Chapter 32: It Should be Me, not Them
It was already three days since Ely returned to her humble abode in the Sacred Mountain. She used her time to train her disciples at the training ground, absorb energy from spirit stones, hone her skills, and her daily life.
And one of the most, she created various handicrafts, paintings, carvings, and so on to try to achieve a mastery of divine prowess. However, she had only made two heaven-acknowledged objects in the past three days.
[Create anything with high artistic value recognized by heaven (81/1000)][Reward: Mastery of a divine prowess]
'Hmm, I don't know what divine skill I can achieve after creating a thousand treasures like this. I can also make this a routine as my side assignment to fill my free time.' Ely stared at an incredible carved wood golem and an illusory paradise talisman on the table.
In the last five years, she created eighty-one products with high artistic value, but she had yet to learn which ones they were. She had made thousands of weapons, carvings, paintings, talismans, and many art-related items.
"..." Ely stored all her new products into her storage pouch, then turned to the side.
More than a hundred disciples sat cross-legged under the morning sun as if meditating.
And for the truth, they were in a dream illusory space where they needed to go through various obstacles and challenges of semi-realist illusions that would train their mental and spiritual strength.
In the process, they would also cultivate their qi for martial arts and mana for magics to become stronger. They underwent different drills and pointers in the last three days, which drastically boosted their prowess since their master was there to provide direct instruction.
That was one thing that made Ely envious because her strength was stuck forever, and any training was useless.
Her only comfort was she was blessed with countless treasures and some life-saving skills to ensure her safety. She could also craft some new treasures if she had the materials.
"Rua." The sakura tree's spirit gave a freshly peeled orange to Ely.
"Thank you, Sakura." Ely took the orange and ate it.
Sakura then flew up and landed on the seven-petal everlasting sakura flower on Ely's head.
"???" Ely let Sakura lay on her head, but a question arose. The usual sakura flower was five petals, but the one on her head had seven petals and was relatively large.
It was a life-saving treasure with unknown effects, but where Sakura got this flower was still a mystery because it was clearly not from the sakura tree.
"Master, I have completed the mind and spiritual trials." Gabriella came over covered in sweat. She was a bit mentally exhausted but was always the fastest to finish the trials in three consecutive days.
"Mm, congratulation, Gab-chan. Here is fresh spring water and some snacks to replenish your strength. Please have a seat and regulate your breath first." Ely gave a gift package to Gabriella.
That reward would be given to her disciples who completed the trials before noon. Gabriella was always the first to enjoy it.
"Yes, master." Gabriella obeyed like a good, obedient disciple.
She sat down, caught her breath, then opened her gift package to enjoy her master's delicacies.
*Psst*
Gabriella opened the sealed bamboo glass, then sipped the spring water. She felt like freshness and life were flowing in her mouth and throat. Also, there was a pleasant tickling sensation from some tiny bubbles.
"..." Ely just smiled to watch her first disciple's behavior. Gabriella was similar to a child who ate her snack little by little to enjoy the taste longer.
"Ugh, I'm one step slower than you. I'll definitely beat you one day, miss good at everything." Rafaela came closer with a fiery competitive spirit.
"You are a hundred years too early to try to defeat me." Gabriella replied with a smirk.
"Congratulations, Raf-chan. Your spiritual root and inner power advance to the next level. Your mental fortitude has become stronger too." Ely was impressed by Rafaela's progress. Her second disciple recently was almost able to beat Gabriella. Rafaela was liberated and felt like a free spirit since the event four days ago at Lumina City.
"I am honored, master." Rafaela was satisfied. She also wondered why, but her cultivation has become much smoother now.
Even though she failed to save the pitiful ones in that mansion's secret base, the culprits have already received the harshest punishment they could possibly suffer. The victims also received a proper burial, and their spirits were sent away to the afterlife by dozens of priests from the Holy Church.
She had gone through the hurdle of the past, then focused her entire being on the present and future only.
The other disciples completed their trials one by one and received the awaited reward from their master.
However, some disciples were unable to finish their trials before noon. Thus, the pitiful disciple got no morning snack because it was already time for lunch.
After lunch, Ely felt the top-tier spirit stone she put in her drawstring bag had disappeared into ashes. Her body absorbed the energy from that stone automatically, then she put another one there.
It was like a passive income. She could receive some MP and SP by letting the spirit stone of mid-tier quality or above close to her body.
