Shi Lang watched the three women hug each other andugh. He look at the side, and said, "Everyone, may I have your attention please?"


    He did not infuse spiritual energy in his throat and still his voice echoed throughout the surroundings. When everyone looked at him, he said, "The people who joined us today are myrades. They are the people with him I have walked the edge of life and death. I can tell that some of you feel unsure, but do not worry, they cannot and will not rece any of you."


    The expressions of some people rxed and Shi Lang continued, "Allow me to introduce to them, although all of theme from the same creed of military in the lower realm, they have different roles in my life.


    The first person is Miss Archie Arkham. She was an officer set over me, we called her Commander Silence. The next are a few members of a team that showed me the ropes of battlefield, Carole, Hunk, Gamma, Shrapnel, Luby.


    Thest but not the least is the spiritual puppet, OB-one. I hope that you wee them as one of your own, and allow them to be a part of our family."


    Yang Niao stepped forward and said, "We here you, Hall Master."


    His voice was calm, but everyone heard it and the members began to chant. Shi Lang nodded at Yang Niao with a smile and said to Shi Tao, "Tao lead them to the guest room."


    Then he turned to Commander Silence and said, "Sir, you take rest, and then we will regroup."


    Thedy sighed and said, "Supreme General, can you please stop treating me as your senior? I can tell that your realm is not low anyway. Please give me some face."


    Shi Lang scratched the back of his when a burly arm was hooked around his neck and Hunk said, "Commander, you are speaking for yourself. I want to enjoy some courtesy from the Ace of Terrans. Not everyone gets this."


    Shi Lang chuckled and said, "Fine, fine, go have rest and then meet me at the hall."


    The people nodded and they walked away under Shi Tao and Amelia''s guidance. Tian Long approached him and asked, "You intend to use them?"


    Shi Lang shook his head and said, "I do not intend to use them, I intend to work with them. Please feel free to leave, as you see I have other things to do now."


    Tian Long''s eye twitched and Shi Lang waved his hand at him. The Terran walked ahead and saw Moon Jade looking down at the ground. He patted her head gently and said, "Do not think too much about it. It is fine. I am better. I am only asking you to leave so that you and this bloke can get stronger before I decide to leave the cage."


    She nodded, and smiled slightly before leaving with Tian Long. As soon as they left, Shi Lang said, "Deputy Hall Master Yang, raise the security to the highest. We still have two years of umtion left before us."


    Yang Niao replied, "Yes, Hall Master."


    ...


    Shi Lang was teaching Hao Mei a few things about alchemy and did not notice that it was already night. The little girl was absorbing the knowledge at a quick pace. Shi Lang had a proud smile on his face when he saw his priced disciple working hard and improving before his eyes.


    After pointing out a thing or two, he would just watch her fumble and explore on her own. Amelia entered the room and saw Hao Mei refining a pill. She wanted to say something when she found Shi Lang immersed in the process.


    She waited for two minutes before Hao Mei jumped in the void, "Yes, Master, see."


    Shi Lang smiled and patted her head. The pill flew out of the cauldron and shot to the sky from the chimney. Hao Mei was nervous and Shi Lang said, "Come, let us go out to see."


    Shi Lang led her out while Amelia followed with a surprised expression on her face. In the sky a pill was going through a tribtion. The entire sect was there to watch it and they all cheered when the tribtion wasplete. Shi Lang lifted and ced Hao Mei over his shoulder and said, "Everyone, do you think, our Meimei is a talent?"


    "YES!"


    The crowd cheered. A small voice sounded, "I am also a talent, howe I do not get to ride your shoulder."


    Everyone was surprised when they looked at Yu Xeidi. They chuckled, the jealous little chilli pepper was here again. Shi Lang sighed and picked her up on his other shoulder and said, "Just so you know, you are a talented warrior, while your sister is an alchemist. Okay?"


    Yu Xeidi winked at Hao Mei who shook her head. She knew this kid just wanted to ride on Shi Lang''s shoulder. Shi Lang asked the people the same thing about Yu Xeidi and they said yes. Then he looked at Amelia, "Amy, is everyone well rested?"


