10 The Private Chamber - I

"Ahem, senior... it is said that our sect founder is not just an expert swordsman he is also a sculpting grandmaster. It's just that he is a bit eccentric and ahem... If senior is interested, our elder Gao here would be more than willing to introduce you to our sect founders sculpting world at the art museum which he personally oversees." the lean elder said when he looked at drake who seemed to be admiring the sculptures on the mansion.

"Yes... Yes, senior you would definitely fall in love with sect founders' work once you visit our art museum" the plump elder Gao said as he nodded his head excitedly.

"Interested my ass! Once my mission here is done you wouldn't even see a strand of my fluffy beard" drake cursed inwardly.

As they approached the mansion drake noticed a buffed-up guy with ferocious-looking facial features having his face covered with his facial hair standing guard at the huge entrance door. Drake couldn't help but became surprised when he noticed that the guard's cultivation is only at mid qi condensation realm.

"Senior this is a beastman whom sect master has rescued from a demonic wyvern when she went out searching for a few rare magical herbs inside the dark wood forest. Sadly by the time she appeared his Apeman tribe was completely ravaged by the grade 3 demonic wyvern. Most of his tribesmen have died while some have escaped. He was only a little toddler at that time. Sect master couldn't bear to see him roaming alone in that dangerous forest so she brought him to our sect.

Later we found that he is not only talented but also inherited the rare bloodline of violet-eyed demonic ape and so even though his cultivation is low his physical strength itself rivals a half-step foundation building expert. Sect Master has given him the role to guard this mansion entrance as she was impressed by his loyalty to the sect." the lean elder introduced briefly while signaling for the young muscular Apeman guard to let them pass.

As he entered the mansion and looked around drake became very impressed by the luxurious interior decorations and aesthetically pleasing life-like paintings hanging all around in the large hall. Especially the exquisite and ancient-looking artworks used for the ceiling and walls of the mansion emphasized the remarkable workmanship of this primordial world.

Noticing their arrival the two beautiful and petite maids who were laughing and chatting with each other while dusting off the furniture in the hall immediately stopped what they were doing and rushed towards them.

"Greetings elders" the two maids greeted as they bowed respectfully.

"Is sect master here ?" the lean elder asked as he accepted their greeting. The elders were busy with their own matters before this, so they did not notice the sect master leaving the core area with Yuan wenyan.

"Sect master is not here elder Hou. She left for a stroll in the inner court spiritual garden along with master yuan in the afternoon." one of the maids answered.

"She is not here? Hmm.. very well this is a very important guest of ours. I will go to inform the sect master while elder Gao would be needed to stay back and look after the barrier. Before we come back I need you to go and arrange for a big feast for all of us to celebrate this occasion, remember to prepare the best dishes we have." the lean elder ordered the two maids and turned towards drake.

"Senior, please enjoy the feast while I go to inform the sect master about your arrival. Also please take this guest token senior. From now on you are a valuable guest of our sect. If you show this token you will be allowed to most of the places within our sect" the lean elder said as he produced a round white-colored token.

Actually, the reason elder Hou had given guest token is that he did not want the mansion guards to offend the powerful senior and bring calamity upon the sect. According to him when things involve core formation realm experts it's better to curry favor than to court death.

"Hmm... go then" drake nodded and said after inspecting the token for a while. Hearing that both the elders immediately turned around and exited the mansion.

After the two maids discussed with each other in low voices one of the maids turned towards drake while the other maid left with hurried footsteps.

"Senior please rest here for a few minutes, the feast will be prepared in no time" the maid who stayed back said respectfully.

"Hmm, there is no hurry" drake replied tersely as he kept stroking his beard while observing the various beautiful paintings in the hall after putting away the guest token.

"Umm... Senior do you need anything else" the maid asked a bit nervously.

Actually, it is very rare for them to receive sudden visitors like this. It is even the first time that some guest was allowed to enter the sect master's mansion without the sect master's permission. Usually, if anyone important is coming to visit, the sect master would inform them everything about it beforehand to make the necessary arrangements.

Even though they are only personal maids of sect master. During their long period of serving beside her, they have seen many different kinds of situations and people with all kinds of weird tastes and attitudes. She had a feeling that she would be gravely mistaken if took the old man who stood before her with a calm demeanor while also exuding an air of authority and wisdom as some simple character.

While the maid is having her own thoughts drake on other hand is seriously contemplating on how he should complete his mission.

"Hmm... how exactly should I gift the amorous rose to the sect master. It is really dangerous to meet sect master and others with only thirty percent of the outfits defensive power remaining. Yes, It's best if I don't give it to her myself and leave it with someone or somewhere like her own personal space where only she would find it. Hmm.. If that is the case I can't think of any place other than her bedroom or maybe her personal cultivation chamber but how can I find out where sect masters bedroom is before they return back ? " drake pondered.

It's not that he did not want to plan everything ahead of coming here. It's just that he knew once he entered the core area's barrier there would be so many uncertain variables. It's basically impossible with his present strength to thoroughly investigate the core area within this short period to find any leads, also it won't be realistic to think that some convenient loophole would always present itself like it did in case of his stunt of infiltrating the city lord's mansion.

This time drake has no other choice but to bank on his own wits and the heaven grade outfit's power along with brother Huang's formation breaking abilities.

"Ah... actually, I would like to cultivate on a scripture in the meanwhile before the feast is prepared. Could you tell me where I can find a quiet place suitable for cultivating" drake asked after thinking for a while?

"Place to cultivate? Sure senior I will take you there right away." the maid said as she turned around to lead the way.

"Actually There is no need for you to show me the way. Just tell me the way and I will go there myself" drake said with a slight hint of authority in his tone.

"Oh.." the maid thought for a few seconds and once she recalled that the elder has already given the guest token to this senior she felt that there is no need for her to follow him around as that token would be enough for the guards to let him pass.

------------------------- (After nearly half an hour has passed)

"Goddammit why is this mansion so big" drake cursed inwardly. He had been walking around searching everywhere for half an hour and he couldn't help but feel like a dog searching for a bone that is especially hidden inside those Chinese boxes.

As he was walking suddenly drake saw a corridor with two burly men wearing full body armor standing guard. There is an access restriction signboard hanging from the wall beside them. As drake approached them and enquired whether the cultivating chambers are located in this way. The guards immediately answered that this is sect masters private chambers and there is no access for entry to ordinary people other than the authorized servants.

"Oh, thanks for the information" drake thanked the guards and walked away. Soon he found a secluded corridor.

"Finally time to turn invisible" drake thought excitedly as he turned on the heaven-grade outfits invisibility mode.

After a few seconds, drake is smiling widely as he stood before one of the two burly guards while waving his hand before his eyes.

"Can't seem me now huh" feeling happy drake walked ahead and started to slowly stroll through the restricted corridor.