Kai woke before dawn to the sound of a single bell echoing across the sect grounds.
His body still ached from yesterday's beating, but the pain had faded to a dull, manageable throb. According to the small status window that appeared when he focused, his HP had regenerated to 71 out of 100 overnight. It was faster than normal healing, but not so fast that it would draw suspicion.
[MORNING STATUS CHECK]
[HP: 71/100]
[Shadow Energy: 100/100]
[Time Until Monthly Evaluation: 27 days]
[Time Until Zhao Ming Incident: 6 days]
He dressed quickly in his plain gray outer disciple robes and stepped outside. The sect was already coming to life. Early risers were heading to the training grounds, servants carried water and supplies, and inner disciples walked with the unshakable confidence that came with real power.
Lin Wei emerged from the room next door, stretching his arms. "Morning, Brother Kai. How are you feeling today?"
"Sore, but I will manage. Is there any time before the official morning training begins?"
"About an hour. Most disciples use it for personal cultivation or extra exercise. Why do you ask?"
"I wanted to see those meditation caves you mentioned. I thought I would get a feel for the place before I actually try to cultivate there."
Lin Wei raised an eyebrow, looking impressed. "That is eager. I like it. Come on, I will show you the path."
They walked through the sect grounds as the first light of dawn began to paint the sky in shades of pink and gold. The Celestial Peak Sect was built directly into the mountainside, with buildings clustered at different heights. The main training grounds and important halls were in the central area, while the dormitories and less important facilities were spread around the edges.
The eastern edge was clearly less cared for. The paths became narrower and the buildings looked older. Very few disciples walked here.
"This area used to be much more popular," Lin Wei explained as they walked. "But about fifty years ago, the sect discovered new qi veins on the western side that were much richer. Most disciples moved their cultivation there over time. These old caves were just... abandoned."
"But they are still usable, right?"
"For basic cultivation, sure. The qi is thin, but it is there. Just..." Lin Wei paused as they reached a rocky area where several cave openings dotted the mountainside. "Like I told you, do not come here at night. There are stories about disciples who did and came back... changed. If they came back at all."
[LOCATION DISCOVERED: Eastern Meditation Caves]
[SHADOW ENERGY DENSITY: High]
[QI DENSITY: Low]
[WARNING: Location attracts entities aligned with death and shadow]
[RECOMMENDATION: Optimal for Shadow Sovereign cultivation]
Of course. The place other disciples saw as dangerous and corrupted would be perfect for death cultivation. Kai kept his expression neutral and did not let his excitement show.
"I will be careful, Brother Lin. Thank you for showing me."
"Just remember, morning training starts soon. Do not be late, or Senior Disciple Chen Yun will make you regret it."
After Lin Wei headed back, Kai took a closer look at the caves. There were five entrances that he could see, each one leading into darkness. His Shadow Sight activated on its own, showing him something a normal person could not see.
Dark energy gathered in those caves like water. It did not feel evil, exactly, but... different. Separate from the normal spiritual energy that filled the rest of the sect. This was pure shadow, untouched by the "celestial" qi the sect was built on.
He did not have time to explore properly now. Morning training would start soon. But tonight, he would return and begin his real cultivation.
---
Morning training was another brutal session.
Senior Disciple Chen Yun made them run laps around the training ground, then practice basic sword forms until their arms felt like they were on fire. Kai's weaker body struggled to keep up, but he pushed through it. Being seen as the absolute weakest would only cause more problems for him.
Zhao Ming and his friends were there, of course. They did not approach him directly, there were too many witnesses, but Kai caught them watching him. Planning. They would want another "training session" soon.
Good. Let them think he was an easy target.
During the meditation part of the training, Kai went through the motions of the Celestial Peak Breathing Method. All around him, disciples successfully circulated qi, their auras glowing faintly. He felt nothing except the ache in his muscles.
[CULTIVATION ATTEMPT FAILED]
[CELESTIAL QI INCOMPATIBLE WITH DEATH AFFINITY]
[RECOMMEND SHADOW CULTIVATION IN APPROPRIATE LOCATION]
After training, the disciples had free time until the afternoon lessons on sect history and cultivation theory. Most used it to continue personal training or to rest. Kai found Lin Wei and a few other outer disciples practicing sword forms together.
"Brother Kai, do you want to join us?" Lin Wei called out.
Kai did join them, spending the next hour learning basic sword techniques from Lin Wei and the others. His body was still clumsy and weak, but his mind quickly absorbed the movements. In his previous life, he had boxed and learned self-defense. The basic principles were the same. Balance, timing, understanding your opponent.
"You are picking this up fast," Lin Wei noted. "Your form is still rough, but you understand the ideas behind it."
One of the other disciples, a young woman named Mei Ling, nodded in agreement. "You are better than most new outer disciples. Maybe you do have some potential, Brother Kai."
[RELATIONSHIP UPDATED]
[MEI LING: Neutral - Potential Ally]
[LIN WEI GROUP: Small social circle forming]
As they practiced, Kai noticed a pattern. Lin Wei had gathered a small group of outer disciples who were not the strongest, but were not the weakest either. They helped each other, shared techniques, and watched each other's backs. In a world where individual strength decided everything, they had formed a small support network.
It was a smart strategy. And it could be useful for him.
"Thank you, Sister Mei. Brother Lin has been a very good teacher."
They stopped for the midday meal, then attended afternoon lessons in a large hall. An elderly inner disciple talked endlessly about sect history. Kai listened with only half his attention while the other half planned for tonight.
He needed to reach the caves after dark, when the shadow energy would be strongest. But he also needed a reason to be out after curfew if anyone noticed him.
[QUEST UPDATED]
[PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: Begin shadow cultivation]
[SECONDARY OBJECTIVE: Avoid detection during nighttime cultivation]
[SUGGESTION: Establish routine of "extra training" to explain absences]
The afternoon dragged on. More training, more failed meditation attempts, more careful watching of how people in the sect interacted. Kai noted which disciples held power, which were neutral, and which were often bullied. Information was power, even without cultivation.
As evening fell and disciples headed to dinner, Kai made his move. He approached Senior Disciple Chen Yun, who was watching over the training ground cleanup.
"Senior Disciple Chen Yun, this junior requests permission to use the training grounds for extra practice in the evenings."
Chen Yun looked at him with clear contempt. "The farm boy wants to train extra? You can barely keep up with the regular sessions."
"Which is exactly why this junior needs extra practice. The monthly evaluation is coming, and this junior does not want to bring shame to the sect by failing."
It was the right thing to say. Chen Yun's expression shifted slightly. He still looked dismissive, but there was a hint of approval for knowing his place.
"Fine. But stay out of the way if any inner disciples need the grounds. And if you are too tired for morning training, that is your own problem."
"Thank you, Senior Disciple Chen Yun."
[COVER STORY ESTABLISHED]
[NIGHTTIME ACTIVITY: Justified as extra training]
[SUSPICION RISK: Low]
Perfect. Now he had a real reason to be moving around at night.