Chương 33: Chapter 32

The flying ship had an official name: a Skypatrol Ship. Players of Seed of Ascension had affectionately called it "the airplane." Once every quarter, the Moonwatch Sect sent it on a circuit of twelve cultivation cities like Valehaven. It collected resources and carried the cultivators charged with selecting new outer disciples. Alden and Sebastian had been assigned to Valehaven.

Upon returning to the sect, they were supposed to deliver the spirit rice and other supplies to the General Affairs Hall, then escort Elara and Julian to the Outer Affairs Hall to register. Neither man technically had the authority to find masters for the new disciples. Even Alden's title of outer elder was a little misleading. He was actually a steward elder in the General Affairs Hall. Outer disciples fell under the jurisdiction of the Outer Affairs Hall.

But personal connections mattered in cultivation sects, too. From the deck, Elara gazed across Moonmirror Lake. Mountains rose from the water, pale mist curling above them where spiritual veins ran beneath their slopes. She had barely begun to take in the view when the ship descended toward a landing area between the lake and Moonwatch City.

"Are Elder Alden and Master Sebastian aboard? My master sent me to meet them." The speaker was a woman in dark blue-green cultivation robes, evidently waiting for the two men. Several cultivators from the General Affairs Hall stood beside her. They exchanged glances. Whichever new disciple had earned this reception would be worth a closer look. Alden and Sebastian shared a smile, then flew down to speak with her. Before long, the woman turned her attention to Elara. She leaped aboard and approached.

"Elara Lin? My master asked me to help you register as an outer disciple."

"I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name." Elara was still trying to catch up. When she'd played the game, she had always skipped this sort of dialogue. Having to live through it left her at something of a disadvantage. The woman smiled.

"I'm Celia Gu. My master is Theron Gu." She gave Elara a playful wink.

"Outside the sect, I just call him Grandfather. Here, he's an elder of the Hall of Spirit Gardening and a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator." That neatly explained who she was. Her master was also her grandfather: Theron Gu, a late-stage Foundation Establishment elder of the Hall of Spirit Gardening. He had sent Celia to meet the Skypatrol Ship and bring Elara to him. If he liked what he saw, she might become his personal disciple.

"Theron has a real chance of reaching Golden Core," Sebastian said.

"And few can match his expertise in spirit gardening." Alden supplied the most promising detail of all.

"He studied under Master Caerwyn. Azuremoon Peak is an excellent place for Spirit Gardeners. Before long, it may have two Golden Core masters of its own." Elara's pulse quickened. Now she understood. Her prospective master wasn't just a promising Foundation Establishment cultivator. His own master had already reached Golden Core. Between them, they seemed to have considerable influence over the Hall of Spirit Gardening. This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

And her entire future depended on growing spirit plants and collecting her new-player rewards. She could hardly have hoped for a better match. She clasped her hands in a respectful salute.

"Thank you, Celia. I'd be grateful for your help." Then she turned to the two men.

"And thank you, Elder Alden. Master Sebastian." All three looked pleased. That was the response they had been hoping for. Cultivation meant learning to deal with people, too. If Theron accepted Elara as his disciple, everyone here stood to benefit. Aboard the ship, Julian, Alistair, and the others watched the introductions with mixed feelings. Julian had earned two Grade Bs and a Lower A in the entrance examination. He was still waiting aboard, with no one paying him any particular attention.

Elara had earned three Grade As. She had barely arrived before someone came to escort her to a senior cultivator among the sect's ten halls and seven peaks. The difference was hard to miss. Satisfied that Elara wasn't arrogant or difficult, Celia quietly settled the remaining arrangements with Alden and Sebastian. Then she formed a hand seal and sent a call across the lake. A spirit crane flew toward them. Nearly seven feet long, it had mostly white plumage, with dark markings along its wings and tail.

Here comes the bus. That was what Seed of Ascension players had called this particular spirit pet.

