Cultivation World - Crimson Crater Kingdom, Royal Observatory
Lia and Varek stood beside Marcus on the crystal observation deck that jutted out from the palace's highest tower, watching the sky fill with arriving vessels. The tournament was set to begin tomorrow, and delegations from across the main continent were making their grand entrances in displays of power and wealth that defied imagination.
"Incredible," Lia breathed, her purple eyes wide as she took in the spectacle.
The crater's airspace was alive with movement—massive arks flying in perfect formation, elegant pleasure vessels that seemed to dance through the air, and sleek racing ships that left trails of colored qi in their wake. The shadow leech writhed restlessly against her chest, responding to her nervousness and the overwhelming presence of so many powerful cultivators gathering in one place. At Foundation Establishment level 4, she could feel the collective spiritual pressure like a weight in the air.
"Each delegation is making a statement," Marcus explained, his voice carrying the tone of someone who had grown up understanding political theater. "The size of their ships, the formations they fly, the cultivation levels they display—it's all calculated to intimidate competitors and impress potential allies."
Varek's hand found Lia's, their fingers intertwining as they watched a particularly impressive vessel descend toward the eastern landing platforms. The ship was nearly 500 meters long, its hull gleaming with formations that created aurora-like displays of light cascading along its surface.
"That's the Azure Dragon Empire's flagship," Marcus continued, noting their attention. "They're one of the three major powers challenging us for territory. The delegation is led by Long Chen, twenty-three years old, Foundation Establishment level 7."
Lia felt a chill run down her spine. "Level 7? At twenty-three?"
"The Azure Dragon Empire specializes in bloodline cultivation," Marcus explained grimly. "Long Chen carries the bloodline of an ancient dragon. His techniques are devastating, his qi reserves are massive, and he has natural resistance to most elemental attacks."
The Azure Dragon ship settled onto its designated platform with mechanical precision, and even from this distance, they could see the imperial guards in their distinctive blue and silver armor forming protective lines around the vessel.
"What about his weaknesses?" Varek asked, his tactical mind already analyzing the potential threat.
"Pride," Marcus replied immediately. "Dragon bloodline cultivators tend to be arrogant, used to overwhelming opponents through raw power. They sometimes struggle against unorthodox techniques or unexpected strategies."
Another ship caught their attention—a sleek golden vessel that seemed to generate its own sunlight as it approached from the south. The craft moved with graceful efficiency, its golden hull reflecting the afternoon light in dazzling displays.
"Golden Phoenix Federation," Marcus identified. "Led by Huang Wei, twenty-four years old, Foundation Establishment level 6. She's considered one of the most beautiful cultivators of her generation, but don't let that fool you—she's absolutely lethal."
Lia studied the approaching ship, noting the way it seemed to radiate warmth even from this distance. "Phoenix bloodline?"
"Fire and rebirth techniques," Marcus confirmed. "Huang Wei can regenerate from injuries that would kill most cultivators, and her flame techniques are said to burn hot enough to melt spirit steel. She's also incredibly skilled at psychological warfare—she likes to seduce her opponents and sleep with them before battle."
"Wonderful," Lia muttered, unconsciously squeezing Varek's hand tighter.
The golden ship landed with a flash of brilliant light that made everyone on the observation deck shield their eyes. When the radiance faded, they could see figures in golden robes disembarking, their movements carrying an otherworldly grace.
"The Diamond Fist Confederation is coming from the north," Marcus said, pointing toward a formation of dark, angular ships that moved through the sky like flying fortresses. "Their younger generations representation is Tie Gang, twenty-five years old, Foundation Establishment level 8."
Varek's jaw tightened. "Level 8?"
"The Diamond Fist Confederation doesn't believe in bloodline advantages or elegant techniques," Marcus explained. "They believe in overwhelming physical power and brutal efficiency. Tie Gang has never lost a fight—he simply crushes his opponents through superior strength and endurance."
The Diamond Fist ships landed with thunderous impacts that shook the ground even at the palace. The vessels were built for intimidation—all sharp angles and weapon emplacements, designed to look like airborne fortresses rather than transport craft.
"Three major powers," Lia said quietly, processing the information. "Dragon bloodline level 7, Phoenix bloodline level 6, and pure physical cultivation level 8. And they're all specifically here to take your kingdom's territory."
"Among others," Marcus replied grimly. "There are approximately fifty other delegations arriving, each with their own agendas and motivations. Some are allied with the major powers, others are independent operators looking to make names for themselves."
