The Crimson Sky Alliance's remaining five thousand cultivators approached the valley under Alliance Marshal Tian Kuang's command with the kind of rigid determination that comes from either genuine confidence or desperate denial. Su Chen's enhanced perception analyzed their formation from kilometers away, and what he saw confirmed Bibi Dong's assessment—the marshal had convinced himself that previous defeats resulted from tactical errors rather than overwhelming power disparity.
The formation emphasized defensive depth and distributed command structure, designed to prevent single-point failures from collapsing the entire force. Multiple sub-commanders controlled independent units that could operate autonomously if coordination broke down. Heavy emphasis on formation arrays created overlapping defensive barriers that reinforced each other. Reserve forces positioned to plug breakthroughs or exploit openings. It was a textbook approach for fighting opponents who relied on concentrated force to shatter enemy cohesion.
"He's prepared to fight someone like himself," Esdeath observed, studying the formation through the holographic display Lin Que had transmitted from orbital surveillance. "A conventional military commander who understands tactics, logistics, and force concentration. Everything about his deployment assumes his opponents will follow similar operational logic."
"Which makes his approach completely ineffective against you," Su Chen replied. "Conventional military tactics assume certain baseline constraints—soldiers need morale, formations require coordination, reserves must be positioned within movement range of engagement zones. But you can freeze entire battlefields simultaneously, operate without regard for morale considerations, and ignore conventional spatial constraints through your time manipulation. His careful planning becomes irrelevant when the fundamental rules he's planning around cease to apply."
Esdeath nodded, her expression showing anticipation. "How do you want me to handle this? Quick overwhelming strike, or prolonged demonstration to thoroughly break their confidence?"
Su Chen considered the strategic implications. Quick victory would be efficient but might leave surviving enemies convinced they could succeed with better preparation. Prolonged demonstration would be more educational but risked unnecessary casualties as desperate enemies attempted increasingly risky tactics.
"Middle approach," he decided. "Give them enough time to deploy their carefully prepared tactics, let them believe their planning has merit, then systematically dismantle every layer of their strategy. I want Marshal Tian Kuang to understand completely that no amount of conventional tactical sophistication can overcome the fundamental power disparity. Maximum psychological impact with controlled casualties."
"Understood," Esdeath confirmed. "I'll treat it as a demonstration battle. They'll serve as teaching materials for any other factions considering similar approaches."
Saeko interjected with practical concern. "Five thousand prisoners will strain our processing capabilities. Should I coordinate with Bibi Dong to establish temporary holding facilities, or will we be ransoming them immediately?"
"Coordinate with Jian Wuming instead," Su Chen instructed. "The Abyssal Sword Sect's first assignment will be prisoner management. Have them establish secure holding facilities at their compound and process ransom negotiations under Bibi Dong's supervision. This gives them useful work while demonstrating their commitment to our operations."
He activated his communication formation to contact the sect master. "Jian Wuming, your first operational assignment: prepare facilities to hold approximately five thousand prisoners. We're about to capture the Crimson Sky Alliance's invasion force, and I need secure locations to keep them until ransom negotiations complete. Can your sect compound accommodate that number?"
There was a brief pause before Jian Wuming's voice responded, carrying the careful tone of someone still adjusting to subordinate status. "Our compound can accommodate five thousand with modifications to our outer disciple quarters. We'll need approximately six hours to convert residential areas into secure holding facilities. Will the prisoners require special security measures beyond standard cultivation suppression?"
"Standard suppression should suffice for the majority," Su Chen replied. "Most are Cave Heaven or Engravement Realm. However, several dozen Spirit Transformation experts will require enhanced containment. Coordinate with Bibi Dong—she'll provide soul-binding formations that can restrain even Formation Arrangement Realm cultivators safely."
"Understood. We'll begin preparations immediately."
Su Chen terminated the communication and turned his attention back to the approaching enemy force. They had reached the valley's entrance and were deploying into assault configuration, their various units spreading across a two-kilometer front to prevent being surrounded or flanked. Marshal Tian Kuang positioned himself at the formation's center, surrounded by his command staff and protected by multiple layers of defensive arrays.
The marshal's voice boomed across the valley, amplified through formation techniques. "Stellar Void Pavilion! The Crimson Sky Alliance comes not as bandits or treasure seekers, but as enforcers of righteous order! Your recent actions have disrupted regional stability, threatened neutral parties, and demonstrated flagrant disregard for established protocols! We demand you surrender immediately and submit to Alliance authority for investigation and judgment!"
