Three years passed in the outside world—yet within the accelerated chambers, entire generations of knowledge had already taken root.
The Plump Blossom Sect, once known only for its gentle trades and peaceful cultivation arts, had transformed into something entirely new. Its sprawling terraced grounds and bustling markets were reborn into a grand nexus of commerce, education, and engineering—the first true trading-hub sect of the continent.
Everywhere Kael walked, he saw the changes.
Children barely ten were already carving beginner runes onto practice slabs. Young disciples recited formulae for minor energy circuits. Elder craftsman once bound to mundane carpentry were now creating spirit-stabilized frames, reinforced with new techniques learned from the Azure Sect. Even the clan merchants, who once only weighed herbs and silks, now calculated energy coefficients of rune-powered devices.
It was a metamorphosis.
The Recruitment Phase from three years ago had taken full effect:
– thousands of scholars,
– builders,
– forge smiths,
– rune smith apprentices,
– formation technicians,
– and even spirit-geomancers…
All had been absorbed into their respective divisions, trained under the guidance of Azure techniques.
Their original sect identity did not vanish—it expanded.
The Plump Blossom Sect became the first inter-sect educational and trade institute, its circular plazas and towering halls filled with shimmering projectors, blueprint panels, and rune arrays humming softly at night.
And the most dramatic change—
The Grand Hall of Integration
In the center of their sect now stood a monumental structure:
a round hall with a floating circular dais, surrounded by rings of light that encoded the fundamentals of the Portal Generation Runes.
Every three days, Kael would stand on the dais and watch the divisions report:
Rune Smith Division—now 12,000 trained members
Construction & Engineering Division—15,000
Trade & Economics Division—8,000
Exploration Corps—2,000
Portal Technicians and Stabilizers—1,100
Reserved Apprentice Corps—over 30,000 young disciples
Their sect grounds thrived with activity—carts loaded with refined materials, traders from nearby kingdoms visiting with wide eyes, and portals blinking in and out as technicians trained.
The Plump Blossom Sect had become a river of life—flowing, transforming, growing.
And Kael, once just a quiet envoy, now found himself walking in a place where entire futures were being shaped.
Three years into the training and integration, Kael surveyed the Plump Blossom Sect. The sect had grown not only in size but in power, discipline, and cultivation, forming a hierarchy that balanced skill, comprehension, and responsibility.
At the very top, the Ancient Elder, reaching Genesis 7 level, held supreme authority, their mastery of Azure Sect techniques and forbidden knowledge unmatched.
Beneath them, the Elder Patriarchs, now Saints of Chaos—final stage, directed the major divisions: engineering, trade, portals, rune smithing, and carpentry. Their presence alone radiated pressure that shaped reality, ensuring that projects, apprentices, and resources aligned with perfection. These patriarchs could manipulate energy, space, and matter in ways most disciples could not even perceive.
The Core Disciples, at Martial Saint 5-6 level, led teams of Senior and Outer Disciples, stabilizing portal experiments, supervising intricate rune constructions, and guiding apprentices through complex procedures. Senior Disciples, at Martial Saint 3-4 level, handled workshops, construction, and practical applications of runic engineering, while Outer Disciples, at Martial Saint 1-2 level, learned through observation and supervised practice.
Even the sect's elders, now Saints of Chaos alongside the patriarchs, had been transformed by Kael's guidance. Their cultivation allowed them to personally oversee projects, stabilize unstable runes, and mentor core disciples without fear of error. Their mastery gave them authority over the most dangerous knowledge, including portal systems, primordial lumber processing, and frost ore refinement.
Kael walked through the training halls and plazas, watching apprentices tracing runes, Core Disciples calibrating portals, and Elder Patriarchs manipulating reality subtly to ensure stability. Every level of cultivation had a clear role:
Saints of Chaos – absolute control over divisions, project supervision, and knowledge guardianship
Core Disciples – team leaders for practical application and high-risk projects
Senior Disciples – workshop and field execution
Outer Disciples – learning and foundational tasks
Kael spoke quietly as he passed among them:
> "From the youngest apprentice to the Saints of Chaos, every hand, every mind, every cultivation level must work in unison. Only through harmony of comprehension, power, and duty can this sect grow and integrate fully with the Azure Sect."
