After the first man fell, several more stepped up to challenge me. I made sure that they all went through the mission hall to make sure that there would be no problems in the future. While not everyone was happy doing so, the promise of ten Meridian Builder Pills if they won was enough encouragement to ensure everything went smoothly.


    I sparred with them for nearly half a day. None of those who stepped forward were particularly powerful, so I could have used my higher cultivation to defeat any of them quickly, but my focus was on honing my skills. A couple of times, I lost a bout because my opponent was better at fighting. This helped because when those people got payouts, others were more eager to step forward. I was able to practice nearly all the fire-based martial skills that I had learned, and this gave me a lot more confidence in my ability to defend myself in the future.


    Finally, a group of people stopped me before anyone else could step forward.


    “Hey,” the leader shouted, “are you the one looking for an escort to the inner sect?”


    “Oh,” I realized who they were. “Yes, yes that’s me. Are you ready to go?”


    They looked me up and down and laughed a little to themselves. I was covered in dirt and my robes had seen better days.


    The leader nodded. “Let’s go.”


    Our trip to the inner sect was pretty short, it only took us about 15 minutes to get there. Earlier, the receptionist was trying to stop me from creating this mission since she must’ve known how short it would be, and after all the sparring, it seemed less likely that anyone would cause trouble for me, so I may have been able to make the trip alone without any problems. However, I didn’t regret my expenditure. The trip was smooth, and it didn’t cost me anything of real value.


    When we reached the opening to the Lower Mountain, I handed them each an extra bottle of pills.


    “Thanks for the help,” I said.


    “No problem,” said the leader as he took the pills. “Let us know if you have any well-paying jobs in the future.”


    The group laughed as they walked away, and I knew they were mocking me, but really, what did it matter? I got what I needed, and I gave them things that I didn’t.


    After they left, I stepped through the opening in the wall and entered the inner sect. Like before, neither a gate nor guards checked those who entered. A simple formation controlled people’s entries and exits.


    However, this time when I stepped through the opening, I was not alone. An older servant disciple was standing there.


    “Alchemist Disciple Su?” he asked.


    Slightly confused, I nodded. “Yeah.”


    “Disciple Su, the elder has been waiting for you for several hours. Please follow me.”


    My eyes narrowed at the mention of an elder. I had no idea why an elder would be waiting for me on the Martial Peak, but I chose to follow him instead of insulting an elder by refusing.


    “Which elder is waiting for me?” I asked.


    “Elder Tian. He is very eager to meet you.”


    At the mention of Elder Tian, my mind went to TianLei. Did TianLei want to meet me for some reason? Why?


    Seeing a possible gain beyond mere techniques, I eagerly followed as I was led to the meeting.


    The inner sect was very different from those areas below it. The Lower Mountain was covered in bamboo forests, and as we walked, the path through the foliage gave me glimpses of small cottages hidden within. It seemed like everyone had their own private retreats.


    The dirt path meandered through overgrown bamboo which shaded travelers and only allowed brief streaks of light to pass through. If someone wanted to stage an ambush, this would be the perfect place to do it. However, the serenity of the inner sect seemed to preclude any such possibility.


    We took a turn onto a small branch path and passed under a small arch. Ahead of us stood a modest building. It had a wooden frame and white paper walls. The roof was covered in wooden shingles. The disciple I was following opened the front door and gestured for me to enter.


    The room inside was small but tastefully appointed. Various poems written in a grass script were hanging on the walls, and in the center of the room at a small table, a man sat enjoying tea. The disciple guided me to sit and poured me a small cup.


    I looked at the man across from me and instantly recognized him as TianLei.


    “Welcome,” he said, “I am Elder TianHuo. I’m glad we are finally able to meet.”


    Why did this man want to meet with me? I couldn’t think of any reason except that I had seen him in previous loops. If he was somehow also retaining memories of those loops, it could be a disaster.


    Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    “Elder,” I said, cupping my hands in a martial salute. “How may I be of service?”


    TianLei took a sip of tea as he looked at me. “Elder Hu has mentioned you several times. He says that you’ve been able to provide a substantial number of pills to the Sect Master. You have produced several times the number of any other disciple, and you have used some of the cheapest herbs to do so. While we wouldn’t dare covet anything belonging to the Sect Master, we would be interested in having you make some pills for us as well.”


    This wasn’t the direction I expected this conversation to take, but I wasn’t completely surprised. While I might have been making pills privately, my activities over the last 30 years could not be completely hidden. The other factions had to know what was going on.


    “Elder,” I said, “I don’t know if that will be possible. I have commitments to the Defenders of the Mountains. I am not against making pills for others, but my energy is limited.”


    “Of course,” he said, “we can’t allow you to neglect the Sect Master. However, we have a proposal which you might find interesting.”


    “I’m listening,” I said. While I was currently working for the Eyes, I didn’t mind helping the Tigers. In truth, I would just help whoever gave me the most benefits. If that was the Tigers, so be it.


