"What will happen if this treasure ends up being fake? Will you reimburse us for what you got from us? Knowledge like what you mentioned costs too much." Wilford asked in a serious tone.
Lucas smirked at that notion. He knew for sure that in deals, especially with powerful people, there would always be a gap in benefits; it would not always be an equal trade.
Lucas didn't underestimate them. That definitely was the reason why he picked the most valuable items in his storage space. However, even in a case like this, where doubts surface, what he just needs to do is to stand by his position.
"Am I still your disciple, Sect Master? I think I am still your sect's disciple. That is the reason why I joined the sect: to get new knowledge. And in return, I present these items to you."
"Does that mean you won't be leaving the sect until you get what you want? Well, the items were superb, but I still have my doubts."
"You don't fear death, Sect Master?"
At that point, everyone became still and looked at Lucas with dilated eyes. Eventually, they retreated to their seats and let the sect master deal with the 'mess' and threat Lucas made.
"Are you threatening us, or just me? Please don't joke with us; we will not turn down your offer. However, we will also make the demands and conditions for equal standing, even with you being the powerful. Let's be civilized."
Lucas smiled as he heard Wilford's stand in the negotiation. It wasn't bad for him, though. He was not only open to equal trades, but he was also not entitled to them.
"I see... Please forgive me. So, what are your demands? I am sure that it won't be as simple as what I have asked as it is what the array masters wanted to learn." Lucas uttered.
Wilford nodded. "Please become my disciple and represent the sect in the upcoming InterSect competition. That's all my demands will be."
When Wilford said it, everyone, including the official, looked at him with surprise. But Lucas, though, was not even aware of what had just happened and gazed at each of them with a clueless expression.
"What do you mean by that? Inspecting the eyes of your brothers, it seems like it wasn't simple words." Lucas said to Wilford.
"I know. I asked you to be my direct disciple, which means that I will devote my time to you as my junior, not as my senior, who aspires to be an array master. In that case, will you accept my demand?"
A glint of a flashy smile curled up in Lucas's lips as he looked at the determined eyes of Wilford. He felt nothing but pure intentions, nothing malicious about it, and that made him feel relieved.
"What is this InterSect competition you are talking about? I am curious about it, " he said, sending a hint to Wilford that he immediately bit.
"So, you accept my condition?" Wilford inquired.
"I will. But I won't be a normal direct disciple. I want to have a peaceful time in your sect, Sect Master. That's why, earlier, I was respectful towards you as you are my master in the array field." Lucas said as he smiled at him.
"I will comply with your request."
And so, Wilford started explaining the InterSect competition he was talking about.
"The purpose of the factions inside the sect was to InterSect competition. It was to filter out the best disciples and make them representatives of the sect in the quadrennial InterSect competition at the center of the Southern Region."
"Disciples of every faction don't know it, even if they only have a small idea of the InterSect as we don't make it the priority of the disciples. However, as the competition between factions produces a winner, it will either be a representative or a core disciple."
"It might be confusing at the beginning, but the reason why we did this was to keep the secrecy of our knowledge from the outside. We always keep our secrets inside, and thus, we practice making diversions from information that couldn't be easily filtered out, as even the disciple doesn't know it."
"Pertaining back to the InterSect, why does we join the quadrennial competition? It was to raise our reputation and help the ancestor of the sect ascend to the upper heaven. That is our purpose, so, Fellow Daoist or Junior Brother Lucas, is it clear to you now?"
As Wilford's explanation finished, Lucas's eyes only looked at him with a bored expression, as if he was not interested in any of those things he said. And as Wilford noticed how Lucas was being stultified, he sighed.
"I felt respect towards you earlier, Fellow Daoist Lucas. But as your facial features were youthful, it seemed like your attitude as well." Wilford commented.
"What of it now? I am only wondering if you even bother joining the InterSect competition. Does it even give you benefits for keeping your secrets or does it have any other benefits that will give your ancestor or founder some ways to ascend."
"You are being blunt. But even with how you disrespect the master, I won't react aggressively to it. I only have one goal, and that is to assist the ancestor. After that, I will look for another purpose."
"Ah... Was that all? What a loyal subject! I commend you. I don't have anything against you." Lucas sighed.
After establishing a mutual benefit deal, Lucas started studying arrays. It wasn't just as simple as learning martial techniques so that he could easily take an image of the sheets he learned. What he must learn are the fundamental structures of arrays that he never knew about.
Well, he was familiar with memorizing or even familiarizing with different arrays. However, what he noticed is that arrays are slightly different from magic circles.
"Array formations, from what I noticed, are the same as creating magic circles. However, the array can only be drawn on the surface, unlike the magic circle that can be on bones as runes or even at any location on the body."
"Seemingly, it felt like this was just a basic creation of a magic circle with not that complex of conditions. Unlike magic circles, they have complex structures."
Lucas smiled as he read through each book in Wilford's personal library about arrays. Things about arrays weren't complicated for him now, and as he grasped the contents he read, he immediately memorized them.
"Tranquil Mind and Picture Mind take action."
After a week of endless reading and studying sessions, Lucas finally grasped all of the knowledge he needed to create an array formation to gather unique Qi. And as he had also already put into account the ingredients, he was now prepared.
Lucas only needs the ingredients to finish creating his own array formation. The purpose of why he needed to learn was to formulate his own array formation. And, because he already had the most important and basic information, he can now create his own specialized array formation.
"What I need is unique Qi. From what I had observed, there were average people who could take magic into their system. In this world, there is also disease caused by magical effects, as well as mana. If I put it into account, then, I can really create a sect of mages."
"What an amazing experience that would be. This could also mean that I don't have to worry about companions and my bloodline since I am creating immortals. If that's the case, I can reach the Upper Heaven without worrying about my accomplishments."
"But I don't care about my accomplishments... I only wanted to have a good life with immortals."
Lucas was endlessly mumbling to himself like a fool. After formulating his own array, ideas emerged in his mind, making him think of a possible future he could have.
And as he reevaluated his purpose, he sighed in frustration with himself. He couldn't believe that he had just thought of things that way. Was he really that depressed of not having a good life?
Well, now that he thinks of creating his own 'guild' which he hasn't done in his previous life, he could take a different track from what he is accustomed to. That was his only purpose in life.
He wasn't tired of life; he was tired of the monotonous flow of scenes as he grew older. And such a feeling of hope hasn't fallen on him.
"I only need ambition in this world. And such a thing isn't impossible."
Lucas became Wilford's direct disciple, and as he was tasked with reading anything he could for the whole week, Wilford visited him to see his progress.
"Were you done?" Wilford asked.
Lucas peeked at the location where the voice came from and pondered at Wilford. He gazed at him, then smiled after noticing the time he had used.
"Ah. I already used all of my time? I didn't notice." Lucas said with a stupid look.
Wilford then entered the library and had a confused look in his eyes as he laid them on Lucas. He approached him and eyed the table, which held a book of somewhat difficult to comprehend characters.
"This is... The Theory of Otherwordly Structural Qi. Did you already read every book here that you managed to read the last book?"
Wilford couldn't believe what he had just discovered. Initially, he thought that Lucas would have a hard time studying and memorizing the 1000 books in the library. But from what he could see, he was wrong.
Lucas was indeed a genius and wasn't even just playing with them like other strong peak experts in the Mortal Heaven.
"Let me ask you, Junior Bro — Senior Lucas, did you read all of these books in just one week?"
Lucas took a pondering look at how Wilford was strangely being respectful to him.
"I did. What of it, then?"
"That's just amazing...." An awkward smile came from Wilford, as he almost lost his strength and leaned on the table with his right hand.