Redstone City, Wang Clan Compound
Wang Tian's hands moved with the confidence of rediscovered skill.
The alchemical cauldron before him glowed with controlled spirit fire, its flames a steady orange-red that reflected his cultivation's elemental affinity. Fire had always come naturally to him, the warmth of transformation and refinement that defined the alchemist's art.
For nine years, that natural affinity had been corrupted by the slow poison that Xue Ming had introduced into his life. His spirit fire had burned unevenly, his techniques had failed at crucial moments, and his reputation had crumbled as his products grew increasingly unreliable.
Now, with the poison purged and his cultivation restored, he was rediscovering what he had lost.
"Temperature stable at 847 degrees," he murmured, more to himself than to anyone listening. "Extraction phase beginning."
The Frostbind Herb floated in the alchemical solution, its crystalline structure releasing medicinal essence in measured wisps. Wang Tian watched the process with the focused attention of someone who had failed this particular extraction dozens of times before.
But this time was different.
The temperature gradient his son had identified was the key. Wang Ben had noticed what Wang Tian himself had missed despite decades of practice: a slight variance in heat distribution that caused the herb's essence to release unevenly. With that variance corrected, the extraction proceeded smoothly.
The spirit fire responded to his will with the precision that foundation establishment cultivation provided. Fire element qi flowed through his meridians, manifesting as the controlled flames that were an alchemist's primary tool. The warmth was familiar, comforting, a reminder of who he had been before the sabotage and who he was becoming again.
"Beautiful work."
Li Mei stood in the workshop doorway, her presence announced by the slight chill that accompanied her sealed cultivation. The physicians' treatments had stabilized her condition, but the Ice element of her suppressed bloodline still leaked through occasionally, especially when she was tired.
"You're supposed to be resting," Wang Tian said without looking up from his work.
"I've rested enough. And I wanted to watch you succeed."
Wang Tian allowed himself a small smile. "It's not success until the essence is bottled and tested."
"It's success that you're here, working, confident again." Li Mei moved to stand beside him, careful not to disturb his concentration. "That's what matters."
The extraction continued, the Frostbind Essence condensing into a vial of pale blue liquid. Wang Tian examined the result with critical eyes, comparing it against his memory of his pre-sabotage work.
"Mid-grade quality," he pronounced. "Not my best, but consistent. Reliable."
"The Association will be pleased."
"The Association doesn't know what I was capable of before." Wang Tian set the vial aside with the others, a small collection that represented weeks of careful work. "But they'll learn."
Li Mei's hand found his, her touch cooler than it should have been. "I'm proud of you."
"I'm proud of our son." Wang Tian's gaze drifted to the letter on his workbench, the most recent communication from the fortress. "He noticed the temperature issue in moments. I'd been struggling with it for weeks."
"He has your eye for detail."
"He has something more." Wang Tian's voice dropped, the words meant only for her. "Something I don't understand. His knowledge, his insights, they exceed what he should know. What anyone his age should know."
Li Mei was quiet for a moment. "Does it matter? He's still our son."
"No. Yes." Wang Tian sighed. "I don't need to understand him to love him. But I worry. The things he knows, the capabilities he shows, they'll attract attention. The wrong kind of attention."
"He's careful."
"He's seventeen. Careful and seventeen are not natural companions."
Li Mei's laugh was soft but genuine. "He's more careful than you were at that age. More careful than any of us."
Wang Tian couldn't argue with that. Their son had always been different, possessed of a maturity that seemed to come from somewhere beyond his years. The merge that had saved his life as an infant had changed him in ways they were still discovering.
"I should write to him," Wang Tian said. "Tell him about the Frostbind success. He'll be pleased to know his advice helped."
"Write tomorrow. Tonight, rest. You've been in this workshop since dawn."
Wang Tian looked at his wife, seeing the fatigue in her eyes that she tried to hide. Her treatments were progressing, but they were not without cost. The sealed cultivation that protected her also drained her, requiring careful management that left little energy for anything else.
"We'll rest together," he said. "The workshop will still be here tomorrow."
...
Azure Dragon Fortress
Commander Feng Zhaoyang conducted the inspection personally.
