I Loaded the Mysticism Panel

Hecate began to summarize.

"The intelligence shared tonight was all substantial."

She looked at the man in the Evergreen Ivy Mask.

"Dionysus, your combined contributions from the last meeting and this one are the highest."

"I’ll use my channels to get you an admission ticket for the third floor of Imperial University."

Dionysus hesitated.

"...I am honored by your generosity."

Hecate didn’t wait for him to ask any follow-up questions.

"As for what it will cost you, I will inform you of that when the time comes."

"Understood." Dionysus raised his wine glass again.

The intelligence-sharing segment concluded, but unlike the last meeting, Hecate did not announce that they were dismissed.

"We still have some time tonight, so I’ll take the opportunity to discuss something else."

Dionysus immediately sat up straighter.

Prometheus placed the notebook he had been using back into his inner pocket, freeing up his hands.

Richard gleaned from their chain of reactions that this wasn’t the first time something like this had happened.

Every few meetings, Hecate would take the opportunity to speak about matters only someone of her station could access.

"It’s a shame Aries isn’t here tonight," Dionysus remarked quietly.

"He’s always the most focused for this sort of discussion."

"A shame indeed," said Prometheus.

From her seat at the head of the table, Hecate folded her hands in her lap.

"Tonight, I’ll be speaking about the preparatory work for the Grand Mastery stage."

Richard’s focus sharpened instantly.

Though he and Nemesis were both still far from that stage, it was always good to learn about it in advance.

"Several among you will soon face the bottleneck of Minor Mastery," Hecate said.

"Before that happens, one thing must be done in advance."

"And what is that?" Dionysus asked.

"Making a preliminary selection for your Grand Mastery Tradition."

"Preliminary selection?" Nemesis voiced the question on everyone’s mind.

On Hecate’s golden mask, the face of the maiden on the upper half narrowed its eyes.

"The strength of your Minor Mastery is essentially determined by the preliminary selection you make for your Grand Mastery."

At her words, everyone at the Round Table sat up straight.

Richard made a mental note, waiting for the others to ask first.

Dionysus followed up.

"What exactly does that mean?"

Hecate separated her hands, turning them palms-up.

"The five major Traditions—Sun, Furnace Fire, Abyss, Hunting Moon, and Weaving Net—plus some minor ones, each have their own distinct paths."

"The oath-swearing ceremony to advance to Minor Mastery establishes your first formal connection with the Curtain.

You can make a preliminary selection of a Tradition during this ritual and obtain a portion of its power ahead of time."

Prometheus asked, "And what if you don’t make a preliminary selection?"

"That’s also an option," Hecate nodded.

"A Minor Mastery without a preliminary selection is a tier weaker in overall strength, but offers greater flexibility.

When it comes time for the second ’signing’ at the Grand Mastery stage, your range of available options will be much wider."

"If you make a preliminary selection, you’re a tier stronger, but your path is locked."

"If you don’t, you’re a tier weaker, but your path remains adjustable."

Richard sorted out the logic in his head. ’It’s a very clear trade-off.’

"How exactly does one make a preliminary selection?" Nemesis asked.

"The specific method is rather vague," Hecate said, not explaining it very clearly.

"It varies from person to person, and from Tradition to Tradition."

"But there are some general principles."

She raised her left hand, tracing a line in the air with her finger.

"Principle one: The Tradition you choose for Grand Mastery must be compatible with your current Breathing Technique."

The crone’s half of the face smiled, a rather unsettling sight.

"The only exception is the Abyss Path. In addition to its own Abyss Tradition, it is compatible with all other Traditions."

Richard filed that piece of information away. So the Abyss Path was compatible with every Tradition.

"Principle two: Your chosen Direction determines which Traditions you should lean toward."

Hecate made a sorting gesture with her hand.

"For the Scholar Direction, I personally recommend you stick to the Sun Tradition, or one of the few minor Traditions outside the five majors that are related to Scholars."

"Which ones, specifically?" Richard couldn’t help but ask.

