The morning after meeting Lian Fei, Axel woke to find Wei Chen had returned from town. His traveling companion sat by a newly kindled fire, sorting through supplies he'd purchased—dried rations, basic medicinal herbs, and most importantly, several jade slips containing cultivation information.
"You had an eventful day yesterday," Wei Chen observed without looking up. "I could sense the Qi fluctuations from the town. Whatever you fought, it was powerful."
"Corrupted Ironclaw Lynx," Axel replied, settling down across from him. "And something much bigger that scared it off. Met someone too—a Greenleaf Forest Sect disciple named Lian Fei."
Wei Chen's head snapped up, his expression suddenly intent. "Lian Fei? Seventeen, wood-element specialist, outer disciple with Stage 4 Late cultivation?"
"You know her?"
"Know of her," Wei Chen corrected. "She's got a reputation in the regional cultivation circles. Talented but stubborn—refused to participate in some shady deals her sect elders were pushing, made powerful enemies as a result. She's been on thin ice with her own sect for months." He paused. "Did she survive the encounter with the corrupted beast?"
"Barely. I helped her escape." Axel pulled out the jade communication token Lian Fei had given him. "She gave me this. Said she owed me a life debt."
Wei Chen whistled softly. "A life debt from Lian Fei is worth having. She's one of the few cultivators I've heard about who actually honors such things. Most people treat debt obligations as suggestions rather than requirements." He returned to sorting supplies. "How badly was she injured?"
"Multiple claw wounds, internal damage, exhausted. But she was healing fast—walked away under her own power by evening."
"Wood-element cultivators have enhanced regeneration," Wei Chen explained. "It's one of their primary advantages. Give her a day or two of rest and proper meditation, she'll be almost fully recovered." He tossed one of the jade slips to Axel. "This is for you. Basic information about the Azure Sky Sect—their history, notable techniques, important figures. Cost me three spirit stones, but it's worth it. The more you know going into the examination, the better."
Axel caught the slip and immediately channeled a thread of Qi into it. Information flooded his mind—not quite reading, more like direct knowledge transfer. The Azure Sky Sect had been founded eight hundred years ago by a rogue cultivator who'd reached the Saint Realm through unconventional methods. It emphasized practical combat ability and innovation over rigid tradition, which explained why they were willing to accept talented independents.
Current sect master was Zhou Tianming, an Immortal Ascension cultivator—Stage 14, the peak of what was possible in the Mortal World. The sect boasted three elders at True Immortal stage, dozens of inner disciples at Golden Core and above, and hundreds of outer disciples ranging from Foundation Establishment to Core Formation.
The examination process was detailed as well. First test: spiritual root assessment using a testing formation that measured innate talent and elemental affinities. Second test: cultivation demonstration and combat evaluation. Third test: character assessment through a formation that detected killing intent, demonic cultivation, and major character flaws.
"This is incredibly detailed," Axel said, absorbing the information. "Where did you get this?"
"Black market information broker," Wei Chen replied with a slight smile. "Not quite legal, but not quite illegal either. Sect information is technically public, but gathering it all in one convenient package and selling it falls into a gray area. Most serious examination candidates buy something similar—you'd be at a disadvantage going in blind."
They spent the morning reviewing the information together, with Wei Chen adding context and details from his own experience. The Azure Sky Sect was competitive but not cutthroat—disciples were encouraged to compete, but killing fellow sect members was strictly forbidden outside official duels. Resources were distributed based on merit and contribution, with monthly allocations for outer disciples and more generous provisions for inner disciples who'd proven themselves.
"One thing to note," Wei Chen said seriously. "The sect has factions. Not official ones—they'd never admit to internal division. But there are three main groups among the elders and inner disciples. The Traditionalists want to return to the sect's founding principles. The Modernists want to adapt cultivation methods to incorporate new discoveries. And the Pragmatists don't care about philosophy, they just want power and will ally with whoever helps them get it."
"Which faction should I avoid?"
"None of them, necessarily. Each has advantages and disadvantages. But you need to be aware of the dynamics so you don't accidentally antagonize someone powerful by aligning with their rivals." Wei Chen pulled out another jade slip. "This one cost me five spirit stones. It contains information about the current political situation, who's allied with whom, which elders are recruiting new disciples aggressively."
