I’m back!

  The familiar sensation of a gentle breeze—absent in the blank void of his inner world—brushed against his skin, accompanied by the island’s humidity. Ishin could feel the perspiration that coated his actual body and the damp robes clinging to his frame. Sunlight cascaded upon him through the thin openings in the ashen canopy overhead. With a whiff, he took in the decaying aroma emitted from the surrounding gray trees.

  It felt strange to be back in the real world, and Ishin was almost overwhelmed by the onslaught of stimuli against his senses.

  My chest!

  He pressed a hand to the upper portion of his stomach, where his clone had run a spear through him. Ishin found only intact, damp, and frayed cloth.

  I’m alive.

  He let out a breath of relief.

  That felt so real.

  Upon further examination, Ishin found that his body lacked any of the injuries he’d suffered during his tribulation.

  Then he felt it.

  This is…

  There was another pulse of power within him. It was hard to perceive at first—possessing spiritual weight but lacking any distinct characteristics.

  Ishin closed his eyes and peered inside his spirit. Within his mind’s eye, he saw his first chakra glowing with the unmistakable bright blue color of his lightning qi. Unlike before, when it had trembled with instability, it was completely calm. It possessed a single, much thicker layer, but remained the same size as when it had seven. No one would mistake this as a chakra of the first layer of the Initial Realm.

  My chakra effectively reset. It’s back at the first layer, but no longer of the Initial Realm. Does this happen with every new realm? It just keeps growing in size and power before resetting to the first layer?

  If that were the case, Ishin could only imagine the size his chakra would become at later realms of cultivation.

  And then there’s the second one.

  Ishin focused on the mass of energy he realized must be his newly formed second chakra. It appeared opposite his lightning-aspected chakra, both balancing the spiritual weight of the other. Unlike his lightning chakra, this one was transparent, as though made of glass—unaspected and filled with endless possibilities. And like his first chakra, thirteen meridians connected to the new one, allowing qi to spread throughout his body.

  I have a second chakra. I’m at the Adept Realm!

  Slowly, Ishin opened his eyes. The Adept Realm. Back in the Daihu Tribe, only elite warriors and veteran tribe members had reached that level. It was understood that most would eventually enter the Adept Realm—but only after decades of cultivation. For many, it was the pinnacle of their Immortal Path. To have achieved such a feat at only eighteen years old was remarkable.

  I’ve surely surpassed any others in my generation back home. Brother Bin, Sister Na, Pan Feng, and Jun Wu are likely still in the Initial Realm.

  Ishin couldn’t help but grin at the realization.

  If I returned home, I’d qualify to join the Silver Fang Guard.

  He could only imagine how Elder Fa would react if he saw him now.

  The others.

  Ishin looked around and saw that his three companions were lost in their own contemplations. Mei bore a worried expression, her lips pursed, clearly reflecting on her own experience. To his right, Ishin noticed Rhee’s eyes were red, but she too was looking around—their gazes meeting.

  “Congratulations,” she offered, her voice quieter than normal. Her smile was strained, causing Ishin to wonder what her own tribulation had been.

  “To you as well.” He paused, feeling the greater influx of qi coursing through his body. Even though half of it was unaspected, the output was still significant. The aura that emanated from his chakras was twice as dense as before, and Ishin could feel it spreading across his form.

  My qi reserves have doubled. This is the power of the Adept Realm!

  He thought back to when Master Guoqiang had saved him and Rhee in the Howling Scape Forest, defeating the Iron Mantises so effortlessly. Now Ishin understood how. He was already twice as strong as before—and that was only at the early stages of the Adept Realm. What would a peak Adept Realm cultivator be capable of?

  Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

  Rhee held up a hand and snapped her fingers. The sound rippled through the forest, far louder than Ishin thought possible.

  “It’s not just our chakras,” she commented. “Does your body feel different too?”

  My body?

  Ishin reflected on that. His body seemed the same at first, but then he sensed the difference. With a second set of meridians coursing through his body, empowered by two chakras, his physique had been refined. His muscles felt tighter and more powerful, while his skin felt less fragile.

  “A benefit of progressing,” Long remarked. Ishin turned and found the archer rising. He appeared as placid as ever, lacking the enthusiasm Rhee exuded. “Our bodies are stronger now. Something we’ll have to get used to.” He looked around at the forest. “Now, how do we leave?”

  That was right. Now that they’d reached the Adept Realm, weren’t they permitted to join the Crimson Abyss Sect in truth?

