Everyone was gathered in the cave to prepare to finally get some rest. Nerves finally spent after the sparring and the small meal they had. The few teachers made excuses of heading out to do recon and separated from the students.

By the looks of fear on their faces they either knew something was coming or they just wanted to be away when it does. The fact they were right only made the smart students that life was truly unfair. For the Teachers were supposed to guard them in case something goes really wrong.

Chu Xue was striking some rocks together to start a fire. The oddity of not using his technique to light it or one of the others to use fire was lost on a few of them.

"Wait, don't light a fire." Jasmine said lowly. After a few mentions about the noise earlier attracted Beast over, everyone was a little quieter. "The fire will also attract animals to our location and give the location of whoever is doing this."

"You think we will be safe here still?" A student asked. He was huddled up with the others. A slight chill around most of them was mostly caused by fear. Something needed to be done to break it up. "Should we set up a rotating watch?"

"Yeah, that is the best idea." Xiao Mei said. She eyed Leroy. "Senior Brother Leroy, we should take the first watch. I have some things to talk with you about."

He didn't mind since it gave him a chance to check something out. Her words broke him away from looking at the students so closely. The number of females in the group was a little higher than males. They all were from different families to the point isolation could still be detected.

"Sure, I have the energy for it." The two moved to the front of the cave. The rest broke off to finally get some rest. It wouldn't be untill an hour later that most were asleep. After making sure they person a few feet away wouldn't try to kill them. "So.."

Turning to Xiao Mei, Leroy paused as she had a very provocative look about her. If she was a little older he would have definitely entertained the idea. But jailbait was not something that he wanted and thankfully still disgusted him.

A new young body did not mean jumping at what was before you.

No matter how tempting for stress relief. Now if this was Madame Rue from the Tailor Store that was a different story. She was of age after all and definitely knew a thing or two if those purple eyes were anything to go by.

"I am willing to do whatever it takes to survive. The others might not have realized how dangerous everything happens to be, but I do." She grabbed Leroy's arm trembling. Words and actions are slightly in conflict. "I do not want to die here."

"Right.. that is perfectly understandable." Leroy blinked at her. "If you do exactly as I say the next few days I can make sure you have a better chance of survival." She nodded eagerly like a little puppy. "Good, you are a Flame Martial Artist correct?" She nodded more like a puppy. "Then take this Flame Qi and use it to cultivate."

*Fwish!* A small flame appeared in Leroy's hand. Inside a little spark of lighting was moving. The moment she took it into her Dantian pain wracked her body. The Champion moved just fast enough to cover her mouth from letting out a blood-curdling scream.

If anybody came over it would have been a very difficult thing to explain. The females here clothing was not the most appropriate and the males had a very bad habit that made 1800s American look docile.

"Forgot to mention it would hurt." Leroy said quickly. He received a look of anger but Xiao Mei kept it together and continued to circulate her qi with the flame. Her face softened just a bit as time passed. 'Hmm?' A slight stirring in Leroy's cultivation drew his attention. 'The Flame Vortex Core was spinning a little again. He pulled away immediately to keep from getting pulled in. 'Just in case, can't be too careful.'

He spoke a few matters over with Xiao Mei that she paid attention to as best she could. Considering Leroy was not taking advantage of her, it earned him a little more respect in her eyes. The distraction helped with the pain.

She understood nothing good could come from sharing what he was telling her. A good way to die faster and not have any benefits maybe. Letting her in on some small plans was the best he could do at the time.

Besides noticing that her Dantian seemed to carry another Element inside, nothing else came to mind for changes so far. A small trace of light that mimicked the sparks of his own lighting appeared every now and then but it was not remaining as it fed the other element.

Checking his screen he confirmed one thing already. The Connection went up due to Xiao Mei using his flame to cultivate. Leroy made sure to alert her to go to the bathroom the moment she could. Wouldn't be good for her to be late considering all that she wore really. Well, lack of clothing that is.

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

'Connection went up but nothing else. The only thing left to do is speed up what's in the Flame Vortex Core right now. I can feel my Flamelighting Dantian ready for a breakthrough but it still hurts a little from that blasted Life/Antilife Qi from the Monument previously. The next stage of the Qi Refining Realm, or to be exact the V Rank is just around the corner. It would hurt too much and might kill me if I break through now or worse.. fail.'

As he broke down some more of the Cold Qi Stone, he could feel the Metal Seed taking in bits of pieces from what he thought were the minerals within the stone. Nowhere near enough to help it advance further. But it did help with the temperature a bit and something else he would have to look deeper into as it mixed in his body.

