That night, Kai didn't return to his room immediately. Instead, he headed to the Sect Library—his new reward from the Sect Master gave him access to the second floor, where more advanced techniques were stored.
The library was a three-story pagoda near the center of the sect grounds. The first floor was open to all inner disciples—basic techniques, common knowledge, and historical records. The second floor required special permission. The third floor was rumored to contain forbidden techniques, accessible only to elders and the Sect Master.
An elderly librarian sat at the entrance, his eyes closed in meditation. When Kai approached, the old man opened one eye.
"Kai Zhang. Shadow Hall. I've been informed of your access privileges." His voice was dry as autumn leaves. "Second floor. Two hours maximum. Do not damage any texts. Do not attempt to access the third floor. Violation means death."
"Understood, Elder."
The old man waved his hand, and the stairs to the second floor shimmered, revealing themselves.
Kai climbed.
The second floor was smaller but infinitely more valuable. Jade slips lined the shelves, each one containing techniques or knowledge far beyond basic training. Kai could feel the qi radiating from some of them.
[Scanning available resources...]
[Advanced Movement Techniques]
[Assassination Arts]
[Qi Refinement Methods]
[Combat Strategies]
[Poison Compendiums]
[Mental Cultivation Techniques]
He had two hours. He needed to choose wisely.
His eyes fell on a section labeled "Foundation Building Methods." If he wanted to reach Foundation Establishment Realm in six months, he needed every advantage.
He pulled out a jade slip: "Nine Gates Foundation Building Method."
[Nine Gates Foundation Building Method]
[Grade: High]
[Effect: Structures Foundation Establishment breakthrough into nine stages]
[Success Rate: 67% for qualified cultivators]
[Time Required: 4-6 months with proper resources]
[Warning: Extremely painful process, high risk of qi deviation]
Kai pressed the jade slip to his forehead. Information flooded his mind—diagrams of meridian pathways, breathing techniques, qi circulation patterns. The method was complex but thorough.
[Knowledge Acquired: Nine Gates Foundation Building Method]
[System Analysis: Compatible with current cultivation base]
[Recommendation: Begin preparation immediately]
He returned the slip and continued browsing. Another jade slip caught his attention: "Shadow Phantom Step."
[Shadow Phantom Step]
[Grade: Superior]
[Advanced movement technique]
[Effect: Creates afterimages while moving, confuses opponents]
[Prerequisite: Shadow Step (Advanced) or higher]
[Qi Cost: 15 per activation]
Perfect. An upgrade to his current movement technique.
He absorbed the knowledge, feeling the technique integrate with his existing Shadow Step.
[New Technique Learned: Shadow Phantom Step]
[Shadow Step (Advanced) can now evolve into Shadow Phantom Step with practice]
A sound made him turn.
Someone else was on the second floor. A young man, perhaps twenty-five, with sharp features and cold eyes. He wore blood-red robes—a Blood Hall disciple. His cultivation radiated power. Foundation Establishment Realm Level 3.
"Well, well," the man said, his voice smooth but dangerous. "The famous Kai Zhang. The pacifist who somehow became a personal disciple."
[Warning: Hostile intent detected]
[Blood Hall Disciple: Liang Chen]
[Cultivation: Foundation Establishment Realm Level 3]
[Threat Level: High]
[Reputation: Known for bullying weaker disciples]
Kai kept his voice neutral. "I don't believe we've met."
"No, but I've heard of you. Everyone has." Liang Chen circled him slowly, like a predator evaluating prey. "Master Shen Yue's new pet project. Given special training, special rewards, and now access to the second floor library."
"Is there a problem?"
"A problem? No, no problem at all." Liang Chen's smile didn't reach his eyes. "I'm just wondering why a Qi Condensation Realm Level 5 cultivator gets preferential treatment while stronger, more deserving disciples are overlooked."
"Take it up with Master Shen Yue if you have concerns."
"Oh, I wouldn't dare question a hall master." Liang Chen stepped closer, his aura pressing down on Kai. "But accidents happen in the sect. Training incidents. Mission failures. It would be a shame if Master Shen Yue's fourth personal disciple met an unfortunate end."
The threat was clear.
[System Alert: Combat situation possible]
[Opponent is 3 levels higher in a superior realm]
[Direct confrontation: Inadvisable]
[Recommended: Strategic retreat or verbal deflection]
Kai met Liang Chen's gaze steadily. "Fourth personal disciple. You keep emphasizing that. The other three died, didn't they?"
Liang Chen's smile widened. "They did. Tragic, really."
"And you think you could succeed where they failed? Against someone Master Shen Yue is personally training?" Kai let his own cold smile show. "Be careful, senior brother. Master doesn't appreciate people interfering with her projects. The last person who tried ended up decorating the Shadow Hall entrance. Or pieces of him did, anyway."
It was a bluff, but delivered with enough confidence that Liang Chen's expression flickered with uncertainty.
"Is that a threat, junior brother?"
"Just friendly advice. We're all part of the same sect, after all."
The tension hung heavy. Then Liang Chen laughed, but it sounded forced. "Indeed. I'll keep that in mind. Enjoy your reading, Kai Zhang. And watch your back."
He left, his footsteps echoing on the stairs.
[Threat Assessment: Deferred, not eliminated]
[Liang Chen will likely attempt something in the future]
[Recommendation: Increase strength rapidly]
Kai exhaled slowly. That could have gone worse. But he'd made an enemy in Blood Hall, and Blood Hall disciples were notorious for their violence.
