Ishin was led back to the main entryway of the Cultivation Chamber where he found Elder Su and Mei waiting for him. Mei offered him a warm smile as she walked over, her ice-aspected aura cool and steady.

  “I can feel the change in your aura.” After a quick look up and down, Mei added, “And both of your chakras are blue! I didn’t even realize that would happen until now.” She laughed softly.

  With his own third eye, Ishin saw the two identical chakras that rested inside Mei. Both were the pale blue of ice qi, gleaming like frozen moons. “I’m not the only one with two blue chakras,” he replied with a smile.

  “Ha, I suppose that’s true.”

  One of the back doors opened with a creak, drawing Ishin’s attention. Long was led out by his own guide, quickly joining the others. He rolled his shoulders once, testing his strengthened body. “This facility is quite impressive.”

  Ishin completely agreed with the man.

  “Most disciples spend their contribution points for access,” Elder Su elaborated. “You’ll find greater results cultivating inside one of those rooms than you will elsewhere. That is especially true depending on the aspect of qi you cultivate.”

  My lightning qi. Ishin knew that cultivating that chakra would prove particularly difficult, but if his experience in the water room was anything to go off of, then perhaps the Cultivation Chamber would be his solution.

  Looking to Elder Su, Ishin asked, “Elder, how much does it cost to reserve a room here?”

  “You’ll need to purchase a Meditation Token from the Market Hall. One token will grant you four hours to cultivate and costs 250 contribution points.”

  Two hundred and fifty?

  That was an exorbitant amount of contribution points. At least a month’s worth, if he restricted himself to simpler missions.

  I shouldn’t be surprised, given the benefits. Ishin still didn’t know how long it would take him to reach the second stage of the Adept Realm—in either chakra now—but he guessed it would be harder than reaching even the seventh layer of the Initial Realm. And without a true water-focused cultivation technique, his progress with his second chakra would undoubtedly be slow.

  Two chakras that are hard to cultivate. Is this why Mei chose the same aspect for both of her chakras?

  Ishin forced any thoughts of despair away. Cultivating his water chakra wouldn’t be hard once he acquired a proper technique, and Elder Su had told them that techniques could be found in the Outer Sect Library. Furthermore, with the sect located along the ocean coast, finding ambient water qi would be simple. As for his lightning chakra, the Cultivation Chamber was perfect.

  I just need contribution points. That will solve all my problems. Ishin’s eyes moved over Long’s bow, resting across his back. And I can use them to get a new spear.

  Rhee was escorted out a minute later, and with his third eye Ishin saw the opposite qis of light and darkness balanced within her like yin and yang, twin chakras orbiting one another in his perception. “Last one out, huh.”

  “It matters not,” Elder Su spoke. “Now then, follow me to your house.”

  The journey from the Cultivation Chamber southward took several hours, giving Ishin a better grasp of just how large the Crimson Abyss Sect was. As they walked along the gravel path, the crunch of stone beneath their boots kept a steady rhythm. Cool ocean air rolled in from the west, carrying the briny scent of the sea and tugging lightly at their worn robes.

  In the far distance to the east, along the mountains, was a twin tower to the one he’d first seen upon their arrival, its silhouette like a spear thrust into the sky. The familiar imposing walls of the Inner Sect covered a vast section of the east as well, casting a distant yet oppressive line of shadow over the edges of the Outer Sect.

  Elder Su led them along a route that hugged the coast, one that snaked around first the Administrative Hall and then the Western Watch Tower. More and more disciples appeared along the path as they continued south. Most bowed to Elder Su or whispered amongst themselves as they walked around the group. One disciple soared overhead atop a flying sword, cutting across the sky like a silver streak. Ishin found that particularly impressive, theorizing that the woman must have been both a sword and wind cultivator.

  As the sun shifted from early afternoon to early evening, a series of large square buildings appeared in the distance, their walls catching the golden light.

  Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author's preferred platform and support their work!

  “That is Residence Row,” Elder Su explained. “It is where the Outer Sect disciples live. Since you all arrived together, you have been assigned the same house. Do not worry, each of you will have private rooms and bathing chambers within.”

  “This is where everyone lives?” Rhee asked, glancing ahead at the uniform houses. Each was the size of a wing of the Eight Oaths Resolve School.

  “That is what I just said.”

  Rhee’s next step faltered. “Apologies, Elder.”

  “Your assigned house is House 57,” Elder Su said, ignoring Rhee’s stumble.

  She continued to lead their group further into Residence Row. Ishin saw several faces peering out from windows, while other disciples were actively training outside their houses—sparring with wooden weapons, meditating in seated poses, or running through forms under the fading light. What he found most surprising was that each house was isolated from its neighbors by nearly a quarter mile, with stretches of grass, packed earth, and the occasional training post between.

