I leaned back in my chair, watching William Vance''s expression carefully. The official hadid out a detailed itinerary for our journey to Shince City, which would begin in three days.


    "So we''re agreed then?" William asked, his authoritative voice filling my modest quarters.


    I nodded. "Three days. That should give me enough time to prepare."


    "Excellent." He rose from his seat, smoothing his official robes. "I''ll arrange for the necessary documents. The battle zone''smand will be pleased."


    After seeing him to the door, I returned to my study and pulled out the jade box containing the Divine Medicine. The Thousand-Year Ginseng glowed with an ethereal light, pulsing with ancient energy. Such a rare treasure deserved careful consideration.


    I had several options for its use. I could save it for a critical moment, perhaps when facing a powerful enemy. Or I could use it to help Conrad break through his cultivation bottleneck, cementing his loyalty. But my instincts told me there was a more immediate benefit to be gained.


    My cultivation had been advancing rapidly, but each level required exponentially more resources. This Divine Medicine could push me to the next threshold.


    Decision made, I closed the door and sat cross-legged on the floor. I removed the ginseng from its box, feeling its energy vibrating against my palm. The distinct aroma filled my nostrils as I carefully ced it in my mouth.


    The taste was indescribable—bitter yet sweet, like tasting time itself. As I chewed and swallowed, warmth spread throughout my body. The sensation intensified until it felt like my blood was boiling.


    I gritted my teeth against the pain. My meridians expanded as torrents of energy surged through them. My muscles spasmed and bones creaked under the pressure. This was the price of rapid advancement—the body fighting against unnatural growth.


    Hours passed as I wrestled with the transformation. Finally, when the first light of dawn filtered through my window, the pain subsided. I opened my eyes and flexed my fingers, feeling the new power coursing through them.


    "Sess," I whispered, standing up.


    My physical body had strengthened considerably. Objects felt lighter to my touch, and my senses had sharpened again. I could hear conversations from three buildings away and smell the morning dew on nts outside my window. <kbd ss="frag-90487b">This<i ss="node-sep"></i>chapter<i ss="node-sep"></i>was<i ss="node-sep"></i>made<i ss="node-sep"></i>possible<i ss="node-sep"></i>by<i ss="node-sep"></i>the<i ss="node-sep"></i>*<i ss="node-sep"></imunity.</kbd>


    Yet I also noted a concerning trend. Each breakthrough now required significantly more qi than thest. My advancement was bing more resource-intensive—a problem I would need to address soon.


    But for now, I allowed myself a brief smile of satisfaction.


    ---


    In Veridia City, Dashiell ckthorne stared coldly at the messenger kneeling before him.


    "Are you certain of this information?" he asked, his voice dangerously calm.


    The messenger kept his head bowed. "Yes, Young Master ckthorne. Multiple sources confirm that Liam Knight was responsible for Melvin ckthorne''s death in White City."


    Dashiell''s fingers tapped methodically against the armrest of his chair. Thevish study of the ckthorne family estate reflected his status as heir to one of Veridia''s most powerful families.


    "Melvin was a fool," he said after a long pause. "Always causing problems with his reckless behavior."


    "Then... you''re not angered by his death?" the messenger ventured cautiously.


    Dashiell''s eyes shed. "Don''t mistake my assessment for indifference. Melvin may have been worthless, but he was still a ckthorne. No one kills a member of our family without consequences."


    He rose from his seat and walked to the window overlooking the family''s private gardens. Perfectly manicured trees and exotic flowers disyed the wealth and influence of the ckthorne name.


    "This Liam Knight... what do we know of him?"


    "He appeared in Havenwood City several months ago. Initially, he seemed unremarkable, but he''s gained significant power very quickly. And..." the messenger hesitated.


    "Speak," Dashiellmanded.


    "He has connections to the Ashworth family. Specifically, to Miss Isabelle Ashworth."


