Abyssal Harmony Sect.

  Location: Devil Ascension Peak.

  The first rays of dawn painted the sky with hues of orange and gold, casting a warm glow over the Hundred Flowers Lake. Petals from the surrounding blossoms drifted onto the placid surface, creating ripples that disturbed the mirror-like reflection of the sky.

  Hong Tianxia, adorned in a vibrant red robe that seemed to mimic the rising sun, sat with an air of authority in the lakeside pavilion.

  "Has anyone touched the hidden Inheritance in recent years?" she inquired, her voice carrying a subtle edge that betrayed her inner turmoil.

  Baiyun her eyes widened in surprise. "Sect Master, t-there have been three... who have interacted with the Inheritance. The last one just yesterday."

  Hong Tianxia's frown deepened. "Oh?" she pressed, a curious note entering her voice as a vibrant purple butterfly fluttered playfully around her, its wings catching the morning light. "Anyone interesting?"

  "The first was the Third Princess of the Southern Royal Kingdom." Baiyun's voice hushed with respect. "However, it seems they were merely curious. They knew of the Inheritance's existence, but couldn't decipher its secrets."

  Hong Tianxia's expression remained impassive, but her eyes, sharp as obsidian, flickered with a hint of dismissal.The Southern Kingdom's princess was hardly a threat.

  Baiyun hesitated, then continued, "Then... there was the disciple He Shan. He discovered the Third Eternal Law, the Earth Divider, within a cave in the Battlescar Highlands."

  Hong Tianxia felt a subtle tremor running through one of the Dharma Treasure in her personal space.A small, unassuming stone materialized in her hand, seemingly from thin air.It pulsed with a faint light, reacting to the mention of He Shan.

  Seeing her reaction, Baiyun hurried on, "He Shan has been accepted as a True Disciple by the Jadecrest Peak Master."

  Hong Tianxia remained silent, her gaze fixed on the shimmering stone.No reaction.

  Baiyun took a deep breath and delivered the final piece of news. "The third... was just yesterday. Quasi Outer Disciple Li Zhen took the Second Eternal Law."

  This time, the reaction was undeniable. The stone in Hong Tianxia's hand flared with a brilliant light, its vibrations intensifying before abruptly vanishing.Her eyes narrowed.The butterfly, as if sensing her shift in mood, settled gently on her shoulder. "Keep a close eye on those two."

  And the butterfly settled on Hong Tianxia shoulder.

  "Tell me about your recent developments." Hong Tianxia's voice regained its previous composure.

  In the Hundred Flowers Lake, the sun was warm, and the breeze was gentle. Petals fell on the still lake surface causing it to ripple a little.

  Hong Tianxia, dressed in red, sat upright in the pavilion. She reached out her hand and pulled at her hair, waiting for Baiyun's answer.

  "Sect Master, we have experienced unprecedented growth. The number of disciples has increased by three thousand percent."

  Hong Tianxia's expression remained unchanged, but a flicker of surprise crossed her eyes. "Three thousand?"

  Baiyun rushed to explain, "The stability brought to the Eternal Cursed Lands under the Sect's control has greatly improved our standing with the populace. Furthermore, the growing instability in the Royal family has driven countless cultivators to seek shelter within our gates. We have had to expand the Nominal and Outer sect areas thrice already to accommodate them all."

  Hong Tianxia nodded slowly, her gaze sweeping across the serene lake, a thoughtful expression on her face. "Has the Age of Expansion begun?" she murmured, more to herself than to Baiyun.

  "Most sects believe it will commence within the next five decades, Sect Master." Baiyun's voice was confident. "There is a measurable increase in qi throughout the continent."

  "Five decades..." Hong Tianxia tapped a finger rhythmically on the pavilion railing, lost in thought.She turned her attention to her second attendant, who had been observing the exchange with a quiet intensity. "Beiyun, what is your assessment? Should we start preparing?"

  "Sect Master, our resources are already stretched thin accommodating the current influx of disciples. Furthermore, the Sect has begun to open up the Battlescar Highlands for cultivation. It is a risky endeavor..."

  Tianxia's eyes narrowed. "Have the Resentment levels decreased enough?"

  "With the increased breeding of spirit beasts and manual plantation of Spiritual Herbs adapted to absorbing Resentment, the levels have indeed decreased, Sect Master," Beiyun confirmed. "But the deeper regions remain perilous. And..." she hesitated, "there is a chance that one of the Peak Masters has established a secret base there."

  A dangerous glint entered Hong Tianxia's eyes. "It is your job to root out these spies and traitors." Her voice was cold and sharp. "Just give me a list. How you handle the rest is your concern."

  Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  Baiyun bowed her head in acknowledgement. "As you wish, Sect Master. The list will be ready within a few days."

  "What is the sect's current strength?" Hong Tianxia's gaze fixed on Beiyun.

  Beiyun straightened, a spark of pride igniting in her eyes. "Our numbers have swelled, Sect Master. We have over ten thousand disciples in the Core Formation realm, a thousand in Nascent Soul, and over a hundred in Primordial Spirit. In the Soul Ascension realm..." she paused, "we have twenty, including myself."

  A thin smile played on Hong Tianxia's lips. "Only twenty Soul Ascension cultivators..." she mused, "it is a good start for a new age." She rose to her feet, her red robes swirling around her like flames. "Baiyun, begin sect mobilization for war. Keep it under wraps for now, disguised as a cleansing of the Battlescar Highlands. Try to keep the true purpose of the operation secret. We will use this opportunity to temper our disciples."