It was the same hypocritical justification every hostile force had employed—framing resource seizure as righteous enforcement. Su Chen found himself growing weary of the repeated pattern. At least the Abyssal Sword Sect had been honest about their motivations.
Esdeath stepped forward before Su Chen could respond, her spiritual pressure erupting across the valley with such intensity that frost began forming on the ground despite the warm afternoon sun. Her ice-blue eyes fixed on Marshal Tian Kuang's position with predatory focus.
"Marshal Tian Kuang of the Crimson Sky Alliance," Esdeath declared, her voice carrying clearly despite lacking artificial amplification. "I am Esdeath, General of the Stellar Void Pavilion. Your demands are noted and rejected. However, I will offer you the same opportunity extended to previous hostile forces: withdraw immediately and avoid conflict. Continue your approach, and your entire force becomes prisoners to be ransomed at our convenience."
The marshal's face flushed with anger visible even at distance. "You dare threaten five thousand cultivators with a single individual? Your arrogance will be your—"
Esdeath interrupted by snapping her fingers, and reality froze.
Mahapadma activated at maximum range and duration, creating a temporal stasis field that encompassed the entire valley and extended several hundred meters beyond. Within that field, time simply stopped for everyone except Esdeath. Five thousand cultivators hung suspended in mid-action, their movements arrested, their techniques frozen mid-formation, their spiritual energy locked in whatever configuration it had held when time ceased flowing.
Esdeath walked casually through the frozen army, her footsteps creating small cracks in the time-locked air that healed instantly as she passed. She examined their formation with professional interest, noting tactical dispositions and identifying key commanders. Occasionally, she paused to place ice constructs at strategic points—markers that would activate once time resumed, triggering effects she had predetermined.
She approached Marshal Tian Kuang directly, standing centimeters from his frozen face. His expression showed the beginning of what might have been a triumphant declaration, mouth open mid-word, eyes blazing with confident authority. Esdeath studied him for a moment, then placed her hand gently on his forehead.
When time resumed eight seconds later—subjectively eternal for Esdeath, instantaneous for everyone frozen—the effect was devastating. Every cultivator in the Crimson Sky Alliance force simultaneously discovered ice constructs positioned at vital points on their bodies: throats, hearts, major spiritual meridians. The constructs weren't immediately lethal, but their placement made the threat unambiguous. Esdeath could trigger them remotely, and five thousand enemies would die simultaneously before any could mount defense or escape.
Additionally, Marshal Tian Kuang found himself marked. Complex ice formations wrapped around his spiritual foundation, his cultivation base, his connection to the various treasure artifacts he carried. Esdeath hadn't just threatened him—she had placed contingency triggers that would seal his cultivation permanently if he attempted hostile action.
The marshal staggered, his confident authority evaporating as he realized what had occurred. He had experienced time stopping, then resuming with himself and his entire force marked for death without any intervening period of combat or defense. No technique he knew could replicate such capability. No defensive preparation could prevent what had just been demonstrated.
"That was eight seconds," Esdeath announced calmly. "I could maintain the effect for ten times that duration if necessary. During stopped time, I can move freely, attack without retaliation, and arrange circumstances however I prefer. Your formation, your tactics, your numerical advantage—all become irrelevant when I can simply stop time and work at my leisure."
She gestured toward the ice constructs marking each cultivator. "Those are remotely triggered. If you attempt to remove them or attack me, they detonate. If you attempt to flee, they detonate. If you fail to follow my instructions precisely, they detonate. Your lives are now forfeit unless I choose to return them. Do you understand your situation, Marshal Tian Kuang?"
The marshal's face had gone pale, his earlier confidence replaced by barely controlled fear. He swallowed hard before responding, his voice lacking its previous bombastic authority. "I... yes. I understand. The Crimson Sky Alliance... acknowledges overwhelming power disparity. What are your terms?"
"Surrender," Esdeath stated simply. "Your entire force submits to capture without resistance. You will be transported to secure holding facilities and held until ransom negotiations complete. Those whose factions pay ransoms will be returned unharmed. Those whose factions refuse payment will be offered terms of service—work for the Stellar Void Pavilion to earn your freedom, or be sold as labor to whoever will buy. These are the only terms available. Accept immediately, or I trigger the ice constructs and harvest your corpses for materials instead."
