The golden-purple light from the pill clouds bathed the small mountain cave in an eerie glow. I stared at the single pill in my cauldron, stunned by what I'd created. Its surface glead like polished jade, pulsing with power far beyond my expectations.
"I've never seen anything like this," Adrian whispered, his eyes wide with disbelief. "Those are Heaven Rank pill clouds."
I shook my head. "That's impossible. I didn't use enough divine dicine."
"Yet there they are." Adrian pointed outside where the massive clouds continued to swirl, forming shapes of mythical beasts.
A sudden tremor shook the cave, dust and small rocks showering down from above. The spiritual pressure in the air had beco so thick it was almost suffocating.
"We need to move," I said, carefully extracting the pill and placing it in a jade box. "These clouds will draw attention."
Adrian nodded grimly. "The Celestial Apothecary Guild will have sensed this already. They monitor all pill refinent in their territory."
No sooner had the words left his mouth than I felt a surge of powerful presences approaching from the east—at least three cultivators at the Grandmaster Realm. The Guild was responding quicker than I'd anticipated.
"We should split up," I suggested, tucking the jade box into my robes. "I'll head north and—"
Adrian raised a hand to silence . "Too late."
Outside the cave, three figures landed in formation. The leader, a stern-faced woman in elaborate green and gold robes, stepped forward.
"In the na of the Celestial Apothecary Guild, identify yourselves and explain this unauthorized pill refinent," she commanded.
I exchanged a quick glance with Adrian before stepping out of the cave, hands raised peacefully. "I am Liam Knight. The pill formation was my doing."
The woman's eyes narrowed as she studied . "You? A re Foundation Stage cultivator caused those pill clouds?"
"I did."
She signaled to her companions who imdiately fanned out, forming a loose periter around us. I tensed, ready for conflict.
"I am Senior Alchemist Phoebe Reeves," she announced. "Unauthorized refinent of Heaven Rank pills carries serious consequences."
"He's with ," ca Eamon Greene's voice as he erged from the trees behind us. His arrival surprised —I hadn't sensed him nearby. "And he's here at my invitation."
Phoebe Reeves bowed slightly. "Elder Greene. Your presence was not expected."
"Nor necessary until now," Eamon replied smoothly. "Young Knight is a guest of Pavilion Master Valerius. His activities have been sanctioned."
The tension in the air eased slightly, though the three Guild representatives remained alert. I shot a questioning look at Eamon, who gave an almost imperceptible nod.
"Show them," he said quietly.
With hesitation, I retrieved the jade box and opened it. The pill's glow imdiately intensified, bathing us all in golden light.
Phoebe Reeves leaned forward, her professional composure cracking as she examined the pill. "This... this is..."
"A Vitality Enhancing Pill," I supplied. "Though stronger than I intended."
"Stronger?" She looked incredulous. "Young man, do you realize what you've created? This isn't just a Heaven Rank pill. The energy signature is approaching Profound Grade."
Adrian gasped beside . Even Eamon seed surprised.
"Impossible," one of the other Guild representatives muttered. "Not without decades of experience."
Phoebe straightened, her expression now carefully neutral. "Elder Greene, Pavilion Master Valerius will need to be inford imdiately. And this young man must co with us to Guild headquarters for questioning."
"That won't be necessary," Eamon countered. "I'll take full responsibility for him."
"With respect, Elder, this matter exceeds standard protocols." Her gaze returned to , assessing. "Creation of such high-grade pills without proper authorization could destabilize the alchemical market across three provinces."
I closed the box, cutting off the golden light. "I have no intention of selling this pill. It's for personal use."
"Personal use?" She looked skeptical. "A pill of that quality is worth more than most people earn in a lifeti."
"Nevertheless," I insisted.
Phoebe seed ready to argue further when Eamon stepped between us. "I propose a compromise. Young Knight will complete his business here under my supervision. Afterward, I will personally escort him to Guild headquarters to et with the Pavilion Master."
After a tense mont, Phoebe nodded reluctantly. "Very well. But I'll be leaving one of my people to monitor the situation." She gestured to the youngest of her companions who stepped forward with obvious reluctance.
