As the sun cast a glow on the dewy morning air, Jun Li hopped across the rooftops of the capital with brisk, sharp movements, like a stone being skipped across water.

  Jun Li had finally mastered the first part of her Movement Technique, the Glass Cloud Art, over the past few weeks.

  Originally, she struggled considerably with the Technique, and even improvised a shortcut in the form of her ‘Cloudburst’ Technique, but her control over internal energy had improved greatly after reaching the Crimson Palace stage, and she was more easily able to follow the instructions in her manual, with some trial and error.

  Thinking back, Jun Li felt surprised that Yang Chen was able to use the Glass Cloud art at the level he did, considering he was at the Qi Condensation stage. She wasn’t sure whether the discrepancy was due to his own talent or her incompetence with the Technique.

  In actuality, Jun Li had somewhat disrupted her own comprehension of the Glass Cloud Art by relying on an improvised offshoot Technique.

  Although her Cloudburst Technique boasted remarkable speed, even over the orthodox Glass Cloud Art, it suffered significantly in two major ways.

  Firstly, the consumption of Qi was excessive. With the Cloudburst Technique, Jun Li would lose most of the Qi she invested into using it the moment it was executed, due to the self-destructive nature of the Technique. A problem that does not exist with the standard Glass Cloud Technique, in which the Technique can be continuously used at full effect for minutes at a time.

  Secondly, the Cloudburst Technique was severely lacking in control. This was an issue that limited Jun Li during her fight with Yang Chen, enforcing a reliance on reactivity due to the gap in footwork. The Cloudburst Technique could fare decently against lesser Magical Beasts as a method of closing the distance, but in combat with another human, it was too predictable.

  Over the past few weeks, Jun Li had heavily practiced the Glass Cloud Art and had now reached what the manual defined as the ‘Minor Success’ stage, represented by the ability to travel 10 meters in any of the eight directions with a single half-second step.

  Although it sounded simple, it was a fairly technical affair to actually execute, requiring the user to condense their Qi into a thin cloud beneath their feet, similar to the standard manifestation of the technique, but much more temporary and delicate.

  With the cloud manifested, the user would then forcibly twist it by sending Qi through their meridians in a particular pattern.

  While they did this, they would have to physically step off the cloud with their physical strength, creating an effect where they are forcefully moved with a combination of the cloud’s movement and their own physical strength.

  If any aspect of the Movement Technique was off, whether it be the control of one’s Qi, or the user misplacing their weight at a key moment, the Technique could send one flipping upside down, or sliding in a random direction.

  Maintaining an equal, 1:1 ratio of force between the user's step-off and the rotation of their Technique was both difficult and vital

  That being said, Jun Li’s proficiency at the ‘Minor Success’ level was more than enough to forbid any such mishaps, even with a mind as distracted as her own.

  Reaching the edge of the capital and beginning the ascent up the mountain, Jun Li thought about her initial motivation to enter the Sect.

  By this point, it had been almost a year since Jun Li entered the Glass Cloud Sect in the hopes of providing for her family. From a fortuitous circumstance, she was able to get started earlier than expected, but it wasn’t a permanent solution.

  As always, the Inner Sect stood as Jun Li’s only reliable way to provide for her family. If she could finish a few missions for the sect and accumulate a few treasures or medicines, she could sell them to set her family up in the city, even getting her siblings formal educations, and her Auntie stable work.

  The only thing that stood in the way now was actually completing those Inner Sect missions she had heard of.

  Swiftly scaling the mountain path, Jun Li prayed that the missions the sect gave would be achievable at her level and that the rewards would be as lucrative as they sounded.

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  Emerging off the mountain path, Jun Li walked into the Sect Plaza, lightly tapping her feet to brush away the fatigue of the trip, not that there was much to speak of. At her level of Cultivation, she felt more boredom than strain from walking up the mountain path.

  Above, the cold morning air condensed into a delicate drizzle of rain, covering the mountain in a serene haze.

  Breathing in the cold air, Jun Li looked towards the imposing stairs that led up from the Plaza to the Inner Sect. It seemed that no disciples were present in the plaza, perhaps having predicted the weather to worsen.

  Jun Li was a bit anxious about potentially missing some formality regarding moving from the Outer Sect to the Inner Sect, but being alone in the Plaza, she mustered her confidence and slowly walked to the stairs.

  “Going somewhere?” Flinching a little at the sudden voice, Jun Li turned to see Elder Guo standing in the gentle rain, having suddenly appeared in the few seconds she wasn’t looking.

