The tribulation preparation took three days.
Mei constructed a specialized formation in the compound's central courtyard—a lightning-conducting array designed to channel tribulation energy while protecting the surrounding buildings. The formation glowed with intricate patterns, each line drawn in powdered spirit stone and activated with her blood.
"This won't reduce the tribulation's power," Mei explained as she worked. "But it will prevent collateral damage. The last thing we need is heaven's lightning destroying half the compound because you decided to break through."
Lira prepared Kael's body through intensive meridian treatments. Each session involved her healing qi flowing through his spiritual channels, widening them, strengthening their walls, preparing them to handle the massive influx of energy that would accompany the breakthrough.
"Your foundation is actually quite solid," she noted during one treatment. "Surprisingly so, given how fast you've advanced. The system must be doing something to stabilize it."
[BLOOD SHADOW CULTIVATION METHOD: AUTOMATIC FOUNDATION STABILIZATION]
[RAPID ADVANCEMENT PENALTY: REDUCED BY 70%]
Sera contributed in her own way—by eliminating any potential threats that might interfere with the breakthrough. She spent two days hunting down Azure Moon sect scouts who'd been observing the compound, ensuring they couldn't report on Kael's vulnerable state during tribulation.
"Killed four scouts, scared off six more," she reported. "The Azure Moon sect definitely knows something is happening, but they won't know what specifically."
Rogan served as additional security, personally patrolling the compound perimeter with twenty of their most loyal subordinates. His presence alone—a Body Refinement Stage 5 cultivator radiating killing intent—deterred most casual observers.
By the third day, everything was ready.
Kael sat in the center of Mei's formation, his cultivation at Body Refinement Stage 5 - 94%. Just a few more percentage points and he'd trigger the breakthrough automatically.
His four companions stood at the formation's cardinal points—Mei to the north managing the array, Lira to the south ready to provide emergency healing, Sera to the east watching for external threats, Rogan to the west providing his qi as additional support.
[TRIBULATION BREAKTHROUGH: READY]
[CURRENT SUCCESS RATE: 88%]
[COMPANION SUPPORT: ACTIVE]
[PROCEED?]
Kael took a deep breath and began cultivating.
The qi flowed into his meridians faster than ever before, drawn by his intent to advance. His dantian swirled with accumulated energy—years worth of cultivation compressed into weeks through the system's enhancement and Life Point conversion.
The breakthrough moment approached like a rising tide. He could feel his cultivation reaching the threshold, pushing against the barrier between Body Refinement and Qi Gathering.
One more breath. One more circulation.
The barrier shattered.
[BREAKTHROUGH INITIATED]
[BODY REFINEMENT STAGE 5 → QI GATHERING STAGE 1]
[MINOR TRIBULATION DETECTED]
[HEAVEN'S JUDGMENT: ACTIVE]
The sky darkened instantly. Clouds condensed from nothing, swirling into a vortex directly above the compound. Thunder rumbled with a sound like the world splitting.
Kael's consciousness expanded dramatically. He could suddenly sense spiritual energy in a completely new way—not just as something to draw into his body, but as something he could manipulate externally, shape into techniques, project outward.
This is Qi Gathering. This is real power.
But the tribulation wasn't interested in his revelations.
The first lightning bolt descended like the wrath of heaven itself.
It was pure white, blindingly bright, containing enough energy to vaporize a mortal in an instant. Mei's formation caught it and channeled the energy around the compound rather than through it, but Kael still had to endure the strike directly.
The lightning hit his body and exploded through his meridians.
Pain beyond description. Every nerve ending ignited simultaneously, his qi pathways seared by heaven's judgment, his very existence questioned by the natural laws governing cultivation.
Survive. Just survive.
His Body Refinement Stage 5 physical resilience kept him from dying instantly. His newly forming Qi Gathering cultivation tried desperately to absorb and distribute the energy. The clash between heaven's lightning and his own qi was like a war fought inside his body.
[TRIBULATION STRIKE 1/3: SURVIVED]
[CURRENT CONDITION: SEVERE MERIDIAN DAMAGE]
Lira's healing qi flowed into him immediately, repairing what could be repaired before the second strike. It wasn't enough to fully heal him, but it kept him from collapsing entirely.
The second lightning bolt fell.
This one was stronger—blue-white instead of pure white, carrying not just destructive force but purifying intent. Heaven was testing whether Kael's cultivation was genuine or merely forced through system enhancement.
