I forgot about my audience for a while. Lost in the joy of training, and the sensations I was gaining with my new Bow. Shot after shot I created arrows and fired. It took me a moment or two to understand the logic behind moving archery blocks. The Wing Chun enchanted to respond to melee attacks made sense, but for stationary ranged targets to also respond was genius. It was an innovative idea, and I forgot my resentment with Elder Dill.

The thought that this kind of array technology was probably not new, just restricted to high-tier Sects did give perspective about the disparity between the Sects. I was coming to understand just how great the chasm was that existed between Sect tiers. The resources and technology that were available to me, even if Alchemy wouldn't be one of them, was going to be greater than anything I might purchase from Flowing Water, and these new skills should make a difference in my cultivation.

There was no way to ignore that I was in a much better position, even if I had to start over and choose a new secondary profession because Elder Dill had been forced to ban me from Alchemy Hall.

By the time Elder Shadow called my name and reminded me why I was at the training field in the first place, I was able to hit the bullseye every time. Not an insignificant achievement, considering that the damn thing kept trying to dodge. I had found the secret was to keep a link between the arrow and air elemental Qi so that I could adjust the trajectory as the archery form moved. There was no way to anticipate how the block would dodge, but by keeping control of the arrows, I was able to stay on target.

"You have regained your center," Elder Shadow said as I lowered the defensive barrier and relinquished the aisle to the young man he had been speaking with when I arrived. I watched as the boy because that was what he was, someone newly awakened, fumbled with his Qi to activate defenses and power the archery blocks.

It was strange. I was only a year older than the young man, but I felt so much more mature. I had lost my naivety and innocence over the last year. That first day of anticipation when I'd entered Flowing Water had forced me to change my expectations. Elder Dill's actions, even if he had been forced into making them, seemed to mirror those events.

I hoped Elder Dill's actions weren't a prelude to my life at Four Element Sect.

"I apologize," I said bowing, student to teacher, as I acknowledge the trace of disappointment I heard in his voice. "I find myself having trouble accepting that my time under Elder Tye's tutelage was a waste of his time and mine. To reconcile that the past year has been a waste, with my new knowledge that I could have expanded my knowledge if only I had the resources has been difficult to reconcile.

"I understand, intellectually that there will be differences between a mid-tier and high-tier Sect. The sprite for my viewscreen was even able to find information for me that helped to explain why mid-tier Sects would limit their members to only one secondary profession, but emotionally it feels like a betrayal to have Elder Dill bow to outside influence and deny me access to Alchemy completely.

"I fail to understand why Flowing Water or any mid-tier Sect would share with their members' information that is patently false. Is there any reason not to explain to Sect members that resources are limited, and that the Sect is only able to supply those limited resources for one field of study?" I asked.

"There are reasons Sects like Flowing Water decided to embrace that deception," Elder Shadow explained. "You have seen for yourself how politics and factions can create disparities between members. Imagine those factions, convinced that their supporters deserve the lion's share of resources, and how those factional disputes would affect the Sect. They would believe that their people should be able to train any of the professions that interest them and would give little thought to the Sect at large.

"Resources that were often wasted as entitled young misses and masters played with learning, believing they were entitled, not caring how their actions affected anyone else. By testing an individual, requiring them to prove they have the talent and drive to advance their skills, mid and low-tier Sects make sure the people that can best make use of those resources get them."

"And the reason for the tournament competition was to identify who ranked first? My fifth-place rank was only used as an aggregate so that I gained entrance to Four Elements, my skills in alchemy easily dismissed because Elder Dill had sworn a Cultivator's Oath, and my skills were to be sacrificed to that Oath?"

Elder Shadow's look telegraphed his surprise. He hadn't known about the details of my conversation with Elder Dill yesterday. His ignorance helped settle some of the injustice I felt. I was happy to find my trust in him was not misplaced. Subconsciously, most of my disappointment had stemmed from the fact that I wondered if he had known, and not given me any warning. I hated to contemplate that my trust in him and Patriarch Umbra might be misguided and misplaced.

"You've met with Elder Dill?" He asked not responding to my accusation directly.

"Yesterday," I informed him. "He explained to me why my access to Alchemical study materials, formulas, and resources would not be approved.

"I will not be given access to any resource tokens available in the library, and the only resources he will allow me to requisition from Alchemy Hall are the materials for those pills I have already mastered and demonstrated an ability to produce pills that reach the perfected tier."

"And the reason he gave?"

"The Beast Tamer cultivator I dueled with has connections. His mother holds the Oath of Elder Dill and demanded he honor that Oath, by restricting my access," I sneered, unable to keep the displeasure and my aggrieved feelings to myself.

"I see," Elder Shadow replied thoughtfully. He became pensive for a moment or so, digesting the information I had shared. I doubted he would share his thoughts on this matter with me, it wasn't appropriate for one Elder to comment on the workings of another. At least with an Inner or Outer Sect member.

"And what are your plans now, that Elder Dill has blocked your progression in the alchemical arts?" He asked.

"I thought I would work with arrays, formations, or runic inscription," I stated. "My elemental affinities are not well suited for mastering blacksmithing or armory, so I eliminated those secondary professions right away. They rely too much on earth and fire elemental affinity for me to gain any real proficiency. Taming is closed to me; I would have needed to select a different cultivation technique when I first joined Flowing Water.

"That leaves arrays, runes, formations, or herbal nurturing.

"I have some knowledge on what is required to grow spirit plants," I continued, "my father would be considered an apprentice level herbalist if he was a Sect member. But I never had his interest, skill, or patience with spirit herbs. I have enough talent to maintain a garden, but I find it tedious.

"Becoming proficient and mastering arrays fit both my personal goals and will come in handy, helping to satisfy some of the requirements I will certainly need when establishing my Baronetcy.

"I thought I would study that skill with the goal of also mastering both formation techniques and inscription practices.

"That means I will be spending my time focusing on and mastering three professions. But array, formation, and inscription build upon and depend on the teachings of each other to become truly powerful. You cannot become a true formation or inscription master without mastering arrays, and vice versa" I concluded.

"I cannot fault your logic," Elder Shadow said his words giving me tacit approval for my plans. "When we finish today, speak with Elder Helena, she is still accepting students and I believe she might be well suited to serve as your mentor.

"And what of your cultivation and martial training?" He asked the issue of my secondary profession disposed of.

"What do you mean?" I wondered, my cultivation and martial technique were set in stone by this point. There was no way I would deviate from the path of [Transcend the Heavenly Footpath] or [Tessenjutsu].

"Why have you not braved the first tribulation and advanced to the Qi Gathering Realm?" He asked point-blank, his question not what I'd expected.