"Hey look! It's sister Aelia!"
"Brother Ghost!"
As soon as the disciples saw Michael and Gaya in the sky, the disciples roaming around the sect began to cause turmoil. Michael waved at them for a few moments before flying directly into Claire's manor.
Right then, Claire was meeting with a few elders from the other sects and discussing merging the sects with the sunrise sect.
"You don't have to worry about independence Elder Marci. We will provide everything you need and let you govern yourself except our elders will offer you guidance to make the sect greater," Claire sat with one leg atop another. By sitting like this, she looked extremely dominant. Coupled with her Core Strengthening stage level 8 cultivation, the aura she radiated made the elders absolutely submissive.
"If you are in agreement with our terms, visit Broadriver and meet Elder Ella there. She will guide you through the process," Claire said,
"It will be a pleasure to be a part of the Sunrise Sect, Sect Leader," a brown-haired man stood up from his seat, bowed towards Claire, and shook her hand with absolute respect in his eyes.
Instead of entering the hall to meet Claire, Michael and Gaya waited in the hallway, looking at Claire.
The elders finally winded up the discussion a few minutes later and stood up to leave. Only then did they notice Michael and Gaya. When they saw the couple, the elders were startled. They might haven't recognized Gaya, but they recognized Michael almost instantly.
"Young Master Ghost,"
"No, you majesty Ghost,"
"Relax ladies and gentlemen," contemporary romance
Michael raised his hand with a calm smile as Claire's eyes went wide.
"Aelia!"
The sect leader almost dashed at Gaya, ignoring the elders. Fortunately, she controlled the urge to hug Gaya for a few moments. After exchanging a few pleasantries with the elders, Michael respectfully sent the elders away.
"How is it going Claire?" Gaya gently punched Claire in the shoulder, only to get hugged and squeezed by the blonde.
"It's so nice to see. Where were you all this time?"
Michael calmly rested his butt on the comfy sofa and waited for the maid to stop cowering in the corner and come to him.
"You know. Having some alone time. Cultivating, adventuring and murdering humans,"
"Huh?"
"Just kidding. Except for the last part," Gaya chuckled, making Claire frown.
"Kidding again,"
Gaya patted Claire on the back and sat on the sofa with her. Finally, the young maid who was cowering in the corner decided to approach them,
"Three avocado juice," Claire ordered.
"Yes…yes Sect Leader Claire," the young girl shivered, stuttering in fear.
"Who is she?"
"It's a new rule of the sect. All the young people have to do some part-time jobs as a part of their studies. We believe it'd help them sympathize with the commoners more," Claire explained.
"GHOST!"
Out of the blood, Olivia dashed into the manor with a pale face full of sweat beads.
"Told you I'll be fine,"
Claire was confused as Olivia dragged herself towards Michael and sat beside him. Soon, Ricky and Daniel entered the room. By the fear in Ricky's eyes, Michael could say that Olivia shared what happened on the ship with Ricky.
As a result, he had to go through what happened during the Alchemy competition from the beginning to the end when he got kidnapped by the pirates. Of course, Michael told them not to ask anything about what happened after the pirates kidnapped him. He had to wait to hear Sabrina's story before spreading another one.
After everything was said and done about the alchemy competition, Gaya finally turned her gaze toward Olivia and Ricky. Olivia quickly realized the meaning of Gaya's sharp gaze while sitting beside Michael. Ricky on the other hand stood behind a sofa facing Claire and Michael with Daniel.
"So when were you two planning to tell us? Especially you Ricky," Gaya said, raising her one brow in the shape of a sword.
"Its…its…its…"
"It's what? Cat got your tongue?"
Yet again, Claire was confused as she had no idea what was happening. She was too busy with the sect and Bradford business to notice the love tension between Olivia and Ricky. However, Daniel knew about their relationship, but he didn't get a chance to tell Ghost. Still, Daniel always advised Ricky to come clean with Ghost.
"These two are in love," Gaya broke the news to Claire.
"What?" Claire couldn't help raising her voice in shock.
"It's okay Ricky. You guys don't have to be scared. You did nothing wrong. I already dealt with Noah,"
"What do you mean dealt with Noah?" Claire's heart skipped a beat, thinking Ghost had killed Noah.
"Why don't you explain Olivia?" Michael looked at Olivia, wordlessly telling her to tell everything related to her marriage agreement with Noah.
It took Olivia another ten minutes to bring Claire up to speed,
"So much had happened, yet I knew nothing. I have to get some free time," Claire massaged her temples.
But suddenly, Claire opened her eyes so wide Michael could see the sparkles in her eyes.
"Why don't we have a girls night in Hades? After we deal with Lord Reginald,"
"Speaking of Lord Reginald. Ricky, send a messenger to Lord Reginald and ask him I want to meet him tomorrow morning,"
"Really?" Ricky sounded relieved and almost excited.
