Elder Senfu and Agois entered the room of Elder Grad, the Fourth Elder. Grad was waiting for them, clad in a brocade robe that was entirely black with edges that shimmered with bright purple. His slightly graying, short, thick black hair and mixed black-and-white beard combined with his severe face to inspire a natural sense of fear and respect. A rare smile appeared on Elder Grad's severe face: "So you are Elder Fu's student. As expected of Old Fu's student, you are talented," he praised Agois.
Agois immediately responded humbly and courteously: "I cannot accept the Fourth Elder's praise."
Hearing this, Elder Senfu smiled with pride: "You praise this brat too much, Grad; he will become spoiled and cause more trouble." But he was pleased; in the Cultivation world, they say "the student is the master's glory."
Grad smiled back at Senfu's conceited face, then turned to him: "The viewing stone was in the dining hall, and we learned what happened. Crom Aldron started the fight, and he was the first to attack Agois with a lethal strike. Thus, even though Agois injured him, he will still receive a punishment according to Sect rules, but it will not be severe." Even as Senfu's student, he couldn't completely avoid penalty.
Elder Senfu grew serious: "What is the state of that brat now?"
Agois, having left everything to his master, waited silently in the corner. Still, he was curious about Crom's condition. If he hadn't died, this arrogant brat would most likely cause him more trouble. Though he wasn't worried for himself, he had his family. He sighed inwardly, hoping he had died.
Elder Grad sighed: "He is alive, but his meridians are severed. He can no longer be a Cultivator—unless he procures one of the highest-tier treasures, of course... but even the Aldron family cannot easily acquire those. In short, he is crippled."
Hearing this, Agois was disappointed, though he thought that at least he wouldn't be troubled by him for a while. Elder Senfu, however, showed little reaction. That brainless brat, who tried to kill his student over a few words, deserved it. He didn't care one bit about the Aldron family's reaction.
With an unconcerned demeanor, he asked Elder Grad: "What is my student's punishment?"
Elder Grad looked at Agois: "Although it was deemed self-defense, Agois's counterattack crippled Crom. The Sect rules were still violated, but the punishment is not severe: He is merely suspended from classes for one year." He smiled. Elder Senfu's student was more important to him, and he disliked arrogant, senseless brats like Crom anyway.
Agois wasn't upset by the punishment at all. He already had a master and could learn everything he needed from him. This was even better; he could devote more time to his cultivation.
Elder Senfu knew the punishment was lenient because of his own influence, but his conscience was clear. If his student had done something wrong, he would have punished him himself. But his student had only defended himself and retaliated; it was his natural right.
He quickly bid Grad farewell and left, taking Agois to his own courtyard.
Elder Grad leaned back in his ancient wooden armchair, covered with some unknown hide. He sighed wearily, sensing that this incident would not end here. On the other side was a powerful, established family; they wouldn't swallow this situation so easily. We shall see and watch what happens, he mused, and returned to his work filled with documents.
In Elder Senfu's courtyard, Agois sat obediently before his master. Elder Senfu looked at his student, seeing that the incident still affected him. He immediately said: "Brat, your Master has handled the matter. Don't dwell on this incident. You did nothing wrong. Those who try to harm you are your enemies, and you must always be ruthless towards your enemies, or you won't survive long in this world." He added: "Now, concentrate on your cultivation."
Agois nodded in understanding: "Don't worry, Master, I will grow stronger faster and won't cause you any more trouble," he said with a determined look. His green eyes seemed to burn with fire. Agois was now more motivated, eager to grow stronger. Crom hadn't died; even if he was crippled, his family's power could still cause trouble or harm his family. Therefore, he had to become stronger.
Elder Senfu, with a mix of annoyance and ridicule, said: "Brat, you didn't cause me trouble. Don't ever think or say that again! Anyway, I will be guiding you from now on. You don't need to go to the training hall; my teaching is better anyway," he boasted.
Agois smiled helplessly, now used to his master's arrogant and mocking ways.
After giving Agois the necessary lessons and guidance, Elder Senfu sent him off. When Agois returned to his own courtyard, he immediately entered the starry, shimmering domain of the Cosmic Pearl. As soon as he entered, Astre appeared before him with a bright, metallic light: "Welcome, my Lord," he said. Although he had seen it before, Agois still couldn't get used to Astre calling him "My Lord."
Astre looked at Agois expressionlessly and explained: "My Lord, you cannot control the Cosmic Pearl yet; please discard such notions for now. I will only show you how to benefit from the Pearl's passive advantages. You already know some: Firstly, if you comprehend a skill here, your comprehension speed increases four times more effectively than outside. This is the first advantage."
"The second advantage: My Lord can use a certain amount of Cosmic Energy from the Pearl to strengthen himself for a duration. And the most effective advantage is that you can convert the Cosmic Energy concentrated in the Cosmic Pearl into Nel energy and absorb it. You can even use the raw Cosmic Energy to breakthrough bottlenecks, if you wish. For now, you can benefit in these ways," he said.
