The night before the departure of Kai Jin's vanguard team. In Barrack 32, the air was thick with the fragrant, complex aroma of a dozen different spiritual herbs. Alex stood before his workbench like a seasoned veteran, taking stock of his supplies.
Neatly arranged on the table were the fruits of his non-stop labor: three dozen High-Quality Qi-Replenishing Pills, two dozen Mid-Grade Recovery Pills, and a dozen pale-blue Neurotoxin Antidotes, specifically crafted to counter the poisons and toxins of the southern marshes. He had even managed to create a small batch of his new Panacea pill. His preparation was meticulous, his supplies plentiful. He was ready.
But as he looked over his gear, his gaze fell upon his inventory, specifically upon the five shimmering Rainbow Daisies his self-proclaimed Master had gifted him. They were a mystery, a resource of unknown potential he hadn't dared to touch until now.
'If I'm going on an A-Rank mission,' he thought. 'I need every advantage I can get.'
He retrieved one of the flowers from his storage ring. The moment it materialized in his hand, the ambient Qi in the cabin seemed to stir, drawn to the flower like moths to a flame. Even without his Immortal Eyes, he could feel the incredible power radiating from it; it wasn't just a single element, but a perfect, harmonious chorus of all four. Earth, Water, Wind, and Fire, all swirling in a delicate, vibrant balance within its rainbow-hued petals.
An idea, reckless and brilliant, took root in his mind. He could use it as the main ingredient in a pill.
He carefully plucked a single, vibrant red petal from the daisy and stored the rest of the flower away. The single petal alone felt as potent as a mid-grade spirit stone. He then moved through his workshop like a man possessed, grabbing herbs and roots seemingly at random, a Sun-petal Flower for its Yang fire, a Frost Lily for its Yin water, a chunk of Iron-root for its grounding earth, and a bit of Captured Howling Gale he had left from when he made Lily's pill for its chaotic wind. His goal was to create the perfect pill by forging these disparate elements into a single, balanced whole, using the rainbow petal as the catalyst.
He threw everything into the cauldron. The moment the ingredients met the heat, the vessel began to groan, a low, turbulent hum that vibrated through the floorboards. With his Immortal Eyes, Alex saw a war erupting inside. Fiery red Qi clashed violently with icy blue, a chaotic brown tried to smother a frantic green. It was a miniature apocalypse of elemental energy.
He poured every last wisp of his Qi into the brew using a thousand tiny, golden threads to control the balance. He became the calm center of the storm, his entire being focused on the impossible task of balancing the chaos. When the fire intensified, he directed a stream of water to calm it. When the water threatened to extinguish the flames, he fanned them with the wind. When the earth became too stagnant, he used the wind to stir it back to life. It was a grueling, cyclical battle that lasted for hours, pushing his spiritual control and his Qi reserves to their absolute limit.
Finally, the chaotic rumbling subsided, replaced by a soft, harmonious hum. The cauldron glowed with a gentle, internal light. Exhausted but triumphant, Alex lifted the heavy lid.
Nestled inside were three pills. They were breathtaking. They didn't have a single color, but swirled with a slow, mesmerizing vortex of every shade of the rainbow, a miniature galaxy captured in polished stone. He picked one up, feeling the perfectly balanced, potent energy thrumming within.
Curious, he stored one in his inventory, hoping the Book would give him some insight. The entry appeared:
Low-Grade Rainbow Pill....x1
He focused on the entry, waiting for the familiar pop-up with more details. He had learned he could do this a few weeks ago. When it appeared, its contents were a profound disappointment.
[A pill carrying the energy of earth, wind, water, and fire. A valuable resource for any cultivator.]
"That's it?" he grumbled to the empty room. "No information on dosage? No warning about potential side effects?" He was upset by the lack of a clear answer, but it was still an answer. This pill was a confluence of the four core elements.
