Chapter 4: A Rare Treasure of the Ages

The people living on the continent of Kaxiu, due to the harsh living environment, have long revered martial arts and yearned for high magical prowess, which has become a social norm. Consequently, the nobility and influential figures of various countries, along with meddlesome folk enthusiasts, compiled a "Hundred Strong Ranking"! This book features the continent's recognized strongest individuals as its main subjects, listing a hundred super experts. The leader of the Seven Immortals of Myriad Changes, the "White-haired Wind God" Xiulannasite, ranks sixth.

Mels had long dreamed of one day becoming a member of the Hundred Strong Ranking and greatly admired the hundred strongest individuals listed in the book. Today, he never imagined he would actually meet the "White-haired Wind God" in person, let alone have the chance to sit and converse with such a powerful figure!

"Haha, it seems my reputation hasn't been forgotten by the world. In truth, titles like 'Ethereal Immortal' are just empty words spoken by idle gossips. The continent is filled with countless powerful individuals; how could I dare claim the sixth spot?" Although the Wind Elder spoke humbly, anyone could hear the pride and satisfaction in his words.

"You are too humble. Anyone who practices martial arts knows your name! I apologize for my earlier disrespect, Elder. Please do not take offense. Hehe, I really am foolish—I should have realized from the magic Ice Elder used earlier that you all are not unknown figures!" Mels quickly stood up, bowed to the Wind Elder, and then scratched his head awkwardly.

"Actually, the reason I revealed my name wasn't to boast to you. The fact that Old Five appeared before you today and didn't let you leave during the battle shows that he recognized your potential! Nowadays, young people tend to aim too high and rarely consider how they compare to others.

But you are different. At the start of the battle, you not only observed carefully but also discussed with your little Summoned Beast. After the battle ended, you felt frustrated and helpless about your shortcomings. Most importantly, you have pure eyes. From your gaze, I can tell you are not a deceitful person!" The Wind Elder stroked his snow-white beard and smiled at Mels.

"You... you've been observing me since earlier?" Mels asked with slight surprise.

"Haha... You mean spying, right? Yes, because the seven of us were entrusted by an old friend to escort the great ship to Flans Island. To avoid unnecessary trouble and ensure the fleet's safety, we carefully observe everyone on board. We started observing you a few days ago when you first boarded. Although this method isn't friendly, it's necessary to fulfill our duty.

Today, Old Five appeared before you because of your talking Summoned Beast! To be honest, even though we are old, this is the first time we've seen a Summoned Beast that can directly use human language! In the past, even analytical-type Summoned Beasts could only communicate with their masters through telepathy, not directly converse like yours!

Also, your method of using the Summoned Beast is quite unique. Even though we, as the Secret Demon Clan, can summon Summoned Beasts in the shortest time, we can't simply say 'Come out' and release them like you do!" the Wind Elder explained.

"Well... I actually don't know how this works either. I used to think my Summoned Beast was useless, but ever since..." Mels sat down gently beside the Wind Elder and slowly recounted his past experiences.

Time passed quickly. By the time Mels finished telling his story, the eastern river surface was already glowing with the first light of dawn. The elder and the youth had unknowingly talked through most of the night. During Mels' narration, the Wind Elder asked many questions, listening carefully to every detail and occasionally pondering thoughtfully. Although Mels found the Wind Elder's behavior strange, out of respect for his elder, he didn't dwell on it.

"...And then I met you. Right now, I'm most worried about Sol, Rek, and Akafir. I don't know where they are." Mels finally finished recounting his experiences.

"Alas, the Blue-Clad Tower Wolves are notoriously troublesome. Generally, even well-known figures avoid getting involved with them. Their Tower Master, 'Blood Wolf,' only ranks nineteenth in the Hundred Strong Ranking, but that's because he rarely takes action personally! Based on my estimation, his strength is at least on par with mine. In the future, you must be extra careful if you encounter them again," the Wind Elder said with concern.

"Yes, I know. If I had known it was them from the start, I might not have intervened," Mels replied.

"Oh? Why 'might not'? Logically, you should have stayed far away!" the Wind Elder suddenly questioned.