The lightning tore through his partially-healed meridians, ripping them wider, burning away impurities but also destroying healthy tissue. His dantian cracked under the pressure, spiritual energy leaking.
Not enough. I'm not strong enough to—
[SYSTEM SUPPORT: EMERGENCY STABILIZATION]
[LIFE POINTS BEING CONSUMED TO REINFORCE CULTIVATION]
[COST: 5 LIFE POINTS]
His cultivation suddenly stabilized. The system was actively burning Life Points to shore up his foundation, preventing catastrophic failure. It wasn't healing the damage, but it was keeping him alive long enough to finish the tribulation.
[TRIBULATION STRIKE 2/3: SURVIVED]
[CURRENT CONDITION: CRITICAL]
[LIFE POINTS: 97.0/1]
Kael's vision was fading. Blood poured from his eyes, nose, and ears—the pressure of the tribulation forcing it out through any available opening. His body was shutting down, only his cultivation keeping him conscious.
Mei's formation was glowing red-hot, barely maintaining coherence under the tribulation's assault. Lira was pouring everything she had into healing him. Sera and Rogan were channeling their qi into the formation, trying to provide additional support.
One more strike. Just one more and I succeed or die.
The third lightning bolt was different.
Instead of descending immediately, it gathered power in the clouds. Growing larger, more concentrated, building to a crescendo that made the air itself vibrate.
This was the true test. The strike that separated successful cultivators from those whose ambition exceeded their capability.
[FINAL TRIBULATION STRIKE DETECTED]
[POWER LEVEL: EXTREME]
[ESTIMATED SURVIVAL RATE: 34% (CURRENT CONDITION)]
[RECOMMENDATION: CONSUME ADDITIONAL LIFE POINTS OR ACTIVATE AI COMBAT MODE]
No. I do this myself. Without shortcuts.
The lightning fell.
It was purple-black, carrying not just destructive power but actual malevolent intent. Heaven itself had decided to kill him, to punish his rapid advancement and demon path techniques.
Kael met it with everything he had.
His newly formed Qi Gathering cultivation surged upward, creating a barrier of his own spiritual energy. It wasn't much—he'd been at this stage for less than five minutes—but it was genuine, earned through combat and cultivation rather than purely system-granted.
The barrier shattered instantly.
The lightning consumed him, burning through flesh and bone and spirit. His meridians exploded, his dantian cracked completely, his physical body began to disintegrate.
He was dying. For real this time, in a way that even Life Points might not fix if his cultivation foundation was destroyed completely.
But I'm not dead yet.
With the last fragments of consciousness, Kael reached deep into his cultivation—past the system enhancements, past the techniques and Life Points, to the core of what he'd become.
I survived an alley ambush by dying and returning. I killed a Qi Gathering cultivator with poison and tactics. I eliminated gang leaders through preparation and ruthlessness. I built a sect from nothing through determination and morally grey choices.
I am Kael Veyth. And I refuse to die to some uppity weather phenomenon.
His cultivation responded to that core determination. The shattered meridians began to reform—not perfectly, but enough. The cracked dantian sealed itself—not smoothly, but sufficiently. His body, on the verge of complete destruction, held together through sheer stubborn refusal to quit.
The tribulation lightning, having nowhere else to go with Kael refusing to die, began to be absorbed instead.
Purple-black energy flooded into his reforming meridians, purifying them in the most violent way possible. The malevolent intent was stripped away, leaving only pure tribulation essence—the energy that marked a cultivator as having passed heaven's judgment.
[TRIBULATION STRIKE 3/3: SURVIVED]
[BREAKTHROUGH SUCCESSFUL]
[QI GATHERING STAGE 1 - 0%]
[TRIBULATION ESSENCE ABSORBED]
[SAVE POINT CREATED: TRIBULATION SUCCESS - 14:23]
[CURRENT SAVE POINTS: 6]
Kael collapsed, his body a ruin but his cultivation stabilized at Qi Gathering Stage 1.
He'd done it.
He was a real cultivator now.
His companions rushed to him as Mei's formation finally failed, the array burning out after channeling three tribulation strikes. Lira's healing qi flooded his body, working overtime to repair the catastrophic damage.
"You absolute idiot," Lira whispered, tears streaming down her face. "You almost died. Really died."
"But I didn't." Kael's voice was barely audible, his throat burned by the lightning. "Qi Gathering. I made it."
