The next day. It was a quiet night, and the moon cast a dim light over the dense forest as I decided to take a stroll.

I knew that Nie Li had ventured into the training grounds earlier the day before.

I had one of the family’s loyal servants tail him discreetly, hoping to learn something of value. The report came back vague. Nie Li was hunting sheep. If Nie Li had gone there, it was likely not for mere training. Perhaps the grounds also held some hidden treasures and artifacts.

With cautious steps, I moved silently through the forest; my senses sharpened. It was quiet, but I was not one to take unnecessary risks. My eyes flickered, constantly observing my surroundings, always alert to any subtle movements.

In recent days I had begun to slowly unlock the latent potential of my dōjutsu, the Byakugan—an ocular power once belonging to the ancient Hyuuga Clan of the Ninja World. However, this mysterious power actually traced back to the ancestor of all chakra-wielding beings: Kaguya Ōtsutsuki, the Progenitor of Chakra.

As I concentrated, I felt the familiar surge of energy course through me.

Despite not having chakra, I was still able to activate the Byakugan. Rather than Chakra, the humans in this world could use their inner energy. In a way, it was similar to Chakra but less potent and was mostly used by fighters, while Demon Spiritualists used their soul force.

My Byakugan was activated, and my eyes glowed with white light as my vision expanded.

The once-impenetrable darkness of the forest became transparent, and objects that once blocked my sight now became faint outlines. The trees ahead became translucent, as did the ground beneath them, allowing me to see the layout of the land several meters in all directions.

I could see the faint glow of living beings—small animals, the flutter of insects, the subtle shifting of wind among the leaves.

The Byakugan's basic abilities allowed me to peer through solid matter, but I was now learning to stretch the limits of this power. With it, I could look for clues, hidden caches, or anomalies in the spiritual flow of the land.

I moved deeper into the forest, my sight honed in on the training grounds in the distance.

Suddenly, I heard an unusual sound from the distant jungle. Someone else was in the training grounds this late at night.

“Who would still be here at this hour?” I wondered, frowning. Maybe it was Nie Li sneaking around.

My curiosity piqued, and I quietly ran toward the sound, weaving through the woods until I found a spot to hide in the shadows.

The field beyond was bathed in soft moonlight, illuminating a lone figure.

Standing in the middle of the open space was a slender, graceful figure. The faint glow of soul force radiated from her, casting a pale blue light around her, signifying that her cultivation was on the verge of breaking into the Bronze rank.

My sharp gaze landed on her face. Her eyes were closed, her long lashes trembling slightly, with brows delicate and arched.

"Xiao Ning’er," I murmured, recognizing her immediately. I was taken aback—Xiao Ning’er was more diligent than I had anticipated. It was already late, and she was still here, training her soul force, relentlessly pushing herself. She would soon step into the Bronze rank.

My Byakugan, which had grown more attuned, allowed me to see beyond the superficial. I focused my gaze on Xiao Ning'er, scanning her aura, and immediately noticed something off.

The flow of spiritual energy in her meridians was uneven, chaotic, and unstable. The faint glow of her aura flickered erratically, a clear sign that something was wrong with her cultivation.

A frown crossed my face. I could see the anomalies in her aura—tenderils of energy coiled tightly around her internal organs, particularly near her dantian.

These were no ordinary signs of overexertion. Her body was rejecting the very energy she was trying to cultivate. The imbalance was growing with each passing moment, and if she continued like this, it would eventually lead to a disastrous backlash, one that could permanently damage her meridians or worse, cripple her cultivation entirely.

I narrowed my eyes. This isn't just a case of overworking her body—there's something else at play here.

After a moment of thought, I decided to approach her.

"Who’s there?" Xiao Ning’er’s eyes snapped open, her voice sharp as she swiftly pulled out a short dagger. Her gaze was cold as she scanned her surroundings, settling on me.

"I'm Naraku," I said calmly, stepping out from behind a tree. Though we have never spoken much, we were classmates. I hoped she would recognize me enough to not attack me.

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Xiao Ning’er hesitated before lowering her dagger, but her defenses remained high. "What are you doing here?" she asked, her tone still cautious.

I gave a casual shrug and smiled faintly. "I could ask you the same, but that's hardly important." I glanced around the clearing, then back at her. "I was just out for a stroll in the woods when I spotted you training out here—alone, in the dead of night, no less. Hiding from something, perhaps?"

Ning’er’s eyes narrowed. “I’m not hiding. You shouldn't concern yourself with what I'm doing."

"Oh, but I’m not concerned. Just... curious." I said.

"I'm training my soul force," she replied, her eyes studying me carefully.

I raised my hands. "I'll just hang out around here."

"I’m not interested in interfering with others," Xiao Ning’er said coolly, crossing her arms.

Unlike many others, Xiao Ning’er didn’t rely on her looks or privilege. Instead, she fought to prove herself, earning respect through her hard work and resilience.

