From the corners of the sect, the groups of cultivators led their trial attendees back to the original peak. The clones made eye contact with one another, nodding.

Hey, wait. What happened to Jin Xian? Rogue asked, scanning over the life qi cultivator’s group.

Wish I knew. I’ve done a bit of prodding, but no one saw what happened to her. I don’t sense her anywhere. I’m afraid to ask, in case he killed her and it would associate us together. We’ll have to look around once we enter the sect, Healer replied.

All the others made it through fine. Zhubi’s here with me, I see Ying Lin over by Sectgoer, and Bai Jingwen looks the same as ever, Rogue commented.

The ghoul was always the danger. I hope she’s safe somewhere, Healer said, concerned.

Peak Lord snorted, glancing at Bai Jingwen. Goodness knows what Bai Jingwen did to get through. I’m not sure she stood still long enough to make it through the line.

Gui Yutong, that’s what she did, Rogue snarked.

Well… that’s fair, Peak Lord allowed.

Sectgoer licked his lips. Listen, if I didn’t make it, one of you has to come up with an excuse to take me into your peak, okay?

Eh? Sectgoer, was it that bad? Healer asked.

I can’t be sure, but I didn’t win. Well, neither did ying Lin, but she got second, so I think she’s made it, Sectgoer said.

There’s your thigh! Go clutch onto Ying Lin! Rogue pointed out, laughing.

A master clutching his disciple’s thigh… Sectgoer sighed.

Eh, don’t go developing a second heart-demon. Courage is one thing, but pride? Healer shook his head.

I can’t do anything around you guys without getting called a heart-demon, Sectgoer grumbled.

A stone board had been erected at the end of the clearing. The four judges led them down before it, then vanished behind it. The cultivators mingled, a few of them shooting glances at one another.

A huge man glared at Sectgoer, staring a hole in his back. Sectgoer trembled, edging away. Someone help…

Sectgoer, what’d you do to piss off a man like that? Rogue laughed.

Nothing, nothing, nothing! It’s not my fault! He lost to me in an earnest contest, it isn’t my fault! Sectgoer cried.

Those who don’t seek death, won’t die, Rogue said, shaking his head at Sectgoer.

Sectgoer’s seeking death? He truly has a heart-demon, Healer sighed.

Oh, come on. You would’ve done the same in my situation, Sectgoer muttered.

The stone board began to shine. All the cultivators stared up at it. One by one, names appeared on four sets of lists.

Ah! I made it! Healer thought, punching the air.

First in the life qi category? What did you do? Sectgoer asked, shocked.

Nothing much, nothing much, Hui said, waving his hand. Ah… that’s right. I met a new Elder Sister, as well… I can’t forget about her.

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

You’ll have to introduce us, Rogue said.

Names continued to appear. Second on the weapons cultivation list, Ying Lin’s name appeared. Sectgoer nodded to himself. She took second place in the tournament, after all.

Watching the beast board, Rogue snorted to himself. As I thought.

What is it, Rogue? Healer asked.

He shook his head. There were about five of us in the whole trial. It wasn’t really a trial, she just set us free on the mountain. Everyone who came back from the mountain has been listed on the board.

Eh, people didn’t escape the mountain? Healer asked, concerned.

Mmm. One man vanished… well, it was a mountain full of spirit beasts. If he went seeking death, he easily could have found it, Rogue reasoned with a shrug.

Peak Lord looked up. Oh. There we are, me and Bai Xue. And… ha, there’s Bai Jingwen. As expected of the lover of a Peak Lord.

Sectgoer clenched his fists. Names slowly appeared on the board. Come on. Come on. I don’t want to clutch Ying Lin’s thigh, don’t make me clutch Ying Lin’s thigh! It’s too humiliating!

Maybe we should change his name to Thighclutcher, Rogue joked.

The names slowed down. Only the weapons cultivation list continued, spelling the names one character at a time.

Come on. I impressed you, dammit! Okay, I messed up at first, but then I figured it out! I can forge weapons, dammit! Come on! Write my damn name! Sectgoer shouted silently.

Eh, did you tell them we can forge weapons? Healer asked.

How else was I supposed to pass a weapons trial, dammit? Sectgoer pointed out.

Healer paused, then shrugged. Well, I guess. We can always figure it out afterward. And we definitely did forge a weapon.

Rogue chuckled. There’s more to it than that, isn’t there, Sectgoer?

Sectgoer chuckled back. Well… naturally! Weapon forging costs a lot of resources! If we establish ourselves as weapon forgers, not only can we drain the sect’s resources, but we can also prepare weaponry and armor for our attack! Steal their resources to bolster our own. Not a bad deal!

Not a bad deal at all. Come on, Sectgoer! It’ll be harder to call on those resources without a Peak Lord’s authority! Healer cheered.

The lettering slowed. The glow began to dissipate.

Oh, come on! I showed you! You liked it! I put in so much effort… Sectgoer complained.

Rogue shook his head. You need to suck up a little harder! Clearly you didn’t suck up enough.

Aw… what did he want me to damn do? Win the damn tournament? I was a runner-up! I lost to Ying Lin, dammit! And I even managed to fake one good…goodish fight! Sectgoer said, shaking his head.

Wait, wait, Sectgoer, look! Healer called.

Sectgoer turned. The very last gasp of qi swirled around, and the name Xing Huang appeared at the bottom of the sword cultivator’s list.

Yeah! Hell yeah! The last one on the winner list is still a damn winner, haha! Sectgoer shouted silently, punching the air.

He almost forgot about you. Must not have made much of an impression, Rogue said, clicking his tongue.

Guys. Look, it doesn’t matter how we made it. The point is… we all made it. Time for part two, Healer said.

Peak Lord hesitated. Er… does everyone want to meet up in person?

What for? We’re compromising ourselves… more than we’ve already done it for nothing. We can communicate on the… communicate like this, Healer said.

Healer, Healer, it’s Peak Lord suggesting it. That means it’s Bai Xue suggesting it, Rogue said, waggling his eyebrows.

Healer sighed.

Sectgoer coughed. In any case, we should probably search for Jin Xian, first. Her name wasn’t on the list.

Mmm. Well… have you thought about where those ghouls in the sect trial came from? There’s ghouls somewhere in the sect. If we find them, we’ll find Jin Xian, Peak Lord reasoned, immediately adjusting to the serious conversation.

Healer nodded. I’ll seek out any death qi around the sect. Jin Xian should have left a trace, and if they’re hiding other ghouls, there’ll be a thicker trace of death qi somewhere.

Right. And as for the rest of us… party on Peak Lord’s new peak? Rogue suggested with a laugh.

I… should probably get to work on figuring out weapon forging, Sectgoer muttered.

Zhubi hissed and grabbed Rogue’s robes.

Eh… well, Zhubi does need help getting settled, Rogue admitted.

The glowing golden cultivator descended from the heavens, hands out. “If your name was selected, please step forward. If not, please exit the sect. Those who were selected, follow me. I will show you to your new peaks.”

Right. Let’s all go get settled. We can figure out everything later, Healer said.

Find Jin Xian. Drain All-Heaven’s resources, finish bringing back our sect, and… and I guess figure out how to forge weapons! Sectgoer added.

No, that’s your job, not ours, Rogue chuckled.

Peak Lord shook his head. Alright, alright. Let’s go, then. First, we need peaks, isn’t that right?

Right, Healer agreed.

Following all the other sect inductees, they took to the sky, chasing after the glowing cultivator.