Rogan was laughing and crying simultaneously. "Boss! You survived! That was the most terrifying thing I've ever watched!"
Sera's expression was carefully controlled, but her hands were shaking slightly as she checked his pulse. "Your meridians are destroyed. Your dantian is cracked. You're technically Qi Gathering Stage, but you can barely cultivate in this condition."
"Lira can fix it," Kael managed.
"I can try," Lira corrected. "But this level of damage will take weeks to heal properly. You won't be combat-ready for at least a month."
[RECOVERY TIME: 28 DAYS (WITH LIRA'S TREATMENT)]
[COMBAT EFFECTIVENESS: 30% UNTIL FULLY HEALED]
A month of vulnerability. A month where the Azure Moon sect could attack and find him weakened.
Unless I use Life Points to accelerate healing.
[LIFE POINT HEALING AVAILABLE]
[COST: 15 LIFE POINTS FOR FULL RECOVERY]
[ALTERNATIVE: NATURAL HEALING WITH LIRA'S SUPPORT - 28 DAYS]
Kael considered. He had ninety-seven Life Points remaining after the system's emergency stabilization. Spending fifteen would still leave him with eighty-two—more than enough buffer.
But natural healing would strengthen his foundation more thoroughly. The tribulation damage, while severe, was also an opportunity—as his body repaired itself naturally, it would form stronger meridians, a more resilient dantian, a better foundation for future advancement.
"Natural healing," he decided. "Four weeks of rest and recovery."
Lira's relief was visible. "Good. The smart choice for once."
They helped him to the medical wing. His body was so damaged that even walking required Rogan's support. The subordinates who'd witnessed the tribulation looked at him with new respect mixed with fear—they'd seen heaven itself try to kill their leader, and seen him survive through pure stubborn determination.
[ABYSS SANCTUARY SECT MORALE: SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED]
[SUBORDINATE LOYALTY: +15 (LEADER SURVIVED TRIBULATION)]
[SECT REPUTATION: UPGRADED TO "EMERGING POWER"]
Over the next four weeks, Kael's world narrowed to the medical wing.
Lira treated him daily, her healing techniques slowly knitting his destroyed meridians back together. The process was agonizing—spiritual healing hurt differently than physical pain, a deep ache in the soul itself.
But it was also intimate. Hours spent in meditation while Lira's qi flowed through his spiritual channels, their cultivation temporarily linked, her presence a constant comfort.
"You're healing remarkably fast," she noted during week two. "Your foundation is actually strengthening as it repairs. The tribulation damage forced your meridians to rebuild stronger than before."
[MERIDIAN RECOVERY: 34%]
[FOUNDATION STABILITY: INCREASING]
[ESTIMATED COMBAT READINESS: 18 DAYS]
Mei visited daily to report on sect developments. With Kael recovering, she'd taken on administrative duties along with Sera.
"The Azure Moon sect sent a delegation," Mei reported during week three. "They want to negotiate."
"Negotiate what?"
"Territory division. They're proposing we split the city—they keep the northern districts, we keep everything south of the main market. No conflict, mutual recognition."
It was a reasonable offer. The Azure Moon sect was acknowledging the Abyss Sanctuary as a legitimate power, offering peaceful coexistence.
"What's the catch?" Kael asked.
"The catch is that they're scared," Sera explained, joining the conversation. "You killed Huang Viperfang and survived tribulation. They're recalculating whether eliminating you is worth the cost."
"Do we accept?"
His companions looked at each other. Finally, Lira spoke. "That's your decision. But consider—we've eliminated or absorbed every criminal gang in the southern districts. The territory we control is substantial. Do we actually need to conquer the Azure Moon sect to accomplish our goals?"
[STRATEGIC ANALYSIS]
[OPTION 1: ACCEPT PEACE - CONSOLIDATE POWER, FOCUS ON SECT DEVELOPMENT]
[OPTION 2: REJECT PEACE - ELIMINATE AZURE MOON, CONTROL ENTIRE CITY]
[OPTION 1 BENEFITS: STABILITY, REDUCED CONFLICT, MORAL HIGH GROUND]
[OPTION 2 BENEFITS: TOTAL CONTROL, ADDITIONAL RESOURCES, LIFE POINTS FROM LEADERSHIP]
Kael was quiet for a long time, thinking.
The old him—the one from two months ago—would have chosen conflict without hesitation. More Life Points, more power, more control.
