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The scenery seemed to last for whole minutes even if barely two seconds passed before everything returned to how they were. However, Noah found that nothing had changed, to begin with. That hidden environment had simply been revealed to him for a moment.

His astonishment was evident on his face, and Elder Sarah seemingly understanding his reason for such perplexion, opened her mouth to ask a question.

"Did you see her?" she revealed shocking Noah even the more, but he nodded in response.

"That tells how incredible your body has improved and the purity of mana you contain," she explained managing to pull Noah's undivided attention.

"You've just looked into a world only Tier 4's can," she added, and Noah felt he forgot how to breathe. Whether to be shocked or excited he knew not, but he soon settled for a mixture of both.

"That's all I can tell you about that level. But only those with great potential can glance into that world before getting to tier four," she explained moving in a back-and-forth motion around the edge of the now eerie pool.

"Do you know why she's there, or who put her there?" Noah inquired turning to glance at the center point of the pool. During the trance, he had been unable to see past the pool since everything had been dark.

"That's classified information, you'll have to be rank A to know that," Lady Sarah revealed putting another wave of shock in Noah's mind.

"Isn't rank A for tier 4's," Noah muttered.

"That's for the average guild member, for individuals like myself the rules change. I'm a rank A. I've been one for a while now. The rank above that on the other hand is something only an advancement can bring," she explained.

"So you are allowed to take part in rank A missions despite only being a higher stage tier 3," Noah asked taken aback by what he heard.

"You're wrong somewhere, but also right. That's a subject for another day, however," she replied, ending that topic.

Noah felt uncertain about the information he had received. It seemed the guild had made gray spots for cultivators they considered monsters.

"What you've seen and heard mustn't be told to anyone who isn't within the central regions, since all of them have probably been here so it's not a secret, but this isn't the same for those on the inner and outer regions," Elder Sarah warned, and Noah felt his chest tingle at the command.

"Now onto the main reason for our coming here," she announced focusing her gaze on his breathtakingly handsome face.

She had to admit that he fancied someone as good-looking as he was around her, even if she felt no physical attraction towards him whatsoever.

"Why do you want to learn from me?" She suddenly asked.

"Well I initially didn't know about you, but after seeing your prowess I find you worthy of training me," Noah replied, shocked that his true feelings had been revealed.

Elder Sarah looked taken aback, but she soon shook her head in wonder before opening her mouth to speak.

"Do you plan on ever using the things I teach you against me?" She asked.

"Not in a way that is hostile, I simply plan to repay all the beating and suffering you've put me through," Noah replied, dying on the inside.

"Oh really, then it wouldn't be wrong if I suffer you to my heart's content. After all, you'll get strong and repay me at some point," a smug smile cracked on her gorgeous face, and Noah felt fear at that sight. He blamed the spirit for putting him into that situation.

"Last question, what do you plan to use the knowledge I'll pass onto you for-' her words were cut short by the sudden appearance of a foreign presence.

"What do we have here?" a male voice descended from the sky washing over them.

"Oh, it's just you guys," Elder Sarah remarked almost hissing.

"Is this some sort of initiation," another voice, this time a female's, sounded.

"You can call it that," Elder Sarah shrugged as a genuine smile shone on her face. Immediately after her reply, the figure of two individuals appeared; illuminated by the light of the pool.

A red-haired man and a black-haired woman were revealed. Both looked to be just as old as Elder Sarah even if their power stood past the realm of tier 3.

"Is this the young man you spoke of? He's more good-looking than I imagined," the lady said slowly floating towards Noah before hovering around his figure.

"Yes, this it's him. You would have understood if you had bothered to watch him in action," Elder Sarah explained clicking her tongue.

"You know I really don't have an interest In activities like that, my forging takes most of my time," the lady explained dramatically floating around a stiff Noah.

"I have to admit that he looks far more in person and the vagueness of his power. I'm shocked that he's classified as a lower stage. Even if he is," the man said holding his beardless chin.

"He feels like a deviant," Elder Sarah joined on that topic. "I'll have to ask the other if they find him familiar in any way," she added focusing her gaze on a silent Noah.

The appearance of two-tier 4 cultivators had made the air awkward, at least for him. Elder Sarah seemed to know them well.

"Aiden these are my two best friends, you'll be seeing them a lot so you should get used to it," she explained waving her hand dismissively.

Noah could only bow at that point, he honestly didn't know what to say or how to react.

"You don't have to fret young man, we are all guild mates; simply stronger ones. I understand that in the outside world people with our type of power are rare, but in this city... not so much," the male explained, floating towards Noah to stretch forth his hand.

Noah felt his world slow down at that sight. 'The hand of a tier 4 cultivator,' he thought in excitement. There had to be an award for his incredible feats somewhere.

Raising his hand to grab the mans', Noah felt his mind go blank when the cultivator suddenly raised his hand to slide it down his hair-filled head. He did this in a way that suggested he had done it on purpose.

'Was I just left hanging by a tier 4 expert,' Noah reasoned, blank eyed. The sound of laughter soon reached his ears, and he confirmed it. He had been tricked.