I have 3 systems: Divine Beast, Divine Sect, Divine Search

The cultivators stopped when they saw the trio emerge from the cave, but their gazes weren't simply disdain. There was something more complex in them, a mix of despair disguised as arrogance.

Lin Huang immediately recognized the uniforms, they were from his old sect. His sharp gaze noticed that they were all at the Golden Core realm, a considerable strength that would guarantee positions as inner disciples. Their ethereal aura naturally concealed their own cultivation level, making them seem like an easy target in the eyes of these arrogant cultivators. Furthermore, Mo Yanluo had a weak cultivation in Qi Condensation and Xiao Tian was in a reduced state with the aura concealed.

The leader, a man named Zhao Feng, stepped forward with his mischievous smile, but Lin Huang noticed something in his eyes: a thin scar running down his left temple, still fresh. A mark of punishment.

"What do we have here?" Zhao Feng said, his voice carrying false confidence. "Ordinary people shouldn't be exploring places like this."

As the other cultivators took their places, Lin Huang noticed the scars on some of the disciples' wrists, visible marks of Divine Cloud Sect's brutal discipline.

"I think it's best for each of you to go your own way," Lin Huang replied calmly. "There's nothing here that interests you."

"I was also part of Divine Cloud Sect," he added. "Out of respect for the sect that took me in, I'd rather not cause unnecessary bloodshed."

One of the younger cultivators exchanged a nervous glance with the leader. Lin Huang recognized that expression, it was the same look he had seen on disciples who were pressured to carry out missions under threat of expulsion.

"Oh, so that's it! An expelled outer disciple trying to act noble," Zhao Feng sneered, but his laughter sounded forced. "How about showing some respect to your senior brothers and gifting us what you found? After all, it's the least a junior can do."

Lin Huang maintained his serene expression, but his eyes darkened slightly. The wind began to change around them, and Xiao Tian made a low sound, showing discomfort at the group's gaze.

"Senior brothers?" Lin Huang repeated in a soft tone that carried a hint of irony. "You really don't realize the situation you're in."

Zhao Feng took a step forward, forming a qi sword in his hands. "Situation? The only situation here is that of an expelled loser trying to make a big deal out of himself. Maybe we should teach a more… permanent lesson."

One of the cultivators spoke so softly that it was almost inaudible, "Zhao Feng, do we really need to do this? We're already on the verge of expulsion… This won't solve our problems."

The leader then turned to the cultivator who said this and slapped him hard across the face. "If we fail this mission, the Elder Master (the one who manages the Inner Sect) will have no mercy. Do you want to end up like Liu Cheng?"

Yanluo, who had remained silent until now, lightly gripped his master's sleeve. There was no fear in his eyes, only unshakable confidence. Lin Huang smiled softly when he noticed this, his disciple had already completely understood the difference between appearance and reality. 

He was at ease because he had seen his master defeat the puppet who had a more threatening aura than these men.

Lin Huang had no idea who Liu Cheng was, but that was none of his business.

"Last chance," he offered, his voice now carrying a weight that made the more sensitive cultivators hesitate for a moment. "Leave now, and you can keep your lives." 

"Insolent!" the leader shouted, charging forward with his sword qi. "Come on, what are you going to do…"

The other disciples exchanged nervous glances as Zhao Feng charged forward alone. They didn't want to participate, but then they remembered the situation they were in and a fierce look appeared on their faces. Unfortunately, this former disciple and this child had the misfortune of finding something valuable, and they needed to prove their worth to the alliance, even if it meant hurting others. Without hesitation, one of them grabbed a spear and charged forward ferociously. 

Another pulled out two daggers.

And one threw a poison dart towards Mo Yanluo.

Before they could even get halfway, Xiao Tian let out a sound that made the air itself vibrate. The feathers on his body began to glow with a deadly metallic hue.

