The final leg of the journey to the Blood Demonic Sect was tense despite their victory over the bandits. Kai kept his senses alert, scanning for any signs of another ambush.
"You're paranoid," Hong Wei said, though he too kept his hand near his saber.
"Paranoid means I'm still alive," Kai replied.
[Scanning environment...]
[No immediate threats detected]
[Recommendation: Maintain vigilance]
They crested the final hill as the sun began to set, revealing the Blood Demonic Sect sprawling across the valley below. The black stone buildings looked ominous in the dying light, torches already being lit across the compound.
"Home," Yun Xia said softly, though her tone suggested the word tasted bitter.
Chen Bo wiped sweat from his forehead. "I've never been so happy to see those black walls. Your sect may have a dark reputation, but your disciples are exceptional. I'll be sure to tell the merchant guild."
They delivered the caravan to the Administration Hall, where sect officials verified the cargo. Everything was intact, not a single crate missing.
Elder Ming, the skeletal administrator, looked them over with his dead eyes. "Escort mission completed successfully. Five wagons, zero losses. Impressive for inner disciples." He gestured, and contribution tokens appeared. "125 contribution points each, plus a bonus of 50 points for eliminating the Crimson Blade Gang. They've been a nuisance for months."
[Mission Complete!]
[Contribution Points Gained: 175]
[Total Contribution Points: 437]
[+200 EXP]
[Reputation in Blood Demonic Sect: Increased]
"Master Shen Yue wants to see you immediately," Elder Ming added, looking at Kai. "Alone."
The others exchanged glances. Kai nodded to them. "I'll meet you later."
He followed the administrator's directions to Master Shen Yue's private quarters—a place few disciples ever entered. The building was surrounded by shadow formations so dense that Kai could barely see through them.
He knocked.
"Enter."
Inside, the chamber was surprisingly elegant. Dark furniture, silver decorations, and shelves lined with jade slips and mysterious artifacts. Master Shen Yue sat at a low table, drinking tea that smelled faintly of blood.
"Sit," she commanded.
Kai sat across from her, keeping his posture respectful but alert.
"Your mission report was satisfactory," she began. "Twenty-four bandits defeated with zero casualties on your side. The alliance functioned efficiently. Chen Bo submitted a glowing testimonial to the merchant guild, which improves the sect's reputation."
"Thank you, Master."
"However." Her crimson eyes fixed on him. "I received some interesting information while you were gone. It seems your alliance has attracted attention. Not just from disciples, but from other hall masters."
[Warning: Political complications detected]
"Master Zhao of Blood Hall has been asking questions about you four. Specifically, he wants to know why Shadow Hall disciples are coordinating so effectively when most of his disciples work alone. He suspects you're receiving special training or resources."
Kai kept his expression neutral. "We simply work well together, Master."
"Don't play games with me." Her voice was sharp. "I know you're sharing techniques, pooling resources, and training together outside of official hours. I've allowed it because the results have been excellent. But other hall masters see it as favoritism."
She poured herself more tea. "Politics in the sect are delicate. If I appear to give too much preferential treatment to personal disciples, it provides ammunition for Elder Bone's faction. They're already looking for ways to undermine my authority."
"What would you have us do, Master?"
"Continue exactly what you're doing. But make it less obvious." Master Shen Yue sipped her tea. "Train separately in public, but coordinate in private. Argue occasionally where others can hear. Create the illusion of rivalry while maintaining your alliance in secret."
"Deception."
"The foundation of Shadow Hall." She smiled coldly. "You're learning. Now, regarding your cultivation progress. Gate One is at 44%, correct?"
Kai nodded, wondering how she knew the exact percentage.
"You'll reach 50% within the week at your current pace. Once you pass the halfway point, the gate's opening accelerates. You should complete Gate One in three more weeks, then move to Gate Two." She leaned forward. "I'm going to give you something to help. Consider it an investment."
She produced a small jade bottle. "Nine Gates Acceleration Pill. It temporarily increases cultivation speed by 50% for one week. Use it wisely."
[Item Received: Nine Gates Acceleration Pill]
[Effect: +50% cultivation speed for 7 days]
[Warning: Can only be used once per month]
"Thank you, Master."