    Dashiell''s expression darkened. His pending arrangement with Isabelle was a cornerstone of his family''s strategic ns. Any threat to that arrangement was uneptable.


    "I see," he said softly. "Thatplicates matters."


    He returned to his seat, decision made. "Find and eliminate any witnesses to Melvin''s death. We can''t have public knowledge that a ckthorne was killed without retribution."


    "And Liam Knight?"


    "For now, we watch. A direct move against someone connected to Isabelle Ashworth requires... delicacy." Dashiell''s eyes narrowed. "But make no mistake—I''ll kill him myself when the time is right."


    The messenger nodded and quickly departed, leaving Dashiell alone with his thoughts. He poured himself a ss of rare spirits and contemted the situation.


    "Liam Knight," he murmured, swirling the amber liquid. "Who are you to challenge the natural order of things?"


    ---


    Three dayster, I arrived at William Vance''s residence in Shince City. The journey had been uneventful, giving me time to process my recent advancement and n my next moves.


    William''s home was impressive—a sprawling estate that reflected his status in the city. A servant led me through ornate corridors to a receiving room where William was reviewing documents.


    "Liam, wee," he said, setting aside his work. "How was your journey?"


    "Peaceful," I replied. "A wee change."


    Amotion from another room interrupted our conversation. The door burst open, and a young woman stormed in, her face flushed with frustration. She stopped abruptly when she saw me.


    "ra, this is inappropriate," William chided. "I''m in a meeting."


    "Sorry, Father," she said, not sounding sorry at all. Her eyes remained fixed on me. "Is this him? The famous Liam Knight?"


    I studied her curiously. ra Vance was perhaps eighteen, with intelligent eyes and a determined set to her jaw that reminded me of her father.


    "I am," I confirmed. "And you must be ra."


    She nodded eagerly. "I''ve heard about what happened in White City. They say you defeated a Grandmaster single-handedly!"


    William cleared his throat. "ra, this isn''t the time—"


    "Actually," I interrupted, "I don''t mind. It''s refreshing to meet someone who speaks their mind."


    ra beamed at me before her expression fell again. "Father, I''ve tried everywhere. All the tickets are sold out."


    William sighed, clearly familiar with this conversation. "I told you, ra. If you had asked earlier—"


    "But it''s Kathleen Hansen!" she protested. "Her only concert in Shince City! Everyone will be there except me."


    I raised an eyebrow, intrigued by this sudden glimpse into normal, everyday concerns. It seemed almost trivialpared to matters of life and death, cultivation, and family vendettas.


    "Who is Kathleen Hansen?" I asked.


    ra looked at me as if I''d grown a second head. "Only the most famous singer in the northern provinces! She''s incredible—her voice can make you cry orugh or feel like you can conquer the world."


    Her passion was evident, her eyes shining with genuine admiration.


    "And you can''t get tickets?" I inquired.


    "They sold out in minutes," shemented. "I''ve tried everything. Dealers are charging ten times the original price, and even then, they''re impossible to find."


    William gave me an apologetic look. "My daughter is quite determined when she sets her mind to something."


    An idea formed in my mind. In my previous life, I had no connections, no influence. Now, things were different. This small problem might be an opportunity to test the extent of my new influence.


    "Perhaps I can help," I offered.


    ra''s eyes widened. "You can get tickets to Kathleen Hansen''s concert?"


    "I have some connections that might be useful," I said with careful confidence. The truth was I didn''t know if I could deliver, but I was curious to find out. "When is the concert?"


    "Tomorrow night," ra replied, her voice rising with hope.


    I nodded thoughtfully. "I''ll see what I can do."


    "You would do that for me?" she asked, incredulous.


    "Of course, I would have a condition," I said, watching her reaction carefully.


    Her expression immediately became cautious, but desperation quickly won out. "Anything! I''ll do anything for those tickets!"


    I smiled, seeing the opportunity. "Really?"