The silence of the Inner Sect courtyard wasn't empty. It hummed. Not just with the richer spiritual energy that Qi Condensation Level 7 Kai greedily soaked up like parched earth meeting rain, but with the low thrum of implication. Every rustle of bamboo, every polite nod from a passing disciple, every distant chime of a sect bell felt weighted with scrutiny. Jian Feng’s parting words echoed this tension: “Some opportunities don’t wait”. Yeah, no shit. Opportunities for him to make trouble, probably.

  Kai sat in the lotus position within his dedicated meditation room, the scroll detailing the 'Myriad Rivers Convergence Art' spread open before him. Forget the simmering politics for a moment; this was the immediate mountain to climb. The Azure Cloud Qi Manual had been like learning basic arithmetic. This new art felt like diving headfirst into differential calculus.

  It wasn't about just sucking Qi in anymore. It demanded an almost surgical precision, guiding minute streams of Qi not just along the main meridians, but through the countless, near-invisible secondary and tertiary pathways – the capillaries of the body's energy network. The goal wasn't just filling the dantian; it was to meticulously widen, strengthen, and smooth every single channel, making the entire system exponentially more efficient and resilient.

  He attempted the initial exercise: 'River Source Tracing'. It required him to isolate a single thread of Qi, thinner than a hair, and patiently guide it from his dantian through a complex, branching network in his left arm, mapping its course through sensation alone, noting every constriction, every rough patch.

  Frustration mounted quickly. His control, honed to Level 7, felt clumsy, like trying to thread a needle wearing thick winter gloves. The Qi thread would fray, dissipate, or stumble into blockages he hadn't even known existed. These were the hidden flaws, the legacy of his previously abysmal talent and the forced, rapid advancements fueled by system 'miracles'. The Body Tempering Liquid had helped, but it hadn't magically granted perfect pathways.

  Damn it. He needed better focus, better control.

  He accessed the System Store, mindful of his respectable but finite 720 points. Under Vendor Level 2's Mid-Tier Fictional Items, the 'Mind-Calming Incense Stick' caught his eye. Aids focus during meditation… Improves resistance to mental interference. 150 points. Steep, but if it helped him master this crucial technique faster, it was worth it. The sooner he strengthened his foundation, the sooner he could contemplate using that shimmering Foundation Establishment 'pill' in his storage and leave Jian Feng and his ilk choking on his dust.

  Purchase: Mind-Calming Incense Stick x 1.

  [-150 Points. Balance: 570]

  A simple, unassuming brown stick materialized in his storage. Retrieving it, Kai found a small ceramic burner – likely a system freebie – and lit the incense. A thin tendril of pale grey smoke curled upwards, releasing an almost imperceptible, sandalwood-like fragrance.

  He sat down again, resuming the 'River Source Tracing'. The effect wasn't dramatic, not a jolt of clarity like a system module. Instead, it was a gentle smoothing of the mental static, a quieting of the background anxieties about Jian Feng, finances, system secrets. His focus sharpened naturally, the frantic edge dulling into patient concentration.

  Slowly, painstakingly, he managed to guide the Qi thread further this time. He felt the tiny snag near his elbow, the slight narrowing just past the wrist. Instead of forcing through, he gently pulsed the Qi against the constriction, following the Art's instructions, coaxing it wider, smoother, bit by infinitesimal bit. It was agonizingly slow work, demanding hours of unwavering focus. The incense burned steadily, its subtle influence a vital aid.

  Days blurred into a routine of cultivation, punctuated by brief ventures outside his courtyard to maintain appearances and gather information. He visited the Inner Sect library (separate from the Repository), absorbing general knowledge about the sect's structure, prominent figures, resource distribution, and the different 'Halls' disciples could align with – Alchemy, Formations, Artifact Crafting, Beast Mastery, etc. This was crucial intel for identifying potential high-value customers or allies, and understanding the political landscape.

  He used the Remote Shop Management daily, checking in with Lin Fan. The Outer Sect business trickled along. Sales of 'Vigor Elixirs' and 'Recovery Salves' remained steady, generating a small but consistent flow of fragments, which Lin Fan diligently deposited into a designated dead drop location Kai could access via a system-linked retrieval mechanism (a minor feature unlocked at Level 1, basically a tiny portal to his storage). This netted him maybe 10-15 Low-Grade fragments a day – trivial by Inner Sect standards, but enough to slowly convert into system points or save for materials.

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  System Points Balance: 585 (Gained ~15 points equivalent over several days).

  He needed to expand. The Inner Sect was where the real money was. Disciples here used Mid-Grade spirit stones as readily as Outer Disciples used fragments. Their needs were greater, their resources deeper. But how to break into this market? Setting up another hidden shop seemed impossible here. Disciples were more perceptive, territory more defined, scrutiny higher. Direct approaches were risky, especially given his controversial reputation.

  He considered the Crafting Blueprints. A 'Thousand Mile Communication Stone' (rebranded radio)? The ability to communicate instantly across sect grounds, or even further, would be invaluable to Inner Disciples managing teams, coordinating tasks, or just gossiping. The cost to build, however, required specific materials – refined copper wire, certain crystals for frequency modulation, a power source. He cross-referenced the blueprint requirements with the System Store's materials section and the sect library's information on local resources. Some he could buy with points, others might need to be sourced locally, perhaps through his Outer Sect network via Yao Fei.

