It took Liam and Grace two more days to reach their destination.

The morning was cloudy, filling the sky with falling snow, but everything grew darker as the two approached a lonely, ominous mountain.

The patch of clouds around the mountain’s peak was pitch-black, with bright lights occasionally flashing among them, releasing thundering noises that echoed throughout the area.

Also, seemingly exactly every hour, a single lightning bolt would strike the mountain’s peak, followed by a deafening thunderclap.

That was Cloudy Mountain, the Roaring Thunder Sect’s home, and the stories couldn’t agree if that name was due to the odd weather, or if the latter was a consequence of whatever that force did.

Naturally, Liam and Grace weren’t there for a history lesson. The two easily climbed the barren slopes but stopped halfway through the mountain, aware that entering a Sect’s ground wasn’t just a matter of walking into it.

That behavior went beyond common knowledge, especially for Liam and his new perception. Despite the barren landscape, everything felt deeply unnatural. A formation was in place, one that made his survival instincts ring the alarm.

Still, more than not knowing the safe path inside, Liam and Grace stopped because they were uninvited guests. Their only interaction with the Sect had been through an inner disciple, who obviously couldn’t speak for that superior force.

Everything about the situation was eerily similar to when Liam first headed for the Pale Moon Sect, to when he met Lucy. Yet, things couldn’t have been different, and the world proved that before Liam could grow nostalgic.

After mere minutes, a familiar kind of pressure leaked from behind whatever stood before the mountain’s higher areas. However, it limited itself to a brief inspection before an orange figure became visible, her details growing clearer with each step she took.

The woman was a branching expert in her thirties, rugged features giving her a strong face. She had stern, piercing black eyes and black hair kept up through a golden crown similar to Grace’s.

"I’m Beatrice, Disciplinary Elder of the Roaring Thunder Sect," The woman announced without cupping her fist or bowing. "Juniors, on what business do you intrude on the Roaring Thunder Sect’s grounds?"

"Senior," Both Liam and Grace exclaimed, bowing, before the latter continued. "I’m Chief Grace of the Merchants Guild, and this is Master William, my partner and alchemist."

Beatrice didn’t say anything, her stern gaze fixed on Grace.

"Business is our business," Grace continued. "If it’s not too preposterous, Master William and I have a proposal for the honorable Roaring Thunder Sect."

Beatrice remained silent even then, but not for long.

"We are aware of you," Beatrice declared. "One of our inner disciples stooped so low as to look for outsiders’ help to fix his mistake. The other Sects are already laughing behind our backs."

Despite the obvious displeasure, Liam couldn’t help but feel a bit at home. He understood well how that reputation worked after being at its center for almost a year.

By purchasing the Qi-Igniting Pill elsewhere, Philip had declared that the Roaring Thunder Sect had been unable to help. That wasn’t the truth, and everyone knew it, but rumors were immune to such things.

"However," Beatrice added, "You gave the Roaring Thunder Sect face, and I’ve checked Disciple Lynn’s cultivation myself. Master William, in all my years as a cultivator, I have never seen a spiritual root recover so quickly."

That was an opening, but neither Liam nor Grace straightened themselves. Until the Elder explicitly said otherwise, they would continue bowing.

"This service earned you the right to be heard," Beatrice said. "So, speak. I’m listening."

"Our recent business venture emptied our reserves of ingredients," Grace exclaimed. "While we are more than capable of purchasing more, I’m afraid our success earned us great envy that would hinder us every step of the way."

Grace had fired her merchants before reaching the Sect, meaning many of her previous contacts were gone. They weren’t good to begin with, either.

Finding alternative channels was relatively easy for Grace. The Guild itself provided that service, but the new nature of her business would turn everyone into opponents, and she didn’t have the screaming crowd of clients on her side now.

Exposing such weakness wasn’t wise, but Grace had to announce it as a show of goodwill toward a superior force. She was giving the Sect leverage so that it would consider accepting the favor she was about to request.

