The morning sun cast long shadows across the eastern courtyard as Moxuan settled into his cultivation position, the Foundation Building Pills from Azure Mountain Sect arranged beside him like small treasures. Four days had passed since Elder Zhao's assessment, and the enhanced resources were beyond anything he could have imagined in his first life.
Finally, proper materials, he thought as he examined the first pill. The spiritual energy radiating from it was pure and concentrated—a single pill worth more than his family's entire cultivation budget for a year. But more importantly, he could see how to use it far more effectively than any normal cultivator could manage.
In my previous life, I wasted so many opportunities because I didn't understand the fundamentals, he reflected, beginning the careful spiritual energy circulation that would maximize the pill's absorption. This time, every resource will be used to its fullest potential.
The pill dissolved on his tongue, flooding his meridians with pure spiritual energy. Where a normal cultivator would simply guide it through basic circulation patterns, Moxuan applied techniques that combined orthodox methods with subtle energy manipulation principles he'd learned as a Demon Emperor. The result was absorption efficiency that approached perfection.
No wonder I advanced so slowly before, he realized as he felt his cultivation base solidifying at a rate that should have taken weeks. I was using resources like a child playing with adult tools.
The morning's cultivation session concluded with noticeable advancement toward the fourth level of Qi Condensation. To outside observers, it would seem like excellent progress from dedicated effort and superior resources. The reality was that he'd gained more benefit from one pill than most cultivators could extract from three.
Time to test the practical applications, he decided, moving to the practice area where training dummies waited for morning exercise routines.
The first sword strike split the air with a sound like tearing silk, his spiritual energy flowing through the blade in patterns that created cutting power far beyond what his cultivation level should have provided. The wooden dummy, reinforced with basic defensive formations, parted like soft clay.
Definitely stronger, he noted with satisfaction. But I need real opponents to properly gauge my combat effectiveness.
"Impressive," came Old Chen's voice from behind him. "Your advancement continues to exceed expectations, Young Master."
Moxuan turned, noting the older man's positioning near the garden entrance—close enough to observe, far enough to avoid seeming intrusive. As always, Old Chen's presence felt more significant than a simple family servant should command.
"Uncle Chen, you're up early."
"Old habits," the man replied with a slight smile. "I wanted to inform you that visitors arrived last night. Local merchant representatives requesting family assistance with a... security matter."
Interesting timing, Moxuan thought. Problems arising just as my capabilities improve.
"What type of security matter?"
"Bandit attacks on merchant caravans traveling through our territory. Three incidents in the past week, all targeting shipments of cultivation resources. The local militia is... inadequate for handling cultivators."
Moxuan's interest sharpened. Real combat against actual opponents would provide valuable experience while testing his enhanced abilities under practical conditions. More importantly, it would establish his reputation as someone capable of handling serious problems.
"Have the attackers been identified?"
"Preliminary reports suggest organized group rather than opportunistic criminals. Professional approach to target selection and attack timing." Old Chen's tone carried subtle implications. "The merchants hope our family's new sect connections might provide assistance they can't find elsewhere."
Perfect opportunity, Moxuan realized. Real combat experience, chance to build regional reputation, and legitimate reason to test enhanced capabilities without raising suspicions about advancement methods.
"I should speak with these merchants."
"They're waiting in the main hall. Your father is already consulting with them about potential family response."
The main hall buzzed with quiet conversation as three merchants outlined their problems to Lin Tianming. Moxuan entered to find his father listening with the careful attention of someone evaluating requests that went beyond normal family obligations.
"Ah, Moxuan," his father said, gesturing him forward. "Master Chen, Master Liu, Master Wang—my youngest son, recently sponsored by Azure Mountain Sect for advanced cultivation training."
The three merchants bowed appropriately, their expressions mixing hope with desperation. These weren't casual traders—their clothing and bearing suggested established businesses facing problems that threatened their livelihood.
"Young Master Lin," the eldest merchant, Master Chen, spoke with formal respect, "we understand your family's position has become... enhanced recently. We hoped such connections might provide solutions our own resources cannot achieve."
They're being carefully diplomatic, Moxuan noted. Acknowledging our improved status without making demands that might offend.
"What exactly has been happening to your caravans?"
"Systematic attacks targeting specific shipments," Master Liu replied, his voice tight with frustration. "Not random banditry—they know exactly which caravans carry cultivation materials and which carry ordinary goods."
Inside information or very good intelligence gathering, Moxuan analyzed. Professional operation rather than desperate criminals.
"How many attackers?"
"Reports vary, but consistently five to seven cultivators. Foundation Establishment level minimum, with combat experience that suggests military or sect training."
Serious opponents, he realized with growing interest. Not easy targets, but manageable challenges that would provide real testing opportunities.
"Have they made demands or simply taken resources?"
