Ranks

The Jadeheart dawn, a pale, watery imitation of the sun, filtered through the grimy window of Kai's room. He rose, the lingering warmth of the Black Jade Necklace a subtle comfort against the chill air, and moved through his morning routine with practiced efficiency. No wasted movements, no unnecessary thoughts. Just preparation.

He needed to train. To hone his skills, to master the whispers of the dream-katana, to forge his body and will into an even more perfect weapon. The guild's training grounds, though rudimentary, would suffice. For now.

He stepped out into the bustling corridors of the guildhall, the Ethereal Katana at his side, his black suit a stark contrast to the roughspun tunics and leather armor of the other guild members. He moved through the crowd, a silent, solitary figure, his gaze fixed on his destination, ignoring the curious glances, the whispered comments, the occasional sneer.

The training yard was a large, open space, filled with the clang of steel, the thud of impacts, the grunts of exertion. Cultivators of various ranks sparred, practiced techniques, honed their skills. Most ignored him, focused on their own training, their own ambitions.

But some… some saw an opportunity. A target.

He chose a secluded corner of the yard, away from the main activity, and began to move through the dream-forged stances, his movements fluid, precise, the Ethereal Katana humming softly in his hand. Mountain's Roots. River's Flow. Wind's Whisper.

"Practicing without Qi? What a shithead."

The voice, laced with derision, cut through the ambient noise of the training yard. Kai ignored it, continuing his practice, his focus unwavering.

"Look at him, pretending to be a swordsman. Probably can't even kill a rat without his precious Qi."

Another voice, joining the first, mocking, scornful. Kai continued to ignore them, his movements precise, his focus unwavering. Let them talk. Words were wind. They meant nothing.

But the taunts persisted, growing louder, more insistent. And then, a figure stepped into his path, blocking his movements, forcing him to stop.

Fiyu. A burly cultivator, clad in silver-rank armor, his face contorted in a sneer, his eyes filled with a mixture of arrogance and contempt. He was one of the mockers, one of the voices that had sought to disrupt Kai's focus.

"Well, well, well," Fiyu sneered, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "The Qi-less wonder. What are you doing here, wasting our time with your pathetic imitation of swordsmanship?"

Kai remained silent, his gaze cold, unwavering, fixed on Fiyu's face. He said nothing. He did nothing. He simply… waited.

Fiyu, emboldened by Kai's silence, stepped closer, his hand moving towards Kai's shoulder, intending to shove him, to provoke him, to assert his dominance.

"Get lost, freak," Fiyu growled. "This yard is for real cultivators, not…"

He never finished the sentence.

Before Fiyu's hand could make contact, Kai moved. Not with the explosive speed he was capable of, not with the full force of his dream-honed techniques, but with a swift, precise, almost… casual movement.

He grabbed Fiyu's wrist, his fingers closing around it like a vise, his grip surprisingly strong, despite his lean frame. And then, he squeezed.

A sharp crack echoed in the training yard, followed by a howl of pain from Fiyu. His wrist, twisted at an unnatural angle, was clearly broken.

But the pain wasn't just from the broken bone. It was from something else. Something… deeper.

Fiyu's hand, the hand Kai had grasped, was… damaged. The skin was red, raw, as if burned. The muscles beneath were spasming, twitching uncontrollably. It was as if… something had attacked the very essence of his hand, bypassing the physical defenses, striking directly at the underlying structure.

Qi. Fiyu had infused his hand with Qi, intending to amplify his shove, to inflict pain, to humiliate Kai. But Kai's grip, honed by months of weighted training, fueled by the subtle resonance of the Ethereal Katana, had… reacted.

The Black Jade Necklace, perhaps, had played a part, drawing ambient Qi, channeling it into Kai's grip, creating a… defense. A counter. A weapon.

Fiyu, cradling his broken, damaged hand, stared at Kai with a mixture of pain, fear, and disbelief. "What… what did you do?" he gasped, his voice trembling.

Kai released his grip, his expression remaining cold, impassive. He said nothing. He simply… looked at Fiyu.

Fiyu, emboldened by Kai's silence, and the pain in his hand, bellowed, "You think you can just ignore me, freak? I'm a Silver-rank cultivator! You're nothing! I'll kill you for this!"

He lunged, his good hand forming a fist, his body radiating a surge of Qi, intending to unleash a full-powered attack on Kai.

But Kai was faster.

He didn't block. He didn't parry. He didn't even engage in a direct confrontation. He simply… moved.

Shadow's Embrace. He melted into the shadows of the training yard, becoming a blur of motion, evading Fiyu's clumsy, enraged attacks with effortless ease.

Fiyu roared, his frustration mounting, his attacks becoming wilder, less precise, more desperate. He swung, he kicked, he lunged, but Kai was always just… out of reach. A phantom, a shadow, impossible to pin down.

"Fight me, you coward!" Fiyu screamed, his voice hoarse with rage. "Stand still and fight!"

Kai remained silent, his movements fluid, his gaze cold, his focus unwavering. He was not fighting. He was… evading. He was… observing. He was… waiting.

Fiyu, exhausted, frustrated, his Qi reserves dwindling, finally slowed, his movements becoming sluggish, his attacks losing their force. And then, Kai moved.

