Chapter 39 – Dragged to Glory, Kicking and Screaming
Jun De ascended the final steps from the basement of the Nine-Treasure Pagoda, his footsteps quick and energic. He felt better and stronger than he had been before entering the Ninefold Refinement Array.
‘It’s strange that I would feel so good since being in that place was pure torture.’ Jun De thought.
When he reached the top of the staircase, he noticed that the once-bustling halls of the ground floor of the Pagoda were nearly deserted. Rows of counters were empty, and only a handful of Disciples moved about, speaking in hushed whispers and hurrying about their business.
Jun De pushed open the tall, lacquered doors of the Pagoda and stepped into the sunlight. Blinking his eyes to adjust to the sudden brightness, he paused as he noticed someone waiting for him.
Elder Mu stood just beyond the threshold, dressed in flowing blue robes trimmed in gold that marked her as an Elder of the Inner Sect. The breeze tugged gently at the billowing sleeves of her clothing, and her expression was calm and unreadable.
‘Oh no, this can’t be good.’ Jun De thought as he bowed deeply and clasped his hands together.
“Disciple Jun De greets the honored Inner Sect Elder Mu.” Jun De stated, his voice calm and collected despite his inner turmoil.
The Elder regarded him for a moment, her eyes seeming to pierce through him to assess his cultivation before her sharp blue eyes softened.
“Congratulations on your progress, Disciple Jun. Your cultivation has advanced considerably. Your time within the Ninefold Refinement Array was well spent.”
“I thank the Elder for her guidance.” Jun De replied, glancing back toward the pagoda with unease. He never wanted to step foot inside the basement there again, and he likely wouldn’t come near the Nine-Treasure Pagoda until the trauma of his experience faded.
“I plan to return home to rest for a few days within my courtyard, Elder Mu.” Jun De said, thinking to assure the Elder that he wasn’t planning on pushing himself. He recalled Elder Hua’s concerns about his cultivation, and he figured running into Elder Mu wasn’t a coincidence.
But Elder Mu shook her head.
“Your Qi appears quite stable, Jun De. The Ninefold Refinement Array can be arduous for many cultivators, but the Elders were confident it would be of no concern to you. I can see any worry regarding your health and cultivation were unwarranted.”
Before Jun De could reply with an argument, Elder Mu continued.
“The Sect Master has given new orders. You are to proceed directly to the Tower of Tempered Will.” Elder Mu stated, her tone formal.
Jun De blinked in confusion, and his head tilted slightly to the side.
“The Sect Master?” Jun De mumbled.
‘What the hell did I do to attract the Sect Master’s attention?!’ Jun De screamed inside while trying to keep calm.
“In recognition of your contributions and dedication, you have been granted a special privilege. You will be allowed to divide your time between the Ninefold Refinement Array and the Tower. Few Disciples receive such favour from the Sect, do not waste it.” She continued, and Jun De’s confusion grew.
Jun De stood at the base of the Nine-Treasure Pagoda and felt as if his entire world had come crashing down around him. He sank into the pits of despair; his life was over. All he had wanted in this new life was comfort and enjoyment, but it seemed that fate had a different future in mind.
He let out a long sigh.
“What did I do to deserve such treatment?” Jun De wondered, his thoughts filling with images of the Ninefold Refinement Array and the torture he had endured. He could feel the spiritual energy pushing against him, threatening to grind him into dust.
Elder Mu smiled slightly in amusement as she mistook his tone for humility. She thought that Jun De truly didn’t understand what his accomplishments were or why the Sect was taking such an interest in him.
It was completely beyond her ability to understand that Jun De didn’t want to train or fight.
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“You retrieved the Inheritance, protected the Outer Sect Disciples in the Outer Valley, and endured the Ninefold Refinement Array without complaint. You’ve proven your dedication time and time again, Disciple Jun. It’s only natural for the Sect to recognize your value.”
Jun De looked at her, opening his mouth slightly before closing it again. There was no use explaining what he really meant, that he just wanted to relax and be lazy for a while.
Instead, he nodded.
‘I agreed to do anything the Sect wanted if they just let me out of the Ninefold Refinement Array. And the threat is pretty clear: I either go into the Tower, or they will throw me back into the Array for more training.’
Elder Mu gestured gently toward the Tower, which was visible in the distance.
“Come, the Tower of Tempered Will is a great opportunity. It would be wise to take advantage of it for as long as it is available to you.” Elder Mu advised.
“Yes, an opportunity.” Jun De replied his thoughts far away.
Elder Mu continued, completely unaware of Jun De’s inner turmoil.
“You have inspired the Outer Sect. Many Disciples are following your example, working harder and aiming higher. The Sect believes that not only will you rise far in this trial, but your actions will spur the other Disciples to greater heights.”
