Chapter 41: Life 58, Age 27, Martial Master 4

The following year, I took time to study and practice the various Rank 2 alchemy techniques in the elder’s library. The limit of one technique per month was just enough to allow me to grasp the basics of one technique before moving on to the next. Instead of completely mastering each technique in isolation, I wanted a basic understanding of all the techniques first. Then, I would be able to build out a comprehensive methodology. During this year, I also took the time to carefully read through every Rank 1 technique in the elder’s library. I didn’t need the fighting or cultivation techniques yet, and the alchemy techniques were all inferior to the Rank 2 manuals I had access to, but I diligently copied them for later use. I wanted to read through the Rank 2 cultivation and fighting manuals as well, but since I could only read one a month, I had to first focus on what would bring me immediate benefits. After this year of study, I was able to make Meridian Builder Pills with up to 105% efficacy. It was far from what Wen Hao was able to accomplish, but it was a definite improvement. At the same time, I took Deacon Liu’s advice and started slowly increasing my cultivation. When I hit Martial Master 4, I began to feel changes in my thought processes, but they were easy enough to suppress when necessary. I would have continued this slow improvement in seclusion, but Deacon Liu interrupted it. The competition to select new inner sect disciples was about to take place, and he wanted me to watch so I could better understand my place in the sect. There were no places to hold large competitions in the village or on the mountain, so the Inner Sect Challenge was held in the same arena in the city as the Outer Sect Competition. No nominal or servant disciples were allowed to attend, nor were they even informed. The stands held only deacons and disciples of the inner and outer sect. The competition was to be judged by a panel of three elders. In the arena, twenty competitors stood next to workbenches. In front of them, a man dressed in elaborately embroidered robes of a dark blue hue sat on a podium. He looked on as deacons finished setting everything up, with elders occasionally approaching him for short discussions. When everything was ready, and the audience had all been seated, he stood up and walked to the front of his podium. “Welcome, everyone,” he said. “I am Tan GaoFeng, the Deputy Sect Master for the Twin Mountains Sect in charge of the Alchemy Peak. If you are new to the sect, and this is your first time at one of these competitions, I welcome you.” There was a subdued, polite applause at these words, but it was quickly cut off. “The Inner Sect Challenge is held once every three years. Every outer sect disciple who has reached the realm of Martial Grandmaster has been invited to participate. Unlike the competition to become an outer sect member, there is no set number for how many may be promoted to the inner sect. Instead, our panel of esteemed elders will decide who would be a good fit for the inner sect. This is done on an individual basis, so you only need to do your best.” While the Sect Master’s words indicated the participants weren’t competing against each other, there was no way that was true. If promotion was only about individual merit, there would be no reason for such a competition. No, I was sure the disciples’ relative performances would be taken into account. It would be difficult for the people at the bottom of the pack to advance no matter how well they did. “For this competition,” continued the Sect Master, “you will be making three pills. We will start with the most straightforward. You need to concoct a fire-focused Meridian Builder Pill. This pill should be familiar to everyone, so I hope you will use it to show off the height of your abilities.” I watched as all the competitors began their work. As I had rarely interacted with the other disciples, I was familiar with almost none of the competitors. There was only one person down there that I had ever seen before. Located in the middle of the front row was Wen Hao. Every disciple competing began by using the Pill Empowerment technique, enhancing the medicinal power of the pill. There were only minuscule differences in the skills of the various disciples, and it was clear that everyone was expert with this pill. They began concocting by infusing the metal-based herb with the Cold Mountain Fire. They lacked the finesse required by the Empowerment technique, but a rough application of energy at least gave them a chance to make something exceptional. I watched as one pill after another began to collapse. Nearly everyone who tried to use their spirit fire for enhancement failed. Only two people succeeded. I didn’t know how powerful their final pill would be, but the smiles on their faces showed they believed it would be enough. “Congratulations on completing the Inner Sect Challenge!” said the Sect Master. “Please wait while the elders discuss your results.” To me, it seemed clear that Wen Hao and the female disciple who was able to control the water herb were going to be selected. Aside from them, only the two who had enhanced their pills with spirit fire stood out. Everyone else, excluding those who failed the third pill, seemed to make pills of roughly the same quality, so it would be hard to promote anyone from that group. The discussion between the three elders on the judging panel lasted far longer than I expected. It was only after what looked to be a rather heated disagreement that one of the elders stepped forward to announce the results. “Deputy Sect Master Tan,” he said loudly, “we have reached our decision.” At this announcement, a few whispers broke out in the crowd. It was improper, and slightly disrespectful, for the elder to specifically call out Tan GaoFeng as the Deputy Sect Master. Normally, he would just be referred to as Sect Master Tan. “The elders have decided to promote Disciples Wen Hao, Mu QingFei, and Du RanHo. Congratulations to you all.” After speaking, he turned away and walked out of the stadium. Mu QingFei was the girl who used the water herb earlier, so it made sense that she was promoted. Du RanHo, however, was one of the many people who only concocted normal pills. Neither of the two disciples who enhanced their pills with spirit fire were chosen for advancement. This choice seemed strange. Even if his pills were the best of the normal pills, why him over the two who had done something special? It had to be the factionalism I had observed in the past. Three elders were acting as judges, and I had identified three factions. The elder who announced the results seemed to be unhappy with Sect Master Tan. Could this be the reason? Was Du RanHo a member of the Sect Master’s faction and opposed to this elder? I couldn’t be sure, but it seemed likely. Still, selecting a single inner sect disciple shouldn’t have been enough for him to breach public decorum. There had to be more going on beneath the surface. In the past, I had been reluctant to follow Deacon Liu’s advice to play social games and interact with the sect more, but this interaction reminded me of the need to learn more about the undercurrents that were happening around me. I could just talk with Deacon Liu, but even a truthful answer would only tell me his opinion, not the reality of the situation. If I wanted to know more, I would need to study the situation myself. I watched as those who weren’t chosen to advance slowly filed out of the stadium. Their dejection was obvious from their slumped shoulders and the looks on their faces. Very few of those who failed would remain outer sect disciples. As Martial Grandmasters, they would be encouraged to transition to deacons of the nominal disciples. Some might persist and try again in three years, but it was unlikely they would be any more successful on their second attempt.