Kai's training was… eventful, to say the least.
For the past three weeks, Jiang and Lin Wuye had been trying to drill control into him. It started with simple meditation, breathing exercises, and an occasional explosion that sent Bao screaming across the training field.
Bao had become an unfortunate bystander to most of Kai's failures. Whether it was a misfire that launched him into a pond or an accidental detonation that left his hair looking like a frazzled chicken, he had become the living comedic relief of the entire training regiment.
Atlas and Layla watched from a distance. The bet was still on.
Atlas grinned, arms folded. "Told you the kid had potential."
Layla narrowed her eyes, arms crossed. "He still nearly blew himself up yesterday."
"But did he?" Atlas smirked. "Progress is progress. Now… where's my payment?"
Layla groaned, begrudgingly reaching into her pouch and handing him a small, finely crafted silver ingot.
Atlas twirled it between his fingers. "Pleasure doing business, Meilin."
Layla shot him a glare. "Don't push it."
Meanwhile, Atlas had been keeping up with his own training. His Qi absorption was minuscule compared to real cultivators, but Lin Wuye insisted he keep working on release control to prevent internal damage.
One day, Kai, in his usual chaotic manner, accidentally detonated an explosion right next to Atlas.
For the first time ever, Atlas absorbed the Qi instinctively and released it.
And by 'released it,' he meant he sent a shockwave through the training grounds, levelling several trees in the process.
The entire field went silent.
Kai blinked, pointing at Atlas. "That's not normal."
Atlas, looking at his own hands, muttered, "...Well, that's concerning."
Bao, still recovering from the explosion, faceplanted into the ground in exaggerated exhaustion.
"I hate training so much."
Not everyone in Silver Lotus initially approved of Kai's presence. Many feared the destructive potential he held. Elders Zhao Lihua and Jian Bo raised concerns, while several disciples voiced their discomfort at training alongside a literal walking explosion hazard.
Even Zhu Fen, the youngest prodigy of Silver Lotus, voiced his fear.
"What if he blows up during training? What if we all get caught in it?"
Bao, rubbing his still-singed eyebrows, muttered
"Oh, trust me, it has happened."
Lin Wuye, however, remained firm.
"That is why we are training him. Fear without action only breeds disaster."
Layla, stepped in to convince them.
"If we shun him, who will train him? Would you rather he remain an untrained danger, or learn to control it here, under our guidance?"
Her reasoning was sound, and slowly, dissent turned to reluctant acceptance.
Atlas, meanwhile, was fully immersed in playing with Kai.
"Alright, kid" Atlas said, tossing Kai a rock. "Explode this."
Kai stared at him. "That's not how it works."
Atlas shrugged. "It's how it should work."
Jiang sighed. "Atlas, stop corrupting the boy."
Meyu, who had been watching with arms crossed, finally spoke up.
"You do realize he's a literal walking disaster, right?"
Atlas grinned. "Oh, absolutely. But if I'm going to be stuck dealing with a human firecracker, I might as well teach him some practical skills."
Kai looked confused. "Like what?"
Atlas patted his shoulder.
"Like making sure Bao is always standing closest to you when you test something."
Bao, hearing his name, immediately paled.
"No. Absolutely not. I refuse to be a training dummy."
While everyone was busy, Shen Jue observed from the sidelines.
Kai was an anomaly. His power was not normal Qi-based cultivation. It had potential military applications, but it was unstable.
If the Emperor knew of this…
Atlas caught Shen Jue watching and walked up to him.
"See something you like?"
Shen Jue smirked. "Just wondering if this gamble of yours will pay off."
Atlas chuckled. "Oh, it already has. It's just a matter of how big the payout is."
Then, tilting his head, Atlas asked
"How long are you planning to stick around anyway? Surely you're not going to keep paying 1 gold a month forever, right? Seems a bit beneath someone of your stature."
Shen Jue smirked, arms crossed.
"I could stay here for ten generations if I really wanted to."
Far from Silver Lotus, Emperor Jinhai sat in his study, reviewing reports.
Jinhai had heard nothing about any explosions—but what truly angered him was Ryl Trading. He didn't like not knowing what was happening within Silver Lotus, especially with so many people from the main city flocking there.
Chunwen, his financial advisor, stood before him, expression grim. "Your Majesty, the problem isn't just their influence—it's their economic stranglehold. Ryl Trading is controlling local prices, dictating trade flows, and bending the nobles to their will. This is damaging our economy more than any war could."
Jinhai's grip tightened around his teacup. With a sharp crack, it shattered in his hand, shards scattering across the table.
"Bring me a brush and a scroll," he ordered coldly. "Now."
So, he devised a new plan.
