The Essence of Cultivation - Chapter 19: True to Form (8)

“It appears that Renzhi’s assessment of you is accurate,” Grandmaster Mu Siying said, after just a moment’s inspection. “You are different.”

That was… quite a way to open a conversation, considering that he only just sat down. Still, Sylar thought better than to voice that opinion aloud.

“Pardon?”

Grandmaster Mu did not reply to Sylar immediately. Instead, he turned toward Elder Yang, who was seated in an observer’s position by the side of the room. “You were right, Renzhi. The fundamentals of his cultivation do bear resemblance to those of the Celestial Crescent Sect and the adepts who follow the Way of Corporeal Enlightenment.”

“I was unsure, since I had never come across one of them myself,” Elder Yang said. “It is good to know that my intuition and judgment was not unfounded.”

“There is a hint of something different, though.” Mu Siying paused, peering at him like a hawk – and considering how much he reminded Sylar of the fabled Archmages, he couldn’t deny feeling intimidated by the man. “Yes, the heart of his cultivation lies elsewhere. He does not tread the same path as them.”

“That was my belief as well.”

“I’m sorry to interrupt,” Sylar said, hoping that attempt to maintain his politeness could mask his annoyance at being left out of the conversation. “But would you mind filling me in?”

A hint of a smile flickered past the Grandmaster’s lips, but it was hidden away almost instantly.

“Yes, definitely a Scholar,” Grandmaster Mu said, nodding knowingly toward Elder Yang. Only then did he turn to face Sylar and address him directly. “Sylar Spellsight. My disciple has been telling me a lot about you. I hear that it is you that we must thank for uncovering the nefarious deeds of those who would seek to do harm upon Magistrate Lu and his daughter, and who may yet still be lurking in the shadows of Jinxiang as we speak. Rest assured that I am now apprised of the situation, and am organising the disciples of my sect and rousing my fellows in the Crystal Path and Radiant Star to be on the alert.”

“It was what anyone would do,” Sylar said quickly. “And besides, I’ve taken on Qiyu as my own student now.”

“Hmm. Not many could have recognised the falsehoods laid out in front of their eyes if they were in your shoes,” Grandmaster Mu commented. “I wonder – is it humility that bids you not to accept commendation for your deeds, or perhaps it is that you value your abilities less than others do?”

It was phrased as a question, but there was no good reply that Sylar could give. He remained silent, hoping that the awkwardly plastered smile on his face was enough of a response.

“But to hear my thanks for your protection of Jinxiang in our stead is not why you have come today. My disciple has told me of your intentions, but I would prefer to hear the words from your own lips,” Grandmaster Mu said, and Sylar was thankful that he had moved on to the next topic. “You may speak.”

Sylar’s eyes flickered toward Elder Yang, who gave a subtle nod. He was about to begin pitching his proposal, but a stray thought had been nagging at him since several moments ago. He half-suspected that Grandmaster Mu had deliberately spoken as he did, and that somehow, this was part of the test of his character, but Sylar couldn’t continue through the rest of this discussion without first having his curiosity sated.

“Before that, though…” Sylar began, only slightly uncertain. “What did you mean earlier? Did you recognise my cultivation?”

There was a subtle change of Grandmaster Mu’s expression, but Sylar didn’t even truly know for himself how it had changed, except for the fact that it had. He had no idea whether he had given the right response to raise his own impression in the Grandmaster’s eyes.

“Those who follow the Path of the Scholar do have a unique qi about them, rare though they may be,” Grandmaster Mu said. “I suspect that you intend to comprehend the dao from a different angle from the others whose paths I have previously crossed with – but you are undoubtedly a Scholar all the same.”

“But what are these sects, exactly?” Sylar pressed. “What is it that they do?”

Diviners were rare even among mages. Their spells were not as destructive as what an elementalist could unleash, and many spells of Divination were best suited only for specific circumstances. Could it be that there were others in the Immortal Lands who based their cultivation on Fate Essence?

“You have not heard of them?” Grandmaster Mu questioned. “The stargazers of the Celestial Crescent Sect seek understanding of the dao through observing the movements of the stars. Though they rarely leave beyond the boundaries of their sect, I have had the luxury of paying a visit to their home in the Valley of Stars during my pilgrimage to the State of Qi some fifty years ago.” He paused, and for a moment, appeared to reminisce about his old memories. “Watching them execute the forms of their fabled Constellation-Sealing Palms had been as though the stars themselves were displaying their martial talent.”

