The return through the West Gate felt less like a homecoming and more like soldiers retreating from a lost battle. The oppressive humidity of the Shadowfen gradually gave way to the cleaner, Qi-rich air of the Inner Sect, but the transition did little to lift the suffocating tension clinging to the surviving members of Team 7. Jian Feng marched ahead, his back ramrod straight, radiating a frigid aura that promised retribution. Ren Jie and Mei Xia walked almost shoulder-to-shoulder, their gazes fixed forward, deliberately avoiding eye contact with either Jian Feng or Kai. And Kai walked last, projecting weary relief, his internal calculations churning beneath the surface.

  They reported directly to the Inner Sect Affairs Office. Jian Feng delivered the mission summary, his voice clipped and formal. "Mission parameters partially met. Survey of sector C-4 initiated. Encountered unexpected Level 7 Mire Lurker nesting ground. Fierce resistance resulted in the unfortunate loss of Disciple Ming Hao and the severe injury of Disciple Lu Chen, preventing further progress. Requesting extraction for Disciple Lu Chen, current status unknown, located at designated coordinates." He handed over Ming Hao’s disciple token and the harvested Lurker materials, omitting any mention of Kai's unorthodox tactics or his own questionable orders. It was a heavily sanitized version, blaming unforeseen circumstances and beast activity.

  The Deacon handling the report barely blinked, accustomed to mission reports detailing loss of life in hazardous zones. He stamped the forms, noted the coordinates for Lu Chen’s potential extraction (a low priority, clearly), and dismissed them curtly. In the grand machinery of the sect, the loss of a couple of mid-level Inner Disciples on a hazardous mission was regrettable but statistically expected.

  Outside the Affairs Office, the fragile pretense of teamwork dissolved instantly. Jian Feng shot Kai one last look, brimming with unspoken hatred and threat, before turning sharply and striding away without a word. Ren Jie and Mei Xia exchanged brief, uncomfortable glances, gave Kai curt, almost fearful nods, and then hurried off in a different direction, clearly wanting nothing more to do with the situation or with him.

  Kai was alone again, the silence amplifying the weight of his actions. He walked slowly back towards his courtyard, the elegant pathways suddenly feeling cold. Ming Hao's death hadn't been clean. It had been engineered, brutal, and necessary for his own survival against a planned ambush. He felt a sliver of something cold twist in his gut – not guilt, precisely, but the chilling recognition of his own capacity for ruthless pragmatism when cornered. Was this what the system, this path of leveraging otherworldly knowledge and power, led to? Or was it simply the reality of this cultivation world, stripped bare of polite fictions? He pushed the thought away. Self-preservation was paramount. Ming Hao chose his side, followed Jian Feng’s lead, and paid the price. Thinking back to his first confrontation with Zhang Long, using those minor stat boosts felt almost quaint now. Back then, escalating to tasers or worse seemed unthinkable, suicidal given his standing. Now... necessity had lowered that threshold considerably. End of story.

  Back in the sanctuary of his courtyard, Kai shed his mud-stained outer robes, feeling the deep ache in his bones from the exertion and lingering micro-damage. The first order of business was assessing his status. Qi Level: 7, stable. Myriad Rivers Art: Approximately 80% mastery through initial study and practice pre-mission. Physical condition: Minor strains, lingering internal sensitivity, but functional after the sect's healing. System Points: Around 40, with a System Debt near 75 points accrued during the mission (Combat Module drain, Sonic Emitter cost). Spirit Stones: ~295 Mid-Grade remaining from competition rewards. Inventory: Gear intact, consumables low, emergency items depleted, Pressure Fog Orbs mostly used.

  He checked the tracker tag signal for Lu Chen via the system interface. The faint blip representing the tag he'd left near the injured disciple was… gone. No signal. Either Lu Chen had somehow moved far out of range (highly unlikely), the tag was damaged, or, most probably, Lu Chen had succumbed to his injuries or the marsh after they left. Another loose end conveniently tied up by the indifferent cruelty of the Shadowfen. Kai felt a detached sense of closure on that front.

  His immediate needs were clear: Clear the debt. Replenish points. Master the Myriad Rivers Art completely. Prepare for Jian Feng's inevitable retaliation. Explore Vendor Level 2 capabilities further.

  He converted a few Mid-Grade Spirit Stones via the system. The exchange rate was decent at Vendor Level 2.

  [Convert 1 Mid-Grade Spirit Stone to System Points. +100 Points]

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  [Applying points to debt. System Debt: 75 - 75 = 0 Points]

  [System Points Balance: 40 - 75 (debt paid) + 100 = 65 Points]

  Debt cleared, with a small point buffer. He needed more capital flowing.

