The next day, Verus and his companions continued their relaxed training while hanging around the camp. The other disciples largely left them alone, although Warin struck up a conversation with some of them when he wasn’t napping. It seemed like he could get along with almost anyone.

This comfortable situation continued until one of Highcloud’s companions showed up to take charge and organize things. He was at the Tempered Realm and immediately sought out Escora. Thankfully, he wasn’t rude or aggressive. He only wanted to make sure she was going to help them claim the shrine at the base of the Heaven and Earth Array. Once he’d gotten her word, he left Escora and her companions alone. Apparently, the addition of another Tempered Realm cultivator was a great boon.

It seemed like very few outer disciples had made it to the Tempered Realm, and fewer still had allied with Highcloud. This surprised Verus at first considering that there had been over two hundred of them in the main sect, but he supposed getting to the Tempered Realm in a few months was still rather incredible. Reaching the Foundation Realm usually took years because you couldn’t rush transforming your body and building your core. Thinking back, Verus had thought that reaching the Tempered Realm usually took even longer. However, it seemed you could rush to the Tempered Realm if you were a genius with an ample supply of ki and were lucky enough to gain the proper insights. Without a doubt, that was why the sect had dumped them here in the Algorian Reaches with its thick ki and plentiful spirits. It had everything they needed to ascend quickly, including danger. Even if only the true geniuses had managed to ascend while in the valley, Verus was sure that more disciples would soon ascend after getting back to the temple. Hopefully, he’d be one of them.

It wasn’t until the next morning, the last day that the Reaches were open, that Highcloud himself appeared. The young noble marched into the camp with half a dozen of his followers. Three of them were at the Tempered Realm, although that number included Highcloud himself and his subordinate from before. They were obviously trying to put on a show, because their spirits blazed with power as their leader leapt into the air and floated into the center of the camp. Instantly, every eye was on Highcloud.

Verus couldn’t help but stare as well. He was stunned by the display of power. True flight? He had no idea how that was possible. Flying was usually only something elders could perform. It was far beyond what even a genius in the Tempered Realm should be able to manage.

Floating three feet above the grass, Highcloud looked down at the gathered disciples as his expensive blue robes fluttered slowly in a breeze that seemed to be circling him and him alone. There was a confident and proud look on his face, giving him an aura of command. It was obvious he considered himself everyone else’s natural superior and their unquestioned leader. Verus usually hated such arrogance, but in Highcloud’s case, he could clearly back it up.

“You all know why we’re here,” Highcloud told everyone. “Today, we will seize the central shrine at the base of Heaven and Earth Array and claim it for our sect. Then, without a doubt, the imperial palace will know that our Great Wind Sect stands above all the others, and the sect will honor us for the great contribution we’ve made.”

It was a nice little speech. Verus especially like how he alluded to the rewards they’d all get yet promised his would-be followers nothing directly. He also made no mention of who would be getting the technique in the shrine after they won, but Verus could guess.

One of Highcloud’s lieutenants stepped forward as Highcloud himself gently descended to the ground. “We’ll be moving in two groups. One will be led by Highcloud himself and its purpose is to defeat the Crimson Lotus Sect and claim the shrine. The other group will stay back and guard the rear, watching for other parties that might attempt to steal the prize while the fight is going on, and serving as fresh reinforcements if necessary.”

Highcloud didn’t say anything more. He simply stood back and let his subordinate give out orders and began organizing the other Great Wind Sect disciples.

“How can he fly like that?” Verus whispered to Warin. “Is it some kind of artifact?”

“I’ve heard rumors that it’s part of his bloodline. His family have apparently pursued the Way of Gathering Storms further than anyone else. It runs in their blood now, and he was born for it,” his friend replied.

Soon, the entire camp was packed up and the force of disciples was marching to the central shrine. Verus and his companions were all in the first group. There was no way Escora would let anyone talk her out of being part of the main battle, and Verus and Warin weren’t going to leave her side.

Moving through the forest in such a large group was different than before. The presence of so many people silenced the birds and insects, and the sound of their footsteps gave everything an expectant feeling. Verus and his companions walked near the back of the group. It was unlikely any enemy disciples could approach undetected, and no spirit or soul beast would dare approach, but Verus found himself studying the forest intently anyway. Just in case.

Looking up, he caught sight of the Heaven and Earth Array through the trees overhead. It loomed over everything now that they were so close. A massive spire of crystal that touched the sky. Thanks to its special nature, it didn’t cast a full shadow, but its silhouette was still impossible to ignore. Its presence was a constant reminder of the empire’s power and their own insignificance.

As Verus was looking up, Warin approached his side. “So, I’ve been asking around about our competition because I was curious about who could stand up to someone as gifted as Highcloud.”

“What did you find out?” Verus asked. He was curious now as well, although he certainly wasn’t planning on involving himself in that fight.

“It seems like the Crimson Lotus Sect’s disciples are led by one Igni Demyan. He’s a powerful fire cultivator who is considered a genius to match Highcloud, and he’s a year older. In fact, he’s been in the Tempered Realm and an inner disciple of the Crimson Lotus Sect for several months now.”

“Then why is here with us?” Verus asked.

“Apparently, everyone sent here will be younger than eighteen when the tournament starts, and he will be. He’s the only inner disciple in the Crimson Lotus sect that young.”

