Attendants poured in through the stairs leading up the seats and brought tables and trays, laid them before the seated guests and elders and core disciples, and left in the same hurried manner. For those beyond the third layer was food also, though they had it delivered by flying disciples. It was a hubbub, with constant buzzing, and Zhang Cai still found it calmer than he expected.

He took not much notice of the food after eating plenty of it this past week. He waited for the elders to start, and as they did began partaking. As he drank a cup of water, his gaze lingered on the many children seated around the arena. Some of the disciples were younger than ten years old; few seemed to be older than thirty, even, most being between fifteen and twenty. But his gaze remained on the young ones thrashing about, eating and merrying among themselves.

Though he had not taken notice of their martial prowess Zhang Cai thought himself a little melancholic. They were young. In his subconscious, perhaps, he tried to see himself in them. But indeed he couldn’t. He thought himself miserable as a child. A wretched existence. He had no happiness before his master.

He sipped on the tomato soup, the fruit itself he had never heard of, and hummed. He couldn’t really ignore the food.

Humming so, he thought of the food he ate in the past. That was not food. He couldn’t call it food after getting to know all these wonderful things.

He glanced again and saw them laughing at something. One spilled his soup, another shared hers. He glanced down at the reddish orange liquid. He had no reflection on it, so deigned to take another sip and laid his back on the high seat. His gaze traveled across the disciples of the sect again.

How come they led such different lives?

He felt...listless. There was jealousy, though tiny, and a little regret. But he felt as if he couldn’t dwell on these thoughts for long. They were fleeting. They were of the kind that came like a last breath, there for a moment, then gone forever. Was he tired? Perhaps last night’s climb tired him out more than he thought.

Zhang Cai rubbed his eyes. He saw Yu Yin and Shu Ligui interacting with other disciples, and he heard the elders mutter something among themselves. There was a familiar figure a little afar that came down on them and took a seat at the first layer. All these were filtered out as a buzz. A constant ring echoing in his ear, not disturbing, just soothing. As if catching a frequency, Zhang Cai closed his eyes. He felt the rash, cold wind caress his face.

Why was he not like them as a child? Why were his brothers and sisters not able to smile like them? Because they weren’t born here or there, or because they weren’t born to good parents? In his first year of discipleship, he had talked with his master about this matter. His master wouldn’t say anything to him, however. Zhang Cai would complain, rationalize, or try to explain why things were the ways they were, or even cursed—those earned him slaps on the nape—but had never received a solid answer.

Was there an answer to find, even? Zhang Cai just saw too many people in his travels. Yet in front of this crowd he realized those he met couldn’t amount to a quarter of this crowd. There were so many people, so was it only natural that some would suffer and others thrived? Red thread of fate, wheel of samsara, cycle of reincarnation, heavenly law, world’s will, human design—whatever one might name in their beliefs to be the cause, Zhang Cai felt himself no closer to any other.

His master only said in regard to this matter that ‘’Some problems do not have an answer until you decide on it.’’ He did not get it. But he thought upon it again when he heard the merry sounds and felt festive air, all the while knowing back in Curlan there were children still in living hells.

As he thought so, in the darkness beneath his eyelids, Zhang Cai saw a red thread. There was nothing special about it, except that it seemed dim and cold and needed some warmth to keep going. It stretched out to someplace he couldn’t see. Where was it going? Where did it come from?

He looked down and saw it come out of his left chest. Right through his black robes it went, wriggling, and tied itself around his heart. There were at least a few thousand threads squeezing his thumping heart. Zhang Cai found it peculiar enough that his consciousness jolted awake. His eyes shot open.

A blinding light caused him to hiss. His eyes shut again, then once used to the intensity he pried them open to peek out. Sky was blue, the Sun was up at the epicentre of the heavens, and he saw his food gone. Across him, the duels already seemed to be ongoing.

‘’Sir Zhang?’’

Zhang Cai looked left to see an old woman with a green bow tying her silver hair. ‘’Huh?’’

‘’Are you alright?’’

Zhang Cai rubbed his eyes at the mismatching voice, and saw black haired Shu Ligui standing there with a frown.

‘’Are those souls interfering with my perception?’’ That happened to be his first thought. His dreams were muddled unlike the past, so he considered that to be the reason.

‘’I’m alright, thank you.’’

‘’You seem pale.’’

