Lin Mu looked at the object that the Saintess had taken out, finding it to be rather unique.
It was barely the size of a palm and was disc shaped. But the most iconic characteristic about it was the symbol that was engraved on it. It was that of a serpent biting its own tail. It was made from shimmering green emeralds and emanated a faint aura of power.
In the empty space at the center of the serpent though, another thing was carved. It was a rune of some kind that Lin Mu could not read nor identify.
"What's this Saintess?" Lin Mu asked.
"Take it." The Saintess said instead.
Lin Mu extended his hand and took the disc from the Saintess's hand, all the while feeling confused.
"From this day onwards, I declare you, Lin Mu… The Head of the Scholar Peak. You are now an elder of the Serpent Moon Sect." The Saintess declared, her voice carrying an authority that filled Lin Mu with a strange aura.
The aura permeated into his body, before flowing back out into the disc, forming a link between the two. It was a link that was not perceptible by normal means and couldn't be broken easily either.
"This…" Lin Mu was taken aback by the sudden appointment. "Why Saintess?" he couldn't help but ask.
"It is something you deserve." The Saintess said nonchalantly. "Besides, the Scholar Peak of my sect has been empty for a while. I may as well make use of it to bestow authority upon you." She added.
"But… Making me the head directly? And that too, an elder of the Serpent Moon Sect?" Lin Mu was confused for sure.
"It'll act as an extra identity for you." The Saintess answered. "It will give you legitimacy as well as provide you with background if you need to show it to someone, depending on the situation.
It is certainly better than you using the Indigo World Hegemony's identity." She added.
"Yeah, that might be for the best." Lin Mu now knew the truth behind the Indigo World Hegemony and the troubles it could potentially bring him.
But he still had not expected to be turned into an elder, that too, the head of a peak like that. A hundred questions ran through their head, which the Saintess guessed rather easily.
"Don't worry, you don't have any extra obligations." The Saintess assured him. "You don't really have any duties to the sect, but I would like it if you teach the disciples sometime in the future." She added.
"I see, I don't see why not." Lin Mu didn't mind that much. "Though, wouldn't the disciples technically be higher in cultivation than me?" he wondered.
The Serpent Moon Sect was a higher world from what Lin Mu could guess, thus he assumed that the standard for cultivators would be high too.
"Not necessarily. A majority of the disciples in the sects are immortals." The Saintess replied. "And even for immortals, your lessons can still be useful." She added.
"I see… then what is the average cultivation base for an elder, and an elder that is also the head of a peak?" Lin Mu asked, feeling curious.
"Elders are at the Seventh Tribulation Stage of the Immortal realm while the Heads of a Peak are usually Transcendent Immortals." The Saintess answered, making Lin Mu's eyes go wide.
"That does make sense…" Lin Mu silently gulped.
He wondered about Celestials, but then reckoned it might not be the right time to ask about that. The Saintess herself was a high ranked among the Celestials from what Xukong had said, thus Lin Mu was sure that there would be other Celestials in the sect too.
But considering that the Heads of the Peaks were already Transcendent Immortals, Lin Mu wondered if the sect patriarch or the grand elder would be a Celestial too.
'Do they even have a patriarch, though? The Saintess seems to be above them.' Lin Mu was unaware about the hierarchy of the sect.
"You don't need to think much for now. Until you actually arrive at the sect, there is little you need to do." The Saintess said, dispelling his thoughts for now. "The thing I gave you is the Identity Crest of an elder of the Serpent Moon Sect. It will grant you entry into the sect as well as allow you to teleport to the Sect when using the appropriate Teleportation Array." She explained.
Lin Mu took a look at the Crest again, finding it rather impressive. He tried to use his immortal sense to check the crest but was surprised to find it impossible to do. His immortal sense was simply blocked.
"You won't be able to scan it." The Saintess said upon seeing Lin Mu's actions. "The Crest is warded against even Celestials, thus you certainly won't be able to check it directly. If you wish to use it, you merely need to think. You won't need to use your immortal sense." She elaborated.
"Oh?" Lin Mu was astonished upon seeing the first object that was guarded against even Celestials.
He decided to keep it stored for now, knowing that it might be one of the most valuable objects he have as of now.
"Thank you, Saintess." Lin Mu didn't know what more to say.
"I'm just safeguarding you for later… I do have some selfish reasons in it too." The Saintess said, with a hint of cheekiness.
Lin Mu almost couldn't believe the teasing tone in her voice, but was glad.
"I…" Before Lin Mu could say anything more though, a few sounds could be heard coming from the kitchen.
"You should go help them out now. I want to eat something too." The Saintess spoke and waved her hand.
~shua~
Lin Mu found himself being transported to the kitchen almost instantly, without knowing how.
'Guess I'll cook… She seems hungry.' Lin Mu thought. "I'm here, Little Shrubby. Let's get this sped up!" he said to the beast.
"YAY!" Little Shrubby replied while the twin snakes bobbed their heads.
