Krune felt that something was wrong. Why would they ask him to teach the contestants? He found this situation to be a little surreal.
"I think supervisor Lu is asking the wrong person. The people participating in the selections you said are all at the late Foundation Establishment Realm. I don't think they would want to learn anything from a lower stage cultivator, right?"
Lu Ganan shook his head.
"The Mercenary Guild had been looking at your progress ever since you joined the guild as a Four Stars Mercenary. But what really caught our attention was Yusa Shen and Ao Sulian. They were just two normal Mercenaries before. But look at them now! In a short period of time, they are in the 6th and 7th stages of the Foundation Establishment. We investigated their past; they have no background. Not only had their cultivation soared, but their combat prowess was also even more so. We don't know how much stronger they became after this last year you were out in training. But before you left, the two of them could already complete the Three Stars Mercenary test with ease. I refuse to believe that their progress doesn't have anything to do with you."
Krune was surprised they kept so much attention on himself and even his team members.
"So, you want me to help the other contestants achieve the same effect as well as teach the Mercenary Guild how to achieve so that you use it in the future. That way, you wouldn't have problems in training future loyal members by yourselves, right?"
Lu Ganan nodded. That is what Guild Head and Kassius from the reviews office are really looking for.
"I know very well that such a thing is bound to be a huge secret. And the mercenary guild has no intention in getting it for free. So, if you decide to teach our participants how to increase their combat prowess in this short amount of time, and, at the same time, show the guild how it is done. The guild is willing to pay you handsomely. Once the guild learns how to do that, you will be free again to do whatever you want. However, the method of training you have is something our Yule Continent Mercenary Guild is in dire need for."
Not only Krune, but even Shinja and the others shook their hands. It isn't that they don't want to tell the way to do. It's just that there is no way he can pass this knowledge to the others; no one in their group other than Krune can do what he does, at least not to his extent.
"Supervisor Lu Ganan got the wrong idea here. If it is just to help your selected contestants improve their combat ability, it won't be a problem; but I can't teach how it is done to the guild."
Lu Ganan wasn't surprised. He thought Krune would try to keep the secret anyway. So he was prepared to start giving him a lot of benefits. Just as he was about to talk, Krune continued first:
"Do not misunderstand me! It's not I want to keep it a secret. It is because it is not something that can be learned to start with. This is basically me giving pointers to Yusa and the rest. I have to see them using their abilities first, and only then can I give them some ideas on how to improve that. I have an extremely high sensitivity to elements' control and manipulation. So I can see what is wrong in their cultivation, skills, and elements used. It was for a long time together that I came to understand them."
There was also the Myriad Energies Technique, but that is something he wouldn't talk about even if God descended in front of him. Yusa and the others knew as well, then they didn't say anything.
Lu Ganan was taken aback.
"So you can only help the people beside you, but can't help them understand how to teach it to others."
Krune nodded.
"If it is only helping them improve their abilities, I can spend a few months with them, as long as the payment is good. The mercenary guild can, in the meantime, send some people to participate in the training and observe how it goes. You will come to understand this is not something that can simply be copied."
Go Gao, who had been listening so far, decided to leave now.
"Since you have no intention of putting Krune in the Martial Gathering anymore, I won't stick around. As for if he decides to train your contestants or not, that is his decision to start with. I will be taking my leave. But your Mercenary Guild is better not to have any funny ideas about him."
And before anyone could answer, he left. He knew that from now on, they would enter in the details of the selection itself. It was already a good thing they let him listen so much until now. Go Gao isn't shameless enough to stick around any longer hearing about another guild's problems.
Lu Ganan saw that but didn't say anything. He turned back to Krune and the others and said.
"In that case, I will have to talk with the Head Quarters. They might not believe it, though."
Krune shook his head.
"Whether they believe or not, it isn't my problem, right?"
As long as the Myriad Energies Technique"s real form isn't found out, Krune has nothing to fear.
"I guess you are right about that. Anyway, let me enter the next topic."
Lu Ganan then turned to Shinja.
"The Furiu Realm has already closed. So there is no need for you to protect Krune anymore. You can leave anytime you want, the guild will still pay what was combined for this protection time."
Shinja shook her head.
"No need for payment! I decided to Join Krune's team. In the end, since I found something I wanted, I won't take anything from it."
Lu Ganan was really surprised this time. He had also heard the people commenting she might have joined Krune's group, but he didn't believe that. He knows Shinja reputation much better than the others. She would never join a group, it doesn't matter what. Then, what is happening here now?
"Are you speaking the truth? You have never joined any team before. It doesn't matter what we did, why did you change your mind all of a sudden?"
Shinja smiled brightly and answered truthfully.
