Much to everyone's surprise, the old man actually took her up on the offer, asking her multiple questions in the first few pages to test her knowledge of the multiple meanings of some runes. To the shock of everyone but Cain, she managed to explain them all well enough for the others to understand both the meaning and some of the nuance behind them when used with other runes.
That sped up his initial comprehension at first, but the Sect Elder soon found that while his affinity to Lightning was quite strong, he simply had none at all for divine-type Abilities such as Resurrection.
"I wonder what it is that makes this book easier to comprehend." He pondered, wondering what Sect Disciple or fellow Elder should have the next chance to try to comprehend it.
"I think it's cuteness. The cuter they are the more favored they are by the divine." Luna insisted.
"I am fairly sure that's not right. The old Immortal managed to learn it with relative ease." One of the disciples whispered, forgetting that the old man could hear him anyhow.
"On the contrary, see the beard, the flowing lines of his shoulders? I bet he was a truly handsome man in his youth. The favor of the Life Goddess wouldn't have faded that much just because he got old." Luna countered.
"You know, I'm thinking that she might actually be a good fit for our sect. Forget her existing skills, she has the right sort of ass-kissing attitude that will get a Cultivator far in this world." The old Immortal laughed.
"The best part is she honestly means it. If she thought you used to be ugly, she would have said so." Cain agreed.
While they were talking the three disciples Cain gained today went outside to practice their new skill, lighting up the darkening street outside the Inn with holy light surrounding plain sticks from the kindling pile.
"That's an impressive skill that you taught them, do you specialize in Divine Magic? Resurrection, Seraphim Guardians, and that Holy Smite are all from the same school of study." The Sect Master asked.
"That one was actually from their former master. I didn't need it so I let them study it right away. My field of specialty is actually the Guardians as you called them. I have the use of a few different types to assist me in combat." Cain explained.
"Unique. Not many would think to try to fight that way, controlling conjurations while fighting in close combat. Usually, Magic Type Cultivators try to fight from a distance with their skills and never actually engage with the enemy." The Sect Master informed him.
"Oh, that reminds me of a phrase I heard from Vala telling a story when I was little. How did it go again? [Fist] is a specialty spell that not many mages can cast?"
The room burst into laughter at her joke, making Luna grin wider than Cain thought a human face could.
"I once had a Sect Brother of the same mind. He was a martial cultivator, well versed in physical skills and enhancement, but he insisted that he knew a high-level stun technique that was nothing more than him punching people in the face." The Innkeeper told her.
"The elusive Magic using Barbarian. I have only heard of such legendary fighters." Luna giggled, glad someone got her sense of humor.
They were still joking around when a runner from the Gate Guard came running in. "Master Innkeeper, there are hostile cultivators at the gate. We have taken multiple casualties, and they seem intent on raiding the city."
The Innkeeper's face turned deadly serious in an instant, and Cain picked up Luna on his hip and stood to head for the door.
"We will assist you in defending the city. As guests here, it is the least we could do." Cain informed them.
"Wait at the back unless we are in trouble. It will cause you trouble later if you step forward to defend the city and someone gets away. If you only wait in the background, nobody will fault you and your daughter for watching a fight you are not involved in." The Sect Master informed him.
The old man joined the Innkeeper in heading for the door, and they were joined by dozens of other blue and gray-robed cultivators.
It looked like the guards were far from the only defense that the city had, and they had responded in good time to the warning from the guards. But that couldn't be right. Only one Guard had left his post, and he had come to the Inn. These people didn't have a System, how did they all get the message so quickly? Perhaps they had some sort of magical device that let them communicate. There were a number of items in the dead man's inventory that Cain hadn't tried to identify yet.
"Are you ready to turn the city over to a proper sect yet old man? You know you can't stand against us forever." The leader of the other group sneered as the Immortal approached their group.
"Bunch of upstart children. You say I can't stand forever here, but you're still a hundred years too early to challenge me." The Sect Master replied.
