From a balcony extending out from the Sect Master’s Seat, the palace built atop Remembrance Peak, Daejara Mingen could see many of Blade Sacrament Ruin’s mountains and valleys. Though his eyes took in the scenery around him, he did not truly see it. The Sect Master’s focus was turned elsewhere.
“Are you sure of this?”
Mingen didn’t turn his head to look at the Elder who had spoken, Dan’u Ping. Besides, if he truly wished to see him, his [Divine Sense] would serve him far better than his eyes. Not that he would do that, of course. At this point, Mingen could easily visualize Elder Dan’u’s appearance, down to that worried frown he always failed to conceal in private.
“Yes, I’m sure. It’s true, there is some risk to opening our doors to people from other Realms. It’s also true that we’ve capitalized on most of what our Jade Bounty Realm has to offer. Remaining isolated from the other Realms, especially when we’re in good condition, seems like the worse path to me.”
“Perhaps,” Elder Dan’u remarked, most likely stroking his long beard out of sheer habit. “But what I’m afraid of is your decision to recruit Inner Sect disciples from other Realms. Outer Sect disciples have no real power or influence. They also only have access to the [Blade Sacrament Ruin, Outer Sect Legacy]. Inner Sect disciples though, they gain access to the [Blade Sacrament Ruin, Inner Sect Legacy], which contains most of our sect’s Techniques and Abilities. Not only that, Inner Sect disciples have a fair amount of power and influence. This will only be truer of those from foreign Realms, who will have other major powers backing them. Sect Master, I feel that this is a cliff we’ve not yet leapt off of.”
“Do you not trust the power of the [Five Swords Oath]? Even if a spy could avoid the first four swords, the fifth sword isn’t so easily dealt with. Besides, the Disciples and Elders of the Judgement Peak will be watching these new entrants closely. As I said before, there is some risk involved, but to ignore the rest of the world seems riskier still.”
“Yes, you may be right Sect Master. Still, I worry. . .”
Do you ever not?
“It’s only natural. This is going to be a great change for the Sect. Nonetheless, I believe it will usher in a new era of prosperity for us. Is that all you were worried about or was there something else?”
“Hmm? No, no, err, that was all. Thank you for your time, Sect Master.”
<<<>>>
Within the Lingering Dream Realm, Iex Dursorro Ackez Oculrinth Valgrund gazed at the figure standing in front of the Stele of Grim Fates, the Sect Master of the Nightmare Covenant Sect, Hauspick Proldir. They were both inside the Void Palace Plane, home to a lonely, ruined palace that floated in a seemingly endless expanse of dark, starless space, occasionally lit by flashes of green lightning. Sometimes, during these flashes, one could see the silhouettes of behemoth creatures silently moving through the void like sharks in the sea.
Of course, this was all information Iex had heard second-hand. What he saw was entirely different. As an Iethosk, Iex possessed [Fate Sight], granting him eyes that saw not in the spectrum of light but the spectrum of Fate. As a Greater Element, Fate could naturally be divided into its component Lesser Elements: a web of innumerable connections, Karma, roaring bonfires and weak flames, Destiny, and the ever-shifting waves and tides that formed Luck. This was what Iex truly saw.
In his sight, Hauspick Proldir was a blazing inferno, an unending tsunami, and an incomprehensible knot of connections all at once. Most of the time, Iex chose to view his master through just one of these Lesser Elements, but he felt it was worthwhile to sometimes observe the entirety of the Sect Master’s Fate.
The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.
Of course, Iex wasn’t limited to using [Fate Sight] to observe Hauspick. Using his [Sage] Class Ability, [Mind’s Eye], he was able to look at the Sect Master’s Aura, which in and of itself contained plenty of information. With practice, Iex had become quite adept both at interpreting what the various aspects of a person’s Aura meant, as well as incorporating his other perception Abilities with it. Even as Iex watched Hauspick with his [Fate Sight] and [Mind’s Eye], he also employed [Bloodsense], [Will Manipulation], and [Spiritual Awareness].
