They and the others were marched up the grand stairs to the gate, stopping on a flat plateau tiled with stone.

  "This is the entrance to my Lower Mountain, in which you will live, train, and work. For now, each of you will be assigned either a room, a house, or a villa. This will be based on several factors, but should you desire something better than you will have to work for it. To do this, you must earn 'contribution points', earned from good, hard work, and if there is something available. Jobs may be voluntarily taken once you have settled in, but you will be assigned one if you do not have one in two months. Any questions?"

  He raised his hand. She pointed at him to speak.

  "What else can we use these points for?"

  "Many things, cultivation supplies, animals, equipment, or even favors from others. Few things cannot be bought with points, but there are rules. Of which you will receive a complete list once you have settled in. They can be redeemed from the Contribution Villa down the road."

  She pointed straight down the path, leading to a slightly obscured building painted in red and gold.

  Another person asked a question.

  "I expect we will receive an allowance for our training?"

  The guide considered it for a moment before taking out a green crystal from her robes.

  "Of sorts, so long as you contribute to your chosen or assigned work, you will receive a basic allowance of three green-level spirit crystals and ten points. More of both can be earned through your work itself or from outstanding conduct."

  He started to raise his hand for another question, before it was pulled down by Mei, the 'I'll tell you later' look all over her face.

  "Nothing else then? Excellent, head to that building down there, you will be assigned your essentials. Sect robes, initial allowance, and a scroll stating your ownership of your given home. If you have more questions they can assist you. Goodbye."

  She flew off towards the west, towards a large building with a large gong at the top.

  They idled for a few minutes before everyone decided to follow her directions, traveling down a road bordered by smaller buildings with people working inside. Some were hammering away at expensive-looking cutlery, while others were heating metal by... breathing on it? He felt a small pinch on his arm.

  "Blackhands, mortals given the chance to learn some sage arts to better serve us, not enough to be considered true sages though."

  He nodded along, it did make sense, a capable labor force for the undesirable or inconvenient work was always desired by the elite. That being said, something in the back of his head felt weird about the concept, but he wasn't sure what about it made him feel like that. Regardless, as they made their way down the path, they started filing into the intake building, with several lines forming, and no one looking happy about it. The interior was incredibly ornate and even magical. Glowing crystals in sconces and chandeliers work in tandem with natural sunlight to light the room beautifully. Tasteful art hung on the walls alongside majestic sculptures. A large censor stood in the corner, slowly releasing a pleasant odor with the faintest amounts of spirit in it. But it was only after looking over the room that he noticed Mei was trying to get his attention.

  "Are you listening?"

  "Sorry about that, what was it?"

  "As I was trying to say, while convenient, it is doubtful we will be put near one another. Because of that, I want us to coordinate where we live and work if we are to stick together."

  Sarhou and he nodded.

  "Cool"

  "Yeah, I'm good with that."

  They talked for a bit, Mei drilling into the two of them the importance of their future choices and decisions. But otherwise, it was just trivia about the sect they might need, one of which was about the green crystals. They're a kind of natural gathering point of qi, another name for spirit, used mainly regarding naturally occurring spirit. Their main use is to accelerate cultivation and empower techniques, but they can be used in many crafts and rituals. There are also a dozen or so levels of them, but only a few matter, five to be precise. Of them, clear is the most common and is used more as a stand-in for higher-tier crystals. Blue is slightly better in that it's used by low-level sages and blackhands for cultivation, then red, the next step up, then orange, then green, then the final two, gold and myriad. Gold is the highest natural crystal and is notoriously rare, while myriad is an artificial crystal found in places called demon ruins, but is regarded as the highest possible quality crystal outside of the Ascendent Realm.

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  But as they talked, they eventually made their way to the front, Mei and Sarhou getting their stuff before him. The attendant was an older lady holding a brush.

  "Name?"

  "Jack Barrows."

  "A moment."

  She shuffled through a couple of scrolls, going through them quickly as she looked for something. When she did find what she was looking for, she looked shocked.

  "It appears you were preassigned a house, young master, along with several items which are being sent there. A guide will escort you in a moment."

  She handed him a metal shim and black gold robes. The shim was covered in illegible marks and writing, but he could sense its purpose as a key. The robes were luxurious but simple, mostly a deep black with gold lining, a snarling beast on the back of it reminiscent of a lion or some big cat. When he turned to the others, he could see their gobsmacked expressions.

  "How the hell did you get those?"

  "Dunno."

  Mei held his sleeves, almost shaking him with anger.

  "Did you not think to tell us you were sponsored by someone?"

  He shrugged.

