The guards' squabbling finally tapered off as the path opened into a broad stone square. At its center loomed a five-story building, each tier edged with gilded latticework, its entrance flanked by two carved guardian beasts. A large wooden sign hung above the doorway, the characters burned deep and dark into the grain: Weapons Pavilion.
The group slowed, curiosity stirring.
"Five floors?" one guard murmured. "How much steel do they keep in there?"
"Enough to arm a small army," another replied.
Haotian didn't answer, but the faint glint in his eyes suggested he was wondering the same thing. They crossed the threshold into a hall bright with lantern-light and the gleam of polished metal. Racks and display stands lined the walls and filled the aisles—blades, polearms, bows, armors, and equipment gleaming beneath glass or resting on lacquered wood. Disciples in Azure Sky colors moved between the counters, some studying the items in silence, others speaking with attendants as silver and spirit stones changed hands.
The Burning Sun group spread out, moving from case to case. Haotian's steps took him to a set of armor pieces along the eastern wall. His hand paused above a sleek, dark arm guard with faint silver inlay. He studied it for a long moment before speaking, half to himself.
"Spirit-tempered blacksteel, forged in layers with frost-infused iron sand. The inlay is pure moon-silver, probably smelted twice before working—see how the grain runs perfectly even along the curve. Whoever made this knew how to keep the quenching temperature steady through the entire frame."
Lianhua drifted over, her head tilting slightly as she listened. "You can tell all that just from looking?"
Haotian nodded. "When you know the process, the result tells the story. This was cast, shaped, and hammered in three cycles. The last cycle was done under a starlight array—gives the metal that faint sheen in low light."
One of the pavilion's attendants, a young man in neat Azure Sky robes, had stopped nearby at the sound of Haotian's voice. His eyes tracked from the arm guard to Haotian's face, a flicker of surprise showing as he realized the accuracy of the assessment. Without interrupting, he lingered, watching.
Haotian moved on to the next display—a pair of curved shortblades with a faint ripple in the steel. "Twin-forged in the same mold," he said quietly, "but split and tempered separately. The ripples come from thunder-quenching… though the right blade wasn't cooled evenly."
The attendant's brows rose. He began to shadow Haotian's path at a discreet distance, listening.
At each stand, Haotian's words were the same—precise, unhurried, and correct. He named alloys, described forging arrays, even pointed out flaws invisible to the casual eye. The further they went, the more the attendant's interest sharpened.
By the time they reached the center of the hall, the young man's expression had shifted from mild curiosity to something closer to calculation.
Chen Yao hesitated only a moment longer before stepping forward, bowing slightly. "Forgive the interruption," he said, his tone polite yet tinged with genuine interest, "but I couldn't help overhearing earlier. Your eye for detail… it's rare to meet someone who can discern our stock with such clarity."
Haotian's expression remained neutral.
"I am Chen Yao, Assistant Manager of the Weapons Pavilion," the man continued. "If you don't mind my asking—would you be interested in seeing some of our higher-quality items? They're not displayed on the first floor."
Haotian's eyes narrowed slightly, not in suspicion but in interest. "If permission can be given, I'd like that."
"Certainly." Chen Yao gestured toward the staircase. "Please, follow me."
The group moved after him. Feng Lanyue leaned toward An Yuerin as they ascended. "Higher-quality items? This is going to be fun."
An Yuerin's lips curved faintly. "Provided certain people don't try to buy something explosive just to 'toughen up' Haotian."
Huo Zhanfeng grinned, not even pretending innocence. "Hey, a good weapon's worth more than ten lectures."
Tu Jianhong gave a low chuckle, silent enough that only Jin Xuanming caught it. The metal guard smirked. "And that's why the world needs people like us—to give balance to all this… discipline."
Lan Shuyin shot them all a look. "Balance? Is that what you're calling troublemaking now?"
Chen Yao glanced back briefly, clearly sensing the undercurrent of banter but choosing to ignore it. "While we walk, let me explain our arrangement here," he said. "The second floor houses pills and pill recipes—some rare, some unique to the Azure Sky Sect. The third floor contains cultivation methods and techniques, a few available to outside customers. The fourth floor—our destination—holds mastercrafted weapons and armor. The fifth floor is reserved for the elders and senior staff of the pavilion."
He continued, "This pavilion isn't only for sect members. We allow outside customers to purchase from us, which brings in a steady flow of spirit stones to strengthen the sect. Disciples may also use contribution points to buy here. Simple in concept, but very effective."