Even the dwarves observing via projection runes acknowledged the balance. Every disciple, every master, every Elder Patriarch and Saint of Chaos operated in a perfect network, ensuring the Plump Blossom Sect would become a hub of power, knowledge, and influence unlike any other.
The changes were everywhere, subtle and sweeping at once. The sect no longer resembled the delicate, flower-laden place it once had been. Every disciple carried a coffee container or a frost-aged whiskey barrel, even the outer disciples, a constant ritual woven into daily life. Smoke from cigars, enhanced with minor rune flows, curled through the halls, marking status and discipline simultaneously.
The streets, once lined with blossoming trees and silk stalls, now hummed with energy. Workshops operated continuously, runes embedded in every wall, every surface, guiding apprentices and Core Disciples alike. Frosted veins of primordial wood and frost ore framed every building; the scent of freshly carved lumber mingled with the sharp tang of metal and the aromatic steam of coffee.
Even the weapons had transformed. The old ceremonial swords, ornate and delicate, were now relics displayed in halls of memory. Rune-infused frost blades, portable and precise, hung from every disciple's belt. Martial arts had shifted in kind—space-bending strikes, energy-enhanced strikes, and rune-integrated techniques replaced the old choreography. Only the Saints of Chaos and Elder Patriarchs retained the mastery to wield any remaining traditional weapons, but even they preferred the efficiency of the new designs.
Clothing, too, had changed. The soft silks and embroidered robes of the past were mostly gone. Disciples now wore garments designed for function, energy circulation, and rune integration. Only the decorative aspects of their original sect—flower patterns, pastel colors—remained subtly woven into sleeves and collars, a nod to heritage amidst the functional evolution.
Kael walked through the main plaza, watching the harmony of transformation: apprentices tracing runes while sipping coffee, Senior Disciples calibrating portal prototypes, Elder Patriarchs overseeing logistics while swirling whiskey in frost-etched goblets. Even the Ancient Elder, Genesis 7 level, observed the scene with a faint smile, quietly approving the discipline and efficiency the Plump Blossom Sect had gained under Kael's guidance.
> "This is the way of progress," Kael murmured. "Knowledge, energy, and comprehension must guide culture. The past is honored in memory, but the future is forged by hands that understand power and purpose."
The Saints of Chaos nodded, their presence radiating calm authority, a constant reminder to every disciple that discipline, cultivation, and innovation were inseparable.
The sect was no longer simply a place of learning—it was a living, breathing hub of trade, knowledge, and energy, ready to integrate fully with the Azure Sect and beyond. The cultural shift was complete, yet its evolution had only just begun.
The Auction Plaza — Architecture
At the heart of the Plump Blossom Sect stood the Auction Plaza, a monumental fusion of Azure Sect precision, dwarven engineering, and sect tradition. The space was vast, open to the sky yet framed by towering frost-and-stone walls, black-veined marble embedded with runes that glimmered faintly with the pulse of primordial energy.
The flooring was layered with interlocking frost slabs, each etched with runes that stabilized the floating platforms and materials during bidding. Channels of crystal-clear water infused with frost energy ran through the plaza, carrying light-reflecting streams that highlighted the precious materials on display.
Rising tiers of observation platforms encircled the plaza:
The lowest ring for apprentice scouts and junior disciples, who could study the flow of trade and tactics.
The middle ring for Core Disciples and Senior Rune Smiths, overseeing auctions and handling disputes.
The highest tiers, reserved for Saints of Chaos and Elder Patriarchs, were carved from frost-imbued stone, projecting authority while connected to arcane viewing runes, allowing them to monitor skirmishes in distant resource regions.
The central dais floated slightly above the ground, reinforced with runes of suspension and stability, large enough to display frost metal ingots, primordial lumber slabs, and essence-infused ores. Arcane pillars surrounded the dais, projecting ethereal light and protective wards to prevent theft or accident during bidding.
