No matter how much it might feel like it, time never truly stood still. Along with Raul’s advancement to the Foundation Phase, there were many other steps taken both big and small. Over the course of several months, Viriato had prepared himself to take the leap from the Foundation Phase to the Soul Expansion Phase, with John’s guidance. His totem would be carefully selected to avoid unbalancing his light and darkness pair, and he would be stepping into a Phase that nobody would be ashamed of. Filimena was older and had less resources of her own, but John was still supporting her to reach the Foundation Phase. It would bring a significant improvement to the stability of her life.

With his employment, the various street urchins he was raising as disciples were able to pay for shelter- or endure the streets with their improved spiritual energy, if they chose to. John wasn’t quite prepared to formally put together a sect where they would stay just yet, though he had already picked out land and planned construction.

Rushing too much would be more of a problem in the long run, as he could make some critical mistake. He needed a steady flow of resources for proper disciples, but he also needed to balance his potential income. Obviously there would be some up front expenses, but he wanted to get on a trajectory of growth as soon as possible. He didn’t want to have to ask for assistance that would be outside of his personal funds. He knew he could, but it would be basically admitting he couldn’t do anything on his own. Which would be quite unpleasant, considering he was monopolizing Crystin’s time as well.

Back to the topic of growth, however, Raul was more than simply advancing his cultivation. His alchemical techniques- with the assistance of tomes of knowledge purchased by Viriato on his trips- were growing more refined. His business was picking up, and while he was still solidly ranked as the third best alchemist in the city, he could guarantee he was better than Oden’s apprentices. Before, he’d simply been an alternative that wouldn’t price-gouge via relation to a big name.

John also had his own cultivation to consider. He had steady growth within the Foundation Phase, advancing to the late phase without issue. His cultivation had vastly improved compared to his arrival in Lunson, where he’d only just returned to the Foundation Phase. The Soul Expansion Phase… was still out of his reach. He had one more rank- currently he was at the seventeenth- but beyond that he was aware there would most likely be another roadblock. He didn’t have to seek out and bond with a totem, but he had no expectations that his advancement would be smooth.

-----

Unlike with Raul, there were no tense moments of waiting for Viriato’s advancement. It wasn’t that John wouldn’t have been concerned about him- the man simply took matters into his own hands, once the plan was in place. John wasn’t even aware he was actually making his breakthrough until everything was over.

Ultimately, he had gone with something similar to what John casually picked out. A totem of water- allied with darkness, but this one shared attributes of both. Totems could be basically anything. In fact, John wasn’t quite certain that they weren’t practically infinite. There were still limitations, as there were balances between totems that started at higher tier and those with better growth rates, but there were totems that suited nearly every situation. Viriato chose a totem that represented a still surface of water.

To picture what that actually meant, it was like sitting with eyes just at water level. There, it was possible to see above and below the water with clarity. Above, the light flourished… but below, it inevitably ended in darkness.

John studied the man who had just secured his third totem. He nodded, “Good, you’ve properly maintained your balance. It doesn’t seem you rushed into things.”

“If I was the type to do that…” Viriato shrugged, “Well, perhaps I once was. Which is what got me in that situation to begin with. Balancing light and darkness was perhaps a bit too ambitious.”

“It’s not simple,” John agreed, thinking about the work that was ahead of him. Not only would he have to secure a sixth totem in a legendary realm, it would be a final one most in conflict with his cultivation along the way. The balanced cycle of core elements might help, but they ultimately leaned towards darkness. Then again, he was quite aware that light and darkness weren’t strictly incompatible, as he had a foolish daughter and son-in-law to compare along with his merchant friend. “So, how are the benefits?”

“I have to say… I really don’t know how much my combat prowess has changed. That wasn’t my area of expertise to begin with though. But my senses… I definitely feel an improvement in that area. I’ll be able to more accurately pick out valuable goods, which is what I most want.”

“But it also won’t hurt to be in a higher Phase. You will garner well-deserved respect.”

“Perhaps,” Viriato nodded. “Though I can hardly say I did this myself.”

John shook his head, “Anyone who says so is a liar. Even my most talented friend would have likely stagnated eventually. Everyone else has the backing of clans and sects, which is their very purpose. Truly independent cultivators are likely impossible to find.”

Viriato nodded. “Indeed. Though now I can’t help but wonder what you will ask of me.”

“I thought that was pretty clear,” John said. “I chose you because of what you were doing. It wouldn’t benefit either of us if I suddenly asked you to fight as a warrior. Of course, I am not without enemies so if they come after me you might also have to defend yourself… but I wouldn’t anticipate anything else. You already know my plans beyond the stall.”