Axel took the second slip gratefully. The information would be invaluable for navigating sect politics. "Thank you. I'll find a way to pay you back."
"You already have," Wei Chen said. "That technique you used against the rogues on our journey—the one where you can output Stage 5 power from Stage 3 cultivation. If you're willing to teach me the principles behind it, we're more than even."
It was a fair trade. The flowing energy technique was powerful, but it wasn't secret—just something Axel had discovered through experimentation. Sharing it with an ally made tactical sense.
"Deal. But not here—we should wait until we're in the sect where we have proper protection while practicing. The technique is volatile if you don't have the control to manage it."
Wei Chen nodded agreement. "Smart. No point getting ourselves killed trying to increase our power." He stood and stretched. "We've got twelve days until the examination. How do you want to spend them?"
Axel considered. His cultivation was at Stage 3 Peak, straining against the threshold of breakthrough. His combat skills were solid but could use refinement. And he needed to decide exactly how much capability to demonstrate during the examination—impressive enough to be recruited, not so impressive as to be threatening.
"Controlled practice," he decided. "I need to get comfortable operating at about seventy percent of my maximum capability. That should be enough to pass the examination without revealing my full potential."
"Seventy percent?" Wei Chen looked impressed. "Most people would just go all-out and hope for the best. You're thinking strategically—I like it."
They spent the next several days in intensive but controlled training. Axel practiced his techniques at reduced power levels, learning to modulate his output precisely. The Qi Strike that could shatter trees was dialed back to merely cracking bark. The flowing energy loops that could amplify his strength five-fold were reduced to double or triple amplification.
It was harder than going all-out. Precise control required more skill than maximum power, more discipline than raw talent. But Axel had always been analytical, always preferred mastery over brute force, and the challenge appealed to him.
Wei Chen practiced alongside him, working on his own techniques and occasionally sparring to give Axel combat experience against a thinking opponent. The sessions were valuable—Wei Chen fought with a tricky, deceptive style that exploited openings and created false vulnerabilities. It was exactly the kind of tactical combat Axel needed to learn.
On the fourth day of training, Lian Fei returned.
She appeared at the edge of their camp as if materializing from the forest itself, her Qi signature suddenly present after being completely hidden moments before. The wounds from her encounter with the corrupted lynx had healed completely, leaving no visible scars. She looked refreshed, restored, and considerably more dangerous than when Axel had first met her.
"Lian Fei," Axel greeted her, surprised but pleased. "You're looking much better."
"Two days of proper rest and meditation works wonders," she replied with a smile. Then her gaze shifted to Wei Chen, and her expression became more cautious. "Wei Chen. I'd heard you were in this region."
"Lian Fei." Wei Chen inclined his head respectfully. "Still refusing to play politics with your sect elders?"
"Always." She turned back to Axel. "I came because I owe you a debt, and I've decided how to repay it. Well, part of it—life debt can never be fully repaid, but I can make a start."
She pulled something from her storage pouch—a small cloth bag that radiated concentrated spiritual energy. "Three Red Moon Mushrooms. They're spirit herbs that grow in areas with high yin energy. My sect needed them for an assignment, and I was supposed to retrieve them before that corrupted lynx attacked me."
"You want us to help you get them?" Axel asked.
"No," Lian Fei corrected. "I already retrieved them. Yesterday, after I'd recovered enough to move properly. I went back to where I'd found them originally, gathered what I needed, and got out clean." She held out the bag. "These three are for you. Consider it partial payment for saving my life."
Axel started to protest—he hadn't helped her expecting payment—but Wei Chen interrupted.
"Take them," his companion said firmly. "Spirit herbs are valuable, and refusing gifts is insulting in cultivation culture. Besides, you'll need resources like this when you join the sect. They can be traded for spirit stones or used to refine pills that boost cultivation speed."
Lian Fei nodded agreement. "He's right. Each Red Moon Mushroom is worth about five spirit stones on the market, or they can be used in several different pill recipes. As an outer disciple, having resources gives you options—you can trade for techniques, bribe information brokers, or save them for when you really need a cultivation boost."