"Starmap, Codex, and Mirror Surface," Hecate listed.

"None of these are among the five major Traditions, but they are highly compatible with the Scholar Direction."

"Those on the Scholar path should avoid the Abyss Tradition."

She gave a particular warning:

"For you researchers, it is instinctual to ’look down,’ and the price of the Abyss Tradition is heaviest for Scholars."

As Hecate was explaining, Dionysus interjected.

"So at the Grand Mastery stage, can special combinations of Traditions and Directions emerge?"

"Yes," said Hecate.

At this, both the crone and the maiden on her mask smiled.

"The Abyss Tradition combined with the Hunter’s Direction."

"A terrifying combination. They are virtually unrivaled within their Tier and can even contend with some Experts."

"But they usually don’t live more than five years."

"Why?" Nemesis asked.

"The price of the Abyss Tradition is that it directly consumes the Cultivator, and the Hunter’s Direction accelerates this process of consumption."

Hecate said,

"It’s like two forces dragging you downstairs—one pulling from the front, the other pushing from behind."

"There’s also the classic... Furnace Fire Tradition and the Scholar Direction."

"Those who choose this combination often end up modifying themselves beyond recognition."

"There’s a classic example in the records. A certain Scholar chose the Furnace Fire Tradition.

Ten years later, he had become a living sculpture embedded in a wall, his vital signs maintained by dozens of thin tubes."

"Embedded in a wall," Prometheus repeated, imagining the sight.

"He modified himself," Hecate said.

"At first, he just wanted to add a few auxiliary tubes. Then he kept adding more.

The more of those tubes you have, the harder it is to separate them from a wall. In the end, he grew into the wall."

"He’s still alive?" Dionysus asked.

"He was from three hundred years ago. He is alive today," Hecate replied.

"Though he himself can’t say for sure whether his state can be considered ’living.’"

A chill ran down Richard’s spine as he listened.

Having finished with her examples, Hecate once again folded her hands in her lap.

"You should treat these examples of Grand Mastery Tradition selections as mere stories for now. First, worry about what’s right in front of you."

"That is all for tonight. The next meeting will be in mid-February."

She raised her hand and made a light wiping gesture over the tabletop.

"By the meeting after next, before mid-April, I will send out another round of invitations for new members."

"Another round?" Dionysus seemed surprised.

"Yes," Hecate said.

"Once all seven chairs are filled, the gatherings will enter their second phase."

"What is the second phase?" Nemesis asked.

"It involves the divine names of all of you present," Hecate said.

"When that time comes, you will each obtain the exclusive power associated with your divine name."

"What kind of power, specifically?" Dionysus asked.

"You will find out when the time comes."

Hecate did not elaborate.

"That is all for tonight. The method of departure is the same as always. Close your eyes and count to seven."

After everyone had left, she remained in her seat at the head of the table. With a phantom grasping motion in the air, an illusion of clay coins materialized above the tabletop.

She had already dealt with the first batch she sent out after the last meeting ended.

Tonight, she needed to review the ones she had marked as "pending."

Her fingertip paused over each of the illusory coins.

Pan—an actor at a theater on Huayue Street; the clay coin was still in a makeup box.

Demeter—heir to a western manor; the clay coin had been tossed into the bottom of a wastebasket.

Poseidon—son of a naval officer; the clay coin was obscured by a family Seal.

None of these were quite suitable.

Hecate withdrew her finger, her thoughts turning to the one who was absent tonight.

For a Low Tier Hunter, a missing limb is a fatal blow to their career.

Aries had been severely injured and lost an arm in the Ashen Zone. Even if he found someone to attach a prosthetic, his potential would be severely diminished.

She had thought he would spend a few more months preparing before tackling a place like the Ashen Zone.

Thinking of this, she grew even more dissatisfied with Aries.

’If a more suitable candidate appears in the future, perhaps I can find an excuse to remove him.’

If she wanted to fill all seven chairs, she would need to send out another wave of tokens.

