Five days had passed since the inter-hall competition victory, and the sect's atmosphere had shifted dramatically.
Where before disciples had treated Kai and his team with cautious respect, now they received outright deference mixed with barely-concealed hostility. The victory had elevated them to a level where other disciples saw them as either allies to cultivate or threats to eliminate.
Kai was returning to his room after a morning training session when he found a message talisman waiting on his bed.
*"Emergency meeting. Poison Hall. Storage chamber B7. Midnight. Come armed. - Unknown"*
[Warning: Suspicious message]
[Origin: Unknown]
[Recommendation: Do not attend]
But Kai recognized the handwriting. Subtle enough for most, but unmistakable to him—Yun Xia.
That night, he made his way to Poison Hall's lower levels. The chambers were shrouded in formations that made navigation difficult, but Kai's awareness allowed him to sense the safe paths.
He found the storage chamber and entered cautiously, his rusty dagger drawn.
All four of his alliance members were already there, along with someone else—a girl he didn't recognize. She was thin, with nervous eyes and the robes of an outer disciple.
"This is Lin," Yun Xia said quietly. "My younger sister."
Kai's eyes widened. He hadn't known Yun Xia had a sibling in the sect.
"What's happening?" Kai asked, immediately assuming the worst.
"The Purge starts tomorrow," Mei Lin said, her voice grim. "Two outer disciples came to me with information. They're terrified. They heard Master Zhao and Elder Bone discussing it in a private meeting. Thirty disciples will be sent on 'resource gathering missions' that are actually death traps. Another fifty will be executed for 'failure to meet cultivation standards.'"
Hong Wei's fists clenched. "Eighty disciples? In one night?"
"It's faster than normal purges," Wei Long said. "They're doing it all at once to shock the sect into compliance."
"Why tell us?" Kai asked, though he already suspected the answer.
"Because your sister is on the death list," Yun Xia said, looking at Lin. "And so are three other disciples from outer sect. They're not strong enough to be valuable in the tournament, so they're marked for elimination."
[Alert: Mass purge beginning tomorrow]
[Confirmed death count: 80+ disciples]
[Timeline accelerated significantly]
Kai studied the frightened outer disciple. Lin looked barely fifteen, her cultivation at Qi Condensation Realm Level 1. She was weak by sect standards. Easily sacrificial.
"Why would she be marked for death?" Kai asked. "The Purge usually targets mid-level disciples, not outer sect."
"Because she knew too much," Lin said quietly, her voice shaking. "I work in the administrative office. I was filing records when I overheard Elder Bone and Master Zhao discussing which disciples to purge. I wasn't supposed to hear. When they realized I was there, they decided I had to die."
"And you escaped?"
"Elder Bone told me to leave the meeting. I thought he was letting me go. But then I realized—he was giving me false hope before the execution. It's a game he plays. Give them time to run, make it seem like they have a chance."
Mei Lin stepped forward. "We need to hide her. Keep her safe until the Purge is over."
"That's not possible," Wei Long said. "The sect will know she's gone. They'll search. If they find her alive after the scheduled purge time, they'll execute everyone protecting her."
"So what? We let her die?" Yun Xia's voice was sharp with anger.
"We hide her where no one can find her," Kai said, an idea forming. "The private cultivation garden. Master Shen Yue's personal space. No one would dare search there without permission."
[Strategic analysis: Sound plan]
[Risk: Moderate - requires Master Shen Yue's cooperation or discretion]
"I'll speak to Master Shen Yue," Wei Long said. "She knows I have a sister in outer sect. I can make a case for protecting her as a matter of loyalty."
They spent the next hour planning. Lin would hide in the cultivation garden tomorrow evening, just before the Purge. Wei Long would ensure no one could follow her there. The others would establish alibis to deflect suspicion.
By the time they dispersed, a dangerous plan was in place.
---
The executions started at noon.
Fifty disciples were brought to the Grand Arena in chains. They were proclaimed guilty of various crimes—insufficient cultivation progress, suspected disloyalty, resource theft, unauthorized techniques.
The sentences were carried out publicly.
One by one, disciples were led to execution blocks. Some fought. Most didn't. The Blood Demonic Sect's tradition was swift and brutal—a single strike to sever the spine, made to appear instantaneous.
Kai watched from a distance with his alliance. They couldn't show concern without raising suspicion, but they couldn't ignore the horror either.
Thirty more disciples were sent on "priority missions"—resource gathering expeditions to Beast Forest. Everyone knew those disciples would be marked to die in ambushes. Hunt accidents. Demonic beast attacks.
Only a few would return.