  "I'm not sure if sponsored is the right word honestly, besides, I'm just as confused as you are."

  Which was mostly true, Jack imagined that any order coming from the emperor would be treated as gold, and based on the feeling of the cuffs, it might have actually been gold. Still, as nice as a house and cool clothes were, he wasn't sure what this was pointing to in regards to his time here. His main goal was to find out if going home was even an option, and failing that, become strong enough to make something of a home here. But their interrogation was interrupted by someone clearing their throat. A middle-aged guy with black hair and one of the best beards he's ever seen stood next to them, arms crossed into his robes as he bowed before Sarhou.

  "This one's name is Li, who shall be escorting the young master to his domicile."

  His monkey friend looked confused.

  "I'm afraid you have the wrong person; I think you mean him?"

  Pointing to Jack, confusion crossed his face as he processed that, shuffling closer to him and bowing once more.

  "My sincerest apologies, sir, I was not informed of your... appearance."

  Annoying, but nothing he shouldn't expect by now.

  "It's alright, I'm not exactly the kind of person who would find themselves here."

  The man said nothing, just bowing a bit deeper.

  He turned to his friends, shaking Sarhou's and giving Mei a nod, neither of them was comfortable touching each other despite how quickly they had become friends.

  "Ok, Mr. Guide, lead me away."

  "As you say."

  The pair left the building, walking past rows of buildings he was told were apartments, for anyone who was assigned a room. Once past them, and through the 'Lower Bazaar', they started to climb up a winding series of stone tunnels and stairs. Every so often, they would go up a flight of stairs that was open to the air, showing off that they'd already climbed up a good two or three hundred feet above the main area. Looking down, he could see the four sectors of apartments along with the various work areas and storehouses dotted around. It was like looking out an airplane window to see the usually tall buildings reduced to specks.

  After some more time climbing, though, they came to a large set of doors.

  "This would be the young master's abode, the key will open the way and grant you access to its inner places. As they have told you, much of your new belongings will be inside. Additionally, you have been assigned a manservant and a housekeeper. Both of which should be here but have been held back by the Duties Manager as per the young master's patron's orders."

  He wasn't sure if he liked being called young master, nor if the thought of having actual servants was appealing, but if the emperor decided it than he doubted he'd have a choice in the matter.

  "Thanks, Li, I ah, don't have a tip to give."

  He hid his face behind his draping sleeves.

  "Think nothing of this one's actions, he lives only to serve the sages."

  And with that, he left, leaving Jack alone to enter and settle in. Pressing the shim to the door, it glowed briefly before opening on its own. At first, he was expecting something exotic or grand, cause part of him would always be excited when it came to magic, but when the doors opened and the lights came on, he was less excited. It was a nice place to be certain, but painfully bare. The only furniture was a double bed in the master bedroom, a nice table that was a rich brown, and a cushion on a small island in a pond room. The entire structure was carved out of the mountain and was incredibly cold, but if he was honest, it was the best thing he'd lived in so far, including his crummy apartment back home. Going down a set of stairs, he came to the 'basement' of the place, a dozen or so boxes littered the room, either on boxes with labels on them, or on the floor, and partially opened.

  On one such box was a note with a necklace on top. Shrugging, he put on the necklace and, picking up the note, he saw their language get rewritten into English.

  "To my newest student."

  To my newest student,

  After much research, I believe your demon cultivation requires an intense number of resources, enough that even I may not be able to help you. So, in both our interests, I have prepared many samples and guides of both others and my own on how to cultivate the resources you need. I will be sending more in the future, but do not expect them or rely on them. I may not be able to teach you the sage arts, but I can instill self-reliance and an appreciation for the little people. You can find a complete inventory in each box, along with the aforementioned guides.

  As for your time at the sect, I will not lie nor have you believed falsely, it is doubtful you will be allowed entry into the higher levels unless the emperor or I personally make sure of it, and neither of us have the time or desire to do so. If you wish to reach higher than you must do so on your own.

  Finally, I have compiled a list of tasks for you. You may complete them as you see fit, but if they are not done in two years' time, then the house, and all that came with it, will be stripped from you and given to someone who deserves it. Do not disappoint me, and do not disappoint the sect.

  Master Shin.

  Finding the list, he studied it closely. Some of the tasks were easy in that they were open to interpretation, while others were upfront about how difficult they were. For example, 'earn one hundred thousand points' was probably the easiest, just a straight money goal. While others were less so, like 'become superior', he got the idea, but what exactly did that mean? Shaking his head, he looked over his new property and thought about it, gripping the note a bit harder as he determined his path. His master wanted him to either sink or swim, and by God, he'd show him how well he could swim.