Kai's eyes fluttered open, sunlight streaming through the window of his pavilion. He groaned, his body still aching from the intense process of opening the Storm's Core meridian.

As he sat up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes, a knock sounded at the door.

"Come in," Kai called out, his voice still rough with sleep.

Chen Wei entered, carrying a tray with a steaming pot of tea and a small pouch.

"Senior Brother Kai, you really are back! How are you feeling?"

Kai stretched, wincing slightly. "Like I've been hit by a lightning bolt. But I'll live. What's that you've got there?"

Chen Wei set the tray down on a nearby table and held up the pouch. "The spirit stones from the pill sale, Senior Brother. We managed to sell all twenty pills for an average of 26 spirit stones each."

Kai's eyebrows rose. "That's better than I expected. Well done, Chen Wei."

As Chen Wei poured tea for both of them, Kai's mind raced. 520 spirit stones. Not a bad haul for our first sale. But if word gets out, we'll have competition soon. We need to move fast.

Congratulations!

Guild members Chen Wei, Liu Wei, and Zhi-Zhi have completed their first task. They have gained 10 contribution points.

Contribution points will now be awarded.

"Senior Brother Kai?" Chen Wei's voice was filled with surprise. "My trident mark... it's glowing!"

Kai watched in fascination as 10% of the black mark on Chen Wei's right shoulder blade turned a vibrant blue.

"Interesting," Kai murmured. He focused his thoughts, addressing the system directly. "System, when will my guild members be able to use the trident mark to condense qi?"

Once the mark is complete, guild members will be able to use the mark to condense qi at will. Use of the technique will not deplete the mark. However, without continuous completion of tasks contributing to the guild, they will lose this ability.

"And what about the respawn ability? How does that work for guild members?"

Guild members can respawn when their mark is complete. However, a respawn will use up the entire mark and their ability to condense qi. They will need to complete the mark once again to regain these abilities.

It would be a waste if condensing qi used up their mark, it makes much more sense for respawning to use up the mark.

Kai turned to Chen Wei, who was still staring at his glowing mark in wonder.

"That’s the reward I mentioned, Chen Wei. I’ll give you all a Qi Gathering Pill when I make the next batch. But keep up the good work, and you'll be able to condense qi and even... well, let's just say you'll be much harder to get rid of."

Chen Wei looked up. "Thank you, Senior Brother. I'll work hard to complete this mark!” His expression then shifted, becoming more serious. "There's something else you should know, Senior Brother. Su Fang was waiting outside your pavilion for three days."

Kai frowned, accepting the cup of tea Chen Wei offered. "Su Fang? I don't know of any Su Fang. What did he want?"

Chen Wei shifted uncomfortably. "He said he wanted to discuss business with you. Specifically about the Low-Grade Qi Gathering pills we sold."

"I see," Kai murmured, taking a sip of tea. "Tell me everything you know about this Su Fang."

Chen Wei nodded, his brow furrowing in concentration. "Su Fang is a Core Disciple, known for his business acumen. He's been selling Low-Grade Qi Gathering pills to Outer Sect disciples for a while now. From what I've heard, he hires alchemists to make the pills for him."

Kai's eyes narrowed. So, he sees us as competition. This could be trouble.

"Is that all?" Kai asked.

Chen Wei hesitated. "Well, there's one more thing. Su Fang's servant arrived about an hour ago. He requested a meeting for Su Fang at a time convenient for you."

Kai leaned back, considering this new information. After a moment, he looked at Chen Wei. "What do you think I should do?"

Chen Wei's eyes widened in surprise. "Me? I... I'm not sure, Senior Brother. Su Fang is a Core Disciple. He could be a powerful ally... or a dangerous enemy."

"You're right on both counts," Kai said. "But we need to be careful. We can't afford to make enemies this early, but we also can't show weakness."

Kai stood up, pacing the room as he thought. I can't spend all my time making pills, even if Elder Xiao would love that. We need to make this business sustainable. And for that, we need help.

An image of Xie Li, the quiet alchemist he'd met earlier, flashed in his mind. She could be exactly what we need.