Astronomers? That had to imply some degree of advanced mathematics and a keen understanding of geometry. Perhaps the scholars of the Immortal Lands were not all that different from the mages of Resham after all?

“And what about the other one you mentioned?”

“The Way of the Corporeal Enlightenment is more… a shared philosophy, perhaps, than the teachings of a single sect alone. The adepts of this path believe that comprehension of the dao must first come through comprehension of the body. Through cultivation and meditation, they become experts in all matters of anatomy and the medical arts,” Grandmaster Mu said. “But that is where their paths diverge. Some choose to utilise their knowledge as wandering healers and miracle workers, and pass on their teachings only to a few disciples without ever swearing themselves to the service of a sect. Others employ their mastery of the body only to inflict pain and deliver death – and all know to rightfully remain wary of the Assassins of the Shrouded Veil.”

Sylar frowned. It was true that Divination was often employed alongside Restoration magic, and it was not uncommon for one to divide their studies among both schools of magic. When put to combat, however, Divination magic had a strong potential to amplify by delivering the perfect spell at the most opportune time, and he himself had dedicated many years to practising with the art of combat divination in his time as an adventurer. One who simultaneously pursued Divination and Illusion magics to their highest levels could almost always elude the notice of others so long as they desired to remain hidden, and they often found employment as assassins and spies.

“I see,” Sylar said. “Thank you.”

He was about to switch topics and proceed with the proposal that he had rehearsed, but Grandmaster Mu spoke first.

“That does raise the question, however,” Grandmaster Mu said, and this time, the look that he gave Sylar was one that seemed as though he peered to the very depths of his soul itself. “I wonder – where does the Path of the Scholar lead you, Sylar Spellsight? To what end is it that you have dedicated yourself to pursuing the endless road of knowledge?”

Sylar was caught in a bind. The first answer that came to mind was obvious – magic. Ever since his days as a neophyte, his only true passion in life had been uncovering the many mysteries that yet pervaded the field of Essence Studies. From theoretical spellcrafting to the execution of spells in combat, and from uncovering the nature of the Planes Beyond to describing the many Transcendental creatures that existed beyond the Material Plane, he had dedicated himself fully to scholarly pursuit of the arcane.

It had been the mysteries of Essence and the hidden depths to the field that he had only just discovered for himself in recent works that had led him to where he was now. How could he have predicted just a few months ago that he’d be in a grand audience hall with a cultivator whose prowess was perhaps on par or close to that of an Archmage? How could he possibly have foretold that he would find himself in a world where mages honed their bodies and manifested supernatural phenomena not through the work of spells, but by pushing their bodies beyond the limits of the Material Plane?

It was his dao, he knew, and it was not inaccurate to claim that his personal essence of cultivation was simply that – the cultivation of Essence in itself. It had started his journey, and even now he was still working his way through the many secrets it yet held. Ever since his first days of apprenticeship, the notion of pushing what he knew of Essence Studies had never once left his mind.

He hesitated, however. He did not want Essence to become common knowledge just yet. He wasn’t yet fully comfortable with Grandmaster Mu, and though every detail painted him as a righteous individual who would not stand idly by if he chanced upon anyone in need, Sylar wasn’t yet certain just how much he could trust him.

Grandmaster Mu waited for him to speak. His expression was impassive, but the enormous power he emanated and the wizened visage he possessed were enough to make Sylar pick his words carefully.

“I specialise in the Spiritual Arts,” Sylar said slowly. “Cultivation is quite different in Resham. When I found myself in the Immortal Lands and discovered that there was an entire community that engaged in bodily cultivation, I knew at once that I could not sit easy without understanding just how it all fit together with the teachings of my homeland.”

Grandmaster Mu waited patiently, but no further elaboration was forthcoming. Hopefully, this would be enough.

“So that is your Path, Sylar Spellsight,” he mused. Grandmaster Mu looked at him for a moment longer and nodded. “Very well. But I shall offer you a piece of advice. Cultivation is a journey, Sylar Spellsight. If the destination cannot be distinguished from the journey, you may progress initially at first, that is true – but in time, without a further guiding purpose, you will find yourself lost on the path. It is commendable to place journey before destination – but there must always be a destination.”