Zhang Cai raised his brows. With both hands he made a round ball of water, stretched it, then tilted it until Sun rays fell on it right and he could peer at himself through its reflection. He seemed a tad bit pale indeed.

‘’I think it's because of the souls.’’ He said. He didn’t elaborate much, since Shu Ligui knew the details of what had happened to him. ‘’I just saw you as a old woman.’’

Her frown deepened while Yu Yin patted his shoulder. ‘’Junior brother, you shouldn’t speak of that here.’’

Zhang Cai turned to look at him and saw the man decapitated—his white spine could be seen among the wriggling flesh, spewing crimson blood.

His stomach churned at the sudden sight, but he was used to seeing such carnage. Zhang Cai put a hand over his mouth and suppressed the feeling.

‘’What, is my Senior Yu not handsome enough for you?’’

Zhang Cai wiped the sweat on his forehead, ignored the voice, and looked at Yu Yin again. He was fine. The timber needle and his long black hair seemed safely flowing down his head.

‘’Are you alright?’’

‘’I am...senior brother.’’ What was that sight?

‘’Would you mind, junior brother?’’ Yu Yin reached out to feel his pulse.

Zhang Cai pulled himself back, a little too strongly for the observing bystander, and shook his head. ‘’Thank you, senior brother. I’m fine. I just need to sit down, I think.’’

‘’Hey, brother, are you ignoring me?’’

Zhang Cai let out a sigh and faced the voice, irritated. The shout rose around the first layer seats, from a man-ish youngster with blue flowing hair. He wore tight blue robes like a warrior, had a great black spear that he propped on the ground, and gazed, brows furrowed, furiously at him, looking like one of the early Giant Kings on ancient murals.

‘’It’s you?’’

‘’You remember me now?’’ The disciple harrumphed.

‘’I do.’’ Zhang Cai said. ‘’Good morning.’’ What was this fellow’s problem?

‘’It is not.’’ He snorted.

‘’What is the problem, senior brother?’’ Zhang Cai asked out of courtesy.

The fellow seemed to brighten at the word, but in a second dimmed his expression by choice. ‘’I heard you bullied my junior brother Ri?’’

Zhang Cai raised his brows again. ‘’How did I bully him, senior brother? Didn’t you see it yourself?’’

‘’I was sleeping in...’’ A fierce wind whistled from eastward and blew their clothes and hair left, flapping the flags and drowning the audience’s cheer. Zhang Cai felt a trace of Qi in the wind—it was man made. He cast a look at the blue-haired man and saw nothing coming out of him. When he attempted to calm down the wind with his Qi, Zhang Cai failed to even grasp a few lashes of the gale.

‘’Stop disturbing our guests, junior brother.’’ said Yu Yin.

The Blue-haired boy glanced at Yu Yin and clenched his empty left fist. Then the flow ceased and there was no screaming wind but a chilly breeze. Zhang Cai felt his heart drop as the man spoke.

‘’Well...why did you hide your power, then?’’

‘’I didn’t.’’ He replied. ‘’I used all my power.’’

‘’How come you said you were injured, then?’’

‘’I am injured.’’ Zhang Cai felt annoyed at the fellow’s attitude very much. He quickly cycled his Qi, melted a tiny bit of the ice, then breathed out. Anyone with a sense above fourth-step Glassmade could feel the Ice Qi’s invasive and destructive nature.

‘’...’’ the fellow took a sniff...then nodded.

‘’Was my junior brother so weak?’’

‘’I don’t know.’’ Was this guy retarded?

‘’You don’t know?’’ the boy snorted, shook his head. ‘’I see you are a guest of senior brother Yin, yet you find it in yourself to ridicule my junior brother?’’

‘’How did I ridicule him?’’

‘’Is he so beneath you you don’t even know how you did it?’’

‘’What is the matter with you?’’ Zhang Cai said. If not for the occasion and the crowd, he might have returned to swearing his lungs out. He had no patience for ridiculous banter after all the bizarre encounters he had. ‘’We, me and your junior brother, went down and had a fair fight under all these people’s eyes. He lost, I won, that is all there is to it. Why are you so determined to create a commotion with people watching?’’

Zhang Cai stopped right after speaking. He gazed down at the blue haired man for a while, inspecting his twitching expression. His pupils seemed to move up and left, and Zhang Cai knew the people seated to his right and back. Yu Yin and Shu Ligui beside him just sighed.

