Chapter 40. Phantom Sword

The Patriarch watched the two men emerge from the portal and greet him. An annoying smile slid across the young man's lips again.

- Remove the cloak and give your report. - The sect leader waved a hand.

The old man pulled the blindfold off his head, turning back into the Grand Elder. Yee Rhys simply removed the mask.

- We've checked eighteen disciples. Seven spies have been identified. - Master Raz Beg reported. - Your protégé has a remarkable sensitivity to lies. And small details.

- Details? - The old man asked again.

- One of the disciples had doubts whether he could be considered a spy. - The young man explained.

- I see. - The patriarch nodded. - Is there anything else of interest?

- Two are suitable for recruitment. - Yee Rhys continued, - And one more... I'm not sure.

- About what? - The old man asked.

- He seems to have an increased level of mental energy. Maybe he has the potential to be a mentalist.

- Who? - The one-eyed old man made a stand.

- Su Rai who lied to all the questions. - Honestly answered the young man. - He realized he would get nothing even for a brazen lie. Not many would risk playing with the Discipline Department like that.

- Indeed. - The Grand Elder dipped his fingers into his beard. - Patriarch, would you mind if I check? I might have a good disciple out of him.

- You may. - Easily agreed the elder. Mentalists are a valuable resource, the sooner they are identified, the better. Then the Patriarch turned to Yee Rhys. - Now you. The task was well done. I am content. The next task.

A jade slip appeared in the old man's hands. It flew from the old man's palm and hovered in front of him.

- This is a technique of the first higher level, the Phantom Sword. You have twenty-four hours to learn it. I will test it tomorrow.

- Understood. - Yee Rhys took the slip and stood still again.

- Go, practice. - Patriarch waved his sleeve and a portal appeared in the air. The young man stepped through it and disappeared from the hall.

- Ahem. - Master Raz reminded of himself. - When can I talk to the young man?

- In a day or two. - The old man made an estimate. - By the way, how was your first exchange of knowledge?

- It was rather fruitful. - The one eyed old man admitted. - We were reviewing the basic concepts. I confess that Yee Rhys opened my eyes to many things.

Two slips appeared in front of the Elder and flew over to the higher authority. The latter studied them. On the first was a copy of the data presented by the young men, and on the second, a copy of the recording of the conversation.

The patriarch only shook his head in bewilderment. The boy was indeed a gift. Some moments... the elder even regretted that he had rushed to create a seal. It could have been made much more efficiently. And to change a seal already made and implemented is a thankless task. It is easier to make a new one.

- We did not finish the reconciliation in time. - Master Raz Beg admitted. - But even with the information I received, I have been able to rethink the techniques available. That is why I am asking for your assistance in further transfer of knowledge.

- Interesting indeed. - The patriarch agreed. - Does anyone else know about it?

- No. - the one eyed old man shook his head. - My disciple knows about the meeting with Yee Rhys, but he doesn't know what we talked about. I wanted to finish checking the base before revealing the information.

- Don't be in a hurry to reveal it. - The elder frowned. - I forbid you to pass on the information you have received from the young man to anyone until I have given you a specific order.

- Patriarch? - The Grand Elder was surprised, then understood. - You wish to protect the boy? Yes. His knowledge alone is enough to launch a manhunt for him.

- The sect will be informed. - The elder nodded. - But we will fabricate another source. A high-level traveller, a treasure from a special area or something else as the situation demands. We could even have an auction where we buy the technique.

- You are worthy to be the Patriarch. - Master Raz Beg acknowledged.

***

After passing through the portal Yee Rhys found himself in the middle of a desolate plain, surrounded on all sides by dark vertical cliffs. A secret training ground? Looks like it. And the hidden formation would allow even a Crystal Core Sphere practitioner to train here, without fear of destroying everything to the states of the great vortex.

The young man put the mask away in his bag, sat down where he stood, and began to study the new technique. Phantom Sword turned out to be a combined technique: it allowed him to create a blade of Qi and overlay the illusion of a normal sword on top of it. If used correctly, the opponent would think you were just pulling out a weapon rather than using a technique.

The Phantom Sword had levels of difficulty. The straight sword was only the first layer. Next came curved sabres, flexible whips and other more sophisticated weapons. Including throwing weapons: bow and arrow and the like. The practitioner turned into a kind of walking arsenal. It was handy when there were certain weapons to be used. For instance, you can better archery birds than jumping after them with a sword. And against the fish sword is not very useful. The only disadvantage is that it requires a lot of Qi. Yee Rhys decided not to consider the difficulty of the technique as a disadvantage. Since some time complex tasks caused only increased interest in him.

After about an hour his head started to whine and the young man put the slip away in a bag. First half a day of questioning, now this technique. And yet his mind was barely back to normal and for the next week or two he shouldn't be using mental energy at all.

And then there was that seal. Yee Rhys closed his eyes and drifted into mind space, again looking at the Patriarch's "gift". The benefits were evident; the old man had clearly calmed down and had even given out a certain amount of trust. On the other hand, - the young man touched the bracelet concealed by his sleeve, - at this rate he will turn into a valuable beast. And Yee Rhys didn't want to be locked up in the bowels of a sect because of his increased value. Conclusion: no more information beyond what had already been promised. Better to prove yourself as a fighting unit.

The young man rubbed his forehead. The mental seal and sense of constant control was annoying. The Patriarch seemed to have found himself a new toy. He had been watching through the seal for the entire duration of the mission today. Seeing, hearing, feeling emotions. Only he didn't read minds. Personal life? Nah, didn't hear of that.

On the other hand, - Yee Rhys smiled, - that seal was indeed a great gift. After all, it carried the aura of the Patriarch, an imprint of his personality. It would be a great help in the fifth phase of the plan. Although, given recent events, it could be said that the fifth phase had begun ahead of schedule.

Calming his mind, the young man began to cultivate his Qi. After reaching his maximum, Yee Rhys stood up and began practicing the Phantom Sword.

***

Exactly twenty-four hours later, a portal opened on the plain and an old man emerged from it. A slight smile slid across the young man's lips at the sight of his guest.

- Yee Rhys welcomes the Patriarch.

- Whose are you? - The question rang out, the traditional question.

- I am yours.

- You are my treasure.

- I am your treasure.

- You are my instrument.

- I am your instrument.

- My word is the Law.

- Your word is the Law.

Phrases that originally had to be pushed out of him now lay on his tongue easily and freely. Without resistance.

The young man felt sad. The trap had gained another level of depth. It had previously looked like a well, with steep walls.

The seal was oozing with satisfaction. Patriarch, for heaven's sake, don't add anything! Our "hello" would take an hour.

- Follow me. - The elder turned and disappeared into the portal.

Yee Rhys mentally took a breath and followed him.

The new place looked like a huge hall, stacked with large stone blocks. The room was large and gloomy, the far walls lost in the darkness. The nearer part was illuminated by a dim light of incomprehensible origin. At least there were no night pearls, fire crystals or other sources of illumination to be seen. There was a pervasive silence, in which every sound was echoed softly and repeatedly. It was surprisingly uncomfortable in here. He frowned, trying to figure out what he didn't like. Did it smell like... souls?

- It's a fighting array. - The Patriarch explained. - For elders and chosen disciples. Technically similar to the Puppet Coliseum, but this array holds the souls of captured practitioners with all their knowledge and skills. Now I'll set it up and you get started.

- What is required of me? - Yee Rhys calmly clarified.

- The Phantom Sword technique. And maximum efficiency. - The old man's eyes twinkled.

- Yes, I see. - The young man nodded and walked out into the hall.