Axel accepted the bag, feeling the concentrated energy within. "Thank you. This is generous."
"It's practical," Lian Fei corrected with a slight smile. "I'm investing in someone I think will go far. When you're an inner disciple someday—and you will be, with your talent—having you remember that I helped you early on could be very valuable."
The honesty was refreshing. She acknowledged her own strategic thinking rather than pretending to be purely altruistic.
"There's something else," Lian Fei continued, her expression becoming more serious. "The reason I managed to retrieve the mushrooms so easily is because I had help. A sect patrol was hunting the corrupted beasts in this region, and they'd already cleared out most of the dangerous creatures. But they found something... concerning."
"What?" Wei Chen asked, his casual demeanor evaporating.
"Evidence of demonic cultivation. Someone or something has been deliberately corrupting Qi beasts in this forest, turning them into those twisted creatures like the lynx. The patrol tracked the corruption source to a cave system about five li northeast of here." Lian Fei paused. "They're planning a raid tomorrow at dawn. And they need additional support—cultivators at Foundation Establishment or above to help clear out any remaining corrupted beasts while the senior disciples handle whatever's creating the corruption."
"And you're suggesting we volunteer?" Axel asked, already seeing where this was going.
"I'm suggesting it would be beneficial," Lian Fei said carefully. "The Azure Sky Sect and Greenleaf Forest Sect are cooperating on this operation—it affects both our territories. If you participate successfully, it would go on record. The Azure Sky Sect examinations are in ten days, and having a successful beast hunting mission on your record would look very good to the evaluators."
Wei Chen was nodding slowly. "She's right. Demonstration of community service, combat capability, and willingness to work with sect operations—all valuable for examination prospects. Plus, if we're working alongside sect disciples, we get to see how they operate, maybe make some connections."
It made strategic sense. But it was also dangerous—corrupted beasts were unpredictable, and whatever was creating them was likely far more dangerous than anything Axel had faced so far.
"What's the cultivation level of this operation?" he asked. "You said Foundation Establishment or above?"
"The patrol has two Core Formation disciples leading it, and about eight Foundation Establishment disciples for support. They're recruiting additional Foundation Establishment cultivators from the independent community—people like you who want to build reputation." Lian Fei met his eyes steadily. "I won't lie to you—it's dangerous. Corrupted beasts are stronger than normal ones, and there's always the chance something unexpected happens. But the senior disciples are competent, and they're not planning to take unnecessary risks."
Axel looked at Wei Chen, who shrugged. "I'm inclined to participate. The benefits outweigh the risks, barely. But it's your call—you're the one at the threshold of breakthrough. If you think the stress might trigger it at a bad time, we should stay out of it."
That was a valid concern. Axel could feel the pulse in his dantian growing stronger each day, the pressure building toward inevitable breakthrough. A high-stress combat situation could absolutely trigger it prematurely.
But he'd been managing the suppression successfully for over a week now. And the potential benefits were significant—practical combat experience, connections with sect disciples, an official record that would help during the examination.
"I'm in," Axel decided. "But we need to be smart about it—stay near the edges of the combat, provide support rather than leading charges, and be ready to retreat if things go bad."
Lian Fei smiled with approval. "Exactly the right approach. The operation leaders will appreciate cultivators who are competent but not recklessly heroic." She pulled out a small jade token marked with both the Greenleaf and Azure Sky sect symbols. "This is your authorization token. Show it to the patrol leader tomorrow at dawn—meeting point is the triple-fork stream, about two li north of here."
"You're not participating?" Axel asked.
"I already fulfilled my sect's requirements by reporting the corruption and retrieving my assigned herbs," Lian Fei explained. "I could volunteer for additional service, but honestly, I need to return to my sect and deal with politics. The elders are not happy that I refused their previous assignment, and I need to smooth things over before they decide I'm more trouble than I'm worth."
She prepared to leave, then paused and looked back at Axel with an expression that mixed concern and calculation. "One more thing. During the operation tomorrow, you'll be working alongside sect disciples. Some of them will be your future classmates if you pass the examination. First impressions matter in sect life—people decide quickly whether you're a rival, an ally, or someone beneath notice. Try to make good impressions without being threatening."
