Eternal Cultivation Of Alchemy

The final competition was now two weeks away. The only thing left before that was the small interview everyone would have to give in front of the entire world.

Alex wondered about the types of questions he would be asked. He also thought about the types of answers he should give. Interestingly, he needed to think carefully about various questions and their appropriate answers beforehand to avoid revealing certain information he didn’t want others to know.

“I can’t begin to imagine what sort of test the final competition will be,” Aethersage said as they walked out of the stadium through their designated gates.

“I can think of a few possibilities,” Leafheart said from the side.

Alex and Aethersage both looked toward her. “Like what?” Alex asked.

Leafheart narrowed her eyes at them. “Why would I tell you two? You’re my competition. Figure it out yourselves.”

Alex was about to say something but decided not to. The woman had a right to be secretive.

A few steps away, they saw a group of Divinities gathered.

Alex and the rest were surprised to see nearly a hundred Divinities gathered in the same place, all wearing similar robes. It was a surreal sight.

Alex recognized one of the Divinities as the person assigned to keep him safe—his guard for the competition. Based on this, Alex made an educated guess the rest were guards for the other participants as well.

Approaching his guard, Alex asked, “Senior, are we returning?”

“If that is what you wish to do,” the man replied.

Alex smiled. “I don’t have a reason to wait—” He stopped abruptly as he noticed someone in the distance looking toward their group. Alex’s eyes widened slightly at the sight.

Aethersage and a few others seemed to notice the person too.

“Is that… Senior Windborn?” Aethersage asked, failing to hide his surprise from his voice.

Windborn stood far away from their gate, behind an invisible line created by the tournament staff to prevent interference with the participants. Not many people lingered there other than Windborn.

Alex, Aethersage, and a few others moved toward the man, with their Divine realm guards following behind.

“Senior Windborn, it’s great to see you here,” Alex said as he walked up to the old man first.

“Why are you staying out here?” Aethersage asked. “Shouldn’t you have been inside with us?”

The others who came with them greeted the man as well.

Windborn gave a small smile, looking only at Alex and Aethersage. “I’m afraid I wasn’t allowed to,” he said. “I was disqualified long ago, after all.”

“What happened to you back then, Senior?” Alex asked. “Why were you absent from the competition?”

“It’s… an old injury of mine,” Windborn said. “A spiritual attack that left me wounded. It flares up from time to time. What happened back then was one of these flares at the most unfortunate of times.”

Alex wasn’t sure what to say. “I’m sorry that happened to you. But did you not try to qualify for the remaining competitions?”

“Right, didn’t you use your pin? What happened to your pin?” Aethersage added.

Windborn gave a meek smile and pulled out his golden pin. “You mean this?” he asked.

Alex and the others saw the immunity pin and were confused. They couldn’t imagine why the man still had his pin and hadn’t used it immediately.

“You should use it,” Leafheart said. “See if you can join the final competition.”

Windborn shook his head. “I’m afraid that’s not how this works. I cannot join.”

“What do you mean? You have the pin. Just use it,” Leafheart said.

“You don’t have enough points,” Alex said, understanding the man’s issue.

Windborn nodded. “Sadly, I didn’t do well in the first few competitions, so I don’t have enough points to make it into the top 100 even if I’m qualified.”

“You should have had your disciple take part in the Disciples’ Test then. That way, you could’ve gained the points you needed,” Aethersage said. The others nodded in agreement. It was a simple but effective solution to his problem.

“I couldn’t. My disciple is dead,” Windborn said with a somber look. “I don’t want to go into detail, but that was why I couldn’t take part in this competition. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have missed such a good chance to get back into the tournament.”

“My condolences for your disciple. It’s truly a shame,” Alex said.

Aethersage looked at the man’s palm. “What will you do with that pin then?” he asked.

Windborn closed his fist around the pin and looked at them. “I suppose this is why I waited for you all here.” His eyes scanned the group. “I have no need for this pin anymore, so the only thing I can do is give it to someone else.”

The group suddenly grew tense. Were they about to compete for the pin?

“Me! Me!” Leafheart shouted excitedly. “Brother Windborn, give it to me.”

Windborn was surprised by Leafheart’s eagerness. He looked at the young woman and asked curiously, “Why should I give it to you when there are so many of you here?”

Leafheart shrugged. “Because I asked first.”

Windborn couldn’t help but laugh. “Thank you, but no. I haven’t yet decided who I want to give this to. I’m sure I still have time.”

“Two weeks,” Aethersage said. “What do you want in return for this? You wish to sell it for something, don’t you?”

Windborn looked at Aethersage for a long time before a grin spread across his face. Alex saw the grin and thought it reminded him of someone else.

“You might be surprised,” Windborn said, “but I actually wish to give it to you for free. I only want to give it to the right candidate.”

“The right candidate?” Alex asked. “How will you decide who is right and who is wrong?”

“Simple,” Windborn said. “By asking you all questions. Getting to know you better.”

“What? You’re going to hold a second interview for us all?” Leafheart asked.

Windborn raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean by second?”

The group quickly explained the upcoming interview and how it would be conducted. Windborn thought for a moment before coming to a decision. “I shall hold this interview of mine on the same day as your interview. That should make it easier for you.”

“I’m sorry to many who might be looking forward to the pin, but I cannot go through you all. I will only choose a select few to consider. As for who, I will decide after these interviews. I will review them, and if I think you deserve it, I will approach you for my own interview.”

“That… sounds fair,” Aethersage said, glancing at the others to see if they had any objections. The rest shrugged. No one raised any points of contention.

“It is decided then,” Windborn said. “If you want my pin, be prepared to prove to me why you deserve it. Until then, farewell.”

Windborn turned and walked away.

His sudden departure left the group in deep thought. They all looked at one another, already thinking of each other as competition before the final event even began.

“Well, that’s that,” Aethersage said at last. “Let’s return.”