From the Earth comes the bounty of diversity, the herbs were rising toward the sun, showing off their lush green and sparkling colors as if they were in a carnival parade. The green herbs made a green quilt for the senses upon the flower bed. Michael's herbal garden was a sort of binary - the neat areas were very, very neat and the wild areas were very, very wild. The two extremes right next to one another enhanced one another. The garden was neither too small nor too big but it was the size of a typical green.
Because of the effects of the fertilizer Michael got from the system, the herbs had grown quicker and healthier. Some herbs grew as tall as an average man while some flowers were as big as a ten years old child.
"Don't water the Dragon root too much and Jack, get away from the Angel Catnip" Elder Reiner who taught herbology in the Sunrise sect was walking through his new favorite place, Michael's herbal garden.
He was supervising the disciples and ensuring the herbs grow as healthier as they could. Ever since Michael began to grow the herbs in the garden, the old shaggy land became a lush garden that filled the surrounding air with soothing therapeutic fragrance.
While Elder Reiner was supervising the disciples, he saw sect leader Claire rushing towards him.
"Elder Reiner, have you seen Ghost?"
"No-"
"Jack!" She didn't even wait for Elder Reiner to finish his sentence as she shouted at Jack.
"Are you searching for me, Sect Leader Claire?" Just as Jack was about to point his fingers at the figures walking towards them, Claire heard Michael's voice and turned back.
"Thank god you're here, why aren't you at the auction fair, and WHOA!" when her eyes fell on Gaya, shock and surprise took aback Claire. The mortal girl who was following around Michael had turned into a Body Refining stage level 3 cultivator in just a matter of days.
Everyone except one person swarmed around Gaya like ants around a sugar cube. Michael stepped aside and let Gaya have her moment. He knew the snake loved attention and admiration. Claire and Elder Reiner stared at Gaya speechlessly while Gaya stood there with a smug face.
Michael could tell she is itching to reveal her real cultivation level.
"How do you…?"
"I was lucky enough to find a ten thousand years Hazel lotus on my way from Phoenix island to here. He made me a potion using it and boom, my cultivation talents went straight up" said Gaya proudly. The Hazel lotus was not a made-up herb but a real rare herb that could revitalize the Arch Energy roots in one's body. A ten thousand years old Hazel lotus could indeed make an incompetent cultivator into a genius and although they didnt find the herb in truth, its medicinal quality helped the both of them come up with the story to cover up Gaya's sudden transformation.
"Come here" After Claire came out the shock, she let out a wide grin and reached her arms to embrace Gaya.
"Hey" Gaya tried to step back but her effort was wasted as Claire took her into her arms in a loving embrace.
"Oh shit" In the scene, the only person who seemed horrified and kept his distance from Gaya was Jack. Even when she was a mortal girl, she beat him on a regular basis, and now Jack couldn't even imagine what she would do to him. He cried inside and prayed to the gods, "Oh mighty God, please bless your child with enough strength to endure the beating he's going to receive"
Michael chuckled inside seeing Jack praying looking at the sky.
"I'm so happy for you Aelia, we should celebrate this" Claire spoke while squeezing Gaya as she tried to wiggle herself out of the hug and threw a 'help me' glance at Michael.
"Why did you want to find me, Sect Leader Claire?" Michael helped his friend by asking Claire.
"Oh yes," Claire seemed like she remembered something important and let go of Gaya.
"The Nether realm is not opening next week, they are opening the gates today"
"What? Why?" Gaya asked as Claire sighed, "I think it's related to the recent Netherel attack in River town. Summoning the Netherels may have weakened the layer between our world and the Nether realm. However, it doesn't matter why, if you want to enter the Nether realm, go to Sarton now"
"Then I guess I'm leaving now" Michael had good feelings about the Nether realm and wanted to steal all of its riches.
"Girl, are you planning to enter the Nether realm with him?" Elder Reiner looked at Gaya and asked.
"Nah, he can have this one" Considering the Nether realm has security measures against people who were above the Body Refining Stage, she didn't dare to try to enter the Nether realm. The last time when someone tried to enter the Nether realm hiding his Body Strengthening cultivation, he was turned into ashes the moment he stepped into the Nether Realm.
"Brother Ghost, watch out for the Broad river sect. They tend to pick a fight with our sect every time we enter the Nether realm" One of the female disciples said and drew Michael's attention.
"Lena!" Claire's shout immediately made the girl shut her mouth before she could say more.
"Are we forgetting who he is, Sect Leader Claire?" Elder Reiner asked Claire and his words reminded her of Michael's position as Guardian.
"Broad River sect huh, they are from Sarton, right? What's their beef with you guys?" Gaya curiously asked Claire.
"No reason, they just like to bully our disciples whenever they get a chance like everyone else" On earth, people needed a reason to become enemies but in this world, cultivators tend to follow the rule of the jungle, the strong prey on the weak. Michael understood the meaning of Claire's words, since the Sunrise sect was weak, it became an easy target for everyone to bully and this Broad River sect was just another bully on the block.