Jun De offered a faint smile, more on reflex than any feeling of happiness, and gave her another bow.
“Thank you, Elder Mu. I will head there now.”
She nodded with satisfaction, unaware that with every passing moment, Jun De’s heart sank a little bit lower.
“I will bring you to the Tower.” Elder Mu suddenly declared, surprising even herself. She felt a keen interest in observing Jun De’s performance in the Tower.
Before Jun De could respond, her flying sword shimmered into existence next to her. It appeared from the storage ring on her finger, glowing faintly with spiritual energy. It was a long blade made of a bluish metal that shimmered like still water under moonlight.
Elder Mu lifted Jun De onto the sword with a gentle motion of her sleeve, easily carrying him with her Qi. As soon as they were settled on the sleek blade, the world seemed to drop away.
They rose sharply into the sky, the ground falling swiftly beneath them. Wind faintly rushed past his face, and the buildings of the Outer Sect blurred into streaks of green, grey and gold. His breath caught in his throat due to a mixture of excitement and fear.
Jun De had seen Elders and high-ranking Disciples soar through the skies on swords before, and he thought he had grown used to the sight. But the feeling of flying on a sword, the sense of freedom and movement, was breathtaking.
“This is amazing!” Jun De exclaimed, and Elder Mu allowed herself a rare, full smile.
‘Despite Jun De’s accomplishments and talents, he is still a young man.’ Elder Mu thought, reminding herself. It was easy to forget that Jun De was only in his late teens or early twenties. His appearance, the way he took everything in stride and was rarely flustered, made him seem older than that.
The Tower of Tempered Will quickly came into view, rising like a monolith from the central courtyard. Its nine-tiered form gleamed in the sun while its many windows pulsed with spiritual energy.
The courtyard bustled with activities as thousands of Outer Sect Disciples gathered outside, watching the ranking boards, comparing notes, or sharing stories about what tactics they had attempted or rumours about some of the top Disciples.
When Elder Mu and Jun De descended on her flying sword, the Disciples below quickly noticed, and shouts could be heard.
“It’s Elder Mu Yanyu!”
“And Jun De?!” The crowd turned to look at the approaching pair, and a new ripple of voices rose into a sudden storm of excited murmurs and exclamations.
“That’s him!”
“He’s finally here!”
“Why is he riding on a sword with Elder Mu?”
In the flurry of attention, Disciples parted like water as the sword touched down at the Tower’s entrance. Thousands of eyes tracked Jun De’s every step as he dismounted, his expression composed even though his heart was pounding from the ride.
Mei Lian and Lin Yue hurried through the crowd the moment they spotted Jun De. Their robes were dishevelled and dirt-smudged, their hair coming loose from where they had tied it. It was clear they had just come from a battle, and both had expressions of relief at seeing him and excitement regarding his arrival.
That was until they caught sight of Elder Mu standing next to him.
The two young women abruptly slowed, and their eagerness was replaced by nervousness. They glanced at each other briefly, silently communicating, before stopping and bowing deeply to the Elder.
“Disciple Mei Lian greets the Elder.”
“Disciple Lin Yue greets the Elder.”
They both said together, their voices soft and respectful. But they were unable to keep the impatience out of their tone. They had been waiting all day for Jun De to arrive and hadn’t seen him in over a month.
Elder Mu gave a slight nod, her expression unreadable.
Jun De raised an eyebrow as he looked them both over and chuckled. The sound of his laughter broke whatever tension had been in the air, and both young women relaxed.
“You two look like you just rolled down a hill.”
Lin Yue gave a sheepish laugh and rubbed the back of her neck.
“The first floor of the Tower was intense. We had to fight shadows that have the same cultivation as ourselves. I barely held on! Mei Lian did better; she nearly cleared it!” Lin Yue responded.
Mei Lian blushed faintly at the praise and smiled at Jun De.
“I defeated three of the shadows before I was expelled. But we both made the board!” Mei Lian stated proudly, gesturing toward the glowing scoreboard near the Tower’s base.
Jun De followed her motion and saw their name at the top of the board. Mei Lian was ranked 4th, and Lin Yue was 8th.
“That’s really good! You both worked hard!” Jun De praised as he smiled widely. They felt as if the clouds in the sky had parted and the sun had begun to shine. Their cheeks reddened further, and Mei Lian was about to speak when Elder Mu interrupted her.
“It’s time, Jun De. The Sect awaits your performance.” Elder Mu said, her voice calm and even. It carried across the courtyard, and all the Outer Sect Disciples fell silent as the pressure of their stares weighed down on Jun De.
Knowing he didn’t have any choice, he nodded and made his way to the entrance. Take a deep, heavy breath; Jun De plunged through the doorway, and the world turned white.
