Unbeknownst to Zhengwei, the papyrus scroll he had received from Yao Shen served a secondary purpose. A communication talisman had been skillfully embedded upon the scroll’s rear, for it would have been a pity not to have given young Zhengwei a method to contact him. He had displayed ample of the quality that Yao Shen valued most in a disciple, namely, resolve and whilst the inadequate tutelage the Sacred Flame Palace offered had limited his potential, it would do so no longer.

The final three forms of the scimitar technique Yao Shen had refined were a test, their difficulty and complexity far outpacing the preceding ones.

As Patriarch, it was Yao Shen’s duty to plan two steps ahead of the Sect Elders, who often prioritized short-term gain over long-term sustenance. He could only do so by tapping into the unrealized potential of the coming generation— whilst Yao Shen had no intention of accepting any more disciples presently, the same might not hold true a decade from now.

Perhaps Zhengwei would surprise him. Nevertheless, he would not be the only disciple whose future Yao Shen would decide to invest in.

Yao Shen and Lei Weiyuan departed not long after the duel’s conclusion, coming to a stop before the Inner sect’s entrance.

The Inner Sect was shrouded by a fairly impressive concealment formation that weaved thin strips of Shadow and Darkness Qi into a domed lattice that served to dampen and restrict Divine Sense probes.

Lei Weiyuan took the lead and Yao Shen followed, holding on to the talisman that marked him as a guest in the eyes of the formation spirit. Whilst Yao Shen didn’t fear betrayal, he found it prudent not to grant the Sacred Flame Palace any easy avenue to do so. He activated his Human Dao Domain, before taking forth a step into the darkness behind Lei Weiyuan, who had already blinked out of his sight.

The first thing Yao Shen felt was the noticeable spike in temperature, a roiling wave of hot air impacting against his skin that alone made the inner sect inhabitable for any mortal. Bright light shone in his eyes, but it did not obscure his vision in the slightest.

Though Yao Shen had received extensive intelligence relating to the inner sect’s layout, this was the first time he had personally witnessed it for himself.

And it was glorious.

A statue of the Sacred Bird, Marayan, towered over the surrounding edifices, clearly visible from even the furthest corners of the Inner Sect. Aptly positioned in the heart of the small town, the likeness of the Sacred Bird was brought to life with vibrant hues of red, further accentuated by flecks of gold dotted over its majestic wings; three brilliant spiritual gemstones that had been carved to perfection had been slotted into the three-eyed Sacred Bird’s eyesockets, shining with an ethereal silver luminescence.

While the statue alone was a sight to behold, Yao Shen knew that it served a far greater purpose; for it served as the formation spirit’s dwelling. Five canals originated from the statue’s base, stretching out until they were on the verge on intersecting with the concealment formation before angling downwards, until they were seemingly subsumed by the packed earth beneath. The canals divided the city into equally as many portions, for it was not water that flowed through it, but rather, a continuous stream of liquid flames that sweeped forward through the obsidian canals, raising the ambient Fire Qi in the atmosphere by several degrees.

He could now understand why Lei Weiyuan believed in the legend of Marayan, for this was a sight enough to inspire reverence in those exposed to the teachings of the Sacred Flame from a young age.

A second, more concentrated boundary of purification was concealed beneath his feet, the reward that awaited anyone foolish enough to attempt to sneak in the inner sect. The liquid flames supplied by the canal was utilized to ensure that the two boundaries of purification remained functional at all times and to adjust the Ambient Qi density accordingly. Some found the formation to be wasteful and a tad too luxurious, but whilst that might be true, Yao Shen found the formation to be the quintessential work of a Flame Cultivator— for what greater deterrent could there be, than a scorching hot wall of flames burning invaders to ash?

Yao Shen finally withdrew his Human Dao Domain as he stepped outside the boundary of purification’s reach, following Lei Weiyuan as they came up on what looked to be a residential area.

Lei Weiyuan lead Yao Shen through a broad, stone–tiled road. The housing in the Inner Sect displayed a much greater degree of individuality in comparison to the Outer Sect, a few particularly impressive pagodas nestled in walled enclosures catching his attention, their color schemes ranging from spirited scarlet and orange to more mellow, yet equally arresting greys and whites. There were also single storey houses that were clumped together in groups of four, centered around a small courtyard and wide, elongated dojos that were arrayed together in the north-eastern part of the residential area, likely the residences of disciples.

Flame Patriarch Lei Weiyuan came to a stop before a relatively smaller, yet no less impressive three storey pagoda painted in an auspicious vermillion with gold and silver embellishments.

A quick divine sense scan revealed that the rest of his contingent had already arrived, and were likely awaiting his presence.

Yao Shen and Lei Weiyuan spent the next thirty minutes going over minor details of the banquet, informing the latter that he would be attending personally. Meili Zhu graciously played the part of the host, serving the two Patriarch’s warm tea that was soaked in Sona root and crushed Ecium Flowers— strong but not overpowering, the tea left behind a spicy aftertaste that crushed any hint of drowsiness or fatigue Yao Shen might have felt at the long day. A true delicacy, though that had more to do with the skill of the brewer than the ingredients involved.

After Lei Weiyuan departed, Meili Zhu informed him that the finest chefs from the Sky Division had been dispatched, carrying a larder full of delicacies in their spiritual rings. That was good, showing magnanimity at this stage would hopefully allay fears of being mistreated under his command.

The estimate Yao Shen had requested would be arriving tomorrow morning, in the early hours after dawn. Inspecting the treasuries before then would serve no purpose besides aggravating the cultivators of the Sacred Flame, thus Yao Shen chose to spend the next few hours peacefully cultivating within the confines of his room.

Not long after, it was time for the banquet.