Riven made his way back toward the front of the pavilion.
The elder was still there.
As Riven stepped forward and placed the three scrolls onto the lacquered desk, the elder's gaze lowered, moving across the titles one by one.
Falconburst Kick — Gale Variant.
Falconburst Kick — Wave Variant.
Silk Symbiosis.
His eyes lingered on the last one for a fraction longer.
Then he looked up.
"Is that all?"
Riven nodded.
A brief pause.
"These are free then," the elder said, his voice calm and flat.
Riven gave a small nod.
He already knew that part.
Core disciples could peruse skills up to E-rank for free.
The elder's gaze shifted back to the scrolls.
"Don't teach them to others."
A short pause followed.
"And return them within seven days."
Riven blinked once.
That was new.
"…Understood."
He hadn't heard that the last time.
Back then, the elder had barely said anything at all.
But maybe that was because those had only been F-rank techniques.
Even outer disciples could browse those.
The elder extended a hand.
"Identification token."
Riven reached into his robe and pulled out the octagonal badge, placing it into the elder's palm.
He had left it in his robe before departing for Verdance and it was still in the same spot now.
The elder pressed two fingers against it.
A faint pulse of qi passed through the surface.
Then—
He paused.
A fraction longer than before.
His brows drew together ever so slightly.
"…You haven't updated this."
Riven blinked.
Right.
He hadn't.
Normally you'd do that upon reaching higher cultivation realms.
Is my realm that obvious?
The elder glanced up at him.
"You should."
Riven gave a small shrug.
"Didn't get around to it."
The elder didn't respond to that.
Instead, he pulled out another and placet it flat on the desk before pressing on it.
A pulse of qi spread through it.
"Registered," he said.
Another step he hadn't seen last time.
E-rank techniques were clearly not treated the same way.
Riven took his badge back.
"…I'll update it."
The elder gave the faintest nod.
That was the end of the conversation.
>>>
A few minutes later—
Riven stood in front of the Badge Hall.
Same white stone walls.
Same gold trim.
Nothing had changed.
Except this time—
He wasn't half-dead.
At least physically.
He pushed the door open and stepped inside.
The same elder sat behind the desk.
Slate-grey robes. Loose topknot. Expression unchanged.
The man didn't look up.
Just held out a hand.
"Updating?"
Riven stepped forward, just the badge in his hand as he placed it into the elders palm.
He had stored the scrolls stored inside his spatial ring on the way when no one was looking.
"Yes."
The elder pressed two fingers to the surface.
A quiet pulse of qi spread through the tag.
The embedded seal shimmered faintly—
Then shifted.
The qi signature settled into something denser.
More stable.
"Confirmed," the elder said. "Inner Condensation Realm."
A short pause.
Then the badge was slid back across the desk.
No extra commentary this time.
No advice.
There was nothing much he gained from his.
His core disciple status already gave him all he needed.
But Riven still seemed to sense some shock from the elder.
I did improve quite fast...
He picked up the badge, glancing at it briefly.
It didn't look any different.
But he could feel it.
The qi beneath it had changed.
He tucked it away and turned to leave.
>>>
Outside, the sect felt just as busy as before.
Riven made his way toward his residence.
As his house slowly came into view a thought surfaced, his mind tracking back to the Silk Symbiosis skill and how he would tame the spider.
His steps slowed slightly.
…Wait.
He looked down at his hand.
The faint thread was still there.
If he formed the bond—
If it worked—
Then what?
How exactly was he supposed to carry it around?
He realized he'd neglected a major issue before.
Riven frowned.
He didn't feel like carrying a spider around on his body...
And if it grew…
Riven's expression shifted slightly.
That would become a problem very quickly.
"…Uh."
That might need a solution.
"Core Disciple Riven."
The voice came from ahead.
Riven stopped.
He looked up.
A disciple stood on the path just outside Jasmine Garden, posture straight, hands folded neatly in front of him.
Waiting.
Of course.
Riven exhaled quietly.
He recognized him.
"…Let me guess."
The disciple bowed slightly.
"Elder Kael requests your presence."
Riven glanced toward his house.
Then back at the disciple.
"…Right now?"
"Yes."
A brief pause.
Riven adjusted his robe slightly.
"Lead the way."
>>>
The path climbed higher into the sect once again.
The familiar terraces thinned out as they ascended, the air growing quieter with each step.
Riven didn't speak.
The disciple didn't either.
