The five days following Axel's breakthrough passed in a blur of intensive practice and careful preparation. Each morning brought new discoveries about what his Mythical-grade foundation could accomplish, and each evening brought new concerns about how to navigate the political complexities awaiting him at the Azure Sky Sect.
Wei Chen proved invaluable during this period, sharing knowledge accumulated over years of sect life that no manual could teach. How to read body language and spiritual pressure to detect hostility before it became overt. Which types of disciples to avoid, which to cultivate as allies, and which to simply ignore. The unwritten rules that governed sect interactions—hierarchies based not just on cultivation level but on lineage, faction affiliation, and personal relationships with elders.
"The official rules are simple," Wei Chen explained on the third day as they practiced combat techniques in a secluded clearing. "Don't kill fellow disciples outside sanctioned duels. Don't steal sect resources. Don't betray sect secrets to outsiders. Follow those three rules and you technically can't be expelled."
"But the unofficial rules are what actually matter," Axel finished, having heard similar advice from Lian Fei.
"Exactly. You can follow every official rule perfectly and still make yourself so unpopular that your life becomes miserable. Conversely, you can bend rules to their breaking point and thrive if you have the right connections and know how to play the political game."
Axel practiced a Qi Strike against a reinforced target, his Foundation Establishment power allowing him to execute the technique with casual ease that would have required intense concentration weeks ago. The strike shattered the target completely, sending fragments flying.
"Your control has improved dramatically," Wei Chen observed. "Three days ago you were crushing tea cups by accident. Now you're modulating power output with precision most Foundation Establishment Mid cultivators can't match."
"The Primordial Pillars regulate energy flow automatically," Axel explained. "I just have to set the desired output level and the formation handles the distribution. It's like... having an internal computer that optimizes everything."
Wei Chen gave him a strange look. "Computer?"
Right. Wrong world. They didn't have computers here.
"It's a device from my homeland that does calculations automatically," Axel clarified. "Imagine an abacus that operates itself."
"That sounds impossibly convenient and also slightly terrifying," Wei Chen said. "No wonder your cultivation method seems so efficient—you're essentially describing formations-assisted energy management, which is something most cultivators don't achieve until Golden Core when they can embed basic formations directly into their cores."
Was that what the Primordial Pillars were doing? Creating formation-like structures that automated cultivation processes? The system interface had mentioned the foundation enabled Mythical-grade techniques—maybe the pillars themselves functioned as permanent technique-enhancing formations.
Axel filed the thought away for later examination. Right now, he needed to focus on practical combat skills.
"Show me that defensive technique again," he said to Wei Chen. "The one where you redirect attacks rather than blocking them directly."
Wei Chen demonstrated the Flowing Water Palm technique, a Foundation Establishment defensive method that used circular Qi movements to deflect incoming strikes. The principle was elegant—rather than meeting force with opposing force, you redirected the attack's momentum in directions that left your opponent off-balance.
Axel attempted to replicate it, channeling Qi through his arms in the circular patterns Wei Chen had shown. The first few attempts were clumsy, his energy moving in jerky spirals rather than smooth circles. But with each repetition, the motion became more fluid.
By the fourth day, Axel could execute the Flowing Water Palm well enough to deflect Wei Chen's attacks without being knocked off balance. Not mastery—that would take months of practice—but competence sufficient for basic defense.
"You learn disturbingly fast," Wei Chen commented after a particularly successful defensive sequence. "Most disciples take weeks to grasp techniques I've shown you in days. Is that another benefit of your foundation?"
Axel nodded, remembering what the system had shown him: Technique Comprehension +400%. "The Primordial Pillars seem to accelerate how quickly I understand cultivation principles. I can see the underlying patterns in techniques more clearly, which makes replicating them easier."
"That's..." Wei Chen shook his head in disbelief. "That's the kind of advantage that makes genius cultivators. People who can observe a technique once and deduce its core principles. Most of us have to practice for months to achieve what you're doing in days."