"Actually, I don't know what I should have done. If you saw a weak woman being bullied by those scoundrels, would you ignore it? I think I might not be able to stand by and do nothing! Even if it means death, at least I'd be true to myself. If that woman were violated before my eyes, I'd never be at peace for the rest of my life!" Mels gazed into the distance and spoke sincerely.

Observing Mels' expression, the Wind Elder nodded slightly but remained silent. After a while, he continued, "By the way, you mentioned earlier that you're also going to Flans Island? Isn't that along the way?"

"Yes, I am. But my brothers are waiting for me at Bomart Harbor. I need to find them first before figuring out how to get to Flans Island," Mels said, rubbing his nose.

"Hmm..." The Wind Elder fell silent briefly before continuing, "Then how about this: after we set sail from here, we'll first go to Bomart Harbor and dock there for a day. If you can find your brothers, you can sail with us. If not, you'll have to find your own way."

"Ah! Is that okay? Won't it delay your journey?" Mels asked in surprise.

"Hehe, don't worry. We originally needed to stop at a port for final supplies before setting sail. Going to Bomart is just along the way, so no need to worry! Besides, Old Five and I are quite interested in you. We have some little tricks we'd like to teach you, so of course you'll have to stay with us for a while," the Wind Elder said with a smile.

"Little tricks? Ah!" Mels suddenly understood and immediately bowed respectfully, saying, "Thank you, Elder, for imparting your skills!"

"Haha... What skills? I only said 'little tricks'—just little tricks! Hahaha..." Amidst laughter, the Wind Elder jumped down from the mast and gracefully disappeared from Mels' sight.

Unlike Mels' situation, Rek and the others were currently holed up in the border town of "Refak," located between Feijinando and the Chaotic Country. In a dimly lit tavern, Rek sat beside the heavily drunk Sol. Akafir, as usual, looked at their gloomy expressions with confusion, unsure why they were unhappy. Three days earlier, after Rek carried Sol and Akafir to escape the pursuit of the Blue Tower, they arrived at this town. Once sober, Sol punched and kicked Rek, clamoring to go find Mels. Rek, aside from restraining Sol from reckless actions, let him vent his frustrations.

After a day passed, Sol gradually calmed down, and Rek explained his plan, gaining Sol's understanding. Since then, the three had been waiting in this town, hoping Mels would escape pursuit and pass through.

Days went by, but Mels remained nowhere to be seen. Even the calm and cautious Rek began to feel a sense of foreboding.

"Re... Rek, you... you... this... this bastard! Wh... why did you... let the boss... face it alone? If... if something happens to the boss... I... I won't let you off!" The heavily drunk Sol slumped over the tavern table, complaining intermittently to Rek.

"Yes, yes, you won't let me off! Sleep now, go to sleep!" Rek looked at his good friend with a headache, took the wine bottle from his hand, and said dismissively.

At that moment, Akafir put down his spoon, opened his eyes wide, and asked Rek, "Rek big brother, where boss go?"

Although Akafir had been with them for some time, this child raised in the wilderness still couldn't speak fluently. Now, wanting to ask where Mels was, he said "where boss go." Rek understood Akafir's meaning and replied with a lonely smile, "Don't worry, the boss just encountered some bad guys and got held up. He'll be back soon!"

"Bad guys? Akafir protect boss!" After hearing Rek's words, Akafir suddenly picked up his sword, stood up abruptly, and seemed ready to rush out the door to find the "bad guys" Rek mentioned.

"Sigh... Sit down! We don't know where the boss is!" Seeing Akafir's reaction, Rek quickly stood up and pushed him back into his seat. Over the past three days, thanks to his superhuman recovery ability, Akafir's severe shoulder injury had mostly healed. Although this was good news for Rek, Akafir's confused nature still gave him headaches.

Seeing Rek's despondent expression, Akafir opened his eyes wide in confusion. Although he didn't understand why Rek was unhappy, he vaguely sensed it had something to do with "boss" and "bad guys."

