2. Open Palace Realm

The alchemy hall was a giant three story building with purple glazed tiled roofs covering a dark wooden structure of some form of spirit tree.

Boom!

Faust heard the occasional explosion reverberate through the building. The golden plaque hanging from the eves shook above the entrance slightly. He didn’t look too closely. All the newbie disciples quickly learned all the calligraphy contained a powerful intent that shook the mind.

All part of the Overseers of each hall showing off, Faust thought. Only those who reached the Golden Core realm by 50 would become core disciples and eventually respected elders of the sect, with potential to reach the lofty Nascent Soul realm. Past that, one could only become a sect Overseer.

After a few more minutes, Phalecia exited the Alchemy Hall.

“Here.” Phalecia passed two ornate and polished wooden boxes to Faust.

Faust took them and bowed. “Thank you, Junior Sister.”

“Not all, Senior Brother.” Phalecia bowed back. “I wish you luck on your breakthrough— and hope to see you in the Inner Sect soon.”

“Thank you.” Faust nodded, turning away to head to one of the nearby buildings.

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“Administration Hall.” A jade plaque read at the entrance to a large, marble building with gold and jade decorations. All mortal materials. The kind that the overseers who’d given up advancing further loved to indulge in.

Still, the building was lacquered in arrays and formations carved into the walls and floors. A testament to the centuries of effort the Administration Hall overseer had dedicated to their craft.

The hall was completely devoid of people. Faust’s footsteps echoing loudly across the open hall while cool, almost freezing air poked at his skin.

“Mmmh?” An old man, with a beard reaching the floor, looked up from a sitting desk.

Faust felt a chill go up his spine while a subtle weight pressed down on his shoulders.

“Outer Sect… Fallen Petal Ridge’s Faust…” The old man, Overseer Clementine, spoke after a moment of regard.

Faust bowed, cupping his hands. “I greet the venerable overseer.”

The old man brushed his beard with one hand. “…You’re breaking through?” He asked.

Faust nodded. “I request absolve of my monthly quota for the next 2 months and Usage of the Jade Crushing Refinement Array.” He got straight to the point. The Administration Hall was where one could go to make special requests or buy things not normally sold by the sect. It was up to the Hall’s overseer’s own discretion if these requests were granted or not.

Clementine continued brushing his long beard, looking back down at whatever he had been writing for a time.

After a few minutes, Clementine spoke. “I’ve checked with the Mission Hall, Contributions Hall, Merit Hall and the Technique Hall.” He began. Faust guessed the old man had used the divine sense unique to those at the Golden Core realm to scan documents from the other halls. It was a truly marvelous ability.

“In the past nearly fifteen years you’ve been with the sect. You have accepted Six-hundred and twenty-three missions. Twenty-eight of those missions were emergency missions directly assigned by the sect. Of all your missions you have only failed four.” The elder listed Faust’s achievements.

“You have traded in two hundred first grade items to the merit hall, fifty six second grade items and seven third grade items… It was also noted that you were able to defeat someone at the Open Palace realm, whilst only at the Meridian Opening realm… In return, you have only claimed twenty seven first grade items and nine second grade items.” The elder listed what Faust had done at the Merit Hall.

“At the Technique Hall, you have provided extensive notes for others at the Meridian Opening realm as well as your own modifications of several techniques and a continuation of an incomplete technique. In return, you have taken two hundred and fourteen techniques from the Hall.”

Faust flinched at that. He had dreamed of being an immortal who could take heads with a flying sword from a thousand miles away. However, there were no good techniques for that and he had dedicated unholy amounts of time researching techniques and trying to develop his own.

Faust knew how valuable techniques were. Despite his accumulated contributions and merits, there was a very real chance the Technique Hall had already been generous with letting him take so many techniques out.

“However.” The old man continued. “It has been noted you have taken so many techniques out, in order to study and create your own. With technique crafting being one of the most important external arts and one of the rarest pursued… You have been given leeway and special exception for many of those techniques.”

“…” Faust stayed silent and bowing, his heart beating rapidly. While not being given use of the Jade Crushing Refinement Array wouldn’t be devastating, it would set his mind at ease and make his inner palace foundation probably another magnitude more stable. At the same time though, the Jade Crushing Refinement Array was incredibly sought after by both artifact refiners and those who pursued the path of tempering their mortal body.

“…With all your contributions and merits… I believe… Your request can be granted…”

Faust let out a deep breath, the weight on his shoulders seeming to half in an instance.

A jade token suddenly flew out from the elders sleeve. Faust caught it with both hands.

“I have informed the administrator managing the Jade Crushing Refinement Array. Give him this token when you enter.”