"Is that going to cause problems?" Axel asked, concerned. Lian Fei and Wei Chen had both warned him about standing out too much, but how could he avoid it when his foundation gave him capabilities that were inherently exceptional?
"Probably," Wei Chen admitted. "But there's no helping it now. You've already demonstrated unusual abilities during the cave operation and your breakthrough. Trying to completely hide your talent would be both impossible and suspicious—people expect someone who triggered lightning tribulation to be exceptional."
"So what's the strategy?"
"Be impressive but approachable. Show your strength without being arrogant about it. Make allies quickly, especially among other talented disciples who won't feel as threatened by your abilities. And most importantly, find a good teacher—an elder or inner disciple who'll sponsor your development and provide political protection."
"Elder Shen already showed interest," Axel pointed out.
"Which is excellent, but also potentially limiting. Shen is a Formation Master, politically neutral, focused entirely on research and teaching. He's respected but not particularly powerful in sect politics." Wei Chen paused, considering. "You'll want to maintain that relationship—his protection is real and valuable. But you might also need allies in other factions depending on how sect dynamics develop."
The political complexity was giving Axel a headache. In his old life on Earth, office politics had been bad enough. Cultivation sect politics apparently operated on similar principles but with the added complication that people could kill you if they found you sufficiently annoying.
On the fifth day, Lian Fei returned.
She appeared at their camp in the early afternoon, moving with the same ghost-like stealth she'd demonstrated during their first meeting. Axel's enhanced spiritual senses detected her approach several minutes before she revealed herself, which seemed to surprise her.
"Your perception has improved dramatically," Lian Fei observed as she entered the clearing. "Foundation Establishment suits you—I can see the power radiating from your core even through your concealment attempt."
"You can see through the concealment?" Axel asked, slightly alarmed.
"I'm Stage 4 Late and specialized in wood-element sensing techniques," Lian Fei explained. "My spiritual perception is sharper than my cultivation level would suggest. Most Foundation Establishment Early cultivators wouldn't notice anything unusual, but anyone at Mid stage or above will sense that you're hiding something."
That was concerning but not unexpected. Perfect concealment was apparently impossible at his current level.
"I came to check on you before the sect admission," Lian Fei continued. "And to share some information I've gathered about the Azure Sky Sect's current political situation. Things have gotten... complicated in the week since the cave operation."
She settled down by their fire, accepting tea from Wei Chen with a nod of thanks. "The successful elimination of the demonic cultivator has boosted the sect's regional reputation, which is good. But it's also intensified internal competition for resources and recognition. Three factions among the inner disciples are currently vying for influence, and they're all recruiting aggressively among promising new outer disciples."
"Wei Chen mentioned the factions," Axel said. "Traditionalists, Modernists, and Pragmatists?"
"Those are the philosophical divisions, yes. But the practical power structure is more complex." Lian Fei pulled out a jade slip. "I've compiled information on the key players you should be aware of. The factions' leaders, their primary supporters, and the outer disciples who serve as their proxies among the lower ranks."
She handed the slip to Axel, who channeled Qi into it. Information flooded his mind—names, faces, cultivation levels, known techniques, political alliances, and personal grudges. It was an intelligence briefing that would have cost dozens of spirit stones to purchase from an information broker.
"This is incredibly detailed," Axel said, genuinely impressed. "How did you gather all this?"
"The Greenleaf Forest Sect and Azure Sky Sect have close relations. We share intelligence about internal politics because it helps both organizations maintain stability." Lian Fei smiled slightly. "Also, I may have traded some favors and called in a few debts. Consider it partial repayment for saving my life."
"You don't need to—"
"I know I don't need to," Lian Fei interrupted. "I want to. You helped me when you had no obligation to do so. Now I'm helping you. That's how alliances work—reciprocal benefit based on mutual respect."
