Boston Command knew that all of the transport crews were scared at the prospect of being sacrificed as bait again, so they started throwing in a bunch of carrots.

  The Convoys were the most important part of their plans for the Catacombs. Without Convoys the bases couldn't exit. After all, the bases only guarded Tier Two spiritual veins. They needed a continuous stream of high tier spiritual qi, otherwise the defenders would eventually regress to Foundation Establishment level.

  The convoy drivers of the Battle of Kenway-Allston were all honored, and the medals carried real weight. A medal meant a transferable draft exemption, even if it was awarded posthumously.

  Many of the surviving draftees immediately used the medal to complete their service. The families of the dead quickly forgot their grief upon receiving their exemptions.

  In addition, Merit pay increased again. It now stood at over five times the baseline peacetime rate. Many new student soldiers came in, lured by the prospect of easy merits.

  It was as if the world moved on without them.

  The decision to earn merits felt strange. The optimal play would have been for Leo to quietly cultivate at home. Grow his divine sense to monstrous levels. Wait two or three more years before entering the Catacombs. By then he would have NFL-tier combat skills. He could face these threats with confidence.

  Instead, he was here. Driving a semi-truck through hostile territory with three classmates who depended on him.

  He had grown closer to them over the past few weeks. They were his teammates now. He could not abandon them when they needed him most.

  Leo considered trying to take more students under his wing. Expand his protection beyond just his own team. Convoy escort duty. Garrison duty. Something.

  The more he thought about it, the more foolish it sounded.

  He couldn't even protect his own teammates. Whenever an alarm sounded, he immediately left to fly overwatch with the other flyers of the convoy. His combat power was more valuable in the air than in the cab.

  But it meant leaving Matt, Vivian, and Tom alone every single time danger approached.

  The best he could do was help them earn their way to draft exemptions as soon as possible. And maybe gain more experience against Nascent Soul domains on the Azure Profound continent.

  To Leo's surprise, when he told Mike and Arthur about the dangers he faced in the Catacombs and how he couldn't abandon his squad mates, the two adults just grunted in agreement.

  Leo had thought that they would pressure him to quit the military as Leo was crucial for their future plans. But at the end of the day, he underestimated the two ex-military men. They had accepted his struggles and given him some advice.

  Midmission, Leo got a message that Arthur had found a suitable sparring partner. After finishing their transport run to Base Roxbury, Leo told his teammates he needed to take care of something. They could take a break while he caught up with Mike and Arthur.

  ---

  Leo found an empty VR pod inside Base Roxbury and logged into the Azure Profound Continent. The Starlink connection from his transport semi was only stable for only three to four minutes. For an extended trip, he needed the garrison's hardwired set

  The world materialized around him in the familiar cave of their hideout. Arthur sat on a stone bench, making more merit stamps for fun. Mike stood nearby, arms crossed, a little upset after losing a recent argument.

  "Kid! I see you got my message." Arthur looked up with that shrewd, weathered grin that Leo had learned to associate with questionable schemes.

  "I found your sparring partner. That you've been asking us to find."

  "That was fast." Leo approached cautiously. "Who?"

  "The Iron Rhinoceros Sect Leader. He's back in Crimson Lotus City. Hanging around the market district, from what our sources say."

  Leo stopped walking. He looked at Arthur. Then at Mike. Then back at Arthur.

  "The Iron Rhinoceros Sect didn't start the conflict with us," Leo said slowly. "We robbed them first."

  Arthur waved his hand dismissively. "Details."

  "We literally broke into their bank and emptied their vault."

  "Semantics." Arthur stood up, tucking the merit stamp into his robe. "The way I see it, this actually makes things easier. You won't need to provoke him into sparring. Just show your face near him. Walk past his favorite tea house. Maybe wave."

  "Wave," Leo repeated.

  "A friendly wave. Nothing aggressive." Arthur demonstrated, giving an exaggerated, cheerful wave that somehow looked insulting.

  "He'll come out to voluntarily spar with you. Very enthusiastically. You won't even need to ask."

  Leo pinched the bridge of his nose. "This is just provoking trouble with extra steps."

  "Provoking trouble would be attacking him unprovoked. This is merely... presenting an opportunity for mutual resolution of grievances." Arthur beamed. "Completely different. We did it all the time back in my day."

  Leo turned to Mike. "You agreed to this?"

  Mike's jaw tightened. The expression on his face suggested he had swallowed something bitter and was still tasting it.

  "Unfortunately," Mike said, the word dragging itself out of his throat, "Arthur has a point."

  "A very good point," Arthur added.

  "There's a good chance the Iron Rhinoceros sect leader cultivates a metal domain," Mike explained. "Metal's popular with the Cult because it resists flak bombardment. Training against him gives you experience against the kind of Nascent Souls you'll actually face."

