This had been the thought he sought to ponder when he left for the sovereign universe, before going on expedition instead.

Yet till now, Ezra had yet to decide.

Regardless, he had initially been worried as to whether his refusal would affect his acceptance into the clan.

But it is now official.

He was now a recognized member of the Scarlet Dragon Clan.

And with that, the next stage of his journey began.

Ezra couldn’t hide the smile forming on his face.

With the results out and clear, the elder’s soon ordered the dispersal of newly officiated clansmen but requested that the top ranked entrants stay behind.

Very quickly, the bustling atmosphere reduced to complete silence, radiating a feeling of desolation as the remaining clansmen arranged themselves into loosely packed square.

Right off the bat, Ezra is summoned forth to face the council.

A scoff. Another elder folded his arms. "Where have you been?"

"Handling personal matters," Ezra replied smoothly. "Did I miss anything important?"

The elders exchanged glances, their patience clearly thinning.

"Where you have been is secondary to what must now be addressed" the first elder stated. "You left before giving us an answer"

Ezra’s brows furrowed slightly. "An answer?"

Then it hit him.

The proposal.

"Come under one of us as a disciple, and we shall shower you with resources"

Ah. That.

Ezra sighed internally.

He had deliberately left before responding, taking the time to weigh his options.

The offer was tempting—vast resources, guidance from established masters—but at what cost?

Subordination. Control. Influence over his decisions.

Not something he was willing to accept.

One of the elders stepped forward. "Have you made your decision?"

Ezra met his gaze evenly.

"Yes"

A brief silence followed.

The weight of expectation lingered in the air, pressing down on Ezra as he stood before the Scarlet Dragon Clan’s elders.

Seated in an arc, their scarlet robes embroidered with golden dragons reflected their prestige.

The silver-haired Elder Malark, the one who had spoken on behalf of the council, had extended an enticing offer—a chance to be inducted into the Scarlet Dragon Clan’s circle of elites.

From the view of every other candidate, it was a fast-track to prominence.

The elder raised a brow. "And?"

Ezra remains quiet for a moment, contemplating.

His sharp gaze flickered across the other candidates—Yara among them—before settling back on Malark.

Then, with measured calmness, he spoke.

"I decline," Ezra responds, his tone unwavering.

From the spectating candidates, a collective shift.

For the Elders, a pause.

Malark’s eyes seem to stare in wonder, the subtle shift in his expression betraying his surprise.

Some of the elders’ expressions remained unreadable, while others clearly frowned in disapproval.

Around the room, a few elders exchanged quiet glances, murmurs rippling through their ranks.

No one openly contested his decision—this was, after all, his choice.

But the weight of rejecting an opportunity of such magnitude was not lost on anyone in the chamber.

"You are certain?" Another asked, as if expecting him to reconsider.

Ezra nodded. "I appreciate the offer. Truly. But it is not my path to take"

He didn’t elaborate. He didn’t need to.

Whatever his reasons, they were his alone.

Malark studied him for a moment longer before sighing, leaning back into his seat. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

"Very well. Since you have made your decision, we will not press further. You have still earned your place within the clan. Your accommodations and privileges as an inner clan member will be made available to you"

One of the elders sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Foolish boy. Do you even understand what you’re refusing?"

Ezra smiled faintly. "More than you think"

A beat of silence.

Then, one of the elders chuckled. "Stubborn. But very well. If this is your choice, then so be it"

Another elder frowned. "Don’t expect our generosity when you struggle in the future"

Ezra shrugged. "Noted"

Without waiting for further discussion, he moved past them, his steps firm as he made his way toward the courtyard.

As he walked away, he could feel the weight of lingering gazes on his back—some curious, some perhaps puzzled.

Such occurrences were rare after all.

Reaching his accommodation, the female attendant standing at attention hands him a stamp which had a slot at the top of the handle with a circuit embedded beneath it.

Accepting it, he stamps on his communicator, triggering a loading screen as it rapidly retrieves files of information within seconds before Ezra returns it.

Following this, Ezra makes a smooth entrance into his room, taking a brief look around before settling on his large wide bed.

The flooring was made of polished mahogany, a deep crimson rug embroidered with golden patterns stretching across the center.