But he'd changed. The companions, the sect, the responsibility of actually leading people rather than just killing targets—it had all affected him in ways the system couldn't quantify.
"We accept the peace offer," he decided. "On three conditions."
"Which are?" Mei pulled out paper to take notes.
"One: The Azure Moon sect stops all slavery operations. Completely. Non-negotiable."
"They'll agree," Sera said. "They're mostly legitimate anyway."
"Two: They provide cultivation resources as tribute—not subjugation, but recognition of our strength. Say... two hundred gold worth of materials monthly."
"Steep but achievable," Mei calculated.
"Three: Li Feng, their sect leader, meets with me personally once I'm recovered. Face to face, no intermediaries. I want to assess him directly."
[PEACE TERMS: REASONABLE]
[ESTIMATED ACCEPTANCE PROBABILITY: 78%]
"I'll convey the terms," Sera said. "Though meeting Li Feng personally might be risky if he decides assassination is preferable to peace."
"He's Qi Gathering Stage 2, and I'll be recovered by then. The risk is acceptable."
By week four, Kael's recovery was nearly complete.
His meridians had reformed stronger than before—the tribulation damage forcing them to rebuild with better qi conductivity and greater capacity. His dantian, while scarred, was now more resilient to future stress.
[MERIDIAN RECOVERY: 94%]
[COMBAT READINESS: 87%]
[CULTIVATION: QI GATHERING STAGE 1 - 23%]
More importantly, he could finally feel his Qi Gathering abilities properly. External qi manipulation, techniques that didn't require physical contact, the ability to sense spiritual energy across significant distances.
He practiced in the medical wing, creating a small sphere of qi between his palms. It was clumsy, inefficient, but it was real—genuine Qi Gathering cultivation that no amount of Body Refinement could replicate.
"You're showing off," Lira teased, watching from her desk.
"I'm testing my new capabilities."
"You're showing off," she repeated, but her smile was fond. "Though I suppose you've earned it. Not many cultivators survive tribulation on their first attempt."
[LIRA MOONFALL LOYALTY: 96/100 (+3 FROM EXTENDED CARE PERIOD)]
Over the recovery weeks, their relationship had deepened. Nothing dramatic—just quiet conversations during healing sessions, shared meals, comfortable silences. The kind of genuine connection that couldn't be forced or rushed.
"When I meet Li Feng," Kael said carefully, "there's a chance he'll try to kill me despite the peace offer."
"I'm aware."
"If that happens, I want you to know—"
Lira crossed the room and kissed him, cutting off whatever maudlin sentiment he was about to express.
"Don't," she said when she pulled back. "Don't do the 'in case I die' speech. You have one hundred Life Points and the most annoying tendency to refuse death that I've ever seen. You'll be fine."
[LIRA MOONFALL LOYALTY: 100/100 (MAXIMUM)]
[ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIP: COMMITTED]
[NEW PASSIVE ABILITY: LIRA'S BLESSING]
[WHEN NEAR LIRA, HEALING RATE INCREASED BY 50%]
Kael blinked at the notification. Maximum loyalty. A passive ability based on their relationship.
The system really is encouraging these connections.
The meeting with Li Feng was scheduled for the day after Kael's full recovery.
They chose neutral ground—the city's central market square, public enough that assassination would be witnessed, but not so restricted that either party felt trapped.
Kael arrived with his four companions. Li Feng came with three—his inner disciples, all Qi Gathering Stage 1.
The Azure Moon sect leader was older than Kael expected, maybe forty, with the kind of refined presence that came from decades of cultivation. His Qi Gathering Stage 2 power was genuine and well-developed, not rushed through like Kael's recent advancement.
[LI FENG]
[LIFE POINTS: 15.2]
[CULTIVATION: QI GATHERING STAGE 2 - 67%]
[TEMPERAMENT: PRAGMATIC, INTELLIGENT, CAUTIOUS]
[THREAT ASSESSMENT: MODERATE (UNLIKELY TO ATTACK)]
"Kael Veyth," Li Feng greeted him. "The demon cultivator who conquered half the city in two months. You're younger than I expected."
"Age is less relevant than capability," Kael replied. "You're Li Feng, the sect leader who turned the Azure Moon from a criminal gang into a quasi-legitimate organization. I respect the achievement."
"Flattery? From a demon cultivator?" Li Feng smiled slightly. "Your reputation suggested you were too direct for politics."
