## Liam''s Perspective


    I couldn''t sleep that night. Bancroft''s words echoed in my mind: "Kill all those people from the lower ss. Don''t leave a single one alive!" The coldness in his voice had chilled me to the bone.


    Dawn broke over Veridia City as I stood at my window. Three days until the expedition departed. Three days to prepare for whatever trap awaited on that ind.


    Registration opened at the main hall. I joined the line of eager cultivators, mostly young men and women frommon backgrounds. Their excited chatter filled the air.


    "I heard the ind has spirit herbs that can''t be found anywhere else!"


    "My brother says there''s a spring that can double your cultivation speed!"


    If only they knew what Bancroft and Radford had nned for them.


    Julian Radford sat behind arge desk, checking credentials and handing out registration forms. When I approached, his smile faltered.


    "Knight. I''m surprised to see you here."


    "Are you?" I held his gaze. "I wouldn''t miss this opportunity."


    His eyes narrowed slightly. "Very well. Fill this out."


    I took the form, noticing how his fingers trembled slightly. Guilty conscience, perhaps? Or just nervous about carrying out his master''s orders?


    Two hourster, we gathered in the courtyard. Julian Radford stood on a tform, Darian Bancroft at his side. Behind them stood several Guild elders, including the ever-watchful Corbin Ashworth.


    "Wee, brave cultivators!" Julian''s voice boomed across the yard. "You''ve all been epted for this prestigious training expedition."


    I scanned the crowd. About sixty cultivators total. Roughly three-quarters weremoners like me. The rest were elite disciples, including Dashiell ckthorne, who red at me from across the gathering.


    Julian continued, "For safety and maximum benefit, you''ll be divided into teams. Elite disciples will lead groups of four to fivemon cultivators."


    I watched as Bancroft handed Julian a scroll. Their exchange seemed rehearsed, but I caught the subtle nod between them.


    "Now for resource allocation," Julian announced. "Each team will receive supplies ording to their assigned territory on the ind."


    Darian stepped forward, unrolling arge map of what appeared to be a mountainous ind.


    "The central teau will be assigned to teams led by elite disciples," Julian exined. "The coastal regions and northern mountains will be for the remaining teams."


    I immediately understood their scheme. The safest, most resource-rich areas for the elites. The dangerous territories for themoners.


    "Any questions before we proceed?" Julian asked, his gaze sweeping over us.


    I raised my hand. "Will we bepeting against each other, or are we free to coborate?"


    Julian''s smile didn''t reach his eyes. "An excellent question. While teams will operate independently, there''s no prohibition against cooperation."


    Lies. I''d overheard their true intentions.


    "One more thing," Julian added. "For those assigned to the northern mountains, be warned – there are reports of territorial beasts in that region."


    More like death traps deliberately set for us.


    The meeting continued with Julian and Darian detailing the rules, expectations, and timeline. All the while, I observed the subtle exchanges between Guild leadership – the sidelong nces, the knowing smirks.


    Afterwards, I approached Emmett Monroe, who had also registered.


    "The northern mountains," I said quietly. "That''s where they''re sending us to die."


    He nodded grimly. "I noticed. But what can we do? Refuse to go, and we''ll never learn what they''re nning with those Blood Oath extracts."


    "We need to warn the others."


    "And who would believe us? The Guild''s word against ours?" Emmett shook his head. "We''d bebeled as troublemakers or worse."


    He was right. We had no proof, only overheard conversations.


    ---


    Two dayster, final preparations were underway. I''d spent every waking moment gathering information about the ind – its terrain, climate, potential dangers. Knowledge was my only advantage.


    In the equipment hall, Julian Radford and Darian Bancroft stood behind a table covered with specialized gear.


    "Thesemunicator talismans will allow emergency contact with the maind," Julian exined, holding up a small jade token.


    "And these," Darian added, lifting a box of gleaming bracelets, "will track your location on the ind. Safety precautions."


    I watched as they distributed eighteen silver bracelets to the team leaders. Something about them set my nerves on edge.


    "Knight!" Julian called. "Your team has been assigned to the northeastern quadrant."


    I stepped forward to collect my equipment bundle. Inside were basic supplies, a crude map, and one of those silver bracelets.


    "All team leaders must wear these at all times," Julian instructed. "They''re linked to our monitoring array."


    I held the bracelet up, examining its intricate engravings. They weren''t just tracking devices. The formations were far tooplex.


    "Is something wrong?" Julian asked, noticing my hesitation.


    "These aren''t just for tracking," I said, loud enough for others to hear. "What else do they do?"


    The room fell silent. Julian''s smile froze on his face.


    "They''re standard Guild equipment," he insisted. "Nothing more."


