Playing inventor in a cultivation world

Chapter 119: Taken Away

The Inferno Sect Master, Master Adel, took Seraph to his personal quarters and locked him up in a special dungeon.

Returning to his work room, he immediately took out a communication talisman.

"I have apprehended one of those on your list."

There was a moment of silence, then Adel heard a voice behind him.

"Is that so? Good job, sir."

Turning around sharply, his eyes narrowed at a masked figure clad in black clothing. Adel felt a chill in his heart, realizing that he didn’t even notice this person standing behind him.

’Is he at the Emperor Stage too?’

He frowned slightly, then put down the communication talisman.

"Since you’re here, do you want to see him?"

The masked man nodded.

Sect Master Adel led him to the private dungeon where Seraph was kept. To his surprise, the young man was seated calmly in the chair, his legs crossed despite having his hands locked to the armrest.

"There he is," He said, gesturing to the white-haired young man.

The masked man took a look at Seraph, then said in an indistinguishable voice.

"King Stage... how?"

Sect Master Adel’s brows furrowed. "I was surprised too. But it’s probably something raising his cultivation temporarily."

The masked man shook his head, then walked up to Seraph. "No. This... is original. I can tell."

The Sect Master’s eyes widened. "Original? Doesn’t he look too young for a King Stage? I doubt he’s thirty."

The masked man didn’t answer him, as if he could see something already.

"I will be taking him with me."

Sect Master Adel’s eyes hardened. "I see. Then, where is my own portion of our agreement?"

The masked man turned around and faced him, then he produced a treasure chest from his storage ring.

He calmly opened it, showing the pure white roots inside the box.

Seeing it, Sect Master Adel’s grin widened. "Good, good. This is good."

Without hesitation, he collected the box of roots from him, and kept it in his storage ring.

Meanwhile, the masked man turned to Kaiser and walked closer, only for Adel to speak up.

"Wait a moment. You can’t take him."

The masked man froze, and even Seraph was surprised. After getting what he wanted, he wanted to renege on their deal?

Utterly shameless.

The masked man straightened, then said in a flat tone. "You should know not to mess with us, sir Adel."

"Mess with you? You’re in my home, where I have the power to decide things. You think I am afraid of your organization right now? If I wish, I can keep you here forever."

Seraph rolled his eyes at the man’s arrogance., wondering if this was his true nature.

Suddenly, his eyes widened at the same time with the Sect Master’s eyes did.

The man looked down, seeing a dagger protruding from the left side of his chest. ’How...?’

His eyes tremble, and he shifted his gaze to the masked man standing opposite him.

"I see..." His eyes narrowed, "You all didn’t trust me from the start, right?"

He stepped forward, pushing his body off the dagger. He hadn’t been struck in the heart directly, but just a few inches away from the organ.

Behind him stood another masked figure. This time, he could clearly feel the presence of an Emperor Stage cultivator flowing from the other masked figure.

Walking up to Seraph, the first man covered his head with a dark cloth and lifted him up.

"Our policy is to avoid any unwanted probability."

Sect Master Adel sighed regretfully. "Is that so? I understand."

The second Reaper walked towards the first one, and they stood side by side.

"We officially cut ties with you, sir Adel. Good luck."

Poof!

The two of them dissolved into smoke, dispersing into the air. When the smoke cleared, the two Reapers were gone, including Seraph.

The Sect Master sighed, "It’s a pity. I wanted to see if I could recruit him or take anything useful from him."

Just then, a servant rushed in. "Sect Master! The... the disciples and Elders have returned."

Sect Master Adel smiled and walked out of the dungeon to return to his private quarters.

Surprisingly, he didn’t hear the triumphant and glorious songs that the sect usually sang after achieving victory.

A frown appeared on his face, but he waited patiently until Ancestor Elder entered.

The woman entered with a calm, solemn expression. "Sect Master."

Adel’s lips twitched. "Mother, we’re alone so you don’t need to be formal."