Wei Chen was reviewing his own copy of the jade slip, his expression becoming progressively grimmer. "This is... concerning. The three factions are more antagonistic than I realized. There have been five 'accidents' in the past month—outer disciples injured or killed in circumstances that were technically within sect rules but suspiciously convenient for eliminating rivals."
"The competition has intensified recently," Lian Fei confirmed. "There's a rumor that the sect will open access to the Heavenly Ascension Trial in six months—a secret realm that can boost cultivation speed by several times normal rates. Only the most promising outer disciples will be selected, and the factions are positioning their chosen candidates."
"And as a newly admitted disciple who's already attracted Elder Shen's attention, I'm going to be seen as a potential candidate," Axel concluded.
"Almost certainly. Your tribulation breakthrough is already being discussed throughout the regional cultivation community. By the time you officially join the sect tomorrow, every faction will have decided whether you're a potential asset, a potential rival, or someone to be eliminated before you become either." Lian Fei's expression was serious. "The first week will be critical. The impressions you make, the alliances you form, the strength you demonstrate—all of it will determine how you're treated going forward."
Axel absorbed this sobering information. He'd known sect life would be competitive, but he'd somehow imagined it would be more... structured. More fair. The reality was apparently much more brutal—talented disciples competing for limited resources in an environment where "accidents" conveniently eliminated rivals.
"What would you recommend?" he asked Lian Fei directly.
"First, don't affiliate with any faction immediately. Stay nominally independent for at least the first month while you assess the situation and let them compete for your attention. Second, find training partners among other talented outer disciples—people who can challenge you without being threatened by you. Third, complete missions successfully and build a reputation for competence. Fourth, maintain your relationship with Elder Shen but don't become so associated with him that other elders won't approach you."
"That's a lot of political maneuvering for someone who just wants to cultivate in peace," Axel observed dryly.
"Peace is for the weak or the overwhelmingly strong," Lian Fei said bluntly. "You're neither. You're talented and ambitious, which means you'll be in the thick of sect politics whether you want to be or not. The only question is whether you'll navigate it successfully or become another casualty."
They spent the rest of the afternoon discussing specific disciples Axel should approach, ones to avoid, and strategies for the first few weeks. Lian Fei's intelligence was comprehensive—she even knew which outer disciples were secretly backing which inner disciples in ongoing rivalries.
As evening approached, Lian Fei prepared to depart. "I'll be returning to my own sect tomorrow, but I'll check in periodically. And remember—the communication token I gave you works both ways. If you need advice or help, use it. I meant what I said about life debts."
She paused at the edge of the clearing, looking back with an expression that mixed concern and calculation. "One more thing. There's a rumor circulating about your breakthrough—specifically about the tribulation lightning. Some people think you might have a special physique or hidden bloodline. They're wrong about the specifics, but if anyone asks directly, deny it vaguely rather than giving a firm answer. Mystery makes people cautious. Confirmed knowledge makes them either predatory or scared, and both are dangerous."
With that cryptic advice, she vanished into the forest.
"She's right about the bloodline rumors," Wei Chen said once Lian Fei was gone. "I've heard at least three different theories about what could have caused your tribulation—everything from dormant phoenix bloodline to reincarnated immortal to possession by an ancient spirit. Let people speculate. Uncertainty is protective."
Axel nodded slowly, understanding the logic even as he reflected on the irony. They were speculating about special bloodlines while being completely unaware of the actual Hongmeng Bloodline that had enabled his Mythical-grade foundation.
That night, Axel barely slept. His mind raced with all the information Lian Fei had provided, all the potential dangers and opportunities awaiting him. The Primordial Pillars pulsed steadily within his dantian, feeding him Qi automatically even while he tossed and turned.
By dawn, he'd made his decisions about how to approach sect life. He would follow Lian Fei's advice—stay nominally independent, build alliances carefully, demonstrate competence without revealing his full capabilities. The auto-concealment formation would hide the true quality of his foundation, allowing him to appear talented but not impossibly so.