Marshal Tian Kuang looked around at his force—five thousand cultivators, each one marked for death, all looking to him for leadership. He had brought them here expecting victory through superior tactics and overwhelming numbers. Instead, he had delivered them into captivity through fundamental misunderstanding of what kind of enemy they faced.
"We... surrender," he forced out, each word clearly agonizing. "The Crimson Sky Alliance submits to capture. We will not resist."
"Excellent decision," Esdeath replied. She activated a communication formation. "Jian Wuming, begin prisoner transport operations. Five thousand captives require secure containment. Bibi Dong, deploy soul-binding formations for command staff. Su Chen, the harvest is complete. Zero casualties on our side, five thousand prisoners acquired. I'm ready for the next assignment whenever you have one."
Su Chen approached across the valley, accompanied by Saeko and Xiao Yi Xian. He studied the captured force with satisfaction—five thousand cultivators represented substantial ransom value, potentially hundreds of millions in Origin Stones depending on individual affiliations and family resources.
"Marshal Tian Kuang," Su Chen addressed the defeated commander directly. "You made a critical error in judgment. You assumed that previous defeats of other forces resulted from tactical advantages or environmental factors. In reality, those forces lost because conventional military power cannot compete with fundamental capability disparities. Your careful planning was admirable but irrelevant. Do you understand this now?"
The marshal nodded miserably. "I understand. I convinced myself that superior tactics could overcome individual power advantages. I was wrong. The Crimson Sky Alliance has paid for my arrogance with our freedom."
"Partially correct," Su Chen replied. "You were wrong about tactics overcoming fundamental power disparities. However, you're also wrong about the price your Alliance will pay. The ransom I'll charge will be substantial but not ruinous. I have no interest in destroying the Crimson Sky Alliance—you're more valuable as an ongoing source of periodic payments than as a demolished organization. Your leadership will pay painful but survivable sums to recover your people, and hopefully they'll learn the lesson you've learned today: the Stellar Void Pavilion is not an enemy to be challenged through conventional means."
He gestured toward the Abyssal Sword Sect disciples who were beginning to arrive through spatial portals, their task to manage prisoner transport. "You'll be treated fairly during captivity. No torture, no degradation, no unnecessary cruelty. You're prisoners of war, not slaves or victims. Cooperate with containment procedures, and you'll be returned to your factions once ransoms are paid. Resist, and we'll make examples of you to encourage better behavior from others. The choice is yours."
As the Abyssal Sword Sect disciples began processing the Crimson Sky Alliance prisoners—checking identities, confirming affiliations, cataloging possessions—Su Chen turned his attention to strategic assessment. With the Beast Mountain Tribes negotiating non-aggression, the Abyssal Sword Sect subordinated, and the Crimson Sky Alliance captured, he had effectively secured the entire northern region of the Lower Realm within a single day.
More importantly, the day's operations would generate enormous revenue. Preliminary calculations suggested:
- **Void Scripture Temple reparations**: 500 million Origin Stones
- **Northern Gate Massacre ransoms**: ~20 million Origin Stones
- **Crimson Sky Alliance ransoms**: ~400 million Origin Stones (conservative estimate)
- **Liquidated resources from captured enemies**: ~150 million Origin Stones
- **Total**: Approximately 1.07 billion Origin Stones
Combined with the 80+ million already collected from earlier battles, he would recover roughly 1.15 billion of the 2.1 billion spent at the auction. A 55% recovery rate within 24 hours of the expenditure. If he continued operating at this efficiency, full recovery would occur within days rather than months.
"Lin Que," Su Chen transmitted through his communication formation, "status report on remaining hostile forces. Have any other factions mobilized in response to today's events?"
"Negative," Lin Que replied. "Every major faction within detection range has either initiated non-aggression negotiations or placed their forces on defensive posture. Word of the day's events is spreading rapidly—Merchant Alliance information networks are broadcasting detailed reports throughout the realm. The consensus appears to be that challenging the Stellar Void Pavilion is economically irrational given the capture-and-ransom approach you've demonstrated."
"Exactly the message I wanted to send," Su Chen confirmed. "Attacking us doesn't just risk death—it guarantees expensive captivity. Most factions will choose diplomatic engagement over that outcome."
Bibi Dong approached, having finished overseeing soul-binding formation deployment on the Crimson Sky Alliance's leadership. "Lord Su Chen, we need to discuss organizational scaling. Today's operations captured over six thousand prisoners across multiple engagements. Processing that many ransoms will require dedicated administrative infrastructure—negotiators, accountants, security specialists, diplomatic liaisons. Our current team isn't sized for this operational scale."