  Looking Jun Li over, Elder Guo could perceive her improved Cultivation in great detail.

  He clearly saw that Jun Li had not only broken through to the Crimson Palace stage, but that her Cultivation had consolidated quite steadily there.

  Nodding his head in approval, Elder Guo spoke without bothering to hide his smile. “Congratulations on your breakthrough, Disciple Jun… I dare say with disciples like you entering the Inner Sect, the Glass Cloud Sect is looking forward to a more prosperous future.”

  “Ah! Thank you very much, Elder Guo.” Clasping her hands, Jun Li bowed to Elder Guo, feeling some pride at his statement.

  “Come along, I’ll show you around the Inner Sect.” Raising her head, Jun Li saw Elder Guo step towards the stairs that led further up the mountain, into the Inner Sect.

  Following along, Jun Li quickly asked about her primary concerns. “Elder Guo, what can you tell me about the Inner Sect missions?”

  Though he was a bit surprised by Jun Li’s first line of questioning, Elder Guo’s steps did not slow, and he continued to speak evenly. “Hmm, if you’re already familiar with the concept, then you likely know the basics. Inner Sect disciples may take extracurricular missions to assist the Sect, in exchange for a variety of extra resources.”

  “But… I have a feeling that’s not what you’re asking about.” Jun Li paused for a moment at Elder Guo’s words before specifying. “Do you think I have what it takes to complete these missions? At my current level, that is.”

  Thinking for a moment about his impression of Jun Li’s cultivation, Elder Guo measured his words before speaking. “Typically… Inner Sect disciples won’t go on missions alone, and will often take one or two peers along with them, especially when it comes to missions involving combat.”

  “Even so… I believe you would fare appropriately for the less intensive tasks, even alone.” Letting out a sigh of relief, Jun Li felt at ease, believing she could trust Elder Guo's words.

  With her worries cleared, she looked up to the end of the long set of stairs and couldn’t help but feel interested in what the Inner Sect would look like.

  Reaching the top of the stairs for the first time, Jun Li was stunned for a few moments upon seeing the Inner Sect.

  Among the list of things she expected to see, a lively town was not one of them. In front of Jun Li, a gorgeous town of delicate stone lined with lush vegetation spread out before her, non-cultivators walking through the clean, elegantly paved streets, bustling between numerous storefronts and facilities.

  “Elder Guo… who are these people?” Hearing Jun Li’s question, Elder Guo was a bit surprised. “I figured if you were familiar with the Inner Sect missions, you would know a bit more about the Inner Sect… Regardless, all the people here are servants tasked with maintaining the facilities of the Inner Sect.”

  Guiding Jun Li through the streets, Elder Guo remarked upon their surroundings. “The Inner Sect is designed to be comfortably livable for even royalty. Restaurants, clothiers, hot springs, armories, and pharmacies are present, along with manors for the Inner Sect disciples, all maintained by the servants you see around you.”

  Taking in the novel sights with a childlike wonder, Jun Li’s gaze fell on a certain someone walking out of a pharmacy.

  What she saw first wasn’t his handsome appearance or ruffled hair, but his imposing Cultivation.

  It wasn’t like Elder Guo or Zhu Enlai, whose Cultivations carried an air of mysterious depth; instead, it seemed robust and vibrant. ‘He’s at the Crimson Palace stage like me. A stage higher…? Probably two?’

  “Hmm?” For a moment, Jun Li met the young man’s eyes and felt an odd sense of familiarity, seemingly reflected in his own expression. “Ah! Junior Sister Jun!”

  Seemingly having remembered who Jun Li was, the young man made his way over to her and Elder Guo. “Ah, it’s me, Han Wenyan.”

  ‘The Inner Sect disciple who looked after me after my duel with Ren Liwei…’ When Han Wenyan identified himself, Jun Li’s memory was sparked, realizing there were only a few moments she had met an Inner Sect disciple. “Right! Thanks for your help last time, Senior Brother Han.”

  Brushing off Jun Li’s thanks, Han Wenyan ruffled his hair. “Oh no, anyone would have done the same. I must say… I didn’t expect to see you in the Inner Sect after less than a year. I’m quite impressed!”

  “Say, Elder Guo, do you think I could take over the tour from here?” Han Wenyan spoke rather casually to Elder Guo, acting in a rather familiar way with him.

  “I suppose that would be appropriate for you to introduce your fellow Junior Disciple to the Inner Sect. Very well then.” Nodding along with Han Wenyan’s proposal, Elder Guo withdrew. “I shall leave the rest to you. Good Luck, Disciple Jun!”