Above the plaza, floating banners of frost energy displayed auctioned materials' details, shimmering like auroras. Observation runes projected live maps of resource veins in the central plains and neighboring regions, enabling buyers and overseers to track origins and purity.
Even the support structures—stalls, storage wings, and walkways—were functional yet awe-inspiring, made from primordial timber and frost-forged steel, carved with protective runes and subtle decorations that recalled the sect's heritage. Every element of the architecture reflected discipline, energy, and status, ensuring the auction plaza was not just a marketplace, but a stage of power and training, a testament to the sect's mastery over resources, trade, and magic.
The auction plaza thrummed with energy, frost-etched runes shimmering across primordial timber and black-veined marble. At the center, the floating dais displayed today's most coveted items: rare materials, arcane knowledge, specialized currency, and elixirs of profound power.
---
Items on Display
1. Frost Metal Ingots
Mined from the central plains, pulsing faintly with frost energy.
Some ingots contained embedded runes for weapon forging or portal construction.
2. Primordial Lumber
Harvested from untouched regions, infused with latent energy and spirit essence.
Perfect for furniture, construction, or magical conduits.
3. Essence-Infused Ores
Crystals carrying fragments of the Death Sun or frost-forged elements.
Highly prized for weapons, runes, and experimental engineering.
4. Specialized Currency
Frozen gold: standard for internal transactions.
Normal gold: used for external trade.
Pure Death Star Essence coins: extremely rare, reserved for high-value acquisitions or magical materials.
5. Scrolls and Knowledge Tomes
Contained advanced rune construction, portal systems, and engineering schematics.
Some included projection diagrams or temporal studies.
6. Elixirs and Pills
Primordial Rejuvenation Pills: restored youth, stamina, and cultivation energy.
Essence Infusion Elixirs: enhanced physical and spiritual capacity, temporarily raising Martial Saint or Core Disciple efficiency.
Rare Elemental Capsules: allowed controlled absorption of frost or Death Sun energy, useful in crafting weapons or stabilizing portals.
---
The Atmosphere
Apprentices and outer disciples crowded the lower tiers, eyes wide at the levitating slabs of frost metal and glowing elixirs.
Core Disciples and Senior Rune Smiths circulated, stabilizing materials with rune arrays, projecting holographic stats for bidders.
Saints of Chaos and Elder Patriarchs observed from the upper tiers, evaluating purity, strategic value, and cultivation potential.
Projection runes displayed live maps of mining regions, ore purity, and even competitor movements, letting bidders calculate offers with precision.
Every bid was a calculated strategy. Frost metal was not just a commodity—it was project lifeblood. Scrolls weren't just information—they were knowledge to master entire divisions. And elixirs? They could elevate a disciple, giving them the edge to manage portals, forge metals, or lead teams effectively.
> "These items are not for mere possession," Kael's voice resonated through the plaza via lattice channels. "They are the essence of our growth, our projects, and our sect. Bid wisely, acquire strategically, and use with purpose."
---
The first slab of frost metal floated above the dais, runes flickering. Bids escalated swiftly, apprentices whispering as Senior Disciples negotiated with precise gestures. Primordial lumber followed, humming with latent energy. Essence-infused ores glimmered like captured stars.
Finally, the elixirs and pills were presented. Primordial Rejuvenation Pills glowed faintly, their aura radiating vitality. Essence Infusion Elixirs shimmered with restrained power, promising temporary mastery beyond the user's cultivation. Every disciple and dwarf engineer studied carefully, weighing resources, gold, and potential gain before bidding.
The auction wasn't just trade—it was a lesson in resource management, cultivation strategy, and economic foresight, blending the practical, magical, and scientific into one grand spectacle.
Among the prized items on the floating dais were elixirs and pills designed to accelerate cultivation, enhance spiritual perception, and strengthen physical vessels. These were no mere luxury—they were tools of power, coveted by every disciple, dwarf engineer, and Saint of Chaos alike.