“Good. I quite like my life as it is… though it is certainly pleasing to have stepped past that long time threshold.” Viriato couldn’t help but grin, which was quite normal for any cultivator who just made a significant advancement.

-----

John’s new sect couldn’t only have street urchins as members. Okay, that wasn’t technically true. It could but he didn’t want it to only have them. Obviously he didn’t mind them, but if he wanted to grow and expand he didn’t want his disciples to only be urchins from Lunson. He only cared about how it looked to outsiders as far as it affected recruitment- if they thought his disciples were inferior because of their origins, he would happily show them what they could do. But if people were hesitant to join, that would be something else. So he added to his always growing list of activities recruiting other sorts of individuals. Disciples… and support staff as well.

Fortunately for that expanding list, he was able to delegate many parts of it. Otherwise he would swamp himself with work and waste everything from whatever he established to his own cultivation training.

Along with that, he really needed a name. Initial ideas were easily rejected. The Rainbow Sect just didn’t fit. The colors didn’t match the elements at all- at best, he could include the four core elements but there would be much missing. Anything related to Lunson and Astrein was also out of the question. Aside from having a weak national identity, he also didn’t want people to think it was something that would only be relevant on a local scale.

“How do sects even pick names?” John complained to Crystin.

“I wouldn’t know. Since we came from a clan and all that, it was just our name.”

“Well I’m sure not calling it the Tenebach sect. Or the Miller sect,” John shook his head. “And the Six Elements Sect is… a bit basic.”

“It wouldn’t be incorrect, though,” Crystin pointed out.

“Yeah. But about that, maybe I need to get some assistance. Because uh, with me as sectmaster it would basically just be the Five Elements Sect. Unless people are willing to wait twenty years to a century,” John shrugged.

“Viriato would be an acceptable master for those practicing the light element,” Crystin said. “But I suppose he can’t always be present.”

“Right?” John said. “And we can’t just always rely on outsiders for help. Even if it’s someone like Nik or anyone from the Golden Tomb Guardians. We really need instructors for other elements as well. At least someone in the Foundation Phase, or it will be embarrassing.”

“I would tell you to wait until the next tournament, but that is… nearly the worst possible timing. I believe on the schedule of a decade, you came right on its heels.”

“Right? And I can’t just grab random people off the streets, regardless of their cultivation level. I need people that are trustworthy. But also of sufficient cultivation.”

“The best thing you can do is to meet as many people as possible then. It would also be best if you saw them in action.”

“Shame that the tournament is so far away,” John frowned. “But there are a number of permanent residents here to pick from. Then again, half of them work for the Platinum Tower Society.”

“Then there is only one thing you can do,” Crystin said.

“Give up?” John grinned.

“Offer better benefits.”

John’s mouth hung open. “You know, that’s extremely obvious in retrospect. Poaching people from clans is… a rather difficult task. But Sects also do quite a bit of work to instill loyalty.”

“If they have, then there is little you can do,” Crystin shrugged. “But not everyone will be satisfied with their position in life. And we’ve seen how the city is divided.”

John nodded. People like Oden and other Soul Expansion Phase cultivators walked around like they owned the place- which was only partially true. But Foundation Phase cultivators, while not without status, were basically just waiting until they advanced. But that required resources that might not be available to them, or a long period of time training in energy separating chambers.

“I’d like to organize a miniature tournament,” John said. “But for that, I need rewards. Is it alright to invite my own disciples? Is it fair not to allow them?”

“You can’t tell me that you think judges are ever truly impartial, are you?” Crystin said. “But in proper circumstances, a legitimate victor is discernible enough.”

John nodded. “I don’t know if I can wait to establish the sect until after that. Maybe it should be related to a celebration of its founding? People will probably be more willing to join a new sect than a not-yet-established one.”

“That all sounds reasonable.”

So. Prizes. They couldn’t be extremely lavish, considering his budget. But it was also about the relative significance of the tournament. If it was just local- Lunson, or perhaps anyone from Astrein- the actual pool of participants would be small. Arranging to use the arena should be simple enough, given it was literally doing nothing most of the time. That would cost something, but he could handle it.

It did mean he’d need to participate in some serious exploration or other money-making endeavors. The profitability of his food stand wasn’t insignificant, but it wasn’t something that could prop up a sect or even a small tournament on its own. John could either hunt and sell things to purchase the prizes or secure everything himself. Ultimately, he wanted a prize from every element available. This was the start of his sect, whatever it was going to be called. He didn’t want to show favoritism to any particular element. Which meant he would at minimum have to consult with some light element cultivators he knew to judge whatever he acquired. And perhaps he could invite some of his allies as judges. While it was still extremely biased to have people he knew in all of the judging roles, having a wider cast would at least appear somewhat more balanced. And as long as they tried to be fair, that would be good enough.