Attribute Farming System

Within a cave abode, a lone cultivator whispered to himself as he intently watched the events outside unfold.

"I secretly investigated this 'Sect' some time ago," Knox murmured. "There has never been anyone stronger in the Sect than that Elder. But seeing as a cultivation base in the Peak Core Formation Realm wasn't anywhere sufficient enough to guarantee one's safety in this world, the Elder cooked up a ploy that barred him from the Sect Leader position."

"Though, if put simply," he continued, resting his chin on his knuckles, "the old dude relied on a mysterious backing that didn't exist. And since no one could verify the truth of this matter without actually contacting the 'Sect Leader' and 'Vice Sect Leaders,' this old bastard could scare nosy people away."

Seeing as the Sect was still up and running, his scheming method seemed to have been working just fine over the years. He and the other Elders had even managed to get themselves a few gullible disciples (chore boys) while the scheme was ongoing.

However, today looked to be the day that their lucky streak ended…

"Do you believe that we're as stupid as all the other people you willy bunch have fooled before!?" The leading disciple from the Skycloud Palace Sect exploded in anger, smacking out with a strike that sent the Voidborn Elder sailing in a trail of his own blood. "Stay out of my sight. And if you know what's good for you, then I'd suggest you leave this area at once. Next time I see you, I won't be as lenient as I am now."

'Lenient!?' the injured Voidborn Elder thought in despair. 'Your lenience severely damaged my internal organs, nearly killing me! You call this being lenient!??'

Of course, the Voidborn Elder kept his thoughts to himself. Saying them out loud would only result in his life being cut short.

It was with many grievances that he and the other Voidborn Elders reluctantly walked away.

Yet, just as they were about to call for their Disciples, an oppressive aura pressed down on the mountain valley. The expressions of the Skycloud Palace Disciples drastically changed; they looked toward the source of this aura with a newfound sense of fear and respect.

"Senior, we sincerely apologize if we've offended your grace," said the Lead Skycloud Palace Disciple, cupping his hands and lowering his head slightly. "Could you do us the honor of telling us why you're interfering with our Sect's personal matters?"

Knox's brows furrowed as he teleported above his cave abode. He then blink-stepped and appeared before the audacious, condescending lot before him.

"Do I need a reason to do what I want in front of those lesser than me?" he asked coldly, his narrowed eyes shifting between the shivering men and women of the Skycloud Palace. "Well? Why should I give you a reason?"

"T…This…" The Lead Skycloud Palace Disciple's expression became complicated as his sweaty palms fidgeted. "Senior, don't you think you're being a bit unreasonable…? We're the Rank 3 Skycloud Palace Sect, you know? O…Our Ancestors are in the Soul Formation Realm…"

The Lead Skycloud Disciple stopped mid-sentence; the face before him was just too much to handle. He instinctively averted his gaze to the floor, sweat beads rolling down his forehead.

"Let me make something clear," Knox uttered emotionlessly. "I don't give a flying f*ck if your Ancestors are in the Soul Formation Realm or the goddamn CEO of Temu. If you keep on talking, I'll show you what the inside of your butthole looks like. You dig?"

Silence...

"I said, you f*cking dig??"

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

"W-We dig," the dozen or so Skycloud Palace Disciples said in unison, frightened even more than when encountering their own Elders.

"Good," Knox said as he waved them off. "Shoo shoo now; go find yourself a different tree to piss up."

"Y…Yes!"

"Wait," Knox suddenly said, pulling the Lead Skycloud Palace Disciple toward him. "You; tell me why it is that you're here. The rest of you can go."

The other Skycloud Palace Disciples furiously nodded before flying into the distance, heading back to their Sect's Main Forces.

Knox knew what they planned to do, but he forgot why he cared. He had already taken a peek at their System Interfaces, thus he understood the inner workings of their Sect very well. Those Ancestors of theirs may have been in the Soul Formation Realm, but they couldn't make moves easily. Moreover, their Sect was far inferior to the Falazar Count Family in the Water Kingdom.

'Unless an entity at the Peak Nascent Soul Realm and above appears—which is unlikely—nothing else poses a threat to me,' Knox thought as he peered into the eyes of the scared Lead Skycloud Palace Disciple. 'Now, to figure out everything this guy knows.'

Under the widened eyes of the Voidborn Elders, Knox interrogated and somewhat tortured the Lead Skycloud Palace Disciple. After his one-on-one session with him concluded, he kicked the disciple in the arse and sent him on his merry way.

Killing him would've provided quite the juicy chunk of Attribute Orbs, but using him as bait to lure out the truly big fish was a far more lucrative choice. This was why he let them all escape.

"Well, well, well, a Secret Realm, is it?" Knox mused, a smirk creeping up his handsome face. "How wonderful. And just when I was searching for more Geniuses to pillage."

According to his reliable sources, a Secret Realm was opening in the surrounding 10,000-mile region. It was said to have been created and placed there by an extremely powerful Cultivator rumored to be in the Realm above the Soul Transformation Realm.

The Unorthodox Devilstar.

That was the powerful Cultivator's name. And apparently, back in the day—before his ascension—he was very famous. Though, the more accurate term would be infamous.

Either way, the Secret Realm had a restriction on both age and cultivation. Only those below the Soul Formation Realm and younger than 300 years old were permitted to enter the Secret Realm—the Devilstar's Secret Realm.

As a result of these stringent requirements, Sects and Noble Families from all over the Water Kingdom had abandoned hopes of sending their strongest. Instead, they dispatched the most talented and powerful among the younger generation.

In other words, Sons and Daughters of Providence ranked very high on Azura's Ordinance List would be gathering in one spot.

Even the Children of the Water Deity were expected to make their grand appearances very soon…