It was similar advice to what both Wei Chen and Lian Fei had given before—be impressive, not threatening. The balance point between too weak and too strong.
"I understand," Axel said.
"Good." Lian Fei smiled, and this time it reached her eyes. "I have a feeling we're going to be seeing a lot of each other in the future, Axel King. Try not to die before we get the chance."
With that, she disappeared into the forest once more, her Qi signature vanishing as if she'd never been there.
The rest of the day passed in preparation. Wei Chen shared everything he knew about fighting corrupted beasts—they were stronger than normal ones, more vicious, unpredictable in their attack patterns, and often fought past the point where normal creatures would retreat. Their corruption made them resistant to certain types of Qi techniques, particularly anything involving pure or holy energy.
"Your flowing energy technique should work well," Wei Chen assessed. "It's based on circulation and amplification rather than elemental alignment. The corruption shouldn't interfere with it."
Axel practiced moderating his power output again, this time under simulated combat stress. Wei Chen would attack unexpectedly, forcing Axel to respond with appropriate but not overwhelming force. By evening, Axel felt confident he could operate at the seventy-percent level consistently, even under pressure.
They rose before dawn and made their way to the meeting point. The triple-fork stream was easy to find—a place where one waterway split into three branches, creating a natural gathering area. Already a dozen cultivators had assembled, a mix of independent practitioners and sect disciples.
The sect disciples were immediately obvious. Their robes were cleaner, better quality, and they carried themselves with the confidence of people who had institutional backing. The independents were more varied—some looked professional and experienced, others seemed barely qualified for the operation.
A tall woman with Core Formation Mid cultivation stepped forward as more people arrived. Her Azure Sky Sect robes marked her as an inner disciple, and the sword at her waist radiated enough Qi to make Axel's skin prickle.
"Thank you all for volunteering," she said, her voice carrying effortlessly across the gathering. "I'm Senior Sister Mei Lin, and I'll be leading this operation. The situation is simple—we've identified a source of demonic corruption in a cave system approximately five li from here. Our objective is to clear out any corrupted beasts in the area while our Core Formation team investigates the corruption source directly."
She paused, her gaze sweeping across the assembled cultivators with an intensity that suggested she was evaluating each person. "This is not a training exercise. The beasts we'll face are dangerous, and some of you may be injured or killed. If you're not prepared for that possibility, leave now. No one will think less of you."
Nobody moved. The cultivators here were either confident in their abilities or desperate enough for the reputation boost that they'd accept the risks.
"Good." Mei Lin gestured to a younger man beside her, also wearing Azure Sky robes. "This is Junior Brother Zhang Wei, Core Formation Early. He'll be leading the eastern sweep team. I'll lead the western team. We'll divide you into two groups based on cultivation level and combat specialty."
The division process was efficient. Axel and Wei Chen ended up in Mei Lin's western team, along with four sect disciples and three other independents. Their group skewed slightly stronger in average cultivation level—most were Foundation Establishment Mid or Late, with a few at Peak like one of the sect disciples.
As they prepared to move out, one of the sect disciples—a young man perhaps nineteen or twenty years old—approached Axel with undisguised curiosity.
"You're the one who fought the corrupted Ironclaw Lynx a few days ago, aren't you?" he asked. "Stage 3 Peak cultivation but able to drive off a Stage 5 equivalent beast? That's impressive."
Word traveled fast in the cultivation world. Axel nodded cautiously. "I got lucky. It was already injured and got scared off by something bigger."
"Still, survival against those odds suggests skill, not just luck." The young man performed a casual cultivator's bow. "I'm Liu Feng, outer disciple of Azure Sky Sect, Foundation Establishment Peak. I heard you're planning to take the examination next week?"
"That's right."
"Good. We need more competent people." Liu Feng's expression became more serious. "Fair warning—some of the established outer disciples don't like talented newcomers. They see new talent as threats to their position in the resource allocation hierarchy. If you join the sect, expect some of them to test you, try to establish dominance early."
