Attribute Farming System

"A chance to join a Branch of the Supreme Sect?" Knox repeated what he heard, just to make sure that he wasn't mistaken.

"Yes, Harbinger of Death," the Main Organizer respectfully responded, still reeling from the ludicrous level of strength Knox had just displayed. "This reward is better than anything we've ever given out to any Champion before. But we believe your potential to be far higher than any who entered this Arena before, and have thus pulled a few strings to get you this chance to prove yourself and join the Sect that has huge influence all over the Azura Empire. If you succeed and join as we hope you will, then the Moonlord Kingdom will not be the limit of your potential."

At first, Knox didn't think much of this so-called reward, but after listening to the Main Organizer, he changed his mind. He figured there were worse things he could obtain, and though he wasn't sure he'd follow through with the acceptance of the 'chance,' he'd definitely give it some serious thought.

"Harbinger," said the Main Organizer just before Knox left the scene, "The Supreme Sect is full of powerhouses. And as far as I'm aware, you plan to venture to the other Fighting Arenas in the Kingdom and become their Champions too. Well, I don't think you're aware, but other Fighting Arenas aren't like us, who accept virtually anyone as Fighters."

Knox stopped and turned around, his curiosity piqued.

Continuing, the Main Organizer said, "Even if we give you a personal recommendation, it's not a guarantee that you'll be able to immediately participate in the Arena Fights of the other Fighting Arenas scattered throughout the Kingdom. However, if you were to join the Supreme Sect Branch, you'd have the necessary status and backing to participate in whatever fights you wanted."

Knox's interest in this 'Supreme Sect' increased with every word that left the Main Organizer's mustached mouth. But there was just one problem…

"What's in it for you?" he asked coldly, sending shivers up and down the Main Organizer's spine. "Why is it that you wish for me to join the Supreme Sect so badly? You aren't thinking that you can plant me as a… spy, are you?"

"A-A spy…!?" The Main Organizer sputtered, almost knocking off his monocle. "Of course not, Harbinger! We'd never dream of going against the Supreme Sect! Do you think we have a death wish!?"

"So then what? What are your intentions here?? I suggest you tell me straight up, for when I find out the truth—and I will find it out—I'll hunt you down to the ends of the earth for tricking me."

OOOM!

"!!!" "!!!" "!!!"

Even the two Body Integration Realm bodyguards standing behind the Main Organizer felt their insides twist. In front of the murderous pressure emitted by Knox, none of them were capable of meeting his piercing gaze.

"S-Sir Harbinger, please calm yourself," the Main Organizer said through a stutter.

But after Knox didn't relent, he sighed, shaking his head. And with a slightly shameful expression, he said, "The real reason we want you to join the Supreme Sect and succeed is because just by knowing you and having an indirect part to play in your growth would put us in a favorable light for the Supreme Sect. And though they won't give us much thought, they could give us a few dozen Minor Regions, which would make us very, very wealthy."

'Minor Regions? Like the Elemental Nations?'

Over the last couple dozen years, Knox came to understand just how insignificant the Elemental Nations were in the grander scheme of things. It was to a point far exceeding what he originally believed while living in the Elemental Nations.

This also reminded him of that Void Crossing Realm Cultivator who claimed to be a Disciple of the Unorthodox Devilstar.

'There's no way the Creator of the Devilstar Secret Realm and owner of an Outer God Mark would be so weak,' Knox thought deeply, giving the Organizers the impression that he was reconsidering their proposal. 'Either his true cultivation wasn't of the Void Crossing Realm or he wasn't actually a Disciple of the Unorthodox Devilstar.'

A poser, perhaps?

He could've just been a homeless person of the Azura Empire that came across some Ancient Map describing the Unorthodox Devilstar's Secret Realm.

Someone somewhere just coughed up a large amount of blood, taking serious internal damage.

"Curses!! I will find you, boy!! Even if I have to scour the whole of the Azura Empire, I'll do it!!!"