  "What about other options?" Leo asked. "There have to be other Nascent Souls in the region."

  "There's a White Tiger," Mike said. "Somewhere in the mountain range north of here. The reports say it's been there for centuries."

  "Then why not..."

  "The location's not publicly known." Mike shook his head. "Whatever records exist, they are probably sect secrets. The kind of thing that gets passed down through generations of sect leadership. After all the Tiger must be sitting on a T4 Spiritual Vein."

  Arthur's grin widened. "And which sect do you think might have those records?"

  Leo closed his eyes. "The Iron Rhinoceros Sect."

  "The Iron Rhinoceros Sect," Arthur confirmed happily. "So either way, we need to have a conversation with them. Might as well get your sparring in during the investigation process."

  "The character for 'Metal' is different from 'Iron'," Leo said, grasping for any foothold. "'Metal' is closer to Gold, not Iron. The leader of the Iron Rhinoceros sect might not even use a Metal domain."

  Arthur tilted his head. "Those are just minor details."

  "The leader is the Iron Rhinoceros Sect is the best training partner you could ask for. We need his help. We need him to want to help you."

  He stopped and turned dramatically.

  "And how do you make someone want to help you? You do them a favor. A great favor. A merit so significant they can't ignore it."

  Leo felt a sinking sensation in his stomach. "Arthur..."

  "We resolved a Profundity. The Pond Gazing Sect was prepared to sacrifice all their disciples to resolve the Profundity." Arthur spread his arms wide. "We did a great merit saving all their lives! Even the Heavenly Dao agrees!"

  Arthur flashed a merit stamp. Leo already knew what was engraved inside.

  The group of four Americans had really enjoyed flashing their merit stamps at every opportunity. Leo was beginning to suspect Arthur had steered the entire conversation just for this moment.

  "The Pond Gazing Sect wasn't very happy about our great merit," Leo said flatly. "The Pond doesn't exist anymore, nor does their Sect. The only thing left is to Gaze at the empty spot where their Pond and Sect used to be."

  "What if we did such a merit to the Iron Rhinoceros Sect and their Iron Rhinoceros disappeared too?" Leo continued. "What would they called themselves? The I Lost My Rhinoceros Sect?"

  This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

  Mike started laughing.

  "Three Gold Cores," Arthur said, holding up three fingers. "Three Gold Cores were unhappy. Versus how many sect disciples? Hundreds. Thousands, if you count the outer disciples and servants."

  He lowered his hand, expression shifting to something approaching solemnity.

  "Leo, we're Americans. We believe in democracy. Majority rules. Three Gold Cores versus hundreds of grateful sect members." Arthur shrugged. "The Pond Gazing Sect should be building statues of you. Temples. Maybe a small holiday."

  He reached into his robe and pulled out the merit stamp, displaying it proudly. The characters gleamed in the courtyard light.

  "See this? Great merit. Earned saving the Pond Gazing Sect from a great demon. Once I learn enough Common Script, I'm introducing myself properly to everyone I meet." He straightened his posture, affecting a dignified bearing.

  "Sir Arthur Higgins, Savior of the Pond Gazing Sect. Has a nice ring to it."

  "What does Shen Tianyi think about this plan?" Leo asked.

  Arthur's expression flickered. "We're leaving Tianyi out of this."

  "Why?"

  "He's... occupied." Arthur glanced at Mike. "Kevin attracted some attention."

  Mike sighed heavily. "He tried to hit on a merchant's daughter on a caravan they were traveling with."

  "The phrase he meant as 'I want to know you better' came out more like 'I wish to engage in intimate relations with you.'"

  Leo stared.

  "There was screaming," Mike continued flatly. "Guards were summoned. They both had to run away and hide. Now they're hiding in a safe house waiting for the attention to die down."

  "The fool," Arthur muttered, though his tone held more exasperation than genuine anger.

  "I told him, stick to the older widows. They're more understanding. More forgiving of linguistic barriers. But no, he had to go for the jade beauty half his age."

  Leo felt a headache forming behind his eyes. "Is it really okay to go around provoking fights? I don't know if its good karma."

  "When you phrase it like that, it sounds irresponsible." Arthur tucked the merit stamp away. "I prefer to think of it as aggressive networking."

  Mike stepped forward, placing a hand on Leo's shoulder. The weight was steady.

  "Leo. Look at me."

  "You're sixteen," Mike said quietly. "You're a kid. A kid who's been put in a situation out of your control. And now you're trying to figure out how to protect your squad mates, how to confront a Nascent Soul domain, how to make the right choices."

  He paused, something shifting behind his expression.

  "Here's the truth. You don't really have a choice in this. Your squad mates are Qi Refining high school students. If a Nascent Soul attacks your transport, they die. Every single one of them. And will have to live with that."

  Leo's jaw tightened.

