Chapter 14: Selection and Reward

[Warning. Please select an option in the next sixty seconds, or a penalty will be applied]

Eren looked at the options, feeling a headache. All the options had their own flaws. However, only one of them seemed plausible and the least risky.

"I will take the second option."

Eventually, he decided on the second option. The first option was the most risky as it could expose his weakness before everyone present here.

The third option was basically going against the Sect Master's orders who wanted him to select his first Disciple.

As for the fourth option, it could only raise more suspicions on him if he was in a hurry to select a disciple.

Although he might offend a few Elders with the second option, it was better than offending the Sect Master any given day.

Elder Li looked at the Phoenix in the sky, slightly confused. "Is he not going to come down?"

He had no opinions about Elder Ren. He didn't know that guy well enough, let alone knowing what kind of person he was.

The only thing he knew was that the Sect Master had personally selected him as an Elder.

"Elder Ren, it's time we begin the Selection Trials. Can you come down so we can begin?" he asked after waiting for a few more seconds.

Eren didn't appear as if he had any intention of coming down.

"You can begin the Selection Trials. I'll be observing from here," Eren answered.

Although his tone was confident when he replied, but in his mind, he kept praying. 'Please don't be offended! Please don't be offended!'

"Elder Ren, I think that's not a wise decision." Elder Li frowned in response.

Was it really a good idea for another Elder to be above their heads? Was he trying to establish his prestige at the cost of looking down on others?

"You fuckin idiot, did you think it was my idea?! Of course I know it's not a good idea!" Eren wanted to scream at the top of his lungs, but he controlled himself.

[Congratulations on selecting the Second Option. You have been rewarded with Sword Emperor's Aura]

[Reminder: If you select an option and don't complete it, you will face a penalty]

Eren was rewarded with the Sword Emperor's Aura. But he was only left in confusion.

He didn't feel any change in his strength. He still felt exactly the same.

Although it was his first time hearing about the Sword Emperor's Aura, but still, shouldn't it have been more noticeable when he received it?

While Eren was wondering if he had been scammed, the people beneath him weren't the same.

All the students had thought that Elder Ren was the weakest of the three Elders because when he arrived, his momentum wasn't as heavy as the other Elders.

He wasn't even famous. If it wasn't for his position in the sect and his Phoenix, none would have taken him seriously.

However, in this moment, everything changed.

They felt a terrifying aura descending above them, that made them feel like they were suffocating.

This aura wasn't weaker than the pressure they felt during the arrival of the other Elders at all. Instead, it felt only stronger.

While other Elders had a powerful aura, Elder Ren's aura felt more destructive.

It was sharp like a destructive sword that could strike their necks at any moment.

In this moment, Elder Ren appeared like he was a true God of Sword who could annihilate an entire Kingdom with a single swing of the most ordinary sword in his hand.

Even Zhang Wei was momentarily stunned. She had met Elder Ren many times in the past.

Every time she met him, she couldn't find anything special in him. She only felt that he was hiding a lot of things.

However, this suppressive aura even surprised her. She was certain that it was stronger than hers! A Cultivator's aura was directly connected to the laws they had comprehended and their strength.

She possessed the Aura of Blood and her cultivation was very high. Similarly, Elder Li possessed the Aura of Frost, and his cultivation was also in the Upper echelon in the sect.

Still, Zhang Wei could feel it more clearly than the youngsters. She could feel that her aura was weaker than the aura of Elder Ren. Did this mean he was stronger than her? Did this mean his cultivation was also higher?

Even Elder Li was surprised. This aura was stronger than he expected. Although it wasn't as strong as the Sect Master's aura, but it felt just as unique.

He could feel that if cultivation was on the same level, Elder Ren's aura was even more dangerous than their Sect Master's aura. It was an aura that they hadn't even heard about before!

Eren was still confused, standing atop the Phoenix. He rubbed his chin, observing his body for any changes, but he still couldn't find any.

He was still just as weak. He could still break his bones if he was to jump down from the same height as before.

"Was I really scammed?" he wondered as he looked down at the disciples.

It was only when he looked down on them that he noticed something strange. They were looking at him with a gaze of worship. And unlike before, he could clearly feel that fear was visible in their eyes.

He shifted his attention to Elder Zhang Wei and Elder Li, both having different expressions as well.

"Why are they looking at me like that? As if they are looking at someone in the same league as them, or even stronger? It wasn't like that before when Elder Li was telling me to come down? What changed?

The only thing he could think about was the Sword Emperor's Aura, which was practically non-existent for him.

"Wait a minute? Sword Emperor's Aura? Is this... actually only an aura and nothing more?"

As soon as he came to the realization, his expressions turned dark.

"The unique tier reward is… just a bluff?"