[Oh, sick burn. This is going to be a great Young Master Beatdown] The Echoes in Cain's mind thought in unison.
Cain noticed that most of the fighters here were Mythic or Spirit Awakened, with only three Immortals among the group, including their leader. That was still two more than the defenders had, but it was possible that the Innkeeper was hiding his power level. Cain didn't see any interface information from him, but he did say that he defended the city.
"What, do you think the old cripple Moon will be able to save you?" The leader of the attackers asked.
"Why don't you ask your Sect Master?" Master Moon, the Innkeeper chuckled, making the man's eyes narrow in rage.
"Attack!" The Young Master screamed, leading his men into battle.
The leader bypassed the Guild Master, who didn't try to stop him, and Power flared to life around Master Moon.
[Name] Park Jun Moon
[Level] 699
[Species] Human
[Awakened] Immortal
[Crippled, soul damage cannot heal naturally]
So that was the Innkeeper's deal. He had been injured in Combat and they lacked the abilities here to heal the damage that was done to him. Cain called a Spirit Rank Seraphim into [Merger] with him and asked the important question.
[Can you fix the soul damage to Master Moon?]
[Of course. So can you. Any Divine type of healing will recover it without an issue. The status debuff that was making it resistant to repair has long since dispersed if there ever was one. Just use Holy Light and he will be good as new.] The Seraphim informed him.
Cain could see that the fight was going to quickly turn against Master Moon. The enemy was lower level and less skilled, but he was uninjured, and the Soul Damage already had Moon coughing blood as he fought and started to get exhausted.
Cain activated [Superior Mental Domination] and extended it over the whole battle so that everyone would hear and obey his words.
"Halt. Watching a child beat a cripple is no fun. I will make this fight more entertaining." Cain declared, while the fighting momentarily paused.
[Holy Light] shone down on Master Moon, and his opponent, returning both to full health and essentially restarting their fight.
"You may continue," Cain commanded, and the two sides momentarily looked at each other before resuming the fight. The only one that seemed hesitant to continue was Master Moon himself, but he soon realized that the lingering old injury was gone and he could fight again.
"Popcorn?" Cain asked Luna, sitting down again to watch the fights.
"Oh, I love popcorn." Luna cheered, digging into the bag that Cain took out.
"Damn you old man, bringing a healer. How did you even find someone who could heal the damage that the Sect Master's Soul Devouring Ultimate Power Bomb Blast did to you?"
Cain almost choked on his popcorn before giving thanks to the Laughing God for his tasteful naming sense when he made the Skill names for the system. He couldn't take his progression seriously if he had to tell people that his ultimate skill was named something that ridiculous.
"Ultimate Soul Devouring Power Bomb Blast." Luna giggled in a mocking tone, making Cain laugh.
"You just wait healer, I will tear you apart as soon as I am done with this decrepit old man." The attackers' leader snarled.
"You couldn't beat a crippled old man, and you expect me to take you seriously? Master Moon, how about you let me teach this fool a little lesson about how Chunni names don't make skills better?" Cain suggested.
"I don't think that is a good idea, Master Cain. He might sound ridiculous, but he is in fact quite strong for his age." Master Moon replied, after disengaging from combat with his opponent.
"Seriously? You're going to kill two on the same day? This place is better than I thought it was." Luna whispered to Cain.
"He might get smart and back down. His men are mostly dead now that the Sect Master has been left unattended so long." Cain pointed out.
"I, the mighty Kurgath, destroyer of continents, Heir to Immortality, Crusher of Souls, and Disciple of the Ascendant Divine One Kurgon will never back down from a challenge." The leader declared.
"He deserves to die just for that introduction," Luna told Cain, with a very serious look on her face.
"No, he needs to repent and learn humility. Dying teaches nothing." Cain disagreed.
"Well, at least stab him a little bit or something."