It was the kind of insider information that Lian Fei had mentioned would be valuable. Axel filed it away carefully. "Thanks for the warning."
"Don't mention it. Literally—don't mention that I warned you. Sect politics are complicated." Liu Feng moved back to his position as Mei Lin called for everyone to assemble.
The march to the cave system took an hour of careful movement through increasingly corrupted terrain. The signs were obvious once you knew what to look for—trees with bark that had taken on a sickly purple tint, grass that grew in twisted spirals, small animals that fled at the group's approach with movements that seemed wrong, jerky and unnatural.
"The corruption is spreading," Mei Lin observed grimly. "Another week and this entire forest section would be uninhabitable. Whatever's causing it needs to be eliminated today."
They reached the cave entrance just as the sun cleared the eastern horizon, painting the sky in shades of orange and red. The cave mouth was larger than Axel had expected—easily twenty feet wide and just as tall, with darkness that seemed to drink in light rather than simply lacking it.
Corrupted Qi leaked from the entrance in visible wisps of purple-black energy that made Axel's spiritual senses recoil instinctively.
"Western team, you'll clear the outer caverns," Mei Lin instructed. "Look for corrupted beasts that might ambush us from behind. Eastern team will handle the northern tunnels. The Core Formation team advances to the source. Stay in communication range—if you encounter anything you can't handle, retreat immediately and signal for support."
She pulled out several jade talismans and distributed them to the team leaders. "These are emergency signal talismans. Crush one if you need immediate backup. Questions?"
Nobody had questions. The plan was simple enough—methodical sweep and clear, with the stronger cultivators handling any major threats.
"Move out."
Axel's team entered the cave system with weapons drawn and Qi actively circulating. The darkness inside was oppressive, barely touched by the light talismans several disciples carried. The walls glistened with moisture that seemed too thick, too oily, and the air tasted of corruption—bitter and metallic, like blood mixed with poison.
They hadn't advanced more than fifty feet when they encountered the first corrupted beast.
It had been a cave bear originally, probably. Now it was a nightmare—fur falling out in patches to reveal purple-veined skin, eyes that leaked dark fluid, claws that had grown to three times their normal length and dripped with corruption.
The beast roared—a sound that was wrong on a fundamental level—and charged.
"Formation!" Mei Lin snapped, and the sect disciples moved instantly into practiced positions, with the independents filling gaps as needed.
Axel found himself on the right flank with Wei Chen, facing the bear's charge alongside Liu Feng and another disciple. The bear was fast despite its corruption-twisted body, covering ground with disturbing speed.
"Spread and strike!" Liu Feng called, and the four of them split, forcing the bear to choose a target.
It chose Axel.
Of course it did.
The corrupted bear lunged, claws extended, jaws wide enough to bite him in half. Axel responded with practiced precision—activating a moderate flowing energy loop in his right arm, just enough to double his normal power without revealing his full capability.
His fist met the bear's skull in a Qi Strike that contained about seventy percent of his maximum output.
The impact sent shockwaves through the cave. The bear's head snapped to the side, and it crashed into the cave wall with bone-cracking force. But it wasn't dead—corrupted beasts had enhanced durability along with their other twisted traits.
Before the bear could recover, Liu Feng struck from the side with a sword technique that blazed with blue Qi. Wei Chen followed up with his compressed air attack, and the fourth disciple—a woman wielding a spear—struck with precision at the beast's vulnerable points.
The combined assault was too much. The corrupted bear collapsed, purple-black blood pooling beneath it as the corruption finally released its hold on the dying flesh.
"Good coordination," Mei Lin said approvingly, having watched the engagement. "Axel, that was a solid strike—Foundation Establishment Early power output from Stage 3 Peak cultivation. You're on the edge of breakthrough, aren't you?"
"Very close," Axel confirmed, carefully not mentioning that the strike had actually been significantly weaker than his maximum capability.
"Try not to breakthrough during combat if you can help it," Mei Lin advised. "Tribulations are inconvenient during operations. But if it happens, we'll cover you."
They continued deeper, encountering more corrupted creatures. A pack of wolves that moved with unnatural coordination. A swarm of bats that leaked corrupted Qi like toxic smoke. Cave serpents with scales that had become metallic and poisonous.