Just as [Fate Sight] was difficult to use to its full potential, so too did Iex find it hard to process all of the information his various perception Abilities were feeding him. [Bloodsense] provided him with information on the Sect Master’s circulatory system. [Will Manipulation], an [Iethosk Human Bloodline] Ability, wasn’t really a perception Ability but it did allow Iex to sense the Sect Master’s mental defenses, which were quite strong. As for [Spiritual Awareness], this was a proper perception Ability from the [Sorcerer] Class, one with depth rivaling [Mind’s Eye]. Through it, Iex was able to observe Spiritual Essence and Spiritual Force, both of which Hauspick Proldir possessed in spades.
With all his perception Abilities active, Iex didn’t have an easy time working through the deluge of information he was receiving, yet it simply made him smile wider. This was good training, and his rate of improvement was still noticeable.
“What are you doing here Iex? You haven’t come to read the Stele, I hope?”
Iex laughed and shook his head. “No, Master. Didn’t we agree before, when I became your student? Have I ever intentionally broken the rules of the Nightmare Covenant Sect? Well, I admit I have, on occasion, but those were just minor issues, nothing major, right?”
Though it was unnoticeable with his sight, Iex caught the motion of his master’s nod through his [Oculrinth Vampire Bloodline]’s [Bloodsense]. “You’re correct of course. Knowing you though, I can’t help but worry. In that case, why are you here? Shouldn’t you be journeying to the Blade Ruin Sacrament for their Gate Opening Ceremony?”
“I’ve already arrived. Most of the participants in the ceremony and the Disciple Acceptance Trials have already shown up but they’re waiting because some of the stragglers are too important to ignore. So, since I had some time on my hands, I thought I’d come speak to you. Talking to you is always fun, Master.”
“Hmm, who are they waiting on, do you know?”
“The delegation from the Unending Imperium and a group from the Guardian Beast Sects. I think the Guardian Beast Sects people were genuinely delayed somehow but in the case of the Imperium it’s undoubtedly a political message.”
“That’s hardly a surprise.”
“No. I did actually have something I wanted to ask you about, by the way.”
“Oh? What were you wondering?”
“Is there really a need to be so circumspect? I’m all too aware that my sight is far from flawless but everything I’ve seen, heard, and know tells me that we could take anything we want from Blade Sacrament Ruin, even if their Sect Founder is still alive.”
“First off, this isn’t that kind of mission, Iex. As you know, I can’t divulge the information I’ve learned from the Stele of Grim Fates without binding your Fate to it. What I can tell you is that you aren’t being sent to infiltrate Blade Sacrament Ruin to steal or sabotage anything. All you need to do is be yourself, keep your eyes open, report regularly, and take advantage of all the opportunities a member of their Inner Sect can. I think their [Blade Sacrament Ruin, Inner Sect Legacy] will be of great help to you. More importantly, since you can deal with their [Five Swords Oath] using the [Sealed Soul System], you’ll be able to advance to the Core Sect, provided you can gain their trust. Even if you can’t, just creating your Oath Seal in this manner would be enough reason to go. Once it is finished, you’ll finally be ready to undergo your first Crucible and enter the Extraordinary Tier.”
“Yeah, I’m loo—” Iex paused mid-speech, briefly frowned, and then resumed smiling. “Seems all the stragglers arrived at the same time. Sounds like there might be a story behind that, too. It certainly looks that way to my eyes. Anyway, it seems I need to return now, Master.”
“Of course. Just remember, you don’t need to play a role, just be yourself.”
Iex waved his hand and promptly vanished, leaving Hauspick Proldir on his own. The Sect Master turned his gaze back towards the Stele of Grim Fates, which at first glance appeared to be a simple stone slab.
“I hope I’m not making a mistake sending you there, Iex. . .”