The day after the Sect Exhibition felt like the aftermath of a meteor strike. Rayen Wu's name was on everyone's lips—sometimes in awe, sometimes in caution, and occasionally followed by nervous laughter. After all, anyone who could defeat a Foundation Establishment cultivator with a pill and a pat on the head wasn't someone to provoke lightly.
Rayen, however, was more interested in results than reputation.
:: New social dynamics detected. Peer influence rising. Warning: Risk of romantic entanglements increasing. ::
"Ignore that," Rayen muttered, waving the Q.E.D. prompt aside as he adjusted the flame intensity beneath his new crucible.
Lab 7B was aglow. After his victory, Elder Fan had slipped him several high-grade ingredients with a cryptic note: "Impress me again."
"Time to push boundaries," Rayen said, eyes narrowing.
He had begun experimenting with a concept he called Recursive Alchemy—an iterative refinement of ingredients using staged thermal gradients, guided by real-time quantum analysis.
:: Simulation complete. Estimated success rate: 47%. Side effects: unknown. Proceed? ::
Rayen cracked his knuckles. "Let's find out."
He dropped a sliver of Azure Flame Petal, a thread of Dreamroot Moss, and a vial of Dewfire Essence into the crucible. The concoction responded immediately—flaring bright violet.
Outside, a flock of spirit-birds crashed into a tree.
"Promising," he murmured.
As the brew began to stabilize, the door burst open. Tian Feng stumbled in, face flushed.
"You're in trouble again."
Rayen didn't look up. "Already?"
"There's talk of sending you to the Inner Sanctum. The Elders are divided. Half want to study you. The other half want to make sure you don't accidentally melt the Sect."
Rayen blinked. "That feels like progress."
Tian groaned. "Also, Senior Disciple Mei Lanyue challenged you to a duel."
Rayen paused. "The one who disarmed three rogue cultivators with a hairpin?"
"The very one."
Rayen sighed, capping the vial of glowing purple fluid. "Fine. But I'm not fighting with fists."
"Obviously," Tian muttered.
Later that evening – Spirit Blossom Courtyard
Disciples gathered in droves, standing under moonlit cherry trees. Mei Lanyue waited calmly, dressed in white robes embroidered with silver cranes.
Rayen strolled into the courtyard with an herb satchel and a tea kettle.
"Do you intend to duel or host a tea ceremony?" Mei asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Both," Rayen replied. "I find enlightenment flows best with jasmine."
Elder Fan stood between them. "Begin."
Mei moved first, her technique graceful and honed—Silver Crane Soars. Sword Qi shimmered in her wake.
Rayen poured tea.
:: Defensive perimeter engaged. Deploying Thermal Refraction Layer. ::
The sword Qi bent around him, slicing harmlessly through air.
"What—" Mei faltered.
Rayen sipped. "Try the aroma. Calms the nerves."
Mei switched tactics, summoning wind-infused petals to form a cutting vortex.
Rayen tossed a powder into the vortex. It flashed, nullifying the wind.
Mei landed softly. "Alchemy-based deflection?"
"Quantum martial arts," he corrected, offering her a cup.
They stood in silence, the courtyard quiet but for the trickle of a koi pond.
Then, Mei surprised him by accepting the tea.
"I forfeit," she said. "Your technique is unorthodox, but effective. And charming."
:: Social favorability increased. Possible alliance forming. ::
Rayen blinked. "Wait, was this… a flirt duel?"
Mei smiled, sipping her tea. "Superposition, remember?"
That night, as fireflies blinked outside his window, Rayen recorded his notes.
"Q.E.D.," he said, "add a new research directive: Understanding social combat."
:: Logging. Secondary objective: Avoid romantic entanglements until Core Formation. ::
Rayen chuckled. "One anomaly at a time."