Playing inventor in a cultivation world

’Hah? Elder? Not Elders?’

Seraph blinked, alternating his gaze between the two men and Sylvia.

Noticing his confusion, the girl explained briefly.

"Elder Mash is a single person with two bodies."

Seraph nodded blankly, then stared at them—him.

"So... they share the same brain?"

Sylvia nodded. "You could say that. Each body has a complete brain, but they work and react at the same speed. They have the same thought patterns, and share information from one body to another."

"Huh..."

Seraph nodded, then turned back to the elder.

"Greetings, Elder Mash."

The two men turned to him and nodded, then faced Sylvia.

"Is he here for the examination?"

Sylvia nodded. "Yes."

Finally, one of the bodies moved.

He approached Seraph, sizing him up as he walked around him.

"His body composition is strange—but that is negligible. Kid, what is your cultivation level?"

He asked, his gaze piercing.

Seraph smiled and answered. "I am at the Core Advanced Stage."

Nodding, the man said.

"Follow me."

Seraph and Sylvia followed him deeper into the arena, and entered a sizable room with a stone platform at the centre.

"Stand on that."

Already recognizing that instrument, Seraph had no questions and immediately stood on it.

Instantly, a bright light was displayed, projecting three words—CORE ADVANCED STAGE.

"Alright. One last thing."

The man nodded and led them out of the room, heading straight for the arena itself.

Seraph and Sylvia followed, one curious, one expressionless.

"You shall be duelling an inner court disciple to finally prove your strength."

Elder Mash said, his tone heavy.

He turned to look at Sylvia and asked. "Would you be willing to do the honors?"

To their surprise, Sylvia shook her head.

"That would be unfair. I would soon be applying for the Core Disciple Examination. I am no longer a beginner Inner Court Disciple."

Seraph blinked, staring at her blankly.

’Err... is she saying she’s not something I can beat?’

Although the comment sparked a rebellious flame in him, he immediately snuffed it out.

’I shouldn’t probe her. It’d be rude. But what exactly is her cultivation level? Don’t tell me... she has become a Master Stage Cultivator?’

Giving her a long look, he finally turned back to Elder Mash.

"Do we have to call some other disciple then?"

The man shook his head and said calmly.

"There is no need. You will be duelling me."

Now, it was time for the two disciples to be surprised.

"Eh? Elder Mash?"

Sylvia gasped, genuine surprise on her face. Why would he be the one fighting Seraph? He was leagues above the young boy.

Even Seraph frowned, wondering if the man was trying to kill him.

Elder Mash shook his head and explained.

"The reason for the duel is to test the disciple’s strength. The sect’s policy of defeating an Inner Court Disciple before becoming one is just to ensure that the new intakes are better than the last."

"Oh..."

Seraph nodded in realization, understanding the sect’s intentions. If an applicant couldn’t defeat an Inner Court disciple, that meant he or she had weak fighting ability.

"Alright. I agree."

Seraph nodded, then took a few steps back.

Still concerned, Sylvia glanced at him but said nothing. She silently walked away, giving them enough space.

Now facing the man alone, Seraph felt a dull pressure.

It was as if he was in the presence of an old monster or beast with immense power.

’Oh well...’

He thought flatly, then paused.

"Eh... no weapons?"

Elder Mash tilted his head. "Don’t you have elemental affinities? Use them instead."

Immediately after saying this, he attacked.

A large wind blade shot straight at Seraph with incredible speed.

The boy’s eyes mapped the attack, and he immediately rolled to the side, dodging.

Without hesitation, he counterattacked.

Wind blades and water blades formed a tornado around Elder Mash, as if aiming to crush him.

The man looked at the tornado with interest, then struck a punch.

Instantly, it was scattered like a fly being swatted away.

Although Seraph expected this, his brows still dropped in disappointment.

’Oh well...’

Shrugging, he confirmed his desire to abstain from melee. If that man could casually destroy several wind blades and water blades with a single punch, then he would be courting death trying to engage him in close combat.

"Alright."

He whispered to himself, then jumped.

Two wind blades attached to his feet, holding him up in the air.

Controlling his balance on them, he flew higher, making the man look up to him.

["Yes. Look up to us, you mongrel. Watch as we rend you to pi—"]

’Shut it!’

