With their perfect connection now established, Yun decided it was time to begin the mission. While he planned to focus on deepening his own cultivation and guiding the team's growth, he sent his three subordinates ahead to handle the first tasks. Their goal was to travel to Oval City, establish a foothold, and gather information. The city was listed on the Imperial Investigation Report and happened to be the closest to Wesley City. Before making any major moves, they needed to learn who—and what—they were up against.
While the three prepared for their departure, Yun decided to make use of his rank as a Leading Disciple to expand his team. With the ability to share his cultivation and help others advance, he saw an opportunity to strengthen the Order of Sel even further. He began recruiting promising Qi Gathering disciples from the lower ranks—young cultivators who would be eager to rise quickly in power. It didn't take much to convince them to join the Sel Mind, especially after hearing that Yun could personally guide their breakthroughs.
Yun walked slowly through the wide courtyard, his eyes scanning the groups of new disciples training under the morning sun. The hum of spiritual energy filled the air as blades clashed, spells flashed, and voices called out in friendly competition. He wasn't just watching—he was studying. Between him and his current group, the Sel Mind already covered all elemental affinities except one: Gold.
Gold affinity users were rare, even among talented clans. Their power could refine energy, harden the body, and strengthen weapons. Yun knew that finding someone like that would complete their balance. Hours passed as he quietly observed the freshmen. Finally, near one of the training platforms, he sensed it—a faint but distinct glimmer in the air around a young boy. His qi shone with a metallic sheen.
Yun approached. "What's your name?" he asked.
The boy bowed slightly, nervous but steady. "Felix, Senior. Felix of the Iron Crest Branch."
"Starting today, you can join my faction and become a member of the Order of Sel. What do you say?" Yun asked.
Felix's eyes widened, his breath catching for a moment. He never imagined that someone like him would be invited into a faction—especially by a Leading Disciple. Most people didn't know how to work with Gold affinity cultivators. They usually ended up in the Law Enforcement Hall or the Internal Affairs Department, places where cultivation growth was slow and opportunities were scarce. Even if Senior Yun only wanted him as an assistant, it was still a chance to climb higher and build a future. Without hesitation, Felix bowed deeply and accepted. Together, they made their way to Yun's private residence in Wesley City, where the rest of the Order of Sel was preparing for their mission.
Yun gathered the others in the courtyard as Felix stood beside him, nervous but eager. "Everyone," Yun began, "this is Felix. He'll be joining the Order of Sel starting today." Rena, Tair, and Albi welcomed him warmly, though their eyes widened with curiosity as Yun placed his hand on Felix's shoulder and began forming seals in the air. A golden light surrounded them both as the Sel Mind's mark appeared beneath their feet. The air pulsed with energy. Felix gasped as his spiritual veins expanded, his body trembling while his cultivation surged upward—from Qi Gathering through Foundation Establishment, all the way to Half-Step Core Formation. The connection had been established.
Inside the shared space of the Sel Mind, Felix found himself surrounded by floating scrolls and glowing tomes—a library formed from the collective knowledge of its members. His eyes darted across them in awe. Instinctively, he began to read, his Gold affinity granting him perfect recall of everything he saw. Yun observed through the link, satisfied. This was exactly what he needed. Felix's memory and intellect made him perfect for overseeing their information network. Any detail Felix learned could be shared instantly with the entire Sel Mind. And while the others would have selective access, Yun—as the Mind Master—held unrestricted control over the entire hive's knowledge.
The morning mist rolled softly through the courtyard as Yun stood with his three subordinates, watching them prepare for departure. Rena adjusted the straps of her travel pack, Tair slung his axe across his back, and Albi checked the seals on his scrolls one last time. "Remember," Yun said, his tone calm but firm, "observe everything and act only when you must. Our goal is information first, not conflict." The three nodded in unison, determination shining in their eyes. With a final bow, they took off into the skies toward Oval City, their forms vanishing into the distance.
Yun lingered for a moment, his gaze steady until they were gone. Then, he turned to Felix, who waited quietly beside him. "Let us begin," Yun said, his voice low but filled with intent. They entered the meditation chamber and sat across from each other. Closing their eyes, Yun activated the Sel Mind, allowing the mental realm to open before them. Scrolls, memories, and notes Felix had gathered floated around like stars in a vast void. Together, they began sorting through the vast sea of information—studying cultivation theories, regional maps, and records of strange energy fluctuations. Every thought Felix had ever recorded played back in perfect clarity, and Yun absorbed it all, piecing together the fragments of a much larger picture.
Of everything Yun saw, one record stood out above the rest. It spoke of a valley far to the east, a place shrouded in danger and mystery. Few dared to enter—it was said that anyone below the Ascendant Stage would not survive a day within its borders. The valley teemed with fierce spirit beasts, among them seven King-Class Beasts—each one as powerful as a Super Ascendant cultivator. Rumors even told of an Emperor-Class Beast, a creature whose strength rivaled that of a Realm King. Because of this, the valley had become a sanctuary for countless beasts, said to hold the greatest concentration of spiritual life on the entire Quint Continent.
Yun's eyes narrowed in thought. Such a place, overflowing with power and primal energy, was exactly what he needed. His interest wasn't in conquest—it was in understanding and harnessing. Gathering the essence of these beasts could unlock new techniques and insights, and perhaps even yield powerful companions. For the sake of his growing Order, Yun decided then and there that he would venture into the valley—both to seek cultivation pets and to expand the strength of the Sel Mind through the essence of the wild.
Felix didn't question Yun's decision, but the worry in his eyes was hard to miss. Yun caught the look and offered a calm smile. "We will not go unprepared," he assured him, reaching behind his back and drawing out the scythe. The weapon shimmered faintly under the light, its edge humming with restrained power.
"This scythe carries a powerful spirit within it," Yun continued, his tone steady. "It's the soul of a Beast Lord I once defeated—a serpent whose venom still lingers in the blade. With this weapon, and with the strength we now share, we can handle a few Beast Lords if it comes to that." He looked out toward the eastern horizon, his gaze firm with intent. "If fortune favors us, we may even find an Eagle Beast of Lord Class—and tame it for the Order."