I bowed and quietly gulped.

Elder Yo Shi is the Sect Master? Damn!

“Ah, Gerald, we get to meet properly. Congratulations on your breakthrough into the Golden Core Realm. That was a mightily impressive display of Soul power you did in the Hall of Ancestors.”

[Err… Thank you, your Excellency, your help was invaluable in pushing me over the edge.] I said that with all my heart. Getting that final push was what allowed me to advance. Without him, I would still be stuck in the Nascent Soul Realm, and possibly have an ever harder time breaking through.

“Haha, no need for honorifics. You may call me Elder Yo if you wish.”

I cupped my fists and lowered my head.

“Now, I guess I should thank you for revealing all those spies. They were hiding so well, it was difficult to smoke them out.”

My head shot up in shock. [What? Me? Revealing spies?] There was no way they knew. I covered my tracks perfectly!

Sect Master chucked. “No need to deny it, we know everything. I spoke with my friend here, Elder Li, and together we realized only one person can so convincingly change his appearance in such a short amount of time. The famous Thousand Faces Mask, if I’m not mistaken?”

I couldn’t lie to the Elders, so I just awkwardly nodded. I was found out, but it didn’t seem like that was a bad thing. Lucky me.

“I heard you recently lost your brother, so it’s understandable if you wanted revenge… However, that does not give you the right to butcher my guards.”

[Err… Your guards?]

I had no idea what he was talking about, but then he pointed at the spies on the ground. I’m pretty sure my heart skipped a beat at that realization, and I began sweating like mad while trying to keep my stomach from churning.

“The Midnight Order… Usually anyone not authorized to know would get memory wiped…”

My mind went through countless possibilities in that instant, and I came to a horrifying realization that if they really wanted to do that, I would be helpless to stop it. The heights between us were immense. I was like a drowning rat trapped in a bucket. If they messed with my mind…

“But considering it’s partially my fault for sending them after you, and the fact that you did a great service to the Sect, I shall make an exception this once.”

I released a deep breath I didn’t know I was holding and almost collapsed on the floor.

“Besides, their wounds are not life-threatening, so it’s all good.” Sect Master Yo Shi said while looking over his two underlings.

“Master!” Mr. Agent cried out in pain, his voice laced with negative emotions. Clearly, he didn’t like that I was getting off scot-free.

Master Yo Shi pointed at him and a white light covered the man and began visibly healing his injuries. He did the same with the woman and then turned back to face me.

“That’s some impressive skills you have there, beating those above you so easily. And I thought my warriors were strong, being at the peak of the Golden Core and all that. I guess their training was somewhat lacking…”

[Master Yo, you flatter me.] I humbly said.

“No, no… The fact that you managed to find them and beat them speaks volumes of your ability. It is certainly the first time something like that happened. A person coming from nowhere and shooting up the ranks in such a short amount of time.” He then gave a stern look. “You aren’t a spy of some other Sect, are you?”

[I wouldn’t dare!] I quickly denied it. [The Myriad Beasts Sect is the only one I am loyal to.]

“Then you will not mind swearing a Soul Oath to confirm that?”

[A Soul Oath? What’s what?]

Sect Master looked at Elder Li incredulously, and the latter just shrugged.

“You seriously don’t know?” Sect Master asked, surprised.

I shook my head. [This is the first time I heard of it.]

“You… Ah, forget it. Since you spoke the truth, I’ll trust you this time. However, my grace has limits. If you ever turn against the Sect, only death shall await you.”

[Understood!] Our eyes met and I didn’t waver. [As long as the Myriad Beasts Sect doesn’t betray me, I shall never turn against it.]

The man squinted his eyes. “That kind of sounds like a threat. Are you sure you want to go with that promise?”

[I am a man of my word. This place is my home, and I will die to protect it.]

Sect Master slowly stroked his beard and nodded. “Good, good…”

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“Sect Master and I spoke at length about your deeds…” Elder Li began, entering the conversation. “We thought it might be good to put your talents to use. A good seedling should get plenty of water and sun to grow, but surviving a storm will make it tough and able to endure.”

“Hmm, yes… But let’s discuss that later. We should fix these two first.” Sect Master said.

I rummaged through my pockets, trying to be useful, and brought a small vial to light.

[Masters, this might be of help. It is a potent medicine capable of healing even mortal wounds.]

“Oh? What is it?”

[It is called the Elixir of Life and Fire. They don’t look too bad, I think a few drops should suffice.]

Sect Master took the vial and scanned it.

“Interesting. A simple brew, yet it contains ingredients I do not recognize. Are you sure this is safe for consumption?”

[I would bet my life on it. As long as the Elixir of Life is active, a person cannot die. Unless, maybe if his Soul shatters, though I’m not sure about that.]

“Hmm…” Sectmaster’s eyes narrowed into thin lines as he clearly was considering the implications. Not for long though. “Shadow, here! Drink this.”

He flicked a small sphere of the potion at the male member of the Midnight Order.

“B- But Master… What if it’s a poison?” The guy complained while trying to get away from the crimson sphere that was flying towards him.

“It’s fine, I scanned it and found nothing dangerous. Strange and questionable maybe, but not dangerous.”

“Q- Questionable? How?”

“Just eat it already!”

