The next day’s tour was to all the places disciples could spend the points they earned. The first was the one everyone was excited about, the Treasure Pavilion. This building had numerous guards and a few elders wandering around. A rather bored-looking fellow named Elder Kun, who was not technically an elder of the sect but an employee of the pavilion, stood in front of the group who were all too busy scanning the place to watch him. Yu was just like everyone else, staring wide-eyed at the various equipment. She saw swords of many shapes and sizes - although no hook swords - shields, small and large, armor in individual pieces and sets, and entire glass cases of rings, necklaces, bracelets and the like.

Yu barely paid attention to the “elder” speaking in an utterly disinterested tone. “This is the treasure pavilion. You trade your points for treasures. Guards are present at all times. Each floor contains a different quality of treasure. Outer sect disciples are limited to the first two floors. Inner and core disciples may explore all four floors.” He held up a small piece of Jade with a string on it and droned on. “This is a Detail Tag. You touch it and learn about the product. What we sell here are weapons, armors, and accessories. We do not sell alchemy materials or talismans. Those can be purchased elsewhere.” Then he turned around and left.

Jao Li whispered in her ear, “He is the best elder so far.” Yu giggled and dragged Gui Ai to explore. Like the elder, she didn’t seem to find any of it particularly interesting either. In fact, she looked like she was bored and wanted to move on. Yu asked, “Are you ok, Gui Ai?” She just nodded in silence.

Even if her shy friend wasn’t interested, Yu was entranced. Even though she had spectacular weapons and armor from the vermillion bird family, Yu still checked out everything in sight. One particular item did catch her eye more than the others and she worked her way over.

Running her hand along a stunning dark wooden bow polished to a bright shine. Her fingers could tell there were strange patterns, like mini burns but in randomly moving lines looking like lightning bolts, Yu touched the green tab tied to it.

Item: Enchanted Blackwood Bow

Affinity Requirement: Lightning

Price: 120,000 points

Stage Requirements: Formation (10)

Description:

This bow was one of only four created by an expert bowyer from a 300 year old blackwood tree in the forests in the Senlin Kingdom that was felled by a lightning bolt. These bows were then enchanted to support those with the Lightning Affinity. At the cost of Qi, a wielder will be able to produce arrows made entirely of Lightning Qi. The amount of Qi used will define the distance and force. The string will need to be replaced regularly when using its special ability. When not infused with Qi, this bow will act like a normal bow requiring the same care and attention as any other.

“Heavens,” whispered from Yu’s mouth.

The number next to the stage requirement was the number of meridians required in the Formation stage. If only she had those details for her swords and whip. She asked herself, “I wonder if they can identify enchantments.”

Yu worked her way to a counter with an outer sect disciple who asked cheerily, “How can I help you?”

“Does the Treasure Pavilion have the ability to identify enchantments on an existing item?”

The young lady shook her head and said, “No. You would have to ask the Enchanter’s Hall. They offer that and many other services.”

Yu bowed her head and said, “Thank you.”

“Alright, next stop!” was called by their inner sect guide.

***

The Alchemy Market was a location to buy alchemical creations and sell alchemical ingredients. The actual Alchemist’s Association where the mysterious work was done was on the Fire and Wood Mountains apparently. Most of the cultivation enhancement medicines sold in the market would not be safe for her to take for a long time yet. They did sell Qi stones for 5,000 points each and up based on their strength, but that was all the help she would be willing to risk. Yu was surprised to learn that they sold other kinds of medicines for everything from injury repair to birth control. And once again, inner and core sect disciples had rights to the better things than outer disciples. Even with enough points to buy something there, an outer sect disciple would never be allowed onto the upper floors because the medicines there would injure or kill those with lesser cultivation.

Yu found the next building, the Talisman Gallery, fascinating because of the variety that was sold. A talisman was, simply put, a slip of parchment ranging in size from a palm many hand-lengths that has been enchanted with a skill that took the place of the wielder using it herself. So a flame explosion talisman used only a trickle of Qi to activate but the skill was still fully powered because it was empowered by the calligrapher that created it. In combat, those could be invaluable but they were single-use only so the wielder was throwing away silver - or points in this case.

While Yu and the twins were interested, Gui Ai was entranced. She studied all the various kinds of writings, strokes, shapes, and many things that were beyond Yu’s understanding or interest. Yu did see one that looked vaguely familiar. As she approached, Gui Ai followed and Yu mentioned her feeling of familiarity. Gui Ai whispered, “It’s a low-level beast taming talisman.” Those are the most words Yu has ever heard her friend speak at once. Then she asked, “Did you use one to bind Bai?”