It was a question that Sylar had asked himself many times. Sure, he had done as best he could for the people of Nimbria as an adventurer, and if there was ever a way that he could help, he would willingly use his spells for the good of the needy. But to say that he was uncovering the secrets of the arcane to help would be a lie – it was simply a matter of convenience, and even his time as an adventurer hadn’t arisen due to any ambition of his own, save that it was the first opportunity presented to him at the time to pursue further studies in magic after his apprenticeship with Master Rynwald had ended.

“Thank you for the advice,” Sylar said diplomatically, though he privately disagreed. Seeking knowledge for knowledge’s own sake was a worthwhile ambition. “I will keep it in mind.”

“Will you? Truly?”

Sylar tensed. Grandmaster Mu had a knowing look on his face, but he shook his head before Sylar could respond. “No matter. That is not the purpose of our negotiations today. We have spoken enough of other affairs, Sylar Spellsight – please, proceed with what you wish to say.”

Eager for the opportunity to break into the topic of conversation that he had actually prepared for, Sylar was only too glad to comply.

-x-x-x-

Mu Siying had not become the Grandmaster of the Righteous Heart Sect by bowing to the demands of others.

In the fifty years that he had been in the position, he had met all sorts of opportunists eager to capitalise on the goodwill of his sect. Certainly, many partnerships were fruitful and rewarding for both sides – the cultivation of the most gifted of Senior Disciples was greatly hastened by the procurement of rare spiritual herbs from the various sects elsewhere in the state of Wu – but many more who requested an audience with him had simply been boasting of what they could give to the Righteous Heart while peddling their meager talents around.

So far, Mu Siying could say that he was still undecided about Sylar Spellsight. Certainly, he had done plenty of good for the people of Jinxiang, and had left a lasting impression on Yang Renzhi. He had some grounding in the Spiritual Arts, and based on what he heard from his disciples also brought with him a great breadth of knowledge from his homeland that their sect was ignorant to.

But Mu Siying had met many people over the years. Men of courage and conviction; cultivators who would shake the heavens and part the seas in order to achieve their goals. These were the people whose names would be echoed over the ages to come.

He had a good eye for spotting such individuals. Yang Renzhi had once been among their number, until he succumbed to the weight of the burdens he unknowingly shouldered. Mu Siying had predicted the rise of more than a few leaders of sects across the state of Wu whose names were now spoken of in equal awe to his own. For those whose deeds would one day lead to great calamity for the people he protected, he had taken the harsh but necessary decision to clamp down upon their ambitions before such a future could come to pass.

Sylar Spellsight, however, was different. Though he did not give the impression of one who sought to oppress others to further his own goals, Mu Siying could not imagine the foreign man before him as one who could rally together the support of allies and crush his enemies under his feet. He lacked a certain conviction and ambition, and with the variety of cultivators he had met over the decades, he trusted in his instincts. Many who walked the Path of the Scholar without a clear purpose in mind tended to eventually become stalled in their cultivation.

At the same time, there was no denying that the cultivator before him held a great deal of potential. Yang Renzhi may have mellowed over the years, but he was not one to deliver a glowing recommendation without due reason.

“As Elder Yang may have informed you, I intend to set up an Academy of my own,” Sylar said. “However, I am aware that my knowledge of bodily cultivation is somewhat lacking, and that improper cultivation can lead to disastrous consequences. For the safety of both my future students and myself, I am keen to negotiate a mutually beneficial partnership with the Righteous Heart Sect.”

“The Nimbrian Academy of Essence Studies, as I recall?”

“Yes,” Sylar replied quickly. Perhaps far too quick. He tried to hide it, but the young cultivator was nervous. “My focus will be on imparting knowledge from my homeland to my students. I still need to actually recruit them, of course, but –“

He fell silent as the Grandmaster raised a palm. “Let us first discuss the matter of your sect before we talk of your future disciples,” Mu Siying said. “What is the identity of your sect, Sylar Spellsight? What values will you and your disciples uphold?”

“Uh – it’s not quite a sect, really –“

“Is it not?” Mu Siying interrupted, tapping on the table with one finger. “What do you think makes a sect?”