He picked up a brush, writing an imperial decree:
Meilin Wuye and Atlas Ryland are to report to the capital immediately. Failure to comply will be considered treason. Ryl Trading will be outlawed. Silver Lotus Sect will be purged.
The decree was sealed with his imperial sigil and sent out that very night.
Once the messenger left, Jinhai turned to his inner court, his expression unreadable but his tone carrying an edge sharper than any blade.
"This cannot be allowed to continue. Ryl Trading has entrenched itself too deeply. If we let Atlas Ryland and Silver Lotus expand any further, we may as well hand them the empire."
Chunwen stepped forward, his voice measured but firm.
"Your Majesty, there are a few ways we can dismantle their influence. First, we pressure the nobles—those still loyal to the regime—to publicly denounce their association with Ryl Trading. A few strategic financial restrictions on trade within the capital will make it harder for them to maneuver."
Minister Zhen, an elder statesman with years of political cunning, nodded.
"If we sever their wealth, we sever their power. However, it must be gradual. If Atlas senses a full-blown crackdown, he will counter-move before we are ready."
"And what of Silver Lotus?" Jinhai asked coldly.
"They have grown beyond their intended role."
General Zhiyuan, ever the pragmatic one, spoke.
"A show of force would be necessary. Not an outright war—yet. We should infiltrate their ranks forcefully, gather intelligence, and when the time is right, make an example of them. A quiet culling of their strongest warriors before a direct confrontation." His lips curled into a slight smirk.
"Let fear take hold before we even draw our swords."
Jinhai considered this, his fingers tapping the lacquered wood of his desk. "And Shen Jue?"
He glanced at Chunwen. "Where does he stand?"
Chunwen hesitated before responding.
"He has not acted against us, but his prolonged stay at Silver Lotus is... concerning. We do not yet know if he is simply watching or if he is playing a deeper game."
Jinhai scoffed.
"He plays a deeper game. He always does. Keep a closer eye on him. If he strays too far from his purpose... we will remind him where his true allegiance lies."
Silence followed his words, the weight of the discussion pressing down on the chamber like an executioner's blade.
Jinhai finally stood, his gaze sweeping across his advisors. "We will not act too quickly, but neither will we wait for them to strengthen. By the time they realize what's happening, it will already be too late."
He turned to Wei Xian.
"Ensure that our message reaches them swiftly. And have our agents among the merchants prepare. If Atlas Ryland and Meilin Wuye are to stand before me, I want them to feel as though they have already lost before they even set foot inside the capital."
Wei Xian, however, did not immediately acknowledge the order. Instead, he folded his arms, expression unreadable. "Your Majesty, forgive my boldness, but what if Atlas Ryland realizes this before we execute our plans? He is not a man easily caught off guard. If he anticipates the financial strangulation, he could manipulate it to his own advantage."
Jinhai exhaled through his nose, eyes narrowing. "Then we ensure he has no escape route."
He turned to Chunwen and Minister Zhen. "Simultaneously, we will apply diplomatic pressure on any noble houses supporting Ryl Trading. If they withdraw their funds and turn against him, his network collapses from within. Additionally, we will block key supply lines outside the capital—ensure that no alternative trade routes form under his nose."
Jinhai's gaze darkened. "And if Atlas Ryland still finds a way to slip through? Then we make an example of him. Publicly. Painfully."
Back at Silver Lotus, the day's training was wrapping up when a convoy of carriages approached the sect's gates.
Lord Yong and Lady Zhen, nobles from the Western Province, had arrived.
Their carriages were filled with crates of their province's prized harvest—Sichuan peppercorn.
Atlas, blinking at the unusual tribute, raised an eyebrow. "That's a lot of spice."
Lord Yong smiled. "It's a gift. For everything you've done. Our province was dying before Ryl Trading's expansion."
Atlas smirked. "Oh, I do love getting paid for things I already did."
Before anyone could respond, footsteps echoed from behind. Lin Wuye and Yuxe Wuye, returning from training, stopped dead in their tracks upon seeing the noble visitors.
Their eyes widened in shock before, almost instinctively, they dropped into a deep bow.
"Lord Yong… Lady Zhen…" Lin Wuye's voice was steady, but there was an unmistakable tension beneath it.
"To what do we owe this great honour?"
Lord Yong smiled warmly. "Raise your heads, Master Lin. We are merely here to thank Atlas Ryland for the prosperity he has brought to our province. Once, we struggled in poverty. Now, our lands flourish. This is but a token of our gratitude."
He then gestured behind him as the sound of many footsteps filled the air.
"Furthermore," Lady Zhen added, "word has spread across the main city that Silver Lotus, in collaboration with Ryl Trading, offers martial arts to all—regardless of status. We gathered these people for you."
