Iron Sky Sect — Outer Disciple Quarters
They were given a single stone building at the far edge of the disciple valley.
Cracked walls.
No spirit furnaces.
Bare mats and rusted shelves.
But Kaelen stood in the center of it all, calm as ever.
He raised one hand — his system pulsed.
In a flash of golden-red light, the space was transformed.
Silken bedding.
Storage rings full of high-grade spirit stones.
Qi-forged robes.
Healing elixirs.
"We may have started at the bottom," he said simply,
"but we're not staying here."
System Notification: Multiplication Trait Activated
[Resources Multiplied: x100]
[Hidden Sovereign Store Accessed]
[Cultivation Support Structures: Activated in Private Space]
[All Companions Eligible for Cultivation Boost via Family Link]
[Note: Visibility Concealed — Sect Cannot Detect Internal Resources]
POV: Mira (Watching Kaelen)
She leaned against the wall, arms folded, watching him redistribute training manuals.
"He makes a palace out of a ruin…"
No wonder we follow him.
But there was something else in her eyes too.
Something… softer.
Training Begins — The First Trial
The Outer Disciple Trials were brutal.
Open-air combat.
Group formations.
Artifact hunting in beast zones.
Kaelen and his group dominated.
Even though they were technically ranked lower, their teamwork, coordination, and sheer adaptability crushed their opponents.
Whispers began.
"Those outsiders… who are they?"
"Why are they living together?"
"Why does that guy have six beauties following him?"
Introducing New Antagonists
Three names echoed among the sect's outer disciples:
Jin Rokan — Heir to a powerful merchant clan, arrogant and deeply connected
Fei Yuzen — The son of an Inner Sect Elder, famed for his silver tongue and lustful reputation
Taro Lin — A rare Dual-Path cultivator, both combat and charm-based
Each one had one thing in common:
They noticed Kaelen's companions — and wanted them.
And none of them took Kaelen seriously.
"Just a lucky boy playing Sovereign."
"Sooner or later, they'll see his place."
Jealousy — Kaelen's First Stirring
When Fei Yuzen approached Selina during a sect gathering and kissed her hand,
Kaelen's chest tightened.
When Taro Lin tried to invite Lyra to a private aerial sparring match,
Kaelen's qi surged for a moment without warning.
When Jin Rokan made a loud joke about "beauties wasting their time on a commoner boy"…
Kaelen's eyes glowed faintly.
He didn't say anything.
Didn't lash out.
But the others noticed.
Especially the girls.
POV: Aria Valen
She watched Kaelen clench his jaw during one of the advances.
He didn't speak — but she could feel it.
"You're jealous," she whispered to herself.
She didn't smile.
She wasn't mocking.
Just surprised… and a little flustered.
POV: Selina
Was he… angry because of me?
No. That's ridiculous…
She looked again.
But… maybe not.
POV: Valessia
"He doesn't even know what he's feeling."
"But he's already started to protect what's his."
Final Scene
In the training arena, Kaelen faced off against a disciple from Jin Rokan's faction.
He didn't hold back.
One blow — and the ground split.
Silence followed.
Kaelen turned, walking away, muttering to himself:
"I don't like them near you."
He didn't realize he'd said it aloud.
But the girls heard it.
Every one of them.