Capítulo 87: Reaping Cycle
Lin Yu nods slowly, as though weighing his words. "Well, if you're new here, you'll find that people like Zhao Feng and I have… circles, you might say. If you ever decide to make connections, I could introduce you to a few associates."
Her voice is polite, yet there's a subtle undercurrent—an invitation laced with hidden motives. Li Wei senses she might simply see him as a pawn to be claimed, but at the very least, she's extending an olive branch.
He offers a small, appreciative smile. "That's generous, Senior Sister. I might take you up on it eventually. For now, though, I really must focus on my cultivation."
Her gaze flicks over him, likely noting how little spiritual pressure he emits. "Mmm, understandable," she says, her tone amiable. Then her expression turns serious. "If you do seek allies, watch your back. Ambition runs high here. Be careful whom you trust—Zhao Feng most of all."
Li Wei dips his head again. "Thank you for the warning," he says, recognising the subtle caution in her words. She might be just as cutthroat as anyone, but at least she's not hiding the nature of this place.
When he moves to leave, Lin Yu steps aside gracefully, allowing him to pass.
He walks out into the cool night air, heart beating a little faster. Whatever she wants, he thinks, she's not showing it openly. But he has no illusions—if he's too weak, he'll be nothing more than someone else's tool.
He adjusts his robe where the borrowed manual is tucked away and starts up the steep path, replaying Lin Yu's words in his mind. A part of him can't shake the sensation that she's every bit as dangerous as she is polite… and he'll need to tread carefully if their paths cross again.
With that, he ducks out of the cave, ignoring the tingling sense that she's still watching him. The next step is heading up the mountain to find Zhao Feng's spot.
Following Lin Yu's directions, Li Wei makes his way up the steep incline. His heart hammers a bit harder with every step, the rocky path winding treacherously around the mountain. Before long, he spots the twisted pine clinging to a narrow ledge, its branches bent at odd angles. Pressing on, he crests a small ridge and finally notices a tattered slip of red paper—the talisman Lin Yu mentioned—pinned to the cave mouth by an iron nail.
So this must be it, Li Wei thinks, breath still uneven from the climb.
He edges closer, relieved to see a soft glow flickering from inside. Taking a moment to steady himself, he clears his throat and calls out in a controlled voice, "Senior Brother Zhao Feng? It's Li Wei."
A hushed murmur reaches his ears.
"—need a solid plan if we're going after that, not half measures," a voice says.
"That's easier said than done," another responds. "Once we're strong enough to handle it, we're already in too deep with the sect."
There's a brief pause. Li Wei senses a shift in the air before he hears Zhao Feng call back, "Come in, Junior Brother."
Stepping inside, Li Wei spots Zhao Feng standing near a small table cluttered with glass vials and strange herbs. Across from him is a tall, composed man Li Wei doesn't recognise—someone with an air of calm deliberation in every movement. Both glance at Li Wei; Zhao Feng's eyes narrow just slightly, as though signalling the stranger not to say more.
The tall man inclines his head politely but says nothing else about the beast. Instead, he redirects, looking at Zhao Feng. "We can finalise the details later," he murmurs. Then he turns to Li Wei with a faint smile.
Zhao Feng gestures. "Yes, this is Li Shan—a friend of mine." He gives Li Wei a quick, knowing look before turning back to Li Shan.
Li Wei, ever respectful, bows his head. "I apologise if I'm interrupting, Senior Brothers."
"Not at all," Li Shan says evenly.
Zhao Feng nods. "I see you made the climb."
Li Wei nods. "Yes, Senior Brother. I managed."
Li Shan folds his arms, studying Li Wei for a moment before speaking. "So, Junior Brother," he begins casually, "how are you feeling about The Reaping Cycle?"
Li Wei blinks, caught off guard. "The…?"
Zhao Feng, who's been checking his brewing instruments, pauses long enough to cast Li Shan a faintly amused glance. Li Shan picks up on Li Wei's confusion and inclines his head towards him. "I see nobody's mentioned it yet."
Li Wei forces a polite smile. "I'm afraid not. Would you mind explaining, Senior Brother?"
Li Wei frowns slightly.
Zhao Feng gives Li Wei a measured look. "Junior Brother, you've got three years to kill five demon beasts—that's The Reaping Cycle. Simple enough. Except it's not really the beasts you need to worry about."
Li Shan nods in agreement. "Every new inner disciple has to go through it. It's unfortunate that you're the only new junior under Elder Guo. Being alone lowers your chance of survival."
