Within the docking port of Shimmersteel, a modest sky vessel descended, its engines humming softly as they powered down. The ramp lowered, and dozens of travelers disembarked. Most were simple merchants, accompanied by servants—adepts and disciple ranks—who carried large containers over their shoulders. Among them were explorers and individual cultivators from the far reaches of the empire, each clad in the colors and emblems of their respective factions or organizations.

  At the great gates of Shimmersteel, guards, their eyes sharp and unwavering, spoke to each traveller seeking entry. These were no ordinary sentinels but lord-ranked cultivators, granted full authority by Ujin, the Highlord of Shimmersteel, whose protection was ever-present. Each person, regardless of rank or status, was scrutinized with care.

  Two individuals stepped off the sky vessel, unaware of each other’s presence. The first, draped in a light brown robe, kept his features hidden beneath a cowl, a large container strapped to his back—far too large, some might have thought. His aura, though lord-ranked, was weak and unremarkable. He approached the gate, presenting a receipt of trade to the vigilant guards. The document had once belonged to another merchant, one who had suffered the misfortune of befriending this mysterious man aboard the vessel. That merchant’s identity had been effortlessly assumed by this stranger; his body discreetly disposed of.

  The guards inspected the receipt, and then waved the man through the towering gates. Revealing his face—a thin, sparse-haired man with brown teeth—he moved into the bustling trading districts, heading straight for the stall designated to the now-dead merchant, Tanyu. Setting up his wares, he displayed an assortment of polished and finely crafted weapons. Soon enough, adept and lord-ranked cultivators gathered around, impressed by the quality of the weapons.

  Satisfied with the attention his stall was drawing, the imposter known as ‘Tanyu’ settled in. His true task, however, had just begun. He intended to observe the entirety of Shimmersteel from his unassuming stall. With the advanced constructs at his disposal, he could monitor every cultivator in the city—so long as he remained careful enough not to draw the gaze of Shimmersteel’s true power, the patriarch. His goal was clear: locate his target and extract from him a most valuable and cherished possession, one that belonged to his now-dead companion.

  The second figure disembarked the sky vessel differently. He vanished into thin air, bypassing the guards entirely. No trace of him lingered—no sign he had ever existed or sought entry into the city. Moments later, he reappeared like a wraith in the heart of the trading district. Cloaked in a black robe and hood, he blended seamlessly with the crowd, disappearing as swiftly as he had come.

  Both of these shadowy figures had the same objective—a cultivator marked by a black tattoo on his right arm, known only by those who whispered his name as the Dark Wolf.

  *************************************

  Tunde returned to his room, his void rings brimming with the various items and resources he'd bought, a satisfied smile on his face. Stepping inside, he found Sera seated in a lotus position, cultivating. Her features had improved significantly, but what caught him off guard was the sight of the Ethralite. The creature was imitating her, sitting ramrod straight with two of its digits crossed, wisps of aura emanating from its form, now radiating the strength of an adept.

  Sera opened her eyes, a soft smile touching her lips as she glanced fondly at the creature. Its antennae twitched before its eyes blinked, mandibles clicking excitedly. Tunde watched in astonishment as the Ethralite deftly manipulated its aura, floating a few meters into the air before gracefully dropping to the floor, landing on two limbs. It nimbly made its way toward him, stopping a few meters short and bowing at the waist, its mandibles clattering again in what felt like an excited greeting.

  “This is... interesting,” Ifa murmured, clearly surprised as well.

  “What happened while I was gone?” Tunde asked softly, patting the shelled head of the creature fondly. He turned to Sera, who was surrounded by fruits and the waterskin she’d been drinking from.

  Before she could answer, there was a knock at the door. The Ethralite took a single imbued step toward the wall and vanished from sight, leaving Tunde blinking in shock. Sera seemed to find the entire situation amusing, stifling a laugh as Tunde went to open the door. A servant stood there, carrying a tray laden with food, and bowed respectfully.

  “As ordered by the house, we offer you our most humble of hospitalities,” the servant said, retreating quietly as Tunde took the tray and closed the door.