With an annoyed expression, Seraph cut off Halo’s rant.

Looking down at the elder, he stretched out his hand like he was holding a bow, then drew the invisible string.

A fire arrow materialized in his hand, surprising the two people below.

On its trajectory to Elder Mash, Seraph created a small wind tornado with enough space for the arrow to pass through.

"Feel the heat."

A wide smile spread across his face as he released the arrow.

It burned through the air, immediately reaching the little tornado and slipping inside.

That was when the change happened.

In the presence of more oxygen, the flames increased violently.

It became a flame tornado with a sharp end, pointing straight at Elder Mash.

The man calmly watched it approach him, then waved his sleeves.

Earth wall.

A thick wall rose from the ground, barring the attack’s path while Elder Mash stayed safely behind it.

Bang!

The fire arrow-tornado fiercely slammed into the wall, bombarding it with the fierceness of an explosion.

The flames ravaged the earth wall fiercely, as if stubbornly trying to break through.

Noticing this, Elder Mash grew curious and looked at Seraph.

’Hm? He’s still controlling them?’

Surprised, the man took a look at the earth wall he had made, realizing it was being chipped off little by little.

’Although impressive, it is unfortunate.’

He instantly strengthened the earth wall, making it invulnerable to the flames.

However, it was at this moment that he saw Seraph’s smile widen to a grin.

The flame tornado dispersed, spreading around the earth wall as if trying to swallow it.

"Hm?"

Surprised, Elder Mash raised his hand and waved at the incoming flames.

A gust of wind blew straight at the flames, completely overpowering and snuffing them out.

However, Seraph still had a satisfied smile on his face.

Lowering himself from the sky, he looked straight at Elder Mash and said.

"You should pay more attention to your clothes."

The man’s eyes widened, and he looked at his sleeves.

A little portion of his sleeves had been burnt.

"How...?"

He whispered to himself, then shook his head.

"Hm, you pass. Your skills are top-notch, and you have good insight."

Turning away, he said in a low voice.

"You did well not trying to come close."

Seraph smiled, then turned to Sylvia.

"That’s all? Phew, and I was worried."

The girl had already regained her cold expression. "You didn’t look worried at all."

Seraph froze, his smile faltering. He immediately recomposed himself and scratched his hair.

"Ah, my bad. I must have been nervous."

He turned back to Elder Mash, only to realize he wasn’t there anymore.

"Eh? Isn’t he supposed to give me a new uniform or something?"

Sylvia sighed and turned around, walking away.

"We’ll collect it from his other self at the entrance. He must be pretty saddened with that burn on his sleeves."

"Huh..."

Seraph deadpanned, following behind her with a bitter smile.

When they arrived at the entrance, the other Elder Mash was there, already holding two inner court disciple robes.

Turning to them, he smiled and said.

"Although I would very much like to ruin your new robes like you did mine, it would be too immature for my status as an Elder."

Seraph’s bitter smile froze, a look of disbelief on his face.

’Seriously?’

Without waiting for a reply, Elder Mash handed the clothes to him, then turned to Sylvia.

"He has potential. You should look after him."

The girl nodded. "Understood, Elder. He does have the tendency of getting into dangerous situations."

Elder Mash’s lips parted in surprise. "That is bad luck. I believe you would be able to guide him on the right path."

Sylvia cupped her fists and bowed.

"Of course, Elder. I won’t let this little runt get himself killed easily."

Watching the exchange between them, Seraph felt less like a human and more like an object.

"I believe the subject of your discussion is standing right before you, no?"

They both turned to him, gave him a weird glance, then continued speaking.

Disturbed and confused, Seraph immediately left the building, waiting outside for Sylvia to arrive.

’Tch. Weird people all over this sect. From her appetite, I should have known she would have some screws loose too.’

Minutes later, Sylvia came out of the building to meet him.

"Why did you leave? That was rude."

"Rude?" Seraph frowned. "Senior Sister, you guys were talking about me like I wasn’t there."

The girl shook her head and began walking.

"Doesn’t matter. Elder Mash has been offended. He says he’d pound you with his fists whenever he sees you."

Instantly, Seraph straightened, and he followed after her with quick steps.