"I'm learning." Kael gestured to a nearby tea house. "Shall we discuss terms over tea? I find negotiations work better when everyone's comfortable."
They adjourned to a private room, companions waiting outside. Just Kael and Li Feng, facing each other across a small table.
"Your terms are acceptable," Li Feng said once tea was poured. "We'll cease all slavery operations, provide monthly tribute, and recognize your territory. In exchange, you acknowledge our control of the northern districts and agree to non-aggression."
"With one addition," Kael said. "Information sharing. Your intelligence network is extensive. Mine is growing. We share information on external threats—demon territory incursions, spirit realm cultivators, anything that threatens the city's stability."
Li Feng considered. "That would make us allies rather than just non-aggressive neighbors."
"It would. But it's also practical. Neither of us wants to deal with Core Formation or Soul Ascension threats alone."
"Fair point." Li Feng extended his hand. "Alliance accepted. Though I'm curious—why peace? You could have attacked us while we were unprepared after Huang's death."
"Because I'm building a sect, not just accumulating power," Kael explained. "Endless conflict serves no purpose beyond Life Point harvesting. Peace allows development, training, actual cultivation progress."
"Life Point harvesting." Li Feng's eyes sharpened. "So the rumors about your system are true."
Kael didn't confirm or deny. "The Abyss Sanctuary Sect will become a major power in this region. The Azure Moon can either be our ally in that process or our enemy. I'm offering the choice."
"And if I choose enemy?"
"Then I kill you, absorb your fifteen Life Points, and conquer the Azure Moon by force. It would take longer and cost more resources, but the outcome is certain."
It was a bold statement—threatening a cultivator an entire stage above him. But Kael said it with such casual certainty that Li Feng actually laughed.
"You're either the most arrogant person I've met or you genuinely have the capability to back up that threat."
"Both," Kael said simply. "I killed Huang Viperfang who was your equal. I survived tribulation. I'm only getting stronger."
Li Feng studied him for a long moment. Then he stood and bowed—shallow, but genuine.
"Alliance accepted. The Azure Moon Sect recognizes the Abyss Sanctuary Sect as an equal power. May our cooperation be profitable for both parties."
[FACTION QUEST COMPLETE: DEAL WITH AZURE MOON SECT]
[OUTCOME: ALLIANCE FORMED]
[REWARD: 1,000 SYSTEM POINTS, TERRITORY RECOGNITION, INTELLIGENCE NETWORK ACCESS]
[MAJOR QUEST UPDATED: ESTABLISH LEGITIMATE POWER BASE]
[ALL OBJECTIVES COMPLETE]
[FINAL EVALUATION BEGINNING...]
They returned to their companions and formally announced the alliance. The reactions were mixed—Sera looked pleased, Rogan disappointed he wouldn't get to fight more people, Mei relieved that they could focus on development, Lira cautiously optimistic.
Back at the compound, Kael reviewed the quest completion:
[MAJOR QUEST: ESTABLISH LEGITIMATE POWER BASE - COMPLETE]
[EVALUATION:]
[✓ ADVANCED TO QI GATHERING STAGE]
[✓ RECRUITED 4+ CORE COMPANIONS]
[✓ ELIMINATED OR ABSORBED ALL GANG THREATS]
[✓ FORMED LEGITIMATE SECT ORGANIZATION]
[✓ ESTABLISHED ALLIANCE WITH MAJOR POWER]
[BONUS OBJECTIVES COMPLETED:]
[✓ MAINTAINED POSITIVE KARMA THROUGHOUT]
[✓ REFORMED CRIMINAL OPERATIONS TO LEGITIMATE BUSINESS]
[✓ SURVIVED TRIBULATION ON FIRST ATTEMPT]
[REWARDS:]
[+2,500 SYSTEM POINTS]
[SECT MASTER PRIVILEGES UNLOCKED]
[ADVANCED TECHNIQUE: ABYSS SOVEREIGN'S DOMINION]
[SPECIAL REWARD: SYSTEM UPGRADE - TIER 2]
The rewards flooded in, each notification carrying significant benefits.
Sect Master Privileges gave him actual administrative abilities—he could now assign sect missions, distribute resources through the system interface, even track the cultivation progress of sect members who voluntarily registered.
Abyss Sovereign's Dominion was a powerful area-effect technique that combined his demon path cultivation with Qi Gathering abilities. When activated, it created a zone where his Life Points could be temporarily shared with allies, essentially giving them resurrection insurance during combat.