And he would trust his instincts. They'd kept him alive through three months of desperate survival. They would serve him in the different but equally dangerous environment of sect politics.
"Ready?" Wei Chen asked as the sun rose on what would be their last day as independent cultivators.
"As ready as I'll ever be," Axel replied.
They broke camp methodically, gathering their meager possessions and preparing for the journey to the sect proper. Axel had arrived in this world with nothing. He was joining the sect with barely more—some basic supplies, a crude staff, the clothes on his back, and two jade communication tokens from his only real allies.
But he also had Foundation Establishment cultivation with a Mythical-grade foundation, a mysterious bloodline that was two percent awakened, and hard-won experience surviving in one of the most brutal environments imaginable.
It would have to be enough.
The walk to the Azure Sky Sect took two hours, following a well-maintained path that grew increasingly grand as they approached. Other cultivators joined them on the road—examination candidates arriving for the official tests, visiting disciples from allied sects, merchants hoping to trade with sect members.
Axel kept his spiritual senses extended, observing the other cultivators. Most were Stage 3 or 4, with a few Foundation Establishment Early scattered among them. Only two gave him that peculiar feeling of danger that indicated significantly higher cultivation—probably inner disciples or elders on sect business.
The sect itself was magnificent. Massive formations shimmered in the air, creating barriers that separated the sect grounds from the outside world. Buildings rose in terraced levels up the mountainside, each level apparently reserved for different ranks. Outer disciple quarters were near the base, inner disciple residences higher up, and at the very peak, structures that radiated such intense spiritual pressure they had to be where the elders and sect master dwelled.
Thousands of cultivators moved through the grounds, creating a constant flow of activity. Training yards rang with the sounds of combat practice. Alchemy halls released fragrant smoke from pill refinement. Formation workshops crackled with Qi as disciples practiced inscription techniques.
This was a true cultivation sect—organized, powerful, ancient. A far cry from the desperate survival that had defined Axel's first three months in this world.
At the main gate, a stern-faced disciple checked their credentials. Wei Chen presented his examination registration token. Axel showed the jade token Elder Shen had given him.
The gate disciple's eyes widened slightly when he saw Elder Shen's seal on Axel's token. "Direct admission. You're to report to the Outer Disciple Hall immediately for registration and room assignment." He glanced at Wei Chen. "Examination candidates assemble at the testing grounds. Follow the eastern path."
They exchanged a brief look. This was where their paths diverged, at least temporarily. Wei Chen would face the examination that Axel had bypassed. If he passed, they'd be sect brothers. If he failed...
"You'll pass," Axel said with more confidence than he felt.
"If I don't, I'll find another way forward," Wei Chen replied. "We're cultivators. Setbacks are just opportunities in disguise." He clasped Axel's shoulder briefly. "Stay alert. Trust your instincts. Don't let the politics make you paranoid, but don't be naive either."
"Same to you. Good luck."
Wei Chen nodded once and headed toward the examination grounds. Axel watched him go, then turned toward the Outer Disciple Hall as directed.
The building was large and busy, with dozens of disciples coming and going. Inside, an elderly man sat behind a desk covered in jade slips and registration materials. He looked up as Axel approached, his spiritual senses sweeping over him automatically.
The man's expression shifted from bored efficiency to sharp interest. "Foundation Establishment Early. Recent breakthrough based on how unstabilized your spiritual presence is. And..." he extended his senses more thoroughly, "hiding something. Concealment formation active. Interesting."
"I'm here to register as an outer disciple," Axel said, presenting Elder Shen's token. "I was admitted directly."
The man examined the token, and his demeanor changed completely. He stood and bowed respectfully. "My apologies for the casual inspection. Anyone carrying Elder Shen's personal seal deserves proper courtesy. I'm Administrator Zhao, responsible for outer disciple affairs. Welcome to the Azure Sky Sect, Disciple...?"
"Axel King."