Xiao Tian's transformation was instantaneous. The little hawk grew to a wingspan of two meters, its metallic feathers shining with a murderous glow. The aura of a Nascent Soul-level being crushed the surroundings, causing the Divine Cloud Sect cultivators to stagger back, their faces draining of color.

"I-Impossible!" one of them stammered, his legs shaking. "How

could you have a creature of that level…"

Before they could finish their sentence, Xiao Tian flapped his wings. The seemingly simple movement released a shower of metallic feathers that cut through the air like sharp blades.

One of them tried to launch a defensive technique, but was unable to block the slashing blades coming from all directions.

In a matter of seconds, the five Golden Core cultivators were reduced to nothing, their bodies pierced in dozens of vital points. Their armor was shattered, their skin torn, their bones turned to dust.

The titanic hawk let out a deafening cry that echoed throughout the area, as if declaring, "No one touches the young master!"

After defeating the enemies, Xiao Tian landed on Yanluo's shoulder like a silent guardian. 

Lin Huang watched the scene with a complex look. He didn't want bloodshed, but he knew that this outcome was inevitable.

Yanluo blinked several times, still processing what had just happened. He already knew that Xiao Tian was big and powerful, after all, he had flown on his back before, but he had never imagined that the hawk could be so ferocious. His wide eyes were fixed on the pierced bodies on the ground, while his hand instinctively grabbed Lin Huang's sleeve. 

On the ground, all that was left was a bloody mess. It was impossible to identify what the pieces of flesh belonged to. It could be humans, animals, but the mountain of flesh was identifiable.

"Master…" he began hesitantly, his voice filled with disbelief. "Xiao Tian… he's… that brutally strong?"

Lin Huang looked at his disciple and smiled faintly, placing his hand on his head. "Xiao Tian is a loyal beast, but he's also a creature of instincts. He knows when to protect those he considers important. And you, Yanluo, are important to him."

The boy shifted his gaze to Xiao Tian, ​​who had now returned to his reduced form and was perched on his shoulder as if nothing had happened. Yanluo felt a mix of admiration and slight fear as he looked at the hawk's bright eyes.

"He seemed so calm before…" Yanluo muttered, still trying to understand. "But now… he looked like a god of war."

"That's because Xiao Tian understands something that many cultivators don't," Lin Huang explained patiently. "Power is not for show. It's for protecting what matters. He only acts when necessary."

Yanluo nodded slowly, still impressed. He raised his hand and lightly touched Xiao Tian's head, who let out a low, pleased sound in response. The boy smiled shyly, feeling more secure than ever.

"Thank you for protecting me, Xiao Tian," he said in a low but sincere voice. The hawk tilted its head slightly, as if acknowledging his words.

Yanluo then asked. "Master, did they deserve… this?" Being turned into a bloody pulp was too much for Yanluo

"Yes," Lin Huang replied straightforwardly, "the path of cultivation forces us to make difficult choices. They chose their path, and we chose ours. If we weren't strong, we would be the ones who would die there. You don't need to seek justice for those who want to harm you. In this world, any kindness to an enemy can lead to your downfall."

Lin Huang glanced briefly at the sky as they walked away, mentally calculating their position. "We're at the edge of Divine Cloud Sect's territory," he commented thoughtfully. "Those disciples were probably on a border patrol mission."

Yanluo looked back one last time. "Won't the sect come after us, Master?"

"They'll eventually notice their disappearance," Lin Huang replied calmly. "But we're far enough away from the sect's core. The most they'll do is send other disciples to investigate what happened. And when they arrive, they will find nothing but bones picked clean by the forest's predators."

His eyes narrowed slightly. "Besides, they have no way of knowing it was us. To any investigator, it will look like they encountered some dangerous beast while on patrol. It's not uncommon for cultivators to overestimate their capabilities and meet a tragic end."

Lin Huang knew that even if the sect suspected something, it wouldn't be worth the effort to chase down a former outer disciple over such a small matter. Divine Cloud Sect had much more to worry about than a few inner disciples going missing in a remote area.