“Structure…?” Sylar said, uncertain. His eyes darted toward Yang Renzhi for a moment. “My academy is going to be much smaller and simpler, really.”

“But will you and your ‘academy’ not be a group with beliefs markedly different from other cultivators? A shared identity of your own, as it were? A group with unique beliefs, teachings, and techniques?”

Numbly, Sylar nodded.

“Then you are a sect, no matter what your name may be,” Mu Siying said with a tone of finality. “And so, I ask you again, child – what will be the identity of your sect?”

The young man was obviously not having expected the conversation to take such a turn, and Mu Siying knew fully well that he might perhaps be a tad overbearing in how he was deliberately keeping his guest off balance. Still, this was an important subject to discuss, and people often revealed their true intentions when placed under pressure. The Grandmaster could allow no risks when it came to his sect – both in terms of the continued confidentiality of their sect’s secrets, and the safety of his disciples who might become involved in the proposed arrangement.

Sylar took a moment to gather his thoughts, and Mu Siying waited patiently. There was an honesty to the young man, but he wasn’t foolish enough to be unaware that his guest still kept certain matters close to his heart. Mu Siying fully expected it – if Sylar freely revealed all his knowledge now to someone he had only met for the first time today, his impression of the cultivator would plummet.

“Well… I suppose our aim will be to understand more about the process of cultivation, specialising first in the Spiritual Arts,” Sylar finally said, looking the Grandmaster in the eye. “My vision is of a future whereby anyone with the right knowledge can practice cultivation through a definite system of rules. We will understand how – and why – the dangers of cultivation are the way they are, and we will find the means to reduce such risks.” He paused for a moment, seemingly searching for the right words. “We will be scholars who practice cultivation for cultivation.”

There was a sincerity in his words. He was probably still keeping some information close to his chest, but Mu Siying doubted it was due to any ill intent.

Fine. A true scholar. Time would tell whether he could achieve such bold goals.

“Come, Sylar Spellsight.”

The young cultivator stood up, perplexed, but Mu Siying beckoned him over. He pointed out of the open window. “What do you see?”

“…mountains?” Sylar spoke, after a moment’s uncertainty. “Lots of trees? And that’s Penshan City down there… Uh, I guess if you squint a bit, you can make out a little of the Silver Forest as well…”

He trailed off. Mu Siying observed him for a moment longer. It was truly difficult to get a read on the young man, and he had to admit to his own curiosity surrounding his circumstances. Even with all his decades of experience, both before and after his current position as Grandmaster of the sect, he had never come across one as advanced in spiritual cultivation while remaining barely an adept at bodily cultivation.

Then, he looked out the window. Five decades ago, he had been in Sylar’s position, and his former master had posed him that exact same question. His reply had been much the same as Sylar Spellsight’s own.

Now, however, experience taught him to take in more than just what his eyes saw. The Penshan mountain range was rich with life, and he knew that there were more than a few Spiritual Beasts who called this place home. Penshan City remained strong, even though just short of two hundred years ago, it had been a small settlement whose citizens were oppressed by the cultivator sects in its vicinity. It had been under the leadership of his predecessor of the age that their sect had rallied together their like-minded sister sects, drove off the other sects who thought only of their own interests, and established the Penshan Alliance to maintain vigil over Jinxiang.

“I see the lives and the lands I am charged with protecting. I see the honest people of Penshan who hold us with respect, and who count on us to look after them. I see lands rich with cultivation resources that any other sect with untoward intentions would jump at the chance to procure, even if it means uprooting the lives of the common people.” Mu Siying said. “I am the guardian of Jinxiang. I take no delight in it, but I will show no mercy even to members of my own sect should they seek to harm others for their own ends. Even if it pained me, I have exiled my former disciples with their cultivation crippled once I learned of their duplicity toward the sect and to the people we protect.”

Only now did he turn around and face Sylar.

He had proven himself favourably in his decision to come to the aid of Magistrate Lu and his family. But now, Mu Siying needed to test the true depths of his character. He reached within, drawing upon the qi that had been honed over the almost ten decades of his life, and brought its force completely to bear.