After calming Sol and Akafir, Rek picked up his spoon and absentmindedly sipped some broth. At this moment, he no longer knew what to do. "Boss, where are you? Why haven't there been any news for so long? I understand Sol's feelings, but Akafir is really... Boss, come back quickly! If this continues, I really don't know what to do!"

Just as Rek and the other two were filled with worry, the tavern door suddenly burst open. A gust of wind accompanied two travel-worn men into the tavern. One of them shouted, "Waiter, bring us a few pounds of good wine and some side dishes!"

Rek cautiously glanced at the two men. After confirming they were just ordinary travelers, he picked up his wine bowl and took a sip. However, at that moment, their conversation caught his full attention! One of the men, slightly taller and thinner, said, "Damn it. That little brat can really run! Even the Nine Saints couldn't catch him! Now they're sending us after him. Even if we do catch up, wouldn't it be like sending meat to a dog—a one-way trip?"

"Shh, keep your voice down! I heard that kid has some accomplices. If they hear us, we'll be in trouble!" the other man said nervously, looking around. His glance made Rek quickly avert his gaze.

After confirming no one was paying attention, the taller, thinner man raised his voice again, "You're more timid than a mouse! That kid jumped off a cliff. The Nine Saints searched for two days and didn't find his body. I bet he's already crossed half of Feijinando along the Simaqi River! Even if he has accomplices, they might have already reached the rendezvous point!"

"Sigh, I hope so! May heaven have mercy and not let us run into that kid! If even the Nine Saints couldn't catch him, how could we be a match? Come on, let's drink, drink!" the other man said again. Then the two began chatting idly about brothels and such, and Rek lost interest in listening further.

Nine Saints? Could it be the Nine Saints of the Blue Tower? Right, the chief once said that members of the Blue-Clad Tower Wolves have a blue wolf head tattooed on their shoulders! But they're wearing so many clothes now—how can I confirm their identities? Rek thought.

At that moment, the two men seemed unable to handle their alcohol. One of them pulled open his clothes, revealing half his shoulder, which indeed bore a blue wolf head tattoo!

That's it! The boss must be safe! The Simaqi River... If he left from there, he couldn't possibly come here! Bomart—the boss must have gone to Bomart! Thinking this, Rek felt his spirits lift.

He pulled the drunken Sol up from the tavern table, placed two silver coins on the table, and had Akafir grab their bags. The three hurriedly made their way to the town's only carriage service.

After Rek and the others left, the expressions of the two men who had been shouting and laughing suddenly changed. Their previously dull eyes now gleamed sharply. They quickly settled their bill and followed Rek and the others out of the tavern.

The two men, who had been following Rek and the others from a distance, hid in a dark alley when Rek turned a corner and whispered to each other, "Second Brother, the chief told us to follow the young master, but why didn't he let us intervene? If we had dealt with those Nine Saints back then, the young master wouldn't have disappeared! That day, watching those nine Blue Tower bastards bully the young master and his friends, I really wanted to step in. If you hadn't stopped me, I would have taken them out!"

"Fourth Brother, don't be impatient. The chief must have his reasons. Although the young master is missing now, Big Brother and the others haven't confirmed his death. I believe the young master is blessed and has already gone to Bomart. Now, to avoid the Blue Tower scoundrels, the young master will definitely hide his tracks, making it harder for us to find him! That's why Big Brother had us use the Blue Tower's identity to lure these kids to Bomart. I'm sure once they see them, the young master will show up!" the other man comforted his companion.

"Sigh, the chief has shown us great kindness. The young master is their only heir. If we really lose him under our watch..." the first man said worriedly again.

"Fourth Brother, don't worry. You've seen the young master's intelligence—how many people in the world can compare? Like that day in the forest, all five of us couldn't keep up with his pace. I believe the young master will be safe. Don't worry. If the young master is in danger again, didn't Big Brother say? No matter the punishment, we, the Whirlwind Five, will fight to the end!"

"Sigh, let's find the young master first. Speaking of which, these masks on our faces and these fake tattoos are really uncomfortable! I can't wait to wash them off!"

"Bear with it for now. Enough talk—let's follow them quickly before we lose them again!" After saying this, the two men peeked out again. Once they confirmed no suspicious figures were around, they hurried toward the carriage service.