Zhang Cai spoke with a tired smile. ‘’Senior brother, are you trying to force me into a fight?’’

The fellow let out a hollow laugh that shook his flowing hair. ‘’Hahaha...haha...ha...ha...yes. Do you want to duel? I just never saw a Rocksmote Dragonbane before. Really, just a quick two hundred bouts.’’

Zhang Cai shook his head. ‘’I don’t dare do much with my injuries, senior brother...what do I call you?’’

‘’Zhao Yan!’’ Zhao Yan hit the butt of his spear onto the ground, cracking it in the process.

‘’Half of your yearly allowance.’’ Old Master Jin’s cold voice echoed from the top, so Zhao Yan sat down on his seat. It took him a second to stand up again and face Zhang Cai with a toothy smile. Old Master Jin let out an audible sigh, then said no more.

‘’What do you say? I promise it will be quick, then we both will be merry on our ways. Aren’t you curious about me, too? Everyone knows my prowess.’’

‘’I am not, and certainly don’t.’’ Zhang Cai brushed off. ‘’And more importantly, you are Miss Li’s prey.’’

He smiled as he said so. ‘’I wouldn’t dare to take any piece of you.’’ Of course, Zhang Cai meant the words as a little ridicule for the earlier bother. Shu Ligui let out a silent snort, though he saw her nod from the corner of his eyes. Yu Yin giggled a short while at Zhao Yan’s baffled face.

‘’Prey?’’ Zhao Yan asked, bringing his sharp brows together. He looked, truly, like a general. Coupled with his authoritative aura, Zhang Cai thought the man very charismatic. ‘’Those are some brave words.’’

‘’I am not particularly afraid of anything except of my master.’’

Zhang Cai felt the Sun turn harsher, brighter. A few rays of light descended on Zhao Yan, reflecting off his white skin like translucent gold as he laughed out loud. ‘’Good! Well done! Well said!’’

Was this guy really twenty-some years old? Zhang Cai could feel the man spreading Qi to somehow attract Sunlight, a very difficult affair, and he spoke like an old man praising his son.

‘’What about when I defeat her, then?’’ Zhao Yan showed his pearly-white row of teeth. ‘’No offense, Miss Shu.’’

‘’Go on, bet.’’ She said, smiling, though with deep cold evident in her eyes. ‘’I will take out any offense on you.’’

‘’What if.’’ Zhao Yan corrected himself, cupping his fists at her for an apology. ‘’Will you fight me if I defeat her?’’

‘’Okay.’’ Zhang Cai agreed readily. He had a few devious thoughts about how to evade the matter later, but most importantly he knew of Shu Ligui’s potential. Demonic Emperor of Perception, though a shallow clone of the real entity, was at least Middle-Threshold realm. Not even Early-Threshold cultivators could cut a being like that with ease. Yet Shu Ligui did, and also damaged it enough to pain it. There had to be conditions regarding that, of course, but the most important point remained solid.

This duel of theirs, Shu Ligui and Zhao Yan’s, was not like his and Gou Ri’s. This was a true duel, where relevant symbolism and generations of spirituality caused it to turn sacred. It was a tradition as old as humanity itself, used to establish hierarchy and forge titles fitting the individual. Anything could be used except pills and drugs. Forfeiting a life was expected per outcome. It was the closest someone could get to a life and death battle in these closed door entities called sects and schools.

Intervening in it would result in execution and the identity of the intruder had no bearing on the decision.

Of course, the tradition being of human invention, there were no absolute rules nor absolute execution of such rules. Being a sect, and both participants being of fairly influential backgrounds, no one side would attempt to truly kill each other. Two elders would be on the standby in case of a mishap, too.

Even so, Zhang Cai bet it on Shu Ligui’s character that she could bring out the same power in this kind of environment. Even if she couldn’t satisfy the conditions, he had no nervousness about it. Zhao Yan might have had four times her Qi capacity, that was a fair deal. Yet the things he, Zhang Cai, faced had always been several times bigger and stronger than him. He didn’t think someone like Shu Ligui, also of Spirit lineage, wouldn’t be able to overcome odds like that, let alone a small one like Zhao Yan. No one was aware how naive his thoughts were.

His calm reply seemed to disturb those around him. Zhao Yan the most. ‘’Are you sure? You will fight with me when I win?’’

