Hold over Myriad of Worlds

-"Terminus, are you serious?"

~"Yes. Is there something wrong?"

-"Something wrong? I think your ignorance entered the realm of maliciousness."

I stood with Terminus in a hall of the Sect she was talking about earlier. Elysia was nearby. Her shoulders were shaking while she was trying to stifle a laugh. Next to her stood a woman who was the Sect Leader of this place.

While her face was indifferent, the situation that just happened made her appear awkward. Even sect members, who were kneeling a short distance away because of Terminus' aura, had strange looks while looking at us.

-"Terminus, don't you see anything wrong with the situation you just created?"

~"No."

-"Sigh. I'm sorry for her, Empyrean Divine Dream. Terminus' isolation made her lose social awareness. I'll try to correct her."

-"It is also my fault for agreeing without asking for more details. To be honest, I thought that the person called Yue would be a woman."-Divine Dream's gentle but emotionless voice sounded from the side.

-"It was her who gave me it, so in the end, it's her fault."

~"After all, the image and meaning 'moon' fit you well."

-"This is not subject now. Please explain how in the hell you could think that making me join the all-female Sect is a good idea."

~"Aren't you surrounded by women daily?"

-"Thak makes it only worse!"

-"Haha! I can't... Haha!"-Elysia couldn't keep it in anymore.

-"Sigh."

-"Well, the dice were already cast."

-"I'm truly sorry, Divine Dream."

-"That rule was established because my Cultivation technique requires Yin energy, and male bodies and spirits are predominately Yang."

~"You don't have to worry about that aspect. Yue's body constitution is extreme Yin, while his spirit is Extreme Yang, creating a balance of extremes."

-"Hmm... This indeed meets the requirements for our Cultivation. As I already agreed, how about he undergoes a typical Sect assessment? If he can pass, I'll accept him despite his gender."

-"Sorry once again, just define some additional restrictions so I do not make anyone uncomfortable."

-"You will have additional rules placed on you, but most importantly, you can't pursue a relationship with anyone in Sect. To Cultivate effectively, you have to possess Primal Yin."

Hearing this, I looked at Elysia, who also looked at me.

~"Elysia won't have any problem, as she has the seed of the Authority of Origin."

-"You two are Daoist Companions?"

-"Yue is my husband."

Divine Dream blinked a little surprised but quickly returned to her indifferent expression.

-"Let's just go and perform the assessment."

Under the lead of Divine Dream, Elysia and I arrived at the testing ground. As Terminus disappeared, to not disrupt everyone with her aura, I've become the focal point of countless unfriendly gazes.

-"Don't mind them. Many of Sect members have rather bad opinions on men."

-"Don't worry, those gazes are cute compared to the hostility I sometimes received."

-"Let me explain the test. It is divided into five parts: Cultivation, willpower, Battle Spirit, soul power, and destiny."

She gestured at the pillar in front of us.

-"After placing your hand on it, your current Cultivation, bone age, and talent will be shown."

-"Bone age?"

-"Bone age is the age of the body, as there exist ways to reincarnate the soul, we differentiate the age of body and soul."

-"I see. Elysia, do you want to go first?"

-"OK."

She approached and placed her hand on the pillar. It soon started shimmering, and a while later, results appeared.

-"Age 20, Cultivation none, race innate being, talent limit True Divinity..."

All present appeared shocked by those results. Lacking context, I asked for some more information.

-"Limit True Divinity is the highest known talent rank."

-"It's good then."

Elysia showed a victory sign to me while I also approached the pillar. Placing my hand on it, shimmering started, but results hadn't appeared even after twice as much time passed when compared to Elysia's try.

Divine Dream came to look at the pillar, as she never encountered a similar situation. She forcefully made results appear.

-"Age ageless? Cultivation none, race unknown... Talent limit unquantifiable."

-"Basically worthless results."

-"Your talent is most important from these, and it's beyond what is known, so you passed."

-"Time for willpower then."

-"Yes, this trial proves your perseverance and mental strength. The test will consist of you manifesting your Mental Space and fighting there with opponents."

Divine Dream told us to sit in prepared formations and asked elders to operate them. When the formation lit up, my surroundings changed to the endless white plain I was familiar with.

I stood up and waited for opponents to arrive, and a minute later, some beasts and monsters started appearing.

As their strength was pitiful, they couldn't approach and were torn to shreds by my aura alone. Fighting in Mental Space was different from reality, and one's aura was much more powerful here.

