The tension hanging over the Azurewood Lin Clan was no longer something that could be brushed aside. Since the Stone Tiger Li Clan began their blatant surveillance, the fragile sense of peace had fractured. Whatever small victories they'd managed recently now felt overshadowed by the presence of a larger predator, circling their modest territory like a wolf smelling weakness.
Lu Chenyuan knew better than to rely on hope or passive defenses. The time for waiting had passed.
His first priority was simple: get stronger. He had four Standard Grade Qi Nourishing Pills—pills he had refined himself, with painstaking care and countless failed attempts behind them. They represented his best shot at breaking through his current bottleneck.
That night, after Uncle Liu returned with news of a Li hunting party spotted nearby, Chenyuan sat in their cramped quarters, holding one of the shimmering green pills in his palm. Shen Yue sat just across from him, mending a tear in Uncle Liu's robe. Her fingers worked quietly in the flickering light of an oil lamp. The fear she'd shown days ago was gone, replaced by something calmer—an alert stillness, like a doe in the woods who knows a predator is nearby but refuses to panic.
"Shen Yue," Chenyuan said softly, his tone serious. "Starting tonight, I'll be in deep cultivation. I'm aiming to break through to the Fifth Layer of Qi Refinement using these pills. While I'm under, the safety of the courtyard will rest on you and Uncle Liu. The Qi Disturbance Array should help warn of any threats—but you'll still need to stay sharp."
She looked up and met his eyes. "I understand, Chenyuan." Her voice was quiet but steady. She didn't hesitate using his name anymore. It felt natural now—earned through days of shared effort, sleepless nights, and silent trust. "We'll take care of things. You focus on getting stronger. Your strength is all of ours."
He gave a small nod, her words settling warmly in his chest. Without another word, he placed the pill into his mouth. The moment it dissolved, a rich, pure stream of Qi surged through his meridians. Unlike the crude drafts he'd consumed in desperation before, this energy was refined, stable—like warm spring water flooding into frozen earth.
He closed his eyes and entered meditation.
For three days, Lu Chenyuan remained in deep seclusion, consuming one pill each day. With every dose, he drove the potent medicinal Qi through his meridians, refining and compressing it, hammering away at the invisible wall of the Fourth Layer. The Azurewood Art flowed smoother than ever, bolstered by insights from Shen Yue's awakening and the clarity he'd gained through alchemy.
By the dawn of the fourth day, the pressure reached a tipping point.
A sharp, resonant crack echoed within his Dantian—and the bottleneck shattered.
A new, denser current of spiritual energy surged through his body. His perception sharpened, his control grew more precise. He had stepped into the Fifth Layer of Qi Refinement.
[System Notification: Host has advanced to Qi Refinement Stage 5. All attributes moderately increased. Azurewood Art: enhanced. Clan Strength +5. Clan Prosperity Meter: 16/100.]
He emerged just before sunrise, slightly pale and thinner, but with a new intensity in his eyes. Shen Yue and Uncle Liu were waiting, concern etched on their faces.
"Young Master...?" Uncle Liu asked hesitantly, searching Chenyuan's face for an answer.
Chenyuan nodded with a faint smile. "I've broken through."
A beat of silence—then visible relief passed through both of them. Shen Yue's expression softened with joy, while Uncle Liu let out a laugh of disbelief and admiration.
"That's incredible," Shen Yue breathed. "I'm glad the pills worked."
"They worked better than expected," Chenyuan replied. "And I've got one left. We're not out of danger, but this gives us breathing room."
Still, he knew better than to grow complacent. His breakthrough helped, but it didn't erase the threat. The Li Clan's advantage wasn't just in personal strength—it was resources, numbers, reach. He needed to start thinking ahead, like a strategist, not just a cultivator.
That afternoon, gathered around their worn table, the three of them quietly discussed their next steps.
"They showed themselves at the market for a reason," Chenyuan said, his voice calm but sharp. "They want us to know we're being watched. They expect us to keep pushing forward—maybe sell more pills, or upgrade our defenses. They're waiting for us to make a move."
Shen Yue nodded, a thoughtful frown creasing her brow. Her cultivation had progressed well—she could now absorb ambient Wood Qi naturally and was learning to consciously guide her spiritual energy. Under her care, the Green Dew Grass had grown faster and fuller than ever before. The system showed her awakening at 18%.
"We can't win a direct fight if they attack us seriously," she said.
"No," Chenyuan agreed, tapping the table with one finger. "But we don't have to fight directly. What we need… is hesitation. Doubt."
He leaned forward, eyes gleaming with quiet intent. "Let's make them think we're more dangerous than we really are."
Uncle Liu raised an eyebrow. "How?"
"The Qi Disturbance Array already causes disorientation," Chenyuan said. "What if we let rumors spread that it's part of some ancient protective formation? That our clan has hidden, awakened defenses? Nothing concrete. Just… enough mystery to make them pause."
Uncle Liu's expression slowly changed as he caught on.
"Misdirection," he murmured.
"A seed of doubt," Chenyuan corrected, smiling faintly. "Next time you're near Serpent's End, let someone overhear a few carefully chosen words. Nothing boastful. Just enough to make them wonder."
Uncle Liu nodded solemnly. "I'll handle it."
Chenyuan looked toward Shen Yue. "And you—your work with the Green Dew Grass is already showing results. If we can keep producing Standard Grade pills, we'll have something valuable. Not just for us to use—but maybe to trade carefully, under the radar."
"I'll do everything I can," she said, her eyes shining with purpose.
"I'll continue refining the process. Eventually, we'll try for something higher grade—but not yet. First, I need to master consistency and reduce waste."
But even as they spoke of herbs and pills, his mind was drifting elsewhere.
The Li Clan was out hunting spirit beasts. That meant risk. Exposure. Potential enemies if they strayed too far or encroached on other territories. Every expedition was a chance for things to go wrong.
"Uncle Liu," Chenyuan said, "start gathering more detailed information. What are they hunting? Where? Are they succeeding—or failing? Are they stepping on anyone else's toes?"
It wasn't idle curiosity. It was preparation. He was beginning to think like someone who could wield power not only with his fists but with information.
Over the next few weeks, the rhythm of their lives changed.
Lu Chenyuan cultivated with renewed discipline, using what he'd learned to refine another batch of four Standard Grade Qi Nourishing Pills. His skills sharpened; his failures decreased. They now had five pills once again.
Shen Yue's cultivation reached the peak of the First Layer. Her command of Wood Spirit Qi became almost instinctual. She could mend plant damage in seconds and significantly boost growth. Their small herb plot blossomed. Even their Iron Vigor Millet—originally just food—was beginning to absorb ambient Wood Qi under her guidance.
Uncle Liu became their eyes and ears, subtly feeding whispers into the gossip chain. Tales of "awakened ancestral protections" trickled through the town, vague and unprovable—but persistent. At the same time, he kept a careful ear out for anything related to the Li Clan.
The twenty spirit stones remained untouched. Their Qi Array stood ready. They trained, they listened, they prepared.
Then came the news: Li Hu had returned from a successful hunt. He'd acquired a rare Fire-attributed spirit beast core—and was now in seclusion, likely aiming to break through to the Fifth Layer.
The game was advancing.
But now, so was Lu Chenyuan.