The bead shot at great speed and forced itself into Shadow’s mouth. The guy struggled but eventually swallowed. He then nervously waited as the two Elders curiously gathered around, looking at him like he was some sort of an interesting experiment.

I also moved closer, if nothing else to see how the Elixir worked on someone close to the Spirit Realm. However, the fact that I beat that guy was probably more luck than skill. He foolishly exhausted himself, thinking he had more energy than me, and then I could cut him up like a salami.

If he went for a physical attack, I would probably have trouble competing.

But anyway, my thoughts were interrupted by his sudden screams, and soon after he burst into flames. His squealing was worse than that of a pig being slowly butchered, and I nervously looked at the two old men, judging their reactions.

But my worries were clearly unnecessary. They didn’t pay me any attention at all, and instead brought all the pieces of Shadow’s body together and watched with great interest as they became gooey and fused seamlessly with the rest of his flesh.

“Well, I’ll be damned…” Sect Master Yo murmured. He poked the burning flesh with his finger and I felt like slapping it away, but I refrained. What did I care if he was acting like a curious child?

“You said he can’t die while under the influence of this… thing?”

[Err…] Why was the Sect Master asking such a question all of a sudden? But I couldn’t lie. As far as I knew, while under the effect of the Elixir of Life, you were immortal, though the debt of Essence you had to pay to achieve that was not cheap. [Yeah, basically-]

I didn’t even get to finish when Shadow’s body suddenly exploded from the inside and we were showered by burning chunks of flesh.

“AAAAAH! Shadow!” The other one, the girl, screeched. “Master?! Why?!”

I saw Elder Li slowly turn to Sect Master, wide-eyed and in complete shock. No words came out of his mouth though. At the same time, I was similarly stunned and unable to speak.

“Hmm… He doesn’t seem to be regenerating…” Master Yo Shi said after a few long moments of silence.

He said that in such a flat tone as if he was observing a dissected insect instead of a human splattered all over the ground. He was a lunatic! A complete lunatic! He just blew that guy up. I didn’t even feel it happening. It was instantaneous! And worse yet, he slowly turned toward me.

“Why is that?”

[I, uhh…] I scrambled to think of something to say. I had completely misunderstood the Sect Master. He wasn’t some kind old man. He was an insane centuries-old leader, that just casually killed one of his own! A completely unpredictable madman!

But then I noticed a small difference. Shadow’s Soul didn’t enter my Sea of Consciousness yet, and neither could I see it floating in the air around us. He was still alive! Somehow.

[No… Well, he was out of Qi before I beat him, he probably just can’t do it on his own…] I stammered out and went to quickly collect all the pieces and throw them on a pile. I then nervously waited for something to happen while avoiding eye contact with the Sect Master. I dreaded to look him in the eye in case he suddenly decided I wasn’t worth keeping around.

Even if I could probably survive such an attack, revealing my powers wasn’t something I wanted to do, especially to such an unpredictable Sect Master.

When the burning flesh finally started to melt together and form a human shape, I finally breathed out a sigh of relief. A minute later, Shadow was reformed in all his naked glory and suddenly opened his eyes while screaming after he took his first breath.

“AHAAAGH!”

He frantically tried to get up, but he wasn’t completely healed so he fell flat on his face as his gooey legs gave out, and frantically looked around.

“What- What just happened?!” He touched and examined his chest and his face, almost not believing he was actually alive. The pain of burning flesh was seemingly forgotten at that moment.

“Hah, now that’s something… I guess you were really telling the truth. This stuff is amazing.” Sect Master said with the vial of Elixir still in his hand and swirled it around under the light. Meanwhile, I just absentmindedly nodded.

“Hey! What’s happening to me?!” I heard Shadow panic.

“Yeah, what is happening to him? Is he turning to stone?!” Sect Master echoed his question.

[It’s just… The Elixir is running out. Just give it a moment.] I said. Why did they have to enter my life so abruptly? I kept asking myself that over and over for the last few minutes. I just wanted to jump on my bed and sleep it off and forget this nightmare ever happened.

As I predicted, Shadow’s skin soon hardened into a rocky shell, and a few moments later, after he broke it, out came a new man. Somewhat skinnier than before, but it was definitely him.

“Well, I’ll be damned! He’s completely healed!”

“Master? What- What was that?” Shadow timidly asked. “What happened to me?”

Master Yo Shi frowned as he looked at the smaller, naked man. “You can consider it a punishment for disobeying the orders. It was not your task to linger around in Elder Li’s place. Now put on some clothes already, you are bringing shame to men everywhere.”

He threw him a simple robe, and Shadow grabbed it and quickly draped it over his body. He then turned and looked at the girl.

“What about Darkness? Can it heal her too?”

Sect Master Yo Shi looked at him angrily and then the vial disappeared from his hand. He shrugged and pretended to know nothing. “I think it’s best if we let her recover naturally. You wouldn’t want to burn her clothes and strip her naked here, would you?

“Yes, Master. No, Master.”

“And besides, this thing probably isn’t without side effects, am I right?”

I solemnly nodded and spoke, turning to Shadow.

[That’s right. Judging by the injuries, you probably lost a few years of Essence. Maybe even a decade.]

“Wait, what?!” Shadow bulged his eyes out and only then realized what it entailed. He examined his body closely and then his face turned red with rage. “My muscles! You stole my gains! Thief!”