  He placed the tray on the table and glanced over at the Ethralite, which had reappeared and was cautiously peering at the food with an unmistakable gleam of greed in its eyes.

  “What else can you do?” Tunde mused, staring at the creature as its mandibles clacked once again. Sera, picking up a plate of roasted meat and diced fruits brimming with Ethra, began eating. Tunde grabbed a plate, handing it to the creature. It eagerly accepted and sat down beside him, stuffing food into its hidden mouth beneath the mandibles.

  “You need a name,” Tunde said thoughtfully. In his mind, Ifa muttered, "Finally."

  Sera paused mid-bite and looked up. “You haven’t named it?” she asked in mild surprise.

  “I never really called it by any name,” Tunde replied, watching the creature as he patted its head. Its antennae bobbed in pleasure.

  "Jade," Tunde offered casually.

  Ifa coughed in disapproval, and Sera grunted.

  “What’s wrong with Jade?” Tunde asked, a hint of offense creeping into his voice. The creature chattered excitedly, seemingly pleased with the name.

  “Bland,” Sera said almost immediately.

  “Bland?” Tunde echoed in disbelief.

  “Lacks imagination,” Ifa added, causing Tunde’s eyebrow to twitch.

  “How about Zhu?” Sera suggested. The Ethralite perked up, glancing at her with interest.

  “What’s a Zhu?” Tunde asked, puzzled.

  “My father’s name,” Sera replied after swallowing a large piece of life aura-infused meat. Tunde paused for a moment, reflecting on the suggestion.

  “Plus, it seems he likes it,” Sera added, nodding toward the creature, whose mandibles clattered excitedly.

  Tunde frowned. “How do you even know it’s male?” he asked, still confused.

  Sera blinked at him. “I just assumed. It feels wrong calling the creature ‘it.’”

  Tunde shrugged and turned to the Ethralite. “Zhu it is, then.”

  The moment he spoke the name, a sudden rush of Ethra poured out of his body and into the creature in a flash. Tunde staggered slightly, feeling woozy from the torrent of energy that seemed to surge into Zhu.

  Tunde blinked rapidly as he shook his head, trying to steady his thoughts. Ifa appeared beside him, peering intently at Zhu. Surprisingly, Zhu turned its gaze towards Ifa, seemingly aware of the sentience that only Tunde could normally see. Zhu waved one of its limbs through Ifa’s smoky form, curiosity evident in its glowing eyes.

  “The bond between you and Zhu has deepened, Tunde,” Ifa remarked, still studying the creature.

  Tunde, holding his head, replied, “It took something from me.”

  Zhu, now wobbling but steadying itself quickly, seemed to have undergone another transformation. Its dark green carapace had deepened in color, and it had grown again, its once thin limbs now more muscular and defined. Tunde marveled at the changes. If he hadn’t seen Zhu before, he would’ve mistaken it for a true beast, one nearly at the lord realm.

  Crouching down, Zhu placed a firm hand on Tunde’s shoulder, its mandibles clicking as it spoke with difficulty, “F-fathe-r-r.”

  Sera’s eyes widened in shock. Zhu turned to her, bowing low before clattering its mandibles again in a gesture of respect.

  “Giving it a name must have unlocked something within its very being!” Ifa exclaimed, beaming at Zhu.

  Tunde, still disoriented, shook his head. “I’m not your father,” he said softly, pushing aside the strange discomfort he felt from the bond.

  “It seems it only took some of your Ethra and a bit of your essence flames—nothing else,” Ifa said, inspecting Tunde closely.

  Zhu tilted its head, confused. “Not father?” it asked, its voice clearer but still unnatural.

  Tunde shook his head. “No. Friend.”

  Zhu paused for a moment before nodding. “Friend,” it repeated, as though testing the word for the first time. Zhu then sat beside Tunde, legs folded, entering a meditative state. Tunde used Ethra sight to observe the swirl of Ethra and essence flames within Zhu’s core, realizing it had begun cultivating, absorbing his concept and energy.

  Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  Sera, still in mild shock, murmured, “That was... strange.” She resumed eating, though her eyes lingered on Zhu.

  Tunde, exasperated, asked, “How are you all so fine with this?” gesturing towards the rapidly evolving creature.

  Sera blinked, confused. “You all?” she asked.

  With a snap of his fingers, Ifa finally made himself visible to Sera, who gasped and scrambled back, her face filled with surprise.

  “Meet Ifa, my resident ancestor,” Tunde explained, rubbing his forehead. He felt a headache building.

  Ifa smiled warmly at Sera. “Greetings, young one.”

  Sera stared at him, still processing. “Where did he come from?” she asked, glancing between Ifa and Tunde.

  “You’ve been fine with a talking Ethralite, but Ifa shocks you?” Tunde asked, bemused.

  “Zhu’s been with us for a while now. Him, on the other hand…” she trailed off, pointing at Ifa, who chuckled.

  “I’ve been with you far longer than you realize,” Ifa said, still grinning. “Granted, I wasn’t myself for most of that time, but I’m whole again now.”

  Sera, regaining some composure, bowed slightly. “I pay my respects then.”

  Pleased with the formality, Ifa nodded, his laugh brightening the room.

  Tunde, rubbing his temple, muttered, “Strange things just keep happening to me.”

  He got to his feet, opening his void ring to reveal all the items he had purchased earlier. “Fortunately, I managed to get everything we needed at the pavilion,” he said, setting the resources on the table. The room instantly filled with the scent of raw power, Ethra radiating from the heap of resources.

  Zhu snapped its eyes open, greed flashing across its mandibles as it glanced at the pile. “Hungry,” it said, its voice childlike.

  “I’m afraid we didn’t think about little Zhu,” Ifa said, amused.

  “You’re really treating it like a child now?” Tunde asked, glancing between the spirit and the creature.

  Sera, standing up and stretching, interrupted the conversation. “Did you get anything for me?”

  Ifa grinned. “Of course, at my insistence.”

  Tunde rolled his eyes, turning to Ifa. “Who paid for all this?”

  “Clan Acacia, of course,” Ifa replied smugly. “You should be grateful. Few lords have access to the resources you now do.”

  Tunde sifted through the pile, pulling out a rich red elixir and four red pills, handing them to Sera. “Divine blood growth elixir and fiery blood refinement pills,” Ifa said. “They were a bit expensive—five thousand lumens, give or take—but worth every lumen.”

  Sera, wide-eyed, almost choked on the first pill as she swallowed it. Her Ethra lines lit up immediately, glowing from within as the potent energy surged through her. She sat down quickly, swallowing the remaining pills and the elixir.

  As Tunde watched Sera’s body exude a deep blood-red aura, he turned his attention to his own situation. He glanced at Zhu, who had grown noticeably stronger, and then at Ifa, who seemed lost in thought. “Is there anything we can do for him?” Tunde asked, gesturing toward Zhu.

  Ifa considered for a moment, then nodded. “Perhaps,” he said thoughtfully. “Magical beasts, or creatures of Ethra, advance differently from us—at least, at the early stages. They need to build up their Ethra reserves. I’m not entirely sure when they develop a core, but if we follow the pattern of true beasts from the wastelands, expect that around the lord stage.”

  “Lord,” Zhu echoed, nodding firmly as if understanding the term, his mandibles clacking in determination.

  Tunde raised an eyebrow. “He seems sure of it.”

  Ifa floated closer to the creature; his eyes gleaming with interest. “It’s rare to see an Ethralite with such... willpower. The key will be finding a place where he can train—somewhere rich in Ethra but chaotic enough to force him to unlock his latent potential.”

  “Latent potential?” Tunde repeated, curious.

  “Think of it as shaking the very essence of his being, forcing it to awaken. All true beasts go through something like this,” Ifa explained, rubbing his beard thoughtfully. “I may not be an expert in Ethralites, but I do know a thing or two about divine beasts. That knowledge should be enough.”

