# Chapter 9: The Price of Recognition
The portal deposited Xìng Huáng back at the survivor camp just as the first traces of dawn began filtering through the merged reality's chaotic skyline. The Crimson Boar Fur Armor fit him perfectly, its spiritual energy conductivity creating a constant low-level tingling that reminded him of his transformed status. More importantly, he could feel the Black Iron cultivation level humming in his meridians—a fundamental change in his very existence.
Sarah's group was waiting for him, their faces a mixture of hope and apprehension. But as he approached, he saw something that made his blood run cold. David's eyes had developed a subtle inner glow, the telltale sign of essence infection that the group had warned him about.
"You're back," Sarah said, relief evident in her voice. "We weren't sure the portal would bring you back here, or if..." She trailed off as she took in his transformed appearance. "Those are real cultivation artifacts, aren't they?"
"Black Iron level equipment from the Blood Iron Tribe," Xìng Huáng confirmed. "I passed their trial and received provisional recognition as a potential recruit." He kept his voice neutral, but his attention remained focused on David's increasingly unstable spiritual energy signature.
Mark stepped forward, his staff glowing with accumulated essence. "That's incredible! Does this mean you can negotiate protection for other survivors?"
"Possibly, but there are conditions." Xìng Huáng opened his interface and shared the basic details of his trial rewards, though he kept the specific cultivation manual techniques private for now. "The Blood Iron Tribe values earned power over inherited advantages. They might be willing to accept humans who can prove cultivation potential, but..."
"But what?" Sarah asked, though her expression suggested she already suspected the answer.
"The integration period ends in twelve hours. When it does, every surviving human will be evaluated. Those who show promise might be accepted as probationary members of various tribes or factions. The rest..." He let the implication hang in the air.
David laughed, the sound carrying an edge that hadn't been there before. "And how exactly are we supposed to demonstrate cultivation potential when we're all level 1 refugees with improvised equipment?"
The question was valid, but the way David asked it—with a predatory undertone that made the others unconsciously step back—confirmed Xìng Huáng's suspicions. The essence infection was progressing rapidly.
"There might be a way," Xìng Huáng said carefully. "But first, we need to discuss David's condition."
"What condition?" David demanded, his glowing eyes flaring brighter.
Sarah caught on immediately. "The glow. David, your eyes..."
"So what?" David's voice carried a snarl now. "I've gained more power in the past day than any of you. Look!" He raised his hands, and dark energy swirled around his fingers. "I can channel essence directly now. I don't need weapons or armor when I can tear enemies apart with my bare hands."
"That's exactly the problem," Xìng Huáng said. "The power you're describing—it's not cultivation. It's infection."
The camp fell silent except for the distant sounds of reality still settling from the merger. David's expression shifted through confusion, denial, and finally to something approaching rage.
"Infection?" he repeated. "I'm stronger than I've ever been! While you were playing politics with hobgoblins, I was hunting. I've killed seven corrupted creatures in the past few hours alone. Seven!"
Mark backed away slowly, his staff charging with defensive energy. "David, calm down. Let's talk about this rationally."
"Rational?" David's laugh was genuinely unhinged now. "What's rational about accepting scraps from alien tribes when we could take what we need by force?"
A new notification appeared in Xìng Huáng's vision, visible only to him:
TRAIT ANALYSIS DETECTED
SUBJECT: DAVID CHEN
TRAIT CLASSIFICATION: RARE - ESSENCE GLUTTON
*"Increased essence absorption from defeated enemies. Accelerated power gain at cost of mental stability."*
WARNING: LATE-STAGE INFECTION DETECTED
ESTIMATED TIME TO COMPLETE TRANSFORMATION: 2-3 HOURS
RECOMMENDATION: IMMEDIATE CONTAINMENT OR ELIMINATION
The system was providing him with information that David's own interface probably wasn't showing. More disturbing was the revelation that David possessed a Rare-level trait—significantly more powerful than Normal traits, but apparently with severe drawbacks when combined with essence absorption.
"David," Xìng Huáng said, stepping forward with his hands visible and non-threatening, "I need you to check your trait classification. What level is Essence Glutton listed as?"
"How do you..." David's eyes narrowed. "How do you know about my trait?"
"Because I can see it. One of the benefits of Black Iron cultivation—enhanced perception of spiritual signatures." It was a lie, but a believable one. "Rare traits are more powerful than Normal ones, but they come with greater risks."