"Don't thank me. This comes with a price. In one month, there will be an inter-hall competition. Blood Hall has challenged Shadow Hall to a series of duels. Five disciples per side, cultivation level matched. If we lose, Elder Bone gains leverage to question my competence."
[Major Event Alert!]
[Inter-Hall Competition]
[Time: 30 days]
[Stakes: Hall prestige and political power]
"You want me to fight in this competition?"
"You and your alliance. All four of you will represent Shadow Hall." Master Shen Yue's expression was cold. "This is non-negotiable. You will fight, and you will win. Failure is not an option."
"Master, with respect, we're still in Qi Condensation Realm. Blood Hall disciples at our level will be more combat-focused—"
"Which is why you have thirty days to surprise everyone." She stood, dismissing him. "Use the pill, complete Gate One, and begin Gate Two. Train your alliance. Develop strategies. And most importantly, win."
Kai bowed and left, his mind already working.
[New Objective: Win Inter-Hall Competition]
[Time: 30 days]
[Pressure: Extreme]
[Current preparation level: Insufficient]
---
He found his alliance waiting at their usual meeting spot—the abandoned storage building.
"What did she want?" Mei Lin asked immediately.
Kai explained everything—the political pressure, Master Zhao's suspicions, and the upcoming competition.
"Thirty days," Hong Wei said, his face pale. "Against Blood Hall disciples? They're trained for pure combat from day one."
"We have advantages they don't," Kai said. "Coordination. Strategy. Diverse skill sets. They rely on overwhelming force. We can outthink them."
"Outthinking won't help if they crush us with raw power," Yun Xia pointed out.
"Then we get stronger." Kai pulled out the Nine Gates Acceleration Pill. "Master Shen Yue gave me this. It boosts cultivation speed for a week. We need to use every resource we have."
Mei Lin nodded slowly. "I have some contribution points saved. We could buy additional elixirs, defensive talismans, maybe even a combat manual from the library."
"I can ask my cousin in Formation Hall about defensive array techniques," Hong Wei offered. "Nothing that would be considered betrayal, just general knowledge."
"And I can work on earth-based traps and barriers," Yun Xia added. "If we can control the battlefield, we can mitigate their strength advantage."
[Alliance Strategy Session Active]
[Morale: Determined]
[Preparation Plan: Forming]
They spent the next two hours planning. Training schedules. Resource allocation. Specific techniques each member would focus on. By the end, they had a comprehensive thirty-day program.
"One more thing," Kai said. "Master Shen Yue wants us to appear less coordinated in public. We need to fake rivalry, argue where people can hear, train separately during official hours. Only coordinate in secret."
"Shadow Hall doctrine," Mei Lin said with a slight smile. "Hide your strength, confuse your enemies."
"Exactly."
They separated, each heading to their quarters. Kai returned to his room and immediately sat down to cultivate.
He consumed the Nine Gates Acceleration Pill. The effect was immediate—his qi circulation speed doubled, and the resistance on Gate One felt suddenly weaker.
[Nine Gates Acceleration Pill activated]
[Duration: 7 days]
[Cultivation speed increased by 50%]
[Gate 1 Progress: 44% → 47%]
Just three hours of cultivation had advanced him 3%. At this rate, he could complete Gate One within the week.
But the pill was only part of the solution. He needed to push himself even harder.
[Updated Schedule]
[Combat Training: 3 hours]
[Gate Cultivation: 8 hours]
[Technique Refinement: 3 hours]
[Rest: 10 hours → 4 hours]
[Warning: This schedule is beyond human limits]
[Risk of collapse: Very High]
[Proceed anyway?]
Kai didn't hesitate. "Yes."
[Schedule confirmed]
[May the heavens have mercy on your body]
The system's sarcastic tone wasn't lost on him, but Kai was past caring. Thirty days to prepare for a competition that could determine Master Shen Yue's political standing, and by extension, their own survival.
Thirty days to become strong enough to win.
He closed his eyes and dove into cultivation, feeling the pill's power surge through his meridians. Gate One was opening faster now, the resistance crumbling like old stone.
Outside his window, the moon rose high over the Blood Demonic Sect. Somewhere in the compound, Blood Hall disciples were training, preparing to crush Shadow Hall's representatives.
[Gate 1 Progress: 47% → 52%]
[Days until Inter-Hall Competition: 30]
[Days until The Purge: 103]
[Current Survival Probability: 49.1%]