    “Right now, you are a Martial Grandmaster 5. Due to your age, you are about to have significantly more difficulty in advancing. We are willing to help you with this as long as you are willing to help us.”


    “How?” I asked, surprised.


    “Pills,” he said. “We have access to an ingredient, the Fire Dragon’s Tongue Fruit, which will allow you to craft a Rank 3 pill to significantly boost one’s fire affinity. The boost will only last for a very short time, but it should be enough for you to successfully advance. This ingredient is rather rare, and the quality of our supply is quite poor, but we are willing to trade five sets of ingredients for this pill in exchange for half of your future production.”


    I immediately wanted to accept the offer. I saw no real downside. If he could allow me to advance to Peak Grandmaster, I would take it. However, this deal could cause problems. I wasn’t sure how the Eyes would react if I suddenly started giving the Tigers so many pills. My main concern was surviving long enough to use everything.


    “How will the sect master react?” I asked.


    “He has already agreed,” said TianLei. “As long as you’re willing, you can accept this deal without fear.”


    Did the Eyes expect my production to more than double after I reached Peak Grandmaster? That was possible. While I didn’t gain much immediately after an advancement, I had been able to improve my efficiency over time. That was the only reason I could see for them being okay with this deal, but there could have been more going on beneath the surface. Sect politics aside, this was a good deal for me.


    “I’m in,” I said.


    TianLei smiled. “We will have the ingredients delivered to you as soon as you return. I assume you’re planning to visit the inner sect technique hall?”


    “If I’m allowed,” I said.


    “Of course. Please don’t let me keep you,” he said, dismissing me.


    “Before I go,” I said, taking advantage of the opportunity, “can I ask you about your blessing? I’ve heard a lot about it.”


    TianLei smiled at me. “Oh,” he asked, “what have you heard?”


    “Just that it’s an extremely powerful fire ability. I’ve not seen anyone use the combat-focused blessing before, and I wanted to know more about it.”


    His arms exploded in flames nearly 3 feet high. “They are beautiful, aren’t they?”


    “Yes,” I said, staring at the dancing fires. “How does it compare to others? Have you ever fought anyone with a lightning or ice-based blessing?”


    “There have been a few. No one with lightning, but I have sparred with a few warriors with ice-based combat blessings. Nothing that can withstand the flames though.”


    His expression didn’t betray any hint that he had previously had a different blessing or that he had made a choice about fire. From what I could tell from his behavior, as far as he was concerned, this was the only blessing he had ever been given. He could have been acting, but I felt that everything had gone too far for that. If he remembered the loops and having different blessings, why the act? No, something else was going on.


    Why was his blessing changing? There was only one possibility left in my mind. It was the being who told me he was the one who chose my blessing. But why was he changing TianLei’s?


    Dismissing those thoughts for the moment, I turned back to the elder, cupped my hands, and gave a slight bow. “Thank you for telling me. I won’t disturb you any further.”


    After leaving the elder’s house, the disciple who guided me earlier took me to the technique hall. Either there was an understanding in place, or it was just the fact that I was an inner sect disciple in an inner sect hall, but I didn’t face any trouble there. After recording everything I needed, I left and made my way back to the Alchemy Peak.


    <hr>


    With the deal in place to provide pills to the Martial Peak, I buckled down and got to work concocting. The ingredients that the elder promised me were delivered, but I didn’t plan to put them to immediate use. I wanted to study them a little bit more before proceeding.


    On the promised day, Jiao came to take me for my evaluation to become an elder.


    I was taken higher up the mountain to the largest building I had seen in the sect. It was dozens of meters wide, and there were two rows of columns in front of the entrance. They had been carved with scenes of mythic animals and legendary beasts. They depicted great battles where qilins, dragons, and phoenixes fought against taoties and qiongqis.


    Instead of passing through the main entrance, Jiao took me to a side door that led to a modestly sized room where three elders sat upon cushioned chairs.


    “Su Fang,” said the man in the middle, “you have only reached the level of Martial Grandmaster 5 by the age of 60. We have unanimously agreed that you do not meet the qualifications to become an elder.”


    At this point, the man on the right began to speak. I recognized him as Elder Hu. “While some hold reservations, we have agreed to appoint you to the position of Inner Sect Deacon. We hope that you will dedicate yourself to this position and use it to provide guidance to our young disciples.”


    Finally, the man on the left, Elder Long, began to speak. “As an inner sect deacon, you may choose up to three nominal disciples as your personal disciples. Using your own contribution points, you may purchase techniques or items for them. To repay this, they will provide you with pills which you can then sell to the sect, but please refrain from using coercion in these transactions.”


    “Thank you, elders,” I said with a deep bow.


    “You may leave,” the elder in the middle said with a wave of his hand.


    Jiao guided me out and back down the mountain.


    I was extremely surprised by my appointment as an inner sect deacon. From previous conversations, I expected to only become an outer sect deacon. I had to assume that my new deal with Elder Hu had played a large part in this. I needed to be careful, but hopefully, this partnership would provide me with what I needed to both advance my cultivation and gather information.