Using his homemade microscope would be great once the increased Inscriptions to make it more like a high-powered electron microscope to get down to see all microorganisms without having a strain from a micro bleed or possible stroke.

'Hmm!' Insights on regular Flame Martial artists started to develop. The moves that came naturally from the Dantian itself were improved a little in understanding. 'So the finger technique and claws would have developed somewhat on its own if I had a regular Dantian. Not bad but the differences do look to be more accommodating for the body type and build I have tried to sculpt. Is this because of the Connection that formed with Xiao Mei or a sharing because we are in close proximity while she is cultivating?'

It was something he would ask the Afterlife Backdoor Terminal the moment he saw it to make sure exactly how that functioned. After clearing those thoughts he focused on Cultivating the surroundings once more.

Sometimes his mind was thinking too much and he needed to apply real focus. Sitting crisscross he was comfortable and resting but his hands moved about in patterns. Practicing Formations and Inscription Patterns in the air.

Not expending Qi but going through the hand motions.

Leroy looked into the cave behind. Considering how he made a hole in there it made sense it would become cold faster in the front area. Once the next watch group came up, things had to change if they were going to stay awake.

A small change after a few hours.

Xiao Mei had gotten rid of all the toxins she had and looked better for it. She was currently taking care of her Cultivation Base. One thing the Qi did was help solidify the cracks and other problems within. If not for all of those flaws she might have broke through to the next Rank.

As advised, she would keep it secret from others. If found out she was to say she received some favors from Leroy as he believed she would make a great follower. Which was true in a sense but not that easy considering his station. But he was the vice principal's senior student.

Chu Xue found the issue first in the cave when on rotation. A lot of the students were shivering uncontrollably and left out during their rotation as soon as possible.

A small investigation leads them to the hole Leroy made previously. He only covered his tracks a little.

Jasmine felt agitated that something inside was making her feel so cold. She recklessly charged at the boulder channeling her Qi. Leroy had just enough time to step in front of most of the students and erect a barrier of flames and lighting.

'Beast Aura's Fist!' Jasmine hit dead center destroying the boulder almost completely. Small bits of debris heading around the cave from the Qi shape bear head that formed. She gave a small irritated look at Leroy. A smug smile on her face of triumph. 'Spent all night talking with that girl, here I thought he would come to find me to talk over the next course of action! Humph!'

Unwarranted and crazed jealousy at its finest. Didn't help she was Territorial due to the Beast Martial Arts and being the North King's Daughter.

"A little warning next time would be nice." Victoria said. A few of the others just had awkward looks on their faces. The rush of heat and rocks did wake a few of them up more from the cold. "A hidden tunnel, I wonder what's inside?"

"Something good or something bad." Chu Xue said stepping forward. He looked around the opening a bit. "Weird cave..'

Leroy was observing parts of the entrance since he had the time. His hands ran along certain parts that look altered. Not from him and not mentioned in the journals.

"Maybe a small seal perhaps. Or people afraid of something getting out. I am sure nothing you cannot handle beast princess."

"Humph! Of course not!" Jasmine stepped into the opening quickly. "I say we check it out."

"Jasmine, it could be really dangerous." Victoria said quickly as she followed her friend.

"It is worth the look and it might lead a way to getting out of here. Maybe a Teleportation Pad or Formation somewhere." Leroy said following her. He didn't search deep enough and there could be those things. He actually hopes so. "If there is trouble, we can just leave right?"

"Relax, this Princess has it covered if all of you are too scared, so it should be fine." Jasmine continued to walk as she thump her chest. Her hands folded behind her as if she was taking a stroll afterward. "No risk, no reward."

Leroy noticed she now sported a ring on each hand. A small gem glowing in intricate patterns that drew in small bits of Qi. The gap between them and the others students started to increase enough they gave out last words quickly.

"Hmm, we will wait out here." Xiao Mei said to them and the others who immediately started getting cold from the powerful Qi. "In case any trouble comes we send someone to alert of danger." A few of the students nodded quickly agreeing to that. Not wanting to head inside since that is where the biggest chill was coming from. "Don't worry about us."

"I am coming to." Chu Xue followed along. "We all don't need to stay back and it might be dangerous like sister Victoria said."

"Right, me to." Victoria tailing behind after thinking it over. She was already a good bit in the passageway. 'I can definitely do this!' Wanting to push herself more to gain resources or build a friendship base with her junior brother was also on her mind.

As they moved Leroy started picking up broken pieces of stone. It was pretty strong and also a perfect size for practicing etching Formations and Inscription Patterns on. Not to mention as projectiles that were able to hold onto Qi better than the stuff he found on the outside.