The Heavenly Dao Hall stood at the highest peak of the Heavenly Cloud Peak, its massive jade pillars rising into the sea of spiritual mist like columns supporting the sky. Ancient arrays hummed beneath the white stone plaza, sending ripples of pure energy through the soles of anyone who walked upon it. For ordinary outer disciples, simply standing near the gates was enough to accelerate their cultivation.
Su Ming and Lin Yao walked side-by-side up the thousand steps of the grand plaza. The white robes of White Lotus Peak fluttered in the mountain wind.
"Peak Master Su," a deacon in dark blue robes stepped forward, bowing deeply. "The Sect Master is waiting in the inner chambers. Disciple Lin Yao, please follow me to the treasury first to select your reward."
Su Ming nodded gently to Lin Yao. "Go. Choose what resonates with you."
"Yes, Master," Lin Yao bowed, her expression calm as she followed the deacon toward the grand treasury gates on the eastern wing of the hall.
The treasury was a vast hall filled with rows of glowing jade shelves, each holding ancient boxes, glowing scriptures, and sheathed weapons. The aura of hundreds of spiritual items mixed in the air, creating a faint, multicolored mist.
"According to the Sect Master's decree, as the joint winner of the Group Two tournament, you may select any weapon, technique, or item of Mystic Rank," the deacon explained, gesturing to the shelves.
Lin Yao did not look at the glowing jade slips containing defensive techniques or speed arts. She walked slowly down the weapon aisle, her fingers trailing near her waist. As she walked, the dormant Nether Flame within her dantian flickered faintly.
Suddenly, her gaze locked onto a weapon resting on a stone pedestal at the very back of the hall.
It was a sheathed sword. The scabbard was made of dark, frozen iron, completely devoid of any decorative gems. A faint, physical chill radiated from it, frosting the stone pedestal beneath.
"Ah, the Cold Abyss Sword," the deacon said, stepping up beside her. "It is a Middle Grade Mystic Rank sword forged from deep ice-steel. Because it conducts cold and Yin energy too aggressively, normal ice-attribute cultivators find it difficult to control. It has sat here for nearly a hundred and fifty years."
Lin Yao reached out and gripped the hilt. The moment her hand touched the dark iron, a freezing, soothing sensation surged up her arm, perfectly aligning with the cold flow of her Nether Flame. She drew the blade an inch. A dark, crystalline sheen reflected in her eyes, stable and unyielding.
"I choose this," Lin Yao said quietly, sheathing the sword with a soft *clack*.
"Very well," the deacon sighed in relief, recording the selection on a jade slip.
***
Meanwhile, Su Ming was guided through the winding, quiet corridors of the Heavenly Dao Hall to the Sect Master's private chambers. The room was simple, decorated only with a low wooden table, two cushions, and a boiling clay kettle of spiritual tea.
Sect Master Jun Tianya sat cross-legged behind the table, his long hair falling neatly over his shoulders. His aura was completely recessed, yet the space around him felt heavy and still.
"Sit, Peak Master Su," Jun Tianya said, pouring a cup of hot tea and gesturing to the opposite cushion.
Su Ming bowed slightly and sat down, taking the cup. "Thank you, Sect Master."
Jun Tianya looked at him, his deep eyes carrying a trace of genuine curiosity. "Three months ago, you were struggling at the late stage of Foundation Establishment, with your meridians clogged. Today, you fly unassisted and defeat Li Heng in a single strike."
His tone now turned serious, "Su Ming, how did you break through to the Golden Core Realm so quickly?"
Su Ming took a slow sip of the tea. His expression remained calm and polite. "I went out for a brief excursion away from the peak and had a fortuitous encounter. It was a rare opportunity that cleansed my meridians and allowed me to break through."
Jun Tianya studied his face for a moment. He knew every cultivator had their hidden secrets, and in the cultivation world, prying too deeply into another's fortune was a taboo, even for a Sect Master. "A fortuitous encounter indeed. Your master, Elder Xuan, was a man of limited words. It seems his choice of successor was correct."
He paused, his gaze shifting slightly. "And what of your disciple, Lin Yao? Her black flames are quite unusual. Even some of our elders could not identify the technique. It doesn't seem like it's one of ours."
