Chapter 20 - 20: Young Master

"...What's that kid doing?"

"Is he a Cultivator?"

"No, his qi is that of a Normie's."

"Will he be going through Immersion?"

"Who is he, anyway? Does anyone know which family he belongs to?"

"He looks somewhat familiar. Maybe he's a model or something?"

Yun Hao once again found himself the target of everyone's eyes as he stood on top of a tall building. He had never once thought in his life that he would one day enter a building for Cultivators, but here he was, in front of a branch building of the Confederation.

One of the people staring at him was about to approach him, but suddenly, a car pulled in front of the building. And as soon as it arrived, the eyes that were looking at Yun Hao quickly rushed towards the car.

Bright flashes of light quickly drowned the car as the people started pulling out their cameras from their bags and waists. It would seem that the people that were previously looking at Yun Hao were actually a part of the media; and most likely than not, the one who was stepping out of the car was someone famous.

Yun Hao, however, could not be bothered by it as he turned his head upwards, trying to see the top of the tall building. The number of Normies far surpasses that of the Cultivators, so why do they even need a building this big? Yun Hao thought. And to think this was just one of many.

He then gathered his breath as he slowly made his way inside the building. Surprisingly enough, the inside of the building was quite… advanced. He always thought that the majority of the Cultivators were somewhat old school, as they always wear robes and some other stuff that shouted: "We are Cultivators!"

So, Yun Hao was quite surprised to see almost 80" monitors plastering the walls. Even the door was automatic. Yun Hao was right, of course. Almost half of the people inside were wearing robes.

"Excuse me," Yun Hao then approached the women at the counter before the people's eyes gather towards him, "Where do I go if I want to go through Immersion?"

The receptionist let out a silent gasp as soon as she saw Yun Hao, but after a split second, she let out a smile as she looked Yun Hao straight in the eyes, "Yes, how may I help you, sir?"

"..." Yun Hao could not help but slightly furrowed his eyebrows as he repeated his question.

"Oh, please go to the 9th floor. You can go through that hallway and take the 3rd elevator on your left."

"Okay, thank--"

"Please, let me escort you there."

Before Yun Hao could finish his words, the receptionist quickly went around the counter as she gestured to Yun Hao to follow her. As expected, even if Yun Hao was not a Cultivator yet, he was already being shown respect.

"Thank--"

The receptionist escorted him all the way to the elevator. Yun Hao was about to thank her, but his show of gratitude was once again interrupted as the receptionist got into the elevator with him. She quickly pressed the 9th floor before proceeding to close it, raising her palm towards those who wished to take the elevator with them.

"..." Even if he was going to be a Cultivator, wasn't this too much of a special treatment? To even go so far as to prevent people from riding the same elevator as them was… too much.

But still, Yun Hao did not say anything as this might just be the standard procedure. It was surely not every day that people go through Immersion-- after all, who could afford the $300,000 Immersion fee other than rich people?

And it wasn't that straightforward as well. Yun Hao had read through it before he almost destroyed his phone, one needed to go through a process first. So paying doesn't mean the Confederation would immediately unlock your meridians, one needed to take a series of tests first.

If one fails even one of those tests, then one had to retake it. That would mean another $300,000 down the drain. Just with that thought lingering inside Yun Hao's mind, his expression turned serious as he continued to follow the receptionist as they arrived on the 9th floor.

There was a long stretch of a hallway before they got into some kind of spacious lobby. And as soon as Yun Hao appeared, the small handful of people that were idling by all looked at him. But after a few seconds, they all went back to doing their business-- ignoring each other and seemingly meditating.

"Right this way, sir."

The receptionist then guided him to another counter, where another receptionist was stationed but this time they were wearing robes.

"Xinya, I brought young master Sun Fang."

Immediately, the receptionist that led Yun Hao all the way here presented him to the receptionist called Xinya.

"...Where?"

"Right here."

Xinya looked behind Yun hao, but as soon as she realized that her friend was pointing towards Yun Hao, her eyes quickly widened in shock.

"T… that's not young master Sun Fang, Zemin!"

"What!?" The receptionist that led Yun Hao quickly looked at him in the face before turning her attention towards Xinya once again, "Are… are you sure? But he matches the description; handsome and has a scar on his face!"

"I am sure, Zemin."

"Oh my god!" And without even saying anything more, the receptionist bowed towards Yun Hao before rushing back to the elevator, "Why didn't you send me a photo!?"

"..." Yun Hao could only blink a couple of times as he heard the receptionist's voice slowly fade away.

"I am truly sorry for the mix-up, sir. Which department were you going to so I can help you find your way?" The receptionist called Xinya then politely bowed her head towards Yun Hao. One could see why Zemin would mix it up, she thought. Yun Hao did make for quite a dashing figure, maybe even more so than their VIP guest.

"There's no need," Yun Hao awkwardly waved his hand, "This is where I need to go to apply for Immersion, yes?"

"Ah! So young master wishes to become a Cultivator? Of course. Please, please," Xinya gestured to Yun Hao to go to the front of the counter.

"May I ask what clan you will be representing, Mr…?"

"Yun Hao."

"Young master Yun Hao…" Xinya whispered as she started typing on her keyboard, "And which clan will you be representing, Young master Yun Hao?"

Yun Hao could not help but sigh wryly at being called a young master. After all, that title was reserved only for his wealthiest schoolmates back in Tsinghai Highschool. Never once had he thought that he would be called by that title someday.

"I am not representing a clan," Yun Hao answered.

"...Are you representing the… Yun family, then?" Receptionist Xinya stopped typing as she looked at Yun Hao.

"No, I am here by myself," Yun Hao once again shook his head. Yun family? Was there even something like that?

"You will be representing yourself?" Xinya could not help but blink her eyes a couple of times before proceeding to scan Yun Hao from head to toe, "Please do note that if ever you are successful with the Immersion, you will be listed as a Rogue Cultivator."

"It's fine," Yun Hao nodded. Rogue Cultivators are cultivators that are not in a specific family, clan, or sect. They were usually treated as free agents, and other clans could recruit them in the future if an agreement is made.

There was a huge drawback for Rogue Cultivators, however. Is that in a way, they were directly under the Confederation. Until they find a place to belong or create one themselves, the missions they would take would be closely monitored by the Confederation.

"Okay then," Xinya once again continued typing on her keyboard before lightly clapping her hands, "And done. Now, all we need is the Immersion fee."

"Can you separate payment in 3 cards? I will pay the rest in cash."

"...That's no problem, young master Yun Hao," there was a slight hesitation in Xinya's tone first, but she quickly smiled as she asked for Yun Hao's cards.

The process did not really take a minute. Yun Hao was worried at first that something would come up, but it would seem that he was now on his way to becoming a Cultivator as he was asked by Xinya to wait in the lobby.

"I'm really sorry, Young master Sun Fang!"

But before he could take a seat where the other young masters were, a familiar voice entered his ears-- Zemin, the receptionist from earlier.

She was currently bowing her head repeatedly as she desperately tried to follow the young man stomping his way towards the counter. Yun Hao just shrugged his shoulders before trying to find a seat in the lobby, but once again, before he could do so, a slapping noise entered his ears which gathered not only his but the other applicants' attention as wekk,

"Eek!"

Yun Hao quickly turned his head towards the noise, only to see Zemin groveling on the floor, holding her cheek which was almost as red as cherry.