Shen Yu's eyes met Kai's, his expression unreadable. "War," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Kai blinked, taken aback by the sudden declaration. "War? With who? A demonic sect?"

Shen Yu shook his head, his gaze drifting to the horizon. "Crimson Phoenix Sect," he replied, his voice carrying a weight that Kai couldn't quite decipher.

"Why?"

"There is no why. The war is meaningless. It won't amount to much, except for the death of tens of thousands of disciples."

Kai's brow furrowed as he processed this information. "Maybe we could prevent it?”

Shen Yu turned back to face him, his green eyes piercing through him. "Low-ranked disciples won't be able to prevent the war or change its outcome. All you need to do is stay alive."

Kai raised an eyebrow, surprised by Shen Yu's apparent concern. "And when did you start caring about my life?"

"We're partners now, aren't we?" Shen Yu replied, his tone matter-of-fact.

Kai studied Shen Yu's face, searching for any hint of deception. "Why are you so interested in me? You've kept an eye on me all this time. What makes me so special?"

Shen Yu's expression remained impassive. "Just stay alive," he repeated, avoiding the question.

Kai decided to try a different approach. "How did it end last time? During your previous life?" he asked, probing for more information about the war.

Shen Yu's eyes narrowed slightly. "Before you continue with your time-traveling nonsense, remember it's possible to get information from sources other than within the sect," he said, pausing for a moment before adding, "There are some techniques in this world that would shock even you."

I don't know what's more shocking than avoiding death over and over again.

"With your title as Legacy Disciple and an alchemist, it should keep you off any dangerous battlefields," Shen Yu continued. Then, almost as an afterthought, he added, "This is a good time for you and your little group to make some profit from your pills business. I don't really care as long as you stay alive."

"There's something else I've been meaning to ask you. Why did you tell me not to take the Sect Master as my master?"

For a moment, it was silent, it seemed Shen Yu might ignore the question. But then his eyes hardened, "It would have been better to keep yourself off the Sect Master's radar."

"Is this related to the disappearances? The missing disciples?"

Shen Yu's lips twitched in what might have been a smile, or perhaps a grimace. "Sure."

Kai found that response strange. He could tell there was more to it than Shen Yu was letting on. The casual 'sure' seemed at odds with the gravity of the situation. It was as if Shen Yu was confirming Kai's suspicion while simultaneously dismissing its importance.

"What aren't you telling me?" Kai pressed, taking a step closer to Shen Yu. "There's more to this, isn't there? What do you know about the Sect Master?"

Shen Yu's eyes narrowed slightly, the only indication that Kai's questions had struck a nerve. "I've told you what you need to know. Focus on staying alive and preparing for the war. That's all that matters right now."

Kai opened his mouth to ask more questions, but Shen Yu had already begun to walk away again.

"What are you going to do?" he called out, trying one last time to get more information.

Shen Yu turned, a glint in his eye. "What I do best," he replied cryptically. Before Kai could ask for clarification, Shen Yu's token activated, and he disappeared.

Left alone, Kai stood in silence, his mind on the news he had just received. The Azure Sky Sect and the Crimson Phoenix Sect were going to war. He needed to prepare. With a deep breath, Kai reached into his inventory and pulled out his own token. He activated it, feeling the familiar pull as he was transported back to the sect.

***

Back in his quarters at the Azure Sky Sect, Kai sat facing Chen Wei, Liu Wei, and Zhi-Zhi. He had been in Storm's Peak for around two days, and it was time to catch up on what had happened in his absence.

"First things first," Kai said, turning to Chen Wei. "How have our sales been going?"

Chen Wei's face lit up. He reached into his robes and pulled out a pouch, which he handed to Kai. "We've sold all the pills, Senior Brother Kai," he said proudly. "This pouch contains over a hundred spirit stones."

Kai nodded, pleased. The money would be useful in the coming days. "Good work," he said. "I think it's time we expand our operation. I'll hire another alchemist to help Xie Li produce more Low-Grade Qi Gathering pills."

The others nodded, looking excited at the prospect of growing their business. But Kai knew he had more important matters to discuss.

"Now," he said, his tone becoming more serious, "I want to know how your cultivation is progressing. Liu Wei, let's start with you."

Liu Wei straightened up, a mix of pride and nervousness on his face. "I've broken through to Qi Refining Stage 6, Master.”

Kai nodded and offered a word of congratulation, but inwardly he couldn't help but think, That's still too low. We need to push harder.

"Chen Wei?" Kai asked, turning to the former merchant's son.

"I'm close to breaking through to Qi Refining Stage 8, Senior Brother.”