"The three training days are over, and you can stabilize your foundation first. Everyone needs to find their fortuitous encounter in the outside world for the next ten days." Ely announced her intention. It was basically the treasure hunt and resources gathering event.
The ten Apostles and over a hundred disciples knew their master's aim. They would refrain from participating in any big event for two weeks.
However, their own fortuitous encounter? Their master wanted them to hunt for treasure while waiting for the next major operation! Thinking about it, it was their seasonal event.
What they learned in the last three days also needed to be put into practice and honed in the outside world. Thus, it was the perfect opportunity to sharpen their skills.
Ely then asked her disciples about their destination. Each of them mentioned a different place.
Ely also felt she needed to find her fateful encounter too. Her disciples would go on a treasure hunt. However, she had to immediately raise her stats to unseal her Goddess Master.
She should also look for her friends because they might also look for her. Her memory was still blurry, and she wished to meet them because they might help her to remember her past.
"I have been in the Northern Realm for years but have never gone far from the Sacred Mountain. The beasts and demons on this mountain are extremely docile, but it's the wide, wild world outside. I think I will also need to go." Ely subconsciously muttered her thoughts, but Gabriella could hear them clearly.
"Master, which place would you like to visit?" Gabriella was concerned and curious.
Ely blinked her eyes with a perplexed look. Apparently, her murmur was heard. She then looked up at the northern sky, then at the northwest. "It's only a month or two before winter. I want to go to the northwestern region. The eternal winter mountains over there caught my attention. I want to collect some rare herbs."
"Ah, how coincidental! It's been a while, and I'll be hunting in the Winter Forest, master. How about we go together? Our destinations are close." Remiel clapped her hands together with eyes twinkling like stars.
"No, the unnamed snowy northwestern forest is my destination. That place holds many unexplored mysteries, and I am the best candidate to accompany master in the snowy mountains." Uriel raised her hand and used her other hand to push Remiel aside.
"Ara, isn't your main goal the ancient ruins and the mysterious freezing cold secret realm? The snowy mountains are my treasure-hunting destination." Jophiel stood before her fifth sister so her master would look at her.
"Huh? But, you aim to investigate the noble beast and lofty demi-human in the northern snow mountain region."
"We call them beastkin in the Northern Realm. The north and northwest are close, and the snowy mountains stretch wide. I am the most suitable to accompany our master's journey. There is no argument."
"It leveled as only beastkin in this Northern Realm because no one cared about the name difference. Humans differentiate between them because the beastkin is a humanoid with significant beast features. There is also demonkin, and so on. Meanwhile, the demi-human is basically a human with a minor beast or any non-human features."
"Remi will go with master! Fifth sister and sixth sister not allowed to argue!"
Uriel, Jophiel, and Remiel argued because they wanted to be chosen to accompany their master's journey. The hunting ground was close to their master chosen place, so they fought over it.
"Uh?" Ely just found out about the naming difference.
However, some beastkin and beast could transform into human, therianthrope, and beast forms. Such a naming distinction was actually redundant in the Northern Realm. Demi-human was literally half-human.
If she had to choose, she would prefer to call them beastfolk, or to be more specific about their species. For example, the wolfkin Remiel.
Gabriella then raised her hand as she wished to volunteer to accompany their master's journey. Yet, the three sisters ganged up on her because she had chosen a destination near the border of the three major realms.
Therefore, even the first sister could not say much.
"All right, no need to argue. The four of us will go hunting together then. It's a ten-day trip, and we'll all leave tomorrow morning." Ely put her hand to her forehead. She originally wanted to go alone, but having a disciple accompany her was excellent.
Unfortunately, her three core disciples fought over that position, and she couldn't play favoritism here. Since she couldn't choose one, then why not all three? Since their hunting destination was close to her chosen place of interest, it was okay.
"Yes!" Uriel, Jophiel, and Remiel immediately reconciled. They got along well and answered in unison.
"It should have been me, not them!" Azrael knelt down, hitting the ground. He felt somewhat regretful for choosing the border between the Demon Realm and the Northern Realm in the southwest.
He was the best candidate to accompany their master in treasure hunting because of his skills. Not to mention, he could order his entire organization to do some tasks too. However, good luck came to his junior sisters... not just one, but three of them!
Among the three male disciples in the Apostles, he was the most enthusiastic about such an opportunity because he could show off his prowess and impress his master. However, it had been three months since then.
To accompany their master's journey was a blessing as they received so much enlightenment, guidance, and opportunity in action!
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