The Shadowfen Marsh. Even the name sounded ominous. Kai spent a precious hour in the Inner Sect library, pulling up records and mission reports on the area. The scrolls confirmed its reputation: acres of sucking mud that could swallow a disciple whole, pockets of corrosive gas that could eat through standard protective Qi, venomous marsh vipers whose bite caused paralysis, swarms of 'Blood-Mist Gnats' that could drain an unwary cultivator dry in minutes, and sudden, disorienting fogs that played tricks on the senses. And that was just the natural dangers.
Jian Feng wouldn’t rely solely on nature. Kai anticipated traps, misleading directions, perhaps even a 'mistimed' attack during a staged beast encounter. He needed gear that addressed both environmental hazards and human treachery.
His current 'athletic boots' were great for arena traction but wouldn't cut it in deep mud.
[System Store Search: Environmental footwear, marsh/swamp]
[Results Found:
All-Terrain Amphibious Boot (Mk II): Lightweight composite material, waterproof to mid-calf, high-traction lug sole designed for mud and slippery surfaces, integrated puncture-resistant layer. Cost: 70 Points. Appearance: Standard heavy-duty disciple boots.] [Purchase x 1 Pair. -70 Points. Balance: ~655]
Next, breathing. Corrosive gas and Blood-Mist Gnats were serious threats.
[System Store Search: Respirator, air filtration, insect repellent]
[Results Found:
Compact Rebreather Mask (Emergency Use): Provides 15 minutes of filtered air, seals against gas/particulates. Minor Qi infusion extends filter life. Cost: 120 Points. Appearance: Simple silk face wrap.]
Ultrasonic Pest Repeller (Wearable): Emits high-frequency sound undetectable by most humanoids but highly irritating to insects and small pests within a 5-meter radius. Low Qi drain. Cost: 90 Points. Appearance: Plain jade amulet.] [Purchase Rebreather x 1. -120 Points. Balance: ~535] [Purchase Repeller x 1. -90 Points. Balance: ~445]
The rebreather, disguised as a face wrap, offered crucial protection against gas pockets or unexpected swarms. The 'amulet' would hopefully keep the gnats at bay without Jian Feng noticing its true function.
What about sabotage? Getting separated in the fog, pushed into quicksand, ‘accidentally’ hit by a friendly technique during a fight…
[System Store Search: Personal locator, grappling hook, emergency signal]
[Results Found:
GPS Micro-Tracker Tag Set (x2): One tag transmits location to the other (range 5km, requires minor Qi activation). System simulates GPS via local energy fields for basic functionality. Cost: 80 Points. Appearance: Matched pair of ordinary-looking stones.]
Auto-Retracting Grapnel Launcher (Wrist-Mounted): Fires a small grappling hook up to 20 meters with a high-tensile micro-filament line capable of supporting cultivator weight. Retracts automatically. Cost: 250 Points. Appearance: Slightly bulky leather bracer.] [Purchase Tracker Set x 1. -80 Points. Balance: ~365] [Purchase Grapnel Launcher x 1. -250 Points. Balance: ~115]
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The tracker tags were insurance. He’d keep one, perhaps discreetly plant the other on someone trustworthy if possible (unlikely on Jian Feng's team), or use it to mark a path back. The grapnel launcher, disguised as a bracer, was his escape route – quicksand, pitfall traps, even scaling a short cliff if needed. It was expensive, eating most of his remaining points, but escaping a trap was priceless.
He now had boots for the terrain, protection against gas and insects, a way to track/mark location, and an emergency escape tool. He already had his impact padding, his carbon fiber bokken, and the Lightning Wand (plus pepper spray and smoke pellets ) in storage as backup options, though using them overtly on a sect mission felt risky.
Could he craft anything useful? He reviewed the blueprints again. The battery components Yao Fei had reported back on were scarce and overpriced even in the Outer Sect market. Building a full radio before the mission was impossible. But maybe something simpler?
The blueprint for the 'Basic Chemical Battery' – could he adapt it? Not for power storage, but for its opposite? A sudden discharge? He cross-referenced with basic chemistry principles from the Earth Knowledge Archive. Certain chemical reactions were highly exothermic… or electrolytic, generating gas rapidly…
[System Store Purchase: Basic Chemistry Set (Lab Grade Glassware, Common Reagents). Cost: 60 Points.]
[System Store Purchase: Pressure-Activated Trigger Mechanism Blueprint. Cost: 15 Points.]
[Balance: 115 - 60 - 15 = 40 Points]
Working carefully in his courtyard’s attached utility shed (normally used for gardening tools, now his makeshift lab), Kai experimented. He couldn't replicate Earth chemicals exactly, but using system-bought reagents and local substitutes identified by the database, he focused on creating a contained, rapid gas-producing reaction. Think 'instant smoke bomb', but based on pressure release rather than burning.
He managed to create several small, sealed ceramic spheres. Inside, two reactive liquids were separated by a fragile membrane. The blueprint for the pressure trigger was adapted – stepping on the sphere would break the internal membrane, mixing the liquids. The resulting reaction produced a large volume of dense, harmless, obscuring white vapor almost instantly. It was essentially a non-pyrotechnic smoke grenade activated by pressure. Perfect for covering a retreat or disorienting attackers if stepped on. He rebranded them 'Pressure Fog Orbs'. Cost per orb was minimal in materials, maybe 2 points equivalent. He made five.
Three days passed in a blur of preparation. He practiced the Myriad Rivers Art diligently, the flow smoother each day. He familiarized himself with his new gear, testing the grapnel launcher’s aim in his courtyard, ensuring the pest repeller amulet hummed faintly when infused with Qi, checking the seal on the rebreather mask. He packed rations (more MRE Nutrient Paste Bricks), water purification tablets (system-bought), and basic healing supplies (from his shop inventory).
On the third morning, well before dawn, Kai stood ready. He wore the new boots and the pest-repeller amulet; the rebreather mask was tucked away but accessible. The grapnel launcher bracer felt solid on his wrist. The impact padding was snug beneath his robes. His dimension storage held his bokken, backup weapons, the Pressure Fog Orbs, tracker tags, and other essentials. His System Points stood at a meager 40, but his spirit stones reserves were healthy, and his gear felt optimized for the challenge.
He walked towards the West Gate rendezvous point, the pre-dawn air cool and damp. He saw the rest of Team 7 already assembling: Jian Feng, looking imperious; Ming Hao and Lu Chen, flanking him like shadows; and two other Inner Disciples Kai didn’t recognize, both Level 6, likely chosen for their expendability or loyalty to Jian Feng. They all watched him approach, their expressions ranging from Jian Feng’s smug anticipation to the others’ wary curiosity.
"Junior Brother Kai," Jian Feng greeted him, his voice dripping with false camaraderie. "Prompt. Eager to contribute to the sect, I see? Excellent. The Shadowfen Marsh awaits."
Kai met his gaze, calm and steady. "Ready to follow Senior Brother's lead."
He projected quiet competence, hiding the layers of preparation and countermeasures he held in reserve. Jian Feng thought he was luring a fly into his web. He didn't realize the fly had spent the last three days upgrading itself into something much more dangerous, armed with tools the spider couldn't even comprehend.
As the team set off through the West Gate, heading towards the misty, grey expanse of the Shadowfen Marsh visible in the distance, Kai felt a familiar thrill mix with the apprehension. This wasn't just a mission; it was another battlefield. And Kai, the Drop-shipping Dao Lord, always came prepared to make a sale… or survive one.
