Sage had decided on a course of action some time ago and he planned to follow it through. While he was tempted to change his plan to spend time at the Holy Flame Sect, he resisted that urge. He met back up with Ling later that day and they spent a few weeks in the Sect as he’d originally planned. Since they wouldn’t return for years they had many things to see, people to visit, and parties to attend. The two of them had also placed those closest to them into difficult positions when they offered them an opportunity. At the offer to leave the Sect for an unknown number of years, most they asked were undecided.

They weren’t expecting anyone to take them up on the offer, but they still couldn’t resist asking. Surprisingly, there were a few who accepted. Ling’s uncle, Yuhan, wasn’t willing to be apart from his only family again for such a long time so he left with them. He also brought along his personal disciple, Tan Shun, a gentle girl that had grown more mature since Sage last saw her, but she still seemed to enjoy the gruff abuse of the Beast Tamer. Also, Ling brought along her secretary Wen Wen. Others were tempted, but they didn’t wish to separate from their friends and family. Sage’s three friends were Elders in the Sect, and their ties were too deep to give up just to go along with him. It was a similar situation with Ling’s friends. They all had fond memories of each other and had spent good times together in the past, but they weren’t as inseparable as they once had been when they were younger. Sage felt it was somewhat telling that the three women from the Tiankong Clan had been Ling’s bridesmaids. She was closer to them than her old friends now after working together so many years.

With their business settled, Sage met with Peak Master Zhen again and they established more methods of contact. Sage got the impression that she thought he was going on the run again.

She is quite well informed of what goes on in the Sect, but she’s got the wrong idea.

With matters settled at the Holy Flame Sect, they boarded up the ‘Wan’ Manor and everyone entered the Universe Ring which Elder Manji carried back to the Dou Kingdom. Sage had been tight-lipped about their plans for the future, and when they asked he didn’t tell them where Manji was carrying them to. The Tiankong siblings were expecting some great surprise, only to find out that when they stopped they were already back at the Mount Song Sword Sect and had returned to where their own clan was waiting.

Sage had to duck a few flying wine jugs.

The next part of his plan was one he set into place some time ago, and after receiving a few identity tokens, he traveled by Airship back to a place with a very stunning view. The airship and its current occupants reappeared over a giant field of ice. After passing through the poisonous miasma and verifying his identity, Sage brought them back out to see Icefire Valley. The Airship traveled over glacial ice, and they marveled at the large cracks with little glimpses of fiery magma deep below the surface. It was truly an unusual sight to have ice and lava so very close to each other.

Upon reaching the core of Icefire Valley, they were greeted by some people from the Mount Song Sword Sect. The whole valley was now under their control and they were still in the process of carefully exploring every nook and cranny. They already handled all the most dangerous threats, so now they let the younger generations come here to explore as a training experience. There was a single Nascent Soul stationed here to protect their investment and that particular Cultivator didn’t seem to like Sage all that much. When they arrived, they only referred to that Nascent Soul as the ‘commander’, who then refused to meet with them, citing how busy they were.

Sage ignored the impolite treatment as he wasn’t here to make friends. He was actually here to collect upon his rewards from his cooperation with the Mount Song Sword Sect. He had accepted a reduced share in rewards in exchange for having two slots up front. The Pool of Eternal Tears was a very valuable cultivation site, and took years to recover between uses. For the Mount Song Sword Sect it was a valuable treasure to assist their greatest prodigies of every generation.

As for Sage he had only one use in mind for it: to assist Ling and Jiao. Jiao was a talented prodigy of the Zhu Clan. She had fallen out with her clan because she insisted on traveling around and doing good deeds rather than performing her duties for the Clan. She ignored her clan’s orders and fought for many ‘lost’ causes. With her great talent, it was no problem for her to rise to the fifth rank even without relying on resources from her clan. Ling on the other hand, was not so talented with cultivation, but she too had also reached the fifth rank. Instead of relying on talent or hard work, Ling was a business woman. She had access to many resource channels and could buy whatever treasure was most ideally suited to whatever cultivation problem she had at any time. She could consult with many cultivators that she had befriended to ask how to solve her problem and then purchase just what she needed to break through.

With both of his wives at the fifth rank, they might be able to live five thousand years. Even so, reaching a new rank would roughly double their lifespan. With this in mind, Sage was not eager to have the two of them die far before he did. Especially since he had already arranged this opportunity for them, it would be a real waste not to use it.

He didn’t care if they didn’t get a chance to use the Pool of Eternal Tears for hundreds of years after this. The earlier they could advance the greater their lifespan would become. It would also help his peace of mind if he didn’t have to worry as much about their safety. If his enemies found they couldn’t hurt him, there was always the chance they’d go after those he cared for instead.

Ling and Jiao were led into the temple-like building where the large ice statue of the two lovers, Hong Ri and Hei Yue. They stopped in place, admiring the twenty foot tall statue for a while. At a cursory look, the two seemed to be holding each other lovingly, but looking closer there was a distinctly desolate and sad look in their eyes. The story of two people who did all they could to be together, but the whole world was arrayed against them. Jiao covered her face, trying to hide the emotion it stirred in her, while Ling merely let out a loud and sad sigh.

They walked forward and entered the Pool of Eternal Tears.

Sage had to watch from afar, as the Mount Song Sword Sect had already set up a very powerful defensive array around the central room of this building. He could only look into the room from the hallway, as they’d created strict rules to keep anyone from ruining their carefully planned schedule. A single problem could create a problem that spanned decades, so it was better to be safe than sorry. Sage certainly didn’t blame them for their strictness.

A few days later, the light from the Pool of Eternal Tears had dimmed once again and the three of them left the way they came.