The air on the fourth floor was different—cooler, sharper, carrying the faint metallic tang of refined spiritual alloys. Rows of warded glass cases displayed weapons and armor that seemed to hum faintly with restrained power.
Lianhua slowed as her gaze fell on a black-lacquer cuirass traced with crimson spirit script. "This…" she breathed softly, "I can feel the defensive qi even from here."
Feng Lanyue gave a low whistle at a slim silver rapier under a protective array. "Light enough to dance with, but that edge… deadly."
An Yuerin studied a set of blue steel bracers, fingertips brushing the glass. "Water-forged. Whoever made these understood flow."
Huo Zhanfeng all but pressed his face to the warding glass around a flame-etched sabre. "That's a weapon. You can hear the fight in it."
Tu Jianhong's eyes lingered on a heavy warhammer whose head was inlaid with mountain stone. He gave a small nod. "Would crack a fortress wall."
Jin Xuanming stopped before a polished longsword with a mirror sheen. "Flawless balance. Perfect for countering heavier styles."
Lan Shuyin's attention was caught by a long, verdant-green staff that seemed to pulse faintly with the scent of rain. "Living wood core," she murmured. "Still growing. Remarkable."
Haotian moved from case to case without rushing, eyes flicking over every detail. When he paused before a longblade suspended in an invisible array, his voice was low. "Heavensteel, quenched in skyfire. Three-day fold process. Whoever forged this poured intention into every strike."
Chen Yao's curiosity deepened with each correct appraisal. Finally, he stepped toward a warded display in the far corner. "If I may… this piece is rarely shown to guests. Most overlook it."
The glass shimmered away to reveal what looked like an ordinary short saber—plain hilt, dull blade, scabbard with no ornamentation.
"What do you see?" Chen Yao asked.
Haotian's eyes traced the weapon once, then again. "Storm beast skin for the hilt wrap, cured in frost. Shadowsteel blade tempered with phoenix blood, then quenched in abyssal springwater to dull the surface. Weighted toward the hilt for speed. Made to look common… so the target underestimates it."
Feng Lanyue arched a brow. "You got all that without touching it?"
Chen Yao looked genuinely impressed. "Correct. Down to the last detail. Even our inner disciples rarely see more than half of that."
Haotian stepped back. "A craftsman leaves his mark, whether he means to or not."
Chen Yao nodded slowly, still studying him. "Rare indeed."
Chen Yao's polite smile remained fixed, but his mind was already turning. Haotian's precision in appraising weapons wasn't just skill—it was expertise, the kind that could draw notice from the upper pavilion elders. If the Burning Sun Sect had someone like this among their rising figures… there was value in building a tie early.
Perhaps a proposal to the elders, he thought, eyes flicking toward Haotian as the young man moved to another case. An affiliation with the Burning Sun Sect could mean regular exchanges—commerce, resources… and influence.
While the others continued their slow exploration of the fourth-floor displays, Haotian's gaze shifted toward the stairs. His interest, though, had moved elsewhere. Without a word, he left them to their admiration and descended to the third floor.
The air here was quieter, touched with the faint scent of old ink and treated parchment. Shelves stretched in neat, orderly rows, each labeled and sorted by discipline—cultivation manuals, body refinement methods, weapon techniques, movement skills, qi circulation arrays. The glow of protective formations flickered faintly across each shelf.
Haotian's lips curved slightly.
He reached for the nearest book, thumbing through it at a seemingly casual pace. But as his eyes passed over each page, the knowledge streamed into the golden text library within him, perfectly preserved. He replaced it, picked up the next, and did the same.
His movements were efficient, deliberate—never lingering too long on a single shelf, never drawing the attention of the few disciples browsing nearby. To anyone watching, it looked like a simple perusal. In truth, each technique was being committed in flawless detail.
He moved quickly. There were fewer books here than he'd expected—only eighty-seven in total. Within forty minutes, he had scanned them all, his inner library swelling with new methods and insights. Sword styles, movement techniques, elemental channeling methods… each one a new thread for him to weave into the tapestry of his own cultivation.
Sliding the last book back into its place, Haotian felt the faint satisfaction of a man who had walked out with a treasure trove without touching the coin in his pocket. His steps back toward the staircase were light, his expression calm, but the weight of ideas forming in his mind was far heavier than when he'd entered.