But the System Upgrade was the real prize:
[ABYSS SYSTEM: TIER 1 → TIER 2]
[NEW FEATURES UNLOCKED:]
[- COMPANION CULTIVATION ASSISTANCE]
[- SECT DEVELOPMENT TOOLS]
[- ADVANCED SHOP ACCESS]
[- LIFE POINT INVESTMENT OPTIONS]
[- KARMA SYSTEM EXPANSION]
[- HIDDEN QUEST DETECTION]
Kael spent an hour exploring the new features. The Companion Cultivation Assistance allowed him to use system points to enhance his companions' cultivation speeds. Sect Development Tools provided actual management interfaces for tracking resources, scheduling training, optimizing operations.
Life Point Investment was fascinating—he could now "invest" Life Points into sect infrastructure, permanently enhancing facilities in exchange for resurrection insurance. A risky trade-off, but potentially valuable.
"The system is evolving," he murmured. "Becoming more sophisticated."
[CORRECT]
[TIER 2 REFLECTS VESSEL'S ADVANCEMENT FROM INDIVIDUAL TO ORGANIZATION LEADER]
[TIER 3 WILL UNLOCK AT CORE FORMATION]
[TIER 4 AT SOUL ASCENSION]
[TIER 5 AT DEMON TRANSFORMATION]
So there were at least five tiers total, each corresponding to cultivation realms. The system was designed for long-term development, scaling with his advancement.
What happens at Tier 5? Abyss Sovereign level?
[INFORMATION RESTRICTED]
[ADVANCE TO UNLOCK]
Fair enough.
That evening, Kael gathered his companions in the strategy room to celebrate.
"Two months ago, I was nobody," he said, raising a cup of wine. "A failed merchant's son dying in an alley. Today, we're a legitimate sect with territory, resources, and genuine power. That's because of all of you."
"Because of us?" Rogan laughed. "Boss, you did most of the killing!"
"Killing isn't the same as building. Sera's intelligence gathering, Mei's formations, Lira's healing, your combat support—all of it was essential. This isn't my sect. It's ours."
[COMPANION LOYALTY: +5 (ALL COMPANIONS)]
[SECT COHESION: EXCELLENT]
They drank, celebrating their survival and success. The mood was light, genuine—not the forced camaraderie of subordinates following orders, but actual friendship forged through shared danger.
Sera pulled Kael aside later in the evening.
"The Azure Moon alliance won't last forever," she said quietly. "Li Feng is pragmatic, but he's also ambitious. Eventually he'll see us as competition rather than allies."
"I know."
"Are you prepared for that?"
"I have to be." Kael looked at his companions—Rogan arm-wrestling sect members for entertainment, Mei explaining formation theory to anyone who'd listen, Lira tending to a subordinate's minor injury despite being off-duty. "They're depending on me. The sect is depending on me. Failure isn't an option."
"Then don't fail." Sera's smile was sharp. "Because if you do, I'll kill you myself before Li Feng gets the chance."
[SERA BLOODLILY LOYALTY: 83/100 (+6 FROM HONEST THREAT)]
That night, Kael lay in his quarters reviewing his status:
[NAME: KAEL VEYTH]
[AGE: 19]
[CULTIVATION: QI GATHERING STAGE 1 - 23%]
[LIFE POINTS: 97.0/1]
[SYSTEM POINTS: 4,400]
[SECT: ABYSS SANCTUARY (MASTER)]
[COMPANIONS: 4 (MAXIMUM LOYALTY: 1, HIGH LOYALTY: 3)]
[TERRITORY: SOUTHERN CITY DISTRICTS, PORT AREA]
[MONTHLY INCOME: 1,600 GOLD (OPERATIONS + TRIBUTE)]
[SECT MEMBERS: 134]
[REPUTATION: EMERGING POWER (FEARED/RESPECTED)]
[KARMA: +34 (MODERATE POSITIVE)]
From nothing to sect master in two months. From weakest to Qi Gathering in the same time.
The system made it possible. But I made it real.
Tomorrow, he'd begin pushing toward Qi Gathering Stage 2. The path to Core Formation was long, but no longer impossible.
And eventually, to Abyss Sovereign. Whatever that actually means.
He closed his eyes, feeling his cultivation humming with barely contained power. Qi Gathering Stage 1 was just the beginning.
There's so much further to go.