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 gleamed 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 medicine."


    "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 be so thick it was almost suffocating.


    "We need to move," I said, carefully extracting the pill and cing 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 refinement 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 me. "Toote."


    Outside the cave, three figuresnded in formation. The leader, a stern-faced woman in borate green and gold robes, stepped forward.


    "In the name of the Celestial Apothecary Guild, identify yourselves and exin this unauthorized pill refinement," shemanded.


    I exchanged a quick nce 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 me. "You? A mere Foundation Stage cultivator caused those pill clouds?"


    "I did."


    She signaled to herpanions who immediately fanned out, forming a loose perimeter around us. I tensed, ready for conflict.


    "I am Senior Alchemist Phoebe Reeves," she announced. "Unauthorized refinement of Heaven Rank pills carries serious consequences."


    "He''s with me," came Eamon Greene''s voice as he emerged from the trees behind us. His arrival surprised me—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 me an almost imperceptible nod.


    "Show them," he said quietly.


    With hesitation, I retrieved the jade box and opened it. The pill''s glow immediately intensified, bathing us all in golden light.


    Phoebe Reeves leaned forward, her professionalposure 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 me. Even Eamon seemed 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 informed immediately. And this young man muste 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 me, 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 lifetime."


    "Nevertheless," I insisted.


    Phoebe seemed ready to argue further when Eamon stepped between us. "I propose apromise. Young Knight willplete his business here under my supervision. Afterward, I will personally escort him to Guild headquarters to meet with the Pavilion Master."


    After a tense moment, Phoebe nodded reluctantly. "Very well. But I''ll be leaving one of my people to monitor the situation." She gestured to the youngest of herpanions 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 time."


    The Guild representative who remained looked ufortable. "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 immediately. The pill''s potency will diminish with time."


    Adrian frowned. "Here? Now?"


    "Yes." I nced at the distant Guild representative. "Though perhaps somewhere 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. Meet me there in one hour."


    ---


    The valley Adrian had suggested was perfect—a natural basin surrounded by jagged peaks that formed 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 t stone beside the stream, the jade box containing the pill ced before me. Adrian and Eamon stood nearby, while the Guild representative watched from a respectful distance.


    "Before I begin," I said, looking up at mypanions, "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 tribtion lightning."


    Adrian''s expression turned rmed. "Tribtion? At Foundation Establishment? That''s unheard of!"


    "I know." I''d been thinking about this since creating the pill. "My constitution is different. Thebination of that and this powerful pill might trigger something unexpected."


    Eamon stroked his beard thoughtfully. "If lightning doese, we''ll need to clear the area. Tribtion 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 me. Just get clear."


    With those ominous words hanging in the air, I opened the jade box and removed the pill. Its surface still gleamed with internal light, pulsing faintly in rhythm with my heartbeat.


    Taking a deep breath, I ced the pill on my tongue. The moment it touched, it dissolved into pure energy that flooded my mouth with intense sweetness before rushing down my throat.


    The effect was immediate and overwhelming. Energy exploded through my meridians 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 me.


    "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 meridians 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 methodically, 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.


    "Something''s happening," Eamon''s voice drifted to me as if from a great distance.


    I was vaguely aware of the world around me changing. The stream beside me began to bubble and steam where it came near my body. Grass and small nts 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 came 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 me.


    "Is that—" Adrian began.


    "Tribtion," Eamon confirmed, 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 me at its focal point. Pain unlike anything I''d experienced beforenced through my body, but surprisingly, it didn''t damage me. Instead, the lightning seemed to be refining my spiritual energy further, burning away impurities.


    Three more bolts followed in quick session, each more powerful than thest. 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 Establishment 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 tribtion at Foundation Establishment."


    I tried to stand but found my legs unwilling to cooperate. Adrian rushed forward to support me.


    "Did you seed?" he asked anxiously.


    "Yes," I managed to say through parched lips. "Better than expected."


    The Guild representative stood some distance away, his face pale. "I must report this to the Pavilion Master immediately," he said, before turning and rushing away.


    Eamon helped me to a nearby boulder where I could sit morefortably. "Rest now," he advised. "Your body needs time 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 ckthornes."


    ---


    In Havenwood City, The Warrior''s Scroll forum had exploded with activity. My challenge to Dashiell ckthorne had been uploaded by someone from the Riverbend Martial Arts Association, and within hours it had spread across every major city.


    "Did you see it? Some nobody challenged the ckthorne heir!"


    "He''s insane. Dashiell will obliterate him."


    "I heard he''s actually a hidden master." <q ss="frag-d24d91">Note:<i ss="node-sep"></i>Check<i ss="node-sep"></i>*<i ss="node-sep"></i>for<i ss="node-sep"></i>any<i ss="node-sep"></i>corrections.</q>


    "Hidden master? Look at him! He''s barely out of Foundation Realm!"


    The discussions raged across tea houses and training halls, with bets being ced and sides being chosen. Ordinary citizensrgely supported me, seeing amoner standing up to aristocratic privilege, while the established powers closed ranks around Dashiell.


    In Veridia City''s most exclusive district, within the sprawling ckthorne family estate, Dashiell sat in meditation 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 crystalmunication device. "This recording is circting everywhere, Young Master. The Warrior''s Scroll has over ten thousandments 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 ckthorne to a duel six months from today. Let all bear witness."


    His face darkened with each word. By the time 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 ckthorne 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?" Dashiellughed 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 mean?"


    "Our sources say Isabelle Ashworth has taken a personal interest in his development. And Michael Ashworth is not known for his forgiveness toward those who interfere with his family''s ns."


    Silence fell as Dashiell processed this information. Finally, he nodded stiffly. "Six months, then. I''ll train. And when the timees, I''ll kill him myself."


    At the Ashworth estate across the city, Isabelle watched the same recording, a small smile ying 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."