"Good heavens, the longer I look at you, the more I get the feeling that you look like the founder." Tang Zheng subconsciously moved his face closer to Yuan's face to get a closer look.
Yuan took a few steps back and said in a stiff voice, "You're probably just seeing things…"
"No! I am certain! You have such an eerie resemblance to the Divine Paragon! If I didn't know any better, I would say that you're a reincarnation of him!" Tang Zheng said, unaware that he was 100 percent correct.
"You know what? This could be a sign the heavens have sent us— that you could potentially become the next founder of the Demon Sealing Clan! With your talents, it's definitely doable! Yuan! You must join the Demon Sealing Clan! You, who bears the founder's face, cannot allow the Demon Sealing Clan to disappear!" Tang Zheng stared at Yuan with eyes full of emotions.
He was someone easily influenced when it comes to the Divine Paragon, and with Yuan having so much resemblance to the Divine Paragon, Tang Zheng truly believed that Yuan was sent by the heavens to save the declining Demon Sealing Clan.
"Even if you tell me that…"
Yuan had intentions to join either the Demon Sealing Clan or the Demon Sealing Grotto, but he wasn't sure which one he should join.
On one hand, the Demon Sealing Grotto is much more powerful than the other option, but on the other hand, he had technically created the Demon Sealing Clan, so it wouldn't be right to let them disappear.
While Yuan pondered, a familiar voice suddenly resounded inside his head, "Join the Demon Sealing Clan."
Yuan recognized this voice to be the Divine Paragon's voice, and he turned to look at the Divine Paragon's statue.
In Yuan's eyes, the Divine Paragon's statue had turned into a real person and was no longer a statue.
"There are secrets within the Demon Sealing Clan that only I know of. If you let it disappear, these secrets will also disappear, and there's a good chance that the Nine Heavens will return to chaos if you do not return to the Demonic Realm."
'Demonic Realm? What does that have anything to do with joining the Demon Sealing Clan?' Yuan frowned.
"If you wish to learn the truth, you must enter the Demonic Realm."
'The Demonic Realm that you sealed?'
The Divine Paragon did not respond and returned to being a statue.
Yuan sighed out loud and turned to look at Tang Zheng.
"Will it be problematic if I join the Demon Sealing Clan while already being in a faction?" Yuan asked.
"Faction? No, there won't. The Demon Sealing Clan is not considered to be a family, a sect, nor a faction, so there shouldn't be any problems."
Yuan raised his brows and asked, "If the Demon Sealing Clan is not any of these things, what is it?"
"Honestly, I am not too sure either, but the Divine Paragon never considered the Demon Sealing Clan to be any of these things. It used to be a place where anyone could join as long as they wanted to fight demons. Things have obviously changed since then, so it resembles a faction more than anything. With that being said, we're not considered a faction, and even if we are considered a faction, there shouldn't be any problem since most factions allow their members to join multiple factions as long as that faction is not an enemy."
"As for the Demon Sealing Grotto, they are a faction, and they have a sect as well."
Yuan nodded and said, "Then I will join the Demon Sealing Clan— temporarily, if you don't mind."
"May I ask why only temporarily?"
"Just in case I change my mind."
"I can assure you that you will not regret your decision, but if you insist, that is fine. You can join us temporarily. We don't have any rules that forbid our members from leaving once they join, anyway."
"Now that you are part of our Demon Sealing Clan, let's get you your uniforms and badge."
Yuan followed Tang Zheng to another place, where he would receive three sets of uniform and a badge.
"There's no rule about wearing the uniforms, so you don't have to wear them if you don't want to. As for the badge, it is proof that you are part of the Demon Sealing Clan. You will need it if you want to enter any of our establishments."
"How is this badge any different from the one I received in front of the Grand Library?" Yuan asked.
"The Grand Library's badge will only allow you to enter this place, and it just means you're affiliated with the Demon Sealing Clan."
"Anyways, you're currently an Apprentice Demon Sealer, but I have seen you defeat an artificial demon, so you qualify for the next rank. Would you like to take the examination now and become an Advanced Demon Sealer?" Tang Zheng then asked him.
"If I become an Advanced Demon Sealer, I will get to learn more demon sealing techniques, right?" Yuan asked.
"That's right. You'll get to learn Divine-rank demon sealing techniques."
"Then I will take the examination." Yuan nodded.
Tang Zheng led Yuan back to the area with the artificial demons and said to him, "Wait here while I grab two more official lecturers to witness in the examination. We need at least three lecturers."
After Tang Zheng left, Yuan spectated the other cultivators while he waited.
About fifteen minutes later, Tang Zheng returned to him with two other individuals, an old lady and a beautiful young woman.
"Tang Zheng, you dragged me here for an Advanced Demon Sealer examination during my lunchtime. I really hope it's worth it, or you'll regret wasting my time." The beautiful woman said to him as they entered the area.
"Don't worry, it will definitely be worth it. I dragged you here because I knew how much you both admire the founder. Once you see this young—"
Before Tang Zheng could even finish his sentence, the old woman suddenly exclaimed in a shocked voice, "Divine Paragon?!"
Sure enough, the old lady noticed Yuan standing in the crowd and mistook him for the Divine Paragon.