Wang Ren’s brow glistened with sweat as his glave swam through the air like a carp attempting to leap the waterfall. Every single one of his steps was precise, his body moving with the grace of a crane.

  The tip of his glaive reached towards the sun and a ray of the dawn light reflected across his body, casting him in a golden glow. He sighed in satisfaction and lowered the shaft of his heavy glaive to the ground of Elder Bang’s courtyard.

  “Very good, disciple,” Elder Bang exclaimed with a sharp clap of his hands, striding towards Wang Ren, his blue and orange robes fluttering behind him. “I can sense you have approached the pinnacle of Polished accomplishment in the Shattering Earth, Carving Heavens Heavy Glaive. You will need to test yourself in the fires of battle to overcome this bottleneck. With the Soaring Sword Sect growing bolder by the day, perhaps that chance will come soon,” he added with a wry chuckle.

  “Indeed, Master. I am ready to defend the honour of the Cloudy Falls Sect at a moment’s notice. I welcome any chance to test my glaive and improve my comprehension of your techniques. Thank you for the guidance,” he replied with a deep bow to his waist.

  “You’re so serious, disciple,” Elder Bang said, stroking his wild beard. “You should be more like me and cause some mischief. All those boring Elders need some excitement in their life.”

  Wang Ren shook his head with a sharp snort. “Master, one of us has to be the sensible one. If we both forgot decorum then we might fall afoul of the sect master.”

  “Perhaps you are right. It matters little. I am pleased with your understanding of my technique. It warms my heart to know that even if I fall in battle my legacy will continue.”

  “You should not speak such things into existence, Master. How can any cultivator slay the wild and deadly Master Bang?”

  “Pah! It seems you’ve been training your tongue just as much as your glaive, disciple,” Elder Bang snorted with a flick of his sleeve.

  Wang Ren was about to move onto cultivation and practicing his breathing techniques when there was a sharp knock at the door of Elder Bang’s manor. Wang Ren and Elder Bang shared a look of surprise before the young man walked to open it.

  It was rare for anyone to visit Elder Bang. He was renowned as an eccentric with an erratic temper and apart from his disciple and a few of the other elders, none dared risk an encounter with the man known as the Firecracker Glaive Lord.

  He was named such not for any affinity for fire techniques, but simply because of his temper and the fury he displayed on the battlefield. As the door swung open, both men were even more surprised to see that it was an outer disciple waiting outside.

  The disciple bowed down to his waist before returning to standing. “Senior Brother Wang, I have an urgent message for you,” he announced.

  Wang Ren waved his arm and the outer disciple entered the courtyard, the iron studded wooden doors closing behind him with a wave of Elder Bang’s arm. Wang Ren motioned for him to speak.

  “Earlier this morning, right before sunrise, two mortal women accompanied by a Body Tempering practitioner arrived at the sect gates. They were exhausted, having travelled from Three River City without rest. They claimed to have a message of life-and-death importance for your ears only, Senior Brother Wang.”

  Wang Ren frowned. Why would a pair of mortals and an Early stage Body Temperer be seeking him out? The only mortals he knew were his family, who he hadn’t seen in years. Could it perhaps be his mother and brother?

  However, that didn’t make sense to him. His brother had no spirit roots when they were tested by the Elder who visited their village and there was only his mother in the family…

  Rather than waste his time guessing he figured it would be easier to just meet them and see what message they had. There was no risk in going, after all.

  “Thank you for relaying the message to me, Junior Brother. What is your name? Let’s go and meet them. I trust they were offered the sect’s hospitality?” he asked with a raised brow.

  “Of course, Senior Brother. This lowly disciple is called Tian Qi. They are currently residing in one of the auxiliary buildings of the Legislation Hall. I shall lead the way,” the man replied with a shallow bow.

  “No need, Junior Brother Tian. I will be quicker alone. Thank you for your assistance,” Wang Ren replied, taking a spirit stone from his spatial bag and flicking it to Tian Qi.

  The outer disciple caught it and his eyes widened. He bowed all the way to his ankles before retreating, hiding the spirit stone in his robes as though it was a heavenly treasure.

  Wang Ren chuckled, fondly remembering the days where he too struggled for every single spirit stone to advance his cultivation. The outer sect was harsh, but it had taught him valuable lessons that had been the foundation for his rise through the sect.