Agois nodded in understanding. He had already experienced these: when entering the Iron Body Realm, the Silver Realm, during the fight with Aron, and in the life-or-death battle with Crom—he had experienced them all. He wasn't surprised to hear this, but what surprised him was that these were merely the passive effects of the artifact. What could he do if he could truly control the Pearl? He wondered now, but did not ask; such questions were meaningless now. Learning what he needed to know was enough.
Meanwhile, in the Fourth Elder's room in the Hall of Justice, lined with bright white marble, cold winds blew. Elder Grad sat at the polished wooden table. Before him sat three men—one old, one middle-aged, and one young—all wearing red brocade robes with a lion emblem.
The young man's expression was cold. But the middle-aged man's veins bulged in his forehead with rage, because his son had been crippled, and the Sect was protecting the perpetrator; his punishment was merely a superficial suspension from classes. The old man (Ancestor Eldes) had a calmer expression, but he too was internally furious. Their talented descendant, the future pillar and leader of the Aldron family, was crippled. Despite his experience, he was still very angry; he wanted to tear that brat Agois into pieces, but that brat's master was Elder Senfu. Thus, he maintained his composure.
The middle-aged, red-robed, long-haired man, Garas Aldron, burst out at Elder Grad with cold fury: "What, so that filthy brat cripples and almost kills my son, and the Sect's punishment is only suspension from classes? Are you making fun of me, or are you simply disregarding our Aldron family?" he shouted, standing up.
"Garas, calm yourself," warned Ancestor Eldes Aldron, the family's elder ancestor.
At that moment, Elder Grad also became angry. This fellow was shouting at him and questioning his decisions within his authority, in his own room in the Sect. He was not a good-tempered person to begin with. He immediately released his suppressive aura and, without rising from his seat, looked haughtily at the arrogant man before him: "Hmph?! Should I consider the Aldron family before making a decision? You watched the viewing stone; it is obvious that the guilty party—the one who wanted to kill—was Crom! I make my decision based on that, and I do not look at anyone's background or past when making a decision! So, do not forget where you are, and who I am! I advise you to restrain yourself!" His suppressive aura nearly brought Garas Aldron to his knees. Ancestor Eldes waved his hand, blocking the pressure on Garas. Elder Grad, seeing that he had given his warning, retracted his aura.
Garas's knees buckled, but the pressure was gone before he knelt. His back was slick with sweat, fear flashed across his face, and he was ashamed. He hadn't expected to be humiliated like this. Ancestor Eldes sighed. He understood Garas; he was angry, too, but his judgment wasn't clouded. Garas had lost himself for a moment and tried to question Elder Grad. He had truly overestimated himself and the Aldron family. Who was Elder Grad? The Fourth Inner Elder of the Sect, the head of the Hall of Justice; he was one of the most influential Inner Elders.
Ancestor Eldes immediately interjected: "I ask Elder Grad to excuse Garas's rash action, as he momentarily lost himself due to his son's condition. I just hope Elder Grad does not take offense," he said with a gentle smile.
Elder Grad waved his hand dismissively: "Ata Eldes exaggerates too much. I understand Garas's anger," he said.
Garas Aldron regained his composure: "I apologize to Elder Grad for losing myself for a moment," he said with a look of regret.
Elder Grad waved his hand, showing he didn't care. Ancestor Eldes read the atmosphere; he realized there was no point in staying longer, and the outcome wouldn't change. They had truly run into a hard rock this time. But there was no cure for regret; they had spoiled their younger generation too much; in a way, the fault was theirs. Ancestor Eldes sighed, stood up, looked at Elder Grad, and said: "We have wasted Elder Grad's time. We sincerely thank you for attending to us, Elder Grad, and now, with your permission, we shall take our leave and not trouble you further," and they left, followed by Garas and the cold young man.
Elder Grad sat there, thinking: This old fox knows how to manage the situation and the atmosphere. This elder is known to be a resentful fellow. His composure is not a good sign, but I don't think they will act openly. At most, they might act secretly.
Outside the Sect gates, Garas no longer controlled his anger: "Ancestor, are we going to let this matter drop like this? That filthy brat cripples and almost kills our family's future heir! Are we going to swallow this just like that?" he exclaimed with excitement and anger.
Ancestor Eldes looked at Garas coldly: "Control your stupid anger, you fool! Did you live all these years for nothing, you idiot! Senfu is that brat's master. Do you think we can openly do anything to that brat? Use your brain! It won't be too late for revenge once things settle down and are forgotten, understood? We must do this secretly and leave no evidence behind, but in due time. Not yet! So, be patient," he said wearily. He sighed over the trouble he was dealing with at his age, but revenge had to be taken, sooner or later, because they were the Aldron family.
"I absolutely agree. When the time comes, we will make Agois pay this debt with interest," the cold young man responded angrily. But though he looked angry outwardly, he was secretly delighted. Crom was his brother and more talented than him; the leadership of the family would most likely be his in the future. Therefore, his brother being crippled delighted him greatly. It would have been better if he died, but being crippled was also good; the family leadership was now his. He was secretly and mockingly thanking Agois inwardly.
Garas clenched his fists and teeth, trying to calm himself. Ancestor was right. They couldn't openly do anything against the other side, but he couldn't wait that long with his rage. He had to handle this secretly himself.