Only a few days later, Sage was surprised by Guan Zhenyan’s voice telling him to leave the Quick Ramp. He turned the large wheeled All-Terrain Steam Coach, the ASC, off the Quick Ramp and towards a cliff face with a switchback road carved into it. He was a bit annoyed that he couldn't climb up the other ramp first to get a better view of this level from above, but then he’d have to waste time coming back down again. While the aesthetics of this vehicle were far from what he preferred, it was still much better than having to mess around with Demonic Beasts to pull a carriage and a driver to control them. If he used intelligent Demonic Beasts to pull his carriage it would be cruel not to give them Human Seals, and if he didn’t use intelligent beasts, then they would just be more troublesome for a driver to handle.

Eventually, Sage crested the ridge, finally traversing the long road that wound back and forth. Atop the ridge, it was not apparent that there was a large plateau that spanned much of the level. The area was a series of tall spire-like mountains, each of them decorated with gnarled trees poking outwards in a picturesque manner. Stretched between these narrow columns of natural stone were various forms of bridges. The smallest spires had only simple rope bridges, while the largest ones had elaborately carved stone bridges spanning their gaps.

Down below, between the stone spires, were swiftly flowing rivers. It was almost like these rivers had carved channels through the rock, but they had penetrated hundreds of feet downwards. Was it because of the fast flowing water, or was this place even naturally formed? Sage knew very little about the Tianxia Capital, so he really had no idea if these levels were built here, moved here, or if the capital was old enough that they formed ‘naturally’. The human settlements were placed upon the largest spires and plateaus, where large buildings were placed. These buildings were of a very recognizable style, with long curved eaves and with huge beams and columns.

These large pagodas and temples had many floors and many rooms within and each of them was like a small self-contained settlement. The strange geography of the floor made the inhabitants eager to build upwards and make full use of their limited group space. The unusual style of the level also led to an unusual address system, but eventually Sage figured out where to go and followed the correct path of branching bridges to reach the building he was looking for. Unlike the other levels where people owned large properties, it seemed on this floor they treated things more like apartments inside each of the larger buildings. Sage entered a large copper colored pagoda with 27 floors. Heading inside, he saw many people with shaved heads wearing the layered robes of monks. These kasayas were in various colors and there were also many variations on how they were wrapped and what quality of fabric they were made of.

Seems even these monks have different sects. Oh wait, that’s right they called them Monasteries.

Sage walked through the wide hallways and then took a large stairway upwards. Reaching this floor of the pagoda he saw an archway with a sign over it that read: ‘Golden Vajra’. Walking through this arch he found himself in a wide open training area. To the sides there were bald and shirtless teenage monks pummeling wooden posts or shoving their hands into hot coals. He walked further and saw a group of more than twenty younger children standing in an orderly square formation throwing punches and kicks in unison. Moving further, there was a wide set of stairs, hundreds of feet long, that stretched from wall to wall. There was a wall at the top of the stairs with a few large doorways that made it look like they were entering a new building even though they were already indoors.

A dojo inside a monastery within a pagoda on the floor of a tower. There’s also rooms in the dojo, quite the nested location.

The ‘address’ that Guan Zhenyan gave him ended at this dojo area, so he walked up the wide stairs and waited for someone to notice him. No one had stopped him in the training field as he passed by, but he was sure that the ‘building’ proper would not just let unannounced guests go ignored. Surprisingly, he waited for a few minutes before a lone monk came to greet him. This monk had a much simpler and looser set of robes than most of the others he saw in the training ground. This person was also much skinnier and thinner than the monks in the front. They were all covered muscles while this monk in front of him was thin and quite average looking.

“Amitabha. What can this humble one do to guide you?”

Sage greeted the man with a clasped fist and a short bow, “I am looking for Venerable Surari. Can you bring me to him, or call him here?”

The monk nodded, “It shall be done.”

Without saying anything further, the monk walked away, leaving Sage there by himself in the empty foyer area. There was no mention of a waiting room or offer of any drinks or refreshments. These monks didn’t seem to care about the same sort of etiquette that others did. It didn’t really matter to Sage, but it was definitely unusual to be just standing there in a mostly empty room while waiting an indeterminate time for someone to return.

Maybe this is how they temper their mentality?

Sage was quite used to waiting around because of the time difference for the Inner World. There were many times he’d need to stay alert for imminent battle, but nothing would actually happen for hours or days. Those hours or days stretched into years on the Inner World where he had to be in a state of readiness. He had to find a way to rest and relax while still being able to react quickly when the time came.

It took nearly an hour for the average looking monk to return. The monk didn’t bow, instead he closed his eyes, “I have conversed with the Venerable. Please come with me.”

The man turned around and walked away, and while Sage was once again surprised by their unusual mannerisms he followed behind without saying anything. They walked down a few long hallways, passing many shrine-like rooms before reaching a large wooden door. The monk knocked twice quite gently and pulled open the door for Sage. Sage walked inside and the monk left before he was already through the door frame. Once inside, Sage saw a large and burly bald-headed man sitting cross-legged upon a thick prayer mat made of reeds. He had a rosary-like chain of beads in his hand and he was reciting some sort of buddhist mantra with a low droning voice.

Sage walked towards him, but the man didn’t move at all. Since things were about to get unpleasant, Sage let him finish what he was doing. Perhaps that extra bit of courtesy would make the man think twice before things turned to violence like with Voctem.

I hope this guy can pay the bill, or at least try and negotiate first. Then again, I don’t know what sort of terms Guan Zhenyan would even accept.