More and more monsters materialized, and soon hundreds of them would die every second. Only after a few hours would they be strong enough to survive my aura. I had to manifest my sword and start fighting.

After monsters, people started appearing. They fought using many different weapons and techniques. Each time one would be defeated, a stronger one would show up.

At the end of the test, divine beasts were pitted against me. Blue Dragon, Vermilion Bird, White Tiger, Black Tortoise, and even Qilin and Phoenix fought against me. In the end, I won only after using my strongest sword techniques.

I woke up from the Mental Space after that. Gazez that were hostile to me now changed to those of respect, with many mutterings between sect members.

-"Impressive. You are the fifth person in history who passed this trial fully."

-"I have a great advantage because of my Mental Space."

-"Your Mental Space is indeed nothing like those I've seen before. But for it to be so stable is commendable."

-"Thank you. How did you fare, Elysia?"

-"Not bad. I was overrun somewhere in the middle of fighting humans."

-"You lack some instakill techniques after all."

-"I'll have to learn some of those."

-"Both of you passed. Are you ready for the rest of the tests?"

-"Yes, please start."

-"Next test requires manifesting your Battle Spirit. That is making your will manifest in the real world, taking on physical form. This artifact can help you manifest those."

-"I'll go first again."

Elysia took the artifact passed by the Sect Elder and used it as she was told to. Soon, a giant white and pink manta ray manifested and started swimming in the air.

-"Cute!"

-"It indeed is impressive. Yue, now is your turn."

-"OK. I don't need this artifact, though."

I manifested a Dragon and Deer that represented my body and spirit.

-"Two? No, that Deer is not the manifestation of will but something similar based on your body."

-"Yes, but those two fit the Battle Spirit role."

-"The last two trials are similar to the first. You have to touch those two artifacts, and results will show."

Elysia touched the first artifact, and the result showed that her soul power was strong enough to pass this trial. Next, she tested her destiny, and it also showed that she was qualified.

I did the same as Elysia and passed both tests. This made us officially accepted as members of the Divine Dream Heavenly Palace. We moved to the great hall of the Sect to discuss arrangements for us.

-"As you are male, Yue, we will have to not only restrict you but also place some monitoring on you."

-"I don't mind. I can take for of Fox is that makes other sect members more comfortable with me."

-"Fox?"

I turned into Fox and jumped on Elysia's shoulder.

~"Like this."

-"Hmm... That will indeed help some with your presence, but be careful not to invade their privacy, as some may forget your gender with that look."

~"Don't worry, I'll be by Elysia's side if I have to leave the courtyard."

-"That will be much appreciated."

~"What will be our responsibilities to the Sect?"

-"Elisia will be treated as Core Disciple. She can participate in activities with other Core Disciples and earn resources. Because your strength is much greater than even Sect Elders, I'll appoint you as Sect Protector."

-"Sect Master, is this appropriate? Sect Protector is a position that is second only to Grand Elder."

-"In recent times, many people have tried to force us to join their fraction. Having additional power such as Yue can grant us some breathing room."

~"Just tell me to step in if I'm needed."

-"As for recourses..."

~"Don't bother with them. Give me access to medical gardens, and I'll take care of the plants. Abundance is good at that."

-"If you wish so. Do you need something else?"

~"Techniques."

-"As Protector, you have unlimited access to the library but can't pass on any of them to outsiders. Elysia will have the same restrictions as normal Core Disciples."

~"Then, please take care of me for days to come."

I started my new daily life in the Sect. Elysia had her own courtyard somewhere in the Sect, but she would come to me daily to spend some time. I would spend most of my time Cultivating, quickly rising in ranks.

I chose to cultivate my soul using my body and spirit as the foundation. Terminus advised me not to use essence from the world but only rely on Authorities of Origin and Finality.

Authority of Origin and Path of Abundance can easily provide all needed essence to cultivate, while Authority of Finality and Path of Permanence allows to strengthen the soul.

I passed the Houtian and Xiantian stages in the first week, entering the Revolving Core core realm on the sixth day. After that, my speed slowed slightly, performing first Life Destruction seventeen days after the start of my Cultivation.

What proved troublesome was undergoing Life Destruction, as it required annihilating and later reforming the body in the first three stages, the spirit in the fourth to sixth, and the soul in the final three. Because my body and spirit were comparable to Aeon's, destroying them proved challenging.

When I performed my first Life Destruction, I had to use Paths of Nihility and Destruction to shatter my form. Consulting both Divine Dream and Terminus, they advised me to perform the second Life Destruction in a realm where I can go all out.

