Patriarch Umbra didn't try to recruit me to help with whatever was going to be done with the Magma Kraken or the Nascent Soul Realm Cultivators.

That didn't surprise me, not that I would have offered or volunteered.

The power level of monsters and Cultivators Clement and I had reported were beyond me. What did surprise me was that she didn't grill me on Spirit Contracts, ask how the Sect could procure their own Spirit Companions, or try to gain the information on building [Spirit Cleansing] arrays.

She even went so far as to reward Clement and me with ten thousand contribution points for our reports each. And further added that we would each receive a finder's fee for any treasures that were found.

Ten-thousand contribution points would have been an impressive haul for any other Qi Gathering Realm Cultivator, and I would use them. But they were barely a dent in the balance sheet of points I had gathered and spent over the last year or what I planned to spend in the future.

"Head of House," Clement said, gaining my attention after we had left the Patriarch's office, "I have a few errands to run before we return to Xiwang. I'm sure you have your own errands to manage, but might I suggest you visit Cultivator Yvonne in her shop?

"She might be able to resolve any lingering doubts you might have in accepting her Fief in Vassalage. I'm sure you can come to an agreement that you are both happy with, and we can finish processing the relevant documents."

It was a good plan and one I would follow. Once I got over the fact that Clement had started calling me Head of House or House Leader. He was a Nihility Realm Cultivator, and to have him treat me with deference was an obvious affectation to remind others who might be listening that he was a member of House Myche now.

And to let those listening know that he considered his membership in House Myche as the role that would define who he was and how others should approach and interact with him.

"Thank you, I'll do that. When I have finished speaking with her, I will be returning directly to Xiwang. I have a week's worth of meetings and discussions to wade through. That should be enough time for a building to be constructed that we can use for the first [Spirit Summoning] and find you a partner," I informed him.

"I want to give every member of House Myche a chance to form a contract before widening my offer to the Cultivators that are members of the Dojo. Once the Clan is established, Clan members will have priority over Dojo, but I hope most of the Cultivators that are part of the Dojo will accept an invitation to the Clan.

"Toi has mentioned that the normal descriptors of apprentice, journeyman, adept, and master don't factor into the strength and skill of [Summoning Circles] when setting it. It is the power of the Cultivator that determines efficacy and power.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"Your Immortal Realm will power the circle and gain the attention of more powerful Spirits. You will be the first so that the circle that I will scribe is at its most powerful, with no chance of degradation settling in."

"That seems prudent, House Leader. I am reaching out to some of my closest acquaintances to offer them a chance to join. I doubt we will gain the interest of first-rank Cultivators, but there should be a good few seeds that would be interested in building a House and Clan to supplement the people you have gathered.

"I will assume you have left for Xiwang or will be leaving soon when I finish my errands and not wait or look for you. Your scribe and Librarian, Aki, and I have a few items to discuss, so you will be able to find me with her much of tomorrow," Clement said, immediately taking his leave.

Yvonne had set up her own shop in one of the busiest areas of the Sect. As an Adept tiered leather worker, she could have had a spot assigned to her in the leather-worker section of the Sect. Instead, Yvonne had decided to open a shop in a high-traffic area near a food court. A place where the ebb and flow of foot traffic would garner more interest in the armor she showed artfully displayed in windows.

I stopped to examine the different armor pieces she had on display, ranging from simple items like gloves and belts to full-body pieces. She didn't use mannequins to showcase her armor, instead using an illusion array to make it seem as if someone was wearing the piece.

Even going so far as to have the illusion demonstrate how the armor would move. The illusion was constructed to use the shape, form, and likeness of anyone looking into the window, and as I watched, I saw myself engulfed in skin-tight leather that used beast and monster bone for some of the construction.

The set came with what looked like a utility belt. A number of square bags were strategically placed to offer ease of access. I wasn't certain, but I guessed that each bag worked as a storage device. If I were right, it would appear that Yvonne took my idea when she created my armor and incorporated it into some of her other designs.

The piece was beautiful, crafted with a dominatrix look and feel. A mask and a leather whip would be all that was needed to complete the ensemble, not exactly to my taste. I preferred something more ethereal. The flowing silks and gathered pleating of a well-tailored Hanfu were the type of fashion I preferred.

I could still admit to the artistry of the piece. The seams where leather pieces joined had been masterfully stitched with embroidery to hide basic construction principles. Although I wouldn't purchase the piece, the illusion that was presented, of me in that suit moving through martial poses, drew the attention of some of the wandering people.

I wouldn't buy it, but I could tell from the thoughtful expressions of more than one person that noticed how the armor made me look that Yvonne was about to gain a few orders.

"Welcome to Yvonne's Armory," a young man said in greeting as I entered the shop.

"Is Sect Sister Yvonne available to meet?" I asked.

"Sect Sister Yvonne only sees prospective customers by appointment. Would you like to schedule one?"

"I am hoping to speak with her about personal matters between us. Would you ask her if she has time to speak with me? Tell her that Jai Myche would like a few moments of her time."

The young Elf looked uncertain but finally decided to remove his comm device and speak with Yvonne. She agreed to see me, and I was happy to note that the comm devices my people had developed and manufactured were becoming mainstream.

I'd seen the raw numbers, but knowing that sales were good and the comms were profitable and seeing them in use was a different thing. I could see with my own eyes that our products were being used and becoming a part of Sect life.