1. Primordial Rejuvenation Pill
Restored vitality, spirit, and body to near-primal perfection.
Reversed aging effects, giving disciples the appearance and energy of someone decades younger.
Accelerated recovery from intense cultivation exercises, allowing Core Disciples and Outer Disciples to train longer without exhaustion.
2. Essence Infusion Elixir
Temporarily enhanced a cultivator's connection to spiritual lattices and runic energy.
Boosted comprehension of advanced techniques, including portal mechanics, rune smithing, and frost-metal forging.
Allowed Martial Saints and Core Disciples to perform techniques normally reserved for higher stages, granting a glimpse of Saint-level abilities.
3. Elemental Harmonization Capsule
Infused the user with trace amounts of elemental energy—frost, flame, or death sun essence—enhancing compatibility with advanced forging and rune constructs.
Stabilized internal energy flows, improving precision and efficiency during cultivation or magical experimentation.
Particularly prized by rune smiths and elemental engineers for enhancing mana-to-material conversion in crafting.
4. Spirit-Lattice Alignment Pill
Strengthened the connection between the cultivator's soul and the sect's lattice.
Improved memory retention of knowledge scrolls and projection diagrams, allowing disciples to internalize complex formulas or portal schematics at accelerated pace.
Could temporarily increase cultivation efficiency by 20–30%, making it invaluable for apprentices attempting advanced techniques beyond their natural stage.
5. Primordial Essence Capsule
Allowed Core Disciples to harness energy directly from frozen ores, frost metals, or Death Sun essence without destabilizing their cultivation.
Perfect for integration with portal construction, weapon crafting, or rune engraving.
Those who consumed it could synchronize their personal energy with the material, enhancing both cultivation and crafting efficiency simultaneously.
---
These elixirs and pills were auctioned with extreme care, each levitating slightly above the dais, glowing faintly as protective runes stabilized their energy. Saints of Chaos and Elder Patriarchs observed closely, ensuring no unprepared disciple overestimated their capacity, while Core Disciples calculated bids and strategies for project integration.
Kael's voice echoed through the plaza:
> "These elixirs are more than sustenance—they are accelerators of comprehension, enhancers of cultivation, and keys to mastery. Treat them wisely. One dose can turn potential into power, knowledge into mastery."
The disciples leaned forward, eyes wide, as the first Primordial Rejuvenation Pills were bid upon. Essence Infusion Elixirs shimmered faintly, promising power beyond normal limits. Spirit-Lattice Alignment Pills and Elemental Harmonization Capsules glowed softly, their energy already sensed by those trained enough to perceive it.
The auction was no longer mere commerce; it was a convergence of cultivation, technology, and strategy, every participant aware that mastery could be gained—or lost—in a single well-placed bid.
The auction plaza pulsed with tension, frost-etched runes humming beneath the feet of every participant. Today, the rare materials—frost metal, primordial lumber, essence-infused ores, cultivation elixirs, and knowledge scrolls—were not merely for sale. They were contested prizes, each faction testing strategy, wit, and wealth.
The neighboring sects and representatives from the central plains had arrived en masse, their eyes scanning the dais as if the floating frost metal itself might choose its new owner.
Kael observed quietly from the central dais. Saints of Chaos and Elder Patriarchs flanked him, ensuring order. The crowd was hushed, the energy electric. No weapons were drawn—here, power and strategy were measured in bids, not blades.
---
The Rules of Engagement
1. Material Bidding
Each item—frost metal ingots, primordial lumber, or essence-infused ores—was presented floating above the central dais.
Buyers wagered frozen gold, normal gold, Death Star Essence coins, or rare artifacts.
The higher the risk, the greater the strategic reward: winning frost metal could fuel weapons, portals, or rune systems for decades.
2. Knowledge and Scrolls
Advanced schematics, rune projections, and portal designs were auctioned last.
Bidders had to wager both currency and future commitments—promises to share labor, apprentices, or production capacity with the winning sect.
