Mei's silhouette cut through the night sky. She stood on the disk of mana with her arms crossed, her short frame at ease and her expression confident. Alex ascended beside her similarly relaxed, the igniting panels of Phoenix Cascade flaring briefly beneath his feet, the bursts of energy keeping his movements steady as he calmly matched her pace. The faint crackle of energy was the only sound, dulled to nothing by the layer of concealment her stealth skill provided.

The mountain blurred before them, its jagged edges shrouded in the faint mist of lingering clouds. Alex glanced up at the structure carved deep into its face. The treasury vault’s metallic doors stood out even at a distance, towering and forbidding. The surrounding stone walls glistened faintly, smooth and sheer, as though untouched by time or weather.

“We’re getting close,” Mei said, her voice cutting through the shared silence. Her shield tilted slightly as she adjusted her balance, her arms dropping to her sides.

"Slow down," Alex said, shifting focus to the structure ahead. The light from the entrance of the vault revealed a lone figure, standing still and upright. The guard’s stance was rigid, his robes flowing slightly as the wind swept down the mountainside.

Mei’s disc slowed as Alex let the panels around him fade and landed softly on her platform. The mana disk shifted under his weight but thickened to hold firm as Mei crossed her arms again, leaning slightly forward to observe the guard.

“That’s him,” Mei said, her tone sharper now. Her gaze flicked to Alex. “The Unbending Fang. He's a problem...Why are we doing this, anyway?"

"Because i want to borrow some stuff before we leave."

"don't you think they'll know who to look for if you suddenly disappear the moment their treasures get raided?"

"I'm not leaving straight away, there's some more things I need," "and I won't be taking much, half of the stuff will be up here" he tapped his head with a smirk. "Tell me about the guard."

“Freakin' maniac. Caught a group of disciples sharing a technique once. He called it a 'demonic technique' and made them fight each other to the death. Only the last one standing got to live long enough to report their crime,” she said, jabbing her finger towards the edge of a summoned shield, shaped like an arrow. “And when someone stole a medicinal herb? Cut off their hand and left them bleeding at the sect gates as a warning.”

The disk tilted slightly again as Mei shifted her weight. “He’s a fanatic. My stealth skill’s good, but he’s not the kind you fool up close.”

Alex nodded once, his expression unreadable as he crouched slightly, bracing himself on the edge of the shield. “Then we don’t get close,” he said simply.

Mei raised an eyebrow but didn’t argue. Alex extended one hand, faint streaks of mana coalescing around his fingers. The air fractured briefly before a construct formed in the distance—a shadowy figure, hooded and cloaked with a long ceremonial blade, appearing just at the edge of the guard’s vision. "Pierce Reality," he whispered, and the distant bushes ruffled, giving the appearance of multiple distant intruders.

The Unbending Fang’s posture stiffened immediately. His head snapped toward the movement, his body a blur as he shot toward the figure with inhuman speed.

Alex didn’t wait for Mei’s signal. The disc lurched forward as he pressed one foot into its edge, the force propelling them both toward the massive doors. Mei’s hands extended slightly, stabilising the disc as they shot forward, the faint hum of her mana silenced as they blurred through the air.

The doors loomed closer, their sheer size dwarfing them both, standing like sentinels against the sheer rock face with massive frames that blended into the mountain’s carved surface. Alex landed first, stepping off the shield as Mei dismissed it with a thought. She landed beside him, her boots hitting the stone with a muted thud. Patterns stretched across the metal, their grooves deep enough to hint at mechanisms Alex could practically see beneath the thick metal.

Mei tilted her head back, craning her neck to study the towering doors with a faint scowl. “What now?”

Alex exhaled slowly, his gaze sharpening as he stepped closer to the door. “Hold on,” he said, his voice steady. “I have an idea.” His breath steadied as he pressed his hand against the cold surface of the massive doors. The sensation spread through his palm as time stood still in his vision, buying time before the dangerous guard could return—metal dense with purpose, fortified by layers of mechanisms, traps, and ancient formations humming in their slumber. His fingers pressed against the cold metal as his thoughts turned inward, summoning a fragment of his connection to the Dao.

Flux. Change. The state of all things being and not being. His influence rippled outward, faint but precise, touching the layers of existence that made up the door. It became old and decayed, then pristine and untouched. In some moments, it vanished entirely, leaving an expanse of fine dust.