  “And where exactly do we find such a place for him?” Tunde asked.

  Ifa’s gaze shifted to Tunde. “Your growing domain—your void space.”

  Tunde blinked in surprise. “My void space? Is my body even strong enough to summon it without harm?”

  “You won’t be entering it yourself, just calling it forth for Zhu. That should be fine,” Ifa assured him.

  Nodding, Tunde concentrated and summoned his void space. What usually manifested as an inky, featureless blackness now appeared in the shape of a square, with strange inscriptions written along its edges. Tunde squinted at the unfamiliar symbols.

  “What are those markings—?”

  “Not now,” Ifa cut him off sharply. “Just trust me for now.”

  Tunde hesitated but nodded, trusting the sentience. The black square rippled like disturbed water. Ifa glanced at it warily. “It’s starting to draw attention. Quickly, get in, Zhu, before the patriarch or anyone else notices.”

  Zhu, standing tall, glanced at Tunde one last time. “Lord?” it asked, seeking reassurance.

  Tunde gave a firm nod. “Lord.”

  With a fierce look in its glowing eyes, Zhu dived into the rippling void. As soon as the creature disappeared, Ifa turned to Tunde. “I’ll be unavailable while I’m in the void with Zhu. Use the resources I’ve outlined, but leave the jade heart alone. When we reach the capital, a proper alchemist will handle it.”

  Tunde nodded, willing the void space to close. It vanished without a trace, leaving him standing in the quiet room. He exhaled deeply, feeling the weight of responsibility settle on his shoulders.

  Sera remained where she sat, her body glowing with red and black veins as she neared a breakthrough in her cultivation. It was time for Tunde to focus on his own path. He needed to purify his body further and push himself closer to the peak of lord realm. First, though, he had to tackle the items he had bought—items that had come at a steep price.

  He sighed, picking up the Ebon Soul Pill. It was the first item he consumed, feeling the concentrated void energy surge through his system. The merchant had given him a suspicious look when he purchased it, likely assuming he needed it for sinister purposes due to its affinity with void Ethra, which was often associated with rifts and corruption. But for Tunde, the pill simply opened his Ethra lines more efficiently, allowing him to absorb void Ethra seamlessly.

  Next, he took the Starfruit, a plum-like fruit that increased the quality of Ethra from his core, making it denser and stronger. His core pulsed with renewed energy as the fruit’s effects kicked in, strengthening him further.

  The Essence Berry came after—a small clump of berries he was warned to only nibble on, yet he ate the entire bunch in one bite. The potent juices exploded in his mouth, spreading rapidly through his body. His essence flame, already at the second stage of Blaze, burned brighter and stronger, casting a dark grey glow around him.

  Then came the Abyssal Blood Elixir, a substance notorious for poisoning enemies by burning through their Ethra lines. To most cultivators, it was a dangerous weapon; for Tunde, it served to reinforce his own Ethra lines and enhance his blood, making him even more resilient at lord realm.

  It amused him how items meant to harm others only served to make him stronger. The thought brought relief, knowing that with the right resources, he could continue growing. But it also raised concerns. His cultivation style was unusual, and it wouldn’t go unnoticed for long.

  Finally, he consumed the Heart Plum, a vital fruit infused with life Ethra that strengthened his heart with every beat. He could feel his core growing more robust, his heart pumping with greater vitality.

  Done with his consumption of the pills and fruits, Tunde closed his eyes and began circulating his Ethra. His body hummed with energy as the dark grey aura enveloped him, his power reaching new heights. He lost himself in the rhythmic flow of cultivation, knowing he was now stronger than ever before.

  *************************************

  Ujin entered the office of the patriarch with a measured step, bowing low as he placed a fist to his palm. "This Highlord pays his respects," he said quietly, maintaining the posture. Juga Acacia continued scribbling on a piece of parchment, appearing to ignore him. However, Ujin knew better. The patriarch was fully aware of his presence from the moment he set foot inside the clan's compound.

