“Why’d you buy a map?” Ishin asked Rhee once Ma Lin was no longer in sight. Of all the product offerings, that one seemed the greatest waste of contribution points.

  Rhee summoned the rolled-up parchment from her storage ring. “Because we don’t really know where we’re going or even what’s in the sect. She mentioned several places, and I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to wander around these places for days trying to find them.” She gestured at the sprawling landscape around them, where only the tall Inner Sect walls and the looming mountain range denoted any territorial boundaries. “I mean, look at this place. It’s larger than Yellow Dome City.”

  “That’s true, but still, Sister Rhee. We could have explored the sect on our own, and now you’re out twenty contribution points.”

  Shrugging, Rhee unfurled the map. “Either way, what’s done is done. Now let’s take a look at this.”

  Ishin stepped beside her, their bodies practically touching as he peered over her shoulder. The parchment smelled faintly of ink and old paper. The map indeed reflected the locations of multiple buildings and regions of the sect.

  There’s the Administrative Hall, the Western Watchtower, the Market Hall… even Residence Row is labeled. Thanks to the map he saw that the houses stretched over a long section of the southern coast. The forest we saw is called Hell Leaf Forest. That’s foreboding. And there is something behind the forest—the Spectral Tower.

  “What do you think that is?” Ishin asked.

  “Hmm. What what is?”

  “The Spectral Tower.” He wanted to directly point at the location on the map, but given his proximity to Rhee, he didn’t want to make her feel uncomfortable. “Bottom right corner of the map.”

  “Oh, I see. Huh, I’m not sure. That’s also a weird place for a building to be.”

  Ishin agreed with her. It was the only building that was isolated from the rest of the Outer Sect. And given that it was separated from the Outer Sect by something called Hell Leaf Forest, he doubted many people bothered to visit. But it wasn’t the strangest detail Ishin saw.

  “The entire Inner Sect is missing.”

  The Inner Sect wall was labeled clearly on the map, bordering an area in the center of the Crimson Abyss Sect, but the details of the Inner Sect were absent, concealed by a wash of solid black ink.

  Rhee let out a sigh. “I suppose I did just buy a map of the Outer Sect.” Despite her words, Ishin heard the traces of irritation in her voice. She rolled the map back up with a crisp snap. “At least we have some information. Now let’s go get our first missions.”

  When the two reached the Administrative Hall, it was a hive of activity. The great doors stood open, and the echo of footsteps and murmured voices filled the vast atrium. Attendants dressed in pure crimson robes moved about with practiced efficiency, carrying wooden trays piled with scrolls and ledgers, while a few supervisors dressed in black stood at key intersections, providing direction and answering questions.

  It really is the administrative center of the sect. Are all the other halls this busy?

  “Look there,” Rhee said, gesturing at the Mission Board. Half a dozen disciples, dressed in their red and black robes, stood before the wall-sized board, reviewing the options with intense focus.

  Long’s not here either. I wonder where he went.

  “We should hurry,” Rhee suggested. “Don’t want to lose our chance at any good missions.”

  “Right.”

  Fifteen minutes later, the two of them had registered their respective missions with an attendant and left the Administrative Hall, stepping back out into the open air.

  “Don’t you find it funny that both of us chose cleaning assignments as our first missions?” Ishin said dryly.

  “In a way,” Rhee agreed. “Though I’m surprised at how many missions focused on basic chores. Cleaning, gardening, carrying supplies…” She waved a hand. “Isn’t that why sects have servants?”

  “It does seem strange.”

  Ishin’s only theories were that the sect was short of servants to attend to all mundane functions, or these types of missions were designed as a method for new Outer Sect disciples to get familiar with the sect’s layout and daily operations.

  I really wish I had a spear, Ishin thought. There had been several combat-oriented missions, such as hunting Ghost Spotted Hyenas in the surrounding Sky Spear Mountain Range or exterminating encroaching Hell Fang Devouring Flytraps, but until he acquired a new spear he thought it was best to wait.

  And I only need to complete this mission twice to earn enough points.

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  The mission that they both had selected was a fairly simple one: clean three hundred alchemic beakers in the Alchemic Hall. They’d earn six contribution points each. Out of all the simpler missions, that had paid the best by far.

  If we can clean fifty beakers in an hour then we’ll be done in just six hours. We could do the same mission for a week straight. Then I’ll have seventy-two contribution points and can buy a quality spear from Ma Lin easily.

  Interestingly enough, the beaker-cleaning mission was one that was available for multiple disciples to accept, similar to other mundane missions. Ishin supposed it made sense; the sect would regularly need those services completed. That worked for him. If contribution points were the path to resources, then he’d find a method to optimize the system.

  After quickly consulting Rhee’s map, the two began to make their way east towards the Alchemic Hall, their boots crunching over the gravel path. Ishin had to admit, the map was already proving a useful investment.

  “Do you also have an interest in the Alchemic Hall?” Rhee asked as the two walked.

  Ishin pondered her question. “Not really,” he admitted. “I only selected it because it paid the most contribution points out of all the mundane options. I really just wanted contribution points,” he laughed. “And you selecting it was another benefit. Do you want to join the Alchemic Hall?”