Alex grabbed Mei's arm and pulled her through several feet of dense metal, traps, and arrays as though they weren't even there.

The doors had solidified behind them soundlessly as they stepped forward. Boots pressed against smooth stone, the sound faint but distinct in the otherwise muted chamber. The image of heavenly bovine motifs greeted them, their horns curling into ornate spirals that intersected with lines of script Alex didn’t recognize.

“Alex, you’re going to tell me what just happening here, right?” Mei said, her tone edged with curiosity and something else he couldn’t quite place.

"I'll tell you later." He responded flatly. He'd think about it if she asked.

Alex stepped forward into the treasury’s vast chamber, his footsteps faint against the polished stone floor. The air felt heavier here, dense with the energy of formations prickling his skin. The walls stretched high above, etched with the sect’s insignia alongside patterns of divine bovine motifs intertwined with angular fractal patterns. Formations carved into the stone hummed softly, their patterns surging in rhythm, casting a muted light across the room.

Mei strode ahead, her boots clicking lightly on the stone as she paused near a cluster of display pedestals. Her fingers brushed the edge of one as she peered at an elaborately designed spear encased in a glass cylinder. The spear’s shaft bore intricate carvings of swirling clouds, its tip a crystalline blade that seemed to hold an inner glow.

“Not bad,” she muttered. Her gaze swept over the display. “This sect is pretty rich for this sector."

Alex raised an eyebrow, glancing at her. “How do you figure?”

She turned to him, gesturing toward the well-maintained shelves and pedestals. “Look around. This stuff is organised and accessible. That’s not how a treasury this valuable should look if it’s their best one.” She leaned closer to a rack of spirit stones, plucking one out and holding it up to the light, the burn of its Qi visible to the naked eye. “That alone tells me this is probably just an entrance vault.”

Shelves of dark wood rose in organised rows, their surfaces gleaming with a faint polish. Weapons lined one wall, each meticulously placed on custom mounts. Blades, spears, hammers and other weapons he couldn't recognise were displayed in varying shapes and sizes, their metal exuding lethality, brimming with barely contained Qi. Each one felt comparable to Yan Hua in the energy they exuded, some of them exceeding what he had felt in their first encounter. Others were simplistic and arrayed beneath and at the edges, but still radiated a raw, refined power.

He would inspect them later.

Alex turned towards his true goal, his eyes scanning the rows of cultivation manuals on the opposite side. Bound in leather and engraved titles that glowed faintly in his vision, they rested in perfect symmetry, categorised by discipline. He opened the manual, relieved to see that whatever translation function his system had granted him applied to texts far more ancient than he was. His attention lingered briefly on a title written in archaic script before he turned back to Mei.

“What makes you think this is just the entrance?” he asked, keeping his voice low as his gaze flicked to the far end of the chamber, where a double set of massive doors loomed.

Mei turned to him, a small smirk tugging at her lips. She tapped the glass cylinder in front of her with a knuckle. “Because we got in without much trouble. And…” She gestured around them with an exaggerated wave. “We haven’t been caught yet. Doesn’t scream ‘main treasury,’ does it?”

The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

Alex considered her words as his eyes shifted to the rows of spirit stones displayed in recessed alcoves along the walls. They ranged in size and hue, some burning brightly while others lay dormant. What she said makes sense, he thought. For a sect this supposedly hard to get into, the most valuable treasures, however many or few there were, would be hidden behind of traps and formations far more sophisticated than the ones they had encountered.

“Still, it’s well-guarded for a side vault,” he remarked, as he flicked through several manuals, "some of these techniques are intended for those at the highest stages". His gaze focused as he studied the formations woven into the floor beneath the alcoves. Arrays of interlocking runes spread outward in precise geometric patterns, the energy seeping deep into the floor and in constant rotation, their purpose clear to him: traps designed to immobilise or incinerate intruders. "Whatever you do, stay away from that area." He could practically see the trap's deadly Qi shooting through the air in pulses to connect with the ceiling.