"It is a variation of my own cultivation technique," Su Ming replied calmly.
He slowly opened his right palm. With a faint stir of his Qi, a small, flicking flame of black fire danced above his skin. The air in the room instantly dropped in temperature, a thin layer of frost forming on the edge of the wooden table.
"During my excursion, I encountered a natural death formation, and a death seed was born out of it," Su Ming explained. "I studied its cold and Yin attributes, incorporating them into my own cultivation. These are simply Yin flames I refined. Seeing Lin Yao's affinity for yin energy, I passed the technique down to her."
Jun Tianya leaned forward, his eyes narrowing slightly as he inspected the black flame. He could feel the pure, devouring chill radiating from Su Ming's palm. The signature of the Qi was identical to the flames Lin Yao had used in the arena.
"A natural death seed...huh..." Jun Tianya murmured as the flame vanished from Su Ming's hand.
"To refine such chaotic Yin energy into a controllable flame is no small feat. It is a formidable technique."
He took a sip of his tea, his tone becoming more formal. "Now, let us discuss the partial Saint-level cultivation technique you submitted to the sect two months ago. It is a grand contribution. According to sect rules, such a submission qualifies you for a reward up to the High-Mystic Rank. What is it you desire?"
Su Ming set his cup down and cupped his hands. "Sect Master, I request knowledge and manuals regarding soul cultivation."
Jun Tianya's eyes flashed with a strange light. He looked at Su Ming, his spiritual sense sweeping over him. "I see. Your soul... it is not thinned or damaged, but something doesn't seem right. It is incredibly vibrant, full of raw, powerful energy. Yet, it is rough and completely unrefined. I assume this is also related to your recent fortuitous encounter?"
"It is," Su Ming admitted simply, offering no further details.
"Without a proper soul cultivation, such raw energy will eventually strain your vessel and cause backlash," Jun Tianya nodded, reaching into his spatial ring. He produced a grey jade slip and placed it on the table.
"If you had submitted a complete Saint Level technique, you would have deserved a Saint Level technique in return, but as that sword technique was an incomplete Saint-level technique, you can get a High-Mystic grade reward. This grey jade slip was recovered from an ancient battlefield expedition three thousand years ago, and is currently the second-best soul cultivation manual our sect possesses. We suspect it is a fragment of a Saint-rank technique, but we only recovered this. It will allow you to refine and smooth out that rough energy."
He looked at Su Ming, his voice dropping slightly. "However, you must understand that soul cultivation is not the norm in our Heavenly Cloud Sect. My knowledge about this topic is limited, and standard cultivation methods do not focus primarily on the soul. The manual itself is merely the method; without guidance, you risk deviation."
"Our Illusion Moon Peak possesses the deepest knowledge and inheritance regarding mind and soul arts. If you wish to study this path in detail, you should visit them. I will send word to Peak Master Yue that you wish to consult their records."
Su Ming's heart stirred, 'Finally..'
He cupped his hands. "Thank you, Sect Master. I will visit Illusion Moon Peak. There is one other request. In preparation for my future path and guiding my disciples, I wish to study medicine. If possible, I request advance medical texts and manuals regarding the human body, meridians from the Medicine Hall."
Jun Tianya smiled faintly. "Very well. The Medicine Hall is directly under the administrative section of Heavenly Cloud Peak, though it coordinates closely with Vermilion Flame Peak for pill supplies. Elder Liu, who assisted you recently, can facilitate this. I will have the deacons arrange for a collection of advanced medical texts to be delivered to White Lotus Peak."
"Thank you, Sect Master," Su Ming said, bowing.
Jun Tianya's expression turned slightly serious. "There is also the matter of the two unconscious travelers you settled in the Medicine Hall under Elder Liu. What's their background?"
Su Ming's face did not twitch. "Just two travelers I encountered during my travels. They were heavily injured, and since I had the means, I brought them back to help them recover. I have no other connection to them."
Jun Tianya studied him for a long second, then nodded slowly. "As long as they do not bring trouble to the sect, I will not interfere."
He reached into his sleeve and produced a second, glowing blue jade slip, placing it on the table beside the grey one.
"Lastly, there is a matter, and a gift entrusted to me," Jun Tianya said, his voice dropping.