Sarah was rapidly putting the pieces together. "The infection rate correlates with trait rarity? People with more powerful traits are more susceptible?"
"It makes sense," Mark said, though he kept his distance from David. "Higher reward potential, higher risk of corruption."
David's expression shifted to cunning. "If that's true, then what about your trait, Huáng? Divine Greed sounds pretty rare to me."
The question hung in the air like a challenge. Xìng Huáng could feel the group's attention focused on him, waiting for an answer that could determine whether they trusted him or feared him.
"Bond Unique," he said finally. "The highest classification I've encountered."
The revelation sent shock waves through the group. Sarah's mouth fell open, Mark's staff flickered with nervous energy, and David's infected eyes blazed with hungry interest.
"Bond Unique," David repeated slowly. "That's... that's beyond Rare, isn't it? Beyond Special, beyond regular Unique..."
"The classification system goes: Normal, Rare, Special, Unique, Bond Unique, and theoretically Bond Legendary," Xìng Huáng confirmed. "But here's the difference—my trait specifically rewards earned advancement over stolen power. It's aligned with the Blood Demon Martial Realm's cultivation philosophy."
"While mine..." David's voice trailed off as understanding dawned.
"While yours rewards rapid consumption without regard for the source or consequences." Xìng Huáng kept his tone sympathetic but firm. "David, the infection isn't your fault. Your trait was probably beneficial in the old game system. But in this reality..."
"In this reality, I'm becoming a monster." David's moment of clarity was heartbreaking. The glow in his eyes dimmed slightly, and for an instant he looked like the confused survivor they'd met days ago.
But the moment passed quickly. The infection had progressed too far for rational thought to maintain control.
"No," David snarled. "I'm becoming powerful. And if cultivation philosophy values earned advancement, then I'll earn my power the old-fashioned way—by taking it from those too weak to stop me."
He lunged at Mark with inhuman speed, essence-wreathed claws extending from his fingertips. But Xìng Huáng was already moving, his Divine Greed trait and new cultivation level allowing him to intercept the attack.
His improvised blade met David's claws in a shower of sparks, the impact sending shock waves through both combatants. But while David's power was raw and uncontrolled, Xìng Huáng's came with the disciplined foundation of proper cultivation technique.
COMBAT INITIATED
OPPONENT: DAVID CHEN (INFECTED)
THREAT LEVEL: BLACK IRON - MID *(Unstable)*
DIVINE GREED TRAIT STATUS: ACTIVE
The fight was brutal and heartbreaking. David had raw power, but his infected state made him predictable. His attacks followed patterns driven by hunger and rage rather than tactical thinking. Xìng Huáng's Gaming Prodigy talent mapped his movements within seconds, identifying the openings that proper cultivation discipline would have covered.
When it ended, David lay motionless on the camp floor, essence slowly dissipating from his cooling body. Sarah was crying softly, Mark looked sick, and Xìng Huáng felt the weight of necessary action settling on his shoulders.
COMBAT VICTORY
ESSENCE ABSORBED: 284 (ENHANCED BY DIVINE GREED)
CULTIVATION PROGRESS: BLACK IRON - LOW → BLACK IRON - MID
SPECIAL REWARD: ESSENCE GLUTTON TRAIT ANALYSIS
The power gained from David's death was substantial, but it came with complete understanding of how the infection process worked. Rare and higher-level traits provided greater rewards, but without proper philosophical alignment, they accelerated the corruption process exponentially.
"I'm sorry," Xìng Huáng said quietly. "But he was already gone. The infection had taken over completely."
Sarah wiped her eyes and nodded. "We know. We've seen it happen before. But knowing doesn't make it easier."
"The integration period ends in eleven hours," Mark said, his voice hollow. "What do we do now?"
Xìng Huáng looked at his remaining companions—two humans with Normal-level traits, minimal cultivation potential, and no tribal recognition. In eleven hours, they would be evaluated by beings like Grakh, and their chances of survival were minimal.
Unless...
"I have an idea," he said. "But you're not going to like it."
He opened the Blood Fury Manual and began explaining the foundation cultivation techniques he'd learned. If Sarah and Mark could demonstrate even basic cultivation potential before the evaluation period ended, they might qualify for probationary acceptance.
It was a desperate plan with terrible odds of success. But in a reality where 99.7% of humanity was expected to die, desperate plans were sometimes the only option available.
The real question was whether they had enough time to turn two Normal-trait humans into cultivators before the Blood Demon Martial Realm's native population returned to reclaim their world.