"They… seemed to be afraid of something too, master… something other than us." Yanluo spoke as if he sensed something upon seeing the other group's reaction.

"You noticed, Yan'er. They were probably on the verge of being expelled. And unlike outer disciples who can simply leave the sect, inner disciples, once they enter, cannot leave. And being expelled means being crippled."

Mo Yanluo listened attentively. "But master, isn't that something wrong? I thought the sect should protect its disciples just like master protects me."

"You're right, it's a sect's duty to protect every single disciple, but when It gets to a point where they have as many as ants, lives become just numbers. And losing 4 or 5 won't make a difference. It's ironic… the bigger the sect, the less it values ​​those who should be its foundation.''

Lin Huang then recalled the structure of the sect he was in.

When you joined, you became an outer disciple. Then an inner disciple, then a core disciple. When you became a core disciple, you would have the opportunity to become an official disciple of an elder, and at that moment, you would be valued.

Most sects in this world operated in the same way. After all, there were so many people that resources became scarce, increasing the competitiveness even more.

"Master… if you have many disciples, will you abandon me one day?"

Mo Yanluo asked this without the courage to look at Lin Huang. In the short time they had been together, he had felt his sincerity and care. He thought it was an unfair question, but he still had to ask.

With a smile, Lin Huang replied, "Yan'er, don't worry. My dream is to have 1,000 disciples and take care of all of them. And even if I have all that, in the end, you will always be number 1."

Yanluo smiled at the answer, "Thank you, master."

Without further questions, they turned to the blood pulp.

Lin Huang was not worried about hiding the bodies. He knew from the beast encyclopedia that there were wolves that came out at night in that place.

As for why he couldn't tame other animals like wolves?

He could indeed tame a second one, but he discovered a small detail. The number of animals he could tame was linked to his cultivation level. And at the moment he could only have 2 more. One spot was already registered for the butterfly. He didn't know the second spot yet, but in any case he needed a beast that he could gift to Mo Yanluo.

But he discovered a problem when he performed a test. He had captured an adult deer and as a test he tried to give it to Yanluo, but the system didn't activate any rewards.

After some checking and testing he discovered the reason: He would only receive returns from beasts if they were in a pre-birth or newborn stage.

He couldn't gift already grown beasts. If they were parts of the beast, such as blood, flesh, or horns, they could be gifted, but not a live adult beast.

But for him it wouldn't be a problem. He dared to say that there was no one in this world who knew more about beasts than him. The encyclopedia he had received was the best item he could ask for. '

Unfortunately, it was not the breeding season for the animals in the forest he was in at the moment.

He could only sigh.

Taking one last look at the deceased group, he sighed again, 'These disciples were just disposable tools for the sect, both victims and culprits.'

"Let's go," Lin Huang then said, leading his disciple away. "We have a long way to go, and much to learn."

The trio left the place in silence, leaving behind bodies that would become food for the forest.

As the trio continued along the road, Lin Huang took the time to work on something that had been on his mind ever since the confrontation at Swordsman's Rest. Whenever they stopped to rest, he would trace characters on a scroll with precise and careful movements. '

Yanluo watched curiously but kept a respectful distance as his master worked. Xiao Tian, ​​perched on the boy's shoulder, seemed equally interested in what Lin Huang was writing with such concentration.

"What are you doing, Master?" Yanluo finally asked as Lin Huang put down his brush.

Lin Huang smiled faintly. "I'm recording a technique I created during our battle with the spirit puppet. Do you remember it?"

Yanluo's eyes instantly lit up. "The sword technique! The one that cut the puppet in half!"

"Exactly." Lin Huang beckoned his disciple over. "Come, I want to show you something."

Yanluo ran up to his master, nearly tripping over his enthusiasm. Lin Huang held out the scroll to him, revealing detailed diagrams and instructions for the first move of the technique he had spontaneously created during the fight.