He spent the remaining hour studying defensive techniques and poison applications. When his time was up, he descended to find the librarian waiting.
"One piece of advice, boy," the old man said without opening his eyes. "Liang Chen has killed seventeen disciples in 'training accidents' over the past two years. Master Zhao protects him because his family has connections to the Iron Mountain Sect. Be careful."
"Thank you, Elder."
"Don't thank me. I just don't want blood on my library floors."
---
Kai returned to Shadow Hall as darkness fell. The corridors were quiet, most disciples already asleep or cultivating.
As he approached his room, he sensed something wrong.
The door was slightly ajar. He always locked it.
[Warning: Possible intrusion]
[Scan indicates: No hostile presence currently inside]
[Evidence of recent entry detected]
Kai pushed the door open slowly, his rusty dagger appearing in his hand.
His room had been searched. Not ransacked—whoever did this was skilled—but things were slightly out of place. His cultivation mat had been moved. His storage chest's lock had been picked.
Nothing was stolen, but that wasn't the point. This was a message.
You're being watched. You're not safe.
Kai checked his belongings carefully. Everything was still there—his contribution points, his training materials, even the black jade token from Master Shen Yue.
Then he noticed something new. A small piece of paper on his bed, folded precisely.
He opened it.
*"The tournament will claim many lives. Make sure yours isn't one of them. - A Friend"*
[Unknown Message Received]
[Analysis: Unclear if threat or warning]
[No qi signature detected on paper]
[Author: Unknown]
A friend? Kai doubted that. In the Blood Demonic Sect, friends were rare. This was either a genuine warning from an unlikely ally or a psychological tactic from an enemy.
Either way, the message was clear. The tournament had turned him into a target, and people were already moving against him.
He destroyed the note and reinforced his door with a simple alarm formation—nothing sophisticated, but it would alert him if someone tried to enter while he slept.
Then he sat down to cultivate.
[Current Status Assessment]
[Immediate Threats: Multiple]
[Liang Chen (Blood Hall) - Direct hostility]
[Unknown observer - Purpose unclear]
[Internal sect competition - Rivalry for tournament spots]
[Time until tournament: 6 months]
[Current Cultivation: Qi Condensation Realm Level 5]
[Required: Foundation Establishment Realm minimum]
[Survival Probability: 38.9%]
The probability had dropped. The threats were mounting.
But Kai had faced death before—in the Blood Moon Ceremony, in the Shadow Forest, in Master Shen Yue's training. Each time, he'd survived by being smarter, faster, and more adaptable than his opponents.
This would be no different.
He began circulating his qi according to the Nine Gates Foundation Building Method he'd learned. The technique was complex, requiring him to slowly open nine "gates" within his dantian—each gate strengthening his foundation and preparing for the breakthrough to Foundation Establishment Realm.
[Beginning Nine Gates Foundation Building Method]
[Current Progress: Gate 1 - 0%]
[Estimated time to open Gate 1: 2 weeks with current cultivation speed]
[Estimated time to complete all nine gates: 5-6 months]
The timeline was tight, but possible.
Hours passed. Kai lost himself in cultivation, feeling his qi slowly, methodically working on the first gate. It was like trying to open a door that had been sealed for centuries—patient, persistent pressure.
A knock on his door jolted him from meditation.
"Kai, it's me. Mei Lin."
He opened the door cautiously. Mei Lin stood outside, her expression serious.
"We need to talk. Can I come in?"
Kai gestured her inside. She noticed the alarm formation on the door immediately.
"Smart. You've already realized."
"Realized what?"
"That the tournament announcement turned us all into targets." She sat down, her voice low. "I've been talking to my contacts. Three inner disciples have already been attacked tonight. All of them were potential tournament candidates. One is in the medical hall with broken legs. The other two are dead."
Kai's expression darkened. "Which hall?"
"One from Shadow Hall, two from Blood Hall. The attacks were made to look like accidents or personal disputes, but the timing is too convenient."
"Someone is eliminating competition early."
"Exactly. And you, Kai, are a very visible target. The Sect Master himself recognized you today. Master Shen Yue's personal disciple. You're a symbol now."
[System Alert: Threat level reassessment]
[Multiple disciples targeting potential tournament candidates]
[Survival probability decreased: 38.9% → 31.4%]
"What do you suggest?" Kai asked.
"We form a real alliance. You, me, Hong Wei, and Yun Xia. We watch each other's backs, train together, and make it clear that attacking one of us means fighting all of us."
"And if we all want the same tournament spots?"
Mei Lin smiled grimly. "Then we compete fairly when the time comes. But we make sure we all survive to that point. Deal?"
Kai considered. It made strategic sense. Alone, he was vulnerable. With allies, he had protection and support.
"Deal. But we need rules. No betrayal. No sabotage. We help each other reach Foundation Establishment Realm."
"Agreed." Mei Lin stood. "I'll talk to Hong Wei and Yun Xia tomorrow. From now on, we move as a unit."
After she left, Kai sat in the darkness, thinking.
The game had changed. The tournament was six months away, but the real battle had already begun.
In the shadows, disciples were already killing each other for a chance at glory.
And Kai Zhang, the former nobody, was now right in the center of it all.
[Quest Updated: Survive Until the Tournament]
[New Objectives:]
[1. Form reliable alliance]
[2. Reach Foundation Establishment Realm]
[3. Identify and neutralize threats]
[4. Master advanced techniques]
[5. Survive internal sect politics]
[Time Remaining: 6 months]
[Status: The real game begins now]
Kai returned to cultivation, but now he kept his senses alert, his dagger within reach.