The week following their return was a whirlwind of sect-wide anticipation. The upcoming Core Disciple tournament was the only topic of conversation, from the inner disciples' private courtyards to the outer disciples' bustling dining hall. For most, it was a time for observation and inspiration. For Alex, it was a time for business.
He strode into the vibrant chaos of the Exchange Hall, the place buzzing with more activity than usual as disciples sought to buy or sell resources before the tournament. He found an unoccupied spot between a talisman vendor and a craftsman selling polished beast bones, laid a simple cloth on the ground, and placed a single, hand-painted sign, "Jade-Spirit Pills."
From a pouch, he carefully set out ten of the perfect, lustrous green pills he had created. They practically glowed with latent energy, a stark contrast to the other, duller-looking alchemical products being peddled nearby. This immediately drew attention, but not the kind he wanted.
"Look at those," one outer disciple sneered to his friend. "Too perfect. The color is too vibrant. Must be some sugar candy dyed with Glow-moss."
Another scoffed. "He's probably trying to scam newcomers who don't know any better. No low-grade pill looks like that."
Alex sighed. It was time for a sales pitch. He flagged down a passing disciple who was limping, nursing a bruised arm from training. "Senior Brother," Alex said politely. "You look like you've had a rough sparring session. A standard Qi-Replenishing Pill would take minutes to have an effect. I'll sell you one of mine for half the market price, for just five low-grade spirit stones."
The disciple was skeptical, but the offer was too good to pass up. He grumbled, handed over the stones, and popped the pill into his mouth, clearly expecting nothing.
The effect was instantaneous. A visible shimmer of pure energy washed over the disciple's body. His eyes shot wide open, and the pained limp in his leg vanished. He took a deep, astonished breath, feeling his depleted Qi reserves surge back to fullness. "By the heavens..." he gasped, staring at Alex with a new, reverent awe.
That was all it took. The public demonstration created a buzz that rippled through the nearby stalls. A crowd began to gather around Alex, a mix of curious and covetous gazes fixed on the ten remaining pills.
The commotion around Alex's booth had attracted a new kind of attention. A young man in the pristine robes pushed through the crowd, his face a mask of arrogant curiosity. A small, silver cauldron pin on his chest marked him as an official alchemist. This was Finne.
"Move aside," Finne commanded, his voice sharp with authority. The outer disciples parted before him. He stopped at Alex's booth and looked down at the pills with a critical eye.
"Let me see one," he said, more of a demand than a request.
Alex, sensing this was a different kind of challenge, handed one over. Fen held the pill to the light, his eyes narrowing. He sniffed it, then channeled a tiny wisp of his own Qi into it, analyzing its structure. His arrogant expression slowly melted away, replaced by one of pure, stunned disbelief.
"Flawless," he whispered to himself. "The balance is perfect. The purity is... impossible." He looked up, his eyes locking onto Alex, his shock now curdling into suspicion.
"This is a flawless mid-grade pill," Finne declared loudly, his voice carrying over the crowd. "It's impossible for an outer disciple to create this. There is only one explanation." He pointed an accusing finger at Alex. "You stole these! I am reporting you to the Disciplinary Hall for theft!"
The crowd gasped. The accusation was serious. A knot of cold dread formed in Alex's stomach as he found himself at the center of a public trial, his new enterprise on the verge of ruin, but still he stood firm.
Alex jumped to his feet at the accusation, "Stolen? I have never stolen a day of my life. If you want to report me, go ahead, but I'll have you know I have nothing to fear, but I assume you know that the disciplinary hall takes false accusations very seriously."
Finne scoffed and stormed off.
Everyone who stood around watching this was impressed by Alex standing up to Finne, who was notorious for crushing new alchemists. Along with Finne's appraisal of the pills, they were all sure Alex was selling the real deal, and everyone went into a frenzy, some even bidding against each other just for a chance to get their hands on one of Alex's perfect mid-grade pills.
Alex sold out of his remaining pills immediately after the commotion settled down and packed up shop, walking away with an astounding 150 low-grade spirit stones. Knowing he had to change his approach to avoid a repeat of what just happened, he made a note to dilute his recipe next time.
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In a quiet pavilion perched on one of the highest peaks of the sect, overlooking the sprawling grounds below, two figures stood in somber contemplation. The setting sun cast long, deep shadows across the valley, painting the azure plum blossoms in hues of orange and violet.
Elder Lin stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze fixed on the distant southern mountains. Beside him, Elder Ming sighed, the sound heavy with a weariness that went beyond simple fatigue.
"The report from the Quest Hall is deeply troubling, Lin," Ming began, his brow furrowed. "The Tainted Core is one thing, but the account from the Quest Hall... a D-Rank beast exhibiting the power of a B-Rank? Pushed miles from its natural territory?"