[Warning: Purge proceeding as predicted]
[Death toll: 50+ confirmed, 30+ expected]
[Sect Population: Decreasing rapidly]
By evening, the death toll was staggering. The sect felt smaller, emptier. The surviving disciples moved with fear, wondering if they'd be selected next.
Lin disappeared into the cultivation garden just after sunset, with Wei Long ensuring no one followed.
---
The missions to Beast Forest had mostly returned, with the expected casualties. Twelve of the thirty selected disciples came back. Eighteen were confirmed dead.
The Purge was officially over, but the psychological damage lingered.
Kai sat in the private cultivation garden, finding Lin meditating in a sheltered corner. The girl looked terrified but alive.
"Thank you," she said when she noticed him. "I don't know why you're protecting me, but thank you."
"Your sister is part of our alliance," Kai said simply. "That makes you part of our concern."
"Even though I'm weak? Even though keeping me alive is a risk?"
"Even then."
Kai left her to meditation and found his real concern—his cultivation progress.
[Gate 2 Progress: 15% → 28%]
Five days of intense cultivation in the garden had advanced him significantly. But he was running out of time.
Fifty days remaining until the Grand Martial Tournament. He needed to complete all nine gates and then make the breakthrough to Foundation Establishment Realm.
It was mathematically impossible at normal rates.
But normal rates were for normal cultivators.
[Updated Analysis]
[Days remaining: 50]
[Gates to complete: 8.72 (current: 28% of Gate 2)]
[Breakthrough time: 2-3 weeks minimum]
[Total time needed: 12+ weeks]
[Time available: 7.1 weeks]
[Survival probability: 48.7%]
The numbers were getting worse, not better. Even with accelerated cultivation, he was falling behind.
He needed another way.
That night, he met with Wei Long in secret.
"I need resources," Kai said directly. "Pills, elixirs, anything that can boost cultivation speed. I'll use my contribution points, buy from the sect treasury, whatever it takes."
Wei Long was quiet for a moment. "You realize what you're asking for? High-grade cultivation pills are expensive. Very expensive. You'd need thousands of contribution points."
"Then help me earn them. Dangerous missions. Anything that pays well."
"There's another option," Wei Long said slowly. "Master Shen Yue has been holding back some of her personal resources. If you ask her directly, she might provide them."
"Why would she do that?"
"Because your survival benefits her. If you reach Foundation Establishment before the tournament, it increases her standing. If you place well in the tournament, it improves her reputation dramatically." Wei Long's expression was calculating. "Master Shen Yue plays a long game. She's invested in your success."
---
Kai approached Master Shen Yue during afternoon training, requesting a private audience.
She received him in her chamber, examining him with those penetrating crimson eyes.
"You want something," she said without preamble.
"Yes, Master. I want access to high-grade cultivation pills. To accelerate my breakthrough to Foundation Establishment."
"Why should I provide them?"
"Because I won't reach Foundation Establishment without them, and a failed personal disciple reflects badly on you."
Master Shen Yue smiled slightly. "At least you're honest. Most disciples would have begged or played politics." She walked to a cabinet and withdrew a black jade box. "Nine Gates Breakthrough Pills. Each one temporarily increases cultivation speed by 100% for one week. Three doses remain."
She placed the box in his hands. "Use them wisely. If you waste them and still fail to reach Foundation Establishment, I will no longer waste resources protecting you."
[Items Received: Nine Gates Breakthrough Pill x3]
[Effect: +100% cultivation speed for 7 days per pill]
[Warning: Using multiple pills in sequence may cause qi strain]
"There's also this." Master Shen Yue handed him a small jade vial. "Blood Heart Elixir. Refined from Nascent Soul Realm cultivator blood. Extremely dangerous but extremely potent. One dose will accelerate breakthrough attempts by 300% for 24 hours. But if you fail during breakthrough with this in your system, the backlash will likely be fatal."
Kai took the vial carefully, feeling the power radiating from it.
"Thank you, Master."
"Don't thank me. Just don't die."
---
Kai consumed the first Nine Gates Breakthrough Pill immediately.
[Nine Gates Breakthrough Pill activated]
[Duration: 7 days]
[Cultivation speed increased by 100%]
[Gate 2 Progress accelerated]
With double cultivation speed and access to the private garden's already-boosted environment, Kai's progression skyrocketed.
[Gate 2 Progress: 28% → 45%]
Each day brought massive advancement. By day seven of the pill's effect, he was at 72% completion.
Then he started the second pill.
[Second Nine Gates Breakthrough Pill activated]
[Duration: 7 days]
[Cumulative cultivation speed: 3x normal + garden bonus]
[Gate 2 Progress: 72% → 100%]
Gate Two was complete on day thirteen of intensive pill use.
