CHAPTER 197: THE VOICE

The carriage ride to the sect grounds took them through the capital’s administrative district, past government buildings and military installations.

The morning air was crisp, carrying the sounds of a city coming to life.

As they traveled, Chen Xing pointed out various improvements that had been made to the surrounding area at considerable expense.

"The road was expanded and reinforced to accommodate increased traffic," he explained, gesturing to the wide, well-paved thoroughfare. "We anticipate significant interest from both prospective students and visiting dignitaries once word spreads about your facility."

"And the security arrangements?" Grim asked, noting the increased presence of imperial guards in the area.

"Discrete but comprehensive," Chen Xing replied. "The facility is officially under imperial protection as a recognized educational institution. However, the guards have been instructed to maintain a respectful distance unless specifically requested."

When they finally crested the small rise that led to the sect grounds, Grim felt his breath catch in his throat. The sect rose before them like a monument to both imperial grandeur and mystical purpose, every detail exactly as he had envisioned it during those long nights of planning.

The main structure was a magnificent pagoda-style tower that seemed to reach toward the heavens themselves.

Each level was slightly smaller than the one below, creating an elegant silhouette. The traditional curved roofs with their distinctive upturned corners honored Grim’s master.

"It’s exactly as I envisioned," Grim said, his voice filled with genuine awe. "Even better than I dared hope."

The approach to the main building was spectacular in its own right. A grand courtyard stretched before them, paved with stone. Covered walkways flanked the central space, their roofs supported by ornate columns carved with symbols.

As they drew closer, Grim realized that the shimmering effect wasn’t merely decorative—trace amounts of magical energy had been worked into the very foundation stones of the building.

"The builders followed your specifications precisely," Chen Xing noted with evident satisfaction. "Though I must admit, some of the requirements were... unconventional. The stone masons were particularly puzzled by your insistence on specific mineral compositions for the foundation work."

"Those minerals will prove their worth," Grim replied cryptically. "Magical architecture requires more than just aesthetic considerations."

They dismounted from the carriage and approached the main entrance on foot. The great doors were magnificent works of art in themselves—carved from some dark wood unlike most buildings int he Empire.

The interior surpassed even Grim’s ambitious expectations. The central hall soared upward through multiple levels.

Natural light filtered down from windows positioned at precisely calculated points, creating an atmosphere that was both open and intimate, grand yet somehow personal. The effect was designed to inspire rather than intimidate, to encourage learning rather than mere reverence.

"The main hall can accommodate formal ceremonies and large gatherings," Chen Xing explained as they walked across the polished floor. "Each level above contains specialized facilities—training rooms designed for different types of magical practice, libraries ready to house both conventional texts and more esoteric materials, and comfortable quarters for instructors and advanced students."

They moved through the building systematically. The training halls were spacious and perfectly ventilated, with specially treated floors that could withstand magical combat without sustaining damage. The walls incorporated sound-dampening materials that would prevent training exercises from disturbing other activities.

The library space was perhaps the most impressive single room. Shelves stretched from floor to ceiling, ready to house thousands of volumes, while reading areas provided both communal space for group study and private alcoves for individual research.

"The private quarters?" Grim inquired as they climbed to the upper levels.

"Comfortable but not luxurious," Chen Xing replied. "This is intended to be a place for serious study and training, not a resort for wealthy noble children. Each room has basic furnishings, storage for personal effects, and access to common areas for meals and social interaction."

"Perfect," Grim said with satisfaction. "Luxury breeds complacency. I want students who are here to learn, not to enjoy themselves."

They spent nearly two hours examining every aspect of the completed facility. When they finally returned to the main hall, Grim felt a deep sense of accomplishment. His vision had been translated into reality.

"When can we begin accepting students?" Grim asked, already mentally organizing the recruitment process.

"Immediately, if you wish," Chen Xing replied. "The facility is fully operational, and staff positions can be filled within days. Though that raises several important questions about how you intend to operate this institution."

"Such as?"

"Do you have a plan for instruction? Running a sect requires more than just impressive facilities—you’ll need qualified teachers, structured curricula, clear goals for what you want students to accomplish, and methods for evaluating their progress."

"I do have a plan," Grim replied with confidence born of careful consideration. "I’ll have a very qualified teacher arriving soon who will handle much of the day-to-day instruction. Someone with expertise in areas that most imperial academies don’t even acknowledge exist."

Chen Xing raised an eyebrow but didn’t press for details. "And your preferred student demographics?"

"For now, let’s focus on people with fire or water affinities. Those elements align best with the initial training methods I have in mind."

"Interesting choice. Most established schools prefer to separate elemental affinities, believing they require fundamentally different approaches."

"Most established schools are thinking too narrowly," Grim replied. "Fire and water can complement each other when properly understood. It’s all about balance and control."

They continued their tour, eventually reaching a discrete door that led to a narrow staircase descending into the building’s foundations. Chen Xing produced a key from his robes.

"The underground chambers," he announced.

The staircase led to a corridor lined with stone blocks that seemed older than the rest of the building. Magical torches provided steady illumination, but the light felt different here—cooler, more substantial.

At the end of the corridor, they reached a heavy wooden door reinforced with iron bands. Chen Xing unlocked it and pushed it open, revealing the chamber beyond.

The room was circular, with a domed ceiling that rose higher than should have been possible given the building’s above-ground structure.

Grim stepped into the chamber and immediately felt a change in the atmosphere. The air was thick with mana, almost crackling. As he moved closer to the center of the room, some of the carved symbols began to emit a faint glow.

"Interesting," he murmured, pulling the scale pendant from his pocket—the gift from Elder Kenrick after the Jiaolong incident.

The moment the scale cleared his clothing, it began to pulse with blue-green light that perfectly matched the glow from the wall symbols. The magical energy in the chamber surged, responding to the scale’s presence like metal to a magnet.

"My lord," Chen Xing said, his voice carrying a note of concern, "what exactly is that?"

"A scale from an ancient sea guardian," Grim replied, watching as the glow from both the scale and the walls intensified. "A gift from the village we saved from Jiaolong."

The energy in the chamber continued to build, creating a harmonic resonance that seemed to come from the very stones themselves. Grim could feel traces of strong mana in the Chamber.

Grim carefully returned the scale to his pocket. As soon as it was concealed, the glow faded and the energy subsided.

"Should I be concerned about the safety of this facility?"

"No," Grim said with certainty he couldn’t quite explain. "Whatever this chamber is meant to do, it’s not harmful. If anything, it feels... protective."

They spent several more minutes examining the chamber, but without the scale’s activation, the room remained quiescent. Finally, they made their way back to the main building.

"When do you plan to announce the sect’s opening?" Chen Xing asked as they climbed the stairs.

"Soon. But first, I need to make contact with my instructor and finalize the initial curriculum." Grim paused. "And Chen Xing? Keep the underground chamber restricted. Only myself and the instructor i have obtained will have access."

As they emerged back into the main hall, sunlight streaming through the windows seemed almost mundane compared to the mystical energies they had just encountered. But Grim felt a deep satisfaction looking around at his completed vision.

The sect was ready. Soon, he would begin gathering students who he thought could help shape the Empire in his vision.

Grim thought to himself as he stared down at the main halls open space. "I wonder how you’ll break the new recruits."

Just as Grim thought he’d have some peace a familiar voice popped in his head. [So you’re sect is complete is it.]