It overwhelmed Sylar Spellsight almost immediately. There was little he could do with the meagre cultivation of his body he had carried out. It was an intimidation tactic – but it was in the face of overwhelming power that people tended to be most honest with themselves. He had to hear Sylar’s words before deciding if he was worthy of being an ally of the sect, and only then could they discuss any further arrangements.

“Knowing all of that – does your course remain unchanged? Will you still swear you and yours as allies of the Righteous Heart, and of our sister sects of the Penshan Alliance?”

-x-x-x-

Sylar was feeling very out of his depth right now.

It made a lot more sense in his head. Step one: present his proposal. Step two: appeal to the Grandmaster’s sense of honour and righteousness, leveraging on his actions in the Lu Manor and the uncovering of the nefarious plans of their unknown enemies. Step three: swiftly divert to safe territory and amaze the Grandmaster with his knowledge of the arcane, and entice him with some display of magic that the local cultivators likely would never have seen before.

Instead, he was now put on the back foot, and with the crushing pressure that the Grandmaster exuded, it felt almost as though saying the wrong answer here would result in him being pasted on the floor. Granted, Elder Yang probably wouldn’t let that come to pass, but facing Grandmaster Mu as he was now, Sylar would admit to feeling a tinge of fear.

The Grandmaster had unleashed a portion of his qi, and though he did not draw in Essence as those who had achieved a Revelation were able to, it felt almost as though Sylar had been placed under a Zone of Truth. His instincts were practically screaming at him that any lie – no matter how slight – seemed as though it would be sensed by the Grandmaster immediately, and the consequences would surely be dire.

“I… can’t agree to an unconditional vow of alliance,” Sylar admitted. “There are too many unknowns here – both on your side and mine. When faced with one vastly more powerful than myself, I… I cannot promise that I will not turn tail and flee.” Sylar inhaled. The pressure emanating from the Grandmaster was vast. “But what I can promise you is that I will not stand idly by if ever I am able to offer my aid to those who need it. I cannot promise to offer all my knowledge immediately – but if ever doing so becomes necessary to avert any unnecessary disaster, I will give it up freely to those who need it.”

He waited for Grandmaster Mu’s response, only dimly aware of the breath he was holding in. This was it. He had laid bare his intentions, and it was now up to the Grandmaster to decide whether he was worthy of being an associate of the sect.

“I see,” Grandmaster Mu said. He nodded. “Very well, then. Renzhi?”

Elder Yang bowed to his master. He turned around, pacing to the side of the audience hall, and retrieved an object wrapped in an ornate-looking cloth. Slowly and deliberately, he made his way back to the Grandmaster’s side, and unfurled the exquisite golden silks.

There, laid upon the silk was a thick block of vibrant green jade. A set of characters was inscribed on its surface, but from this distance Sylar could not make them out completely.

The Grandmaster walked over, every step measured and poised. He held it out in both hands.

Sylar looked at the jade presented to him. Now, he could clearly see the words engraved upon it.

PENSHAN ALLIANCE.

Beside the bold etchings, there was a series of smaller characters that he knew were the virtues shared among the three sects of the Alliance. Loyalty. Conviction. Courage. Wisdom. Honour.

Sylar stared at it. Does this mean –

“Sylar Spellsight; Sect Leader of the Nimbrian Academy of Essence Studies,” Grandmaster Mu said. “By this exchange of vows, and by the presentation of this treasure of our sect, we of the Righteous Heart welcome you and yours to Jinxiang. In your hour of need, the Righteous Heart shall answer, and we expect for you to do the same in ours. Know that should you fall short of the expectations placed upon you whether through action or inaction, you and yours will have to bear the consequences of your choices.”

There was a trace of magic imbued upon the object, Sylar now realised, as he brought his hands closer to it. It wasn’t the most potent of presences, but there was a hint of the Vibrant Gardens about it – the Plane that was the embodiment of Life. Was this yet another Divine Treasure they had retrieved from Tribulation?

“I can’t accept this,” Sylar hurriedly said, stunned. “This is -”

“You carry the weight of the five hundred thousand lives of Jinxiang upon your shoulders now, Sylar Spellsight,” the Grandmaster said, his words filled with gravitas. “This is what it means to accept this responsibility. For those who would bear the duty of safeguarding those weaker than themselves, this gift of friendship and a declaration of alliance is but a paltry token.”