Faust bowed and cupped his hands one more time. “Thank you. May the sect stand tall for eras.”

The overseer nodded, before turning their attention back to the scroll he had been writing on.

Faust turned and left the hall as quietly as he could.

A few moments later, the sun’s heat once more pelted Faust’s skin, the warmth a welcome contrast to the freezing halls of the Administration Hall.

“Hahhh…” Faust let out a deep breath, closing his eyes and enjoying the sunlight for a few moments. He already felt his years of diligence had been rewarded.

“Senior brother, Faust.”

“Hm?” Faust opened his eyes and looked forward.

A woman with fierce golden hair greeted, approaching the hall Faust had just left. She had a ruby gleam in her eyes and her accessories and clothes all seemed to match. Ruby and gold earrings, a Red Jade fan, a tight red and gold sleeveless cheongsam that would have covered the knees if not for the two slits on either side which ended not below the hips but at the waist. A popular style for more… eccentric personalities, where the knees and elbows were covered by thin black thigh highs and long gloves that went up the upper arms.

Despite being the senior brother, Faust bowed anyway to the young lady. “Junior Sister, Rozeline.” He greeted, unable to imagine spending so much money on an outfit when the sect provided the sect uniform for free.

“It’s rare to see you around. You’re usually out on missions.” The woman, Rozeline, snapped her fan shut, smirking as always.

“I’m preparing to break through.” Faust responded. It was his bad luck to run into one of the young prodigies of a major clan. He was ultimately still just a potter’s son.

“Oh? You’ve been at the peak of the Meridian Opening realm ever since I joined the sect. Even the Inner disciple who inducted us recommended asking you for advice. I thought you were planning to become a sect deacon or administrator?”

Faust shook his head. “Perfection in each realm is the only thing that can match innate talent. I was just perfecting my foundation before making the leap.”

“I see. Well, by coincidence, I happen to be preparing to break through to the Open Palace realm as well. I look forward to seeing senior brother in the Inner Sect too.” Rozeline spoke, before walking past Faust into the Administration Hall.

…

Faust watched Rozeline for a moment, then turned away back to Jade Road Mountain. He had to prepare all his materials and grab the foundation laying method he had created, as well as a few Fasting pills to keep hunger and thirst at bay whilst he was in secluded cultivation.

Faust sighed as he walked. Of course, usually only the disciples of wealthy clans would enter the Administration Hall. Few disciples of ordinary background ever even tried asking the sect for use of one of their different arrays that assisted with channel construction or foundation laying. Many out of ignorance.

In his 15 years in the Outer Sect, Faust had seen exactly 2 other disciples not from powerful backgrounds enter the Administration Hall. The first was the lackey of one of the clan heirs, who entered on the heir’s instruction.

The second person was Sirius, who followed Faust’s advice. Yet she only did so because while her background wasn’t particularly powerful, she was still from a well educated merchant family with a small handful of weaker cultivators among their members.

Faust shook his head as he waved his fan to bear some of the summer heat. Mernanda and Persius were in a bad position if they ever wanted to go past the Open palace realm.

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Back at home, with plenty of time before lunch, Faust searched his house for various items. He collected the various boxes containing Golden Sand, Crushed Spirit Jade, Steelpine Sap, Minotaur Clam powder, Dark Slate, Star Iron, Iridescent Ashes and Spirit Glazed Platinum. He planned to use all of them to help lay his foundation.

Faust thought of Mernanda and Persius again and sighed. He had insisted the two at least use external materials to help lay their foundation if they weren’t going to use the sect’s various arrays and formations. But the two had already used their merit up to purchase new techniques that would work even in the Open Palace realm.

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Turning his eyes back to the boxes, Faust took stock. He concluded he should definitely have enough of everything. In combination with the Jade Crushing Refinement Array, he would lay the first of three layers of his Inner Palace’s foundation, officially stepping into the Open Palace realm.

Seeing there was still plenty of time, Faust decided to have one last proper meal before heading to the Jade Crushing Refinement Array. He probably wouldn’t have a proper meal for months beyond Fasting pills or the Spirit Qi Satiation technique. A must have for any traveling cultivator.

An hour later, Faust cleaned the pot with a few flicks of his wrist, expertly manipulating some Water Qi to peel off any bits. Using the 12 Qi Transformations technique to turn the Water Qi into Fire Qi, he turned the sludge that remained of his lunch into ash and charcoal, before guiding it with normal Spirit Qi into the small pots of spirit herbs that lay on the windowsill.

“It’s time.” Faust nodded to himself, picking up the boxes of external materials he’d be using, a bag of Fasting pills and the scroll containing his final copy of his modified concrete inspired foundation laying technique.

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