By the time they reached Kael's residence, the silence had settled into something almost expected.
The boy stepped aside.
Riven approached the door.
Still slightly ajar.
He pushed it open and stepped inside.
The room was just as he remembered.
Cool.
Still.
And at its center—
Kael.
Seated by the open window, mist drifting in behind him.
One eye in shadow.
The other watching.
Waiting.
"You're here."
Riven stepped forward and gave a small bow.
"Master."
Kael's gaze drifted briefly to the back of Riven's hand.
"How was the Martial Skills Pavilion."
Riven answered curtly.
"I picked up a few things."
Kael studied him for a moment.
Then—
"You picked up the beast-taming method, I trust."
Riven's eyes narrowed slightly.
How does he—
The thought barely formed before another followed.
Beast taming?
Riven held the pause for just a fraction of a second.
Then nodded.
"Yes."
He didn't correct him.
Kael reached to the side and picked something up from the low table beside him.
A small pouch.
Dark. Unremarkable.
He tossed it over without warning.
Riven caught it instinctively.
The moment it settled in his hand, he felt it.
A similar feeling to his spatial ring.
Space?
"A beast pouch," Kael said.
Riven turned it slightly in his hand, brows knitting faintly.
"Beast pouch?"
Kael nodded once.
"A spatial storage tool," he said. "Designed specifically for living creatures."
Riven glanced down at it again.
Kael continued, his eyes lighting up slightly as he took in Riven's reaction.
"It has a disproportionate internal space that can house beasts safely for extended periods. Larger ones will require more space—and more expensive variants—but for your current level, this is sufficient."
A brief pause.
"You may store and release them at will. The interior environment will sustain them, as long as you don't leave them inside indefinitely without reason."
That's convenient timing.
Riven nodded slowly.
He really does act like my master every once in a while.
"So I can carry beasts around."
Kael's gaze remained steady.
"That is the point."
He leaned back slightly.
"Whether it's for combat, transport, or utility… it is a standard tool for any proper cultivator dealing with beasts."
Riven glanced at the pouch again.
"Bears, wolves, whatever you feel like taming..."
A faint trace of amusement flickered through Riven's thoughts as Kael went on.
He wasn't that surprised that Kael knew about his plans.
But for once—
Kael didn't seem to have the full picture.
The only beasts he could tame were spiders.
"…Useful," Riven said simply.
Kael gave a faint nod.
"You'll find it necessary."
"Thank you."
The words felt… a little strange coming out.
Riven studied the pouch for a moment longer before tucking it away.
Kael wasn't exactly the generous type.
Riven's eyes shifted back to him.
For a brief moment, he wondered—
Then—
"I have a mission for you."
There it is.
Riven exhaled quietly.
Of course.
Nothing came for free.
The earlier gesture settled into place, no longer surprising in the slightest.
His expression didn't change.
Riven adjusted his posture slightly.
"…What kind of mission?"
"I'll explain it another time," Kael said.
Riven blinked once.
…What?
He frowned slightly.
Why even tell me now then?
For a brief moment, he considered pressing further.
Then decided against it.
Kael wasn't the type to answer just because he was asked.
Riven exhaled quietly.
That mission better not take too long.
I still need to earn more money.
Kael's gaze shifted slightly.
"But don't worry," he said calmly.
Riven looked up.
"I've heard you're interested in the upcoming auction."
A small pause.
Riven didn't even question how he knew about that anymore.
"This mission will earn you a considerable amount."
"And secure you a seat."
Riven's brows furrowed.
"…A seat?"
Kael nodded once.
"It is a high-end auction."
"Not everyone is allowed to enter."
"You need an invitation."
Riven stared at him for a moment.
How did I not know that?
For a brief second, the thought of arriving there with enough money—
And being turned away—
Settled uncomfortably in his mind.
Kael continued as if it didn't matter.
"I'll explain the details later."
"For now, settle down for a few days."
"Familiarize yourself with your techniques."
"And prepare for travel."
"Then come see me again."
Riven held his gaze for a moment.
Then nodded.
"…Alright."
He turned and walked toward the door.
This suited him quite well.
He had a lot to sort out.
The spider.
The techniques.
His cultivation plans.
As he stepped outside, his thoughts drifted briefly.
Back.
To when Vaern and him had created an overview of his skills.
And created a training plan based on it.
For a moment—
His thoughts flickered to the lifeless corpse stored within his ring.
Then moved on.
"…I should do that again."