The next morning, Kai met with Mei Lin, Hong Wei, and Yun Xia in a secluded training courtyard on the outskirts of Shadow Hall. The location was deliberate—far from prying eyes and ears.
Hong Wei arrived with his new Beast Fang Saber strapped to his back, looking more confident than he had after the Shadow Forest mission. Yun Xia came quietly, as always, her Earth Spirit Stone hanging from a cord around her neck.
"Four of us," Hong Wei said, looking around. "Against the entire sect."
"Not against the entire sect," Mei Lin corrected. "Just against those who want to eliminate us before the tournament."
"Which could be dozens of disciples," Yun Xia said softly. "Maybe more."
Kai leaned against the courtyard wall. "That's why we're forming this alliance. Alone, we're easy targets. Together, we're a threat that people will think twice about attacking."
"I'm in," Hong Wei said immediately. "After what happened last night, I know I can't make it alone. Someone tried to poison my food. If I hadn't noticed the discoloration, I'd be dead."
[Alert: Another assassination attempt confirmed]
[Pattern: Tournament candidates being systematically targeted]
Yun Xia nodded slowly. "My room was broken into as well. Nothing was stolen, but they left a dead rat on my bed. A message."
Mei Lin's eyes narrowed. "This is coordinated. Someone is orchestrating these attacks. The question is who."
"Does it matter?" Kai asked. "Right now, we need to focus on survival and growth. We have six months to reach Foundation Establishment Realm. That's our priority."
"Agreed," Mei Lin said. "Here are my proposals for the alliance. First, we train together when possible. We share knowledge of techniques and strategies. Second, we establish a watch rotation—at least one of us stays alert while the others cultivate or sleep. Third, we pool our resources for defensive formations and protective measures."
Hong Wei scratched his chin. "What about contribution points? If we're sharing resources..."
"We contribute equally based on what we earn," Kai suggested. "Whatever we put into the alliance pot, we all benefit from. But personal earnings stay personal. Fair?"
The others nodded.
"Fourth," Mei Lin continued, "if one of us is attacked, we all respond. An attack on one is an attack on all. This isn't optional—it's the core of the alliance."
"And fifth," Yun Xia added quietly, "when it comes time to compete for tournament spots, we do so honorably. No sabotage between us. May the strongest among us represent the sect."
They all looked at each other, the weight of the agreement settling over them.
Kai extended his hand into the center of the circle. "Alliance forged in necessity, bound by mutual survival. Agreed?"
One by one, they placed their hands on top of his.
"Agreed."
[Alliance Officially Formed]
[Members: Kai Zhang, Mei Lin, Hong Wei, Yun Xia]
[Alliance Bonus: +10% to all stats when within 50 meters of an alliance member]
[Morale Bonus: +15%]
[Survival Probability Updated: 31.4% → 44.7%]
"Good," Mei Lin said. "Now, let's talk strategy. Kai, you're working on the Nine Gates Foundation Building Method, correct?"
Kai nodded. "Started last night. Gate One is at about 5% progress."
"I'm using the Crimson Path method," Hong Wei said. "It's faster but less stable. I should reach Foundation Establishment in four months if I push hard."
"I have the Earth Foundation Scripture," Yun Xia said. "Slower but very stable. Five to six months."
Mei Lin crossed her arms. "I'm using the Shadow Core method. Master Shen Yue gave it to me. Three to four months, but it's extremely dangerous. High risk of qi deviation."
[Analysis: All members are pursuing Foundation Establishment]
[Collective success rate: 61.3%]
[Recommendation: Support each other during critical breakthrough moments]
"We should establish a cultivation schedule," Kai suggested. "If we're going to watch each other's backs, we need to coordinate. When one of us attempts a breakthrough, the others stand guard."
"Smart," Hong Wei agreed. "Qi deviation during breakthrough is fatal. Having backup could mean the difference between life and death."
They spent the next hour planning. Training schedules. Watch rotations. Emergency signals. Meeting locations. By the end, they had a comprehensive strategy for survival.
"One more thing," Mei Lin said. "We need to identify our enemies. Liang Chen from Blood Hall is one. Who else?"
"Bai Chen," Kai said immediately. "The fifth ceremony survivor who refused to join us. He's been spreading rumors about us. Calling us cowards who need to band together because we're weak."
"There's a Poison Hall disciple named Xu Min," Yun Xia added. "She's been asking questions about all of us. Subtle questions, but too many to be coincidence."
Hong Wei frowned. "And there's that group of core disciples from Formation Hall. The ones who always train together. They've been watching us during meals."
[Enemy List Compiled]
[Confirmed Hostile: Liang Chen (Blood Hall)]
[Suspected Hostile: Bai Chen (Shadow Hall), Xu Min (Poison Hall), Formation Hall Core Disciple Group]
[Recommendation: Gather more intelligence]
"We need information," Mei Lin said. "I have some contacts among the outer disciples—people who owe me favors. I'll see what I can learn."