"I have read the report," Elder Lin replied, his voice calm but carrying an undercurrent of steel.
"We were fortunate," Ming continued, his voice tight with concern. "That team was exceptionally capable, two inner disciples, one of them newly promoted, and two outer disciples, one of whom had only recently broken through to the Foundation Establishment realm. What if that quest had been taken by another team? We would be mourning four of our disciples right now."
Elder Lin turned from the vista, his wise old eyes meeting Ming's. "This is no random corruption, old friend. Malevolent Qi can make a beast stronger, more aggressive, yes. But it does not typically drive them to migrate en masse. It does not teach them cunning beyond their nature."
He paused, letting the weight of his words settle. "There is a will behind this. A deliberate hand sowing chaos in the south, testing our borders, probing our strength."
"An external threat?" Ming asked, his expression growing grimmer.
"I believe so," Lin confirmed. "Which is why the upcoming Core Disciple tournament is more crucial than ever. It is not merely a tradition this cycle; it is a necessity." He looked back out at the sect, now bathed in the fading light of dusk. "We must identify our strongest pillars, Ming. We must see who has the strength, the will, and the wisdom to stand firm. A storm is gathering on the horizon, and we must be ready when it breaks."
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The next day, on a secluded training platform, Elara parried a swift strike from Jay's sabre while Lily's whip cracked in the air nearby. Their coordination had improved, but there was a tension to their practice.
"Again," Jay grunted, resetting his stance.
Elara paused, her gaze drifting towards the outer ring. "Has anyone else noticed Chen's little rats have been more active lately?"
Lily's whip went still. "I have." Her eyes narrowed. "One of them was asking about Alex at the dining hall yesterday. Where he lives, what his schedule is."
A cold dread settled in Elara's stomach. "Jay, your residence is near the outer sect dorms. Have you heard anything?"
Jay's eyes hardened. "More than that. I heard them talking near the herb gardens. They were asking about which pests were hardest to get rid of, something about a 'weed problem' that needed to be taken care of permanently."
The three friends looked at each other, the same realization dawning on them all. It was sabotage.
"His garden," Elara breathed, her face pale with fury. "Chen's going after his garden."
"That coward," Jay spat. "He can't face Alex himself? Why send his minions to poison his resources?"
Lily was already moving. "Talk later. We have to go. Now."
Without another word, the three of them shot off towards the outer ring, their hearts pounding with the fear that they might already be too late.
Elara, Jay, and Lily arrived at Barrack Thirty-Two out of breath, expecting to see a trampled garden or a confrontation in progress. Instead, they found only silence. The front of the cabin was pristine. Too pristine.
Exchanging worried glances, they drew their weapons and crept around to the back of the cabin. They rounded the corner, ready for a fight, and stopped dead in their tracks.
The scene was one of surreal calm.
There, in the middle of his untouched garden, sat Alex, calmly sipping a cup of tea. Beside him, piled up like sacks of grain, were three of Chen's lackeys, neatly tied up with rope. One had a spectacular black eye, another was nursing a jaw that was already beginning to swell, and the third was simply unconscious.
Alex looked up as his friends approached, offering a casual smile as if nothing was unusual. "Oh, hey guys. You're just in time. I was about to drag these pests to the Disciplinary Hall. Found them sneaking around back, trying to ruin my crops."
The three of them stared, speechless. Before they could ask any of the thousand questions swirling in their minds, Alex changed the subject.
"Forget them," he said, his smile turning genuinely proud. He looked at Jay. "You've stabilized your Foundation Establishment realm perfectly. The Qi flow is solid." He then glanced at Elara and Lily. "And you two are right on the edge of a breakthrough. Your Qi is buzzing."
They were shocked into silence again. "How... how could you possibly know that?" Elara stammered.
Alex shrugged, taking another sip of tea. "I can see it now. It's one of the perks of reaching the Foundation Establishment Realm, I guess."
Lily's jaw went slack. "See it?" she whispered, her voice filled with disbelief. "Alex, the ability to perceive another's cultivation level with such clarity... that's a divine sense. A power most cultivators don't develop until they reach the Nascent Soul Realm!"
What Alex didn't tell them was that he could now see their cultivation levels with the same precision that he could see his stats. Above their heads read.
Jay: Foundation Establishment: Stage 2(26%)
Elara: Foundation Establishment: Stage 3(93%)
Lily: Foundation Establishment: Stage 5(87%)
There were some other details below that were blurry and difficult for Alex to make sense of, but he had a feeling all he needed to do was keep increasing his level, and he would have the answers he was looking for.
The three of them looked at their friend, who had just single-handedly dispatched three disciples who were all of a higher cultivation than him, demonstrating an ability that defied all logic. They realized, once again, that they had no idea who Alex truly was.