He Chao’s previously composed expression buckled under the question about the Dueling Pit. Eyes narrowed, the older attendant asked, “Why do you want to know about the Dueling Pit?”

  Ishin shrugged. “You asked if I came from there when I first entered the pavilion. I was wondering why.”

  A brief flicker of shame crossed He Chao’s face. “I… shouldn’t have assumed that. You have my apologies.”

  “Was it because of my face?” Ishin pressed. He hadn’t missed He Chao’s initial inspection when he first saw him.

  He Chao’s shoulders slumped. “It was. Again, I’m sorry. I thought you had been injured from a recent fight. Not many people your age walk around with such wounds unless they’ve come from there. Not even disciples from the Three Martial Schools.”

  That last comment intrigued Ishin, but he decided to ignore it for now. “The Dueling Pit sounds like a dangerous place then. Are they also in a part of the Western Quarter I should avoid?” From He Chao’s previous remarks, he’d gathered that the Western Quarter was the dangerous part of the city. Of course that’s where the affordable inns would be located.

  “Yes, and you should avoid them, especially if you’re new to the city,” He Chao lectured. “I don’t know what your story is. Undoubtedly you’ve known hardship, but that doesn’t mean you should risk yourself unnecessarily. Understand?”

  Ishin nodded respectfully. “I do. Thank you, as always, Senior, for your guidance.”

  He Chao seemed content. “As long as you’re listening. But you should hurry off. The sun will start to set soon, and you should find a room before nightfall.”

  “I will. Thank you.”

  Ishin departed the Clear Sky Cauldron Pavilion satisfied. He had a path to reach the second layer and had learned about a place where he could test his skills as a cultivator.

  Following He Chao’s advice, Ishin traveled down Palitine Road for an hour. As he walked through the Western Quarter, he noticed a significant change in the quality of the buildings. Those in Central Square and the Southern Quarter had been vibrant in color and had exquisite architecture that matched their unique specialties. In comparison, the buildings of the Western Quarter were constructed from brown and pale-colored wood and had roofs made of brick tiles. Several buildings had cracked roof tiles and peeling wooden walls. None of the buildings were taller than five stories, and the pedestrians on the streets wore less refined clothing. Many also bore scars and disheveled appearances. Here, Ishin didn’t feel like he stood out.

  The whole time, Ishin kept a careful eye out for anyone wearing a grey armband. He didn’t see anyone but also noticed that the City Guard had only a sparse presence in the quarter.

  Ishin continued walking until he saw a sign for a two-story inn called the Traveler’s Abode. It had the same run-down exterior as the surrounding neighborhood, but it was getting dark and it was the first inn Ishin had seen. He stepped inside and saw an elderly woman with frazzled grey hair forced into the semblance of a bun, sitting at a high table beside a staircase. A lidless box filled with keys was on the table, along with a small chest. The woman looked tired and bored.

  “You come in for a room?” she asked, seeing Ishin. Her voice was raspy from the withers of time.

  Reluctantly, Ishin strode forward. “Yes, ma’am. Do you have any available?”

  The innkeeper wrapped a knuckle against the key box. “All of these. Got two floors. Have a preference?”

  “Is the first floor cheaper?”

  “It is. Six coppers a night.”

  Ishin thought about the coin he still had, trying to parse the arithmetic. Then he had an idea. “I’ll take a first-floor room for the night.” He pulled out a silver tael and handed it to the innkeeper. She took the coin without comment before fishing out some coins from the chest on the table. Ishin was surprised to receive fourteen coppers back. One silver is worth twenty coppers then. Is the same ratio true for gold to silver?

  Still holding the fourteen copper taels, Ishin asked, “Are there any meals I can purchase with the room?”

  “Six more coppers will get you a meal in the morning and night. It’s typically just rice, charred fish, and whatever vegetable the kitchen has on hand.”

  Twelve a day then. Ishin recalled the instructions for the Rupture Wailing Storm Pills. Each one had to be taken individually, with Ishin instructed to cultivate the pill’s qi once inside of him. According to the instructions, each pill would take two days to cultivate. That meant I needed lodging for six days. Seventy-two coppers then. That’s less than four silvers if my understanding is right.