  He turned to Elder Bang. “Master, I shall go to meet these mortals who have journeyed to meet me. I shall return for more practice later this afternoon,” he said.

  Elder Bang waved him off, already sat cross-legged on the ground while reading from a book with crumpled pages. Wang Ren sighed and shook his head, recognising it as one of his master’s trashy romance novels.

  If the cultivators of the Celestial Jade Empire knew the fearsome Firecracker Glaive Lord was addicted to romance novels, what would they think?

  The Legislation Hall was a few peaks away from his master’s manor, but for him the journey would only take as long as burning an incense stick to reach it. His Drifting Cloud Steps were not his most advanced technique, but he had still reached Average Accomplishment in them, offering him graceful movements down the mountains of the sect.

  ****

  Xiao Cui shuffled nervously in her seat, sipping at the delicious tea they had all been served. Even though they had been treated cordially since announcing the reason they were here, she couldn’t help but worry.

  She knew Zhao Dan was an experienced cultivator, stronger than anyone in Three River City including the city lord himself. Yet in these towering mountains, he could be considered above average at best.

  The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

  There were Elders who could shatter mountains with their fists and walk in the air as though it were solid ground. How could she not feel terrified being surrounded by such monsters when she was only a mortal?

  “Stop fidgeting, little Cui. We are here as guests, they will not harm us,” Yu Chun chided her.

  She was the picture of serenity, leaning back in her seat and sipping on the cup of tea like a jade beauty from a painting. Teng Sheng was looking around the room and had been since they arrived, wonder etched on his face.

  Xiao Cui wasn’t in such a curious mood. Each passing moment made her more nervous.

  At long last, they heard a gentle thud outside the door, followed by footsteps. There came a single knock on the door before it was pushed open, revealing a tall, muscular man wearing a bright red robe.

  His gaze fell on each of them in turn, his mouth curling downwards and his brow furrowing deeper each time. He walked up to them as they stood from their seats and bowed.

  “I must admit my confusion,” he declared, nodding politely before sitting down in front of the three people. “I do not recognise any of you, yet you say you have an urgent message for me. You have the advantage here.”

  Xiao Cui was the first to speak, sitting back down in her chair and letting her cup of tea clatter against the small plate that held it. “Cultivator Wang, you do not know us but I heard from my master that the two of you are close friends. His life is in mortal danger and you were the only one we could turn to for help,” she exclaimed, a hint of panic in her voice.

  “Your master?” Wang Ren replied, growing even more confused. “What sort of master would a mortal girl have? What is his name?”

  “His name is Zhao Dan,” Yu Chun interjected. “Each of his owe him our lives, some more than once over. He is currently imprisoned or locked in battle with members of the Gao Clan, who have taken control of Three River City and usurped the city lord.”

  “Junior Brother Zhao!? Why would he…” Wang Ren scratched his temple while throwing glances at Xiao Cui and Yu Chun in turn. “Never mind. This is perfect. I needed a chance to test my glaive technique.”

  “So you’ll help Master Zhao?” Xiao Cui said, leaning forwards in her seat.

  “Indeed, I would be a pig with no face if I left my Junior Brother in mortal danger without lifting a finger to help. If what you say is indeed true, that the city lord has been usurped, then this is also a matter of grave importance to the sect. Before we leave I must inform my master and the other Elders. I will meet you at the sect gates in an hour’s time. You are free to stay here until then. Thank you for bringing me this news,” Wang Ren said with a smile, getting to his feet.

  As he closed the door behind him, all three let out a sigh of relief and sank back in their seats. They’d been worried that the cultivator might dismiss them out of hand as they were simply mortals and in Teng Sheng’s case, a mere Early stage Body Temperer.

  “That was easier than I expected,” Yu Chun said. “He seems to be a good man. Zhao Dan is lucky to have such a friend.”

  “Did you see how fearsome and heroic he looked?” Teng Sheng said in admiration, his eyes having taken on a sparkle.

  Xiao Cui rolled her eyes, but she couldn’t help but agree. The cultivator Wang Ren was rather handsome, if a little bulky. For the young city lord, having dreamed of cultivating all his life, it must be even more infatuating to meet those he saw as heroes.

  They spent the rest of the time before they had to meet Wang Ren drinking the exceptional tea and chatting idly. They knew Zhao Dan’s life was at risk, but there was no use worrying when they’d already done their part.

