"Missions will be posted right here in this clearing at the center of your village. You will only be allowed to leave these walls should you have accepted a mission. If you fail three missions in a row, you will have one of two options. Enter a probationary period of one year where you will act as a miner for our Sprite Alliance, or be sent back to your tower quadrants.
"Of course, there is also the possibility of permanently leaving these walls and entering the true training program out Sprite Alliance has created for worthy geniuses. However, this will require three things.
"First, the completion of 100 one-star missions. Second, cultivation of the Pseudo Dao Realm. And third, lasting in battle for ten minutes against any one of the five of us.
"If there are no other questions, I'll be on my way." The young woman waved her hand, piercing a tall ten meter post that appeared from her spatial ring into the ground. It whirled to life, suddenly revealing image of missions and exchange rates.
The geniuses here were all shocked when they realized these so-called one-star missions required power infinitely close to the Dao Realm to complete. Their faces couldn't help but pale.
The meaning of all of these was clear If you didn't have the strength of a Dao Formation Realm expert come 80 years from now, you would be nothing but useless to the coming battle!
Without another word, the young woman vanished. It seemed she held quite some power among the five sprite youths, because the moment she left, the tense atmosphere they wafted was cut in half, a few of them even sighed in relief.
"I suggest that if when you're choosing which of us to challenge, you avoid her at all costs, or else don't blame us for the result." He said cheekily.
It seemed like a good-mannered heads up, but the tone he used made them feel an inexplicable sense of inferiority and discomfort.
"My name is Terren, a member of the Earthen Sprites. She might be uptight, but I'm much less so." His greedy eyes swept over the youths. "You scratch my back, and I'll scratch yours. I don't feel the need to put on airs. I'm sure you understand that since we drew the short end of the stick in receiving you all, we're pretty much bottom feeders here. Just like you all, I'm looking to make the most of my opportunities."
A cold chill swept up the spines of many of the young female geniuses as they hurried to avoid his invasive gaze.
"Your optimism isn't bad, Terren." Another young man patted Terren's shoulder. "Who among you can speak for the rest?"
True God Star cleared his throat. "I can."
The young man swept a glance over True God Star, but it was only when he noticed Cativa standing a half step behind him did his eyes light up.
"A fellow sprite, is it? I see, I see. You must be from the Star Clan. We were informed of your arrival." Though this young man was speaking to True God Star, his steps were very clearly walking toward Cativa, neither had his gaze shifted from her. It was only a minor fraction of a degree difference in path, but with how high all their cultivations were, how could they not notice?
Many looked toward True God Star, wondering how he would react. Though he had three wives, everyone was well aware that Cativa was favorite. Plus, even if he liked her the least, she was still his wife! Would the mighty True God that lorded over them all lower his head?
Unfortunately, this was exactly what happened. True God Star pretended not to notice these subtle actions at all as he continued to smile amicably
He nodded and chatted with this unnamed young man as though he couldn't tell at all that his gaze was raking over his wife's body as though he would devour her where she stood.
"Good. Since you're so sensible and can speak for everyone, that makes things easier." The young man continued with a smile.
"Cal, what exactly is it that you're trying to do."
Among those left, there was only one woman aside from another young man who had yet to speak. Of course, she was the most uncomfortable with what was currently happening. Though she too wanted to scheme some benefits from this thankless post, she didn't want to go too far.
"What's there to be so worried about?" Cal responded. "Even if we are ranked lowly among our fellow genius sprites, the fact we rank among them at all should make our value to our various Clans fairly clear to you all. Don't you think it's your good luck to be serving us?"
Cal's meaning was obvious. They were only 'trash' among the highest-level geniuses, but compared with a common sprite, they were still several levels above, let alone when compared to those of them here from the tower quadrants.
"What do you want us to do?" True God Star asked.
"Nothing much. You have one of two options. You can either give us 50% of your merit points upon completing a mission, or you can pay us in other ways to reduce that price." Cal's eyes still refused to leave Cativa's body. "Of course, in return, we will help you in whatever ways we can. It's not impossible even to make the ten minute spar a bit easier on you."
Of the requirements, the last was definitely the most difficult even if it didn't seem this way. Of the Sprite geniuses, all of them were within the Dao Realm. To last ten minutes against them was a pie in the sky for most here.
"Don't take things too far." The last silent young man suddenly spoke.
Unlike when the woman spoke, Cal furrowed his brows this time. Reason being This young man was an Oracle Sprite.
"What are you trying to say?"
The young man shrugged. "Some things just might not be as easy as you think."