"Disciple Axel." Administrator Zhao pulled out several jade slips and began processing his registration. "You'll be assigned to the intermediate outer disciple quarters based on your Foundation Establishment cultivation. Standard monthly allocation is twenty spirit stones, access to the outer disciple library, and permission to select missions from the contribution board. You'll be expected to complete at least one mission per month and participate in monthly evaluation exercises."
He handed Axel a jade token—different from the communication tokens, this one engraved with the Azure Sky Sect symbol and pulsing with formation energy. "This is your identity token. It serves as your key to sect facilities, records your contributions and violations, and marks you as under sect protection. Don't lose it. Replacement costs fifty spirit stones."
More jade slips followed—a map of the sect grounds, a list of rules and regulations, information about available training facilities, and a schedule of lectures offered by various elders and inner disciples.
"Your quarters are in Building 7, Room 23," Administrator Zhao continued. "You'll share the space with one other disciple. Meals are provided at the dining hall three times daily, or you can purchase better quality food with spirit stones. Any questions?"
"When do I receive the monthly spirit stone allocation?"
"First day of each month. You've joined late in the cycle, so you won't receive the full allotment until next month. However..." Administrator Zhao checked a notation on one of his slips, "Elder Shen left instructions to provide you with an advance of twenty stones for initial expenses. Consider it a welcome gift."
He produced a small pouch that jingled with the distinctive sound of spirit stones. Axel accepted it gratefully—he'd been worried about having no resources for his first weeks.
"One more thing," Administrator Zhao said, his expression becoming more serious. "Elder Shen also left a message for you. You're to report to his workshop in the Formation Research Pavilion three days from now at dawn. Don't be late. Elder Shen values punctuality."
Axel nodded, filing the information away. A personal summons from an elder after only three days was unusual, probably something that would attract attention from the other disciples. More political complications to navigate.
"Thank you, Administrator Zhao. Is there anything else I need to know immediately?"
"Read the rules carefully. Ignorance isn't an excuse for violations. Make friends carefully—not everyone who approaches you will have good intentions. And don't get involved in faction politics until you understand the landscape." The old man's expression softened slightly. "You're young, talented, and under Elder Shen's wing. That makes you both valuable and vulnerable. Be cautious."
It was similar advice to what Lian Fei had given, delivered with what seemed like genuine concern. Axel appreciated it, even as he noted that "be cautious" was becoming the most common advice he received about sect life.
He left the administration building with his registration complete and headed toward Building 7 to find his assigned quarters. The intermediate outer disciple area was nicer than he'd expected—not luxurious, but clean, well-maintained, with decent Qi concentration compared to the areas he'd been camping in.
Building 7 was a three-story structure housing perhaps fifty disciples. He found Room 23 on the second floor and pushed the door open carefully, unsure what to expect from his assigned roommate.
The room was modest—two sleeping mats, two small desks, a shared storage chest, and a window overlooking a training yard. One side was already occupied, marked by personal items and cultivation manuals.
A young man sat at the occupied desk, apparently deep in meditation. He looked to be about nineteen or twenty, with neat dark hair and features that suggested aristocratic lineage. His cultivation was Foundation Establishment Early, similar to Axel's apparent level.
The young man's eyes opened as Axel entered, spiritual senses automatically checking the newcomer. His expression cycled through surprise, calculation, and finally settling on polite interest.
"You must be my new roommate," he said, standing and performing a formal cultivator's bow. "I'm Liu Feng. We've actually met before—during the cave operation against the demonic cultivator."
Axel recognized him now—the outer disciple who'd fought alongside him during the formation node destruction, who'd warned him about established disciples not liking talented newcomers.
"Axel King," he replied, returning the bow. "I remember. You helped cover me when I went after the final formation node."
"And you charged into a battle between Core Formation and Soul Projection cultivators to complete an objective everyone else thought was suicide," Liu Feng said with a slight smile. "That was either incredibly brave or incredibly insane. I'm still not sure which."
"Can't it be both?"