"Pure theft so far," Master Wang added grimly. "No negotiation attempts, no warnings, no territorial claims. They take everything valuable and disappear."
Acquisition-focused rather than political, Moxuan noted. Suggests either resource desperation or systematic supply for larger operations.
"Father," he said carefully, "this seems like exactly the type of problem where sect connections could prove valuable. And practical experience would complement my recent training advancement."
Lin Tianming's expression showed understanding of both the spoken request and unspoken implications. His son wanted real combat testing, and the bandit problem provided legitimate opportunity for such experience.
"The risks—"
"Would be manageable with proper preparation and backup," Moxuan interrupted gently. "Azure Mountain Sect resources include communication methods for emergency assistance. And local problems affecting our territory's security concern family interests regardless of merchant requests."
True enough, he thought. But more importantly, I need to test these enhanced capabilities against real opponents before the tournament.
The merchants' expressions brightened as they sensed potential assistance where other approaches had failed.
"Young Master," Master Chen said eagerly, "if your family could provide protection or investigation, our association would be extremely grateful. Financial compensation, future trading preferences, political support—whatever acknowledgment would be appropriate."
Building relationships while gaining combat experience, Moxuan noted approvingly. Multiple benefits from single action.
"I'll need detailed information about attack patterns, timing, locations, and surviving witness accounts," he said with the authority of someone accustomed to planning complex operations. "Also maps of affected travel routes and schedules for upcoming shipments."
Treating this like a military operation will provide maximum advantage, he realized. Professional approach rather than heroic adventure.
"Of course! We brought everything we could gather," Master Liu replied immediately, producing scrolls and documents from his travel bag.
As Moxuan spread the materials across the low table, patterns became immediately apparent to his experienced perspective. Attack locations chosen for tactical advantage, timing that suggested advance knowledge of caravan schedules, and target selection that indicated understanding of cargo values.
Definitely professional operation, he confirmed. But professional approaches create predictable patterns that can be exploited.
"The attacks follow clear strategic logic," he observed, tracing routes on the map. "Ambush points with good escape routes, timing that avoids patrol schedules, and information sources that let them identify valuable targets." He looked up at the merchants. "Which means they're either getting intelligence from someone with access to your shipping plans, or they're conducting systematic surveillance of your operations."
The merchants exchanged uncomfortable glances. The implication of inside information clearly hadn't occurred to them, but made sense of several troubling details.
"You think... one of our people?" Master Wang asked quietly.
"Or someone with legitimate access to shipping information. Suppliers, customers, transport coordinators, storage facility workers." Moxuan's tone remained analytical rather than accusatory. "Information security is as important as physical protection."
Professional analysis impresses them while establishing my credibility for handling the actual problem, he noted with satisfaction. Foundation building for more complex operations.
"What would you recommend?" Lin Tianming asked, his question directed at evaluating his son's strategic thinking as much as seeking solutions.
"Investigation first, then action based on findings. I'll need to examine attack sites personally, interview survivors, and possibly conduct surveillance of likely targets." Moxuan's planning showed systematic approach rather than impulsive heroism. "Real solutions require understanding the actual problem rather than just fighting symptoms."
This approach showcases analytical thinking while providing legitimate reasons to spend time in the field testing combat capabilities, he realized. Perfect balance of practical necessity and personal advancement goals.
"Young Master," Master Chen said with growing hope, "such thorough investigation would be far more than we dared request. If you could indeed resolve this problem..."
"I'll do my best," Moxuan replied with carefully measured confidence. "But success requires proper preparation and realistic expectations about timelines and risks."
As the merchants departed with renewed optimism and arrangements for detailed cooperation, Lin Tianming remained behind for private family consultation about his son's proposed involvement in dangerous regional problems.
"Moxuan, your analytical approach impressed me, but actual combat against organized criminals carries risks that training cannot fully prepare you for."
Father's concern is genuine, he recognized. But also opportunity to demonstrate capability without revealing true background.
"I understand the dangers," he replied seriously. "But my recent advancement needs practical testing, and this problem affects our territory's stability regardless of merchant requests. Better to address threats early when we can choose timing and methods."
Truth presented strategically, he thought. Legitimate family interests combined with personal development goals.
"Very well. But you'll take family guards as backup, and maintain communication with the compound throughout any field operations."
"Of course," Moxuan agreed immediately. Reasonable precautions that don't interfere with operational objectives.
As evening settled over the compound, he found himself genuinely excited for the first time since his rebirth. Real opponents, legitimate challenge, opportunity to test enhanced capabilities under practical conditions—everything his careful cultivation advancement had been building toward.
Tomorrow, the hunt begins, he thought while reviewing the merchants' intelligence materials. Time to discover whether theoretical knowledge and enhanced cultivation translate into practical combat effectiveness.
And time to start building the reputation that will serve my goals throughout the tournament and beyond.