Alex reached toward the shelf, his hand pausing over a thick, weathered manual bound in dark leather. Gold-etched characters on the cover read “The Book of 9 Swords.” His fingers brushed its surface, noting the weight of the book as he pulled it free. The edges of the pages looked uneven, as though cut hastily, and a faint metallic scent hung around it, like steel left too long in the sun. The technique its pages described was nothing short of astonishing—nine precise sword forms that could counter and dominate all other weapon techniques. At the highest stages of mastery, a practitioner could strike from nine angles at once, delivering nine simultaneous attacks in one motion. The manual described the technique as an ultimate blend of offence and defence, designed to make its user nearly untouchable in combat.

As he read, Alex focused on the methodology laid out in detail. The first step involved guiding his Qi into his core and controlling his breathing, slow and deliberate, to expand his Qi pathways. The manual instructed him to visualize the flow of energy through his meridians, focusing it into a single, sharp point at the base of his spine before channelling it into his sword arm. Once the Qi was condensed, it needed to flow outward in pulses timed with his movements, not just into the blade but into the surrounding space, extending its reach and control. The manual emphasised positioning—each form required the practitioner to anticipate and counter attacks from specific angles, keeping their movements fluid and precise. Alex stood, gripping his sword tightly. He followed the manual’s instructions step by step, his breathing steady as he brought the blade through the first stance. His Qi was uneven, sweeping through his meridians as he moved, but he adjusted, shifting his weight and grounding himself before transitioning into the second stance. Mei leaned against a nearby pedestal, watching him. “It’s going to take forever to use their techniques,” she said, crossing her arms and gesturing toward the manual still open on the ground. "You're wasting your time." Alex continued unperturbed, reaching the ninth stance, the blade cutting a slow line as if bisecting an imagined enemy.

[Technique 'Nine Swords Destruction' gained!]

"I wouldn't be so sure of that” Alex muttered under his breath, observing that the air around his sword blurred faintly, his movements shifting to near-perfection. In front of him, the after-image of a second blade appeared, though it was faint. The manual had mentioned the technique requiring the mastery of something called 'Basic Sword Qi,' a feat only attainable for those at the next stage of cultivation, greater in strength than any opponent he had faced so far. The limiting requirement led him to a very important question; what would happen if he attempted to learn techniques intended for those far beyond his stage?

Well at least now I know what I'm looking for next, he thought, eyeing the endless rows of manuals. It would be a good opportunity to test the limits of his system.

He began swiftly scouring through the shelves, his fingers brushing the edges of cultivation manuals lined meticulously along the rows. He paused, unsure of where to begin, before settling on a strategy—choosing at random but favouring those manuals with traces of Qi, their brightness an indicator of power in his eyes. One after another, he flipped through their pages, skimming the descriptions and methodologies, deciding if a technique sounded practical or worth his time. Each time he found one that met his standards, he committed it to system-enhanced memory and sprang into motion. He waved his sword in sweeping arcs, leapt high to test aerial manoeuvres, or hurled his blade to observe its trajectory. Flickers of movement followed, his body blurring momentarily in Mei’s vision as he appeared to attempt splitting into multiple versions of himself, though each effort faltered before anything materialised. Undeterred, he repeated the process—reading, attempting, discarding—while Mei leaned nearby, watching the display with quiet amusement.

[Technique...]

[Technique...]

[Technique...]

Nearly an hour later, he sat cross-legged on the ground, cultivating a manual etched with faint silvery markings, before he rose as if possessed and made a beeline for the far end of the hall, his eyes set on the densely protected inner section.

Alex’s steps slowed as he neared the chamber’s far end, where a towering double set of metal doors loomed. The surface bristled with dense layers of talismans and trinkets, wrapping the imposing metal in a chaotic yet deliberate pattern, their edges overlapping so tightly it seemed they encased the doors entirely. The talismans exuded a stifling Qi, pressing against him like a tangible force that grew heavier with each step as if the very air resisted his advance. Mei’s voice broke through the oppressive quiet. “Where are you going?” she asked, her unease evident in her sudden halt, but Alex neither turned nor answered, his focus locked on the doors. Their intricate carvings of monstrous minotaurs wielding a myriad of weapons, their towering forms depicted as unstoppable conquerors. One minotaur cleaved mountains, another dragged the sun and moon into chains, while others vanquished phoenixes and dragons alike, their hulking forms dominating all in their path. At the centre, a lone minotaur held a lightning-wreathed figure in one hand and chains that seemed to bind the sky in the other, its expression locked in eternal triumph. The Qi emanating from the door felt like a solid wall, thick and unrelenting. It was denser than anything he’d encountered—even Mistress Yan Hua’s Qi, which felt almost hollow in comparison. He traced the glowing formations with his eyes, noting the complex traps built into their structure. Alex raised a hand, feeling the overwhelming density of Qi, he pressed his palm against the invisible force and froze as it refused him, its density barring further approach.