Each encounter taught Axel more about fighting as part of a team. The sect disciples were skilled, moving with practiced coordination that came from months or years of training together. The independents like Axel and Wei Chen had to adapt on the fly, finding their place in formations that shifted to accommodate different threats.
By the time they'd cleared the outer caverns, Axel's Qi reserves were at about sixty percent—manageable, but not comfortable. Wei Chen was in similar condition, and even the sect disciples were showing signs of fatigue.
"Take five minutes," Mei Lin ordered. "Recover what you can. The Core Formation team just signaled—they've located the corruption source and are engaging. We need to be ready in case something gets past them."
As Axel settled into recovery meditation, drawing in ambient Qi to replenish his reserves, Liu Feng approached again.
"You're good," the outer disciple said simply. "Better than most independents I've worked with. If you pass the examination, look me up. I could use someone competent to practice with."
It was an offer of connection, the kind of relationship that could smooth Axel's entry into sect life. "I'll do that," Axel said sincerely.
Suddenly, the cave system shook. Not just vibration—a fundamental disturbance in the Qi itself, as if reality was being torn. From deeper in the caves came sounds of intense combat—techniques clashing, formations activating, and something roaring with enough force to make the stone walls crack.
Mei Lin was on her feet instantly. "That's not a beast. That's a cultivator—someone using demonic techniques." She pulled out her signal talisman. "All teams, converge on the core! We have a rogue demonic cultivator, not a natural corruption source!"
The teams moved as one, racing deeper into the cave system toward the sounds of battle. Axel's heart pounded—not with fear, but with the knowledge that whatever they were about to face was far more dangerous than corrupted beasts.
They emerged into a massive central chamber just as the Core Formation disciples were engaging their target. And Axel's breath caught in his throat.
It was the rogue cultivator Zhang Mei had been hunting. The scarred man with Stage 7 Soul Projection cultivation, the one who stole cultivation from his victims. But now he was wreathed in corrupted purple-black energy, his power amplified by demonic techniques that made Axel's spiritual senses scream in warning.
"You're too late!" the rogue laughed, his voice echoing with unnatural harmonics. "I've completed the formation—this entire region will become a source of corruption, feeding me power continuously! In three months, I'll break through to Spirit Fusion! In a year, to Ascendant! You cannot stop what's already begun!"
Zhang Wei, the Junior Brother leading the eastern team, stepped forward with his sword blazing. "Your formation ends here. Azure Sky Sect and Greenleaf Forest Sect stand united against demonic cultivation!"
What followed was a battle beyond anything Axel had witnessed before. The two Core Formation disciples fought the rogue with techniques that made the air itself scream, clashing at speeds that were almost too fast to follow. The chamber filled with lights—azure, green, and corrupted purple-black, each color representing different Qi techniques colliding with devastating force.
"Outer teams, find the formation nodes!" Mei Lin commanded. "He's drawing power from anchor points throughout this chamber—destroy them and he'll weaken!"
Axel's analytical mind, even in the chaos of battle, processed the information. A formation required multiple connected points to function, typically arranged in geometric patterns. He extended his Qi sense, searching for the nodes...
There. Five points arranged in a pentagon around the chamber, each one pulsing with corrupted energy. They were embedded in the walls at roughly head height, crystal formations that glowed with sickly light.
"I've got one!" Axel called, racing toward the nearest node. Liu Feng joined him immediately, understanding the strategy.
The node was protected by a barrier of corrupted Qi that burned at the touch. Axel gathered his flowing energy technique—still maintaining the seventy-percent limitation—and struck with his full controlled output.
His fist crashed into the barrier. The corruption resisted, pushing back with malevolent force. But Axel's pure golden Qi was anathema to demonic energy, and slowly, inch by inch, his power overwhelmed the protection.
The crystal shattered.
One fifth of the rogue's power vanished instantly. He screamed in rage, momentarily distracted from his battle with the Core Formation disciples.
"MORE!" Zhang Wei shouted. "Break the other nodes!"