‘’I promise.’’ he replied. ‘’Do you want me to swear?’’

‘’No need. I believe someone with your ethics will not betray his own words.’’

‘’When did he get to know my ethics anyway?’’

Zhang Cai just nodded. Then he cast a look at Shu Ligui and showed her a thumbs up.

She seemed a little off-put, but still nodded at him. Then she leaned her back on her seat and closed her eyes. Zhang Cai only noticed now that the last fight in the arena was ongoing, and in an hour the duel time would arrive. Before that, both sides had to preserve their prime and calm their mental states.

Ignoring the fluctuations of Qi coming from Shu Ligui and Zhao Yan, Zhang Cai watched the finalists fight it out.

A thought hit him as he observed so.

‘’I didn’t get to eat anything...’’

********

After a lengthy battle that surpassed the preceding clashes by a large margin, the tournament came to an end. One of the younger elders went on stage to stand with the champion and the other seven, then distributed their rewards alongside the cheers and announcer’s booming voice.

‘’500 sixth-grade Qi Replenishment pills?’’

Thirty silver a piece, it made around...Zhang Cai found his worldview shook. He had only a few of those, but the champion got five hundred of them?

‘’...30 sixth-grade and two fifth-grade Lesser Rejuvenation pills, a fourth-grade weapon of choice, one day in the Mystic Realm of Oceanfolk...’’

For a moment, Zhang Cai wished to be a disciple himself. The lattermost thing made his heart leap, even. What was a mystic realm? How did it differ from Dimensional Rifts and Realm of Demons? Who were the Oceanfolk?

He turned around to Shu Ligui, excited, but found his feelings exhausted at her stony posture. Indeed, she seemed to leak a kind of nervous confidence from her entire being as her eyelids remained shut. Her long eyelashes didn’t even twitch.

Zhang Cai nodded at himself. He could ask any of his questions later. For now, the more important matter at hand was her condition. Thinking of questions, Zhang Cai twisted his back a bit and looked up at Master Jin. The man remained silent for a long while. The elders around him kept their bickering and comments, and Zhang Cai learned many valuable things from them through the course of the tournament. Yet Old Master Jin seemed oblivious to all the noise.

But when Zhang Cai gazed upon him, he matched their gaze.

Standing up, Zhang Cai took a bow at Master Jin.

‘’What is the matter, brat?’’

‘’I had some questions regarding the...my misfortune.’’

Old Master Jin blinked. He put on a frown as he spoke in a low voice. ‘’Are you determined to reopen your wounds?’’

What was there to think of? Zhang Cai wasn’t the kind to get stuck on a problem until he solved it. He always carried them with him, not stopping, and solved them on the way. He didn’t live such a pampered life that he could remain stationary.

Zhang Cai bowed again, lowering his waist even, and a loud sigh came. He noticed a few disgruntled gazes from some disciples and elders, but took no meaning from it.

‘’Come over.’’ He said.

Zhang Cai let himself be carried by the invisible Qi and landed at the foot of Old Master Jin. He had no seat, however, so he walked to the master's back and put his hands on the man’s shoulders. ‘’If you’d like?’’

‘’Look at this fellow,’’ an elder from the morning said, stretching her smile. ‘’This geezer’s own disciples aren’t that filial.’’

Old Master Jin just waved his hands so Zhang Cai applied some pressure to massage. He found that his strength couldn’t really bend the muscles, so increased the intensity.

‘’Your physical power...’’

‘’Yes, senior?’’

‘’Have you cultivated Outer Body arts?’’

Outer body arts were cultivation methods that focused on the physical body instead of the dantian. Wahlidians and Giants were primary cultivators of the art, the latter now long gone...or so Zhang Cai knew. It seemed a few still lived, and their bloodline was the most prominent and diluted one among humanity.

‘’No.’’ Zhang Cai told the truth. A few breaths later, respecting that the man didn’t pursue, he chose to reveal as he wanted to ask about it as well. ‘’It is related to my question as well. My master said I have a strange constitution and I want to know more about it, if you would enlighten me.’’

A voice echoed in his head. ‘’Do you want me to set up a barrier?’’

Zhang Cai nodded, and he saw a transparent bubble form around him, Old Master Jin, and the bickering duo elder from the morning.