He stored the second pill, his gaze falling on the third and final one. He was not on the verge of a breakthrough, but he still felt he was lacking for the expedition, and this could be his chance to gain the last bit of strength he needed to come back alive. He pulled out two of his mid-grade spirit stones and ten low-grade ones, arranging them around him. With a final, decisive breath, he popped the Rainbow Pill into his mouth and began to cultivate.
The sensation was not a gentle flood of energy. It was a controlled detonation. A perfect, balanced torrent of all four elemental energies erupted in his dantian, a powerful but harmonious wave that surged through his meridians, widening them, strengthening them, and reshaping his very essence. The Qi from the spirit stones was drawn in like a whirlpool, fueling the explosive transformation. He felt his dantian expand, his bones resonate with a deep, humming power, and his spiritual foundation solidify into something new and unbreakable.
When the last of the energy had settled, he opened his eyes, his body pulsing with a power that was orders of magnitude greater than before. He immediately called forth the Book of Ascension.
*************************
[ STATUS ]
Name: Alex Steele
Age: 22
Affiliation: Direct Disciple of Elder Ming, Azure Plum Blossom Sect
[ CULTIVATION ]
Qi Cultivation: Foundation Establishment Realm - Stage 4 (18.5%)
Body Cultivation: Ironbone Realm - Stage 5 (21.3%)
[ RESOURCES ]
Qi: 900/900
[ TECHNIQUES ]
Immortal's Qi Cultivation Technique: 69.4% Mastery
Immortal's Body Refinement Technique: 58.1% Mastery
Art of the Headless Body: 49.8% Mastery
Myriad Bullet: 5.0% Mastery
*************************
Alex stared at the numbers, a slow, disbelieving grin spreading across his face. The single pill had propelled him an entire stage forward, doubled his mastery of his newest technique, as well as his other techniques. The results were beyond anything he could have imagined.
A single thought echoed in his mind, filled with a terrifying, exhilarating awe.
'That was from just one petal. What would have happened if I had used the whole flower?'
The thought was a promise of a future power he couldn't yet grasp. But for now, the exhaustion of the night's work finally crashed down on him. He gave Lumen, who had been watching the entire process with curious black eyes, the depleted mid-grade spirit stone for his dinner. The bird snatched them up happily, the rainbow light from his tail feather flaring for a moment.
Alex stumbled to his cot and collapsed, a deep, dreamless sleep claiming him the moment his head hit the pillow. He had a long journey ahead of him tomorrow, and for the first time in a long time, he decided he had earned a full night's rest.
---------------------------
The next morning, as dawn broke over the Azure Plum Blossom Sect. At the Main Gate, a place usually quiet save for the changing of the guard, a tense, focused energy hummed in the frigid air.
Feng's second-in-command, the impeccably handsome Jin Wei, stepped forward. A condescending smirk played on his lips as his gaze drifted past Kai Jin's Golden Core experts and settled dismissively on Alex and his friends.
"An interesting strategy, Kai Jin," Jin Wei, the second in command of the second team, said, his voice loud enough for everyone to hear. "Are they meant to draw the beast's attention? A bit of living bait to reveal the true threats for the real cultivators?"
A low growl rumbled in Lily's throat. Her hand tightened on the grip of her whip. "Why don't you offer yourself up first?" she shot back, her voice low and dangerous. "I'm sure even a corrupted beast would spit out something so foul."
"Lily." Kai Jin's voice was a low, steady rumble that cut her off before she could escalate further. He kept his gaze fixed on the horizon, not even gracing the other team with a glance. "Ignore them. A warrior's worth is proven in blood, not with words."
Kai Jin was well aware of the arrogance that existed within this other team that liked to refer to themselves as the Silver-Wings, and decided to de-escalate the matter so they could focus on the more important matter at hand.
Talia, the greatsword wielder from Kai Jin's team, slammed the pommel of her massive blade onto the stone with a heavy thud. "He's right," her voice was blunt and practical as she looked at Lily. "Words are nothing. Prove you're not just a burden on the battlefield. That's all that matters."
Lumen, who had been dozing on Alex's shoulder, blinked his black eyes open and let out a single, sharp chirp of what sounded like enthusiastic agreement.