By the time Haotian returned to the fourth floor, Chen Yao was still shadowing the group with a courteous smile, pointing out certain signature pieces in the pavilion's collection. Lianhua and the Six Elemental Guards were gathered near a counter where a clerk was recording orders, each of them eyeing a particular weapon or piece of armor with the satisfaction of someone who'd found a personal fit.
Lianhua looked up at Haotian's approach, a faint question in her eyes—one he answered only with a small nod and an easy smile. Nothing in his expression hinted that, in the short time he'd been gone, he'd absorbed an entire floor's worth of cultivation knowledge.
Chen Yao inclined his head toward him. "Your companions have made some fine choices."
Haotian stepped closer, glancing over the items laid out on the counter. Feng Lanyue's new rapier, An Yuerin's water-forged bracers, Huo Zhanfeng's flame-etched sabre, Tu Jianhong's mountain-inlaid warhammer, Jin Xuanming's mirror-finish longsword, Lan Shuyin's living-wood staff… all of them were undeniably fine works.
He tapped a finger lightly against the rapier's guard, then the bracer's edge, then the sabre's spine, examining each piece with the same precision he'd used earlier. "All of these are better than the ones I've made for you," he said finally, his tone even, without defensiveness. "Materials, craftsmanship, balance—it's a clear step up."
Huo Zhanfeng grinned. "So you admit it?"
"Of course," Haotian replied simply. "The only thing that matters is whether it serves you well."
Lianhua's eyes softened slightly at the honesty, though her lips quirked. "You don't sound the least bit jealous."
"There's no point being jealous of a better blade," he said, almost absently, as he adjusted the balance on Jin Xuanming's new sword and handed it back. "It just means I'll make something finer next time."
The guards exchanged glances—half amused, half curious at the quiet confidence behind the words—while the clerk carefully wrapped each weapon and piece of armor in protective silk.
Once the last weapon was wrapped and sealed in storage talismans, the group made their way toward the wide front doors of the pavilion. The late afternoon light spilled in through the entryway, glinting off the lacquered railings and tiled floor.
The Six Elemental Guards exchanged satisfied looks—there was no mistaking the pride in their eyes as they glanced at the purchases secured at their belts or on their backs. Lianhua's steps were light beside Haotian's, her fingers brushing the new armguard she had chosen.
Chen Yao walked with them until the bottom of the steps. "It has been a pleasure," he said with a polite bow. "If the Burning Sun Sect ever requires specialized commissions or wishes to establish a standing exchange, I would be happy to make the introduction to our elders."
Haotian returned the gesture with a courteous nod, and the group began to move toward the central square.
Chen Yao, however, didn't follow them far. He turned into a side corridor between two lesser halls, his expression shifting from courtesy to intent calculation. Already, he was deciding how to present this to the pavilion elders—not just Haotian's extraordinary eye for craftsmanship, but the potential of cultivating ties with the Burning Sun Sect. If they could formalize an affiliation, the benefits in trade, shared expertise, and political leverage could be considerable.
Back on the street, the Six Elemental Guards were in high spirits, discussing how they couldn't wait to present their new equipment to the Burning Sun elders.
"This pavilion system…" An Yuerin began, glancing toward Haotian, "…if our sect adopted something similar, it could draw outsiders in. A constant flow of spirit stones."
Tu Jianhong nodded. "And contribution point exchanges for disciples. It would push everyone to earn more."
Feng Lanyue grinned. "Imagine it—rows of your weapons on display, Haotian. People lining up to buy them."
Even Haotian's calm expression shifted, the faintest gleam of excitement in his eyes. "If the sect approves, it could work. And if my crafts sell well… all the better for the sect."
Jin Xuanming smirked. "With your skill, you'd have customers from the capital in a month."
Lan Shuyin gave a small laugh. "That is, if the elders let him sell to outsiders without being mobbed first."
They passed under the shade of a tall gate arch, the idea already settling into something more than idle talk. By the time they reached their guest quarters, it had become a proposal they were determined to bring before the Burning Sun high elder as soon as they returned.
Haotian, for his part, was already weighing the possibilities—not just for profit, but for influence. A single well-placed design could travel farther than any single sword swing.
When the day of departure arrived, the Burning Sun Sect group assembled in the Azure Sky Sect's main courtyard. Azure Sky's elders came in person to see them off, offering formal thanks and well-wishes. The Burning Sun elders returned the courtesy with clasped hands and measured bows, voices carrying the dignity of one sect to another.
Ru Mei and Yue Lan waited until the formalities had ended before stepping forward."It seems we meet at turning points," Ru Mei said, her voice calm but certain. "Until next time, Burning Sun."