Wang Ben stood at attention with the rest of the formation delegation as the fortress commander moved through the recently repaired western sectors. The commander's presence radiated authority, his mid-stage mortal shedding cultivation creating an aura of controlled power that lesser cultivators instinctively respected.
[ANALYSIS: Commander Feng Zhaoyang]
[Cultivation: mid-stage mortal shedding]
[Elemental affinity: Fire (strong, well-integrated)]
[Qi signature: Warm, steady, disciplined]
[Assessment: Traditional military cultivator. Fire element manifests as decisive action and controlled aggression. Struggles with strategic innovation but excels at tactical execution]
The System's analysis confirmed what Wang Ben had suspected. Commander Feng was a Fire-aspected cultivator, his elemental nature showing in the warmth of his presence and the directness of his command style. Fire cultivators tended toward action, toward burning through obstacles rather than working around them.
"The repair work is impressive." Commander Feng paused before Node 5-7, the formation that Wang Ben had restored using techniques beyond his stated capability. "Faster than projected, and higher quality than we typically achieve under field conditions."
"The Wang Clan trains its formation masters thoroughly, Commander." Elder Wang Hongwei stepped forward to accept the compliment. "Young Master Wang Ben has proven particularly adept at adapting our techniques to combat damage."
Commander Feng's gaze found Wang Ben, assessing. "I've heard. Captain Liu speaks highly of his analytical contributions as well."
"I try to be useful, Commander."
"More than useful." Commander Feng's voice carried the weight of genuine acknowledgment. "Your pattern analysis before the last assault saved lives. The reinforcement we positioned based on your recommendations prevented at least one major breach."
The other members of the formation delegation shifted, their attention focusing on Wang Ben with a mixture of pride and curiosity. He had known the tactical analysis was being noticed, but Commander Feng's direct recognition elevated its significance.
"The credit belongs to the entire tactical team, Commander. I merely contributed observations."
"Modest as well as capable." Commander Feng's smile held approval. "The fortress needs more cultivators with your combination of skills. I've asked the Bastion to extend your delegation's deployment through the summer season. Wartime protocols allow emergency retention of critical personnel. We can't afford to lose your expertise when the spring rotation ends." His expression carried sympathy beneath the authority. "The Bastion has agreed to defer their contracted days until the current crisis stabilizes. Your clan will receive enhanced compensation for the extended service."
The news landed like a weight on Wang Ben's chest. Extended deployment meant more time away from home, more time in the war zone, more opportunities for his capabilities to be noticed by people he would rather avoid.
But it also meant more opportunities to contribute, more lives potentially saved by his analysis and repair work.
"We're honored to serve, Commander." Elder Wang Hongwei's response was formal, appropriate. "The Wang Clan's commitment to the kingdom's defense is unwavering."
"Good." Commander Feng moved on to the next section of repairs, his attention shifting to the technical details of formation maintenance.
Wang Ben felt the eyes of his colleagues on him as the inspection continued. Some looked at him with new respect. Others held expressions that were harder to read, the complex calculations of political positioning that existed even in a war zone.
More visibility, he thought. More attention. Exactly what I was trying to avoid.
But what could he do? Deliberately fail at his duties? Allow people to die when he could save them, just to maintain a lower profile?
The answer was obvious, even if he didn't like it.
...
That evening, Wang Ben received another letter from home.
This one was shorter than his father's previous messages, the handwriting slightly less precise. Wang Tian had written it in haste, the excitement evident in the rushed characters.
Ben'er,
I have news that couldn't wait for my regular correspondence. The Alchemist Association has scheduled my evaluation for next month. The examiner, a Grade 7 practitioner from the regional capital, has specifically requested to observe my Frostbind Essence technique.
This is the opportunity I've been working toward. If the evaluation goes well, my standing with the Association will be restored. The clan's reputation in alchemy will begin to recover from the damage that the sabotage caused.
I write to thank you again for your assistance. The temperature adjustment you suggested has made all the difference. I don't know how you noticed what I missed, but I am grateful beyond words.
Wish me well. I will write with the results as soon as the evaluation concludes.