  "Survivor's guilt," Mike said, his voice dropping. "That's the last thing you need at your age. Trust me. I've seen what it does to people. What it does to families. You don't want that weight."

  He squeezed Leo's shoulder.

  "So stop thinking about whether this is the right choice or the wrong choice. Stop worrying about whether you're provoking trouble or whether Arthur's logic is insane. It is insane. But that's beside the point."

  Arthur made an offended noise in the background.

  "The point," Mike continued, ignoring him, "is that you're not old enough to make these choices. You're not experienced enough. You're not strong enough. And that's fine. That's normal. You're sixteen."

  He released Leo's shoulder, stepping back.

  "Your job right now is simple. Train. Train as hard as you can. Learn everything you can. Get stronger. That's it. That's all anyone can ask of you. The decisions, the politics, the long-term strategy, leave that to the adults. Even if the adults are Arthur."

  "Hey," Arthur said.

  "Maybe not Arthur." Mike amended. "But the point stands. You do your best. That's all you can do. And as long as you're doing your best, then you'll be able to live with whatever happens."

  He met Leo's eyes again, and there was something raw there.

  Leo stood in the courtyard, the words settling over him.

  "Okay," Leo said finally. "Let's go find the Iron Rhinoceros Sect Leader."

  Arthur clapped his hands together. "Excellent! I knew you'd see reason. Mike, grab the bombs. Leo, tell your teammates you are going to be busy for a few hours. We're going to resolve this misunderstanding now."

  ---

  Leo stood outside the House of Crimson Pleasures, clutching a rolled poster in his hand, trying to look like he belonged here.

  The building loomed before him in all its gaudy splendor. Red silk banners cascaded from every balcony. Carved reliefs depicting scenes of "artistic appreciation" adorned the facade.

  Mike had peeled off toward the North Gate an hour ago, positioning himself with enough formation-inscribed bombs to hopefully blow open the exit when needed.

  Arthur had vanished the moment they entered Crimson Lotus City.

  Leo had learned to recognize that particular gleam in Arthur's eyes. It meant important things were about to go missing, and plausible deniability would soon become a valuable commodity.

  He pushed the thought aside. Whatever scheme Arthur was cooking up, Leo had his own problems to deal with.

  Like the fact that Arthur's intelligence had proven distressingly accurate.

  Arthur had bet that the Iron Rhinoceros Sect Leader would be at the brothel. Leo had dismissed the suggestion as the old man's peculiar sense of humor.

  Sadly, the old man was right on the money.

  Leo's divine sense swept through the building. Foundation Establishment signatures scattered across the lower floors. Qi Refining presences clustering in service areas and private chambers. And there, on the uppermost level, blazing like a bonfire in his spiritual awareness...

  A Nascent Soul.

  The establishment was quieter than Leo remembered from their aerial observation during the bank heist. Far fewer cultivators entering and exiting. The usual crowd of male patrons had thinned to almost nothing.

  Leo straightened his simple robes, adjusted his grip on the scroll, and approached the entrance.

  A guard materialized from the shadows beside the ornate doors. Foundation Establishment, wearing the crimson livery of the establishment. His hand rested casually on the hilt of a short sword, and his eyes performed a rapid assessment of Leo's cultivation base, attire, and general threat level.

  "Hold." The guard's voice carried the bored authority of someone who repeated this word several hundred times per day. "You look familiar."

  Leo kept his expression neutral. "I get that a lot."

  "No." The guard's eyes narrowed, studying Leo's face with uncomfortable intensity.

  "You look like someone on a wanted poster."

  "This wanted poster?"

  Leo held up the poster he'd been carrying and let it unfurl.

  Both of them examined the document.

  The figure depicted a vague resemblance to Leo. The artist had rendered the subject with a prominent unibrow. His jaw was too square, his eyes too close together, and his expression suggested that he was a dangerous criminal.

  WANTED

  10,000 Spirit Stones for information leading to capture

  DO NOT APPROACH

  SUSPECTED OF NEAR NASCENT SOUL STRENGTH

  "See?" Leo pointed at the unibrow. "That's clearly not me. The criminal in this poster has a unibrow. I, as you can observe, have two distinct and separate eyebrows."

  The guard leaned closer to the poster, then back to Leo's face. His brow furrowed in contemplation.

  "The artists who draw these aren't very good," he said slowly. "Sometimes they get... creative. Add details that aren't there.." He squinted at Leo again.

  The guard scratched his chin. "The poster says near Nascent Soul level strength. That's pretty high."

  Leo met the guard's eyes. "Would you like to find out?"

  He began rolling the poster back into a scroll, taking his time, letting the silence stretch.

  The guard's hand tightened on his sword hilt. His spiritual sense probed Leo's cultivation base again, finding only Qi Refining. But the poster's warning echoed in his mind. Near Nascent Soul level strength.

