We spent a bit more time in Xiulan’s office, listening to her plans for the future. Teacher and Xue Ji also helped her go over some of her logistical challenges. It was just some minor stuff, but Xiulan looked like it was quite a load off her shoulders. After that, we went outside the mountain and towards the training grounds. What had once been a bunch of villas rendered nearly useless by Zang Li’s fire had been completely revitalized. Everything was fresh and new, and there were a lot of cultivators about, moving to and fro with purpose. Just like in the mountain, the younger generation would stop and bow to greet Xiulan—though unlike in the mountain, it was anything but quiet here. There were shouts that carried to our ears even from here, gongs to denote bouts, and the sounds of general exertion. I recognised it from my days in the Cloudy Sword Sect—the sound of training cultivators. Remembering my promise to Yin to look over the Spirit Beasts she had killed, we diverted towards the red flags that held a wheel of flaming swords arranged in such a way they looked like a sunburst or a flower. We soon reached a large arena, full of people. They were paired off in twos and sparring with each other, fast-paced and full contact. Yin was among them. Her body was covered in solar armor, and she was currently engaged in a tight, focused duel against another person. Her foe was clearly outmatched—but when her fist slipped through their guard there was a light tap instead of a blow that would have sent them through a wall. She spoke to the other person and they paused in consideration before nodding. Yin then stepped beside them (...)