Return to the Crimson Sect

The next morning, Oji and Hisoka having fought as the sun was setting, two bodies were found in the woods close to the Yori Clan. One dead, riddled with innumerable injuries, wearing the equipment of a Qin scout. The other unconscious and badly hurt, bleeding from a dozen severe wounds.

The Yori Clan took in the unconscious man who clearly slew the Qin scout, tending to his wounds and feeling deep shock when a high ranking Elder eventually recognized the identification of a Crimson Sect member among the handsome young man's belongings. This man, obviously Oji, thanked them profusely when he woke, giving the promised lecture and warning them of the nearby army. Grateful to their core for everything he had done, the Clan Leader sent all of the Yori Clan to gather at the same place that the last group had gone, while the Clan Leader herself went with Oji to the Crimson Sect.

It was the easiest journey that Oji had been on in a very long time as the Skeleton Foundation Clan Leader simply flew him towards his destination. In just 2 days he'd be reporting to the Crimson Sect about the shameless attempt by a Qin soldier representing the King of Qin to kill Oji for doing the task he was assigned and looking for geniuses to recruit among Zhou's western border. In the meanwhile he rested his wounds, took dives into the Essence Sea and Cultivated.

Oji actually could feel the progression to Early High Origination looming after using all of the resources that the Yori Clan had used to exchange for the High Origination Sword that Hisoka had left behind. It wasn't time just yet, and Oji needed to stockpile a vast amount of resources for when the time arrived. But he could feel how close it was now instead of it being a target in the far future.

The time flew by for him, and Oji soon stood in front of the gates to the Crimson Sect once more. He'd seen these gates often enough he was no longer even remotely interested, and honestly had never found them all that impressive to start with compared to the much more ornate and infinitely stronger gates to Emor's Capital. But they actually weren't that bad.

The Yori Clan Leader on the other hand was stunned. Tall enough to make one feel like the gates would touch the heavens and a beautiful crimson with various depictions of the glorious past of the sect within the threshold, the gates were a stunning masterpiece. "So beautiful." She unconsciously said in awe.

"I guess they're not bad." Oji said as he pushed open one of the gates and showed the Deacon at the gate his qualifications as an Inner Disciple to bring in a visitor. The Deacon nodded and waved them in, seeming bored.

The Yori Clan Leader realized only at that moment that this gatekeeper was a Skeleton Foundation with a Cultivation considerably higher than her own. "It isn't for nothing that the Crimson Sect is able to declare itself master over so many countries. Even the Royal Clan considers Skeleton Foundation members to be the absolute elite, while the Crimson Sect is able to use one as a gatekeeper!"

While the gatekeeper was one of the most important watchmen, it was impossible to consider such an individual as an immensely vital figure within an organization. Her own Yori Clan gave that task in turns to the lowest ranking Elders, who were around Oji's Cultivation. If there was an equally vast gap from this gatekeeper up to the Crimson Sect Leader, than the Yori Clan Leader didn't dare think just how high his Cultivation must be!

Meanwhile Oji had kept going, waving for her to follow him. "Come on now, keep up. We're going to speak to a Senior Apprentice Brother of mine, Nabaha." He gave her a smirk that told her he'd been laughing inside at all her reactions.

Angry for letting such a young man laugh at her, the Yori Clan Leader quickly caught up. Oji told her about his history with Nabaha, and that the other young man was one of the greatest geniuses of the entire Crimson Sect. "He's recently graduated from being a Core Disciple, but he was our strongest before he broke through about the time I left. Given how much harder it is to advance by his current level I would think he's still at the Initial Stage though. After all, newbie Deacons aren't allowed to just do whatever they please."

Soon enough they were in front of his room, and Oji knocked firmly. The door was opened by a sweaty young man holding a spear loosely in one hand. "No, you can't sponge off my Cultivation resources anymore Oji. Deacons actually get somewhat less than Core Disciples since it isn't their primary job to Cultivate and progress anymore. In a very serious way they're working on getting a return on their investment now."

Oji nodded with a roll of his eyes. "Not exactly the purpose of my visit. I needed to speak to an Deacon and I figure you're pretty much the only one who'd bother to listen to me." Something about the tone caught Nabaha's attention, and he then looked up to see the Yori Clan Leader standing behind Oji.

"Come on in and explain what happened than." Nabaha invited, sensing that there was big trouble brewing. Hopefully Oji wasn't trying to pull him into something harebrained. Again.