She was correct. Su Chen had been operating with a relatively small core team supplemented by specialized personnel like Lin Que and Saya. That structure worked well for mobile operations and targeted raids. But managing thousands of prisoners, conducting hundreds of ransom negotiations, and maintaining relationships with dozens of factions required bureaucratic infrastructure they simply didn't possess.
"Recommendations?" Su Chen asked.
"Establish a formal organizational structure," Bibi Dong replied immediately. She had clearly been planning this proposal for some time. "The Stellar Void Pavilion should have defined departments: Military Operations, Resource Management, Diplomatic Relations, Intelligence Gathering, Research and Development, and Internal Security. Appoint department heads with appropriate authority and resources. Recruit qualified personnel to staff each department. Transform from an informal group into an actual functioning organization."
"You want to turn us into a sect," Saeko observed.
"Not exactly," Bibi Dong corrected. "Traditional sects focus on cultivation advancement and martial prowess. I'm proposing something more comprehensive—an organization that combines sect-like combat capabilities with merchant-alliance-like economic operations and government-like administrative functions. A hybrid structure optimized for the kind of multi-domain operations Lord Su Chen conducts."
Su Chen considered the proposal carefully. Bibi Dong's suggestion made strategic sense—informal structures couldn't scale indefinitely. But formalization also created rigidity and bureaucratic overhead. He would need to balance organizational efficiency against operational flexibility.
"Draft a detailed organizational structure proposal," Su Chen instructed. "Include department definitions, leadership requirements, personnel needs, resource allocation, and coordination protocols. I want to review the complete plan before committing to implementation. However, I agree in principle—we need administrative infrastructure to support current operational scale."
Bibi Dong bowed slightly, clearly pleased her recommendation had been accepted. "I'll have a complete proposal ready within three days. In the meantime, I'll begin recruiting candidates for key positions through our existing intelligence networks."
Xiao Yi Xian interjected with different concern. "Lord Su Chen, we should discuss your cultivation breakthrough. You mentioned expecting combat to trigger advancement to Spirit Transformation Realm, but today's engagements didn't provide sufficient pressure. The enemies were either too weak or surrendered too quickly. You need genuine life-or-death combat to force the breakthrough."
She was correct. Su Chen had reached the threshold of Spirit Transformation Realm after last night's divine energy cultivation, but crossing that threshold required baptism through intense combat. Today's battles had been too one-sided—victories achieved through overwhelming capability rather than desperate struggle. His cultivation base remained stuck at Cave Heaven Realm peak, unable to advance without proper stimulus.
"The Lower Realm's conventional forces can't provide the pressure I need," Su Chen acknowledged. "I would need to fight either multiple Spirit Transformation Realm experts simultaneously or venture into more dangerous regions where ancient entities dwell. The former option requires traveling to locations where major sects concentrate their forces. The latter involves exploring ruins or forbidden zones that even powerful cultivators typically avoid."
Saeko's expression showed interest. "There are several noted forbidden zones within the Lower Realm. The Heavenly Tomb supposedly contains the remains of cultivators who approached divinity before the realm separation. The Demon Sealing Abyss is said to imprison entities from the ancient wars. The Primordial Battlefield maintains spatial distortions from conflicts that occurred before recorded history. Any of those locations would provide life-or-death danger suitable for forcing breakthrough."
"The Heavenly Tomb," Su Chen decided immediately. "Death energy and divine remnants would provide ideal environment for breakthrough cultivation. Additionally, such locations typically contain treasures and insights valuable beyond the immediate combat experience. We'll venture there once current operations are consolidated."
He activated his communication formation to contact the Black Dragon Fortress. "Lin Que, Saya—prepare the fortress for expedition to the Heavenly Tomb. Research everything available about that location: entry requirements, known dangers, previous exploration attempts and their outcomes. I want comprehensive intelligence before we commit to entering."
"Understood," Saya's voice responded. "I'm accessing databases now. Preliminary data suggests the Heavenly Tomb only manifests during specific celestial alignments—the next opening occurs in eleven days. That gives us time to complete prisoner processing and organizational restructuring before departure."
"Perfect timing," Su Chen confirmed. "Eleven days to consolidate today's gains, establish administrative infrastructure, and prepare for deep exploration of genuinely dangerous territory. Use the time well."