  “Perhaps,” Rhee shared. She tucked a dark strand of hair behind her ear, eyes thoughtful.

  “Really?” Ishin didn’t take Rhee for the scholarly type. Like him—and Lei, back when he had been alive—he’d thought she pursued a pure martial-focused path.

  A grin tugged at the corner of her lips. “Is it really that surprising?”

  “Well, I…” Ishin felt his mouth turn a little dry. “I just thought you would join the Combat Hall. You know, continue focusing on a martial path.”

  A cute giggle escaped Rhee’s lips. “You thought I was only interested in fighting, right? No time for anything else?”

  “Um, maybe.” The back of Ishin’s neck heated.

  “Oh, Brother Ishin,” Rhee said, shaking her head in amusement. “I do value martial prowess, and I will also investigate the Combat Hall.” Her attention focused eastward. “But my goal is to reach the pinnacle of cultivation. I think alchemy may prove useful to that end.”

  Ishin was no expert on alchemy, but even he could understand her perspective. After all, I only reached the Adept Realm because of my reliance on alchemic pills. Perhaps I should consider pursuing alchemy too. It’d make cultivating my lightning chakra easier.

  Thinking back on his time in the Daihu Tribe, his mother had encouraged him to pursue interests other than just combat. She herself had split her time between training and smithing. Even the spear that Ishin had carried with him to Tyrant’s Rest had been crafted by Ro Akira.

  I’ve narrowed my focus for the last several years. I suppose it was necessary at the time to make up for first my lack of cultivation and then my lack of experience. But now… maybe it’s time to reconsider my path.

  “Were either of your parents alchemists?” Ishin asked.

  The two turned a bend in the gravel path, passing by a group of three other disciples. Most were unremarkable, but one had a jade-and-azure-colored snake wrapped around her throat like a living scarf. Ishin tried his best not to stare.

  “They weren’t,” Rhee answered, her own eyes briefly transfixed on the coiled spirit beast as they walked past. “Both focused on combat training or teaching the school’s younger disciples. That, I think, was their problem.”

  Ishin was surprised by her remark. “Their problem?”

  Rhee hesitated before replying. “Both of my parents are in the Adept Realm, Brother Ishin. Neither are close to reaching the Merit Realm, though. I think this shortcoming is because they only pursued a simple, straightforward Immortal Path. The same one my clan has been following for generations. One without risk or variation.”

  “The same one they would have had you follow?”

  “Exactly. Look at me now. Look at both of us.” She gestured between the two of them as they walked. “We’ve both reached the Adept Realm before the age of twenty. That’s an extremely rare feat. At least in Yellow Dome City. If we went back there right now, we’d rival even the scions of the Kurai Clan.”

  “The same is true for my homeland,” Ishin shared.

  Rhee’s dark eyes fixed on him. “Really?”

  “Yes,” Ishin nodded. “I doubt anyone from my generation has reached the Adept Realm. Not even most of the cultivators of the older generation have. Or if they have, they probably haven’t progressed far within it.”

  “The same then,” Rhee agreed. She held up a finger. “And that’s what I want to avoid. I want to transcend the limitations of my clan’s expectations. To go further than any of them have before. When I return to Yellow Dome City—to the Eight Oaths Resolve School—I want it to be when I’ve reached the limits of cultivation. That way…”

  Rhee paused for a long moment, gaze distant. “That way I’ll be truly free of my clan’s expectations.”

  She’s still trying to forge her own destiny. Ishin knew that was Rhee’s original goal in seeking to join the Crimson Abyss Sect, but he hadn’t realized how far she believed she needed to go to achieve that independence. No wonder she’s interested in alchemy. It does seem like the fastest path to the heights of cultivation.

  “And you, Brother Ishin,” Rhee spoke quietly, “what do you seek?”

  Ishin’s next step almost faltered, but he managed to recover without Rhee noticing. What do I seek? The answer was simple. Vengeance against the Void Wraith Sect and to find his clan—two truths that he hadn’t shared with her. As Ishin looked back into Rhee’s eyes, he knew that he should share this with her. Rhee had already opened her own heart to him and it was only right for him to return the favor. Besides, she was his closest friend at this point. If he couldn’t confide in her, then who could he?

  “I’ll tell you later,” he said. “Tonight when we’re alone.”

  Surprise flickered across her face at his words. “Tonight when we’re alone?” A light shade of crimson appeared over her cheeks.

  “Yes,” Ishin replied seriously. “It’s something I don’t want anyone else to overhear.”

  His tone and explanation refocused her attention. “Oh, I see. Of course.” She bobbed her head. “That makes sense. I look forward to hearing about it later.”

  The two continued on in silence after that until eventually they stood in front of a sprawling red-and-black complex. The ground floor split into two contrasting wings, spreading north and south like open arms. A central pavilion stood at the facility’s center, composed of eleven floors. In height, it was taller than the city walls of Yellow Dome City. A series of stairs led up to a central double-door entrance, with a ten-foot-tall sign adorned above. The sign read: Alchemic Hall.

  They had arrived.