Chapter 50: A Quiet Residence... and a Gathering Storm
"This is your residence, young Master Tony." The personal servant of Peak Master Natasha, pointed in a respectful tone.
Tony waved his hand as he moved forward while holding the Disciple token.
It was definitely better from outside and is just beside the personal room of Peak Master.
The courtyard was protected by a faintly shimring formation that pulsed like a living mbrane. The mont Tony Clark approached, the barrier reacted subtly, scanning the aura embedded within his disciple token before allowing him to pass without resistance.
The ripple faded behind him, sealing the space once again as if nothing had happened.
Tony Clark stepped inside his new residence and paused.
His gaze swept across the courtyard slowly, asuring rather than admiring.
The space was modest, yet carefully arranged. Stone pathways cut neatly through trimd grass, and the air itself carried a noticeable density of life energy. The formation surrounding the courtyard was clearly designed to enhance cultivation, pulling in ambient energy and refining it into sothing usable.
For a brief mont, Tony considered praising it.
Then dismissed the thought.
Compared to what he had in the Clark Family estate, this formation was lacking. Its efficiency was nearly ten tis lower, and the refinent process felt crude, almost unfinished. What would be considered a treasure for ordinary disciples was, for him, a downgrade.
"At least it’s quiet," he muttered.
He stepped inside.
The residence was divided into three sections— a bedroom, a ditation chamber, and a bathroom. The furnishings were simple but well-crafted. A sturdy wooden bed with soft cushions rested near the wall, while a ditation mat sat beneath a small skylight, allowing natural light to filter through in a controlled beam.
Tony walked to the center of the room, running his fingers along the wooden table as if testing its texture.
This place lacked luxury. But it had sothing else. ’Stillness.’
Tony sat down on the ditation mat, leaning back slightly as he gazed up toward the skylight.
The faint glow of the sky filtered down, casting soft shadows across his face as his thoughts drifted.
Nine Lotus Academy... A place filled with geniuses. A place ruled by fate.
And now—
His hunting ground.
Just then, a knock interrupted the silence.
Tony’s eyes shifted lazily toward the door.
Julie stood outside.
"What are you doing here?" Tony asked, genuinely surprised.
"I ca to show you the Academy." Julie said with a serious look.
Tony leaned back slightly, studying her expression.
"Does your sister know?" Tony asked with a doubtful gaze.
"No... Don’t tell her. She was still angry at you. Why the hell did you agree to work here?" Julie asked with an angry pout.
Tony’s lips curved faintly.
"I have my own reason. Let’s go, show
the academy." Tony said playfully as he placed hand over her shoulder and dragged away.
"Ahhh... release ." She cried out while struggling in his grip.
Tony ignored her resistance completely, walking forward as if dragging a protesting child.
"By the way why are you helping ? As far as i know, you hate , right?" Tony asked.
Julie hesitated slightly before answering.
She replied that she changed her opinion after the fight with Edward.
Tony glanced at her briefly.
"How girlish," he thought, though he didn’t say it out loud.
The tour began at the Entrance Gate.
Large, imposing, and constantly crowded, it served as the main point where outsiders gathered, waiting for permission or services from the academy.
"This is where you’ll see most people during the day. Don’t go causing trouble, or the senior disciples will put you in your place," Julie warned, half-serious and half-joking.
Tony smirked faintly.
Trouble?
That depended on perspective.
They continued forward, walking through various sections of the Healing Tower. Disciples passed by them, many greeting Julie politely, their tone respectful, even warm.
But when their eyes landed on Tony—
The reactions changed.
So frowned... So looked away... So whispered.
Tony noticed everything... And ignored all of it.
Indifference was far more insulting than reaction.
Next, they arrived at the Cloud Pavilion.
A faint blue mist lingered in the air, swirling slowly as formation arrays gathered and refined life energy into a concentrated pool. The entire space humd with power.
"Each disciple has to spend Academy points to sit here. Unless you impress the Peak Master Natash with your doctor skills... hahahah," Julie explained with a laughter.
Tony observed the place carefully.
"Controlled environnt... resource gatekeeping... predictable system," he noted ntally.
They moved on.
Alchemy Hall... Weapon Forging Yard... Task Board.
Each place revealed another layer of how the academy functioned. Tasks ranged from simple herb gathering to dangerous missions involving beast subjugation. Everything revolved around contribution, rit, and survival.
When they moved beyond the Healing Tower into other peaks, the atmosphere shifted.
The number of disciples increased... And so did hostility.
"Who is that?"
"That’s the guy who ca through connections... the famous black suitcase..."
"Inner disciple already... What a joke."
Mockery wasn’t hidden.
Tony listened... And smiled faintly.
Julie stayed close beside him, her presence alone enough to prevent escalation. More importantly, the news of yesterday’s fight had already spread. The fact that Peak Master Natasha had personally accepted Tony as a disciple added another layer of hesitation.
No one wanted to test sothing they didn’t understand.
By the ti the tour ended, the sun had begun to set, casting orange hues across the mountain peaks.
"I think that’s it. There are other places, but they’re not that important. You’ll learn about them gradually," Julie said.
Tony nodded slightly. "You can go..." he said casually.
She stared at him for a mont before turning and leaving, clearly annoyed but saying nothing.
Tony watched her go briefly before turning back toward the Healing Tower.
By the ti he returned it was already midnight.
The academy had fallen into a quiet rhythm, with only occasional movents breaking the stillness.
But his residence Was not quiet.
Several figures stood outside his courtyard... Clark family youths.
Their expressions were mixed— confusion, curiosity, and a faint trace of fear.
"Why did he call us here?"
"No idea..."
"He wouldn’t bully us here, right?"
Their voices were low, cautious. Because no matter what had changed— Tony Clark was still Tony Clark.
Their eyes shifted toward the courtyard.
"That residence... It’s too close to Peak Master Natasha’s chamber."
"How did he even beco her disciple directly?"
"Sothing’s not right..."
Suspicion grew. Because things didn’t add up. And before they could
Toby approached them Silently with an amused look.
His presence alone made them stiffen. He looked at them one by one.
An evil grin ford on his lips... As if he had been waiting for this mont.
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