‘’Elder Jia and Xiu are experts when it comes to Constitutions and Outer Realms. They can help you.’’ Old master Jin explained. Since he knew Zhang Cai would ask about the demons, Old Master had also included Elder Xiu in the conversation.

Zhang Cai bowed to both of them, then continued massaging the Old Master.

‘’What is strange about your constitution? Can you share the details of it?’’ Elder Jia asked, turning her shoulder to face him.

Zhang Cai nodded. ‘’My physical strength was always one realm above my own cultivation. I could resist special arts of Demonics, and the reason I could kill Long Kongzi was because I could endure his attacks.’’

‘’Is it resilience and not simple physical might?’’

‘’I think I am just more durable than strong.’’

‘’Any margin? Comparisons?’’

‘’...Long Kongzi had this aquamarine frozen sphere. I think it is a mutated form of Dragon Breath. It shattered this...four or five kilometer diameter island when I took the brunt of it. Though it was a demonic friend helped me get rid of the excessive Ice Qi.’’

‘’Demonic friend?’’ Elder Jia seemed a little shocked, but she hid it right after. ‘’Do you have any remnant bloodline?’’

‘’No.’’ His master said so—most likely several generations of his family were pure Wahlidians. Further down the road, they couldn’t trace it.

‘’Any other peculiarities?’’

‘’I haven’t tested these, but my master said I had an edge against Ghosts and Ghouls, and that I shouldn’t consume any pills if there wasn’t an emergency.’’

Elder Jia nodded as he spoke and Zhang Cai saw her take out a thin notebook. The strange thing was, as she flipped through, the pages didn’t seem to end. He thought there would be at most fifty, but with her speed she went through a thousand pages and more.

‘’If you had a bloodline, it would be a mix between Giants and Celestials.’’ Elder Jia muttered. ‘’But since you don’t, then there are two possibilities: your parents were at least Early-Threshold Outer Body cultivators and you inherited their power, or it is simply a irregular inborn talent.’’

‘’...’’ Talent? He was talented? Zhang Cai found his heart constricted at the thought. He didn’t dwell on the former option for even a single second—people with such power would not leave their child all alone. And even his supposed uncle who left him had been a poor mortal trader. ‘’So I can train Outer Body arts easier?’’

‘’Not necessarily. The reason it is irregular is your master’s warning about pills. That happens in unobserved mutations, which don’t always point to regular benefits of a talent. How long have you cultivated?’’

‘’Three years, four at most.’’

‘’Hm...’’ She flipped through her notebook again. Ruffling of a few thousand pages echoed in his ears. ‘’I see. I believe your strength is a side-effect of your true constitution and its main function is to resist evil Qi. Your body being one realm higher is probably caused by extreme living conditions and is the reason for your fast ascent in Glassmade. There are many tests to be done to ascertain what exactly your body is made of and how it works compared to the average mortal and cultivator, of course, as all of this is baseless assumptions without experiment. But it is most likely that your Spiritual cultivation, Dantian, will catch up around Middle-Rocksmote. ’’

‘’Beware when cultivating and take care to listen to your master’s words. If you use pills, the unrefined impurities might harm the delicate balance between your Inner Body and Outer Body. With enough contamination it might shut out your current cultivation advantage and slow down your advancement. If you must use pills, always use third-grade or above. Those always carry the lowest risk and are of higher purity.’’

‘’If you want, you can give me a blood sample so I can run some elementary tests.’’ Her gleaming eyes seemed more than intrigued as she said so.

‘’Ah, no need.’’ Zhang Cai gave a deep bow to the woman. ‘’Thank you, Senior Jia.’’

They were very kind to him, of course, but no sane person would leave their blood or Qi signature with others unless they were close kin or sworn siblings. Former could let them use divination on him, and the latter could help them track him at any time. There also were curses, witchcraft, and wild sorcery that used both, though Northern Cultivators rarely practiced those arts.

Still, he was off put by her direct request.

‘’No matter, no matter.’’ She laughed it off and turned to look at Elder Xiu.

Zhang Cai did the same and saw Elder Xiu fiddling with his moustache, seemingly pleased with something. He truly couldn’t understand what these old geezers thought in their heads, and thinking of his just attained revelations couldn’t really get himself to care about their antics.

‘’Senior Xiu, there are three things I want to ask.’’