Coming to a decision, Kai turned back to Chen Wei. "Alright, here's what we're going to do. Respond to Su Fang's servant. Tell him I'll meet with Su Fang in ten days."

Chen Wei nodded. "And in those ten days, Senior Brother?"

Kai smiled. "In those ten days, we're going to shore up our position. Starting with recruiting some help. I want you to pass a message to Xie Li. Tell her I'm interested in practicing some alchemy with her."

"Xie Li?" Chen Wei asked. "The Inner Disciple who passed the Novice Alchemy Examination?"

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"That's the one," Kai confirmed. "She's talented, and we could use her skills."

Chen Wei nodded, a look of understanding dawning on his face. "I see. You want to bring her into our guild?"

"Not yet,” Kai shook his head. “We need to vet her first. For now, we'll just see if she's interested in working with us."

"Understood, Senior Brother," Chen Wei said, bowing slightly. "I'll deliver the messages right away."

As Chen Wei turned to leave, Kai called out, "Oh, and Chen Wei?"

The young disciple paused at the door. "Yes, Senior Brother?"

"Good work with the pill sale."

Chen Wei's face lit up. "Thank you, Senior Brother!"

As the door closed behind Chen Wei, Kai sank back onto his bed.

Ten days to prepare for Su Fang. Ten days to set up a sustainable operation. It's going to be a busy week and a half.

With a groan, Kai forced himself to his feet. He had work to do.

***

Later that day, Kai found himself standing outside the alchemy practice room, waiting for Xie Li to arrive. He'd spent the morning reviewing his alchemy notes and planning his approach.

The sound of footsteps pulled Kai from his thoughts. He looked up to see Xie Li approaching, her steps hesitant and her eyes downcast. As she drew closer, Kai noticed a faint blush on her cheeks.

"Senior Brother Kai," she said softly, bowing. "Thank you for inviting me to practice with you."

Kai smiled, trying to put her at ease. "Thank you for coming, Xie Li. I've been looking forward to working with you."

Xie Li's blush deepened, but she managed a small smile. "What... what did you want to practice today?"

"I was thinking we could focus on the Spiritual Resonance technique," Kai said. "It's a crucial skill for creating high-quality pills, and I'd love to get your insights on it."

Xie Li's eyes widened slightly. "Spiritual Resonance? That’s quite a difficult technique, most disciples struggle with it.”

Kai nodded. "That’s right. But from what I've seen of your skills, I think your understanding of it is quite good. So, shall we go in?"

He gestured towards the practice room door. Xie Li nodded, her earlier nervousness seemingly replaced by excitement at the prospect of practicing alchemy.

As they entered the room, Kai took a moment to observe Xie Li. There was a focus in her eyes that hadn't been there before.

She really comes alive when she's working with alchemy. That's a good sign.

"So," Kai said as they finished setting up, "what's your understanding of the Spiritual Resonance technique?"

Xie Li paused, gathering her thoughts before speaking. "Spiritual Resonance is about attuning the energy of the pill to the spiritual frequency of the cultivator who will use it. It's what allows us to create pills that are tailored to specific individuals or cultivation methods."

"Exactly. And what do you think is the most challenging aspect of the technique?"

Xie Li bit her lip, considering the question. "I think... it's maintaining the resonance throughout the entire pill-making process. It's not enough to just attune the ingredients at the beginning. You have to keep that resonance going as you refine and shape the pill."

"But how do you maintain that resonance? What's your approach?"

Xie Li's eyes lit up as she began to explain her method. Kai listened intently, asking questions and offering his own insights. As they talked, he could see Xie Li becoming more animated, her earlier shyness melting away as she delved into a topic she was clearly passionate about.

She’s good, her understanding is a few levels above my own…

After a while, Kai suggested they try putting theory into practice. "Why don't you demonstrate the technique?" he proposed. "I'd love to see your approach in action."

Xie Li nodded, a determined look on her face. She selected a set of ingredients and began the process of creating a simple energy pill. Kai watched closely as she worked, noting the subtle ways she manipulated the qi in the ingredients.

As Xie Li worked, Kai activated his Qi Detection skill, trying to sense the spiritual resonance she was creating. To his surprise, he found he could perceive faint threads of energy connecting Xie Li to the pill she was crafting.

