Really, Not talented enough huh?" He mused. "Weird... no one’s ever told me that before. You’re the first."

Ray watched the exchange silently, his lips curving slightly in amusement.

Nyxiel only shook her head. "Some things are above talent itself."

Happy raised a brow. "Above talent? And what would that be?"

Before Nyxiel could respond, Ray suddenly chimed in.

"I can teach you a thing or two, if you want." His voice was casual looking at him up and down judgingly.

Happy tilted his head. "Huh really?"

Ray smirked. "We’re actually lacking a butler in our sect. You take the position, and I’ll teach you two strokes. You won’t regret it."

Happy paused mid-step, staring at him.

Then, he sputtered.

"A butler?! Me?!Just how low you look at me" He pouted, clearly feeling wronged.

This guy don’t know why just looking at this man face happy wanted to punch him.

Ray shrugged, still smirking. "Not a bad offer at all if you think about it. Years from now, you might even look back at this as the proudest moment of your life."

Nyxiel put hand on her face.

here we go agains.

Happy gave Ray a deadpan look.

"Yeah, no thanks." He shook his head. "I’m good the way I am."

Ray simply shrugged again. "Your loss."

Happy, still walking beside them, gave them a sideways glance.

"So... about that whole ’thousand disciples’ thing." He smirked. "You guys are a new sect, right? What’s your plan?"

"What are you both thinking? Going to just set up a stall?" "Maybe or buying a spot."

Happy chuckled, shaking his head.

"Too late for that if you really thinking about that." He gestured toward the rows of banners. "Spots are already taken, and from what I see, you guys didn’t even bring a banner of your own."

Ray clicked his tongue.

That be embarrassing Ray thought

"So you’re saying we have no place to recruit?"

"More than that." Happy smirked. "Even if you managed to attract every single disciple in this place, you wouldn’t be allowed to take more than ten."

Ray’s expression darkened. "Huh?"

Happy nodded. "The top three sects won’t allow it."

Ray let out a mocking laugh. "Petty."

Nyxiel frowned slightly. "That’s the rule?"

"Has been for forty years," Happy confirmed. "No normal sect can recruit more than a hundred disciples at most. It’s how the top three keep their dominance. If they allowed unrestricted recruiting, they’d lose power fast."

Ray exhaled sharply. "So, even if we had the resources to train thousands, they won’t let us?"

"Exactly."

"Bruhhh..." Ray shook his head. "And these are the ’great sects’ of the region? I’m actually embarrassed for them."

Happy chuckled. "That’s just how things work."

Before the conversation could continue, they arrived.

Looking up

Towering before them was a massive stone colosseum, carved from ancient rock, standing mighty and imposing.

Its sheer size and presence overshadowed everything around it, radiating an undeniable authority.

Ray’s eyes flickered with curiosity.

"What is this place?" he asked, completely ignoring the restrictions were just talked about.

Happy rubbed his temples before explaining.

"This is the main Colosseum. The central hub of the Disciple Meet."

He pointed toward the towering structure.

"This is where the top three sects recruit. Blue Cloud Sect, Fire Lotus Sect, and Stone Gate Sect."

Ray raised an eyebrow. "And they don’t set up stalls like the others?"

"Of course not," Happy said with a laugh. "That would make them look bad. Stalls are for the weak."

He gestured toward the outer parts of the arena.

"The weaker sects recruit outside. This place? It’s for those who are confident they belong to the top."

Nyxiel’s eyes gleamed. "So this is where the real talents are."

Happy nodded. "Exactly. The sects outside only accept disciples that already know they aren’t good enough to compete here."

Ray’s smirk widened.

"So why don’t we just go inside and recruit from here?"

Nyxiel grinned. "Sounds fun."

Happy froze.

Huh?ehhhh

"Wait WHAT?!"

Ray stretched lazily. "It’s simple, right? The best disciples are inside. We take them."

Happy’s face twitched.

"Did you not hear a single word I just said?!"

Ray waved him off. "Something about rules? Yup i did...looks intresting."

Happy’s eye twitched harder.

"No sect other than the top three is allowed to recruit here! If you step in and try to take disciples, you’ll be making enemies of the strongest sects in the city!"

Nyxiel laughed, brushing her fingers through her ice-blue hair.

"So?"

Ray’s smirk sharpened.

Lets paint

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