A few minutes later, Claire and the Elders appeared in the hall one by one. Since he decided to focus on developing this sect to earn more badass points through it, he took a closer look at everyone before him. Elder Mark, the powerful amongst them all looked serious and solemn. Michael could sense Elder Mark is just a few months of cultivation away from breaking through to the Body Strengthening stage. After Elder Mark, Elder Reiner stood there with a wide grin on his face for no reason. He vaguely resembled Gandalf the Grey to Michael. In Michael's eyes, Elder Miles looked like a goofy fun-loving old man and the first to get mad. Lastly, Elder Sandra quietly stood beside Claire. Even though she was sick and fighting with death every day, her composure and calm look on her face made her look like the wisest among the Elders. Unlike Elder Mark, these three were at least a year of cultivation away from reaching the next stage.
After taking a look at the Elders, his gaze fell on Claire to get slightly surprised by her because, in less than a month, she went from Body Refining Stage level 5 to Level 7. When he met a few hours ago, he didn't try to sense her cultivation level but now, he realized that Claire might be a prodigy in the making.
Claire's face was not calm and in fact, she was very troubled by the events that happened a few hours ago. She knew it was her fault that made Michael pay the price, literally. Her face betrayed her and revealed her internal struggle.
"Sect Leader Claire, Elders, the reason I called you everyone here is to speak about the future of the sect"
"You aren't leaving the sect, are you?" Elder Miles jumped the gun and asked him before Michael could finish his sentence. Hearing Elder Miles, Michael shook his head and smiled.
"Of course not Elder Miles, on the contrary, I'm here to talk about my position in the sect"
"Yes, we were just talking about that Ghost. It's not fair for you to remain as an outer disciple anymore, so we decided to make you the one and only core disciple of the Sect" Leaning on the wall, Gaya snickered. Usually in sects like the three big sects, a Body Refining stage cultivator would never get promoted to a Core disciple position no matter how talented they are.
Only after a disciple reaches the Core Formation level, they would get promoted to Core Disciple status. However, the Sunrise sect made Ghost a Core Disciple before he even reached the Body Strengthening stage.
Looking at Elder Reiner's grin grew wide, Michael realized this was his idea.
"Elder Mark, I'm honored to be the Core Disciple but I don't want just to be a Core Disciple, I want all of you to form a new position" Gaya's face lit realizing Ghost is weaving some kind of plan to take over this sect. She liked stuff like hostile takeovers.
The Elders were visibly troubled when they heard him but before anyone could raise a question at Michael, Claire opened her mouth.
"After all you've done for us, we are grateful to you Ghost. So I would grant anything that's within my power" If making him the Sect Leader would help her sect enter the golden days, she was ready to do just that.
"A position called Guardian, Sect Leader Claire. For the outside world, I'll be a Core Disciple but in secret, I'll be the Guardian. Before any of you ask, I won't put my nose into any day-to-day decision-making, Sect leader CLaire is a great leader and I have no intention to share the Leader Chair. I only wish to part take in important stuff"
"Like an Ancestor?" Elder Miles quickly asked him. When a current leader of the sIect or a family decided to enter the lonely mountain or secluded cultivation, they would become an Ancestor of that sect or family. All the decision-making and control of the place would go to the next head.
An Ancestor would only make an appearance if the sect or the family in a catastrophic disaster or to take part in the utmost important ceremonies.
"Not exactly but something like that. As a Guardian, I'll be around and look after the sect now and forever so the Sunrise sect will never decline again. From now on, our sect would only move towards glory, I'll make sure of that. Sect Leader, Elders, are you with me on this Sect leader?"
"Hell yeah, kid, let's do it. I'm so sick of being an Elder of a declined sect! Before I die, I want to feel how it feels to be an Elder of a prestigious sect" Elder Reiner laughed happily and gave his heartfelt support to Michael.
"I'm with Elder Reiner on this one" Elder Miles knew the potential of the youngster before them. Normally, he and Elder Reiner rarely agreed on something but he knew that Sticking with a heaven blessed prodigy and a 5-star Alchemist would never go wrong unless Michael gets killed by someone.
"Elder Sandra, you are the head of the Elders, what's your decision on this? " Instead of agreeing to Michael's request like Leder Reiner and Miles, Elder Mark turned to ask Elder Sandra.
Gaya saw the old woman scanning everyone from top to bottom before landing her gaze at Claire.
"Sect Leader Claire, I think you should be the person to have the final say on this, after all, you are the Sect Leader" Michael didn't worry about Claire because he knew Claire would agree to this. After this meeting, he quite liked Elder Reiner and Miles.
Her beautiful blue eyes slowly blinked as she stared at Michael without saying a word. Then, she took a deep breath,
"If making Ghost a Guardian would set our sect on the path to glory, then that's what I must do. As the current Sect Leader, I name you Ghost as the Core Disciple and the Guardian of the Sunrise sect" A golden ray emerged from her hand and showered Michael before it vanished.
[Ding! Congratulations for the host to become the Core Disciple]
[Ding! Congratulations for the host to become the Guardian]
System version 2.0
Host: Michael
Cultivation Level: Body Refining stage, level 6
Experience Points: 95000/200000
Badass Points: 8750
Skills & Spells:
Wind Blast - LVL 2
Responsive Shield - LVL 3
Environment Scanning - LVL 2
Ignitia - LVL 1
Lightning Dash - LVL 1
Energy Devouver - LVL 1
Death Range - LVL 1
Occupation: Core Disciple of Sunrise Sect
The Guardian of Sunrise Sect
Status: Healthy
Goals: Control the world
Utility Function: Banker - LVL 2 (Ratio - 1000 gold coins: 5 badass point(s))
Wealth: 470,000 Gold
Special Trait: 5-Star Alchemist
Subordinates: Gaya (loyalty level 50%)
Base of Operation: Sunrise Sect
"Now as a Guardian, I'll clear all the debts of our sect in the coming weeks"
"But Ghost" Claire still seemed reluctant to put all the debt on his head.
"No need to worry Sect Leader, what's mine is yours, and what's yours is mine. Stop hesitating and worrying Sect Leader, you should be strong and tough, I got your back"
When Michael finished his words, he could see Claire standing there, staring at him blankly. She then nodded with a gentle smile
"I will try to be the Leader everyone expects me to be"
*********************
"What was that human? Great leader my ass, she put the entire sect in trouble to save one person. She's just a naive young girl, not a great leader"
Gaya threw herself on the new sofa and complained while Michael prepared to make pills and potions for his customers. He could have done this in the night but he had plans for the night.
"I know, but I'm here now and this is my sect. She won't make stupid mistakes like that again in my watch"
"So not putting your nose into day-to-day decision-making is just a lie?" she was confused as Michael smirked.
"When I become stronger, who do you think Claire and Elders see as the head? Me. But I'm not the person to sit behind a table and manage this place, that would be Claire's job. With a little nudge in the right direction, I believe she will turn into a good Sect Leader, under me" Michael continued with a smirk on his face.
Gaya realized that this was his plan all along and acting as a savior of the sect was just a facade. Yet, she still didn't completely understand why he is putting his money and efforts into making this sect great again. In her mind, he was not the kind of a guy who would do something noble without expecting something in return.
"Tell me the truth, human, what do you really want with this place?"
"When you become trustworthy, I might tell you the answer. Now stop asking questions and start planning to make this place look better or I'll take that sofa away "
"Don't you dare!"