  He sat in his meditation room, lighting a Mind-Calming Incense stick he’d purchased before the mission. As the soothing smoke curled upwards, he delved back into the Myriad Rivers Art. The Senzu Bean fragment's effects had prepared his pathways well, but truly mastering the Art required dedicated effort to smooth and strengthen every channel. The near-death experience in the marsh, the visceral reminder of his vulnerability, fueled his determination.

  While cultivating, he let his mind drift to the system's broader potential and limitations. Could it provide top-tier cultivation manuals directly? He scanned the store mentally. Yes, titles like 'Voidheart Codex' shimmered tantalizingly, but the point costs were astronomical, locked behind Vendor Levels he hadn't reached. More importantly, a persistent system warning flagged the danger: direct implantation without compatible foundations could cause Qi deviation or soul damage. No, the path lay in mastering and integrating powerful local techniques first, like this Myriad Rivers Art. Perhaps then the system could analyze and optimize it, once he understood it fully himself. He queried the system about analyzing the Myriad Rivers Art now, but received a notification: [Analysis requires 'Advanced Cultivation Technique Analysis Module' (Vendor Level 3 Unlock) or 'Complete Mastery' of the technique by Host due to complexity.] So, mastery first, optimization later. It made sense.

  Could he help Lin Fan and the others cultivate faster? He considered giving them the basic Azure Cloud manual scroll he no longer needed (having sold the physical copy earlier but retaining the knowledge). The thought was dismissed almost instantly. Disseminating any sect technique, even the most basic, was a cardinal sin, punishable by crippling or death. Protecting his loyal assistants meant keeping them out of that kind of trouble, supporting them with safer resources obtained through the system, not implicating them in forbidden knowledge sharing. His early scams, like the burner phone sold to Wang Hao – a necessary deception born of utter desperation back then – felt like child's play compared to the risks of sharing cultivation secrets. He had no regrets about that specific trade; survival had demanded it, and true communication tech was unavailable or unaffordable then anyway.

  What about legitimacy? Approaching the Elders, becoming an 'official' vendor? The idea was tempting – operating openly, basking in respect instead of suspicion. But it was a fool's dream. Revealing even a fraction of the system's true nature – procuring items from nowhere – wouldn't lead to partnership; it would lead to vivisection. They'd want the source, the control. He'd become a resource to be exploited, his autonomy gone. No, the shadows, however dangerous, were the only place he could maintain control of his unique advantage. Power first, legitimacy maybe later, much later.

  With these strategic considerations settled internally, Kai refocused entirely on the Myriad Rivers Art. For the next two weeks, fueled by incense and determination, he immersed himself in the intricate process. He guided Qi through the finest pathways, smoothed residual damage from the marsh battle and the competition, reinforced the crucial junctions near his Dantian. The rich Inner Sect Qi flowed more readily now, channeled efficiently by his improving network.

  His remote Outer Sect shop, managed by Lin Fan, continued its steady trickle of income, pushing his System Points balance slowly past 150. It wasn't much, but it covered consumables like the incense.

  Finally, one quiet evening, as moonlight silvered the gravel garden outside, he felt a profound sense of completion. The Qi circulating within him felt different – not necessarily more powerful in raw volume yet, but cleaner, faster, incredibly responsive, flowing through his enhanced meridian network like water through perfectly engineered canals. He had fully mastered the Qi Condensation stages of the Myriad Rivers Convergence Art. His foundation felt stable, resilient, ready.

  [System Notification: 'Myriad Rivers Convergence Art' (Qi Condensation Stages) - Mastery Achieved!]

  [System Notification: Host foundation stability significantly increased. Conditions for attempting Foundation Establishment are now optimal.]

  A deep sense of satisfaction settled over him. He had turned the disaster of the marsh mission into an opportunity for consolidation and growth. He stood up, feeling the latent power humming within his newly reinforced system. Level 7 felt qualitatively different now, more potent, more controlled. His rapid advancements before the competition had felt somewhat hollow; this felt earned, integrated. The system provided the tools, the boosts, the opportunities, but the mastery, the integration – that required his own effort and will.

  His disciple token pulsed again. Another official notification.

  Disciple Kai,

  Report to the Inner Sect Sparring Grounds tomorrow at noon for mandatory Peer Evaluation Spars. Your assigned partner is Disciple Jian Feng.

  Inner Sect Disciplinary Office.

  Kai stared at the message, a slow, cold smile spreading across his face. Jian Feng wasn't waiting for another 'accident'. He was forcing a confrontation, sanctioned by the sect, where he could 'evaluate' Kai directly under the watchful eyes of others. Excellent. Kai had been hoping for an opportunity to test his newly solidified strength and refined control. It seemed Jian Feng was eager to provide one. The silk pond was about to get stirred up again.