A group of ten people steadily climbed the long stone staircase that led toward the entrance of the Night Rider Sect. The staircase stretched up the mountainside and was wide enough for several groups to walk side by side. After several minutes of climbing, the group finally reached the main entrance. Standing guard, there were around twenty disciples of the sect, all of whom were responsible for monitoring those entering and leaving the mountain.

Among the twenty guards, four were Core Disciples, while the rest consisted of a mixture of Inner and Outer Disciples. Although their ranks varied greatly, all of them were currently performing the same duty. Within the Night Rider Sect, guard duty was considered a responsibility that every disciple had to fulfil, regardless of status. Even Core Disciples were not exempt from this rule. As part of the sect’s regulations, every disciple was required to serve as a guard for seven days before being rotated back to their normal duties.

The entire system operated on a rotating schedule to ensure that no single group carried the burden alone. Each division of the sect, the Outer Court, Inner Court, and Core Court, was assigned a specific quota of disciples who had to report for guard duty during every rotation cycle. This not only helped maintain security throughout the sect but also served as a way of teaching discipline and responsibility to the younger generation of disciples. As a result, seeing disciples of different ranks standing side by side at the entrance was a completely normal sight within the Night Rider Sect.

It was the middle of the day when the guards noticed a group approaching the entrance. The guards quickly recognised the group as the Wind Dragon Clan members. However, there was one individual in this group who seemed not to be a part of their Sect.

’Was the Wind Dragon Clan here to use their connection to get him to join the Sect?’ But then one of the guards noticed the way this new member walked and realised that he was missing a leg.

"Clan Leader, I sincerely apologise for stopping you, but you cannot bring someone who is not a part of our Sect into the Sect." One of the core students who knew several core students of the Wind Dragon Clan personally stepped forward and explained the situation.

"This young man’s name is Ivan. He is the cousin of my wife from another Dragon Clan." Many minor Dragon clans existed throughout the entire Main Continent. The Wind Dragon Clan was proof of that. So the guards did not doubt his words.

"Oh!!" The guards looked at Aditya. Although he did not speak, they noticed that most of his skin was covered with Dragon Scales. He had long brown hair and red eyes.

Seeing the Dragon scales, no one suspected Aditya anymore. He was a Dragon, and that was obvious.

He wore baggy clothes, but a few guards with sharp eyes noticed something odd.

"What happened to him?" One of the guards asked after noticing that the unfamiliar man was missing one of his legs. His gaze lingered on the injury for a few moments before shifting toward Ramos and the others.

Ramos stepped forward and answered calmly. "About a month ago, he encountered a powerful bandit during his travels and lost his leg in the battle. I personally brought him here today in the hope of meeting the Alchemist Elder. The entire Wind Dragon Clan sincerely hopes that the Elder might be willing to help us and create a potion capable of regrowing the missing limb."

The guard looked at Aditya once more before letting out a small sigh. "To be honest, even I don’t think the Alchemist Elder possesses anything that can help with an injury like this. Regrowing a lost limb is not something that ordinary alchemists can accomplish. Still, since all of you have come this far, I think it would be best for you to meet the Elder and discuss the matter directly." After hearing his response, the remaining guards no longer questioned them. Thanks to the reputation and status of the Wind Dragon Clan within the sect, the group was quickly granted permission to enter and continue deeper into the Night Rider Sect.

"That was easy." Aditya, for a moment, thought that he would need to silence the guards once and for all. But that was not needed. These guards weren’t real guards. They were just here to fulfil their 7-day quota before their turn comes again in several decades. This is why they did not ask much and let them enter so easily.

"The entire Night Rider Sect trusts us a lot." 93 members of the clan were students of the Sect. It was obvious that because of this reason, the Clan would have a strong reputation within the entire Night Rider Sect.

The conversation primarily took place between Aditya and Ramos. As for the members of the Wind Dragon Clan who had accompanied their Clan Leader, they remained silent throughout the discussion. Part of it was due to respect for Ramos, while another part stemmed from the awe and fear they felt toward Aditya. Ever since witnessing the overwhelming pressure of his bloodline, none of them felt qualified to casually interrupt a conversation between their Clan Leader and the being they now recognised as the Dragon Monarch.

When Ramos first informed the clan about Aditya’s identity, not everyone believed him immediately. There had been scepticism, doubt, and even quiet murmurs of distrust among some of the members.

After all, the Dragon Monarch was a figure that existed only in ancient legends. However, all of those doubts disappeared the moment Aditya demonstrated his abilities before the entire clan. Not only had he displayed the overwhelming superiority of his bloodline, but he had also personally transformed several of the clan’s most promising geniuses into powerful Dragon Warriors.

The results were visible for everyone to see. Their cultivation improved, their bloodlines evolved, and their potential increased dramatically. After witnessing such miracles with their own eyes, the Wind Dragon Clan no longer had any doubts. Their loyalty now belonged entirely to Aditya, and they were willing to follow his commands without hesitation.

"I assume that the Sect only have five 7th-order powerhouses. And the strongest one is currently Victor."

"Yes!"

"However, there are at least twenty core students who have reached Peak 6th-order. As long as they reach beginner seventh order, I’m sure they will get the position, title and privileges of an elder."

"But crossing the boundary between Peak 6th-order and Beginner 7th-order is incredibly difficult. I have lived for more than eleven thousand years, and during that time, I have witnessed countless geniuses become trapped at the Peak 6th-order Realm. Many of them possessed extraordinary talent, resources, and opportunities, yet they still failed to take that final step. The gap between those two realms is far greater than most people imagine. Reaching Peak 6th-order is already an achievement that places a cultivator among the strongest experts in the world, but advancing into the 7th-order Realm is an entirely different challenge."

Ramos’ expression became noticeably more serious as he continued. "And then there is the Heavenly Tribulation. Many cultivators fear it more than death itself."

"The lightning tribulation that descends upon those attempting to break through to the 7th-order Realm is said to be one of the most dangerous trials a cultivator can ever face. Just within the last century alone, our Wind Dragon Clan lost three members during their breakthrough attempts."

"All three had successfully reached Peak 6th-order and were considered among the clan’s greatest talents. Unfortunately, none of them could withstand the Heavenly Tribulation. The lightning bolts reduced their bodies to ashes, leaving nothing behind. That is why every successful 7th-order cultivator is respected throughout the cultivation world. Reaching that realm requires not only talent and hard work but also the ability to survive a trial that has claimed the lives of countless geniuses."

Ramos took Aditya to the first mountain Peak which was home to the outer court students. While they walked around showing Aditya, his attention was on things that can do the most harm to the Sect.

Aditya noticed a large number of students coming out of a building.

"What’s that?"

"That’s where students can eat for free."

"This place serves meals to all the outer court students."

"Anyone ever met the chef?" Aditya asked.

"I did once."

"Was he or she a member of the Sect?"

"No! A group of outsiders from a certain clan manages cooking of the entire sect. I heard almost 400 people work here every single day to make sure that food is prepared on time and served to students at the same time."

"On certain occasions, things can get super busy. In such a time, it’s not uncommon for some students to volunteer to work in the kitchen." Aditya silently listened everything.

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