  Juga’s ability to sense every corner of Shimmersteel wasn’t in question; if he chose to, he could extend his awareness over the entire city. Perhaps he refrained out of respect for the privacy of his people—or maybe because he deemed them insignificant. Either way, it didn’t matter. In this world, power dictated the rules.

  The patriarch finally placed his quill back into its ink case and turned his piercing blue eyes toward Ujin. "Rise, Ujin," he said calmly. Ujin straightened, meeting the patriarch's calculating gaze. Juga rested his chin on his interlaced fingers, his expression unreadable.

  "I must commend your dedication to the clan. Your efforts in keeping Shimmersteel secure have not gone unnoticed," Juga said in a measured tone.

  "I thank the patriarch for his words," Ujin replied, bowing again.

  Juga's tone shifted slightly, carrying an edge of caution. "With the convergence approaching, I fear your duties will become exponentially more challenging."

  Ujin nodded confidently. "The formations have been repowered, the lords of our vassal schools and families are on standby. We are ready for whatever the heavens may send our way."

  The patriarch’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully as he raised a finger. "The trials of the heavens are one thing. The schemes of men, however, are another."

  Ujin's brow furrowed. The patriarch leaned forward, his voice lowering. "I have reason to believe we’ve been infiltrated."

  Ujin froze. Infiltrated? It seemed impossible. The gate guards were handpicked by him, and Bajun’s spies were scattered all over the city. Nothing of consequence should escape his notice. Embarrassment swelled within him as he dropped to his knees, head pressed to the ground.

  "I have failed you, Patriarch! I bring shame upon the clan!" he exclaimed.

  "Rise, Ujin. Not even you could have known of this," Juga said with a weary sigh. "This world is full of strange cultivations, especially those used by the cults."

  Ujin’s heart pounded as his head snapped up. "The Heralds?" he asked, awe and dread mixing in his voice. The cult of Baelthor was a group Ujin had admired from afar. Their dedication to battle was unmatched, and their masters were renowned across the empire. But why would they infiltrate Shimmersteel?

  "No, not those battle-hardened fanatics," Juga replied, shaking his head. "Something worse."

  Ujin’s face paled as the realization hit him. "Technocrats?" he whispered.

  Juga nodded grimly. "Yes. The empire’s sworn enemy, and now they’ve managed to slip past our defenses."

  Ujin’s mind raced. "The imperial clan must be informed immediately. If the technocrats are operating this close, it could spell disaster—"

  "Ujin," Juga cut him off, his voice suffused with power. Ujin stopped mid-sentence. "No," the patriarch continued. "While it’s true they are our enemies, we will not notify the empire. We’re not their primary target this time."

  "Then who?" Ujin asked, confusion deepening.

  "There were rumors of an artificer at Jade Peak," Juga began. "And another appeared at Black Rock, though the latter supposedly perished in defense of the settlement. But then there were assassins from the Brotherhood who came after our guest at the White Crane."

  Understanding dawned on Ujin. "Tunde?" he asked in disbelief.

  Juga nodded. "Yes, not only the technocrats, but a Brotherhood assassin is also here in Shimmersteel, likely after him."

  Ujin’s mind reeled. It didn’t make sense. Why would both the technocrats and a group as shadowy as the Brotherhood target a single lord rank cultivator? "What could they possibly want from him?"

  "That remains unclear," Juga admitted, reclining in his chair. "However, my benefactor in the capital insists we are not to interfere unless his life is truly in danger. Do you understand?"

  Ujin’s lips tightened. The web of politics that ran the empire was beyond his comprehension, and he had long stopped trying to make sense of it. The technocrats were the empire’s sworn enemies, and the Brotherhood wasn’t known for operating in imperial cities. Could it be that the imperial family itself was behind this? No, even they wouldn’t risk allying with technocrats. The thought was absurd.

  "I understand, Patriarch," Ujin finally said, though unease gnawed at him.

  Juga sighed, his eyes reflecting the weight of the coming storm. "Good. Now, here is what I need you to do."