Zhao Feng gestures impatiently at Li Wei, as if hurrying him to catch on. "Other disciples will be out there, too. Some are just following orders from their elders to clear out the competition. One wrong step, and you're done."
Li Wei swallows, choosing his words carefully. "So… I should avoid them?"
Li Shan, arms folded, nods once. "Hide the first year. Focus on potioneering and building up your cultivation. Hunt your five beasts once you're strong enough. Trying to act tough stupidly will get you killed."
Zhao Feng's eyes narrow. "And don't forget you can use that time to gather whatever you need for the Cinderbone Elixir. There are plenty of fire-element demon beasts out there—they'll give you the bones and the cores. I know you want the Bone Fire. If you master it no low-level disciple will stand a chance against you."
Li Wei glances between them, absorbing the warning. "You're suggesting I lay low, gather resources… then strike when I'm ready?"
Zhao Feng shrugs. "I'm not suggesting. I'm telling you that's what we did. We'll lend a hand—give you a few things, but during The Reaping Cycle, you are on your own. But remember, once we help you… you're ours. You do what we say. Understood?"
A beat of tense silence follows. Li Wei finally bows his head. "Yes, Senior Brother. I owe you both. When is the Reaping Cycle?"
A hint of a satisfied smile plays on Zhao Feng's lips. "Good." He gestures to the brewing station. "You're lucky you advanced at this moment. You still have two years left. No sense wasting time—you need every advantage you can get. The survivors of the Reaping will take the sect assessment."
Li Wei hesitates, then speaks up, "the reward for passing is they might throw you in a cauldron?"
Zhao Feng and Li Shan laugh coldly. "No, you're presiding over the assessment. You also get a few Grade 1 pills for doing it. It's just a useless fucking chore, though."
Li Shan's eyes flick back to Zhao Feng. "In that case, I shall leave you two to converse." He inclines his head politely towards Li Wei and then heads for the cave entrance. Just as he is about to step outside, Li Wei catches a hushed remark—something about the sect always demanding more, about cultivators who never satisfy their hunger for resources. But before Li Wei can fully discern the words, Li Shan has gone.
Now alone with Zhao Feng, Li Wei withdraws a small scroll case from beneath his robe. "Senior Brother, I came to return your manual. I have studied it as thoroughly as I can."
Zhao Feng's expression brightens a fraction. "You learn quickly, Junior Brother. Well done." Setting aside a different scroll, he adds, "I was just about to brew a Bone Strengthening Elixir. Your timing could not be better."
Li Wei bows, genuine excitement flickering in his eyes. "May I observe your brewing process, Senior Brother?"
Zhao Feng arches a brow, as though the request is perfectly reasonable. "Certainly," he replies, gesturing towards a vacant spot by the table. "Just do not stand too close. Bone Fire can be temperamental."
Zhao Feng stands near a low table scattered with alchemical implements. A faint wisp of bluish flame dances at his fingertips. Li Wei sets down his belongings, then devotes his full attention to his senior brother's every move. Li Wei remembers the Bone Strengthening Elixir from the book of Elixirs.
The Bone Strengthening Elixir requires three components:
Bone Ash, finely sifted
Steelvine Root, shredded into thin fibres
Crimson Dust, ground from a rare mineral ore
Zhao Feng measures each ingredient with practised precision, placing them into a rune-etched cauldron. A pungent combination of charred bone and earthy herbs rises to meet Li Wei's nose.
"Observe carefully," Zhao Feng says, extending his hand. A dim aura flickers around his palm, and Bone Fire ignites—pale, ghostly flames clinging to his fingers without harming him. Li Wei recognises it at once, the same as when Senior Huo did it.
He also is alarmed by the runes carved into the cauldron's surface. With a thoughtful frown, Li Wei retrieves a small brush and a slip of paper from his satchel, sketching the runes' outlines. As Zhao Feng applies Bone Fire beneath the cauldron, Li Wei steps around to see the symbols more clearly, suspecting they enhance the mixture's success rate.
The heat from the flame is intense but carefully controlled. Zhao Feng adjusts his breathing in a calm, rhythmic pattern—something Li Wei certainly did not see in the manual. Every so often, he halts the flame, stirs the concoction in a tight spiral, then reignites the Bone Fire at a slightly higher temperature. Li Wei deduces these movements stem from countless trials rather than any written instruction.
He has his own refinements, Li Wei thinks, noting how Zhao Feng flicks his wrist in a deliberate, clockwise motion three times, causing the flame to surge as if drawing more energy from the cauldron's base.
Estado de energía semanal
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