Liu Feng laughed. "I suppose it can. Well, welcome to Room 23. Fair warning—I'm usually awake early for morning cultivation and I practice sword techniques in the evenings. If that's going to disturb you, we should work out a schedule."
"I cultivate mostly at night and practice combat techniques during the day," Axel said. "Sounds like our schedules complement rather than conflict."
"Perfect." Liu Feng gestured to the unoccupied side of the room. "That's your space. Storage chest is shared but there's an internal lock formation if you want to secure anything valuable. The window can be opened or closed based on our preference—I usually keep it cracked for air circulation."
As Axel began unpacking his meager belongings, Liu Feng continued talking.
"I should probably mention—you're going to attract a lot of attention over the next few days. Word about your tribulation breakthrough has spread through the outer disciples, and everyone's curious about the 'lightning cultivator' who made Elder Shen personally intervene. Three different factions have already approached me asking about you."
"What did you tell them?"
"That you seemed competent, honorable, and hadn't expressed interest in political affiliations yet." Liu Feng's expression became more serious. "I'll be honest with you—I'm nominally aligned with the Modernist faction because my family has connections there. But I'm not deeply involved in politics, and I won't pressure you to join any particular side. If you want advice about navigating sect dynamics, I'm happy to help. If you prefer to figure things out yourself, I'll respect that."
It was a refreshingly straightforward approach, and Axel appreciated the honesty. "I appreciate the offer. I'm trying to stay independent for now while I learn the landscape, but I won't pretend politics don't exist."
"Smart. Most new disciples either jump into faction politics immediately or try to ignore them completely. Both approaches usually end badly." Liu Feng pulled out a jade slip. "This is an informal guide to sect life that senior disciples share with newcomers—things the official orientation doesn't cover. Which disciples to avoid borrowing from because they'll call in the debt at inconvenient times. Which training grounds are actually controlled by specific factions despite being officially open. Which elders are accepting new students and which ones just put you on a waiting list forever."
He handed the slip to Axel, who accepted it gratefully. Between this, Lian Fei's intelligence, and Administrator Zhao's advice, he was accumulating a comprehensive understanding of how the sect actually operated beneath its official rules.
They spent the rest of the afternoon with Liu Feng showing Axel around the outer disciple areas—the dining hall, training grounds, mission board, contribution store where spirit stones could be exchanged for resources, and various other facilities. Other disciples watched with barely concealed curiosity as they passed, clearly aware that Axel was the new direct admission everyone was talking about.
By evening, Axel had a reasonable understanding of the sect's layout and culture. It was more complex than he'd anticipated but not overwhelmingly so. People were people, regardless of whether they cultivated cosmic energy or worked in office buildings. The same social dynamics applied—hierarchies, cliques, alliances, rivalries.
He could navigate this. He'd navigated office politics on Earth. He'd survived three months alone in a deadly forest. Sect life would just combine elements of both—social complexity with the ever-present threat of violence.
As night fell and Liu Feng settled into his evening sword practice in the courtyard, Axel sat at his desk and reviewed everything he'd learned. Tomorrow would bring the first real test—interacting with other disciples in training sessions, making initial impressions, beginning to build the reputation that would define his sect experience.
The Primordial Pillars pulsed steadily within his dantian, feeding him Qi in a constant stream. The auto-concealment formation kept his true foundation quality hidden. And somewhere in his bloodline, two percent of something vast and ancient waited to be further awakened.
Axel closed his eyes and allowed himself a moment of quiet satisfaction.
He'd made it. From confused transmigrator to sect disciple. From complete ignorance to Foundation Establishment. From alone to having allies who might actually watch his back.
It wasn't the end of the journey—it was barely the beginning. But it was progress. Real, tangible progress.
Tomorrow, his sect life would truly begin.
But tonight, in the relative safety of his new quarters with a seemingly trustworthy roommate and twenty spirit stones worth of resources, Axel King allowed himself to rest.
The Foundation was complete. The preparation was finished.
Now came the real cultivation.
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