As Min knelt over Chang-li's unconscious body, she could tell something was wrong. His heart was racing, and his core seemed unstable. His actions just now, in destroying the Soaring Heavens cultivators, had been masterful, decisive, vicious. Not like the Chang-li she knew and loved.

She looked up at Joshi. "What happened to him?"

Joshi, stoic as usual, shook his head. "I'm not sure."

Min got to her feet. She went to the railing and looked up, where Noren and the Inquisitor were still fighting. Cupping her hands, she shouted, "Grandmaster! Grandmaster Noren, we need you!"

Noren's voice echoed from the air all around them. "I'm a bit busy, Min."

"Something's wrong with Chang-li!"

At once, there was a crack behind her. She turned. Master Noren stood there. He strode over to Chang-li. Confused, Min glanced at the sky, where Noren was still fighting the Inquisitor. She blinked a couple of times, then decided that how Noren accomplished his feats was the least of her concerns right now.

He bent over Chang-li, then looked at Joshi. "You found the disc. And he took it into his core? Why?"

"It was the only way to defeat the guardian," Joshi said. "And I don't think he meant to do it."

"This is unfortunate," Noren said. His eyes closed. He held up a hand. "Just a moment."

In the sky above, there was an almighty peal of thunder, and the whole world turned white for a moment. Min blinked away the spots in front of her eyes as Noren returned to himself.

"I had planned, once the disc was in my possession, to use that to negotiate an end to these hostilities. Unfortunately, with Chang-li in this condition..." He turned to Min and Joshi, looking resolute. "All right. If the Inquisitor catches Chang-li like this, she will almost certainly have him executed on the spot."

"What?" Min demanded. "What's he done?"

"That doesn't matter just now. Also, his core is at danger of tearing itself to pieces, thanks to that device he's absorbed. I am sealing off the device for now, but my seal won't last forever. You must get him to the Heart of Ice when it emerges."

Noren was addressing Joshi now, who nodded intently. Clearly, he knew what Noren was talking about.

"In the Heart of Ice, Chang-li can learn what that artifact is for and how to make use of it. If he can manage that before the seal is completely destroyed, he will have a chance. Try not to let him cultivate under stressful situations until then. I'll hold off the Inquisitor for now. You need to get out of here at once."

"Understood," Joshi said.

Noren disappeared. The battle in the sky seemed to intensify. Min felt a clash of wills that had her shaking.

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

Joshi bent and picked up Chang-li, tossing him over one shoulder. He started down the tower.

"Where are you going?" Min demanded, following after him.

"You heard Noren. I must get Chang-li to the Heart of Ice."

"And where is that?"

"Far away. In my people's land. I will see Chang-li there. You can remain and protect the sect."

"Not a chance," Min snarled. Brother Stone was watching them. She turned to him. "Brother Stone, you're in command. Do what Noren tells you to do. Restore the sect. Tell my grandfather I'm going with my husband."

Joshi didn't object. Brother Stone looked flabbergasted. "Lady Min, I —"

"Consider it an order from your elder sister, or from the chief spouse of your sect, whatever you like," she snapped. "I don't have time to argue."

Joshi was already disappearing down the steps. She followed him. "How are we to get out of here?" she asked. "

"Chang-li has a lux construct. Hopefully, he's left it in his packs."

"I've had those brought here," she said, "and yours as well. Stop here," she ordered as they reached the second floor. Joshi followed her. She went to the room she'd set aside for herself and Chang-li. Chang-li's bags were waiting.

"Look for a black box," Joshi instructed.

She dug through and found it, holding it up. "This?"

"Yes."

"Where's my bag?"

"I'll fetch it," Min said. She kept hold of the box just in case Joshi wanted to leave her behind as she ran to fetch Joshi's bag, and returned.

Joshi held out his hand. She handed him the box. Min gathered up all the bags and followed Joshi out, down to the first floor. They passed Feng's body lying in a pool of his own blood. Min shuddered, remembering that fight.

Then they stepped out of the tower. Joshi took the box from her and opened it. A dark cloud emerged, hovering a few feet over the ground. Min didn't have time to ask questions as Joshi heaved Chang-li's unconscious form onto the cloud, then helped Min toss all of the bags up.

Finally, they climbed on it. Min tensed as she experienced the sensation of sitting on a cloud.

Joshi channeled lux. The cloud lurched forward. Min felt an urge to grab onto something, but she was stable, and Chang-li wasn't moving either. His breathing seemed more regular now, but he was still unconscious. Min sat beside him as Joshi eased them from the valley.

Overhead, the fight continued as they flew forward toward the entrance to the valley. Min's thoughts were a roil of different worries. Would Chang-li be all right? Had Noren's seal done what he said? What if they couldn't reach the Heart of Ice in time? And this artifact, what did it do?

She had seen Chang-li cut down an enemy in cold blood. One who deserved it, yes, but the expression on Chang-li's face was one she'd never seen there before. He looked, well, like a cultivator. Arrogant, commanding, terrifying.

Was his progression changing him from the considerate scribe she'd accidentally married into something else? Min pushed aside that worry. Pushed aside her fears of leaving behind everything she knew, abandoning her people, going off to who knew where.

Right now, none of that was helping.

There was a long journey ahead of her and an unknown challenge at the other end. Min would need to prepare as best she could.

She inhaled as much lux as she could, knowing it might be some time before they could recharge, and felt, to her surprise, how thick and dense her core was.

As her determination grew, something in her clicked. Min blinked. She cycled. Her core burned within her. She could feel its change.

Joshi turned toward her, even as the cloud rushed forward. "You've reached the Peak of Bodily Refinement?"

She nodded. "I think I have."

"Good," he said, turning back. "Because where we're going, we will need to be strong. As soon as we're clear from here, I will share what I can about the next step on your path. Hopefully, your husband has written things down in one of his books."

"What do you mean, where we're going?" Min asked as she shivered again. "Where are we going, exactly? Other than all the way across the Empire?"

Astonishment crossed his face. "We're going into a war," he said simply. "My people are fighting for their lives, and losing. And with the emergence of the Heart of Ice, cultivators from across the Empire, and perhaps beyond, will be drawn there. Prism Eri has her plans as well."

"We're going to go into all that unprepared, alone and without the support of our sect, with Chang-li badly injured?"

Joshi smiled. "I'm looking forward to it."

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.