The survivors of the war arrived at the base of the majestic mountain that housed the Battle Maiden Sect, a place most of them had only ever dreamed of. Their hearts pounded in anticipation as they ascended, following the winding path that led to the mighty gates of the Sect.
Unlike usual, the mountain was silent, its typical bustling energy absent as a majority of its inhabitants had gone to war. The outer ring of the mountain, usually alive with the chatter of Outer Court disciples, was now eerily quiet.
The gates of the Battle Maiden Sect opened slowly, revealing the expansive courtyard nestled within the mountain's embrace. A soft wind rustled through the ancient buildings, carrying the weight of their history.
Elder Liandra, one of the Elders in charge of the Outer Sect disciples, led the way and said, "All of those in the Core Formation Realm, follow me. This place will be your new home. I and a few other Elders will get you registered. We'll give you a few days to get accustomed to everything before training begins."
As they neared the entrance of the Outer Court, one of the survivors, Isha, hesitated, her eyes fixed on the quiet, imposing gates.
"Are we really here?" She asked, her voice barely a whisper. "I mean, are we... are we really worthy of this place?"
Elder Liandra, who had been leading the group, turned to look at her. Her gaze was sharp yet understanding. "We have all made sacrifices… What was your name? Ah! That's right. It was Isha."
"Well, Isha, the very fact that you're standing here, having survived the war, makes you worthy. Don't let self-doubt cloud your spirit. Because if you thought the past three months were hard, you better prepare yourself for what the Sect Master has in store for you."
With her words echoing in their ears, they entered a large courtyard inside the Outer Court and were met with an eerie silence. The usual bustling Outer Court had nobody in it, as they had all left to participate in the war.
However, before the newcomers were allowed in, they had to go through registration.
"For all current members, come up here with the Elders and help us register everyone. I know you want to rest and recover, but we must do this before anything else to ensure the Sect's stability." Elder Lianda said, causing many of the disciples to frown.
Like she said, most of the current disciples just wanted to rest in their rooms. While the newcomers were dissatisfied with Elder Liandra's treatment as they had literally just fought in a war for them! That in and of itself should've earned them some trust!
A few were about to protest, but before they could even open their mouths, Elder Liandra glanced at them. She didn't say anything or pressure them, but the look in her eyes said everything they needed to know.
'Get out if you don't like it.' That's what she conveyed.
So, they shut their traps and listened to her instructions.
Soon, numerous lines with thousands of people in each of them were made.
Surprisingly, the registration process was swift, with everyone working as fast as possible. They each received an emblem and a set of robes, marking their new identity as disciples of the main Battle Maiden Sect. With that emblem, they were no longer outsiders. They were Battle Maidens.
While that was going on, Elder Sandra led all the Nascent Soul Realm disciples to the Inner Court, and Elder Angela led any Soul Transformation Realm disciples to the Core Court. They went through the same process as those from the Outer Court, just that there were a lot fewer of them.
As for the Elders and/or Sect Masters of the Branch Sects that had reached the Mortal Shedding Realm, they followed their seniors up to their new homes. Although they still needed to be registered, they didn't need to be vetted like the others.
All of them have served the Sect for many years. It would be strange if Aelina and the other Elders didn't know about them.
After the grueling process, the newcomers were led to their respective accommodations, depending on their cultivation level. The Outer Court, Inner Court, and Core Court each had its own training fields, dormitories, and study halls.
The Outer Court disciples, the most numerous among them, were led to a large complex of dormitories. The building, while modest compared to the grandeur of the Inner Court and Core Court structures, had its own charm. The walls, painted in warm hues, were adorned with intricate carvings depicting famous battles and heroic maidens from the Sect's rich history.
Normally, they'd be able to choose their own homes, but there were just too many of them. So, they were forced to live here until they expanded.
Still clutching her newly issued emblem, Skye looked around her new surroundings. The dormitory room she shared with three other maidens was simple yet comfortable.
Four wooden beds lined the walls, each accompanied by a small desk and a personal chest for their belongings. A soft mat lay at the center, a space for personal meditation or simply a communal area.
Beside her, the maiden named Isha let out a sigh, her eyes welling up. "I can't believe we've made it this far. I thought the Core Formation Realm would be my limit, possibly reaching the Nascent Soul Realm if I was lucky. I never thought that one day I'd end up here."
Across the room, another maiden named Lian chimed in, "I know, right?! The sky's the limit now that we're here! I don't know if going through that war was truly worth it, but I'll do my best so as not to waste this opportunity!"
"Oi! Don't go spouting off stuff like that! Who knows if the Sect Master will start another war in a few days!" Skye jokingly chastised, though she was half serious. From what she knew of Aelina, they might really have to go against another Sect next week.
That's what happened to her, after all.
Their shared laughter filled the room, a comforting reminder that they weren't alone in this new journey. It was a small moment of camaraderie in the midst of their overwhelming new reality.
Elder Liandra, having made sure all the disciples were settled in, returned to her own quarters. She gazed at the snow-capped summit, a silent vow on her lips. "Rest well, new Maidens," she murmured, "You might be wishing for war after the Sect Master's done with you."
In the Inner Court, the process was similar, but the quarters were grander. The newly minted Inner Court disciples were led to their shared dormitories. Each room housed one disciple, a testament to their higher status in the Sect.
However, these dorms were only temporary, just somewhere to rest until they found a place to set up their new homes.
For the Core Court disciples, their living arrangements were the epitome of luxury and privilege. Each disciple had their own private quarters, equipped with a personal training area, a study room, and a private bath. They also had all kinds of Formations, Arrays, resources, and a denser amount of Qi to cultivate with.
They didn't need to create their own homes, as the perfect ones were ready for them before they arrived.
Meanwhile, the Elders and Sect Masters of the Branch Sects who had ascended to the Mortal Shedding Realm followed their seniors to the Elder Court. Their living arrangements were as grand as their status—a private residence, complete with personal servants and state-of-the-art cultivation facilities.
Though everyone was exhausted, they were filled with a sense of excitement and anticipation for the challenges ahead. Each of them, no matter their cultivation level, had become an integral part of the Sect. They had a long and arduous path ahead of them, filled with training, cultivation, and growth. But for now, they had a moment to breathe, to take in their new surroundings, and to prepare for the journey ahead.
***
Elsewhere in the Sect, in a secluded cultivation chamber deep within the Core Disciple Court, Mira sat in deep meditation. The Qi she had absorbed from the fallen enemies swirled around her in a whirlwind of raw power.
She had received a message from Aelina while she was coming back that this was one of her rewards. According to the rules, she was still technically an Inner Court Disciple, so she usually wasn't allowed access to a place like this.
Mira had killed tons of people during the war, so the amount of energy she had accumulated was monstrous.
'It'll probably take me a while to digest all this,' Mira thought, sweeping her consciousness through her body, looking at the overflowing amount of Qi filling her meridians. 'However, that's fine. I think I've finally obtained a way to merge all my centers of power into one! With all this energy, I should be able to begin that process right now!'
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