This prevented monopolization and fostered strategic alliances.
3. Elixirs and Pills
Primordial Rejuvenation Pills, Essence Infusion Elixirs, and Spirit-Lattice Alignment Pills were auctioned in small, high-value lots.
Bidders wagered not only wealth but exclusive cultivation rights for their disciples, creating subtle competition among rival factions.
---
The Betting as Battle
The auction became a war of strategy rather than force:
Neighboring sects bid aggressively for frost metal, sometimes exceeding the calculated market value to deny rivals.
Central plains traders countered with bundles of rare ores and elixirs, leveraging scarcity and perceived cultivation benefits.
Rival factions attempted coordinated bids to block competitors from gaining high-value items, forming temporary alliances mid-auction.
Every wager was a calculated risk, every increase a tactical maneuver. The floating frost metal and glowing scrolls above the dais acted as silent arbiters, stabilizing each contested item with runes to ensure fairness.
> "This is no ordinary trade," Kael's voice rang through the plaza via lattice channels. "Here, strategy, comprehension, and foresight matter more than brute force. The strongest, the wisest, and the most disciplined shall prevail."
---
The Outcome
By the time the final item—a set of Primordial Rejuvenation Pills paired with portal schematics—was auctioned, rival factions had exhausted their resources. Disciples of the Plump Blossom Sect and Core Azure Sect strategists quietly secured the highest-value items, not through combat, but through calculated wagers, timing, and understanding of the market:
Frost metal went to those who could deploy it efficiently in portals and weapon systems.
Knowledge scrolls were won by those able to train disciples and engineers quickly.
Elixirs were allocated to maximize cultivation advantages across divisions.
The plaza exhaled a collective hum as the auction closed. Even without a single blade drawn, lessons had been learned: strategy, foresight, and calculated risk could wield as much power as cultivation or weapons.
Kael nodded subtly, Saints of Chaos and Elder Patriarchs observing silently. This auction had not only distributed resources—it had shaped the sect's hierarchy, alliances, and cultivation potential for decades to come.
The auction house never slept. Frost-etched marble and primordial timber glimmered with runes, fractured silver light casting shadows across the floating bounty: frost metal ingots, primordial lumber slabs, essence-infused ores, cultivation elixirs, knowledge scrolls, and now rare plants and seeds—each item a coveted asset.
Above the central dais, additional contracts for renovations and infrastructure projects hovered, promising work that could reshape entire sects or towns. Every faction, from neighboring sects to central plains traders, now had more than material—they had opportunity, influence, and long-term advantage.
Kael stood silently on the dais. Saints of Chaos and Elder Patriarchs ensured lattice integrity, but no guidance was given. Every bid, every strategy, was determined solely by the factions themselves.
---
Daily Rhythm of Strategic Bidding
Morning: Apprentices and young disciples monitored rival factions' initial bids. Frost metal and primordial lumber drew attention first, but quickly, rare plants and seeds—capable of enhancing cultivation or food supply—became hotly contested.
Afternoon: Knowledge scrolls, portal schematics, and renovation contracts were brought forth. Contracts promised upgrades for infrastructure, workshops, and sect halls. Bidders had to balance currency, manpower, and strategic timing to secure the rights.
Night: Elixirs, rejuvenation pills, and essence-infused ores continued to spark bidding wars. Even under the moonlight, factions calculated, adjusted alliances, and reallocated resources, the 24/7 auction testing endurance, foresight, and precision.
---
Tactics in the Auction
Blocking Bids: Temporary alliances formed to deny rivals frost metals or elixirs, while others attempted to secure rare seeds and plants for cultivation superiority.
Escalating Stakes: Renovation contracts were particularly contentious, as they promised long-term sect influence and prestige. Factions wagered gold, rare ores, or commitments of labor to secure them.
Psychological Play: Bidders feigned disinterest, hoping rivals would overextend themselves in bids for plants or contracts, giving the patient faction the advantage.
Endurance: With a nonstop auction, factions rotated personnel, balancing strategy with mental endurance. Those who could think clearly through exhaustion claimed the most critical resources.