"This is the first move of what I'm calling the 'Two-Pronged Style.' It combines the elements of air and metal into a single strike, creating a blade that can cut through almost any defense."

Yanluo held the scroll reverently, his eyes scanning each character with fascination. "Master, is this… for me?"

"Yes," Lin Huang nodded. "As your master, it is my duty to pass on knowledge. This technique was born from my understanding, but it can grow even further through you."

Yanluo's face lit up with a radiant smile. He held the scroll to his chest as if it were the most precious treasure in the world.

"Thank you, Master! I will practice until I fully master it!"

Lin Huang watched with satisfaction as Yanluo immediately began studying the moves outlined in the scroll. The boy moved to a nearby open space, wielding his simple sword and trying to imitate the patterns drawn on the document.

As Yanluo practiced, Lin Huang felt a familiar vibration in his mind.

[Ding! You have gifted your disciple Mo Yanluo a Foundation Establishment level Sword Technique and received a 2,000x reward: Complete Two-Pronged Style - Initial Soul Formation Level Technique.]

Description: An advanced sword technique containing seven distinct moves, each representing a unique way of integrating the air and metal elements. When mastered completely, it allows the user to manifest the true essence of these elements in perfect harmony, creating devastating effects that transcend the physical limitations of the sword.

Seven distinct moves formed in his consciousness, each more profound and powerful than the last.

The first move, "Slicing Breeze," was one he had already created and passed on to Yanluo. 

The second, "Dance of Suspended Blades," allowed him to create multiple blades of air imbued with the hardness of metal.

The third, "Piercing Wall," turned defense into offense, creating a barrier that reflected any blow with multiplied force.

The fourth move, "Slicing Gale," combined the speed of air with the hardness of metal to create an area attack technique that could strike multiple opponents simultaneously.

The fifth, "Ethereal Prison," allowed him to create an invisible cage of metal-reinforced air that could contain even Golden Core-level cultivators.

The sixth, "Dance of a Thousand Blades," was a supreme attack technique that created countless razor-sharp blades of wind, each capable of cutting through ordinary defenses. It was a similar move to Xiao Tian's

And finally, the seventh move, "Harmony," was the pinnacle of the technique, a perfect fusion of the air and metal elements that transcended the physical limitations of the sword, allowing the cultivator to manifest the true power of the two elements in absolute harmony.

Lin Huang was amazed by the depth and elegance of the technique. Each move naturally flowed into the next, creating a logical progression that allowed the practitioner to gradually master more complex concepts.

"Master! Master! Look!" Yanluo's excited voice interrupted his thoughts.

Lin Huang turned his attention to his disciple, who was executing the basic movements of the first stage of the technique with surprising precision. Although it was still only the first move, the way Yanluo manipulated the sword showed an understanding that went beyond his age and experience.

"Well done, Yanluo," Lin Huang praised with a faint smile. "Your understanding is remarkable."

"When I saw Master use this technique against the puppet, I felt like I could understand the flow of energy. It's like... like the sword is an extension of air and metal at the same time!" Yanluo replied, his eyes shining with pride. 

Lin Huang nodded, impressed by the boy's intuition. "That's exactly the essence of the technique. The sword is not just a tool, but a medium to manifest the harmony between the elements."

As he watched Yanluo practice, Lin Huang reflected on the extraordinary progress they had made in such a short time. His disciple, who had been a starving and injured street urchin just a few weeks ago, was now taking his first steps in a sword technique that many experienced cultivators would have difficulty understanding.

"Yanluo," Lin Huang called after a few moments, "let's continue our journey. You can practice while we travel."

The boy nodded enthusiastically, carefully tucking the scroll into his sleeve. "Yes, Master! Where are we going now?"

"To Bianyuan Cheng," Lin Huang replied, looking at the horizon. "It's the last city before the Ancient Demon Sect's territory. There, we will make the final preparations for our journey. Soon, we will establish our sect."