The river surface returned to its usual calm after the fierce battle. The occasional splashing waves felt like a mother's gentle caress to the massive great ship capable of holding over three hundred people. After staying up all night talking with the Wind Elder until dawn, Mels returned to his cabin and fell asleep. In his drowsy state, unsure how much time had passed, he gradually woke up to find the previously aloof Deputy Steward Mont standing respectfully by his bedside, holding a teacup.

"Deputy Steward, what are you..." Seeing Mont's respectful demeanor, Mels' sleepiness instantly vanished.

"Ah, you're awake. Please don't address me like that anymore, Young Master Mels. From now on, if you have any orders, just call me Mont!" Mont said deferentially, handing the teacup to Mels for him to rinse his mouth.

Flustered, Mels took the teacup from Mont, feeling utterly confused about why Mont's attitude toward him had suddenly changed. In his bewilderment, he took a small sip of the fragrant tea and asked, "Uncle Mont, what exactly is going on?"

"Hehe, don't you know? Last night, you must have met with the Elders. This morning, the Wind Elder instructed me to treat you with the etiquette of a distinguished guest from now on, without any neglect. Additionally, your room will be moved to the cabin at the ship's bow starting today, and I will be your personal attendant," Mont replied, still with humility.

"What! Uncle Mont, please sit down first. Regardless of whether I'm a distinguished guest or not, you don't need to be so formal with me." Mels handed the teacup back to Mont and began putting on his shoes.

After hearing Mels' words, Mont suddenly turned pale, bowed his head, and stood beside Mels, saying sorrowfully, "Young Master Mels, what mistake have I made? If you wish to punish me, I will accept it fully!"

"Mistake? Punishment? Haha, you must be joking. A few days ago, you welcomed me aboard and treated my injuries. I haven't even thanked you yet—why would I punish you? What would I punish you for?" Mels replied, utterly baffled.

"Phew..." After hearing Mels' words, Mont let out a long sigh and said, "Young Master Mels, you don't understand. Here, when the master is seated, servants must stand. Violating etiquette can result in having one's abilities nullified and being expelled by the young lady at any time!"

"What? Oh, then you can stand." Mels responded lightly, but inwardly he couldn't help thinking: What kind of person is the master of this Mothership? Not only can they summon the Seven Immortals of Myriad Changes for escort, but even their household rules are so devoid of human feeling! They treat people like pigs and dogs! Hmph, the "young lady" who would set such rules must be a viperous character! If I get the chance, I'll definitely teach her a lesson!

Mont, of course, had no idea what Mels was thinking. At this moment, he was filled with anxiety. Over the past few days, he had been in charge of Mels' affairs, and he knew his attitude toward Mels hadn't been particularly friendly. Now that Mels had suddenly become his master overnight, he was terrified that Mels might be the kind of "petty-minded commoner" who, upon gaining power, would immediately retaliate against him! That's why he was being so respectful to Mels now, hoping Mels would let bygones be bygones.

Under Mont's care, Mels quickly finished washing up. After breakfast, led by Mont, Mels headed toward the VIP cabin on the foredeck, a place he had never set foot in before. Along the way, Mels was surprised to find that whether they were sailors or male and female servants—people who had never given him a second glance before—now bowed and scraped to him with unusual enthusiasm.

Facing all this, Mels couldn't help but think: My foster father once said, "Human warmth and coldness are like a sheet of paper, easily torn apart for various reasons!" Today, it seems his words were indeed true. The people on this ship are a living example! Hmph, what others think is their business; I am still me! Having realized this, Mels felt much more at ease. Facing the crowd, he no longer felt awkward or uncomfortable.

A moment later, the entrance to the luxurious first-class cabin appeared before Mels. At the spiral staircase leading to the cabin, four tall guards stood on either side, seemingly with no intention of letting Mont and Mels pass.

"Master Mels, this is the first-class cabin. Your room is the outermost one on the second floor. I can only escort you this far. This is the gold pass. From now on, as long as you carry it with you, no one on the entire ship will be able to stop you. Also, the young lady was full of praise for the dishes you prepared. Please continue to put effort into the culinary aspect in the future." After saying this, Mont took out a palm-sized gold token from his pocket, respectfully handed it to Mels, and then stepped aside to clear the way.