  ****

  Wang Ren stood still, listening as the gathered Elders bickered about the situation unfolding in Three River City. As his master’s disciple he was qualified to be in this esteemed gathering, but he was nervous to interrupt even though he had been the one to bring them the news.

  Once hearing of what had happened, almost all of the Elders not away from the sect or in secluded cultivation had rushed to Elder Bang’s manor. It was the most people he’d seen in his master’s courtyard at one time, the man being a recluse most of the time.

  Despite that, Elder Bang was in his element, leading the discussion and not wasting any opportunity to tease his fellow Elders. It was rare that they all gathered together like this.

  “Elder Jin, I have to say I am surprised to see you here. Are you so eager to save the man who crippled your former disciple?” Elder Shen said, his expression unmoving.

  “Hmph! I don’t care about that impudent brat. He wasn’t even worthy of the sect. I am here to ascertain what to do about the situation in Three River City. It is an act of direct rebellion for the Gao Clan to claim control and usurp the city lord,” he replied with a flick of his sleeve.

  “Indeed, it is a worrying state of affairs,” Elder Bang said, stroking his beard. “Have you all been sitting on your asses and ignoring the outside world?”

  “Bang Ji, you dare!?” Elder Sun roared, the full weight of his Foundation Building cultivation exploding outwards to suppress Wang Ren’s master.

  Wang Ren stumbled as his breath caught. Being in the presence of so many powerful masters was suffocating. However, he felt a wave of relief flooding him as Elder Bang allowed his presence to flare in reply.

  “This is between us elderly folk. Don’t get my disciple caught up in your overblown pride, First Brother Sun,” Elder Bang warned, a smirk on his face at the surprise in Elder Sun’s eyes.

  The reason for Elder Sun’s surprise was that their auras were evenly matched. Elder Sun was a six-star Foundation Building master, second only to the sect leader and the rumoured ancient ancestor who never left secluded cultivation deep in the sect.

  The last time they had gathered, Elder Bang had been stuck at five-star Foundation Building, but it seemed the tricky old fellow had found a way to break through and sneak up on the First Elder.

  “Congratulations on your breakthrough, Second Brother Bang,” Elder Ling giggled, covering her mouth with a fan of vibrant yellow and orange feathers. “Once again, you have found a way to surprise us all. Perhaps I shall soon be calling you First Brother.”

  Elder Sun threw Ling Liling a sharp glare, cold fury in his eyes. “Watch yourself, Fourth Sister.”

  “Relax, First Brother. I am sure Fourth Sister Ling was only joking. We are all allies here. It is important for us to remain tightly knit when our enemies are encroaching ever closer. The situation with the Soaring Sword Sect was already becoming a sharp thorn in our side, but now with the Gao Clan making their move as well I fear we are on the precipice of disaster,” Elder Shen spoke, defusing the tension as all the elders nodded in agreement.

  “Third Brother is correct,” Elder Fei said, stroking his beard. “We must tread carefully. This stinks of schemes and trickery. I fear that the Gao Clan have allied themselves with the Soaring Sword Sect. Both groups have eyed our territory with hunger for decades. That mess with Zhao Dan was unfortunate, but he was still once a disciple of our sect. We need to act decisively and regain our hold on Three River City.”

  Elder Jin and Elder Sun snorted at the same time. A war was spoken without words, the elders trading glances and shifts in their presence that painted a picture worth ten thousand words.

  Wang Ren watched it all with wide eyes. The level at which these old men and women operated was incomprehensible to him. He thought the chasm between Body Tempering and Qi Gathering was steep, but the elders were so far above him he couldn’t even imagine reaching that level.

  “Personal feelings aside, Elder Fei speaks wisely. One Qi Gathering brat is of little importance, but if we allow the Gao Clan to act as they wish, we will be seen as weak. I shall go to Three River City with my disciple,” Elder Bang declared, ending the discussion.

  The gathered elders nodded in agreement, though Elder Sun and Elder Jin still seemed annoyed. “I shall accompany you. We should show our strength through this move. Sending two elders will demonstrate that we have strength to spare to stamp out insurrection,” Elder Jin said.

  “An admirable suggestion,” Elder Bang replied with a wide grin. “Let us show those upstart Gao brats what they seem to have forgotten—the reason the Cloudy Falls Sect reigns over these lands is not by chance, but because we claimed them by wading through fields of blood and death.”