The teams split, each group racing toward a different formation point. Axel's team tackled the second node while Liu Feng led an assault on the third. The pattern repeated—barrier, resistance, overwhelming force, shattering crystal.
Two nodes down. Three. Four.
The rogue cultivator was weakening visibly now, his enhanced power draining away as the formation collapsed. But desperation made him more dangerous, not less. He lashed out wildly with techniques that corrupted everything they touched, forcing the Core Formation disciples to defend rather than attack.
"The last node!" Mei Lin pointed. "Eastern team, with me!"
But the fifth node was directly behind the rogue cultivator, protected not just by barriers but by his proximity. Getting to it meant entering the battle between cultivators multiple stages above Axel's level.
"Cover me," Axel said to Wei Chen, making a split-second decision.
Before his companion could argue, Axel activated his full flowing energy technique—not the moderated version, but the real thing. Twin loops through both arms, Qi circulating at maximum speed, power amplifying with each rotation until his entire body blazed with golden light.
He ran straight into the battle zone.
The world slowed down from his perspective, his enhanced state allowing him to perceive the gaps between attacks, the split-second openings in the chaos. He ducked under a wild blast of corrupted Qi, dodged between two clashing techniques, and reached the final node.
His fist, glowing like a small sun, struck the barrier with everything he had.
The crystal exploded. The formation collapsed completely. And the rogue cultivator's power vanished entirely, leaving him exposed and vulnerable.
Zhang Wei's sword found its mark a moment later, piercing through the rogue's chest with enough force to pin him to the cave wall.
It was over.
The chamber fell silent except for the sound of heavy breathing and the occasional crack as stressed stone settled. Axel collapsed to his knees, his Qi reserves completely depleted, his body shaking from the exertion.
But they'd won.
Mei Lin approached him slowly, her expression unreadable. "That was either incredibly brave or incredibly stupid. You're Stage 3 Peak and you just charged into a battle between Core Formation and Soul Projection cultivators."
"It worked," Axel managed between gasps.
"It worked," she agreed. Then, surprisingly, she smiled. "That took courage and excellent timing. Well done." She looked around at the assembled teams. "Everyone did well today. This operation will be reported to both sects as a complete success. Those of you taking the Azure Sky examination next week—this will reflect very favorably on your applications."
As the teams began the process of securing the area and checking for additional threats, Liu Feng approached Axel with an expression of mixed respect and disbelief.
"You were holding back before," he said simply. "That final strike—that was Stage 5, maybe Stage 6 level power. From a Stage 3 cultivator." He shook his head. "You're going to make a lot of people very nervous when you join the sect."
Axel had tried to maintain his cover, tried to be impressive but not threatening. But in the end, the situation had required his full power, and now people had seen what he was capable of.
The secret was out.
"It's a technique I developed," Axel explained carefully. "It's not sustainable—notice I'm completely exhausted now. But for short bursts, I can output power above my cultivation stage."
"Developed," Liu Feng repeated. "You developed this technique yourself." He laughed, though there was no humor in it. "You're going to change things when you join the sect. I just hope I'm on your side when it happens."
As they began the long journey back to the surface, Axel reflected on the day's events. He'd gained valuable combat experience, made connections with sect disciples, and proven his capability in an official operation.
But he'd also revealed more of his power than intended. People had seen his flowing energy technique, seen him output Stage 5 level power from Stage 3 cultivation. Word would spread. Attention would follow.
The careful balance between impressive and threatening had been shattered in one moment of necessity.
As they emerged from the caves into the afternoon sunlight, Axel made a decision. He couldn't hide his capabilities anymore—too many people had seen them. So instead of trying to downplay his talent during the examination, he would embrace it. Be impressive, be memorable, and deal with the consequences as they came.
In his dantian, the pulse of impending breakthrough grew stronger, as if sensing that a turning point had been reached.
Soon. Very soon, he would cross the threshold to Foundation Establishment and begin building the pillars that would support all his future cultivation.
But that was tomorrow's challenge. Today, Axel King had survived his first real sect operation, made valuable connections, and proven that his unconventional cultivation methods could compete with traditional sect training.
The examination was in nine days.
And now, everyone would be watching to see what the talented independent cultivator could really do.
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