The sun had barely climbed above the horizon when Kaito was at the edge of the family's farmland. Dew still clung to the spiritual wheat fields, and the distant ridge shimmered faintly under the morning light.
After a full sweep of the estate and confirming the spiritual fluctuations beneath the ridge had not subsided, Kaito walked towards Uncle Shen,
"Uncle Shen," he said in a low voice,
"no one is to step behind that ridge until I say so. Not the workers. Not even you."
The man looked at him curiously but didn't question it. "There's something strange there. I'll explain later, once I confirm it. Also... I need you to quietly arrange for a minor geological scan—no outside contractors, use the villa's own scanners if possible."
Uncle Shen nodded solemnly. "Understood, Young Master. I'll handle it."
With that, Kaito turned and walked back toward the vehicle, the spiritual ripple still fresh in his mind. The real work was about to begin.
The journey to the farmland took two hours, just as Kaito had estimated. As the villa gates opened before him, the mid-afternoon sun cast long, golden rays across the polished courtyard. He stepped out of the car quietly, nodded to the waiting staff, and made his way inside.
Lunch was simple. His mother had gone to the hospital. His third uncle was managing the martial training ground below the villa, and his father had gone to the logistics company to handle transitional affairs. Kaito ate alone, slowly, reflecting on what had just begun.
Earlier that morning, beneath the ridge, he had seen it. A ripple in the air. Barely visible. A subtle disturbance in the spiritual energy flow, something only someone with his knowledge and sensitivity could detect. If he hadn't lived through what was to come, he might've missed it. But now, there was no mistake. After finishing his meal, Kaito retired to his room and booted up his sleek holo-tab, eyes narrowing as dozens of stock graphs flashed to life. His thoughts were already in motion.
The game Glory wasn't just entertainment. It was the beginning of a new era. Though the world didn't yet know, Kaito remembered everything. Within days, Glory would release a detailed announcement—introducing gear tiers. Helmets would range from Grade D to Grade A, and beyond them, the luxurious nutrient-based cabins: Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. While helmets would offer partial immersion, the cabins would allow uninterrupted play. The nutrient solution systems inside made extended sessions possible—people could remain connected day and night. Kaito smiled faintly.
By the second day after launch, the headlines would scream that over two billion people had logged in worldwide. And when that happened, the stocks of companies supplying key components—helmet-grade alloys, nutrient pump technology, VR synchronizers—would skyrocket. He had only a narrow window to act.
He carefully noted the names of several promising companies tied to those materials. Then, he stood and stepped out of his room.
In the late afternoon, he entered his second uncle's study.
"Uncle," Kaito began, "I'll need to mobilize as many liquid funds as possible—without affecting the family's ongoing expenses. Just for a week."
His uncle raised an eyebrow. "All of it?"
"Yes," Kaito said plainly. "I'm not asking for it on a whim. There's a reason."
The older man studied him for a long moment, then gave a light chuckle. "Well, the head of the family has spoken. I'll arrange it tonight."
Kaito bowed slightly. "Thank you."
Evening fell over the villa, and the soft lights of the main dining hall glowed warmly. The table was set, filled with quiet laughter and idle chatter. Aika teased one of her cousins about his appetite. Grandpa Gu moved silently, refilling teacups like a shadow. The family's warmth had always been there, Kaito realized, even if he hadn't noticed it before.
After dinner, Kaito called a private meeting in the main study. Only four people were present—his grandfather, his father, his second uncle, and his third uncle. The atmosphere was calm, but curiosity lingered in the room.
"I heard a rumour in the city," Kaito began, his tone measured. "Some powerful families discovered ancient ruins—far from the central provinces. Not near here, but it got me thinking..."He paused briefly, then continued,
"While I was surveying our farmland today, I noticed something. There were faint fluctuations in the spiritual energy near the ridge. Almost unnoticeable. But they were there."
His father leaned back, eyes narrowing slightly. "You sensed that much?"
"Yes," Kaito replied. "And I believe there may be something beneath it. I don't know what exactly—but I think we should investigate."
His grandfather chuckled. "You sensed something, did you?" There was a teasing glint in his eye, but he waved a hand. "Alright. To keep your heart at peace, I'll go check it myself. Quietly. Tonight."
Kaito bowed. "Thank you, Grandfather."
Inwardly, he knew it would be enough. His grandfather, a peak Rank 2 cultivator, would instantly detect the subtle spiritual pulses once near. Though faint, the fluctuations were real—and increasing by the day. No ordinary person would pick up on them, but to someone with experience, the signs were unmistakable.
An hour passed.The room tensed slightly when the door opened—and his grandfather returned, his face unreadable at first.Then he exhaled, a strange mixture of awe and disbelief dancing in his eyes.
"There's a sealed stone door buried behind that ridge," he said simply. "Old. Covered in roots and soil—but it's there."
"What did you see?" Kaito's father asked
.the old man replied. "It's locked. Ancient tech. I didn't force it open—it might trigger something. But your speculation might not be wrong after all."
Excitement rippled through the room. Kaito's fingers curled slightly at his side. First step, complete. He turned to his second uncle.
"Begin acquiring the land adjacent to the ridge—quietly. Say we're expanding farmland operations. If anyone asks, we're planning a new herbal cultivation centre."
The uncle nodded sharply. "Understood."
Preparations began immediately. Equipment was gathered from the villa's storerooms, excavation tools tested, surveillance checked. No outsiders would be involved.
Later that night, Kaito assembled the 27 elite warriors of the Ren family in the underground training hall. A heavy silence filled the space as they stood at attention, disciplined and alert. Accompanying them were two trusted drivers, Jin and Lei, Though officially assigned as drivers, their strength and loyalty made them irreplaceable assets.
Kaito stepped forward and addressed them with firm authority. "This is a covert operation. What happens tonight does not leave this room. We act for the future of our family—swiftly and silently."
Among the warriors, five were Rank 2 lower-stage cultivators, well-seasoned and reliable. Three more had reached Rank 1 peak, while seven stood at Rank 1 high-level. Another five had achieved Rank 1 mid-level, and the remaining seven were Rank 1 lower-stage, consisting of recently trained fighters—some of whom were adopted orphans who had been brought up with the family's values.
Kaito had full faith in each of them. These men weren't just warriors—they were the foundation of what would come. Their transport fleet had also been prepared.
Three off-road jeeps, reinforced and modified for rugged terrain, stood quietly in the courtyard. Each had cost around two million credits and came equipped with quiet-tread technology, tactical comms, and terrain-adaptive suspension systems. Parked nearby was a small cargo transport truck with a 40-ton capacity, an industrial-grade vehicle priced at nearly ten million credits, used specifically for moving large-scale spiritual materials or excavation gear. To the side, three standard hover-sedans—sleek black models from a Federation-wide manufacturing syndicate—waited in standby mode.
Each sedan was valued at roughly a million credits. These machines weren't mere status symbols—they were part of the foundation the Ren family had quietly built for times like this.
No words were needed now. The vehicles started with a soft electric hum, casting beams of light across the courtyard as the warriors moved swiftly into place. Kaito stood at the front, silently watching them roll out into the night. Toward the first truth hidden beneath the earth.