Mels took the token, nodded to Mont in acknowledgment, and then walked alone toward the spiral staircase. Sure enough, upon seeing the gold token in Mels' hand, the four guards at the staircase entrance immediately bowed respectfully and pushed open the spiral staircase door for him.

Stepping into the spiral staircase, Mels instantly felt as if he were in a fairyland. The handrails on both sides of the staircase were entirely made of pure gold, and the colorful patterned carpet on the floor emitted a faint, pleasant fragrance. Without even asking, Mels knew this carpet must have been woven from the fur of the rare "Fragrant Fur Fox."

Descending the staircase, the ceiling of the passageway was fitted with adjustable starlight gems, maintaining a soft light throughout. The walls were adorned with precious gemstones, and the rest were covered with calligraphy and paintings by famous artists. Every three meters Mels advanced, there was a potted plant on either side, filled with exotic flowers and rare grasses. The floral scents wafted through the air, filling him with an indescribable sense of comfort.

"Kid, you're here. Big Brother has been waiting for you." Just as Mels was looking around, unable to suppress his astonishment, the Ice Elder appeared at a corner, smiling at Mels.

"Ah! Greetings, Ice Elder." Hearing the call, Mels snapped out of his reverie and politely bowed to the Ice Elder.

"Haha, no need for formalities. Come quickly, Big Brother and the others are still waiting for you!" the Ice Elder said warmly to Mels. Led by the Ice Elder, Mels soon arrived at the last luxurious hall on the first floor of the cabin. There, the Wind Elder and five other men and women he hadn't met before were sitting around a round table in the center of the hall.

"Greetings to all Elders!" As soon as he entered, Mels obediently paid his respects to everyone. Those present were all elders, and a junior showing proper manners would naturally make them feel closer—a principle Mels had understood since childhood. Sure enough, after Mels spoke politely, two middle-aged noblewomen who appeared to be around forty years old immediately smiled and left their seats, walking to Mels' side, one on the left and one on the right. One of them, with an oval face, cherry lips, phoenix eyes, willow-leaf eyebrows, light makeup, hair tied high, and wearing a green rippling long skirt, spoke: "Third Sister, look, what a handsome lad. No wonder Big Brother likes him so much."

"Tee-hee, look at you talking. He's going to blush," said the other woman, who looked almost identical, wearing a red mage robe, giggling as she spoke. At this, Mels' originally unblushing face couldn't help but flush with two patches of red.

"Hahaha, alright, alright! He just got here, and you're already treating him like some rare specimen. No wonder he's blushing!" The Wind Elder seemed unwilling to let Mels feel overly embarrassed and stood up, laughing to defuse the situation.

He waved to Mels and said, "Mels, come here, let me introduce you. Over there, wearing a long robe and carrying a sword at his waist, is my second brother, 'Cloud-reaching Sword God' Udais. The woman in red who spoke to you earlier is my third sister, 'Angry Thunder Fairy' Krani. Standing beside her is Fourth Sister, 'Swift Lightning Fairy' Mariante. Fifth Brother you know—he's the one called 'Cold Ice Deity' Remas. Sitting side by side, wearing iron armor and not smiling, is my sixth brother, 'Frost Death God' Tewadi. And finally, the tall, thin one is the youngest among us seven, 'Feixue Kuanglong' Bacas."

After Mels bowed to each of them in turn, the Wind Elder spoke again: "I specialize in martial arts that utilize Qi energy. Third Sister and Fifth Brother are proficient in magic incantations. Second Brother's divine sword is arguably the strongest among us. Fourth Sister's whip has yet to meet its match. Sixth Brother, though rigid and not fond of joking, wields dual blades with a skill even I'm not confident I could withstand. Seventh Brother, though the youngest, his mastery of spear techniques is anything but 'young'!"

"Haha... Big Brother, you always like to make us look good. Why don't you mention that the six of us combined are no match for you?" Snow Elder, who looked about fifty and had a kindly appearance, laughed as he spoke to the Wind Elder.