For the first, he deeply recounted his experience in the Wasteland when he encountered the nine Spirit realm Drakens. Then added onto it his personal thoughts after referencing his feelings with his recent cultivation base.

‘’After I reported it to the second heir of Li Noble Clan, he informed me—.’’

Before he finished the report, Elder Xiu raised a hand to stop him. The man pondered a little.‘’...it was you who reported it?’’

Zhang Cai’s brows rose with confusion. ‘’You know of it, senior?’’ Why didn’t the man interrupt him much before, then?

‘’Of course, every influential figure in the south knows!’’ Old Master Jin said, sounding exasperated. ‘’Young Miss Shu’s elder sister went there to investigate as well, alongside three different factions.’’ Then, as if struck in the head, Old Master Jin cast him a deep look. ‘’I hope you didn’t talk about this in the banquet?’’

‘’...I did.’’

‘’Brat...hah,’’ The old master let out a deep sigh. ‘’Go on, go on.’’

‘’What do you want to know about this event?’’ Elder Xiu asked. His gaze had a critical gleam, and Zhang Cai could discern that the man might not answer his question without a good cause.

‘’Two things—Why was the time flow inside different from the outside? Second, was the silver Sun drakens made...calling out to something?’’

‘’Time flow is different most of the time—we suspect, and do not confirm, that the laws governing most mystical realms are vastly different from our world. One can affirm it easily from the celestial bodies: in some mystical realms, constellations themselves are different, and the True Sun itself bears no resemblance to ours except in shape. There is also the matter of earth and air’s composition, the trajectory following the heavenly body and so on. Those you can learn with time if you are interested. Actually here—’’Elder Xiu took out a thick book out of his spatial ring, an improved and more expensive version of spatial pouch, and threw it at him. ‘’This summarizes almost everything elementary you need to know about the world and how it interacts with other celestial bodies. Study it so that you can discern danger better. Take care to establish the time difference between regions if you ever encounter a mystical realm again. If you happen to land in one that has time dilution in extreme, humanity might be extinct when you return. As for Dimensional Rifts, don’t enter them unless forced to.’’

Elder Xiu spewed those words in but a few seconds, giving Zhang Cai little time to process them, then took another breath and glared at him.

‘’Why did you use the word something?’’

Zhang Cai looked back at the man. ‘’Something...I don’t know.’’

‘’Think of it. Why not Divine but Something!?’’

Elder Xiu seemed aggrieved, and Zhang Cai felt Old Master Jin push his hands away. Zhang Cai gladly took them back and clasped his chin between his thumb and index finger. He felt sweat forming on his forehead, and the tightness in his heart seemed to squeeze harder than before.

‘’Something...something, but why not Divine? What is the difference between Divine and that something?’’

The Divine received worship, and in return provided protection. Divine took little interest in affairs of the secular world. Divine was mysterious, unknown, but also warm and familiar. Silver Sun seemed more like a Divine than anything, but Zhang Cai learned from his master that Xia Empire’s Divines were all Coiling Dragons with material shape, not an intangible aura. Also, it seemed as if the Silver Sun wanted to be seen by him, as he could not even escape the perception of a Threshold realm let alone Spirits and Divines. That seemed a secular action more than anything.

These vague feelings he had seemed to accumulate into a point of insight as Zhang Cai thought of his status.

Demonic Emperor of Perception’s obsession with his soul. It was a kind of Divine interference.

Xians attempt to kill him with just above the required power. It was a common tactic to deal with others without raising suspicion of their activity. Were they afraid of being noticed? By whom?

Not his master—the man wasn’t omnipotent. Not even Divines were. Only the world, perhaps. The common point was his Fatemarked status, thick strands of fate. He was, supposedly, created by World’s Will. World’s Will was reactionary. What could make the World’s Will react or notice something?

Fate? Not even Spirit nor Divine could affect Fate without a severe cost. That was what myths said.

Something not Divine, but perhaps...higher?

‘’The worship wasn’t for the drakens.’’ Zhang Cai said aloud. ‘’It was for the Silver Sun. All of them were basking in its light. They weren’t calling out to something, they already made contact with something. That something was looking for someone...’’

He felt the sweat trickle down his nose. As if he was at the door of a great revelation which could open the doors to someplace he could never dream of.