"Junior, it seems you bit more than you can chew," Beatrice stated, "But what does this have to do with the Roaring Thunder Sect?"

"The famous Roaring Thunder Sect possessed wealth a mere Chief like me can’t fathom," Grace declared, remaining as humble as possible. "So, I’m shamelessly offering a trade. A fraction of your wealth for Master William’s services."

"The Roaring Thunder Sect isn’t that little tournament the Recruitment Guild issues," Beatrice scoffed. "Or do you think us so desperate as to be willing to open our gates in exchange for rank 1 alchemical products?"

"Senior, I wouldn’t dare!" Grace exclaimed. "But rank 2 alchemical products are also within Master William’s capabilities."

"Oh?" Beatrice muttered, moving her attention to the caped figure. "Master William, is that true?"

"Senior, I can concoct rank 2 products," Liam confirmed. "Though they would take me more attempts depending on the recipe’s difficulty." 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

That was the most normal thing in the world. No alchemist was flawless, but Beatrice still used that statement to her advantage.

"Junior, do you wish to use the Roaring Thunder Sect’s wealth to groom your alchemist?" Beatrice wondered. "Do you think us so easily fooled?"

"Senior, my partner’s blindness to his own worth is his greatest flaw," Grace promptly announced. "He is humble to a fault, utterly disregarding his mental acuity and skills. The average alchemist is no match for him."

’Is she scolding or praising me?’ Liam wondered, tilting his hood toward Grace, unsure what to make of that statement.

Truth be told, Liam had no way of knowing how good he was. His Master was his only term of comparison, and the difference with him was simply boundless.

Moreover, Liam had only learned one type of alchemy, the perfect type. He also saw it as the only possible method since that was what his Master had taught him, so he had no idea how he fared compared to other approaches.

The interaction couldn’t escape Beatrice’s attentive gaze. If that were a ploy, Liam wouldn’t have broken character, meaning Grace’s evaluation had to have been honest.

Yet, that was beside the point.

"Even if I were to believe you," Beatrice said, "The Roaring Thunder Sect already has access to reliable alchemy masters. We have no need for Master William’s services."

"Senior, if I may," Grace pointed out. "External masters are slow and expensive due to the commissions from multiple clients. Master William would concoct solely for the Roaring Thunder Sect and no one else."

That actually silenced Beatrice. It wasn’t just about having priority over commissions. The fact that other Sects wouldn’t would create a relative but worthwhile power imbalance.

"Moreover, we wouldn’t request payment," Grace added. "Even the fraction I mentioned earlier would be to fill our shelves. We don’t need any of the Roaring Thunder Sect’s ingredients to leave the Sect."

Now, that was a proper offer, one worth considering, even accounting for the political landscape.

A free alchemist was a priceless asset, even if only temporarily, but selling to outside, lower forces simply wouldn’t do. The Sects had their own market and way of handling it. They accumulated wealth that had to remain among them. Giving it to others would be akin to removing the reason for their superiority.

Instead, by limiting Liam to the Sect, the latter wouldn’t exactly sell anything. He would obtain products from its ingredients, but that additional passage created some political leeway, one Beatrice could exploit and justify.

Besides, unknown to Liam, that area lacked a figure like Horace Rauret. There was no established alchemist anywhere. All those neighboring Sects relied on external help, deepening the difference Liam could make.

"External masters are indeed slow," Beatrice admitted. "The Roaring Thunder Sect’s stashes have been sitting for months, with some even close to rotting."

That waste was unavoidable due to the alchemy masters’ limited availability. It basically was an accepted loss, one that the Roaring Thunder Sect could avoid now.

"However, while intriguing, this is still not enough for the Roaring Thunder Sect to accept," Beatrice said, feigning ignorance despite having heard that story through direct testimony. "Unless, of course, Master William can concoct in front of our disciples and answer their questions."