"Thank you for your understanding," Eamon said formally.
As Phoebe and her other associate departed, I turned to Eamon. "I didn't expect to see you here."
"Adrian sent word," he replied simply. "It seems I arrived just in ti."
The Guild representative who remained looked uncomfortable. "I'll wait at a respectful distance," he said, moving away to perch on a boulder about fifty paces from the cave.
Once he was out of earshot, I spoke quietly to Eamon and Adrian. "I need to begin my breakthrough imdiately. The pill's potency will diminish with ti."
Adrian frowned. "Here? Now?"
"Yes." I glanced at the distant Guild representative. "Though perhaps sowhere more secluded."
"There's a valley beyond that ridge," Adrian suggested, pointing north. "Hidden and protected by natural formations. Good feng shui for breakthroughs."
Eamon nodded. "I'll handle our observer. et there in one hour."
---
The valley Adrian had suggested was perfect—a natural basin surrounded by jagged peaks that ford a protective barrier against wind and prying eyes. A small stream cut through its center, its waters clear and infused with trace spiritual energy.
I sat cross-legged on a flat stone beside the stream, the jade box containing the pill placed before . Adrian and Eamon stood nearby, while the Guild representative watched from a respectful distance.
"Before I begin," I said, looking up at my companions, "I should warn you. My breakthroughs tend to be... unusual."
Eamon raised an eyebrow. "How so?"
"Energy fluctuations. Possibly visible manifestations." I hesitated, then added, "There might even be tribulation lightning."
Adrian's expression turned alard. "Tribulation? At Foundation Establishnt? That's unheard of!"
"I know." I'd been thinking about this since creating the pill. "My constitution is different. The combination of that and this powerful pill might trigger sothing unexpected."
Eamon stroked his beard thoughtfully. "If lightning does co, we'll need to clear the area. Tribulation is deeply personal—interfering could be disastrous for both you and any bystanders."
I nodded my understanding. "If things get dangerous, don't try to help . Just get clear."
With those ominous words hanging in the air, I opened the jade box and removed the pill. Its surface still glead with internal light, pulsing faintly in rhythm with my heartbeat.
Taking a deep breath, I placed the pill on my tongue. The mont it touched, it dissolved into pure energy that flooded my mouth with intense sweetness before rushing down my throat.
The effect was imdiate and overwhelming. Energy exploded through my ridians like liquid fire, racing through my entire body in seconds. I gasped, barely maintaining my seated position as wave after wave of power crashed through .
"His aura," I heard Adrian say distantly. "It's changing already."
I couldn't respond. The energy was too intense, requiring all my concentration to direct and control. I guided it through the major ridians first, reinforcing and expanding them to handle the increased flow. Then to the minor pathways, clearing blockages and strengthening weak points.
Minutes stretched into hours as I worked thodically, rebuilding my foundation from the inside out. Outside, the sky darkened as clouds gathered, responding to the energy fluctuations. The air grew heavy with potential.
"Sothing's happening," Eamon's voice drifted to as if from a great distance.
I was vaguely aware of the world around changing. The stream beside began to bubble and steam where it ca near my body. Grass and small plants within a ten-foot radius withered and then, surprisingly, sprouted anew—growing at visible speed into lush, oversized versions of themselves.
My dantian, once a small pool of energy, expanded dramatically, its capacity doubling, then tripling. The qualitative change ca next—my spiritual energy growing denser, more refined.
A crack of thunder split the air, and I opened my eyes briefly to see dark clouds spiraling directly above .
"Is that—" Adrian began.
"Tribulation," Eamon confird, his voice tense. "Everyone back! Now!"
Through half-lidded eyes, I watched them retreat, even the reluctant Guild representative being pulled along by Eamon.
The first bolt struck without warning, a jagged spear of blue-white energy that connected cloud to earth—with at its focal point. Pain unlike anything I'd experienced before lanced through my body, but surprisingly, it didn't damage . Instead, the lightning seed to be refining my spiritual energy further, burning away impurities.