In Nie Li's previous life, Xiao Ning’er’s overtraining had caused a devastating illness, one that had not only set back her cultivation but left her in constant pain for years.

“You are pushing yourself too hard,” I said, stepping closer but maintaining a respectful distance.

"I have to get stronger. There’s no other way. I can’t rely on anyone but myself,” she said.

I could understand her desperation. In the world we lived in, strength meant survival. "I know why you're doing this, but overworking your soul force will only harm you in the long run. There's a better way."

Xiao Ning’er’s eyes narrowed, suspicious of my words. “And what would you know about my situation?”

"I know because I’ve seen it happen before. Overextending your soul force will cause irreparable damage to your body. You’ll reach Bronze rank soon, but if you keep pushing like this, you'll burn yourself out before you even get there."

The cold front she had put up faltered just a little. “Why do you care?” she asked quietly, her voice losing some of its edge.

“Because I don’t want to see you suffer needlessly. You’re strong, but strength isn’t just about pushing yourself to the limit. Sometimes, it’s about knowing when to step back, reevaluate, and take care of your body.” I said.

Xiao Ning’er’s gaze wavered. She had never been one to accept help from others. She had always relied on herself, never asking for or expecting support from anyone. Her heart was filled with the desire to prove herself, to be more than just a pretty face, to earn her place through sheer force of will.

But now, standing under the moonlight with my concern reaching her, she found herself hesitating. Could he be right?

“I don’t need your pity,” Xiao Ning’er muttered.

I shook my head. My Byakugan faintly activated again, and I glanced at her aura once more. The chaotic flow of energy around her was even more pronounced now that I was closer. "I noticed that your cultivation isn’t going as smoothly as you’d like it to."

Xiao Ning'er stiffened. She knew he could see through her, but hearing it aloud stung her pride. “I told you, this is my business.”

"True enough," I acknowledged, my tone light. "But if you’re going to kill yourself through reckless cultivation, maybe it’s time someone pointed out the obvious. You won’t grow stronger by damaging your own meridians."

Xiao Ning’er bit her lip, frustration flashing in her eyes. "You don’t understand. “I don’t have time to slow down,” she finally muttered. “If I don’t push harder... I’ll never catch up."

"You think you can push yourself through sheer will alone, but you’re just hastening your own downfall. Whatever is wrong with your cultivation method, it’s not something you can fix by brute force."

"Catch up? To who? Ye Ziyun? The Sacred Family? Or are you running from something else entirely?" I said.

There was silence between us, broken only by the faint rustle of the leaves around. Xiao Ning’er’s expression flickered between defiance and despair.

She looked away, not answering.

I stepped forward, my voice softening slightly. "Pride is a powerful motivator, but it won’t save you from yourself. You need to take a step back before you destroy everything you’re working for. And for what it’s worth... you’re not as alone as you think."

Xiao Ning'er glanced up at me, surprised by the last words, but I had already turned my back to her, walking away into the shadows. "Consider it friendly advice. Or don’t. Either way, think carefully before you continue this path."

With that, I disappeared into the night, leaving her standing alone in the clearing.

I had initially considered recruiting Xiao Ning’er into my team, but her cold demeanor made me rethink the idea.

I could tell she disliked me. I suspected her hostility stemmed from my connection to the Sacred Family. After all, the Sacred Family had schemed against the Xiao family, seizing a large portion of their assets. But despite understanding her animosity, I remained indifferent to her plight.

To me, recruiting someone unwilling to join voluntarily was a waste of time. I wasn’t the type to invest resources into helping people who weren’t fully on board with my plans.

Becoming a demon spiritualist required immense wealth, and I wasn’t about to spend my precious spirit coins on someone from whom I saw little immediate gain.

Talent, after all, was just one factor, and it didn’t guarantee success.

The Sacred Family had an abundance of high-ranking cultivators at it's disposal, including silver and gold-rank warriors who could be summoned at my command. I had also recruited several commoners from my class, many of whom were eager to serve and follow my lead.

However, with their lower cultivation, they could only act as bodyguards or scouts on expeditions for now, and I knew that as I advanced to higher ranks, such followers would become obsolete. Therefore, investing in individuals with both talent and loyalty was essential.

Xiao Ning’er may possess a green talent, which most would consider impressive, but it wasn’t enough to sway me.

I believed that without a clear path to mutual benefit, fostering a partnership was a waste of time. If Xiao Ning’er didn’t recognize the help I was giving her, I certainly wasn’t going to force her to see it.

In addition, I valued personal strength above all. So having a large number of subordinates was secondary to me.

As a scientist in my previous life, my primary reason for recruiting commoners in the first place was for research. These recruits can be used to further my study of cultivation. As for Xiao Ning’er, she was too guarded, and it was unlikely she would willingly become one of my test subjects—at least, not for now.

All of this is such a drag. Let that niga—Nie Li deal with this shit.

With that decision, I mentally crossed her off my list of potential allies and shifted my focus elsewhere—toward pursuits that would bring me closer to transcending life and death.