Yu shook her head and said, “No. But I won one from our city tournament and gave it to my brother. I only saw a brief glimpse of it before it was off to him here.”

Gui Ai actually lifted her head slightly. “Your brother is here?”

Yu beamed at her friend. “Yes. And he’s already number 97 on the outer sect ranking list. Or was last I looked. He’s been here for less than two years. He’s a strong Ice Warrior. I’ll introduce you guys someday.”

Jao Li appeared out of nowhere and said, “Ooooh. Is your brother cute?”

Gui Ai blushed.

Yu sighed. “He’s my brother. But he did have many ladies hoping for his favor back home.”

She bounced and clapped again. “If he’s your family and you brag about him he must be nice. Introduce me. Forget the others.”

Yu slapped her forehead.

***

The day’s Welcoming tour ended with the place everyone has been pining for since the moment they woke up, the Skills Library. Our inner sect tour guide, who did not share his name, called out, “The Skills Library is similar to other areas where you can spend points. There are floors with various grades of skills. Floor one holds first grade skills. Two, second grade and so on. You’ll get the details when you stop being utterly useless to the sect. As a new disciple, you are each entitled to a single grade 1 skill of your choice. Nobody cares what it is, just pick it quickly and move on. I believe you have fifteen minutes to decide from when you enter the door. The various Skills Libraries are the most precious buildings in the sect so everyone is very respectful of them. Talking is permitted in low voices but no yelling and absolutely no fighting. Violators are punished severely and without mercy. Now join the line. Only so many people are allowed in at once.”

It took over an hour and a half for Yu and her friends to finally reach the front of the line. A stooped silver-haired old woman leaning on a cane seemed to scan everyone from head to toe that entered and exited. She said in a shaky voice to Jao Li, who was the first of their foursome, “You have fifteen minutes.” This repeated itself with Lu and Ai as people left to be replaced, but something changed when Yu stepped up. The woman held up her cane in front of Yu and said, “Please step over here, disciple.” Yu scrunched her face in confusion but did as she was told. The old woman slammed her cane down twice and then proceeded with her job.

What did Yu do this time? Great. She hadn’t even entered the building yet and was already in trouble.

An inner sect disciple girl with bright red hair and red cheeks ran over, bowed, and in huffing breaths asked, “Yes, Elder Qun Long?”

The elder looked at her and scolded, “I told you not to run.”

She bowed again and said, “I’m sorry, Elder.”

The woman harrumphed. “This disciple is authorized for the second floor.” The disciples in hearing distance muttered and whispered. The old woman continued, ignoring it all. “She may pick one scroll from there and two from the first floor when she is done. She is granted thirty minutes.” She then slammed her cane down again and said with bite, “Now get out of here both of you. You are slowing the line.”

A startled Yu wondered if she was related to Grandma Huan. Either way, she bowed to the old woman and said, “Thank you, elder.” The elder ignored her completely and continued her disciple examinations and instructions.

The red-haired girl said, “Follow me please, disciple.”

Yu said, “Thank you, senior.” Anyone above you in sect level is a “senior.” So an inner disciple would call a core disciple that as well.

Once they stepped inside, Yu saw a floor filled with bamboo shelves loaded with tightly-packed upright jade tablets. There must have been hundreds of them, if not more than a thousand.

In a low voice the girl in front of Yu told her, “The tablets are a single record with the skill details. You touch it for the detailed skill information including the point cost, select the one you want with your badge and then pick it up at the counter as you leave. Since these are free today, no point cost will show for today.” Yu nodded. That explained the line at the far counter.

“You have been granted second-floor rights so follow me.” Yu followed her to an area with a spiral staircase going only up and she followed her guide to them. At the bottom, she tapped her badge to a plaque and instructed Yu, “Tap your badge there.” Yu did and got no response but proceeded up after the girl.

Once they reached the next floor the senior turned to Yu and said, “You have thirty minutes, although I would recommend saving half for your time for grade one skills.”

Yu bowed to her and said, “Thank you, senior.”

She nodded and said, “I don’t know what you did to get on that old grouch’s good side, but I wouldn’t let it slip if I were you.” If only Yu knew. Could it be because she was the leader’s disciple? She was supposed to specifically not get any help for that though. Anyway, no more wasting time.

Yu lit a stick of incense provided at the staircase to allow visitors to measure time, stepped towards the stacks, and looked for some sort of hints. After spending two of her precious minutes getting oriented, she figured out that this floor was divided first into types of Qi, then again into affinity, and finally into type of skill. Surprisingly, the floor was empty of disciples. Perhaps they were all giving the newbies space on the single day they flood the place.

Whispering to herself she asked, “Ok, what do I need?”