He channelled his Dao and walked through the barriers as though they weren’t there, the strain building gradually in the back of his mind like the slow press of a distant storm, or like a distant drumbeat growing ever so faintly louder with each step.

He reached the other side, still enveloped in flux, and found a mostly empty chamber and a handful of heavily sealed items on ornate pedestals; a war staff, a hammer, a set of chains, three swords, what looked like a set of manuals, and a strange crystal.

Alex stepped forward, his gaze locking onto a towering greatsword as large as he was. it radiated suffocating heat, the metal's molten texture bright, ever burning, and writhing as if alive, its fire bound in place by dense seals that spoke of eternal resistance, the oppressive energy carrying an unsettling familiarity that tugged at his thoughts. The blade was barely affected by flux, appearing ever present in all moments, though in some instances it looked like bones and ashes. It can't be... Alex thought, the sense of familiarity increasing further as he reached out to touch the surface, ignoring the sensation of burning flesh. The moment his charred finger brushed against its surface he immediately felt a sharp presence begin to overwhelm his mind. Nope- Inventory, he had barely even thought the words before the giant burning weapon vanished into the depths of his spatial space.

Beside it, twin blades rested, their surfaces marked with patterns resembling the sun’s blazing arcs and the moon’s cool crescents, exuding a balance of warmth and shadow that unsettled him as though light and dark vied for dominance in their presence. He stored the weapons in his inventory too, the barest of a Dao-filled touch being enough.

His attention shifted to an immense hammer etched with jagged lines that seemed to spark faintly, the air around it alive with a crackling tension that prickled against his skin, leaving his hand instinctively hovering at his side. Electricity, huh? I bet without the Dao it'd fry me just for standing this close, he thought as he observed its suppressed arcs.

He moved past the pair of circular blades surrounded by an aura of destructive earth Qi. That wasn't a weapon he was familiar with in any manner, though he found its design intriguing.

His eyes paused on the large floating crystal radiating an unsettling stillness, he could see clearly that nothing moved around the crystal- not air, not sound, not chemicals, not even flux. He could tell that if he were to approach it recklessly, he would be trapped in the single moment the crystal exuded, as though time itself bent in its vicinity. Ok, I want nothing to do with that just yet, he thought, moving on to the next treasure.

Thick metal chains snaked in the air to his left, their motion smooth and predatory, looping in an endless cycle around dense formations barely capable of containing them. A floating staff turned gently in place, its subtle rotation stirring a whirlwind so sharp that as Alex approached, a single thread of it lashed out, slicing his palm cleanly and forcing him back with a start.

As he walked, he cultivated, employing a learned technique to breathe in portions of the dense Qi of each item, the energy-boosting his reserves. I guess this energy doesn't really have a beginning or end, so i can cultivate it even while I'm in a state of flux... he reasoned with mild surprise. I don't even want to think about the implications of that,

[Qi: 1003 > 1013 ]

Finally, the trio of manuals. Their bindings were strange, two crafted from the dark, reflective scales of some ancient creatures, and the last, disturbing in its appearance, bound from what could only be human flesh, the ink slowly bleeding from its edges a deep and disturbing blood red.

The Dao's prickly thrum grew faintly in the back of his head as he placed a finger on the manuals, focusing on the sensation of his inventory. Targeting only the books themselves and not the talismans and trinkets that covered them, he stored them away, causing the talismans to fall harmlessly to the ground. Summoning the manuals once more, he scoured through all three with a face that displayed varying emotions the more he read, before placing them back harmlessly once he was done to turn and heading for the exit, a soft and satisfied smile painting his features.

[Technique...]

[Technique...]

[Technique...]

Now that he had gained most of what he wanted, it was time to experiment, to test the limits of not just his system, but of cultivation, too.