  Considering his seven silver taels were worth 140 copper taels alone, if the same conversion for gold to silver held true, then in total he had 540 copper taels. That put the seven gold taels’ cost for his pills into a new perspective. The three pills he had were worth 2,800 copper taels. That could have paid for the inn’s lodging for over a year.

  Feeling better about his financial situation, Ishin said, “I’ll actually take the room for a week. The meals too.”

  “Big spender,” the innkeeper remarked. “That’ll be another seventy-eight coppers then.”

  Impressed by the elderly woman’s swift arithmetic, Ishin handed her four more silver taels. As expected, he received two copper taels in return, bringing his wealth to one gold, two silver, and sixteen copper taels. The innkeeper also gave him a rusty bronze key.

  “Room 8.” She pointed at the empty dining hall to the right. “There’s some rice left in the pot. I think it’s mixed with bok choy tonight. We’re out of fish.”

  Ishin thanked the woman before heading to the kitchen. He filled a clay bowl with rice and bok choy and downed it as fast as he could. The food was only a necessity. He wanted to spend his time cultivating.

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  After finishing the quick meal, Ishin found his room. It was fairly sparse, containing only a straw mattress and pillow in the corner and a doorless closet. That was fine. He only needed the place to cultivate.

  Ishin dropped his pack and immediately pulled out the Rupture Wailing Storm Pill vial and instructions. He read the instructions again for good measure. Like he thought, it specified taking them one at a time, cultivating the qi of each for two days. The instructions stated that he should rest between taking the pills. It explained that the qi from each pill would keep him awake while cultivating, but he should expect to become extremely tired afterward and should sleep. It also mentioned that he should expect discomfort while cultivating the pill’s lightning qi.

  That didn’t surprise Ishin. He already knew that lightning qi could be irritating. The instructions didn’t provide any specific cultivation technique to use, so Ishin assumed he should just use his Silent Storm technique. It was designed for lightning qi, after all, and these pills were supposed to contain lightning qi.

  Ready to begin, Ishin sat in a comfortable position on the bed and placed the first pill into his mouth. Closing his eyes, he swallowed it. At first, nothing happened. This was the first time Ishin had ever consumed an alchemic pill, so he didn’t know if there was supposed to be a delay or not.

  Then it came.

  Lightning qi burst into existence within him, causing electric pain to shoot through Ishin’s entire body. This was far worse than the discomfort of cultivating ambient lightning qi. This was all-consuming, simulating the pain of being shocked all over his body at once.

  Ishin ground his teeth, focused his concentration, and tried to use the Silent Storm technique.

  He failed.

  Within seconds, his body began to shake violently and he fell back onto his bed. Ishin felt his teeth chatter, and before long, he bit his tongue, filling his mouth with the taste of blood. He didn’t care about that, though.

  It was like the time he’d been struck by lightning and had later lost control of his body. It was painful and terrifying. The lightning qi danced around within him and he could feel his meridians starting to rupture from the constant strain. Unbidden tears came to Ishin’s eyes as his body began to tear itself apart from within.

  Ishin was tempted to surrender to the pain, hoping his mind would blackout from the agony. But then, he felt a bestial growl come from somewhere deep inside his soul. Memories of his useless life before cultivation flickered before him, soon accompanied by the sight of his mother fending off multiple assassins atop Tyrant’s Rest so that he could escape.

  He would not give up now. He could not give up now.

  With newfound resolve, Ishin strained every muscle in his body until, finally, it obeyed him. The pain continued, but the constant shaking stopped. Ishin pushed his head over the side of his bed and spat out the blood that had accumulated inside his mouth.

  I will not be stopped! Ishin thought over and over again like a mantra. Repeating this simple belief was enough for him to attempt the Silent Storm technique again. He didn’t have the capacity to sit up, but he didn’t need to. Tired, irritated, and furious, Ishin forced himself to cultivate.

