Chapter 121: Needlessly Cruel

Taka was the one who answered. "It is hard to say exactly, as everyone doesn't grow smoothly, but given your age and cultivation level, among the hundred or so Kongs under 25, you would be in the top ten, maybe top five, for now. I wouldn't expect that to last; it would only last if you maintain the level of growth you have here in the empire and at higher stages."

It was impressive that any barbarians would rank that highly among one of the more powerful families of the empire. However, that wasn't quite fair. There were far more than 100 cultivators under 25 in the hall.

This exiled community was made up of many families with cultivator lineages; even if they weren't as prominent as the Kongs, they weren't a group of mortals.

Also, the forcing function was a lot stronger outside the empire. It was grow or die, and that pushed more to achieve higher. They tended to struggle in higher realms as they had already reached their limits faster, though. Still, some became true powers.

So, on the contrary, when it was all considered that one family, like the Kongs, could match this many and come out well ahead in absolute potential and average strength, that was what made them a power in the empire.

"Where would you rank in your family?" Sheng Bai asked Taka quietly. Paike found it a little odd that there was no challenge in her tone at all, more enthusiasm than anything else.

"I would say I am third in our generation," Taka stated evenly.

Paike suppressed a frown; he was thinking that Taka was only behind Liming, given his performance in the outer sector. He ruled it the year he was in and blitzed through the tournament. Liming was doing a bit better, but she still had some way to go before she proved herself as competent. And even then she would have no trouble getting into the inner sect, he thought, but with Li Feng, her winning the tournament seemed less than likely. It was possible, but likely not her goal.

He then caught Taka's look and realized he was slipping back into old habits. Paike had forgotten about himself. He still wasn't sure it was even fair to rank him. Because if they considered his age rather than when he awakened, then he would still be behind Taka. Age mattered, but so did awakening. On top of that, Paike wasn't traditionally talented, so that would have less impact on how others saw him outside the family who didn't know the whole story.

This must have been obvious on his face as Taka made a small gesture with his head that Paike took to mean, 'but projected that forward.' And Paike had to admit that if he didn't get bottlenecked on the ascention to Emerald, then yes, he'd likely keep charging ahead. Which would then clearly put him at the top of his family's younger generation.

That was what he had decided for himself after all, that there was no reason to stop progressing. There was no playing it safe; there was only what was over the next horizon and his path there. He would know what it was like when he was at his best.

So he acquiesced with a slight inclination of his head to Taka, who returned it with a slight smile.

Reflecting on that, Paike was a bit surprised at how easily Taka had accepted his ranking. It was out of character. Had he really matured? Liming would have told him he was just getting ready to be pulled along in Paike's wake and take advantage of him again. Paike couldn't tell what was true anymore.

Sheng Yue was still studying him. He thought she was going to ask about where he would rank. It would make sense that they would be about his level, or maybe a bit higher, as they were older than Taka, but in the same realm, if a bit higher in stage.

They would need more data points to fully understand what they were agreeing to. Or maybe she was going to say that she was satisfied and admit that she agreed to their deal.

Instead, what came out of her mouth was, "Why are you wearing different robes than the others? At first, I thought it was because you are in Topaz, and the Emeralds are wearing one thing, and the one Sapphire has her own colors. But that is not it, is it?"

Paike wasn't sure what made her so certain that it wasn't the case. From an outsider's perspective, it made total sense. Many families dressed that way, following the colors of the gemstones that represented each realm.

If the Hidden Peak Sect had left the empire before or after the latest iteration of the grand sects was implemented wasn't something Paike knew for sure. He was pretty certain that they had been exiled after they were created, but the grand sects changed over time.

"It is not," Paike confirmed. "My brother's robes are those of an inner sect disciple, and Lin Yue's are the robes of a core disciple. I am of the outer sect."

After that, he had to explain the grand sect system a little and what it meant to be part of the inner or outer sect.

