As we approach the top, a giant black wall comes into our view.

Apparently, this wall surrounded the whole upper area of the sect and was also made of sunstone.

I noticed that sunstone was used in a lot of the structures here, so I asked Qin for the reason as I had no idea what this material was.

I could see a little surprise in her eyes but she still did not question me about not knowing what a sunstone was and answered my question.

She told me that sunstone was a common material found in the southern mines and sold in the northern merchant city that was a few kilometers away from the base of our mountain.

"wait, there is a merchant city here?", I ask in a surprised tone.

Why would someone build a merchant city in this place?

"Yes my lord".

She explained to me that at first the merchant city was a very small town and was built to carry our sect's favor. But as time passed, they discovered many herbs, plants, and minerals that were only present here. So a proper town was built, which later became a city as more merchants came to look for these exclusive materials.

Since we were on friendly terms with that city, we often received gifts and requests from them. Many elders, servants, and guards went there once every ten days to enjoy themselves too.

After explaining about the merchant city, she proceeded to explain what the sunstone was.

This stone's function was to absorb light and emit heat. It just needed to absorb a little of the sun's heat to emit its own heat that remained constant without getting too hot.

"Does it emit that heat even at night?"

"Yes my lord"

It makes no sense that a stone is able to store heat and emit it constantly. But I have to take in the fact that this is a fantasy world, nothing makes sense here.

"But why are the buildings built with this stone?"

For us cultivators, this stone was useless as this level of cold was no bother for our superhuman bodies.

"The buildings are built like this so the normal servants living in our sect could work more comfortably."

"Normal servants?"

She then proceeded to explain to me the hierarchy of the common and low-level cultivators.

The servants were divided into two categories, cultivators and non-cultivators.

And the guards were also divided into two levels, high-level guards and low-level guards.

The sunstone buildings were for normal servants and low-level cultivators as they would not be able to handle this harsh cold.

I ask her the reason for keeping these normal and low-level cultivators and she explained that there was no special reason for it.

They wanted to join and after a thorough background check, they let them join.

'But they were not thorough enough as a couple of traitors managed to slip in', I think inwardly.

"But shouldn't these low-level cultivators be outer disciples? Why make them guards and servants?"

"The reason these cultivators are servants and guards was that they were stuck in a specific realm with no way to proceed forward"

She told me that their cultivation could not progress as they lacked talent and a mind for the cultivating world.

So the sect made them guards and servants with salaries.

The high-level servants and guards, who were stuck in a realm for more than twenty years, worked in the main sect areas while the low servants and non-cultivators, who were in a realm for more than ten years, worked on the less important jobs.

We finally approach the giant metal door and the guards almost drop their spears as they notice my approach.

They were so surprised after seeing me here that they forgot to do their jobs.

"Open the gates", I ordered.

They quickly realize their mistake and start opening the gates.

I enter the gates and am greeted with a straight pathway with trees to its sides in equal intervals.

The tree trunks were charred black with the leaves being completely white.

"What kind of trees are these?", I ask in curiosity as I continue walking the pathway.

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"These are the snow fruit trees. They only grow deep in the northern mountains and produce a white fruit in the summertime called snowball."

'the interior of the sect was never described, so some god must have done the designing', I think looking at the trees along the pathway.

As I am walking towards my mother's mansion, I see the different structures of the sect and ask Qin to explain what they were.

And like a good servant, she started explaining everything in detail.

The big training area was filled with disciples who were probably having their practical class.

When the elder notices me, a look of surprise appears on his face but he quickly composes himself and gives me a light bow.

I also nod at him and continue walking.

Next, I come across the medicine hall that was not that far from the training area.

Qin said although it was called the medicine hall, it was more of a place focused on testing and making poisons that we used to assassinate others.

"Then why call it the medicine hall?"

"I...I don't know my lord", she said with a sad face.

'Is she sad because she couldn't explain this to me properly, heh cute'

Yes, It was also a place where the sick went but the main purpose was poisons.

A few meters away from the medicine hall, she showed me the building where the disciples had their theory classes.

She explained that the classes were divided into beginner and advanced.

In the beginner classes, they were taught about the cultivation world and how to get started.

And in the advanced ones, they were taught assassination techniques and some neutral cultivation techniques.

A few meters away from the class buildings was the dining hall.

I was passing through it when some disciples, that did not have classes, notice me and start murmuring.

"Look it's the young lord!"

"How long has it been since he was here?"

"Sigh, what trouble is he going to cause now?"

"Why is his hair short?"

I was ignoring them and continuing towards my destination when I see an elder coming towards me.

"Greetings young lord, it has been a long time", said the elder with a smile.

"It sure has, how have you been elder", I say in a calm voice but was panicking inwardly.

'Who the fuck are you dude?'

'Wasn't Lei supposed to be hated and disliked? why is this elder so friendly'

How was I supposed to know a random old man who was never a part of the novel?

This situation felt like, one day your distant relatives, who you never knew existed, came and asked you if you remember who they were. And you of course answered with a no, making things kind of awkward.

'haaa, I really hated those times but did I have someone like that', I think a little confused

'why can't I remember?'

"young lord?"

"hmm?"

"Do you agree with me?"

"Oh yes yes elder, you are absolutely right", I say and smile

"I know right and then..."

While I was thinking all these things, this old man continued talking and I didn't listen to anything.

'shit, this guy is still here. old man, just go, leave'

'Sigh, I can order for someone to be tortured but can't hold a casual conversation. What a great villain I am.'

Since the old man had no intention of stopping, I used my mental sutra to signal Qin.

"Excuse me elder but we need to go and visit the sect master"

"oh, of course, I am so sorry to hold you here for so long"

"Not at all elder, I was really enjoying our conversation", I say with a smile

"ho ho ho, I see I see. well then that is great"

"Then if you excuse me elder"

"Yes, young lord. Oh and If you're looking for the sect master, she is in the main hall", said the elder as he was about to leave.

"Thank you for telling me elder", I said and quickly left before he could figure out that I did not know who he was.

On the way to the hall, I ask Qin,

"Who was that elder?"

"I...I don't know his name, my lord", she said with a sad face.

"..."