Three more bolts followed in quick succession, each more powerful than the last. I gritted my teeth, focusing all my will on absorbing and redirecting the energy rather than resisting it.
After the fourth strike, the clouds began to disperse, sunlight breaking through once more. I drew a ragged breath, amazed to be alive and conscious.
My cultivation had solidified at Foundation Establishnt Stage, but I could feel it was unusually stable and powerful—equivalent to perhaps the third or fourth tier of this realm already.
Eamon approached cautiously once the skies had cleared. "I've lived over a century," he said, his voice filled with wonder, "and I've never seen tribulation at Foundation Establishnt."
I tried to stand but found my legs unwilling to cooperate. Adrian rushed forward to support .
"Did you succeed?" he asked anxiously.
"Yes," I managed to say through parched lips. "Better than expected."
The Guild representative stood so distance away, his face pale. "I must report this to the Pavilion Master imdiately," he said, before turning and rushing away.
Eamon helped to a nearby boulder where I could sit more comfortably. "Rest now," he advised. "Your body needs ti to adjust to the changes."
As my strength slowly returned, I asked, "What happens now?"
"Now?" Eamon smiled thinly. "Now you prepare for your challenge. The world is watching, Liam Knight. And not just the Blackthornes."
---
In Havenwood City, The Warrior's Scroll forum had exploded with activity. My challenge to Dashiell Blackthorne had been uploaded by soone from the Riverbend Martial Arts Association, and within hours it had spread across every major city.
"Did you see it? So nobody challenged the Blackthorne heir!"
"He's insane. Dashiell will obliterate him."
"I heard he's actually a hidden master." Note:Check*foranycorrections.
"Hidden master? Look at him! He's barely out of Foundation Realm!"
The discussions raged across tea houses and training halls, with bets being placed and sides being chosen. Ordinary citizens largely supported , seeing a commoner standing up to aristocratic privilege, while the established powers closed ranks around Dashiell.
In Veridia City's most exclusive district, within the sprawling Blackthorne family estate, Dashiell sat in ditation until his servant's anxious knocking broke his concentration.
"Young Master, urgent news," the servant called through the door.
Dashiell opened his eyes, annoyance clear in his gaze. "Enter."
The servant scurried in, holding a crystal communication device. "This recording is circulating everywhere, Young Master. The Warrior's Scroll has over ten thousand comnts already."
Dashiell took the device and activated it. My image appeared, clear and unwavering as I issued my formal challenge.
"I, Liam Knight, hereby challenge Dashiell Blackthorne to a duel six months from today. Let all bear witness."
His face darkened with each word. By the ti the recording ended, murderous intent filled the room, making the servant tremble.
"This insect dares?" Dashiell snarled, crushing the crystal in his hand. "Find him! I want him dead by nightfall!"
"Young Master," another voice spoke from the doorway. An older man in formal robes stepped in, his expression grave. "That would be unwise."
"Uncle Roderick," Dashiell acknowledged, barely containing his rage. "How is responding to this insult unwise?"
Roderick Blackthorne closed the door behind him. "The challenge has gone public. If you kill him now, it will appear that you fear his potential."
"Fear? Him?" Dashiell laughed bitterly. "He's nothing!"
"Then prove it properly, in six months. Besides," Roderick added carefully, "there's the matter of his connection to the Ashworths."
Dashiell's expression shifted. "What do you an?"
"Our sources say Isabelle Ashworth has taken a personal interest in his developnt. And Michael Ashworth is not known for his forgiveness toward those who interfere with his family's plans."
Silence fell as Dashiell processed this information. Finally, he nodded stiffly. "Six months, then. I'll train. And when the ti cos, I'll kill him myself."
At the Ashworth estate across the city, Isabelle watched the sa recording, a small smile playing on her lips. Her grandfather, Michael Ashworth, observed her reaction with keen interest.
"You seem pleased," he noted. "This young man's challenge serves our purpose?"
Isabelle's smile deepened. "More than we could have hoped for, Grandfather. Liam Knight will exceed all expectations."
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