"Let's hope they will cross paths with me," Michael said with a calm face but they could see the cold killing intent in his eyes. Killing them would be like hitting two birds with one stone for him as he could earn experience points and declare to everyone that not to mess with his sect.
Unlike before, Michael had a Core Formation level cultivator with him, therefore he didn't have to worry about killing them. Only the big sects like Golden Valley or Morning star had Core Formation cultivators for the inner and core disciples but in a normal sect, Elders or the Sect Leader would be the Core formation-level cultivator.
Now that he had to leave the sect as soon as possible, there were still some things he should take care of. "System, I need a pair of long-range earpiece,"
"1000 Badass coins and you can talk to each other across realms"
"I will buy those and add a transmitter on one of them so I can keep track of Gaya"
"Sure thing but it'll cost you another 500 badass points"
"Just take it and add her location to my Environmental scanning" Compared to 500 badass points her safety was more important to Michael. After what happened at the Phoenix island, he didn't want to be in the dark again when she's in danger.
Besides, he could use her help inside the Nether realm because she told him that she entered it once. Also, if Jane tried to do something stupid again like sending assassins to kill him, he would be able to walk Gaya through what to do next.
"I'll go see Raylene before I leave, Aelia come with me"
"Yep," He nodded at Claire and Elder Reiner, and then, he gently grabbed Gaya's hand before activating the newly upgraded Lighting Dash for the first time.
Whoosh!
Literally in a flash, both of them disappeared from their sight. Before upgrading the Lightning Dash to level 2, one could see tiny blue bolts of lightning left behind after Michael disappeared and now the blue bolts turned into gold ones. For Michael, he could feel his speed had almost tripled.
"Eeek, my head's spinning"
"Brother Ghost!" Before even Gaya could steady herself, she heard little Cindy's voice and looked up to see the little girl throwing herself at Michael.
Gaya couldn't understand why this little girl became so excited and happy every time she saw Michael and he too seemed delighted to see her.
"There you are" Michael pecked on Cindy's soft cheeks and lifted her up. Soon after seeing Michael's sudden appearance, Raylene rushed out of her house which was given to her by Claire.
"Master Ghost, Ricky said you went to Phoenix island"
"Yeah I did, Cindy go play with your friends, your mom and I have to talk alone"
"What about Sister Aelia? Can I play with her?" Cindy excitedly asked Michael, "You can play with her later, now go play with your friends" Michael placed the little girl down and received a loving kiss on his cheek from Cindy.
Cindy then ran happily in the direction of her friends.
"Raylene, come with me" Hearing Michael, Raylene followed him and Aelia into her house. It was time he made Raylene his subordinate.
Even though the house was old and small, Raylene kept it clean and presentable. Gaya's nose twitched because of the delicious aroma in the air and suddenly felt hungry.
"Raylene, do you trust me?" Michael asked with a serious face. The question surprised Raylene but she took a deep breath and answered honestly,
"Master Ghost, you saved us and gave us a home when I and the children had nowhere to go. The food we are eating is yours, I have nothing to give it to you except my life if you ask for it, my life is yours " Without her control, Raylene's eyes became watery.
"Will you be my subordinate and serve me well?"
"Yes," Gaya surprised to see Raylene drop to her knees asking no questions.
[Does the host wish to accept Raylene as a subordinate?]
"Yes"
Subordinate: Raylene
Cultivation Level:
Race: Human
Status: Healthy
Trait: Cook
Loyalty towards the host: 97%
Right out of the bat, she was 97% loyal towards Michael, unlike a certain someone. He was happy to confirm her trait was indeed Cook and now he could turn her into a 5-star chef.
While she was kneeling in front of him, he placed his hand on her head
"I'm going to make you a 5-star Chef and head chef of all my future restaurants and hotel chains. I will give you 30% of the profits and the resources for you and Cindy to cultivate. Serve me well" Raylene was speechless and almost fainted on the spot
"System, make Raylene a 5-star Chef" Right after this, Gaya saw a bright light emerge from Michael's hand and cover the body of Raylene for a few seconds as she closed her eyes.
When the light disappeared, Raylene slowly opened her eyes and looked at Michael like she was looking at a god.
"System, I need the blueprint and the interior design of ristorante la sponda"
He spent another 500 Badass points and bought the blueprint and the interior design to transform the Lucky Cat tavern into a stylish high-end Restaurant.
"Here, put this in your ear" Michael then looked at Gaya and handed over the small earpiece to her. While she was staring and curiously fiddling around the earpiece, he took out the thin book that had the blueprint and the interior designs.
"Master Ghost-"
"Show your gratitude and loyalty in your actions" Michael interrupted Raylene with a wave of his hand and said.
Raylene was still in shock but the tears of overwhelming joy gushing out of her eyes like water breaking out of a dam.
"I will, Master Ghost" It took several seconds for Raylene to wipe away her tears and exclaim. Michael just nodded with a smile and disappeared out of her sight with Gaya.
"I want our restaurant to look like this, you can make a few changes if you want" In a few seconds, Michael reached the border of the Sunrise sect and handed over the book to Gaya.
"Just don't die alright?" She punched him in the shoulder playfully.
"I'll try"