  “I’m just glad that we all succeeded,” Mei offered. She wiped away loose strands of hair that had fallen over her eyes. “I… it was more daunting than I expected.”

  “Same for me,” Rhee said. The darkness cultivator rose as well. “But I’m glad that’s done so we can leave.” Her attention shifted to Mei. “Do you know how we do that?”

  Both Mei and Ishin stood. “I don’t,” she admitted. “I’ve never seen someone leave myself. The Collective Liberation Alliance forbade anyone from progressing without the others.”

  “Your aunt didn’t offer you guidance?” Ishin asked.

  Mei frowned. “No, she didn’t.”

  “So we’re stuck here?”

  Rhee began to pace, a hand pressed to her chin in thought. “Perhaps we have to return to the crater?”

  A luminous green light engulfed the four, startling them. The glow intensified until Ishin had to shield his eyes. Half a breath later, it faded. When he blinked his eyes open, he found that the forest had vanished. There was nothing but open sky around him. The other three were with him, also seemingly confused by the change in scenery. He looked down and saw the familiar fabric of the flying carpet. They were off the island!

  “Well done,” a bemused voice called out.

  The four turned to find a slender man in his early forties seated at the carpet’s center just a few yards away. He had disheveled, thin hair and held a familiar sapphire staff in one hand.

  “Greetings, Elder,” Mei was the first to offer, bowing low.

  The other three quickly followed suit, echoing her words.

  What happened to the old woman? Ishin thought as he straightened. He’s holding her staff.

  “Four of you at once,” the new elder said. “From what I hear, that’s quite unusual. Most of the candidates leave the island alone or just in pairs.”

  “We found teamwork to be an effective strategy, Elder,” Rhee replied.

  “Evidently so.” The elder pressed the staff against the carpet, using it for support as he stood. “Let me officially welcome you to the Crimson Abyss Sect.”

  We’re in?

  It felt surreal to realize after weeks of fighting for their lives on Desolate Island. Part of Ishin was still wary, remembering how Elder Zhou had claimed to be recruiting them to the sect, only for them to find themselves undergoing the Culling.

  Rhee chewed her lip and cautiously spoke. “Pardon me, Elder. Are we truly sect disciples now, or is there another test we have to pass first?”

  Instead of appearing angry at being questioned, the elder offered a patient smile. “That’s an understandable precaution.” A light chuckle escaped him. “I remember when I escaped the island myself—I thought for sure there was another trap or secret exam. Let me assure you, you’ve passed. You’re all now official Outer Sect disciples.”

  Ishin let out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. That was it. They were done.

  “Now then,” the elder continued. He opened his palm, and a small bronze chariot appeared. He placed it on the carpet, and it glowed amber as it began expanding in size.

  Another sky chariot.

  Sure enough, it was. By the time it finished growing, the chariot was the size of a large horse-drawn one.

  “This will take you to the sect proper,” the elder explained. “Merely step inside, and it will fly you there. Once you depart, it will return here on its own accord.” Looking toward the open rear of the chariot, he added, “Make sure you don’t fall out during the flight. There are plenty of beasts in the ocean that would love a tasty snack.”

  Ishin stepped toward the sky chariot.

  It looks just like a normal horse chariot. Quite different from the one we flew in to get here. Still, the Crimson Abyss Sect must be very rich to use such a valuable spirit tool so casually.

  “We appreciate your kindness, Elder,” Mei said, bowing again.

  Ishin immediately turned and bowed as well. “Yes. Thank you, Elder.” Behind him, he heard Rhee and Long offer their own thanks.

  “My pleasure,” the elder replied. “Now enter the chariot and journey to the true Crimson Abyss Sect.”

  Without another word, all four gathered into the sky chariot. There wasn’t much space inside given their number, but they managed. Ishin gripped the handles that lined the edge of the chariot. Seconds later, he felt it rise into the air before propelling forward at the speed of a galloping horse.

  Looking back, he saw the large gray, crescent-shaped island with the wide red crater at its center. It felt strange to leave Desolate Island. One thing was certain—Ishin wouldn’t miss it. Instead, he’d miss the company of Lei and Chen, victims of the Culling.

  My Immortal Path is forward, but I’ll remember them.

  With the struggles of the past behind him, Ishin stared eastward as the sky chariot flew over the black ocean beneath. Far in the distance, a vast, towering mountain range rose against the horizon. Somewhere beyond it lay the Crimson Abyss Sect.

  Ishin tightened his grip on the chariot’s handle. Excitement coursed through him at the thought of what awaited them at their new home.