CHAPTER 216: -SKY-DIVING TO AN ANCIENT SECT?-

"Go!"

The wind stirred around Max like a living embodiment, roaring in his ears as the ramp light flashed green. Although subtle in the midst of what seemed to be chaos as some people began jumping, Max felt a shudder run through the jet’s interior due to the pressure from the outside.

Inhaling a deep breath with his helmet tightly fixated to produce ample oxygen during his flight, Max felt a rush of adrenaline, fear and thrill coursing through him for a split second before it was instantly nullified by an unknown force.

Just as his expression turned cold, Max leaped into the open sky that seemed to swallow him whole. The next moment, however, his body shuddered, not from thrill or fear, but a momentary realization of being unshackled from an invisible chain.

Presented with a new reality, Max gaped under his helmet at the sight of the majestic sea of clouds rolling in slow motion as if free from the restriction of time and space while bearing the harsh ray of sunlight that pierced through it.

"Wow." Despite not being the type to express his emotions, Max found himself bewitched by this sight. Perhaps, deep inside him he always had a soft spot for nature’s beauty.

But that didn’t hold for long, the air slammed against his body, causing him to instinctively stretch out his arms and legs to try to stabilize himself.

However, watching and performing were a whole level apart.

Max failed to stabilize and was instantly spun around, flailing his arms aimlessly as he dove into a patch of white clouds.

’Fuck!’

Overwhelmed by the dreamy sensation as he plunged into the cloud, the drop in temperature promptly alerted Max.

The air felt wet, cold enough to sting through his paratrooper suit with a sense of tranquility to it. But only for a brief moment.

Max exited the patch of cloud before he knew it, diving down with awesome speed while trying to stabilize his body from being spun around.

’I’m starting to get the hang of it.’

Just as he thought to himself, eyes closed as he listened to the howls of the wind around him. Max felt a sudden presence next to him, followed by a familiar voice.

"Control your descent!" Miles shouted next to him, spinning away before he could open his eyes to see.

’Huh?’ Stunned by the former’s carefree attitude as if the sky was his friend, Max spotted other Elites either skywalking or sleeping. Among them, a burly youth had his arms crossed, aura farming with a nonchalant composure.

’What skill.’ Impressed, Max tilted to see Miles backflipping.

’Impressive.’ Having barely stabilized himself, Max observed the scenic view below. Searching for the highest mountain and spotting it the next instant.

Not that it would be hard to spot in the first place, but it was particularly more eye-catching and impossible to miss.

Down below, beneath the fleeting, fragmented sparse clouds, the world revealed itself in breathtaking glory.

Like a prized landscape painting that could be worth hundreds of millions if made reality. Jagged peaks pierced through the veils of mist, and a vast sweep of green stretched endlessly across the mountain, like a blanket of trees.

’What the-’ just as Max became captivated by this sight however, his lips parted open under his helmet, drawn by something even more eye-catching from the corner of his eyes.

"Geez." Max drew a deep breath as he saw it.

A gold-silver thread that spilled from one of the cliffs, casting a rainbow hue as it fell deep into a vapor of its own making.

’That’s a waterfall?’ Max thought in fascination—only to be interrupted by a voice that spoke inside his helmet.

"This will be the third of your lessons today. If you feel anxious or panicky, tap the red button to your left shoulder." The Instructor’s cold tone pierced through the comm unit of his helmet, seemingly accessing his well-being.

"- I’m good." Realizing the instructor was flying overhead, watching over them, Max responded calmly and accelerated the speed of his descent.

The instructor didn’t reply and the comm felt silent.

"Impressive! You’ve gotten the hang of it!" Gliding close, Max heard Miles scream towards him with a thumbs up before pointing downward and taking Superman pose.

Following the direction Miles pointed at, Max discovered that one of the jagged mountain peaks wasn’t actually so. But a tall ancient pagoda with layered roofs that rose like petals under the sunlight and surrounded by mist.

Stationed around it were similar buildings that appeared as small specks.

"An ancient sect?" Having seen such AI-generated structures and read several eastern cultivation fantasy books in his past life, Max pieced the clues and couldn’t properly express how he felt.

Observing the structures, he became vigilant on why they were here.

Beep!

Just then, the altimeter beeped, notifying everyone that it was time they pulled their parachutes.

With a violent snap, Max was jerked midair and felt the raging wind around him turn gentle.

Populating the sky around him were other Elites who masterfully piloted and headed to the ground area next to the pagoda.

’I see. A little tug here and there should serve as direction.’

Understanding the hang of it, Max piloted towards the pagoda and suddenly spotted several human figures in Shaolin attires who appeared to be in midst of training before their arrival.

Just then, several thuds resounded across the training courtyard signalling the arrival of Elite Metropolitan High.

H h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h