  For the next two days, Ishin fought an internal war for his sanity. The pill had brought with it a violent storm of lightning qi, and he needed to cultivate it before it destroyed his body. Every time he felt himself weakening, he repeated his mantra, determined to never surrender. Fortunately, the more qi he cultivated, the weaker the internal lightning storm became, allowing him to dominate it more easily. By the time two days had passed, Ishin’s sanity had nearly broken from the strain.

  His breath was heavy, and sweat had drenched both his robes and the entire mattress. It felt like he had just run fifty miles at once before undergoing an entire day of sparring. His meridians, too, were charred and aching. But his chakra had greater spiritual density than ever before.

  Groaning, Ishin pulled himself up. Heaven’s curse. Are they all going to be that awful? Ishin glared at the pill vial beside the bed. There were still two more wretched pills left. At the same time, a dark part of himself chuckled in understanding. He now understood why the instructions stated he wouldn’t get tired—or at least sleepy—while cultivating.

  A growl came from Ishin’s stomach and he knew he needed to eat. But sleep overcame him, and he fell back onto the mattress. He didn’t know how much time had passed by the time he woke up, but he was hungrier than ever. Ishin discarded his sweat-soaked robes, reluctantly donning a set of dirt-crusted ones instead.

  He quickly went to the dining hall and was grateful to find food still present. It was apparently nighttime. Ishin took two bowls of food, this time containing rice, boiled carrots, and charred cod. There were a dozen other guests in the dining hall this time, but Ishin kept to himself, finding an empty table. Like before, he rapidly consumed the food. Before he left, he made sure to fill his waterskin with water from a communal barrel.

  Back in his room, Ishin considered the vial of pills. His latest experience had left him miserable, but he had survived and conquered the Rupture Wailing Storm Pill. Reflecting on its name, he understood where the “rupturing” and “wailing” portions came from.

  Part of him was furious at He Chao for selling him the pill without sufficient warning—and at himself for buying it without asking more questions. If all cultivation pills are this painful, then my Immortal Path is going to be one of pain.

  That brought Ishin back to his current situation. He looked down at the glass vial in his hand. Do I dare to take another?

  He considered his options. He’d spent most of his money on the pills and doubted he could return the remaining two or sell them to recoup the loss. Next, he looked around with his third eye. There was still very little lightning qi in the area—mere wisps compared to the aura emanating from the pill vial. Finally, he thought about how hard it would be to find another storm. That ultimately sealed his decision. He had no other true options than the remaining pills. They would suck, Ishin knew it, but he’d survived the first one and knew the longer it went on, the less painful it became.

  I need power to avenge my mother and find our clan.

  Before he could think about it more, Ishin took out another pill and swallowed it. A familiar pain filled his every being, and Ishin began the long battle all over again.

  The next five days were Hell. Ishin suffered through the second pill, managing to survive. Afterwards, he needed an entire day of rest and recovery before attempting the third. Surprisingly, the third wasn’t as bad. It absolutely still hurt, but his body, mind, and spirit knew what to expect and were used to pain by that point.

  It all proved worth it when, toward the end of his cultivation of the third pill, he felt his chakra reach a critical mass. It refused to absorb any more qi, and Ishin recognized what this indicated. He used the remaining lightning qi from the pill to wrap an external layer around his chakra. It was a hard process, not helped by the constant pain the lightning qi wrought upon him. Ishin managed to wrap a thin layer of qi around his chakra. When nothing happened, he wrapped more qi around it, creating a thicker layer. He had to do this a third time—the pill’s qi almost exhausted—before his chakra reacted to the surrounding qi. It pulled tightly against the layer. Ishin willed the lightning qi to merge with his chakra.

  It was an easier process than expected. His chakra and qi obeyed his will, and he watched the layer of qi cement itself around the chakra. Shining brightly like a brilliant spark in a storm, he felt a wave of strength rush through his body. The energy generated from his newly formed second layer empowered his meridians, healing the fatigue from seven painful days of cultivation. His body, mind, and spirit felt rejuvenated, and Ishin knew that everything he’d experienced had been worth it.

  The single additional layer had brought with it more power than he had expected. This was the power of a second-layer cultivator. Ishin jumped from his bed and basked in his victory.

  He had done it!