Chapter 88: Plaza

I was glad for the shift in attitude, even if it was only due to my potential favor. As we continued descending the steps, more recruits in brown robes came into view, scurrying about as they carried out various tasks.

"What are they doing?" I asked, glancing at Daniel for an answer.

"This is the outer disciple district," he explained. "They handle tasks for the sect while training. Many will eventually take the promotion exam. Some, though, will age out and end up moving to the town."

Synthia spoke up from behind. "Is the town run by failed recruits only?"

Daniel's expression shifted slightly at her question. Whether the topic was sensitive or he simply didn't appreciate a servant speaking so casually, I couldn't tell. But after a beat, he answered. "No. There's a large population of them there, but the sect oversees the town… I think. I don't know all the details."

We kept walking. Every passerby made a point to step aside, clearing a path for us without so much as a glance in our direction.

I eyed Daniel's hands, now bare of his weapons. "I haven't met many people who fight with their fists."

The scenery shifted around us. The further we moved from the sect's main grounds, the more nature reclaimed the space. Trees and patches of grass became more frequent, with small shrubs lining the dirt paths.

Daniel rolled his shoulders. "It's something I learned back in my hometown. The weapon is something traditionally used there." He didn't elaborate.

I glanced back at Synthia, hoping to keep the conversation going. No telling how long the walk would be. "How about you? Why a polearm?"

She hesitated for a fraction of a second. "It was the first weapon I had when I—when I ran away. Plenty of sticks in the middle of nowhere."

Daniel stumbled slightly before recovering, turning to her with an incredulous look. "You have a Spiritual Weapon? But... you're just a servant?"

He sounded genuinely confused, as if the concept was entirely foreign to him, maybe even outrageous.

By now, we had ventured deeper into the valley. Towering rocky cliffs rose on either side, their sheer faces stretching so high that their tops blurred against the sky. The sparse shrubbery and occasional trees had thickened, now forming a natural border along the dirt and gravel path. Loose leaves scattered the ground, and the steady hum of insects filled the air.

Every now and then, a brown-robed disciple passed by, usually carrying a bucket of water back toward the sect. Others, however, were heading in the same direction as us, their purposes unknown.

Synthia nodded. "I may be his servant, but I can take care of myself."

I cut in, "If you're given time."

'Lots of time,' Luna chimed in. Though, of course, only I could hear her. 'By the way, I wanted to mention something. I don't think I can see like you, but your other vision gave me an idea. Maybe we can figure out a way for me to see in my own way?'

'I've actually thought about that. We can work on it later.' I filed the thought away for now.

I continued aloud, "Synthia here could actually, at least I think, pack an enormous punch."

Daniel arched a brow. "That's odd." He crossed his fingers, stretched them out, and cracked his knuckles before lazily folding his hands behind his head. "Then why the heck did you become a servant?"

"One elder was pissed at me, and another was about to kick me out," she explained.

"Soooo—" I straightened my back, puffing out my chest with every ounce of heroic pride I could muster. "—I saved her by taking her in."

"Huh…" Daniel turned to Synthia, who had now walked forward to stand beside me, putting me in the center. "I'm guessing you took the exam with the Ancestor Statue?"

She nodded.

"I'm guessing Elder Ramus would've taken you to town then. You could've just waited a couple more weeks for the usual entrance exam. You would have had no problem becoming an inner disciple at the very least," Daniel said, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

Synthia froze mid-step, like she'd just been struck by lightning. "What."

Oh crap.

"Uhh, maybe you could still take it? No problem with me," I offered quickly.

Daniel, however, shook his head. "She's already part of the sect. Plus, she accepted becoming your servant. You could kick her out, but…"

Synthia groaned and buried her face in her hands. "Don't tell me. I'd have to leave the sect."

Daniel's smirk grew. "Correct."

Heh.

"So, you're gonna have to get used to calling me Master," I said with a victorious laugh.