"He's not here to pick a master, Big Brother. Why reveal all our true strengths?" Thunder Elder in red chimed in.

"Hehe, we seven are all getting on in years, and we rarely go out to see the world anymore. Should we take all our skills to the grave with us? You say you don't want to take disciples now, but wait until I have this kid demonstrate. I'm afraid you'll all be fighting over him then!" The Wind Elder laughed heartily, then turned to Mels and said, "Kid, stand in the middle!"

Though Mels didn't know what the Wind Elder intended, he obediently stepped into the center. Seeing Mels was ready, the Wind Elder slowly stood up, raising his hands gently from his abdomen to his chest. In an instant, the Wind Elder's hair began to float as if stirred by an unseen wind.

"Ha!" With a loud shout from the Wind Elder, a fierce burst of Qi energy shot from his mouth toward Mels. Before Mels could react, the energy was already upon his chest! Never expecting the Wind Elder to suddenly attack him, Mels was completely unprepared for battle. Helpless, he could only reflexively raise his hands to block his chest, attempting to withstand the Qi energy shot by the Wind Elder.

Boom! As the energy struck, Mels felt a wave of dizziness, staggering back three or five steps before barely steadying himself.

"Wind Elder, what are you..." Mels, who had been about to demand an explanation, suddenly noticed that everyone present, except for the still-smiling Wind Elder, was staring at him with mouths agape, unable to believe what they were seeing. Mels swallowed the second half of his question.

Swish! Before Mels could understand what was happening, he heard the rustle of clothing, and the usually stern Frost Death God Tewadi rushed to his side, grabbing his wrist! Ah! The immense Qi energy transmitted from Tewadi's grip made Mels break out in a cold sweat from the pain, and he couldn't help but cry out.

"Impossible... impossible! He truly doesn't have deep Qi energy within his body. Could it be..." Gently releasing Mels' wrist, Tewadi shook his head vigorously, speaking in a tone of absolute disbelief.

"Exactly!" the Wind Elder suddenly declared loudly. "He is the perfect candidate to learn our 'True Nameless Divine Style' martial arts! One in a million... no, one in a hundred million—a person born with the 'Supreme Innate Qi'!"

"Supreme Innate Qi? What's that? Do I have something like that?" Mels asked, confused.

"Hehe, Silly Boy, you truly don't know how fortunate you are! Innate Qi is something a person is born with, and those who possess it are already rare in this world. Supreme Innate Qi is a marvelous thing that surpasses ordinary Innate Qi. A person can acquire Innate Qi through continuous cultivation later in life, but no means can grant Supreme Innate Qi! This ability can only be innate, nurtured by the mother's body. Those who possess this ability, when facing a master in combat, can gain thousands of times more defensive capability in both martial arts and magic compared to ordinary people! In other words, if your combat ability is dozens of times weaker than an opponent's, possessing Supreme Innate Qi could make you hundreds of times stronger than them!

Just now, the energy blast technique Big Brother used would have severely damaged the internal organs of an ordinary person, causing them to vomit blood incessantly. Yet you only took a few steps back and were fine. That's the best proof!" The Ice Elder looked at Mels joyfully as he explained.

Despite the Ice Elder's explanation, Mels still couldn't fully grasp it. Just as he was about to ask further, the Wind Elder suddenly walked up to Mels and asked, "How old are you?"

"Seventeen," Mels replied honestly, looking into the Wind Elder's eyes.

"Seventeen, that's perfect! Just three years—three years, and you'll be able to inherit the strongest martial arts of our school!" The Wind Elder looked up at his six brothers and sisters, his face filled with excitement.

Seeing the eager looks in everyone's eyes, Mels couldn't help but feel deeply puzzled. Until today, he had never thought of himself as superior to others in any way, nor did he know he possessed any exceptional talent. Having a low-level summoned beast, he had carried a faint, lingering sense of inferiority since childhood, though he had never voiced it.