The next day, Divine Dream opened a small realm for me, and I unleashed my full power and destroyed myself along with it. Recreating my body again, I passed the second stage.

Seeing the strength necessary to pass my Life Destruction was too great for such words to survive, Divine Dream made me undergo the next stages inside the Sect protection array placed in the central plaza.

As that place was open to sect members, many of them gathered to see the spectacle.

-"Yue, you will succeed!"

-"Thanks."

Sect Elders started opening the formation, enveloping me in a barrier that could hold the most powerful beings at bay. Wating a little more, I got a signal to begin.

Drawing upon the Path of Nihility, I entered the false Aeon state. Nihility started eroding the surrounding space as I started to use elements in the vicinity to destroy my body.

Earth buried, Metal sliced, Water drowned, Wood sapped, Fire burned. Cycle after cycle, the strength of elements intensified, slowly shaving my form, part by part. This continued for days, finally ending after seven days of constant storms of elements.

As my body comes from Abundance, I used five elements to lay the foundation in those three steps. Now, it was time to build upon this and construct the next layer with spirit.

Turning back to my Fox form, I spoke to Divine Dream.

~"Thank you for your assistance."

-"I must say that with a foundation as solid as yours, you'll need a massive amount of energy to Cultivate in the future."

~"I'm aware, but having unlimited time, it's not a problem."

-"That's true. When do you plan to start the fourth stage?"

~"I'll need a week to gather energy before I can start."

-"Then you'll have to wait a little longer as some guests will arrive here in five days."

~"You need me to help?"

-"I hope it won't be needed, but please be on guard."

~"Good."

Guests that Divine Dream was referring to were members of the Ancient Phoenix Clan arriving to have contests against some disciples of Divine Dream Heavenly Palace.

That clan had mixed disciples, and because of that, they were kept outside of the Sect itself. When the time for the contest arrived, I was asked to be responsible for the first trial during the competition. Elysia decided to try to enter the competition, so I went there to watch. I stayed by Divine Dream's side as Elysia was obviously busy.

-"Long time no see, Empyrean Divine Dream."

-"Yes, it has been many years since our last meeting, Patriarch Gale Violetsun."

Two leaders engaged in some banter, but the conversation fully relayed on the Patriarch of Ancient Phoenix Clan to continue. He stopped this painful show only when disciples participating from two sides entered the plaza.

~"Hmm?"

-"Is something wrong, Yue?"

~"Just some sparrow hitting on Elysia."

-"I see. Patriarch Violetsun, can you warn your Clan members not to approach my Sect Disciples?"

-"Yes, I'm deeply sorry for that. This person is?"

-"Yue, our new Sect Protector."

-"Sect Protector?"

Patriarch Violetsun could perceive my Cultivation, so my status surprised him.

-"He will be responsible for the first trial of our competition."

-"I can't wait to see the power of the Protector then."

-"Yue, can you?"

~"Leave this to me."

I jumped onto the railing of the weaving platform we were sitting on. Fox suddenly appearing near two leaders successfully gained the attention of all the people present. Most members of Divine Dream Heavenly Palace recognized me instantly, a little surprised that I showed up here.

~"I'll be conducting your first trial. Your job is simple, leave the maze in the given time. Your powers will be sealed, so you can't rely on Cultivation or any other ability. Any questions?"

No one spoke.

~"Good. You have three hours."

I jumped down and summoned Oath of Silence below me. It struck the ground, sealing the strength of everyone on the plaza, while I landed on it and used Path of Enigmata to create a labyrinth.

Manifesting some opponents and trials inside by mixing various Paths and Authorities, I, for the first time, could feel a difference in using my power after starting Cultivating. My soul was growing more powerful, and because of that my usage of Paths and Autorities was much smoother than before.

Manifesting screens tailing competitors with Path of Remembrance, I fully focused on my job. My show stunned most Elders present. Seeing me use laws with ease, despite my strength, made them have much more respect for me.

-"Protector is a well-deserved position for such abilities."

All present watched contestants undergo various trials, using various tricks and strategies to overcome what was thrown their way. Time passed quickly, and by the end of three hours, little over half the contestants managed to escape the maze.

Elysia ended in third place, behind the girl from the Ancient Phoenix Clan in second and Saintess of the Divine Dream Heavenly Palace in first. After finishing the first test, my job ended, so I returned to my courtyard to continue my Cultivation.