---
Impact on Sect and Culture
Plants and Seeds: Won by those capable of cultivating them, they became sources of food, medicine, or even magical enhancement, integrating directly into sect and city life.
Renovation Contracts: Allowed factions to upgrade halls, forge workshops, and infrastructure, enhancing production efficiency, portal stability, and cultivation facilities.
Frost Metal, Lumber, and Knowledge: Integrated immediately into weapons, portals, and elixir production, amplifying sect power and influence.
Elixirs and Pills: Distributed strategically, strengthening disciples' cultivation, comprehension, and stamina, giving subtle but decisive advantages in long-term development.
---
Kael's presence remained silent and watchful, never intervening. Saints of Chaos stabilized runes, Elder Patriarchs ensured fairness, but the battle—of wealth, knowledge, cultivation, and opportunity—was entirely in the hands of the bidders.
> "The strongest, the wisest, and the most disciplined will prevail," Kael thought, gaze calm. "Let them learn to wield power through foresight and strategy, not guidance."
---
The auction had become more than a marketplace. It was a living battlefield of intellect, endurance, and resource mastery, shaping disciples, apprentices, and rival sects alike. Each winning bid, each secured plant, seed, or renovation contract moved the balance of cultivation, infrastructure, and influence, reinforcing the lesson that control over resources is as critical as cultivation itself.
Kael stepped from the lattice-anchored hall into the streets of the newly integrated domain. Frost motes swirled lazily around his boots, dancing with fractured silver light. The scent of fresh timber, forge smoke, and herbs filled the air, mingling with something altogether unfamiliar—aromas that hinted at culture he had never anticipated in his frozen halls.
He walked slowly, taking in the bustling life of the sect:
A pizza shop, warm light spilling onto frost-etched streets, carried the smell of melted cheese and roasted herbs. Dwarves and disciples alike laughed, exchanging stories over triangular slices.
A burger stall, smoke curling upward, drew crowds eager for hearty meals. Apprentices in robes dusted with ash from the forges jostled happily, tasting new flavors while discussing portal schematics.
Coffee houses lined narrow alleys, steam curling into the winter air. Disciples carried small, rune-etched containers of coffee, some infused with frost or primordial energy, sipping cautiously while debating the latest rune designs.
Cigarette and cigar shops, small and glowing warmly, dotted corners where older disciples and dwarves sat smoking, whispering quietly of trade deals and upcoming auctions.
Every profession was represented: carpenters and rune-smiths negotiated deliveries over hot drinks, smiths tested prototypes nearby, and merchants displayed wares alongside magical constructs. Even frost-forged armors were on racks next to glowing plants from the auction, blending craftsmanship with culture, commerce, and cultivation.
---
Kael's eyes, calm and piercing, swept across the streets. No sword, no battle, no forced command—yet the world had transformed under his vision. The blend of discipline, cultivation, and everyday life created a vibrancy he had not fully anticipated.
> "So this is life beyond the lattice… beyond portals and frost metal," Kael murmured softly. "Even discipline and cultivation yield space for culture, for invention, for choice… for freedom."
The streets hummed with energy, a living testament to decades of effort. Apprentices moved freely between shops and workshops, dwarves carried small rune-etched carts, and Core Disciples occasionally paused to consult their scrolls while sipping steaming coffee. Frost motes shimmered above them, reflecting the fractured silver light of the lattice, as though the domain itself approved of this new rhythm of life.
Kael continued walking, silent yet observant. He saw the unexpected coexistence: cafés next to forges, burgers alongside elixirs, casual laughter mingling with the hum of rune-activated machinery. Culture had shifted. Normal swords were now curiosities; coffee, whiskey, and cigars had become staples of daily life. Even clothing had adapted—less formal, more practical, yet subtly infused with frost, rune, and essence.
This was a world fully alive, grown from the discipline of decades yet tempered by curiosity, commerce, and culture—a living experiment of life under the Azure and Plump Blossom alliance.