  A message arrived via his Inner Sect disciple token – a standard summons. All new Inner Disciples were required to attend an orientation lecture by Elder Ming, head of the Disciplinary Hall – the same stern Elder who had supervised his final matches. Great. Just the guy he wanted to impress.

  The lecture hall was austere, filled with perhaps thirty other disciples who had recently entered the Inner Sect, either through the competition like him or via other pathways like family connections or direct recruitment based on exceptional talent discovered elsewhere. Kai sat near the back, observing. He recognized a few faces from the competition's later rounds, including Fang Yue, the twin dagger user Li Wei had defeated. She caught his eye and gave a brief, unreadable nod.

  Elder Ming arrived, his presence silencing the room instantly. His lecture was blunt, devoid of pleasantries. He outlined the rules, expectations, and dangers of the Inner Sect.

  "Privilege demands discipline," Elder Ming stated, his gaze sweeping across the new arrivals, lingering perhaps a fraction longer on Kai. "Resources are abundant, but competition is fierce. Your seniors, your peers – they will test you. Do not mistake politeness for weakness, nor underestimate the consequences of failure or transgression."

  He spoke of the different Halls, the path to Foundation Establishment, the importance of contribution points earned through sect tasks, and the severe penalties for unauthorized artifact use, illicit trading, or disturbing the sect's harmony. Kai felt a prickle of unease at the mention of illicit trading and artifact use, though Elder Ming didn't elaborate specifically on gadgets like his.

  "Your primary focus," the Elder concluded, "should be cultivation. Choose your path, dedicate yourselves, and perhaps you will reach the heights. Squander this opportunity, and you will fall further than any Outer Disciple."

  As the lecture ended and disciples began to file out, Jian Feng materialized beside Kai as if summoned by the mention of trouble. His usual cronies hovered nearby.

  "Enjoying the orientation, Junior Brother Kai?" Jian Feng’s voice was smooth, but the edge was sharper today. "Elder Ming's words about... illicit trading... were particularly insightful, wouldn't you agree?"

  He was fishing, more openly this time. He suspected Kai's source of wealth and items wasn't entirely above board.

  Kai met his gaze, the Mind-Calming Incense's lingering effect helping him maintain composure. "The Elder's wisdom applies to us all, Senior Brother Jian. Diligence and adherence to sect rules are paramount." He gave nothing away.

  Jian Feng chuckled, a dry sound. "Indeed. Especially the rules about 'sharing' resources with one's seniors. I happen to be embarking on a mission to the Shadowfen Marsh next week – damp, nasty place. Requires sturdy gear. Those 'Anti-Abrasion Gauntlets' you supposedly peddle in the Outer Sect... perhaps you could procure a pair for me? As a sign of goodwill between fellow disciples, naturally."

  It wasn't a request. It was a demand disguised as casual conversation, backed by implicit threat. Provide the item, acknowledge his source implicitly, and become subservient, or refuse and face direct consequences. Shadowfen Marsh was notoriously dangerous; accidents happened there all the time.

  Kai weighed his options. Giving in would set a precedent. Refusing could escalate things before he was ready. He needed to stall, redirect.

  "Shadowfen Marsh?" Kai raised an eyebrow, feigning slight concern. "A perilous assignment, Senior Brother. Those basic gauntlets... I fear they wouldn't offer adequate protection against the marsh's corrosive elements or venomous creatures. You'd need something far more specialized." He paused, accessing the System Store mentally, looking for something plausible but expensive. "Perhaps... gloves lined with Wyvern Scale fragments? They offer superior resistance. Unfortunately, procuring such high-grade materials is costly and time-consuming, far beyond my current humble means since arriving in the Inner Sect."

  He subtly shifted the focus from his ability to source items to the quality needed for Jian Feng's supposed mission, while simultaneously pleading poverty appropriate for a newcomer. He offered a solution ('Wyvern Scale') that sounded impressive but was conveniently out of reach, flattering Jian Feng's status (implying he deserved better gear) while deflecting the demand for the cheaper item.

  Jian Feng narrowed his eyes, clearly seeing through the polite refusal but unable to fault the logic publicly. Procuring Wyvern Scale items was expensive. Kai wasn't outright refusing, just highlighting the inadequacy of the requested item for such a 'dangerous' task.

  "Hmph. Resourceful excuses, at least," Jian Feng muttered. He leaned closer. "Just remember, Junior Brother. Good 'sources' are hard to find. It would be a pity if yours suddenly dried up. Or if accidents happened during procurement." He tapped Kai lightly on the shoulder, a gesture that felt more like marking territory, then turned and sauntered off with his followers.

  Kai watched him go, his jaw tight. The threat was clear. Jian Feng wasn't just after his items; he wanted control over the source, or to eliminate it. The currents were getting stronger, pulling him towards a confrontation he wasn't yet fully prepared for. He needed to master the Myriad Rivers Art now. He needed more power, more leverage, more points, more options. The clock was ticking. Returning to his courtyard, he immediately lit another Mind-Calming Incense stick and dove back into the painstaking process of refining his Qi pathways, the memory of Jian Feng's predatory gaze fueling his determination.