The woman remained formal, her expression calm. "Regardless, the situation isn’t positive."

"What? Why?" Adel’s expression darkened.

Shaking her head, Ancestor Elder answered. "I was injured while fighting Little Mei, and one of the Soul Cross Sect Elders has just become an Emperor Stage cultivator. There was nobody who could restrain her."

Sect Master Adel fell silent, his expression darkening. He could understand the situation just from what she described, and he wasn’t pleased at all.

"So we lost?"

Ancestor Elder nodded, her expression calm. "Although I am not sure, it seems their Sect Master is still around."

Adel’s eyes widened. "He is?!"

"Do not lose your composure, Sect Master." Ancestor Elder said. "It is only a guess based on deductions. It is not like I have seen him by myself."

Adel calmed down slightly after hearing this, his expression grim.

"If he’s truly around, then we can’t afford to attack again. We might truly perish."

Tilting her head, the woman said, "Or... it might be a gamble for the Soul Cross Sect. Their only hope of deterring us from attacking them."

Adel still didn’t agree. "No. It is too risky to attack them again. That would be another gamble. Let us simply end it with a ceasefire."

"I’m afraid it will not be that simple." She said, causing him to frown.

"Why?" He asked.

She took a breath, then pointed below them. "You’re holding their disciples captive, and as the losers in this war, we have to pay a sum as compensation for their losses."

"As expected of Mei Mei. She’s so sharp about making profitable negotiations." Sect Master Adel snickered in disdain. "We will release their disciples. And if they ask for anything outrageous, then we will have to take the matter to the Palace."

"Understood. But what about the Reapers? I was considering using their help to confirm the presence of the Soul Cross Sect Master. What do you think?" She suggested.

Leaning into his chair, Sect Master Adel shook his head. "I’m afraid it cannot be done any longer."

"Oh?" Ancestor Elder was surprised.

"Yes," Adel started. "You do not know the reason why, but we have broken off our agreement. I, and the one who made this decision."

Although she was intrigued, she didn’t question him and nodded.

"You’re dismissed."

Without saying a word, she turned around and left the chambers, closing the heavy doors behind her.

Now left alone, Adel folded his arms and thought to himself, ’There is so much pressure, right now. When will I have time to use the Verdan Roots?’

............

Far away from the Inferno Sect, two figures moved through the forest, with one of them carrying someone over their shoulders.

Abruptly, the one carrying a person stopped, causing the other to stop too.

"Why did you stop?" The other one asked, his voice muffled.

Without a word, the first one grabbed him by the throat, then broke his neck.

The corpse dropped to the ground, sinking into the fresh vegetation below.

After dropping the corpse, he put down the tied figure he was carrying, and removed the black cloth covering his head.

Seraph blinked in surprise, then glanced at the corpse nearby.

"I surely wasn’t expecting this."

Staring at him, the Reaper said, "You do not have to worry. I can send you back to my sect if you want, but it seems you want to follow me."

Seraph’s eyes narrowed, catching a phrase. "Your sect?"

The masked man nodded. "I am the Sect Master of the Soul Cross Sect. Believing it or not is your concern. If you choose to follow me, I will inform them that you are in safe hands."

Seraph was a bit disturbed, not knowing what to believe.

’Really? The Soul Cross Sect Master? When did he become a Reaper? Wait, why would he even become a Reaper?’

Sighing, he abandoned all his current questions and asked, "If I go with you, what will happen to me?"

The man calmly answered. "You will be brainwashed and turned into a Reaper like me, but I will ensure you are put under my division so you do not go astray."

Humming, Seraph considered it. ’I’ve always wanted to know about this secret organization. Perhaps this is a chance at doing that.’

"In that case, you can contact the sect and inform them that I am fine. Though, I’m more curious about you in particular."

Sighing, the masked man placed his hands on his hips.

"Boy, may curiosity not kill you."

Putting the cloth over Seraph’s head again, he lifted him and continued their journey.