Il Ji slowly and determinedly made his way back to the small cabin that marked Orio's research center. Rummaging through the cabinets, he found a tea set and a few different options for tea.
Setting up the teapot with water and heat, he pulled out the 'Stirring Leaf Jasmine Tea' and set it to the side. Once the pot was hot enough to dissolve the leaves, he pulled it off the source and poured the water into the cups.
Placing the tea inside the cups and the cups onto the table, he walked outside. "Hurry up, or the tea will get cold!!" He shouted into the trees. Re-entering the cabin, he moved to the chair nearest the door.
As he did so, the breeze picked up by the door. Still turned towards the table, he smiled and gestured to the open chair. "My Lady."
He watched as a breath-taking beauty walked around him and sat down across the table.
She sat down in perfect grace and raised her tea to sip. "How'd you know?"
"When a series of lotus petals falls down from the sky, it's normally a sign of your arrival. You are also the only known apprentice of Orio Santers: out of the five [Primordial Rank] Creation Masters, you're the only one he trusts. As for the tea, Orio told me."
'I'm truly glad I asked about the tea on the online interview…'
"Then you know why I'm here?"
"I can only assume you've been searching for a disciple?"
"Right again." Her eyes slowed as she drifted into thought. Just as suddenly, she was back. "I made a promise long ago to only disciple a masterless prodigy with three or more soul stars. So far, you're the only eligible person."
Her eyes jumped, then she pulled a beast from her spatial storage necklace. "Please accept this greeting gift."
A small lotus floated out towards Il Ji. Due to the herbarium stored in his mental palace, he knew immediately of the beast's species. It was a [Nine Transformations Lotus Seat].
Such a beast was exactly what he needed. By sitting on the cultivation platform in the center, he could both cultivate and restore his body's stamina and nutrients. With this, he didn't need to sleep- and his cultivation would advance much more quickly.
"Such a greeting gift demands one of similar value." Il Ji intoned. "However, because of certain matters, I must wait until we have finished our discussion."
Her eyes brimmed with curiosity.
"First, I need to extract a memory twelve times over. Could you please summon your [Haora Bug]?"
Startled by his sudden request, she adopted a state of forbearance and opened her soulspace. At the same time, Il Ji summoned Dovewun.
As he watched the shock hit her face, he grinned from ear to ear. "I would like eleven copies of memories regarding my Dovewun's transition to the [Primordial] rank."
"Who are you?" She asked profoundly.
"I am just a man, Il Ji. As you are a woman, Myria Onn Viva."
Rolling her eyes, she gave the order to her beast. Soon, twelve memory orbs coalesced onto the table. Once the job was completed, the Haora bug condensed itself to enter the soul space between her brows.
"With my skills, and knowledge of your matches in the Chrono Cup, I can only assume that you have the talent [Growth][Unique Tamer Talent: Appraisal]."
After a short pause, Il Ji continued. "I, as my principles confer, cannot enter a master/discipleship relationship with you. However, as I now have eleven tokens that can help the most elite members of our country reach the [Primordial] Rank, I plan to scam them in order to gain enough resources to create your second disciple. "
"To do so, I'll need a storage device, teleportation, and an emergency meeting."
She eyed him. "You planned this from the beginning, didn't you?"
"Not entirely, but once I gained my skills, the path forward became pretty clear."
"Why can't you be my disciple?"
"I'll tell you later."
She paused for a moment and tapped her pen against the table. Stopping abruptly, she responded. "Very well. Il Ji, I will take you to the council. Use this to store the beads." She tossed him a small spatial ring.
Il Ji dutifully looped a cord through it and placed it next to the puzzle around his neck. "Shall we?"
Standing up, he proffered his arm to the lady. With an air of gentle laughter, she formally linked her arm up against his before teleporting them in an array of petals.