Chapter 42: One more reward

Late at night. Theo withdrew his consciousness from the World Seed. He glanced at the moons outside. He spent two hours inside. Two hours passed in reality. The time flow in both worlds seemed synchronized.

"One more reward."

He nearly forgot the last one.

[Formless Glazed Mask]: Shape-shifting. Blocks all detection methods.

The description was concise.

Theo summoned it.

It was a smooth, metallic mask.

He put it on. He looked in the mirror. His entire demeanor changed.

Everyone possessed a unique aura. With the mask, he projected profound mystery. It altered his presence completely.

He willed a change.

The mask transformed into an old man’s wrinkled face.

He willed again. It morphed into a featureless slate.

"My voice changes too." Theo spoke. His voice dropped into a resonant baritone.

Satisfied, he withdrew the mask and began his cultivation.

...

By the afternoon.

Theo finished his meal. He prepared to open his next meridian.

A guest arrived at the Autumn Water Pavilion.

It was Elder Silas.

"Liana. Theo. Why didn’t you visit the Armory Peak today?"

Silas frowned as soon as he entered. He directed his question at Vespera.

"Why should they visit the Armory Peak?"

Vespera lounged on a rocking chair in the sun. She absentmindedly tapped her cane.

"They placed in the top two of the trial!" Silas was exasperated.

Top trial finishers earned a chance to enter the Armory Peak’s inner vault. They could select a named weapon. As the top two, their rewards went beyond just that.

"Oh. Now that you mention it, I recall something like that."

Vespera tilted her head. She finally remembered.

Silas had no patience to argue further with her. He looked at Liana and Theo.

"Come with me to the Armory Peak."

"Elder Silas, I have a request." Liana spoke up.

"Go ahead." Silas paused.

Notifying disciples was beneath the duties of a peak elder. He came personally because Liana was the sect’s treasured prodigy. Naturally, her opinion mattered.

"I would like to postpone our visit for three days," Liana said.

"Why?"

Liana glanced at Theo. She replied softly. "I feel my combat techniques can improve. By then, I will secure a better weapon."

Silas raised an eyebrow. He seemed surprised by her dedication. He nodded.

"Acceptable. But no more than three days."

"After three days, the Armory Peak enters its annual forge cycle. The vault will be inaccessible."

"I understand."

Three days.

Liana was confident she could elevate Theo’s combat skills to a higher level. By then, gaining the recognition of a named weapon wouldn’t be difficult for him. He wouldn’t have to rely on punching beast shells anymore...

*******

"Elder Vespera, do you have tasks for Theo these next few days?" Liana asked.

Vespera tapped her cane against the floorboards. She thought for a moment before replying.

"Aside from cooking my meals, nothing pressing."

"May I borrow him for three days?" Liana spoke softly. "I would like to train him in tactical blade work."

She wasn’t his master. If she wanted to teach him anything, she had to seek permission from the proper authority.

"Your combat insight is trustworthy. But three days? Won’t he learn very little in such a short window?"

Vespera nodded in agreement, though she remained curious.

"I have this."

Liana withdrew an item from her sleeve.

Three sky-blue sticks of incense.

"Spirit Resonance Incense? The Sect Master gave you this? How generous."

Vespera’s eyes widened slightly. She knew the item’s value.

This was not a product of the eastern domains. It originated from the central provinces, crafted from rare Spirit Resonance Wood. Lighting this incense while meditating doubled one’s comprehension.

Spirit Resonance Wood grew slowly. The sect’s reserves were scarce, painstakingly preserved by successive generations.

For Liana to receive three sticks at once spoke volumes of the esteem the Sect Master held her in.

Vespera scratched her head. She felt embarrassed. It seemed all she did for her assistant was hand him a mop and freeload off his cooking.

"Wait. You intend to use the incense on my janitor?" Vespera snapped back to attention.

"Yes. This item is of no use to me otherwise," Liana nodded.

"Alright. I will leave him to you." Vespera grinned. "The boy really has luck."

If she didn’t get to use the good stuff, her assistant benefiting from it was just as well.

...

Theo just unblocked his twelfth meridian. His small world expanded by a few feet.

Liana pushed open the door and entered.

"Follow me downstairs."

Liana’s expression was serene. She turned and descended without another word.

"What got into her all of a sudden?"

Theo scratched his head. He realized the reason.

The ice block wasn’t the type to mince words. The incident in Thunder Gorge must have weighed on her mind. She wanted to repay him for the legacy.

Fine by him.

With the ice block teaching, he could save himself effort in martial comprehension. He knew he relied entirely on his physical stats. He had no intention of abandoning tactical skill entirely.

The open grounds of the Autumn Water Pavilion.

Pale blue smoke curled upward from a bronze censer. The scent carried a clarity that sharpened the mind and invigorated thought.

Theo knew this was something extraordinary...