"I found a few friends."
Lu Ganan was taken aback. Is that Shinja Avril? The famous Ice Block Shinja? No one has ever seen she smiling since she entered the cultivation world. But that smile was really touching! Supervisor Lu couldn't help but take a better look at Krune and his friends. It was excellent news; the guild has always tried to make her join a team. Now that she has joined one, it is one thing less for the guild to care about.
"That's great! As for the payment, you will receive it whether you want it or not. This is the Mercenary Guild's reputation on the line. You protected Krune until the end of the Furiu Realm, as stated in the blood contract. The guild has no intention in going back on our word, please understand!"
Since he put it that way, she didn't say anything anymore.
"I will arrange for the ice shard to be delivered to you by tomorrow. Now I have another thing to talk to you about."
Lu Ganan took a deep breath and said:
"Shinja Avril, the guild expects you take part in the selection and in the Martial Gathering later. Since the Furiu Realm couldn't help you enter the Core Formation Realm, the guild is willing to gift you an instant-soul recovery pill once the gathering is over. You have a Pure Yin Body and a Universe Foundation as well. You are definitely one of our best candidates in the Foundation Establishment this time."
Shinja shook her head.
"No need, thanks to Krune. I have no need for any external help like pills anymore. I can breakthrough anytime. We finished our training earlier because we could come back here and check with you if there is anywhere safe the guild can provide while I'm going through the process."
Lu Ganan's heart almost stopped now.
'Did she say she has no need for external help?'
One must know the Makui Planet is a low-level planet in the universe. Their techniques and manuals aren't that good, either if compared to the other planets out there. Let's not even mention the big four. Because of that, almost everyone on the planet needs external help like pills or other things to pass the Core Formation Breakthrough. It's extremely rare for someone to try it with their own effort and nothing more. That can also be said to be one of the reasons why there are so little Divine Soul and even less Soul Forging cultivators on the planet. Their foundations had been shaken by the pills and everything else they continuously use.
"Are you sure you can get past this barrier with your own power?"
Shinja nodded.
Lu Ganan, once more, took a look at Krune. Could it be because of his gift as well?
"Very well! Let me contact the headquarters; They thought you can't break through the Core Formation soon. It's against the initial plans."
This time, there was no need to contact the headquarters privately. Lu Ganan simply linked everyone's communicators together and got in contact with them. He had already reported to the guild that Krune was back. So they were already expecting his call.
Except for Shinja, it was the first time Krune and the others saw the Head of the Mercenary Guild in the Yule Continent, Bary, so they politely complimented him. Bary just nodded his head and waited for Lu Ganan to report everything first. After supervisor Lu explained what had happened, he waited for Bary's answer.
"So Krune can't teach how to train others since this is just an ability of his. He can only train the contestants himself. As for Shinja, she can enter the Core Formation straight away. She just needs a safe place provided by the guild for that."
Bary sighed. Although he doesn't know whether Krune is speaking the truth or not, that doesn't matter. If he doesn't want to say, then the Mercenary Guild can't do anything about that. He's just accepted Krune's idea of having some of the guild's teachers watching while training the contestants to see if it is really impossible to learn.
He moved to the next topic after settling it.
"Shinja, could you delay your breakthrough until the end of the Martial Gathering? We have very few people who are capable of fighting at this high level. And you are the only one with a Universe Foundation in the right cultivation level now."
Shinja shook her head.
"I can't! I have already accumulated enough spiritual energy in my body to make the breakthrough. If I delay this long, it might damage my foundation. If you had told me you wanted me to participate in the selection and the Martial Gathering, I would have slowed down and taken part in it. But now I can't anymore."
Bary looked disappointed, but he knew it was the truth. If you prepare everything for the breakthrough and decide to stop at the best moment, it might really affect your future. But Bary can't be blamed. He thought she couldn't enter the Core Formation anymore after she left the Furiu Realm behind.
"Very well, I will send a few Core Formation Experts just to keep a look during the process. Just find somewhere empty so that your tribulation won't hurt anyone, and that will be okay. It should take two or three weeks to gather the personal."
Shinja nodded and thanked him.
"Then it is settled! Krune will be leaving for the Headquarters in one month. As for the others, you can do whatever you want while he is out."
Shinja and the others looked at each other and answered.
"We are going with Krune too."
Bary just accepted. Whether Krune went alone or not, it didn't matter for him. As long as he kept his part of the accord, everything was fine.
"Lu Ganan, I will leave the preparations for you to take care. As for Krune's payment, it will depend on the results of the selection in six months' time from now between the mercenary guilds of all continents."
Supervisor Lu accepted the order and finished the video call.
And just like that, Krune got a new assignment.