Cultivation World - Merchant Vessel "Jade Prosperity"
Among the dozens of ships filling the crater's airspace, one unremarkable merchant vessel went entirely unnoticed by the observers on the palace tower. The "Jade Prosperity" was deliberately mundane—a mid-sized cargo hauler that specialized in transporting luxury goods between kingdoms, exactly the kind of ship that would need to dock during a major tournament to supply the increased demand for fine foods, wines, and exotic materials.
Kira stood at the vessel's observation window, her appearance completely transformed from the lethal assassin who had accepted a 5000 spirit stone contract. Gone were the form-fitting black leathers and predatory grace. Instead, she wore the simple brown robes of a merchant's assistant, her posture deliberately hunched and unremarkable. Colored contacts had changed her eyes from their natural silver to a mundane brown, while subtle makeup made her features appear plainer, more forgettable.
But her enhanced senses were focused entirely on the crystal observation deck jutting out from the palace's highest tower, where three figures stood silhouetted against the afternoon sky.
"Target acquired," she whispered, her voice carrying none of Himari's cheerful warmth. Through the advanced optical formations built into her contact lenses, she could see Lia and Varek clearly despite the distance. "Both subjects confirmed at the palace. Physical contact established between them—likely romantic relationship as reported."
Her gaze focused on Lia specifically, noting the way the girl's purple eyes seemed to glow even from this distance. The spatial artifact wouldn't be visible from here, but Kira's research had confirmed it was always worn as a pendant. During the tournament chaos, when security would be stretched thin across multiple venues, there would be opportunities.
"Approaching the dock now," the ship's captain called out, his voice carrying the nervous energy of someone hoping to avoid official scrutiny. "Remember, we're just here to supply the tournament. Keep your heads down, do your jobs, and try not to attract attention."
Kira nodded along with the other disguised passengers, playing her role perfectly. Around her, genuine merchants and their assistants prepared for what they hoped would be a profitable few days selling luxury goods to wealthy tournament attendees. They had no idea that one of their fellow passengers was a Golden Core assassin whose presence would turn their simple trading mission into a death trap.
Cultivation World - Underground Cavern System, Beneath Crimson Crater
Three hundred meters below the tournament preparations, Xotl moved through the flooded limestone caverns with fluid grace, his massive form shifting between solid flesh and flowing shadow as he navigated the narrow passages. The underground spring system was exactly as he remembered from millennia ago—a vast network of water-filled tunnels that connected the ocean depths to the life-giving springs that fed the crater's lake.
His elite beast army followed behind him like a living nightmare, their forms adapted for underwater travel as they swam through the ancient passages with predatory silence. The water around them grew warmer as they approached the crater's foundation, infused with the same life essence that made the Crimson Lotus so valuable.
Xotl's consciousness touched the stone walls, feeling the vibrations of thousands of cultivators gathering above. The tournament preparations created perfect acoustic cover for his approach—with so many powerful spiritual signatures concentrated in one location, his own presence would be impossible to detect until it was far too late.
Soon, he thought, his alien mind processing the final approach vectors through the deepest tunnels. The festivities would begin tomorrow, and when the competitors were locked in combat, when the kingdom's attention was focused on political theater rather than true threats, he would emerge from the very heart of their precious lake.
Earth - Abandoned Warehouse District, 11:40 PM
Derek Morrison stood over his final anchor point victim, breathing heavily as he surveyed the completed ritual circle. The homeless veteran had been perfect—no family, no friends, just another forgotten soul whose disappearance would be attributed to the harsh realities of street life. Blood pooled around the carved symbols in the concrete, creating the final connection needed to link all five anchor points across the city.
"Fifty deaths," Derek whispered, his voice carrying an inhuman edge as red qi crackled between his fingers. The demonic cultivation had transformed him into something barely recognizable as human—his skin was pale and veined with crimson lines, his eyes glowed with inner fire, and when he smiled, his teeth had become razor-sharp.
"Fifty souls to power the greatest formation this world has ever seen."
The anchor points were perfectly positioned across the metropolitan area, each one a node of concentrated death energy that would channel the life force of millions directly into his dantian. The northern warehouse, the eastern industrial complex, the southern shipping district, the western residential area, and tomorrow at noon, the final activation point in Central Park.
Once the Crimson Harvest Formation came online, every living being within a hundred-kilometer radius would feel their life essence being drained away, their vital energy flowing through the formation lines directly into Derek's cultivation base.
Tomorrow at noon, Derek thought with savage anticipation, imagining the moment when he would place his hands on the central formation stone and speak the activation words. A million deaths in the space of hours, their combined life force enough to catapult him from Qi Refining to Foundation Establishment in a single catastrophic leap.
The city would become a wasteland of dried husks, but he would emerge as a true cultivator with power enough to reshape this qi-starved world according to his will. Soon, very soon, he would show this planet what real power looked like.