‘’That is enough.’’ Old Master Jin’s voice woke them up. Zhang Cai raised his head and saw Elder Xiu and Jia covered in sweat as well. These two fellows were at least Middle-Threshold, and even they were affected? No, they must have known something he didn't know about the matter. They might have already reached a conclusion while he was still dredging in murky waters for leads. He had no idea what he was even trying to find, even. Just tidbits of information that he had little to no knowledge. Yet he noticed a pattern there and acquired knowledge. There was a stage above Divine.

‘’Do not think about this matter anymore.’’ Old Master Jin said to them, but Zhang Cai had enough tact to understand it was aimed at him. He continued in a brash voice. ‘’Such matters will be known to you in time, when you are ready to take your place as a pillar of humanity. Until then, forget all about it. Do not talk about this matter to anyone else except your master or someone of his stature if you must. Do. you. Understand.?’’

Zhang Cai nodded, not daring to forget the strict words.

After a bout of uncomfortable silence, Old Master Jin muttered. ‘’You are young. Your task is just one thing: chasing your master. The rest will naturally follow.’’

‘’I understand, thank you Master Jin.’’ Here Zhang Cai turned to Elder Xiu again. ‘’My last question was about the Demonic Emperor of Perception’s domain. May I ask?’’

The man showed a grievous scowl.

‘’Do not utter his name aloud without ample preparation.’’ Elder Xiu warned. ‘’Master Jin took precautions, thankfully, but beware of that rule when dealing with Ancient Entities. That thing is one of the ancient demons of the Demonic Realm, and even has its own sub-realm dubbed Demonic Land of Perception. They can sense you when you call them. Now, what do you want to ask about that wretched thing?’’

‘’I thought Inner Demons were an abstract term, but I only learned now that they are tangible creatures that can harm you with their own realm. Why are we not taught the proper way in the beginning?’’

‘’Demons feed on souls and thoughts. They derive their power from emotions. Now, if you tell a young cultivator that when they fail a demon most likely will snatch their soul, what will happen when they encounter a problem?’’

‘’I see.’’ Zhang Cai didn’t need to follow the back and forth questions to understand the implied meaning. Just knowing their existence could tempt the creatures. When you were aware of them and had not stumbled before, your fall would be that much steeper. ‘’Thank you...May I ask one last thing?’’

‘’You are too greedy, boy.’’ The man said, but shook his head still. Elder Xiu seemed to consider for a while, but before Zhang Cai could regret his words spoke his mind. ‘’I’ll consider the last one a favor, go on.’’

‘’Is it possible to go to Demonic Realm at will?’’

‘’...are you brave, or just mentally impaired?’’

Zhang Cai remained silent.

Elder Xiu shot him a contemptuous look and turned around. ‘’...forget any favors. I won’t answer anything else.’’

Zhang Cai gave a deep bow to the man. ‘’Thank you senior Xiu.’’

So it was possible, Zhang Cai concluded.

Old Master Jin got rid of the bubble around them right after, then spoke again. ‘’Stay by me while we watch.’’

‘’As you wish, senior.’’

Zhang Cai stood put and saw the arena being terraformed again. Elder Jia and Xiu flew out of their seats right then and sat upon the air, one at the west and the other at the east end. Then Zhang Cai saw Shu Ligui and Zhao Yun fly on their flying sword and spear respectively.

The duo appeared rather calm in contrast to the bellowing crowd. All manner of praises and requests were thrown around, as well as insults...insults?

‘’Zhao Yan, where the fuck is my borrowed pills!?’’

‘’You gambling retard, give me back my hundred silver!’’

‘’I will give 10 Qi Replenishment pills for every kick to his groin, Goddess Shu!’’

Was this fellow a gambler and swindler? Had he judged the man wrong?

Old Master Jin’s face twitched at the hurled profanities.

‘’...are those two your only disciples, Master Jin?’’

The man let out a desolate sigh and hung his head low. His grip on his goatee almost tore the hairs off. ‘’Unfortunately...’’ There was a tinge of sorrow in his voice.

‘’I see...both of them have quite the colorful characters, senior.’’ Zhang Cai thought of Gou Ri’s backlash this morning.

‘’...forget it.’’ The man didn’t say whatever he was about to say. ‘’Will you honor your promise with him?’’

‘’Of course.’’ Zhang Cai nodded with a smile.

‘’Good.’’

Right then the announcer’s voice boomed, so his attention went back to the arena.