Sylar knew that the Grandmaster would not budge. Finally, he accepted the gift, and sorely wished he had the foresight to bring something with him when he had set off earlier that day. What was the purpose of Divination, if something so trivial had completely slipped past him?

“But let us not get ahead of ourselves, Sect Leader Sylar,” Grandmaster Mu said. “This has only solidified your sect’s position within the Penshan Alliance. We have yet to discuss the matter of what it is you can offer us, and what we can in turn provide for your services unto our sect.”

It was… odd, to hear the title now bestowed upon him – but Sylar had the distinct impression that there would be no shaking Grandmaster Mu’s decision to call him that. Things could always be worse, he supposed. His school could instead have been called the Nimbrian Academy of Essence Studies… Sect.

But this was not the time for such thoughts. This was his chance. From here on out, he would need to prove his worth more than through words alone.

“My strengths are in the Spiritual Arts. I mean no offense – but I believe that I know more about the Spiritual Arts than even you, Grandmaster,” Sylar said. Grandmaster Mu raised a brow, but did not otherwise comment. “I have seen the techniques used by Ranking Disciple Wu Guanzhong and Senior Disciple Song Quanhao. They are decent, but unrefined. I believe that I am able to offer assistance in bringing a new perspective to the techniques of your sect.”

“Oh?” Grandmaster Mu spoke, and there was a twitch at one corner of his lips. “Are you that confident in your abilities, Sylar Spellsight?”

“Yes.”

This was the one thing that Sylar knew. He had seen the Animate Objects used by Guanzhong, and though it was technically adequate, there was far too much rigidity in his spellcasting, and he did not play around with the subtle variations in positional and conformational isomerism that allowed for different manifestations of what was ultimately the same spell. It was a fairly advanced technique, and though the concept applied from the moment one could cast First Level spells, it only truly came into play from the Second Level. The fact that they could cast Fourth Level spells and still not utilise this in their casting was – frankly – a travesty.

“No hesitation at all.” Grandmaster Mu glanced at Elder Yang. “I’m starting to see why you are so fond of our new ally, Renzhi. But is this confidence born out of wisdom, ignorance, or arrogance?”

“Feel free to test me,” Sylar said readily. “I reckon there’s a thing or two I know about the Spiritual Arts that can impress even you, Grandmaster.”

“Is that so?” He gave no impression as to whether he believed Sylar’s assertion. “Follow me, then.”

The Grandmaster stepped past Sylar without even waiting for a response. Not once did he turn back to check if Sylar was following him, and Sylar hurried behind him as he was led out of the audience hall. Once more, they crossed the galleries of trinkets on display that appeared to be items greatly valued by the sect.

Grandmaster Mu flung the doors open. The gathered cultivators were still there, and as one, led by Elders Hua and Zhou in the fore, they bowed respectfully to their Grandmaster as he made his appearance.

“Grandmaster Mu!”

A wave of greetings ran out. The Grandmaster raised a palm, and they raised their heads to listen to his address. They spoke not even a whisper, and though their reverence was not even directed at him, Sylar still felt awkward and out of place as he peeked from behind the Grandmaster.

“I have accepted Sylar Spellsight’s desire to establish the sect of the Nimbrian Academy of Essence Studies, and now formally welcome him to the Penshan Alliance.” The Grandmaster gave a cursory look at the faces of his disciples, and then brought his arm out in a sweeping gesture toward Sylar. “May Jinxiang usher in a new age of prosperity!”

A chorus of united cheers echoed in the wake of the Grandmaster’s words. “May our kindred sect enjoy success!”

They were turning this into a far, far bigger deal than he had expected it to be. When he had opened his academy in Resham, only a handful of the commonfolk and a token number of the nobility had turned up, and only because of the reception he hosted and his prior reputation as being among the united bands of adventurers who had rescued the Kingdom from the Lich’s clutches. Even opening his new school here had been but a spur of the moment decision.

Watching the sight before him now, however, the weight of the responsibilities he accepted was starting to set in. He was part of the Penshan Alliance now. Jin looked at him with respect, and beside him Qiyu was standing proudly. From the frail girl who’d been haunted by Necromantic arts, she had grown plenty in both mind and magic over the past several weeks.