    "Then why do they contain restriction formations?" I challenged, pointing to specific engravings. "These are designed to control, not just track."


    Murmurs spread through the gathered cultivators.


    Darian stepped forward, his voice smooth as silk. "Mr. Knight has a sharp eye. Indeed, these bracelets have secondary functions – they can be activated remotely to provide protection in case of emergency."


    Protection? More like restraint.


    "If anyone is ufortable with this safety measure," Julian added, "you''re wee to withdraw from the expedition."


    The challenge was clear. Back down or proceed. But withdrawing meant losing my chance to discover what they were doing with Isabelle''s blood.


    "I''m simply making an observation," I said, slipping the bracelet onto my wrist. It felt cold, threatening.


    Several cultivators looked nervous, but no one withdrew. The promise of resources and advancement was too tempting.


    After the equipment distribution, Dashiell ckthorne cornered me in the corridor.


    "Enjoying yourst days, Knight?" His voice dripped with venom.


    "Sounds like you have ns for me, ckthorne."


    He smirked. "Let''s just say the ind has many dangers. idents happen all the time."


    "Like forcing Isabelle into marriage was supposed to be an ident?" I stepped closer. "How did that work out for you?"


    His face darkened. "You took everything from me. My reputation, my standing with the Ashworths, my future."


    "You never had a future with Isabelle," I said coldly. "She was never yours to im."


    "And soon, she''ll never be yours again either." His smile returned, cruel and knowing. "The Blood Oath changes people. When we''re done with her, she won''t even remember your name." <code ss="meta-ref-static">This chapter was first seen on *.</code>


    I grabbed his cor, rage pulsing through me. "If you''ve hurt her—"


    "Problem here?" It was Emmett Monroe, his hand firmly on my shoulder.


    Dashiell stepped back. "No problem. Just wishing Knight good luck on the ind. He''ll need it." With a final smirk, he walked away.


    "Save your strength," Emmett advised. "You''ll need it tomorrow."


    ---


    The chartered ne hummed steadily over the ocean. Sixty cultivators bound for an isted ind, most unaware they were being delivered to potential ughter.


    I sat near the back, observing. My team consisted of fourmon cultivators – all young, all eager, allpletely trusting of the Guild that nned to sacrifice them.


    Midway through the flight, someone dropped into the seat beside me. I turned to find a horribly disfigured face – burn scars covering the left side, the eye a milky white.


    "Remember me, Knight?" The voice was raspy but familiar.


    "Dudley Lowell," I said evenly. "How could I forget?"


    The man I''d defeated months ago, whose face I''d burned with his own me technique when he attempted to assassinate me.


    "I''ve been looking forward to this trip," he rasped. "Just you and me on an ind, far from witnesses."


    "You''re wasting your time on old grudges, Lowell."


    "This isn''t a grudge," he hissed. "It''s justice. You destroyed my future. My face. My standing."


    "You tried to kill me first," I reminded him. "And failed."


    His good eye narrowed. "Things will be different this time. The Guild has promised me your head."


    Before I could respond, the captain announced our descent. Out the window, I caught my first glimpse of Training Ind – a sprawlingndmass with a central mountain range, dense forests, and rocky coastlines.


    Wended on a makeshift airstrip near the beach. As we disembarked, I felt it immediately – the air was thick with qi, far more concentrated than in Veridia City.


    "Incredible," one of my team members whispered. "I can feel my meridians expanding just standing here."


    Julian Radford gathered everyone on the beach. "Wee to Training Ind! You''ll notice the enhanced spiritual energy – use it wisely. Teams will now proceed to their assigned territories."


    He unfolded arge map. "Elite teams to the central teau. Northern teams, follow the coastal path until you reach the mountain trails. You have until nightfall to establish your camps."


    As teams dispersed, I led my group along the beach. The sand was unusual – it sparkled with tiny flecks of what looked like spirit stone fragments.


    "Mr. Knight," one of my team members asked, "what should we focus on first?"


    "Securing shelter and water," I replied. "Then we explore our surroundings carefully."


    By sunset, we''d established a basic camp in a protected cove near the forest edge. The others retired early, exhausted from travel and excited for tomorrow''s training.


    I walked alone along the moonlit beach, thinking of Isabelle. Was she feeling pain right now? Was she wondering if I''d abandoned her?


    The waterpped at my feet, glowing faintly with spiritual energy. Curious, I knelt and dipped my hand in. The seawater was warm, almost gtinous with concentrated qi.


    Could there be underwater caves? Hidden resources beneath the waves? I was contemting a night dive when it happened.


    A massive explosion ripped through the darkness to my right, maybe half a mile down the beach. The sky lit up as if day had suddenly returned.


    My face turned cold. So it begins.