Death... and me

Roan was already back when Rean returned, so he introduced the alchemists he found to him. "Here are the guys you asked for. They're called Fiyo, Poskin, and Roberto. They're the only ones at Earth High-level and above." Rean then pointed at a few more humans behind before continuing, "The others are at the Middle-level or below."

Roan nodded, saying, "Alright. Fiyo, Poskin, Roberto, you'll help me with teaching alchemy. In exchange, you will be accepted in the sect as guest elders and will be able to use the sect's facilities. Well, the facilities are still under construction, so it might take some time before you can do that. Also, I'll share my knowledge regarding pill concoction with you all, not to mention that the sect's herb garden will be at your disposition. Of course, don't try to overuse the herbs there since we need them to teach alchemy in the Alchemy Hall."

Fiyo's group immediately nodded. Just the fact that they could join the sect with such a high position was already worth the dal. They could even use the sect's herbs to an extent, which was even better. Nevertheless, Roberto, the only Earth Peak-level alchemist, was curious about something else. "You said that you will share your knowledge with us. However, do you even have anything that couldn't help me as an alchemist? I'm already at the Earth Peak-level, after all. Sorry for asking that, but you look way too young to have any meaningful knowledge in the profession."

Rean, who was listening to the conversation, patted Roberto's shoulder as he told him, "Earth Peak-level, huh? Roan's a Heaven Middle-level alchemist, so I guess he can teach you a thing or two."

"What?!" Roberto was shocked by what he heard. After all, he took over a century to reach his level while increasing his cultivation. How come such a young man could already be at the Heaven Middle-level?

Roan didn't have the patience to explain, so he simply took out two bottles with pills inside and threw them to Roberto and the others. "I concocted those. If you want to accept the deal or not is up to you, though." Roan then turned around and looked at the lower-level alchemists while Fiyo's group checked his pills. "As for the rest of you, I'll accept you into the sect as temporary disciples. If you prove to me that you can improve as alchemists, I'll change your status to official disciples later. Some of you are already very old, but that has nothing to do with one's ability to concoct. All I want is results, nothing else. Follow me."

Without thinking twice, the low-level alchemists quickly went after Roan. As for Fiyo and the rest, well, they followed Roan even faster. They had just checked Roan's pills...and all of them were Heaven-level! Neither of the three needed any other proof since Roan would need to show them how he concocted those later.

Rean smiled and then looked at the other batches of cultivators behind him. "Alright, the Talisman Masters can head to the Talismans Hall on the other side. Agis is an Earth Peak-level Talisman Master, so he will be the one in charge there."

The cultivators who met the criteria followed Rean's direction. Agis was in front of the building, waiting for them together with quite a few Freedom Sect disciples. The sect didn't have a Talismans Hall before, so everyone there, except for Agis, didn't know much about them either. "Oh! I didn't expect Rean to find eight Talisman Masters. I guess I was very lucky. Very well, I will teach you to the best of my abilities. In exchange, you will also help the sect disciples learn the art of Talisman Drawing. Last but not least, your conditions are the same ones as Roan gave to the alchemist candidates. Now, follow me."

The last two batches were the blacksmiths and the Formation Masters. Usually, Rean would be responsible for both of them. However, Qia was back. She now could help alleviate some of Rean's burden in teaching them. "Who's Dian and Srevil?" Qia asked the Formation Masters' group.

"I'm Dian."

"I'm Srevil."

Qia nodded in satisfaction. The two of them looked a lot older than her, with one of them already in the Nascent Soul Realm. However, what she cared about was their knowledge of formations. "Good! Rean already told me that you two are at the Earth Peak-level as Formation Masters. Rean himself is at the Heaven Middle-level, while I'm at the same level as your two. However, you two know nothing about Circuitry Formations, so prepare to enter a completely new world for formations. Later, I'll need your help teaching the disciples of the sect."

Dian and Srevil looked at each other before looking at Rean, thinking to themselves, 'So the other twin was also at the Heaven-level...' They quickly nodded and agreed to Qia's offer. "As long as we have the same benefits as the others, we are more than willing."

Qia was happy to hear that. "Very well." After that, she looked at the Formation Masters below Dian and Srevil, saying, "The same conditions apply to you. Temporary disciples until you prove you can contribute to the sect with your Formation Master knowledge. Everyone, follow me."

In the end, only Rean and the blacksmith candidates remained in the open area close to the side-occupation halls. "Well, I guess there are only twelve of us left...as if! I've been teaching blacksmithing to my sect disciples for a few years now, so you better not think you're hot stuff. I'm not only a Heaven Middle-level Formation Master, but I'm also a Heaven Middle-level blacksmith. I doubt anyone here can impress me. However, I don't need you to do that. All I need is you to put your efforts to learn together with the sect disciples and forge the equipment the rest of the sect needs."

Rean then looked at two old men before saying, "You are both at the Earth Peak-level, so I'll put in extra effort into you two so that you can enter the Heaven-level as fast as possible. After that, you will manage the Blacksmith Hall with me. Understood?"

"Yes!" After what they saw so far, it would be idiotic to doubt Rean's words.

Rean then guided those people to the Blacksmith Hall, where many blacksmith disciples were already waiting.