[Gate 2 Breakthrough!]
[Gate 3 begins]
[Level Up!]
[You are now Level 10]
[HP: 180/180 → 200/200]
[Qi: 110/110 → 130/130]
[+2 Stat Points Available]
He allocated both points to Strength. Foundation Establishment Realm would require physical resilience.
[Strength: 14 → 16]
Now came the dangerous part. He had seven days of the second pill's effect remaining, which he could use to accelerate Gate Three. Then he'd use the third pill for Gate Four or Five. But he needed to save time for the final gates and the actual breakthrough attempt.
[Gate 3 Progress: 0% → 28%]
---
The third pill was exhausted. Kai had made incredible progress—Gates Three and Four were complete, Gate Five was at 45%.
He had thirty days remaining until the tournament. To reach Foundation Establishment, he needed to complete five more gates and then perform the breakthrough.
[Current Status]
[Gate 5 Progress: 45%]
[Gates remaining: 4 (Gates 6-9)]
[Estimated time to Gate 9 completion: 20 days at accelerated pace]
[Breakthrough time: 5-7 days]
[Total: 25-27 days]
[Days available: 30]
[Survival Probability: 61.4%]
It was possible. Barely, but possible.
Kai didn't stop. He cultivated day and night, pushing his body past reasonable limits. The other disciples noticed his increasingly gaunt appearance, his bloodshot eyes, his trembling hands.
But he didn't care. He was close. So close.
On day fifty-eight, Gate Nine was complete.
[All Nine Gates Complete]
[Foundation Establishment Breakthrough: Imminent]
[Recommended: Full rest before breakthrough attempt]
But Kai couldn't rest. Every moment counted.
That night, in the private cultivation garden, with Wei Long standing guard outside and his alliance members positioned to intercept anyone who might disturb him, Kai began the breakthrough.
He consumed the Blood Heart Elixir, feeling its power flood through his system. The breakthrough had to happen now, while the elixir amplified his cultivation.
[Blood Heart Elixir activated]
[Cultivation speed increased by 300%]
[Duration: 24 hours]
[Warning: Breakthrough attempt with this substance is dangerous]
Kai sat beneath the waterfall and began the final meditation. His nine opened gates responded to his will, channeling all his accumulated qi into his core.
The pain was indescribable.
His meridians felt like they were tearing. His dantian was on fire. His consciousness fractured between realities.
But he pushed through, forcing his qi to consolidate, to transform from Qi Condensation into Foundation Establishment.
Hours passed. His body trembled. Blood dripped from his nose, ears, and eyes.
Then, in a moment of clarity, it happened.
His qi achieved critical mass. His dantian reformed, stronger and more stable. His meridians adjusted to handle the increased power.
[Breakthrough Successful!]
[Foundation Establishment Realm - Level 1]
[HP: 200/200 → 250/250]
[Qi: 130/130 → 180/180]
[Level Up!]
[You are now Level 11]
[+2 Stat Points Available]
[New Ability Unlocked: Foundation Establishment - Increased qi density, improved technique power]
Kai gasped for breath, every cell in his body screaming. But he was alive. He'd made it.
[Current Status: Kai Zhang]
[Age: 17]
[Cultivation: Foundation Establishment Realm Level 1]
[Level: 11]
[HP: 250/250]
[Qi: 180/180]
[Days until Grand Martial Tournament: 9]
[Survival Probability: 71.2%]
Wei Long burst through the door, his face pale with concern. "Your qi spike—I could feel it from outside. Did you—"
"I made it," Kai said weakly. "Foundation Establishment."
Wei Long's expression changed from concern to something like awe. "In fifty days. You went from Qi Condensation Level 6 to Foundation Establishment Level 1 in fifty days."
"With your help. Master Shen Yue's resources. The private garden. I couldn't have done it alone."
"No one reaches Foundation Establishment this quickly without everything aligned perfectly." Wei Long helped him sit up. "You have nine days to stabilize your new realm, recover your strength, and prepare for the tournament."
Nine days.
After everything he'd sacrificed, everything he'd pushed through, nine days felt like an eternity and no time at all.
Kai looked at the waterfall, watching the water cascade down. He thought about how far he'd come. From outer disciple nobody to Shadow Hall personal disciple. From near-death in the Blood Moon Ceremony to tournament representative.
From a dying man with a system that couldn't save him to a cultivator with the power to change his fate.
[System Message: You have achieved what seemed impossible]
[The path forward is clearing]
[Nine days remain until the Grand Martial Tournament]
[Prepare yourself for greatness or death]
[Your journey is far from over]
Kai smiled despite the pain.