  "Go ahead." The guard stepped aside, gesturing toward the doors. "The Sect Master has reserved the establishment for a private event, but I'm sure the staff can help you with your business."

  Leo tucked the scroll into his robe and moved toward the entrance.

  "Wait."

  Leo paused.

  "How old are you?"

  "Excuse me?"

  "This is an adult establishment." The guard crossed his arms. "We have standards. Regulations. I cannot allow minors to enter these premises."

  Leo stared at him.

  "You just asked if I have Nascent Soul level strength."

  "Yes."

  "What sixteen-year-old has Nascent Soul level strength?"

  The guard opened his mouth.

  Since when did I ask if you are sixteen?

  Closed it. Opened it again.

  "Look," he said finally, "if anyone asks, you used some kind of mystical technique to bewilder me."

  "Fine."

  The guard nodded, satisfied with his ingenuity, and returned to his post.

  Leo pushed through the doors.

  Silk curtains hung from high ceilings, dividing the main hall into intimate alcoves. Jade sculptures of tasteful artistic merit occupied strategic corners, their poses suggesting activities that were probably absent from sect curricula.

  But the usual clientele was absent. The cushions sat empty. The alcoves stood dark. Only a handful of staff members moved through the space, their expressions carrying the particular patience of service workers waiting out a long shift.

  "The hall has been cleared for an exclusive engagement," a young woman in crimson robes explained after Leo entered.

  "Lord Ironhorn has reserved the entire establishment for a private showing."

  Her eyes flicked to Leo's simple attire and modest cultivation base.

  Leo just indicated to the rolled up poster. Hoping it would help.

  "Are you delivering a message? The Sect Leader is occupied at the moment. You'll need to wait."

  Leo nodded absently, his divine sense already mapping the path to the uppermost floor.

  "I'll wait upstairs."

  "Sir, I really must insist..."

  But Leo was already moving, his steps carrying him toward the stairs with the casual confidence of someone who knew what he was doing. The staff exchanged glances.

  By the time anyone thought to stop him, he had already ascended past the second floor.

  The third floor was deserted. Private chambers lined the hallway, their doors closed, their interiors dark. The fourth floor was similarly abandoned. Whatever "exclusive showing" Lord Ironhorn had arranged, it apparently required an entire building's worth of privacy.

  Leo's divine sense guided him to the fifth floor.

  The door to the largest suite stood open.

  Voices drifted through the gap.

  "It's perfectly normal," a woman's voice cooed, honey-sweet and professionally soothing. "These things happen to many cultivators. The stress of sect leadership, the pressure of maintaining one's public image... performance issues are nothing to be ashamed of."

  A male voice responded, thick with emotion. "But I... I've never... it's never happened like this before. So quickly. I barely..."

  "Shh, shh." The woman's tone shifted to something maternal, comforting. "It's alright. You'll always be the most special boy in my heart."

  A wet sniffling sound.

  "Thank you, Mommy."

  Leo's foot froze mid-step.

  Lord Ironhorn looked up.

  Their eyes met.

  The Sect Leader was a massive man, broad-shouldered and thick-necked, with skin that held the gray-brown tone of cultivated iron. Tears streamed down his cheeks. His robes were... disheveled.

  "Why..." Lord Ironhorn's voice emerged as a croak. "Why are you here?"

  Leo opened his mouth. No words came out.

  "How long have you been standing there?"

  Leo's survival instincts finally kicked in. His hand moved automatically, pulling the wanted poster from his robe and extending it toward the Sect Leader.

  Lord Ironhorn stared at the offered scroll.

  He reached out and took it.

  Unfurled it.

  His eyes scanned the contents.

  The wanted poster depicted Leo's face, rendered in questionable artistic interpretation, complete with a fabricated unibrow and criminal demeanor.

  Lord Ironhorn immediately snapped his attention back to space where Leo had been standing before.

  Leo had already escaped on his Moonrider. His consciousness shifted, expanding outward, as he entered third-person perspective.

  From outside his own body, he watched himself crash through the fifth-floor window.

  Glass exploded outward. Wooden lattice shattered. Silk curtains tore. His body became a missile of desperate momentum, launching itself into the open air above Crimson Lotus City's market district.

  Behind him, Lord Ironhorn's voice shook the building.

  "GET BACK HERE!"

  The Nascent Soul's domain erupted.

  Leo saw it coming with his divine sense before it hit. The Nascent Soul exclusive domain instantly expanded out and washed over the surrounding building declaring, the Lord's name.

  Lord Ironhorn.

  A sphere of authority bloomed around Lord Ironhorn, three hundred meters in diameter, encompassing Leo within its boundaries. The air itself seemed to thicken. Gravity intensified. Time felt like it was slowing down.

  The Mountain Domain.