Yet now, the continent's strongest masters were telling him he possessed Supreme Innate Qi. This was truly... After a long pause, the Wind Elder suddenly seemed to remember something. He faced Mels and said, "Mels, there's something I must explain to you first. You have your own choice.

Although the seven of us greatly hope you will inherit our school, your ability is indeed extremely rare. If you wish to have a better master, we can introduce you to the Relkes Empire, where you could be directly trained by the Imperial Marshal, the possessor of the Eight-part Dragon King, the continent's strongest warrior, Duke Res Bolt. You can rest assured—given my relationship with the Duke and your ability, I believe he would be very willing to teach you martial arts!"

As soon as the Wind Elder finished speaking, the Ice Elder anxiously said, "Big Brother, you..."

Before he could finish, the Wind Elder interrupted: "Fifth Brother, Mels is indeed a rare talent. To us, he is like a rare treasure of the age. He might master the secret techniques passed down by our founder and bring glory to the True Nameless Divine Style! But we cannot deceive him! If he later learns that we, in our desire to have him, cut off the future that should have been his, he would hate us for life, and we would never be at peace. So this choice should be his to make!"

After hearing the Wind Elder's words, the Ice Elder and the others, who had initially been unable to accept this, all lowered their heads, unable to refute. Everyone's gaze fell on Mels. At this moment, they hoped Mels would give the answer they wanted to hear!

Looking at the Wind Elder before him, Mels understood for the first time what true integrity meant! A person who could willingly give up what they considered a rare treasure of the age—wasn't that true integrity? Mels had learned much knowledge and principles of conduct from Sarikat, but he had never truly experienced these principles firsthand.

In his eyes, acting upright and sitting straight had always been integrity. But now, he understood the true meaning contained within these four simple words!

In an instant, a decision formed in Mels' mind. He slowly approached the Wind Elder, knelt on both knees, and said, "Wind Elder... no, Master! Please accept me as your disciple. I am foolish and don't understand many principles. Please guide me in the future!"

Mels' words stirred everyone's emotions. However, the Wind Elder remained calm and asked, "Have you truly made your decision? Are you truly willing to give up the chance to learn from the continent's strongest warrior and the glorious future of becoming an Imperial General? Don't act on impulse. As long as you make a choice that truly aligns with your heart, I, Shuer Nanst, guarantee on my honor that I will fulfill my promise and send you to the Empire!"

Hearing the Wind Elder's words, Mels simply shook his head calmly and then spoke: "Duke Bolt is indeed the warrior I admire most. Being able to study under him would be like a dream—perhaps even more unreal than a dream. Yet I still wish to follow you and learn martial arts!

My foster father told me since childhood: When you are parched with thirst and go to a well to draw water, you must never forget to thank those who dug the well. Without them, you could not taste the sweet well water! It was you who discovered my ability. Though I don't know if I truly possess such ability, I understand the principle of remembering the source when drinking water. You are one of the continent's strongest. You could have kept everything from me and taken me as your disciple. I believe if you had done so, I might have been forever grateful for your kindness.

But you did not do that. You let me choose for myself! This way of acting with integrity is worthy of my lifelong devotion! Master, please accept this foolish disciple of yours!"

After Mels finished speaking, many of the Elders couldn't help but moisten the corners of their eyes. Even the usually stern Frost Elder revealed a faint, satisfied smile.

"Good child, stand up. From today onward, you are the inaugural disciple of us seven, the seventeenth-generation successor of the True Nameless Divine Style!" The Wind Elder said emotionally as he helped Mels to his feet.

"Big Brother, today we must drink to our hearts' content! Not only have we received a disciple with Supreme Innate Qi, but even more rare is his kind and pure heart! Haha... today, we won't return until we're drunk!" Cloud Elder, wearing a sword at his waist and looking dashing, said to the Wind Elder with a hearty laugh.

"I'm afraid you won't return until you're drunk, and then you'll be too drunk to return!" Lightning Elder in green teased happily from the side. With Lightning Elder's teasing and Cloud Elder's embarrassed expression, everyone couldn't help but burst into laughter together. Amidst this laughter, Mels took the crucial step that would influence his entire life and shape his future! A brilliant new star was about to appear on the chaotic continent!