Lin Wuye and Yuxe Wuye turned, their expressions shifting from pride to sheer disbelief.
Layla and Meyu, standing nearby, took one look at the massive crowd behind Lord Yong and Lady Zhen. Hundreds of people.
Their eyes widened in horror.
Layla fell back onto the ground, clutching her head. "A hundred people?! How the hell are we supposed to support them?!"
Jiang and Bao, finishing up their training, turned at the sound of commotion. They saw Atlas, his face bloodshot, and Meilin, looking as if she had just seen a ghost.
Following their gaze, their own expressions twisted in sheer horror as they finally registered the hundreds of people standing behind Lord Yong and Lady Zhen.
Bao gulped. "Uh… Jiang? Please tell me I'm hallucinating."
Jiang, for once at a loss for words, muttered, "I… wish I could."
Meyu, slumping beside her, groaned. "We're so doomed…"
But as the crates were unloaded, Xiuying rushed to Atlas' side, handing him the imperial decree.
Atlas read it, his smirk vanishing.
Layla, noticing the shift in his expression. "Atlas?"
Atlas exhaled.
"Well… looks like we've been cordially invited to the capital. And if we say no, they'll make sure we regret it."
As night fell, Atlas had his workers set up temporary tents for the influx of new arrivals. The sight of the hastily constructed shelters made him sigh—his usual humorous demeanor nowhere to be found. He looked truly overwhelmed.
Gathered in the main hall, the top members of Silver Lotus—Jiang, Bao, Layla, her parents, Jian Bo, Zhao Lihua, and Meyu—sat around a dimly lit table. The weight of the situation hung over them.
Layla, rubbing her temples, spoke first.
"Alright, let's be realistic. We have over a hundred new people to house, train, and feed. We're already stretching our resources, and now, we have to prepare to meet the Emperor on top of it. If we don't handle this properly, we'll collapse from within before the regime even makes a move."
Atlas pinched the bridge of his nose.
"So, what's the plan, oh wise leader?" His voice was drained of its usual mischief, his exhaustion evident.
Layla took a deep breath, eyes sharp.
"We need to split our focus. First, logistics—ensuring food, supplies, and accommodations last until a more permanent solution is in place. Second, preparation for the meeting—because if we mess that up, it won't matter how well we manage here."
Jiang crossed his arms. "And who's going to handle what?"
Layla's gaze flickered between the faces in the room.
"We divide and conquer. Atlas, you're still handling trade and keeping Ryl Trading from falling apart. Meyu, you'll oversee internal organization. My parents will work with the elders to train the newcomers efficiently. Bao and Jiang, you manage discipline and combat training. And I… I'll make sure we survive the meeting with the Emperor."
Silence filled the room as everyone processed the plan.
Finally, Meyu groaned. "We're so screwed, aren't we?"
Atlas sighed, rubbing his temples. "Yeah. But at least now we have a plan to be screwed with."
Atlas leaned forward, putting his hands down. "We also need Kai to be ready. If he can't control his explosion powers soon, we won't last the month with this many people. Sure, we can weed out those who can't handle it by the end of the month, but we really need him to get a hang of it fast so my workers can focus on building proper settlements."
Lin Wuye frowned. "Atlas, you can't rush the boy's training. Cultivation and control take time."
Atlas opened his mouth to retort but stopped. His mind flashed back to that sparring match—Lin Wuye versus Daokan, two strong people in their own right colliding. The sheer force of their battle had shattered the surroundings with them, sending shockwaves through the earth. If that kind of power was unleashed without restraint…
He exhaled sharply. "Alright. Then we change the approach. We take Kai near the mountain for training—somewhere isolated. Even if he messes up, at least he's clearing land instead of leveling our people."
Kai overheard the conversation. He was sitting down at a wall and putting his ears listening in on the conversation.
Kai had spent the last few weeks in Silver Lotus, training, learning, and trying—desperately—to control his power. But despite his best efforts, progress was painfully slow. The raw energy inside him refused to obey, lashing out unpredictably whenever he tried to summon it. His failures stacked up, weighing heavily on his already fragile confidence.
He hadn't meant to eavesdrop, but as he was passing the main hall, voices carried through the open doors.
Even after almost a month, he was still struggling to control himself. Meanwhile, Atlas was out there reshaping the world, Layla was leading an entire sect, and the others—Jiang, Bao, even the elders—were all building something incredible. Compared to them, what was he? Just a scared child with an uncontrollable curse?
His breathing grew shallow as doubt gnawed at him. Was he even meant to be here? Would he ever be strong enough to stand among them as an equal?
He turned away from the hall, shoulders tense, slipping away unnoticed. If he was ever going to prove himself, he couldn't keep relying on their patience. He had to change—before it was too late.