"Yes really. Now go,"
After Ricky, Daniel and Olivia left the hall, Michael decided to talk to Claire about the state of Bradford and his future position in the sect.
"Sect Leader Claire. I think its time I graduate from the Sunrise sect and let the Sunrise sect outshine me,"
Claire was surprised for a moment, but soon she just sighed,
"I understand you. I mean, you must be stronger than your sect leader,"
"Way stronger," Gaya exclaimed,
"So what's the plan?" asked Claire,
"Between us, ill always be the guardian of the sect. But to the outside world, I graduated from the sect. I will be nothing more than an old student,"
Claire listened to Michael's plan without uttering a word as he continued,
"As for the matter of Bradford, I'd prefer if you merge the kingdom with a sect,"
It was not Michael's idea to acquire the kingdom into the sect but Gaya's. No sect had ever acquired a kingdom. Hence, if the sunrise sect took over Bradford, it'd be the first time in history.
"Think about it, Claire. After taking over the kingdom, all the citizens of Bradford would be our disciples. You will have an army to defend the sect in the future against your foes. Let's be real. Countless people might be conspiring to bring us down as we speak. So we need an army," Gaya exclaimed,
"Besides, It'd be less complicated to rule Bradford as the sunrise sect rather than a separate place. We got your back Claire, as always," Gaya wrapped her hand around Claire and reassured her.
"Take your time Sect Leader Claire. I know it's a big decision. But trust me, it's better this way,"
"Well, I have to talk to the elders but are you sure you want to do this? By doing this, you're basically throwing away being the king,"
Michael on the other hand just shrugged,
"I don't like being the king anyway. It's not my style. Plus, being called Your majesty feels wrong and weird,"
"Really? That's your reason?" Claire sighed,
"You basically went to war with King Bredia and killed princess Katherine,"
"Both of them were being such a bitch at that time. Just take your time and let us know your decision Sect Leader Claire,"
"Please, call me Claire from now on. Just like Your majesty Ghost, Sect Leader Claire feels wrong and weird," Claire giggled as Michael stood up to leave the manor.
"Fair," Michael nodded,
"And Gaya, girls night. Do not miss it. I still haven't forgotten you didn't throw a gala for getting engaged,"
"The last time we try to do that, a bunch of morons ambushed us and blew Hades to hell. So you sure you still want a gala?"
"I am planning this time and no offense Ghost, it'll be open for only girls," Claire said to Michael.
"Whatever you do, do it before the end of next week. I am planning to go to Awor,"
"Aqua auction?" Claire asked,
"Yeah. I heard I can get some cool stuff there,"
Before traveling to Awor however, Michael planned to deal with the pirates in the Southern continent and the status of Gisal in the ongoing war between Prerid and Miral. The last time Michael heard, General Quintus was viciously attacking Prerid and slowly marching towards Prerid's capital.
He assigned Cain to deal with the problem, and it was time to check on Vedora.
After leaving Claire's manor, Michael and Gaya went to see their herbal garden. The herbal garden was concealed with lush green veins and giant trees. If one looked at the mountain from the distance, they wouldn't see the glass dome covering the herbal garden but the lush green mountain.
As they walked towards the herbal garden, breathing in the aromatic air, they felt calm and soothed to their soul. The sound of birds chirping and crickets chittering in the herbal garden was almost music to their ears.
"It feels like yesterday I planted my first herb seed. Thousand years, Blue Patna flower," Michael said to Gaya,
"Time does fly fast," Gaya nodded. After walking food for a few more minutes, they reached the colossal glass dome surrounding the herbal garden. At that moment, the herbal garden was almost half the size of a football stadium. But the crowded herbs and vegetation made the garden somewhat look smaller.
As soon as they entered the garden, a few youngsters welcomed them with a bow.
"How is the harvesting going?" Michael asked the blonde-haired youngster. Since he was one of the senior disciples in the sect, he didn't act like the others when he saw Michael.
"Pretty great Brother Ghost. We just brought some compost from Royal land and I heard Elder Reiner has ordered some rare herbs from the Phoenix Auction House,"
"Cool. Continue your work. I just come here to pick some herbs," Michael and Gaya walked away from the youngsters, leaving them to their work.
"I still can't believe that tiny human is in seclusion. Do you think she is some kind of genius?" Gaya asked while Michael was plucking some red orchids with care.
"If she continues to cultivate at this rate, she would be considered as one. After all, Cindy consumed pills and potions worth millions. That could make even the mediocre cultivator a genius,"
"Yet here you are plucking orchids to make her another potion," Gaya chuckled.
"It will help her reach the Core Formation stage quicker. I miss having her around,"
"What about me? Do you miss having me around?" Gaya asked in a seductive tone and moved closer to him.
"Would you believe me if I said no?"
Those were the last words that escaped Michael's mouth before Gaya locked her lips with his.
done.co