Lightning Is the Only Way

"Alright, everyone," shouted the Guild Master of Water. "Please step forward and announce your name. We will then tell you which guild is willing to accept you. If more than one guild is willing to accept you, you may choose which one to join," she explained.

Every participant scattered around and then waited. The participants threw some glances at Gravis, waiting for him to go first, but he didn't move and just continued waiting. So, the first person stepped forward.

"I am Karl!" he announced.

"The Earth Guild is willing to accept you," said the Guild Master of Earth.

"The Fire Guild is willing to accept you," said the Guild Master of Fire.

"The Darkness Guild is willing to accept you," said the Guild Master of Darkness.

No other Guild Master stepped forward, and Karl chose the Earth Guild. He walked forward and stood behind his Guild Master.

The next person stepped forward, and the same thing repeated. The person chose their guild, and the next one came. This cycle repeated itself multiple times until only Gravis was left. Sigur had chosen the Fire Guild, and the second-place winner had chosen the Water Guild. Sigur only watched Gravis with terror in his eyes.

Gravis stepped forward, said nothing, and just walked behind the Guild Master of Lightning. The Guild Masters of Fire, Darkness, and earth sighed in helplessness. However, they were prepared for that. Gravis and the Guild Master of Lightning seemed too close lately. The others saw that coming.

In the end, most people joined the Earth Guild. From 60 participants, the Earth Guild ate up 15. The guild with the least new recruits was the Light Guild, with only five people, and the other guilds were in the middle. The Lightning Guild had nine new disciples, including Gravis.

The Guild Masters sighed. "Only 60 new disciples. That's really meager compared to the last entrance exams," said the Guild Master of Light helplessly. Gravis had turned the whole exam upside down, and they had to adapt. "This was also the most stressful one."

"Protection disciples, assemble!" shouted the Guild Master of Earth, and all 28 protection disciples ran into the arena. "We're done!" and with that, the protection disciples all went to their respective Guild Masters.

"Alright, this is where we part ways," said the Guild Master of Light with a smile, and all the disciples looked at him. "I wish you all good luck in your cultivation path."

The disciples looked back and bowed slightly in thanks. Everyone said their goodbyes and the disciples left with the Guild Masters. What was strange, was that the protection disciples didn't follow, but went to a different side of the arena. After a while, they drove several carriages around the arena.

The carriages were loaded with a lot of things. Treasures, boxes full of pills, and even the tower bench were on the wagons. So that was why the Guild Masters always seemed to be prepared for everything. They had carriages full of different stuff.

"Alright, let's go home," said the Guild Master of Lightning to his new disciples.

how to feel about this word. He didn't have a place where he belonged in this lower world. He didn't even own a house. Theoretically speaking, Gravis was actually homeless. Yet, he had a

meters of space between them and those two. The Guild Master of Lightning didn't walk

the Guild Masters are bitter and angry about your participation." Then,

joined your guild?" asked

Master of Lightning laughed. "That is part of it, but not the whole reason. Whenever we hold the entrance exams, we split the costs. Some guilds bring the Fire-Torture Pills. Some guilds bring healing

them and noticed boxes filled with pills. "I guess we were responsible for the Fire-Torture Pills?" he

Gravis didn't say 'you' but 'we'. He grew even happier when he heard that. "Exactly. Just imagine the cost of producing 5,000 Fire-Torture Pills. Yet, we didn't need to waste any of them. Well, except for the one you took. We saved a lot of money," he said with a

"That's nice," commented Gravis.

is nice," the Guild Master said

something. "By the way, let me tell you something about how things work in our guild," he started, and

are about 100 people in total. Yet, there are, of course, unofficial rankings. Those are based on how far the person has

disciples are the new recruits," he pointed back with

count as a

You are basically already at the end. Here, catch," said the Guild Master as he threw a book towards Gravis, who promptly caught it. "This is

furrowed his brows. "You're just giving it to me like that?" he asked. Gravis also strangely didn't see any threat of Heaven behind the Guild Master. It seemed like Heaven was fine

normally, you would need to buy it for 1,000 gold." When Gravis heard that, his face blanched, yet, the more he thought about it, the more affordable it seemed. He was not in

you don't have to pay," continued the Guild Master. "Because thanks to you, we saved around 5,000 gold since every Fire-Torture Pill costs around one gold.

of gold, Gravis had never intended to do that. It just happened. The Guild Master could have kept this a secret, and Gravis would still be thankful. Yet, the Guild Master had given him something

temper their organs and blood. They have to pay with their

"Missions, probably," guessed Gravis.

kinds of missions. Transportation, escort, monster hunting," the Guild

"Why mercenaries?" asked Gravis.

selfish people in the cultivation world. It's every individual disciple's decision if they want to hunt those people or become those people. My job as the Guild Leader of the Proxy-Lightning Guild is just to send strong disciples

an eyebrow.

in the middle continent. Our specific parent guild is responsible for twelve Proxy-Lightning

guild is also a subsidiary of the Lightning Sect of the Central Continent. That is our true headquarter," explained the Guild Master

he had joined such a gigantic

"There is one organization above everyone. Then come our seven Main-Elemental Guilds. Then there are several Clans and some Secondary-Elemental Guilds. So yeah, the Lightning Sect is pretty

impressive," said

laughed, but then noticed something and grew annoyed. "Could you stop asking all these questions? You've constantly been sidetracking the conversation. Let me get back