A sharp, deliberate cough echoed in the sudden silence.
Every disciple, from the Nascent Soul commanders to the youngest Foundation Establishment members, snapped to attention and bowed as one. Elder Wu had appeared, his stern presence a physical weight that pressed down on all of them.
"Elder Wu," they said in respectful unison.
His gaze swept over the two units, a silent, critical appraisal. It paused for a fraction of a second on Alex.
"Disciple Alex," Wu stated, his voice flat. "Your cultivation has advanced, and your posture has improved. See that you do not become complacent."
Alex, remembering his first encounter with Elder Wu and how disrespectful it was according to Lily, kept his bow deep. "Yes, Elder. I will not."
Wu nodded once, satisfied, before addressing the entire group. "Your task is simple. You are the vanguard. You will scout the path to the Sunken Mire. This location has been chosen as the central point for the Grand Water-Gathering Formation, which will provide relief to the five drought-stricken villages to the east and southeast of the marshes. Your job is to ensure the main contingent of Formation Masters and craftsmen arrives there safely and can work undisturbed."
He produced two small storage bags from his sleeve. He tossed one to Kai Jin, who caught it effortlessly.
"Supplies," Wu said. "Both mid and high-grade Qi-Replenishing Pills, recovery pills, and a neurotoxin antidote, courtesy of our Alchemist Guild. Use them wisely." He tossed the second bag to Feng. "Do not waste them."
Next, he presented each leader with an intricately carved jade talisman. "Linked Communication talismans. You will provide status updates to each other and to the main contingent. Do not lose them."
With the briefing concluded, Feng gave Kai Jin a final, dismissive smirk. "My team will take the sky. Aerial reconnaissance is faster. We will map the way for you… ground-crawlers."
"A fine plan," Kai Jin replied, his tone even and unbothered. "We'll handle the things that hide beneath the trees. Keep your eyes on the clouds, Feng."
Feng bowed curtly to Elder Wu. "Try to keep up, Kai Jin." He then turned to his unit. "Mount up!"
With a flash of silver light, his five team members summoned their flying swords, leaping onto them with practiced grace. In a streak of light, they shot into the sky, disappearing over the southern horizon in seconds.
Kai Jin watched them go, then turned to his own team. "They can have the sky. The most dangerous beasts don't announce their presence from a hundred feet up." He gave a respectful bow to Elder Wu.
The rest of his team followed suit. As they straightened up, Kai Jin's voice rang out, a low rumble of command. "Move out!"
Instantly, the unit shifted from a casual group into a cohesive, deadly machine.
"Ren," Kai Jin ordered. "You're on point. I want a hundred meters between you and me. Your speed is our first line of defense. You see something, you feel something, you signal."
With a flicker of lightning in his step, Ren vanished from the main group, reappearing as a distant, fast-moving shadow down the southern road.
Kai Jin fell in behind his scout's position, a calm epicenter from which all commands would flow. He then turned his attention to the rest of the unit. "Alex, you and your friends are the core. Stay tight. Jay, you're the center point. Elara and Lily, on his flanks."
The placement was a clear tactical decision, putting the Foundation Establishment disciples in the most protected position. It was a gesture of prudence that Lily met with a subtle, annoyed roll of her eyes.
"Talia, Kira," Kai Jin concluded. "You have our backs. Talia, you are our wall against pursuit. Kira, you watch the shadows for anything that tries to creep up on us. Nothing gets past you."
The two Golden Core women nodded once, falling into flanking positions behind the central group, Talia an unflinching bastion of strength, Kira a coiled serpent of hidden traps and poisons.
With the formation set, their boots crunched on the gravel path in a steady, determined rhythm. They were a solid, grounded force marching into the unknown, a stark contrast to the fleeting flash of the team that had gone before them. Elder Wu watched them go, his expression unreadable, until they were just specks on the long road south. A half-day behind them, the main contingent was already beginning to gather, their storage bags and rings filled with the tools that would bring life back to a dying land. The expedition was officially underway.