"I'll watch Liang Chen," Kai said. "He's the most immediate threat."
"I'll handle the Formation Hall group," Hong Wei volunteered. "My cousin is in Formation Hall. He might know something."
"I'll look into Xu Min," Yun Xia said. "Poison Hall disciples are dangerous, but they're also predictable. They follow patterns."
---
The alliance dispersed, each member heading to their tasks. Kai returned to Shadow Hall, where he found Wei Long waiting outside his room.
"Junior brother," Wei Long said, his expression serious. "We need to talk."
Kai tensed. Was Wei Long about to become another enemy?
"What about?"
"About the fact that you just formed an alliance with three other disciples in a very public training courtyard." Wei Long's tone was flat. "Did you think no one would notice?"
[Warning: Cover may be compromised]
"We were just training together."
"Don't insult my intelligence." Wei Long stepped closer and lowered his voice. "I'm not your enemy, Kai. But you need to be smarter. The sect has eyes everywhere. By forming an obvious alliance, you've just painted targets on all four of your backs."
"What would you suggest?"
"Make it look like rivalry, not alliance. Argue in public. Compete against each other where people can see. But coordinate in secret." Wei Long glanced around. "Deception is the core of Shadow Hall. Use it."
Kai studied the senior disciple. Wei Long had always been direct but never hostile. If anything, he seemed to be giving genuine advice.
"Why are you helping me?"
"Because Master Shen Yue ordered me to keep you alive," Wei Long said bluntly. "At least until she decides you're worth keeping permanently. And because..." He hesitated. "I was the second personal disciple. I survived because I learned to be paranoid and smart. The first and third disciples died because they were too trusting or too arrogant."
"What happened to them?"
"The first was poisoned by someone he thought was a friend. The third was ambushed during a mission because someone leaked his location." Wei Long's expression darkened. "Personal disciples have resources and status, but that makes us targets. Be careful who you trust, Kai. Even your alliance members."
[Warning: Wei Long's advice noted]
[Trust is a weapon in the Blood Demonic Sect]
After Wei Long left, Kai entered his room and immediately checked his alarm formation. Undisturbed. Good.
He sat down to cultivate, focusing on the Nine Gates method. The first gate was slowly opening—he could feel the resistance weakening as his qi worked to unlock it.
[Gate 1 Progress: 5% → 8%]
Hours passed. Kai lost himself in the meditation, feeling his cultivation slowly but steadily advance.
Then, an explosion shook the entire Shadow Hall.
Kai's eyes snapped open. Disciples were running outside, shouting. Smoke was rising from the eastern wing.
He rushed out and saw the damage. One of the training halls had been destroyed. Part of the wall was blown out, and flames were spreading.
Disciples were pulling bodies from the rubble.
"What happened?" Kai asked a nearby disciple.
"Formation accident," the disciple said, his face pale. "Or at least, that's what they're saying. But I heard screaming before the explosion. Someone was fighting inside."
[Alert: Suspicious explosion]
[Possible assassination disguised as accident]
Kai pushed through the crowd and saw the bodies being laid out. Three disciples. All of them had been on the tournament candidate list that was posted yesterday.
No accident. This was murder.
Master Shen Yue appeared, her presence silencing the crowd. She examined the bodies with cold efficiency, then turned to face the assembled disciples.
"This was deliberate," she announced. "Someone used an explosive formation to kill these three disciples and make it look like an accident."
Murmurs spread through the crowd.
"I will not tolerate internal conflict that wastes the sect's resources," Master Shen Yue continued, her voice cutting like a blade. "From this moment forward, any disciple caught attempting to eliminate tournament candidates will be executed publicly. No exceptions. No mercy."
Her crimson eyes swept across the disciples. "Competition is natural. But there will be an official selection trial in five months. Until then, you will compete through cultivation advancement, not assassination. Am I understood?"
"Yes, Master!" the disciples chorused.
"Dispose of the bodies. Rebuild the training hall. Everyone else, back to your duties."
The crowd dispersed. Kai returned to his room, his mind working.
The explosion changed things. Master Shen Yue's declaration would slow the assassinations, but it wouldn't stop them. It would just make people more careful.
A message talisman appeared at his window. He opened it cautiously.
It was from Mei Lin.
*"Emergency meeting. Midnight. Old storage building behind the kitchens. Come alone and unseen. - M"*
[Quest Alert]
[Attend Secret Meeting]
[Time: Midnight]
[Location: Old storage building]
[Warning: Could be trap]
[Recommendation: Proceed with caution]
Kai destroyed the message and began preparing. If this was a trap, he'd be ready.
If it wasn't, then something serious enough to require an emergency meeting had just happened.