"You did not fail the trial to get into the inner sect, did you?" Sheng Yue said with unreasonable certainty. It was phrased as a question, but there was no doubt in her voice. Even her cousins didn't seem to understand where her confidence came from, judging by the looks they gave her.

"Why do you say that?" Sheng Xue asked.

Sheng Yue didn't take her attention off Paike. "He wouldn't have."

That wasn't really an answer, but they all seemed to take it as one. Earlier, she had said that her cultivation let her know some things, so maybe that was why.

"I have not had a chance to take the trial yet," Paike answered, and she smiled softly in satisfaction.

"Then I take it you are number one in your generation." Again, it was a statement.

Paike shrugged. "It's not a formal ranking, and there have been recent changes."

"He was Middle Topaz yesterday," Taka added dryly.

"Wait, wait, what?" Sheng Bai explained. Paike was starting to get the sense that she was rather excitable.

"If you haven't had that chance to take the trial," Sheng Gui spoke up for the first time in a while. "Then that means you awakened sometime this year?"

"Two months ago, give or take," Taka said in the same tone.

"You expect us to believe that?" Sheng Xue snapped. The ice of her expression had cracked, and she looked openly angry at the insult to her intelligence.

Paike didn't know how to respond. He hadn't made the claim, but she was looking at him with what was starting to feel a little like hatred. What had he done to deserve this?

The whole time, Sheng Yue had a self-satisfied smile as she watched Paike. The vaguely uncomfortable feeling returned.

Paike shrugged, "Believe what you want. This literally doesn't matter and has no bearing on our deal. I wasn't even going to mention it."

A few more moments of genuine disbelief and astonishment followed. Why did he awaken so late? How did he advance so fast? And was this common in their family? There were things he couldn't answer. Except for that last one. No, it seemed he was unique.

Eventually things settled down.

This time, Paike pushed them instead of Taka. "So which ones of you are coming with us?"

There was no more hedging or debate. Sheng Yue and Sheng Bai stepped forward, and Paike congratulated himself for guessing correctly, though it wasn't actually that hard to guess. They had both shown open enthusiasm, whereas the other two had not.

Loud clapping beside the group made them all jump. There were very few who could have snuck up on them like that, and only one who would have announced their presence in such a way.

Father stood right off to the side; he might have been there the whole time, as far as anyone knew. Paike was pretty sure he had been listening, but would have continued his policy of pretending to be unable to overhear his children unless they were putting themselves or their siblings in unreasonable danger.

Revealing himself meant he wanted to take action. Paike hoped that he wasn't displeased.

"Well done, excellent negotiations and rationalization skills," Father said.

Paike wasn't sure about that last one. It certainly felt well thought out, but apparently he was missing something.

Father wasn't going to explain, though.

"Now, I fully back most of this plan. However, I would never do something so needlessly cruel as making you all siblings. Instead, I will take you as wards and let you two take the family name as a sign of your allegiance." Father stated.

Paike wasn't sure what he meant by cruel. It seemed reasonable to him, but Father likely had his reasons. Taking them as wards was a decent way of handling it, if Father could make it work. That was typically done for fallen houses or natural cultivators who wouldn't be married into the family for one reason or another. Adoption was also common if the heads of the families had a close personal relationship and no intention of marrying them into the family in the future.

Wait, that wasn't it, right? No, it was probably because their families were still alive, and he didn't want to make them disavow them to their face.

Paike hadn't suggested them becoming wards because he didn't think they could bring descendants of exiles into the empire that way. The only way he could see it was either as barbarian brides or as family. But if Father suggested it, there was likely no problem.

There was no less prestige in a ward doing well, as they were considered part of the family's generation. Even if they left for some reason, they were expected to support their host family; such was the debt.

Father turned to the crowd, and a slight flexing of his aura gathered all their attention onto him. His voice didn't rise at all, but everyone could hear.

"I would like to introduce to you all my new wards. This is Kong Shengyue and Kong Shengbai. Make them feel welcome."

The reaction was slightly confused, but a round of applause was given, and the two newest wards of the Kong family bowed in greeting to the party.