A study area was positioned against the far wall, marked by a wooden table and two chairs and finally, a spacious private bathing area was attached.

As for his bed, it was moderately large covered in a smooth red covering.

In anycase, Ezra wasn’t interested in taking note of all this right now, he was instead focused on the troves of information he’d gotten minutes earlier.

As he scrolled through the information, Ezra familiarized himself with the various benefits that came with his position.

For summary, the benefits could be summed up in one word—opportunities.

The position of inner disciple provided one with a massive array and variety of opportunities that outer disciples simply had no access to.

And the core of the entire system was a currency called contribution tokens.

While wealth and natural talent could grant an advantage, ultimately, it was one’s contributions that dictated access to resources, techniques, and cultivation materials.

The structure was simple yet effective.

Inner disciples had access to a vast array of resources, but nothing came for free.

Everything—from rare medicinal elixirs to access to advanced training facilities—had to be earned through service or achievements.

Ezra leaned back on his bed, fingers tapping lightly against the polished surface of his communicator.

By tying advancement directly to contribution, the clan ensured that even the most gifted disciples remained active participants in its ecosystem.

Basically as the center of the whole matter, contribution tokens are the true backbone of the clan’s hierarchy.

He skims further down the file, noting key details.

For one you have the resources pavilion which is a treasury where disciples could exchange tokens for cultivation materials, weapons, and manuals.

Then there is the mission hall, a central facility that issued tasks ranging from escort missions to beast subjugation to exploring uncharted ruins, all carrying stipulated rewards.

Following that is the combat arena which, like its name, hosts an arena with a ranking system where disciples could challenge one another, earning prestige, reputation, and tokens based on performance.

Private training chambers, which are rooms modelled after certain environments to assist in cultivating, were also available, but only through significant contribution.

And the last category of key details, you then had the Elder tutelage session which entailed access to personalized training from high-ranking elders, though the cost varied depending on the instructor’s expertise.

Ezra’s expression remains neutral as he processes this information.

’They make it sound like an opportunity, but in reality, it’s a system of controlled dependency’ he thought.

Without tokens, an inner disciple could stagnate.

Even basic necessities, such as a steady supply of cultivation pills, required consistent earnings.

This ensured that no one—regardless of how talented—could simply coast on their status.

Thankfully, there were perks of resource allocation.

At the minimum, each disciple had a monthly allowance of 150 tokens.

But one could increase the number of tokens to a much larger amount and gain even more resources like enchanted weapons and slots in private training rooms for a limited time.

All this depended on an individual’s ranking at the combat arena.

The plan of the higher ups at this point is obvious, but remains effective regardless.

He exhales, closing the communicator with a flick of his fingers.

No wonder the other recruits couldn’t fathom Ezra declining the offer.

If he had accepted an elder as his master, his progress would be exponentially faster.

Personal tutelage meant fewer barriers, a direct source of resources, and immediate access to deeper knowledge.

But it also meant becoming a tool.

And Ezra had no intention of tying himself to anyone else’s ambitions.

He leans into his bed as his lips curve.

’So, this is how they regulate advancement’

By using contribution tokens, the clan ensured that power wasn’t given but earned.

The system fostered competition, driving disciples to continuously prove themselves.

It also created a natural hierarchy—those who thrived in combat, alchemy, or other clan services would accumulate tokens faster, securing a better foothold.

Ezra wasn’t opposed to such a system.

But it does present a challenge.

Without a guiding elder, he would receive no personal backing and thus no private resources.

For normal inner disciples, Every opportunity earned would have to come from their own efforts.

A small chuckle escaped his lips.

"This suits me just fine"

Such a setting was rather perfect for his development.

Now, he simply had to chart an efficient way to go about things.

Ezra glanced at his communicator, checking his starting balance.

[Initial Contribution Tokens: 150]

A welcome gift, it seemed. Enough to get started, but hardly enough for anything truly valuable.

Testing the system, Ezra opened the contribution exchange menu and browsed through the available selections.

Sure enough, beyond daily amenities, there was very little he could use such an amount to do.

With the matter of his arrival settled, Ezra thinks back at the nascent madmen.

But places that lower on his priority list as he accessed the mission hall’s section, looking to decide which method would be best for his growth.

The next instant, Ezra’s eyes widens.

’This is..!’