Kai nodded, pleased with Chen Wei's progress. Finally, he turned to Zhi-Zhi.

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

"I'm very close to breaking through to Foundation Establishment,” The spirit tortoise shifted slightly. “I'll be training with Master for the next week. He's going to help me with the breakthrough."

Kai didn't know much about the breakthrough process for spiritual beasts, but he knew it was very different from humans. The flood dragon's attempted breakthrough at Storm's Peak had demonstrated that clearly enough. It was good that Cang Long would be helping Zhi-Zhi through the process.

"That's excellent news, Zhi-Zhi, make sure you listen to Master Cang Long's instructions carefully."

Kai reached into his storage ring and pulled out several bottles of Low-Grade Qi Gathering pills. He placed them on the table in front of his followers.

"I'll be preparing more of these for you, take as many as you need to speed up your cultivation. But be careful," he warned, his voice serious. "Over-reliance can lead to a shaky foundation and sometimes even qi toxicity. Use them wisely."

The others nodded.

"From now on, I want you all to prioritize your cultivation," Kai continued, his tone leaving no room for argument. "It's crucial that you advance as quickly as possible while maintaining a solid foundation."

Liu Wei leaned forward slightly, his brow furrowed. "Master, why the sudden urgency? I can tell something has you worried."

Kai took a deep breath. "What I'm about to tell you shouldn't leave this room," he said, waiting for each of them to nod in agreement before continuing. "I've received news that the Azure Sky Sect will likely be going to war soon."

The room erupted with questions.

"War? With who?"

"When?"

"Why?"

Kai held up a hand to quiet them. "The details don't matter right now. All you need to do is focus on your cultivation. I won't be able to protect you in battlefield."

He then looked at each of them in turn. "How are your trident marks coming along?"

They all reported that about a third of their marks were complete.

Kai nodded, his expression thoughtful. "Alongside your current mission of selling pills, your new mission is to breakthrough. We need to finish your marks before the war begins."

Chen Wei couldn't help but ask, "Is the Qi Condensation skill really that powerful, Senior Brother?"

Kai looked at him for a long moment. "Yes, it is," he said simply. But inwardly, he thought, A complete mark will give you a chance to evade death. And that's what matters most.

"Alright, you're dismissed," Kai said. "Except for you, Chen Wei. I need to speak with you."

As the others filed out, Kai turned to his servant. "Do you know of Su Jie?"

"Yes, he's an Outer Disciple. Why do you ask?"

"I need you to tell him to meet me in three hours at the Grove," Kai said. The grove was a quiet spot, perfect for a discreet meeting. It would be better than having Su Jie come to the Legacy Quarters.

Chen Wei looked confused but nodded. "Of course, Senior Brother. I'll deliver the message right away."

As Chen Wei left to carry out his task, Kai found himself alone with his thoughts. He began to prioritize his next steps.

His main focus needed to be his own cultivation. He still had three meridians to reopen using the Heavenly Thunderstorm method. His second priority was the pill business, which meant he needed to deal with Su Fang soon. And third... Kai's thoughts turned to Su Jie. He had a dangerous mission in mind for the young disciple, one that would take him outside the sect to gather information on the Crimson Phoenix Sect. It was risky, but Kai had a feeling Su Jie was well-suited for this type of covert operation.

As Kai prepared to take a short nap to rest before his meeting with Su Jie, he closed his eyes. Suddenly, he found himself back on Storm's Peak, the scene vivid and real as if he were reliving it.

The sky above him darkened. He could feel the electric charge in the air, making his hair stand on end. Looking up, he saw it forming - the massive Divine Hammer.

In this vision, time seemed to slow. Kai could see every detail of the technique - how the lightning coalesced, the way the qi flowed and compressed into the hammer's form. He felt the overwhelming power, the sheer destructive force contained within it.

As the hammer descended, Kai's mind kicked into overdrive. He noticed the intricate patterns of energy, the complex weave of lightning and qi. It was beautiful in its terrible power.

Just before impact, his eyes snapped open, the vision fading but the memory of it burning bright in his mind. He sat up, heart racing not from fear, but from excitement.

That technique... I saw how it was formed. The principles behind it. Maybe...

As if responding to his thoughts, a notification appeared in his vision:

New Mission: Architect - Create Your First Technique

Description: Develop an original technique based on your observations and understanding of cultivation principles.

Reward: 3000 XP

Kai couldn't help but smile. It seemed the system approved. Creating his own technique would be challenging, but if he could pull it off, it would be a significant boost to his combat capabilities.

The 3000 XP that comes with it won’t hurt…

With the war looming on the horizon, Kai knew he needed every advantage he could get.