A Proper Induction

Gareth had met brother Olive many times again since the first time he entered the sect. He had been introduced to this sect brother friends and some new disciples they had managed to dazzle with their seniority.

During the time the disciple recruitment was still ongoing, they all toured the sect facilities in the outer court together.

The outer court of the sect was a place that housed the new disciples of the sect and some older disciples who had not reached the requirement for entering the inner court. The place was mostly ran by the disciples, a fairly lax place with many factions behind the scenes.

His sect token still inactive, Gareth could only stare and marvel at the many wonderful places in the sect. During the one month in which the recruitment continued on, most of his time was spent cultivating. Even though it was currently fruitless as he felt no actual increase in his cultivation with the current technique he was using. He could still use the process of cultivating to refresh his mind. The soul enlightening lily had done a really good job, even the 'little' world energy he had been able to take in then had been enough to propel him forward so much that he was just short of being half way to his initial completion.

Mira had been the one to enjoy most of the world energy, the difference in their cultivation and possibly their cultivation technique had assured such a possibility. He felt that with the current cultivation technique he was using, it would have taken him at least a year to reach his current stage even if he cultivated nonstop. 

However, at this moment, the recruitment process was finally over and his sect token which had been inactive began to buzz. A message was delivered. It was the time to be introduced to the sect, and for their tokens to become active. 

The venue was an arena in the outer court. The place was already full and buzzing with conversation. The outer court disciples were already sitting, probably with some inner court disciples among them. In the center of the arena, a few new disciples were standing already. In this place they waited, all them facing a podium.

More of the new disciples joined as Gareth waited until finally there were a few thousand people standing at the center of the excited crowd.

A moment later, when no one joined the new disciples. The arena which had been filled with the unceasing conversations quietened. Everyone seemed to have come to an agreement to keep their mouths shut.

A woman, nay a young lady, walked up the podium. Each of her steps filled with a grace beyond her tender years. The calmness that pervaded her every movement, and a beauty that was just that, beautiful. Neither obscene nor vulgar. Her black hair and eyes, a feature common to all, when placed on her gave a unique and unmatched feeling.

When she reached that height that overlooked the new disciples, she didn't seem fazed about the fact that she was in the presence of the tens of thousands of outer disciples who all had their stares fixed on her every move.

That moment she no longer moved, with her eyes gazing upon all. The outer court disciples who were all sitting rose in rowdy excitement. This was the one star they never expected to appear here today.

Shouts of confessions and star-struck utterances filled the air. A peculiar kind of love was in the air. 

Amidst the outer court disciples who were shouting. One of them, perhaps forgetting himself in the feverish moment, shouted something totally taboo.

"Sect granny!"

No sooner had he finished saying this, that he was pulled to the ground by those near him. His mouth gagged, as they looked around them. Their movements were furtive, but they all shared the same sentiment. If you want to die so badly, don't drag us with you!

The new disciples weren't in the mood to question why their seniors were acting in such a weird way. They were entranced by the young lady before them.

Gareth had to agree that this woman was the most spectacular being he had seen. Even Mira never charmed him this way.

The air around her seemed to change. She made no particular movement, but everyone paused their shouting. Their excitement gradually cooling down. Even the new disciples felt they could breath easy.

A small smile graced her face, as her lips curled up just slightly at their edges. This small action of hers made everyone there feel like their breaths had been caught in their lungs. Such a small action.

"Everyone, I welcome you to another Official Induction Ceremony of the Martial Seekers sect. This year's disciple recruitment was a very successful one, enough to be an highlight in our sect's history. This sect founded millenniums ago on this same piece of land, has gone through many a trial and tribulations since its existence. During these times, even when the sect was in a danger of collapsing, one thing has never changed. The essence of the sect, Martial Seekers.

"You might have joined this sect because you have heard of our deeds. You might have joined us because a friend of yours was doing so. You might have joined us because this place was the most convenient and near, not that much of a hassle to travel to. Whatever your reason is, since you all are standing here, I want to believe you are no longer in doubt of whether to join us or not. If so, I will tell you the true meaning of the essence of this sect.

"I will be telling this to all of you here. Those of you who are hearing this for the first time. Those of you who have heard this at your Induction Ceremony.

"The reason we are called the Martial Seekers sect. When our sect was founded, our founder had one goal he deemed most important. In whatever way that was possible, relying on the strength you posses, surpass all with your might. The Founder was not asking to achieve an impossible goal, martial seekers.

"He only asked for these. Do not laze about, do not slack in your pursuit. Pursue the martial path with all your being, surpass the self you know. Surpass your current self, and surpass all being!"

Her words echoed in the minds of everyone as she finished her short speech.

"The Founder and all of us here, only ask of you to never let it come to be in your mind that you can't surpass any being. Do not take mediocrity lying down, fight for what you want with all your being."

Everyone mulled over that in their mind. 

"Now that I have introduced to you the Martial Seekers sect and what we stand for. Let me make a brief introduction of myself to you. I am Lunara, an inner court disciple of the Martial Seekers sect. The reason I am here on this day is to give you a welcome to our Martial Seekers sect. When we are done here, you will all have a tour around the outer court to see everything our sect offers to its new disciples.

"Now, I will like to give you some friendly advice before you leave.

"All of you, when you leave this place and are done touring the sect, will be given a three star cultivation technique to cultivate with."

There was an audible gasp. The new disciples were stunned.

"Most of you might find this a great boon, but it will do you all a great deal of help if you listen to this advice of mine. The barest minimum the sect demands from you, the lowest and easiest of all obligations. It is one simple thing. When the time comes for you to complete a realm and move to the next, the barest minimum the sect requires of you is a secondary completion.

"To your best interest, you can consider this minimum as a way for the sect to separate the dregs from the worthy ones. You can ask your seniors, a perfect completion is the only chance for you to be considered a worthy disciple of the sect.

"Any one of you who dares to violate this, there is only one thing I can tell you. You do not want to know what the sect does to such violators."

The senior disciples seem to have a shudder pass over them at those words.

"The minimum of secondary completion is only for those of you who have the highest grade of any of your talents as three. Anyone with a talent above that, at least for the Awakening Realm, you have no choice but to go for a perfect completion.

"This goes especially to those two. The two of you, please come up here."