    She nodded and said, "They are waiting for you in the Gathering Hall."


    The four of them walked inside the hall. Shi Lang took a deep breath and looked at everyone, and said, "Hello, I hope you have been well."


    The people talked about how things were going in the lower realm. It turns out that Shi Family was now running a small establishment to support the talented but under privileged children. Shi Lang was surprised but he also received a few messages from his parents that made him miss them more. He smiled and thanked Commander Silence.


    Suddenly, Yu Xeidi asked, "Your tea, Senior Silence."


    She was again given the duty to serve tea to the people in the room. Thedy took the tea and said, "Don''t learn from your master, he is a doofus. My name is Archie. You can call me Archie."


    Yu Xeidi shook her head and said, "One must not mix up seniority."


    Archie Arkham was surprised, she said, "Lang, you have a good disciple."


    Shi Lang nodded and patted the little girl on her head, and then introduced everyone to Hao Mei. Carole and Luby immediately took liking to her gentle demeanor. Shi Lang asked, "How did you alle over together?"


    Archie Arkham looked at OB-one and said, "Tin-man calcted the time we all might be reaching the ascension realm and we all nned to ascend within ten minutes of each other. However, I was surprised, that even ten minutes difference was equal to weeks here. Yet, after two months, everyone ascended."


    Shi Lang asked, "How did you bring OB-one with you guys?"


    Hunk said, "I stuffed him up inside my spiritual tattoo after taking out his core. Shrapnel bought the power core, and we put him back together. He is actually an improved version of OB-one, the original one is now running Card ss with X."


    Shi Lang raised his brow and said, "I did not think it would be like this, but what do you n to do now?"


    Archie Arkham looked at everyone and said, "You decide, we have been here for an year, but we have no idea what to do. Our cultivation has been very slow, as we traveled through the world to avoid trouble. Most of the time we could not cultivate to avoid detection from the strong."


    Shi Lang nodded and said, "I will arrange for that. By the way, Tian, where is he?"


    As soon as he spoke, he saw their faces change. Luby clenched her fist and said, "He was sent to Xena as a liaison, Xenon decided to break away, in the end the conflict rose to the level where they attacked out outpost. They fought for a month, in the end, the Xena people killed two children inside the outpost.


    Tian lost his temper and killed his way to the royal pce, took off Xenon''s head and kicked it like a football. Then he detonated all the bombs they had on the inside the silo''s The entire ce became a graveyard."


    Shi Lang was shocked and asked, "How could this be, Xena was a good ally."


    Luby replied, "Ace, this is not on you, it happened because it was supposed to happen. Xenon had never been too keen on epting guidance or helping out. We paid the price of trusting her too much, and she paid the price of underestimating our strength."


    Shi Lang leaned back against the wall and thought for a bit. He then raised his cup emptied it, then refilled it with wine, and passed the wine around. Then he raised his cup above his head and said, "To the spirit of Terrans, to therades who live with us, and to the brothers and sisters who died for us, to the heroes who stay immortal in our memories."


    Everyone raised their cups and chugged it down. Shi Lang then said, "Tao, call the elders. I have an important announcement to make."


    The people came over quickly and Shi Lang told them the truth of the world, they were shocked, but they believed him. Shi Lang said, "From tomorrow onwards, I am going back to seclusion. Amelia will go back and prepare the War Maiden Sect. Deputy Hall Master Yang, please arrange amodations, and also training resources for the people."


    Yang Niao nodded, and said, "I will get it done right away, Hall Master."


    Shi Lang looked at OB-one, and said, "Old friend, your task is to guide these two kids in cultivation. Specially this small one. She loves to fight."


    OB-one said, "I shall train them into the finest of them all."


    Yu Xeidi asked, "This puppet can train people?"


    Shi Lang smiled and said, "Why, don''t you try his skills? If he is good, then you can learn under his supervision."


    Yu Xeidi thought for a bit and nodded.