Verus frowned thoughtfully. He’d assumed Highcloud would make short work of his opponent, but that was seeming doubtful now. If anything, he might be at a disadvantage.

“I’m guessing the youngest tier in the upcoming tournament will be for those under eighteen,” he mused aloud.

Warin nodded. “That’s what I’ve heard. The palace and the sects are obviously trying to produce as many powerful cultivators under the age of eighteen as possible to show off to the Imperial Emissary.”

“Why so much effort for the under eighteen group? Shouldn’t the older tier be even more prestigious, and considering how thick the ki is here, they’d benefit from visiting this place almost as much as us.”

They’d almost certainly all be inner disciples as well, which meant they were a safer investment because they would have already proven their skills.

Warin shrugged and laughed. “Who knows? I may have an ear for gossip, but the secret plans of the palace are a little beyond me.”

“Right, I suppose we’ll find out when the time comes,” Verus replied as he put his questions out of mind.

Half an hour later, Highcloud’s followers reached the base of the Heaven and Earth Array. As they stepped through the bushes, they gazed at the area before them. The trees had been cut back over a hundred feet around the tower, leaving a wide, sunny expanse of grass and flowers.

The base of the massive crystal tower was completely smooth, with no doors or windows to let people inside, but it wasn’t the only building. Near the tower there was a shrine made from the same white crystal. It was one-story tall and had a dome roof. The only way in was a pair of tall double doors that were covered in glyphs and swirling lines. In front of the doors was a long walkway paved with stone and flanked by two dozen crystal pillars. The doors were shut tight, but there was no mistake, this was Highcloud’s target.

“The back up squad will stay here at the edge of the woods and watch for trouble. You’re only to join the main fight if someone gives the signal,” one of Highcloud’s lieutenants announced. “The door to the shrine should open soon, so we’re headed in.”

That said, Highcloud floated several feet into the air and began flying toward the shrine as he scanned the grass ahead from up high. Everyone else swiftly followed the young genius into the clearing.

They only made it a few feet before their presence drew attention. At the far end of the clearing, another group of disciples emerged from the forest and began heading straight toward the entrance to the shrine. It was hard to make out details from so far away, but it looked like both groups would meet right in front of it. Verus briefly counted the ranks of the enemy. They were about the same size as his group.

Seemingly unconcerned, Highcloud kept the same pace and destination. He seemed content to meet the enemy head on, and that was exactly what happened. Both groups ended up marching right up to the shrine and taking up positions on either side of the stone walkway that led up to the doors. Verus and Warin gave each other nervous looks as they came to stop in front of the enemy. At least, the crystal pillars on either side of the walkway provided a little protection.

Both groups of disciples stared at each other with clear hostile intent, and Verus found himself growing tense. There were quite a few dangerous looking individuals among the enemy, including a woman with shifting blue hair that looked alive and a huge young man with a hammer that must have weighed as much as a normal person. Almost everyone had a weapon of some sort, and those that didn’t looked even more formidable. Weeks spent in the Reaches had given them all a scruffy, lean, and mean look. Verus imagined his own sect’s disciples looked similar. Being out in the dangerous, ki rich Reaches had certainly weeded out the weak and nourished the strong. It had kept them on edge and taught them to fight to survive.

“Igni, this ends today. You and your Crimson Lotus Sect can’t hide out in the forest anymore,” Highcloud announced from out in front of his followers. He was still floating several feet above the ground.

A young man similarly located at the fore of the enemy laughed. He was wearing long red robes, and his black hair had been tied back into a ponytail. Everything about him, including his aristocratic features, exuded confidence and power.

“Fool. Your Great Wind Sect has been the one hiding among the trees. You can’t see the mountain before you, and now you’ve delivered yourself right to me. You fled before my might when we met last, Highcloud, but this time you won’t get the chance to run like a dog with your tail between your legs.”

The two young geniuses glared at each other as they unleashed the full presence of their spirits, which pressed down on everyone else, but neither backed down. Then, Highcloud attacked. As he raised a fist, lightning crackled and built in intensity around it. Then, he hurled the bolt straight at Ignis’s face, who dispersed it with a blast of fire ki that exploded with loud bang and shook the air.

Everyone else present took this as the sign to attack. Disciples from both sides charged forward and met in the center of the stone walkway as the scream of battle cries were heard. This was followed by several small explosions and the clang of metal on metal as weapons met.

As ki blasts flew overhead, Verus and his companions found themselves on the right flank of the battle, nearest the shrine doors. A fiery explosion went off to Verus’s left, isolating them from their allies. Verus flinched away, only to have to use a Vanishing Step to dodge a hail of rocks that flew out of the smoke. They’d almost taken his head off. The battle had only just started, and everything had already descended into complete chaos.

“Look out. From the front!” Warin yelled, drawing Verus’s attention.

Up ahead, three enemy disciples from the Crimson Lotus Sect had dashed out from behind a pillar. The first was a tanned young woman with very short black hair whose spirit radiated the power of someone in the Tempered Realm. She was wearing baggy brown trousers and a white shirt with a grey vest over it. In her hands was a long wooden quarterstaff, and she obviously sensed Escora’s power, because she leapt right at her and lashed out with her staff. Escora dodged the flurry of blows by sliding away.

That left Warin and Verus alone to deal with the two other Crimson Lotus disciples. Side-by-side they stepped forward and cycled their ki.