Your father, Wang Tian
Wang Ben read the letter twice, feeling a warmth that had nothing to do with the fortress's Fire-aspected defenses. His father was recovering, rebuilding the career that had been stolen from him. The simple act of noticing a temperature gradient had contributed to that recovery.
Fire affinity, he thought. Father's elemental nature is Fire. His spirit fire, his warmth, even his personality. The System was right.
The observation raised questions about his own elemental nature. Most cultivators developed clear affinities as they advanced, their qi taking on characteristics that reflected their personalities and cultivation methods. But Wang Ben's qi remained stubbornly neutral, accepting any element without preference or rejection.
Was that normal? Was it a consequence of the Scripture's methods? Or was it something else entirely?
[QUERY: Host elemental affinity status]
[Analysis: Host has absorbed significant quantities of Wood, Earth, Water, Fire, Metal, and Ice elements]
[Rejection rate: 0%]
[Dominant affinity: None detected]
[Standard comparison: 92% of cultivators show dominant affinity by mid qi condensation]
[Assessment: Host's elemental neutrality is statistically unusual but not unprecedented. Scripture cultivation methods may promote elemental flexibility]
[Note: This characteristic should be monitored but not actively investigated. Elemental anomalies could attract unwanted attention if discovered]
The System's response confirmed Wang Ben's suspicions without explaining them. He was different, his cultivation following patterns that didn't match standard progression. Whether that difference was a gift or a liability remained to be seen.
The cultivation session that night produced measurable progress.
[CULTIVATION SESSION: Hour 4]
[Qi absorbed: 412 motes]
[Qi retained: 32 motes]
[Retention efficiency: 7.8%]
[Elemental composition:]
[- Earth: 15 motes (46.9%)]
[- Metal: 8 motes (25.0%)]
[- Fire: 6 motes (18.8%)]
[- Water: 2 motes (6.3%)]
[- Ice: 1 mote (3.1%)]
[Environment: Azure Dragon Fortress (Mixed elemental)]
[Note: Fire element proportion increased, likely due to extended exposure to Commander Feng's Fire-aspected presence. Host integrated without difficulty]
[Projection: First efficiency milestone (10%) achievable within 3-4 weeks]
The numbers showed steady improvement, the Scripture's methods proving their worth through consistent gains. Wang Ben had advanced from 6.5% to 7.8% efficiency in just over a week, a rate of progress that would seem miraculous to anyone familiar with standard cultivation techniques.
But it wasn't enough. Not yet.
He thought about his father's Fire affinity, about Commander Feng's warm presence, about Zhao Yu's burning Battle Soul. Fire cultivators surrounded him, their elemental natures shaping their actions and personalities in ways that the System helped him understand.
What did it mean that he had no such nature? That his qi accepted any element with equal ease? The Scripture's methods emphasized efficiency over elemental specialization, but even the ancient techniques had to work with the natural affinities that cultivators developed.
Perhaps, he considered, my affinity is no affinity at all. Perhaps the Scripture is training me to be something that doesn't fit the cultivation world's categories.
It was a troubling thought. Categories existed for reasons. The elemental framework that governed cultivation in this world wasn't arbitrary; it reflected fundamental truths about how spiritual energy functioned. To exist outside that framework was to be an anomaly, and anomalies attracted attention.
But it was also an advantage. If he could truly work with any element, he would face none of the limitations that constrained other cultivators. No elemental weaknesses, no resource restrictions, no techniques that simply wouldn't function because his qi was the wrong type.
A gift disguised as an abnormality, he thought. Or perhaps an abnormality disguised as a gift.
Either way, it was one more secret to keep, one more difference to hide beneath the surface of his carefully constructed normalcy.
...
Commander Feng's inspection report reached the regional command three days later.
Among its many observations, it noted the exceptional quality of the Wang Clan delegation's formation work and specifically commended Young Master Wang Ben for tactical contributions that had demonstrably improved the fortress's defensive effectiveness.
The report was filed with thousands of others, a single data point in the vast bureaucracy of military record-keeping. Most who read it would forget it within hours, the name Wang Ben blending into the endless stream of junior cultivators who passed through the war front.
But some readers had better memories than others.
And some were specifically looking for anomalies.