And this time, her aim had to be more precise than the last.

Hecate let out a long breath from her seat at the head of the table.

She raised her hand, and the illusory clay coins above the tabletop dissipated.

’I need to do more research before sending out the tokens this time.’

...

When Richard opened his eyes, the sound of rain tapping against the window frame was clear.

The winter rains in Brighton had been intermittent, but tonight’s was light and steady.

The wall clock downstairs had just struck ten.

From falling asleep to waking up, the entire meeting had felt like it lasted about half an hour.

He rolled over and sat up. Checking his watch, he confirmed that less than an hour had passed.

Just as he reached his desk, the large, fluttering moth had already arrived.

The Spirit Realm Messenger placed the items from the trade on his desk and, just like last time, quietly dissipated.

The Copper Wire-Wrapped Bottle containing Deep Ether Condensate, a diagram of the Ether Massage Technique, and the rubbing and instructions for the "Moon Needle" Technique.

The three items lay side-by-side on his desk. But first, Richard had something to do.

He brought over his Talisman Stone Bag and, following the standard procedure for the Stone Reading Technique, asked three questions.

First question: Did the Ether Condensate bottle have any form of backdoor or Tracking Technique on it?

He drew five Talisman Stones and cast them onto the Copper Disc.

The resulting pattern was:

Double Circle (Relationship), Wheat Ear (Harvest), and Crescent Moon (Growth) in the central area;

Water Drop (Unfinished Business) and Spiral (Repetition) rolled off the Copper Disc.

He translated the pattern in his mind.

’The connection is fine. The item itself is valuable.

Using it will bring a kind of growth. No hidden dangers.’

The Condensed Liquid Bottle was safe.

Richard returned the first set of Talisman Stones to the bag.

Second question: Did the Ether Massage technique have any hidden effects or negative repercussions?

He drew a second handful and cast them.

This pattern was even clearer:

Double Circle and Wheat Ear landed in the center, Crescent Moon was slightly off-center, Water Drop was on the edge, and Spiral rolled off the Copper Disc.

’The connection is fine. The item is valuable. Its effects are real but limited. There is "Unfinished Business"—which fits, as the massage is only a supplementary treatment and not a cure. No hidden dangers.’

The massage technique was safe, but its effects were limited, just as Prometheus had described.

Third question: Did the Moon Nail booklet contain any designs for reverse tracking or surveillance targeting me?

He cast the third handful.

A new symbol appeared in this set—Double Line (Trust).

Double Line landed in the center, Wheat Ear was slightly off-center, and both Water Drop and Spiral rolled off the Copper Disc.

’The connection is fine, and it contains an element of trust. The item has considerable value. No hidden dangers whatsoever.’

The Moon Nail booklet was safe.

Moreover, the appearance of the "Trust" Talisman Stone indicated that Nemesis’s decision to offer up the Moon Nail tonight came with a measure of goodwill.

’Comparing the entry requirements for the two Techniques, I definitely got the better end of the deal.’

’Nemesis could have easily asked for something to make up the difference in value tonight, but she didn’t.’

Richard returned the Talisman Stones to the bag, his mind still racing.

Ever since he’d unlocked [Perception], his understanding of the boundaries of Divination had become increasingly clear.

When divining about himself or objects in his possession, the feedback was immense and the accuracy extremely high.

When divining about others, the feedback dropped off sharply, as did the accuracy.

When divining about anything involving a High Tier existence, it would immediately trigger a backlash warning.

He had just experienced that the night before.

’Using Divination like a mirror is the most effective approach.’

He wrapped the Condensed Liquid Bottle in three layers of oil paper and placed it in a hidden compartment at the very back of his drawer.

As for the Ether Massage diagram, he planned to call his aunt tomorrow to ask about it again. He couldn’t be careless when it came to his mother’s health.

He tucked the Technique rubbing and its instructions into his notebook, making it the focus of his studies for the next phase.

With his desk tidy once more, Richard blew out the lamp.