"Factions are essential in the upper heavens because without one, you will be vulnerable in a world where the majority of people have a faction. You may think Immortals— even Gods are invincible, but in the upper heavens where there are other Immortals and Gods, nobody is safe." Senior Bai explained to him.
"If you join a powerful faction, unless the other factions want to risk a war, they won’t dare to touch you."
"Immortals, Gods, even powerful sects— they all belong to a faction."
"Do you understand the importance of factions now?" Senior Bai asked him.
Yuan nodded, "Yes, I understand."
"Now that you understand what factions are, what is your answer?" Xu Jiaqi asked him again.
"My faction— the Celestial Overlords, is one of the most powerful factions in the entire Nine Heavens with many peak experts and legendary figures. As long as you promise to join us, I will tell you everything I know about the Heaven Refining Physique."
"However, if you refuse, I won’t tell you anything, as you could be a potential threat to us in the future. Friend of foe— you choose."
"The Celestial Overlords..." Yuan mumbled in a low voice.
He then turned to look at Senior Bai and asked him, "Are you also part of the Celestial Overlords?"
Senior Bai nodded with a smile on his face.
’If Senior Bai is part of this faction, it should be fine if I join as well since he’s a good person. Furthermore, I get to learn more about my physique...’
After pondering for a few moments, Yuan nodded and said, "Okay, I will join the Celestial Overlords."
A subtle smile appeared on Xu Jiaqi’s face when she heard Yuan’s words, but that smile quickly disappeared, and she said afterward, "Then starting from this point forth, you are a member of the Celestial Overlords!"
Xu Jiaqi suddenly raised her hand and snapped her fingers.
A few seconds later, somewhere in the upper heavens, a large jade tablet began glowing before a complex symbol emerged from the jade tablet.
This symbol disappeared shortly after it emerged from the jade tablet, appearing on Xu Jiaqi’s palms the next second.
Xu Jiaqi showed Yuan this golden symbol and said, "This is proof that you’re part of the Celestial Overlords. You will be starting at the bottom of the ranks since you just joined. In order to raise your rank, you must contribute to the faction by doing good deeds and making a name for yourself."
"The ranks are as followed from the lowest to the highest— Apprentice, Warrior, Captain, General, Commander, Overlord, and lastly, Celestial Overlord. The higher your rank in the faction, the more authority and benefits you obtain."
"There are also rules you must follow as a member of the faction."
"One, you cannot tarnish or damage our faction’s reputation."
"Two, you must listen to those above your rank as long as it’s a lawful order."
"Three, you cannot seriously harm or kill a fellow member of the faction."
"And lastly, you cannot betray the faction and its members."
"Of course, there are exceptions, but ultimately, it will be the higher-ups who will determine whether you will be punished or not. If you have any problems, whether it’s about another member or something else, you can make an official complaint and we will hear you out. If you wish to leave the faction, you must also speak with someone at least three ranks above you."
"Do you have any questions so far?" Xu Jiaqi asked him afterward.
Yuan shook his head.
"Then accept this symbol if you’re ready and you’ll officially become a member of the Celestial Overlords."
Xu Jiaqi extended her arms, handing the symbol to Yuan.
Yuan took a deep breath and reached for the golden symbol.
The moment he touched the symbol, it entered his body and disappeared.
Ding!
[You have unlocked Factions!]
[You have joined the Faction: Celestial Overlords!]
[Faction: Celestial Overlords]
[Faction Rank: Apprentice]
"Welcome to the faction, Yuan." Senior Bai said to him with a smile.
"Thank you, Senior Bai."
"If you want to reveal your rank and show proof that you’re with the Celestial Overlords for anyone that may ask you in the future, you can do so by doing this—"
Senior Bai flipped his palms, and the symbol ’Overlord’ appeared on it.
Yuan followed Senior Bai’s movements and flipped his palm while imagining his faction rank showing up.
The symbol ’Apprentice’ appeared on his palm a second later.
"If you have any problems with the faction or one of its members, you can contact me through the Myriad of Techniques. There are little to no problems that I cannot solve with my rank. Of course, if anything, there is a Celestial Overlord over here." Senior Bai pointed at Xu Jiaqi with his gaze.
"By the way, this is a privilege that not everyone gets, so don’t abuse it."
"I won’t." Yuan nodded.
Xu Jiaqi then said, "Now that you’re part of the faction, let me tell you about the Heaven Refining Physique— at least everything I know about it."
After taking a deep breath, she said, "The Heaven Refining Physique is a heaven-defying physique that, as you already know, allows you to consume monster cores, demon cores, and resources that normal people would not even dare to think about."
"And as far as I am aware, there have only been two other individuals who had the Heaven Refining Physique before you. Of course, only one person can have this physique at a time, so the other two are most likely dead."
"Two people?" Yuan was surprised to hear this, as he was only aware of one.
Xu Jiaqi nodded and said, "One of them was the founder of the Demon Sealing Clan, and the other was... the founder of the Celestial Overlords..."
"What?" Yuan’s eyes widened with surprise.
The person who created the faction Celestial Overlords also had the Heaven Refining Physique? No wonder why Xu Jiaqi wanted him to join her faction! It turns out that his physique has a history within the faction, and it was a pretty significant one!