Yue Lan's gaze lingered on Haotian a heartbeat longer than custom required before offering a faint, knowing smile. "Don't vanish. We expect to see you again."
Haotian inclined his head in return. Lianhua answered with a polite bow, and the six guards followed suit—Feng Lanyue with an easy grin, An Yuerin with a nod of quiet respect, Huo Zhanfeng's arms folded as if already thinking about the road ahead, Tu Jianhong's stoic gaze steady, Jin Xuanming's eyes measuring, and Lan Shuyin's expression warm and motherly.
Once the final farewells were made, the Burning Sun party turned toward home.
The first days of travel were uneventful, the caravan moving in a steady rhythm over winding roads.
The third day on the road, Haotian walked alongside the High Elder and two senior elders, the rest of the group keeping formation behind them. The wind carried the sound of boots and hooves over packed earth, and for a time, no one spoke. Then the High Elder broke the silence.
"Tell me what happened in the Forbidden Realm—everything."
Haotian inclined his head slightly. "When we entered, the realm's outer layers were already unstable. The sovereign's temple stood in the center—massive, sealed, guarded by traps that hadn't been triggered in centuries. Several sect groups, ours included, pressed deeper, but the temple's wards drew us together."
He spoke without flourish, but the words painted the path clearly. "The moment the last seal was broken, the Sovereign—an ancient warden spirit—awoke. It was bound to guard the temple's heart, and its strength dwarfed the combined forces inside. I fought it directly, and the battle collapsed half the central chamber."
The elders' eyes sharpened, but Haotian continued, voice even. "The destruction freed something far worse—an abyssal beast that had been imprisoned beneath the temple since before the realm's creation. The monster was… not meant for that place. It carried a presence that eroded qi and tore through the realm's stability. Even the Sovereign turned to attack it."
Feng Lanyue glanced forward, lips pressed together in a rare moment of silence. An Yuerin's calm expression didn't change, but her hands tightened slightly on the strap of her pack.
"In the chaos, sects turned on each other or fled. Our group held position until the abyssal beast was driven back—whether killed or sealed again, I cannot say. But the realm was collapsing by then. We left with the survivors we could gather."
Huo Zhanfeng let out a low whistle. "And here I thought the Sovereign was the worst of it."
Tu Jianhong gave a grunt. "An abyssal… explains why the air stank of void when we pulled back."
Jin Xuanming's voice was dry, but the edge in it was clear. "A fight like that will have been felt far beyond the realm."
Lan Shuyin's gaze shifted to Haotian, steady, protective. "You survived both. That's enough for now."
The High Elder absorbed the account in silence for a long moment before nodding. "Understood. We will report this to the Sect Master in full. There will be… considerations."
The rest of the journey passed in long days and cold campfire nights. At last, the mountains of the Burning Sun Sect rose into view, their peaks catching the gold of early morning light.
Crossing the outer gates brought the ringing of bells and the calls of gathered disciples. The High Elder returned the formal salute and led the group without pause to the inner hall, where the council of senior elders awaited.
After formal congratulations and a summary of the Forbidden Realm's trials, Lianhua stepped forward. "Elders, during our stay at the Azure Sky Sect, we learned of a method they use to strengthen their sect's resources and reputation."
Feng Lanyue's eyes glimmered with enthusiasm as she added, "A pavilion open to outsiders, selling weapons, armor, pills, and even techniques. It's a steady stream of spirit stones flowing into their coffers."
An Yuerin spoke in her calm, even tone. "It also allows disciples to exchange contribution points for equipment—an incentive to train and work harder."
Huo Zhanfeng leaned forward, grinning. "And if we had such a place, we could put Haotian's work up for sale. People would line up for it."
Tu Jianhong nodded. "It would draw customers from beyond our borders. Opportunity worth seizing."
Jin Xuanming's voice was dry, but there was interest beneath the words. "Politically, it's also a statement—showing outsiders the level of our craftsmanship without revealing all our secrets."
Lan Shuyin's smile was warm, but her tone was firm. "It would strengthen the sect and provide for our disciples. I see no harm in exploring the idea."
Haotian spoke last, his voice steady. "If permitted, I would contribute pieces for display and sale."
The elders exchanged glances, their murmur low but thoughtful. The High Elder leaned forward, fingers steepled. "This… bears consideration. We will deliberate. If we proceed, it will be done in a way that elevates the sect's standing."