As the sun began setting over the valley, Su Chen surveyed the day's achievements. He had begun by attending an auction to acquire resources. He had gained far more than anticipated—not just treasures, but an subordinate sect, thousands of prisoners worth billions in ransoms, and reputation that would reshape the Lower Realm's political landscape.
But he had also revealed capabilities that would draw attention from entities beyond the Lower Realm. The divine energy display, the time manipulation demonstration, the casual defeat of thousands—all had been observed and would be reported to the Upper Realm powers who maintained surveillance over lower dimensions. That attention brought both opportunities and risks.
"Master," Saeko spoke quietly, approaching from his peripheral vision. "You're troubled despite today's victories. What concerns you?"
Su Chen smiled slightly at her perceptiveness. "I'm considering cascading consequences. We've demonstrated enough power to dominate the Lower Realm's conventional factions. But doing so ensures that unconventional factions—hidden powers, ancient entities, observers from higher realms—will begin taking active interest. Today marked our transition from mysterious newcomer to established power. That transition guarantees escalation from entities who previously ignored us as beneath their notice."
"You're anticipating the Upper Realm's response," Saeko concluded.
"Among others," Su Chen confirmed. "The Celestial Palace representatives we outbid at the auction will report to their superiors. Those superiors will investigate what kind of Lower Realm power commands divine energy and defeats thousands with casual ease. That investigation will eventually reveal discrepancies in our official story—the Stellar Void Pavilion's supposed history won't withstand serious scrutiny from entities with access to comprehensive historical records."
He paused, then continued more quietly. "When that occurs, we'll face opponents who understand we're not a traditional Lower Realm faction. They'll recognize we represent something anomalous—dimensional travelers, reality manipulators, glitches in the normal cultivation world order. And they'll respond accordingly, with force appropriate for eliminating existential anomalies rather than merely competing with conventional rivals."
Esdeath had joined them during the explanation, her expression showing interest rather than concern. "So today's victories were actually preparations for future battles against significantly more dangerous enemies. We've been securing resources and subordinates not because we needed them for Lower Realm dominance, but because we'll need them when Higher Realm powers arrive."
"Exactly," Su Chen confirmed. "Today wasn't the culmination of our Lower Realm operations. It was the opening move in a much larger game. We've announced our presence and demonstrated capabilities. Now we have approximately eleven days—maybe less, maybe more, depending on Higher Realm response times—to consolidate enough power that when serious opposition arrives, we can survive the encounter."
He turned to face his core team fully. "The Heavenly Tomb expedition isn't just about forcing my cultivation breakthrough. It's about acquiring power, knowledge, and resources sufficient to compete with entities from higher realms. Because make no mistake—they will come. We've become too visible, too anomalous, too dangerous to ignore. The question is whether we can become strong enough to matter when they arrive."
Silence stretched across the valley as his words sank in. Then Saeko spoke with absolute certainty. "Then we'll become strong enough. We've survived impossible situations before by adapting faster than our enemies could respond. This situation is merely larger in scale, not different in principle."
"The eleven days will be sufficient," Xiao Yi Xian added. "You've always maximized efficiency when facing time constraints. You'll extract more power from the Heavenly Tomb than anyone else could possibly achieve."
"And if Higher Realm powers arrive before we're ready," Esdeath concluded with cold smile, "we'll handle them the same way we handled today's enemies. By demonstrating that conventional power structures don't apply to us, and that challenging the Stellar Void Pavilion is economically, philosophically, and existentially futile."
Su Chen felt his concerns easing slightly. His team understood the situation and remained confident despite the escalating stakes. That confidence was either admirable courage or terminal foolishness, but either way, it was exactly what he needed from his core companions.
"Then let's proceed," Su Chen declared. "We have eleven days to prepare for the Heavenly Tomb, consolidate our Lower Realm position, and build sufficient power to survive whatever comes next. Time to show the cultivation world—both Lower and Upper Realms—what the Stellar Void Pavilion truly represents."
"Which is?" Saeko asked.
Su Chen's smile was cold and confident. "Evolution beyond conventional limits. The future made manifest. An ending for old orders and a beginning for something unprecedented."
He turned and began walking toward the spatial portal that would return them to the Black Dragon Fortress. Behind him, his team followed without hesitation, ready to face whatever escalation their recent victories had triggered.
The Lower Realm had been conquered in a day. Now came the harder part—holding that conquest against enemies who wouldn't be defeated through simple demonstrations of superior power.
The real battle was approaching. And Su Chen intended to be ready.