  Residence Row continued to stretch on and on.

  We’ll have some privacy while we’re here, but this journey… He turned back to look in the direction of the Administrative Hall, noticing the sun descending behind the western mountains. Within an hour or two, shadows would stretch over the Crimson Abyss Sect, cloaking the coast in twilight.

  Half an hour later, Elder Su stopped outside a house marked with the number 57 above its front door. The numbers were carved into a smooth wooden plaque stained black.

  “This is your home. Get yourselves acquainted with it. Know that servants will not be sent to assist you. You will be entirely responsible for its upkeep and any needs you require.”

  “Are we the only ones who will reside here, Elder?” Long asked.

  “Yes. Each house can hold four disciples. When more disciples arrive, they will be placed in other houses.”

  Ishin looked further southward where countless more houses remained. There must be at least another one hundred or more houses that way. Yet they all appeared dark and unoccupied, their windows blank.

  Were there ever that many disciples, or is the sect just overly prepared?

  Quickly, Ishin did mental arithmetic. If we reside in House 57, then there are between two hundred and two hundred and fifty other Outer Sect disciples.

  He couldn’t say for certain, but something about that number felt off to him, especially given the vast territory of the sect.

  “Disciple Wen Mei,” Elder Su spoke, voice cold like winter. “Report to the Outer Sect Library by sunrise tomorrow for your first assignment.”

  Mei’s eyes momentarily went wide at the command, but a moment later she found her voice. “Yes, Elder.”

  Ishin felt a pang of sympathy for Mei. He didn’t know where the Outer Sect Library was, but he guessed it would take her hours to arrive there. She’d be up long before sunrise to meet Elder Su’s deadline.

  “The rest of you have two days to select your first sect mission,” Elder Su intoned. “I encourage you to consider your daos and paths. Plan accordingly and remember that you may only complete one mission at a time. The Administrative Hall regularly audits the Mission Board to ensure that you are assigned to a mission, unless given specific permission by an elder.”

  “Will we be exempted if we are in the Cultivation Chamber, Elder?” Ishin asked, his mind already plotting his best path forward.

  A thin, cold smile spread across Elder Su’s lips. “Yes. The Cultivation Chamber, or any similar utilized facility, will record your presence and notify the Administrative Hall. As will any elder who grants special permission. Of course, it will be a while before you have enough contribution points or notice to warrant either.”

  “Thank you, Elder,” Ishin tersely replied.

  I’ll have the points sooner than you think.

  Elder Su’s cold eyes lingered on Ishin for a moment before looking to her niece. “Sunrise. Tomorrow. Don’t be late.”

  Mei bowed toward her aunt. “Understood, Elder. I won’t.”

  Without another word, Elder Su rose into the sky until she floated above their house. Then, as though carried on a breeze, she departed northeast, disappearing out of sight within minutes.

  She can fly?

  “Your aunt is not what I expected,” Rhee remarked once Elder Su was gone.

  “I may have forgotten how formal she could be,” Mei admitted. She rubbed at her forehead. “I’m going to have to wake up so early.”

  “Do you even know where the Outer Sect Library is?” Ishin asked her.

  Mei let out a sad laugh. “Only that it’s somewhere northeast of here and southeast of the Inner Sect. Tomorrow is going to be hard.”

  That is unfortunate. It’s almost like Mei is being punished. But why? I would have expected the opposite.

  “Speaking of sleep,” Long began, “shall we see what our new home looks like?” He made his way toward the door and opened it.

  Inside, the four friends found a sprawling communal room lined with lacquered wooden flooring, the surface smooth and cool beneath their boots. The overhead ceiling was adorned with inset windows to let in light during the day, though now they showed only the darkening sky. A dining table long enough to seat twelve rested at the far end, and in the room’s center were two couches and a collection of cushioned chairs arranged around a low table.

  A simple kitchen occupied the right side of the room, with a stone stove, counter space, and empty cupboards—functional if modest. Opposite the kitchen, empty bookshelves rested along the left wall, while multicolored potted plants decorated the interior, their leaves and petals adding a splash of life to the otherwise red-and-black aesthetic. Branching off from the corners of the communal room were closed doors, no doubt leading to private quarters and bathing chambers for the disciples.

  “This is rather nice,” Mei remarked, stepping in and turning slowly to take it all in.

  “Better than I thought,” Rhee agreed. Her eyes darted around their new home, lingering on the closed doors. “Now I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m excited to finally take a bath.”