“There is more,” Grandmaster Mu said, once their voices had settled. “Sylar Spellsight intends to negotiate an exchange of knowledge and techniques between our sects – both as a sign of friendship, and to sharpen each other’s skills to reach new heights of cultivation. He has offered his specialised knowledge to refine our sect’s Spiritual Arts, and seeks to receive guidance for cultivation of the body for him and his students in return.”

Elder Yang and the rest of his friends must not have spread the word yet, because Sylar could see the obvious perplexed looks directed his way, and more than a few of the Senior Disciples had their brows furrowed. Some were excited – mostly the junior members, he noticed, and likely those who had been present when he and Guanzhong had their impromptu spar.

But… just what was he meant to do here? Why had Grandmaster Mu brought him out here, rather than witness the exhibition of spells that he had prepared in the audience hall or one of the training rooms within the compound?

Unfortunately, Grandmaster Mu was intent on keeping him in suspense.

“Sylar Spellsight,” he said. “Earlier, you declared your confidence in your ability to improve the capabilities of even our Ranking Disciples, and that your knowledge of the Spiritual Arts may impress even myself.”

It wasn’t phrased as a question. Still, Sylar slowly answered. “Yes.”

He nodded. “Then let us proceed to the training terrace.”

He held an arm out, gesturing for Sylar to walk beside him. He did as asked, but it was an uncomfortable walk, seeing as the Elders were now organising their disciples to follow behind them. Did Grandmaster Mu intend for him to hold a public demonstration?

Sylar supposed it made sense. These were the people he would be teaching, after all, and they would want to witness his spells in action before taking any of his tutelage and advice to heart.

The place he was led to was a familiar one. Just several weeks prior, it had been here that he had first truly glimpsed the existence of cultivation, and had discovered that the mages of Resham had been overly arrogant in their dogmatic categorisation of Essence and magic.

It was strange. It had been only about three or four weeks, but to him, his loss to Guanzhong felt like it had been more than a year ago. He had advanced his insights into both Essence Studies and cultivation significantly, and was now himself a cultivator who had achieved the First Comprehension of bodily cultivation and the Second Comprehension that was spiritual cultivation.

Grandmaster Mu did not say a word. He beckoned for Sylar to stand in the middle of the terrace, as the number of spectators along the periphery continued to grow. There had to be at least a hundred of them – several hundreds, probably – and Sylar knew that there were yet more members of the sect still out in the greater Jinxiang region keeping watch over the various settlements.

The murmuring grew louder, and Sylar was beginning to feel unsettled. He was confident with his spellcasting, but there was always a non-zero chance that he would accidentally make a blunder in shaping and activating the Essence. Having this many eyes on him was a far cry from how he usually practiced at his craft.

“Yang Renzhi. Hua Feiyan. Zhou Yishi. Attend me.”

The three Elders stepped forward without any hesitation. Sylar took the opportunity to take in the last of the sect’s Elders that he had only just met. Zhou Yishi was younger than even Elder Hua, perhaps a decade or so older than Sylar himself. There was an inquisitive air about him, and though he paid his respects to his master, he locked eyes with Sylar for an instant and seemed curious about the outlander who had arrived while he had been away receiving training with the Grandmaster.

And… there was a sense of something different to him. Now that he had spent several weeks in the Immortal Lands, he could vaguely recognise the qi of others. He wasn’t good at recognising and linking the types of spellforms they burned with the way that he perceived their qi, but the difference here was stark enough that even Sylar had a vague impression that the basis of his cultivation was markedly different from the others he had met. He wasn’t burning Essence – none of the cultivators had throughout the ceremonial proceedings – but Sylar would readily bet that his cultivation was derived from a different source.

“Yes, Grandmaster?” Elder Yang spoke on their behalf as the most senior of the three, his head bowed. “How may we be of service to the sect?”

Grandmaster Mu spared a moment to glance at Sylar. There was a calculative look in his eyes. A brief flash of hesitation passed before them, but when he turned back to face the Elders, his next words were spoken with authority and conviction.

“The rules of this exhibition match are simple,” Grandmaster Mu said. “Only Spiritual Arts are permitted. Sylar Spellsight must face each of the three Elders of the Righteous Heart Sect in a series of one-on-one bouts and emerge the victor.”

…what?