Not to attack, not to inflict pain, but to… end it.

With a burst of speed that defied belief, he closed the distance, his Ethereal Katana flashing, not in a strike, not in a slash, but in a… threat.

The tip of the blade, razor sharp, honed to deadly perfection, stopped a hair's breadth from Fiyu's eyeball, the cold steel pressing lightly against his eyelid, the threat of blinding, of permanent damage, undeniable.

Fiyu froze, his breath hitching in his throat, his eyes wide with terror, his body trembling. He was defeated. Utterly, completely defeated.

Kai's voice, when he finally spoke, was low, cold, devoid of any emotion. "Go away."

Two words. A simple command. But delivered with such chilling certainty, such unwavering authority, that they carried the weight of a death sentence.

Fiyu, his arrogance shattered, his bravado gone, simply… nodded. He stumbled back, away from Kai, away from the threat of the blade, his gaze fixed on the ground, his body trembling.

He turned and fled, disappearing into the crowd of cultivators, leaving Kai alone in the training yard, the Ethereal Katana humming softly in his hand, the silence of the yard broken only by the whispers of the onlookers, their gazes now filled with a mixture of fear and… respect.

He had made his point. He had shown his strength. He had silenced his detractors. Without Qi. Without a fight. With just… presence.

He returned to his room, the encounter leaving a bitter taste in his mouth. He had no desire for such confrontations, for such petty displays of dominance. He wanted to train. To progress. To move forward.

But Jadeheart, the guild, the world of cultivators… it was all a web of ambition, of rivalry, of constant struggle for power. He couldn't afford to be seen as weak. He couldn't afford to be challenged. He needed to be… feared. Respected. Left alone.

He sat on his cot, the Ethereal Katana resting across his lap, his mind turning towards his goals. Celestial Archives. Immortality. These were his priorities. And to achieve them, he needed… connections. Influence. Power.

He needed to rise through the ranks. Quickly. Efficiently. Ruthlessly.

He went back to the guild clerk, the same woman who had processed his return, her expression now holding a flicker of… something. Perhaps… respect.

"I need to rise through the ranks," he stated, his voice flat, emotionless. "As fast as possible."

The clerk, a young woman with sharp eyes and a professional demeanor, raised an eyebrow, a subtle acknowledgment of his… reputation. "If you want to rank up quickly, you'll need to take on high-risk missions. The guild offers several types of missions." She then explained to him the different types of missions.

Standard Missions: These include monster subjugation, escort requests, and material gathering. They help adventurers rise up in ranks steadily.

Special Missions by the Guild: Rare, high-reward missions given on exclusive guild boards anyone can do them, but they are dangerous. These can range from hunting down dangerous criminals to investigating ancient ruins or killing high rank monsters

Special Missions by Clans: The ten great clans, including the Ito Clan, issue their own missions. Anyone can do them and if you r a soldier of them at gold you will be promoted to platinum rank and if you are a guild member of below or equal to gold rank you will be also promoted to platinum rank and can join their clan.

King's Palace Missions: The most prestigious missions, assigned on golden board which was last 6 months ago. Soldiers serving Royal Palace can't do them but members in guild or clan can do them and will directly get promoted to Titanium T2

Rank Structure and Limitations

"After reaching Platinum Rank, your growth is restricted. To advance further, you must join the King's Force, which can be done in two ways: either by being foreseen by a King's man or by passing the test to join them. In both Guilds and Clans, you are stopped at Platinum Rank."

Kai's brows furrowed. "Then how do I progress beyond that?"

The clerk continued, "To advance beyond Platinum, you must apply for the King's Force. They conduct rigorous tests, and only those who pass are granted Titanium Rank."

The Ranks Beyond Platinum

Titanium Rank has five sub-ranks: T1 to T5. Those at T5 are prioritized for promotion when a Diamond Rank position becomes available.

Diamond Rank is an elite level, granted only to those who lead armies of hundreds.

Upon reaching T5, you may also request your own personal military unit, though approval depends on capability and necessity.

Kai absorbed the information. "And what about privileges? What does the guild offer at each rank?"

Privileges for Higher Ranks

The clerk nodded. "The guild provides various benefits based on rank:

Silver Rank and Below: Basic guild resources, access to common quests.

Gold Rank: Priority quest selection, free lodging in guild halls, access to rare mission boards.

Platinum Rank: Personal quarters in major cities, specialized equipment, access to strategic missions.

Titanium Rank: Command over squadrons, personalized weapons, audience with nobles.

Diamond Rank: Direct influence over national matters, control over large armies, unrestricted access to royal resources.

"Other privileges are granted if you belong to a Clan or the King's Force."

Kai listened, his mind calculating, analyzing, weighing his options. The path was clear. High-risk missions. Clan affiliations. The King's Force. He would climb the ranks, swiftly, ruthlessly, using whatever means necessary, until he reached the pinnacle of power, until he gained access to the knowledge, the resources, the connections he needed to achieve his ultimate goal.

Immortality. It was not a dream. It was a destination. And he would reach it, no matter the cost, no matter the obstacles, no matter the sacrifices. The serpent's coil had tightened, and Kai, the phantom warrior, was ready to ascend.