"Yeah, whatever." She waved me off. "So, where's this town supposed to be? I never saw anything on the way here."

We had been following the same general direction as some brown-robed disciples earlier, but eventually, they split off, taking different pathways deeper into the valley.

"Stop," Daniel suddenly said, holding up a hand.

He reached into his robes and pulled out his identity token before looking at me expectantly. I got the message and retrieved mine. He held his token up and I mirrored him.

For a moment, nothing happened, but after a couple breaths the world warped.

A shimmering effect, like heat rising from a sunbaked road, rippled outward. The air twisted, bending trees and shrubs into unnatural distortions. Colors wavered, momentarily flickering between hues. As if a curtain had been pulled back, the town revealed itself.

Buildings of stone and wood materialized before my eyes. People appeared, some in sect robes, others in simple daily attire, bustling through the streets running through various daily activities. Market stalls formed, packed with goods, their vendors already mid-shout. Structures that hadn't existed seconds ago solidified into a thriving settlement.

Finally, the gates.

Massive and fortified, they stood twice the height of a grown man, built from thick stone reinforced with wood. The walls stretched beyond my view, enclosing the town in an unseen boundary.

Ahead, the heavy gates groaned as they lifted, revealing a cobblestone road leading straight into the heart of a lively market district.

Daniel took a step forward. "Let's go."

"Why didn't I need an identity token?" Synthia asked.

Daniel glanced at her. "Lower disciples usually use a separate entrance, but since you're with us, it wasn't necessary."

We stopped in the center of a bustling plaza. The noise was overwhelming, vendors shouting over each other, hawking their wares in every direction. It was similar to the market in the sect, but far larger and far louder. Even thinking felt like a challenge.

Beyond the chaos, several tall buildings encircled the plaza, each three to four stories high. Their pristine, ivory-like material gleamed under the sunlight, so bright it actually hurt my eyes to focus on them for too long.

Daniel gestured toward them. "Right. Not sure what you're looking for, but with a hundred points, you should be fine on the first floor of any of these buildings. We could also check the stalls. Plenty of scammers, but you can find some decent things for cheap."

"I was told we'd have to bid on goods here?" I gave him a questioning look.

He nodded. "The buildings hold official auctions twice a day. The second one starts in a couple of hours. Outside of that, most items are listed with set prices and sell times."

Synthia tilted her head. "So people place their bids and check back later to see if they won?"

"Exactly," Daniel confirmed. "Sell times vary. Some last a few minutes, others several hours."

This was sounding oddly familiar. Like an old-school online auction.

"I'm looking for cultivation methods," I told him.

Daniel gave me a sharp look. "Culti—you're not already at the peak of Core Formation, are you?" There was a slight edge to his voice, a hint of apprehension.

"What?" I blinked. "No." Not even close. I didn't even have a core to perfect. Probably not the best thing to admit. "I just want information on the basics of different methods."

Daniel exhaled. "Oh. Well, even basic methods will be pricey unless they're the commonly known ones."

"I'll take anything I can get." I shot a sideways glance at Synthia, but she quickly turned away. Either she was ignoring me, or she was genuinely interested in our surroundings.

Daniel crossed his arms. "Do you have any way to contact Senior Janus soon, or even send a message?"

I thought about it. I was supposed to meet with Elder Ramus soon, maybe I could ask to see Asmund. "Maybe. Why?"

"If you can, I'll lend you my old cultivation manuals from when I first started. It's mostly common knowledge, but it'll save you some points." He hesitated, then added, "But I really want to speak with him."

"I can't guarantee anything," I admitted. "But I'll try my best. Just show me where you live when we get back, and I'll let you know as soon as I can."

Daniel nodded in approval. "Good. You'll want to save your points for recovery items or armor instead."

Synthia and I spoke at the same time. "Why?"

Daniel gave us a knowing look.

"Because the inter-sect meeting is happening soon."