Body Integration Realm and above Cultivators from a higher-level area of the Azura Empire quivered all over. Fear drained the color from their faces as they watched a true powerhouse streak through the ashen skies of an active battlefield.

'Do you know anything, Seraphim or World Serpent?' Knox asked, just to be sure.

Unfortunately, they both shook their heads from inside the shrunken Devilstar Secret Realm that lay within Knox.

After their Master advanced to the Void Crossing Realm and ascended to greater heights, they never saw him again. As for the young lad he picked up all those years ago, he too ascended beyond the Elemental Nations Region many, many years ago.

With the passing of tens of thousands of years, many things could change, and plenty of fortuitous opportunities could be found.

In fact, now that they thought about it, neither Six-Winged Seraphim nor World Serpent knew precisely where their Master got all those Saint Rank and Divine Rank items from. They hadn't been exposed to much of the world outside what their previous Master showed them, but after journeying with Knox, they came to learn just how valuable such things were.

It was incredibly suspicious that a mere Half-step Void Crossing Realm Cultivator would be in possession of such things…

Were they all being played the fools here…?

"Mhmm, he could just very well be a homeless person," said Knox, who was in no way on the same page as his Secret Realm servants.

"Sorry…?"

Knox dismissively waved his hand at the Main Arena Organizer. "Don't worry about it; just the ramblings of a previously insane person."

"Oh, I see…"

"As for your offer," added Knox, putting them on their toes, "I believe I'll take that chance of yours."

"You will!? No, I mean good! I'll get someone to guide you to the Supreme Sect's Branch right away!"

Knox nodded, and like that, time pressed forward.

— A few months later —

FWOOOSH!

A giant flying wooden ship suddenly parted the clouds above a vast expanse of land that sat an untold number of miles below.

"We're here, young Knox," said the Captain of the ship, his Body Integration Realm cultivation pulsating at the sight of a place he rarely had the chance to visit. "The Supreme Sect!"

A heavenly paradise in the skies!

But to Knox, it was more akin to a limitless expanse of—

Loot!

'So many powerful cultivators and mythical beasts! No… I must control myself… Remember the Scriptures… Void thy mind. Void thy mind. Void thy mind…'

His mind blanked, with his expression returning to indifference.

"The heck is up with this kid…?"

The Captain of the Flying Ship had been wondering that for a while now. Weirder yet, the woman he kept by his side was like his polar opposite, being both meek and reserved.

"Big Brother," said Lily as she shook him out of his voided stupor, "I think some people are staring at you…"

"Hm?" Knox turned his head, only to see a small group of Body Integration Realm Cultivators flying toward their Flying Ship, their eyes focused on him. "They don't appear to be hostile… Perhaps they've been smitten by my charms…?"

Lily nodded fervently. "Big Brother is the most handsome, after all."

Ruffling her long, silky hair, he agreed.

FWOOOSH!

Arriving before the flying ship, the group of Body Integration Realm Cultivators became clearer in Knox's eyes. They wore grey robes that depicted a solemn Immortal standing atop a lone hill of swords, seemingly unrivaled in the world.

As for their appearances…

"Meh," said Knox, making an -iffy- gesture with his hands.

"So you're the one who'll be joining the Entrance Exams for our Branch Sect?" came the mocking male voice of one of the Supreme Sect Outer Disciples. "Despite your slightly above average appearance, you don't look like much to me. Perhaps trying out for a Trial Disciple position would be more suitable for you!"

A couple others in the group laughed alongside him, but it was obvious that they were the weakest links, being of the lower stages of Body Integration. The silent ones at the front of the group, however, were nearing the stage above the Body Integration Realm.

The Origin Infant Realm.

"Slightly?" Knox repeated with an arched brow. "Well, I had no idea that blindness still ailed those of such high status like yourselves, but I suppose it isn't totally out of expectations."

*Tick!*

"This brat…"

Before the mocking male Supreme Sect Cultivator could make matters worse by continuing to speak, the strongest of the group—a beautiful woman—interrupted him, saying coldly:

"That 'brat,' as you call him, is far stronger than you are, and the difference is not small."

Knox smirked.