She's not just maintaining the resonance, she's actively shaping it as she works.

When Xie Li finished, she held up a small, perfectly formed pill. It glowed with a soft light, pulsing gently in time with Xie Li's own qi.

"Amazing work," Kai said, genuinely impressed. "The resonance is so clear, I can almost see it."

Xie Li blushed at the praise. "Thank you, Senior Brother. Would you like to try now?"

Kai nodded, stepping up to the alchemy table. He selected his ingredients and began the process, trying to replicate what he'd seen Xie Li do.

As he worked, Kai focused on maintaining a connection between his qi and the forming pill. This was always the technique he found the most challenging, it felt like trying to hold onto a slippery fish. Several times, he felt the resonance start to slip away, only to catch it at the last moment.

After ten minutes, Kai completed the pill. It wasn't as perfect as Xie Li's, the glow a bit uneven and the shape slightly lopsided. But as he held it up, he could feel the resonance humming through it.

A system message popped up in his vision:

Congratulations!

Skill: Spiritual Resonance has reached level 5!

You have gained 100XP!

Kai couldn't help but smile.

"Well done, Senior Brother," Xie Li said, examining the pill. "The resonance is strong, even if the form isn't perfect. With practice, you'll be able to maintain better control over the shape."

Kai nodded. "Thank you, Xie Li. Your demonstration was incredibly helpful. I learned a lot just from watching you work."

Xie Li ducked her head, but Kai could see she was pleased by the compliment.

As they finished cleaning up the alchemy station, Kai decided it was time to make his move.

"Xie Li," he said, his tone casual. "I've really enjoyed working with you today. Your skill in alchemy is truly impressive."

"Thank you, Senior Brother," Xie Li replied, her cheeks pink. "I've enjoyed working with you too."

Kai nodded, then continued. "I have a proposition for you. As you know, I've recently started producing and selling Low-Grade Qi Gathering pills. But as a Legacy Disciple, my time is often limited. I've been thinking of bringing on someone to help with the pill production."

Xie Li's eyes widened as she realized where this was going.

"Would you be interested in making pills for me?" Kai asked. "I'd pay you, of course. Your skill would be invaluable, and it could be a good opportunity for you to gain more practical experience."

Xie Li bit her lip, clearly considering the offer. "It's a generous proposal, Senior Brother. But... I'm not sure if I'm ready for such a responsibility. What if I make a mistake? It’s not just my reputation at stake but also the reputation of a Legacy Disciple."

Kai shook his head. "Don't sell yourself short, Xie Li. I've seen your work. You're more than capable. And as for mistakes... well, they're part of the learning process. I'm not expecting perfection, just your best effort."

He could see Xie Li was still hesitant, so he decided to sweeten the deal. "Tell you what," he said. "Why don't we start with a trial period? Two weeks. You can see if you enjoy the work, and I can assess how well we work together. After that, if you're not comfortable continuing, we can part ways with no hard feelings. What do you say?"

Xie Li was quiet for a long moment, her gaze fixed on the alchemy equipment around them. Finally, she looked up at Kai, a small smile on her face.

"Alright, Senior Brother Kai," she said. "I accept your offer. A two-week trial period sounds fair."

Kai grinned. "Excellent! I look forward to working with you, Xie Li."

“I... I do too, Senior Brother."

They then left the practice room together but Kai was lost in deep thought.

With Xie Li's help, we can increase production and maybe even improve the quality of our pills. Su Fang won't know what hit him.

However, as he glanced at Xie Li, who was still blushing slightly and sneaking shy looks at him, Kai felt a twinge of guilt. I hope I'm not taking advantage of her. She seems so... innocent.

Kai pushed the thought aside. This is for the good of the guild. And for my own survival in this world. I can't afford to be too sentimental. And this will only benefit her, no need to feel guilty.

As they parted ways, Kai heading back to his pavilion and Xie Li to her quarters, Kai couldn't shake the feeling that things were about to get very interesting.

Su Fang, whoever you are, I hope you're ready for a challenge. Because the Trident Guild is just getting started.