  "S-Sect Master!" Baiyun's face paled. "War? But... with whom? We are at peace with the surrounding sects."

  "Not for long." Hong Tianxia turned and strode back towards her secluded retreat, leaving Baiyun standing in stunned silence.

  — ? — ? — ? —

  The old door creaked open, a mournful sound swallowed by the morning mist. Sunlight glinted off dew-kissed leaves as Li Zhen stepped out, the earthy scent of damp soil filling his lungs. Being a cultivator had changed his sleeping habits, making restful sleep come easily in fewer hours.

  Sage's Daily Scroll of Heavenly, Earthly, and Mortal Insights.

  Target: 2:48:15.

  In less than three hours… I have a decision to make.

  Opening Heaven, with its promise of hidden treasure, tempted him. His fingers twitched, the temptation strong. But then—

  The memory of being reduced to a mortal flashed in his mind. No, better to solidify my foundation. He clenched his fists, grounding himself. This time, he'd play it safe— Diamond Skin. Hopefully the Profound Grade technique is quite easy to grasp without any sacrifice.

  But first, breakfast. The spirit rice sat in its container, lifeless and unappetizing. His stomach twisted in protest. Yesterday, he had spotted a patch of ordinary fruit while training. They lacked spiritual energy, but they'd do.

  Zhen moved with quiet efficiency. A simple blade from the kitchen, a cloth bag knotted at his waist completed his meager hunting gear. He adjusted the strap, ensuring it sat snugly, then stepped inside the forest.

  The outer edges of the forest were barren, stripped clean by other disciples. Deeper he ventured, his senses alert for any sign of movement. The rabbit was quite a fluke yesterday, but most of the spirit beasts were hidden inside. His pace quickened, eyes sharp for movement.

  After walking half an hour, a flicker of red halted him mid-step.

  Not an animal. A bush, half-hidden among tangled undergrowth, its small frame trembling in the breeze. A glimmer of Qi pulsed from within its leaves. Nestled among them—a fruit, tiny, unripe, yet unmistakably imbued with spiritual energy.

  Is this a spiritual fruit? Caution prickled his skin. He circled the bush, noting its wiry limbs, the unnatural stillness it held. He reached out—slow, deliberate. His fingers brushed the fruit.

  The bush shuddered, a sluggish ripple of resistance.

  Zhen jerked back, pulse spiking. His breath came short being startled. There was not much strength but the bizarre reaction spooked him.

  Quickly, he flipped through his worn copy of Basic Herbs near Abyssal Harmony Sect. Pages fluttered, his fingers moving with urgency. No exact match, but one common thread—spirit herbs often possessed rudimentary defenses, or were guarded by spirit beasts.

  He reached out, quickly plucking the fruit. The bush shuddered again and the branches tried to close around his fist. Quickly distancing himself from the bush, he noticed it turning back to its position.

  His gaze darted, catching a flash of movement—a squirrel, no larger than his palm, its fur shimmering faintly with qi. 1st realm of Qi Condensation. He snagged it with a practiced hand, capturing the beast. Tiny claws scrabbled against his fingers before it stilled, trembling in his grasp.

  Zhen hesitated, then carved a small portion of the fruit and offered it. The squirrel sniffed, hesitated, then devoured the piece, cheeks bulging. No signs of poison.

  He loosened his grip, allowing the creature to scurry away before popping the rest of the fruit into his mouth. A rush of sweetness, tangy and rich, coated his tongue. Warmth spread through his limbs, subtle yet undeniable—a tenth of a spirit stone's worth of qi pulsing into his meridians.

  Encouraged, he pressed on, plucking more of the faintly glowing fruit as he went, testing each one in the same manner. Some were bitter, others sickly sweet, but none harmful. His body hummed with absorbed energy, a slow, steady accumulation.

  Along the way, Zhen crouched, running his fingers along the length of a sturdy branch. It had some weight, dense enough to strike with force, yet light enough to wield. He snapped it free, stripping away the excess twigs and leaves with quick, practiced motions.

  A weapon. Crude, but necessary.

  He pressed his thumb against the tip, then dragged a sharp knife along its surface, shaving it down to a point. The grain resisted at first, but soon, the wood yielded, tapering into a rough but serviceable tip.

  Frowning, he turned the stick over in his hands. Would qi reinforcement make it stronger? He thought aout weapons enhanced with energy before—swords that could split boulders, spears that crackled with lightning. There was only one way to find out.

  Drawing a slow breath, he willed a thin stream of qi into the shaft. The energy pulsed through the wood—then, with a sharp crack, the entire spear splintered in his hands. Jagged fragments scattered across the ground.

  He exhaled through his nose. Just as I thought. Most mundane materials couldn't handle even the smallest burst of qi.

  Ordinary materials couldn't handle qi infusion. The moment energy tried to reinforce the structure, the fragile wood collapsed under the strain. If he wanted a true weapon, he'd need something stronger—spirit-hardened timber, beast-honed bone, or better yet, refined metal. Out here, though, he had only the forest's scraps.

  He picked up another branch, this one thicker, heavier. No qi this time. Just raw strength. He tested its weight with a few swings before nodding to himself.

  It would have to do.

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