"Come with me, Elara." Celia helped her onto the crane's back. Once both women were settled, it took flight and carried them toward the Moonwatch Sect. At last, Elara got a proper look at her new home. Mountain peaks rose through drifting clouds from a lake more than sixty miles across. Seven stood taller than the rest. Cultivators rode cranes between the mountains, gliding over stretches of open water. Occasionally, a Foundation Establishment cultivator flew past under their own power.

Their robes streamed behind them in the wind. Every one of them looked impressive.

"The sect's ten halls are spread across seven peaks," Celia explained.

"The Hall of Spirit Gardening is on Azuremoon Peak, just west of the central peak. The Outer Affairs Hall is on Glassmoon Peak, to the east, nearest the city." Elara listened as she studied the landscape. The layout seemed carefully planned. Moonwatch Peak stood at the center. To the east lay Moonrest Peak, then Glassmoon Peak, closest to Moonwatch City. Azuremoon Peak rose just west of the central mountain. Beyond it stood Westmoon Peak, near the lake's western shore.

Moonstone Peak lay to the south, and Crimsonmoon Peak to the north. Together, they formed the Moonwatch Sect's seven peaks. The ten halls were the General Affairs Hall, the Outer Affairs Hall, the Hall of Spirit Gardening, the Alchemy Hall, the Artifact Hall, the Talisman Hall, the Discipline Hall, the Hall of Teachings, the Spirit Beast Hall, and the Main Sect Hall. Their first stop was the Outer Affairs Hall on Glassmoon Peak. Elara hopped down from the crane amid a bustle of activity.

The hall stood halfway up the mountain, on a broad, level stretch of the eastern slope that looked as though it had been cut straight from the mountainside. Dozens of cultivators in enchanted robes waited outside the entrance—perhaps as many as a hundred. Far below, buildings clustered along the lakeshore at the mountain's eastern foot, providing lodging and rest areas for mortal attendants. This is only a Golden Core sect. What would a great Nascent Soul sect look like?

Golden Core sects had never seemed especially impressive in the game. Standing inside one was another experience entirely. With Celia leading the way, registration went smoothly. Her guide had connections. Apparently, those connections also came with permission to skip the line. Celia was both the granddaughter and disciple of Theron Gu, a late-stage Foundation Establishment elder of the Hall of Spirit Gardening. His own master was a Golden Core cultivator.

Since she had come on Theron's orders, the sect allowed her to go straight in. Once Elara was registered, they mounted the crane again and headed west toward Azuremoon Peak. They skirted the central mountain and soon reached the Hall of Spirit Gardening on Azuremoon Peak's southern side.

"Azuremoon Peak has two halls," Celia said.

"Ours is on the southern side, and the Alchemy Hall is to the north. We get along very well. Spirit Gardeners and alchemists…" She smiled.

"I'm sure you can see why."

"Oh, absolutely." In Seed of Ascension, the two professions had been practically inseparable. Plenty of Spirit Gardeners practiced alchemy, and plenty of alchemists grew their own ingredients. Putting both halls on the same mountain made perfect sense. Celia led her into the Hall of Spirit Gardening's grounds and across a courtyard covering about a sixth of an acre. The rich scent of medicinal herbs greeted them, reinforcing Elara's impression. They stopped outside a smaller courtyard within.

"Grandfather, I've brought Elara." A wave of spiritual energy swept over them from beyond the gate. A faint murmur of surprise followed. The double doors swung open on their own. Inside, a man who appeared to be in his fifties or sixties sat at a stone table. Several brocade-covered boxes rested beside him, the source of the medicinal fragrance.

"Grandfather." Celia bowed. Elara was about to follow her example when Theron smiled.

"Elara Lin? A fine name. If you're willing to take me as your master, offer me this tea, and we'll make it official." A teacup appeared in his hand, already filled to the brim. Elara hadn't even seen him pour. As he finished speaking, the cup floated toward her. She stared at it. A late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator was accepting her as his disciple? Just like that?