Many Thoughts

The group surged forward with terrifying speed, the air humming from the force of so many cultivators in motion. Though the instructors and higher-ranked students held back to accommodate the pace of the weaker ones, it was still fast—enough that most average disciples would be gasping before long.

Lin Shu ran near the rear, not at the very back but close to it. He could've moved faster—his Ivory Dominion gave him a boost in strength and speed, and his movement technique was mid-tier—but he restrained himself. "I can't let Han Yi see me using Lightning Steps. If she's still looking for me, that'll be a dead giveaway." He kept his pace steady, blending in with the weaker students.

"Should I run if we stop to rest?" The thought came suddenly, bitter and sharp. "No... too dangerous. They'd notice my disappearance right away, and with that woman here..." His eyes shifted to the side, spotting the woman who ran silently alongside the instructors. She had been the tracking expert assigned to his Solmire mission.

"I won't get far. She'll track me before I leave her range. And even if I make an excuse to leave for a moment, they'll probably force us to move in groups. That means I'd have to kill whoever's with me. But that'd cause too much noise, and I'm not fast enough to escape before they catch me. Especially with that woman around."

His expression was unreadable, but inside, his thoughts churned.

"And let's not forget—I'm probably one of the weakest here. Ren Hao, Zeng Shiyang, Han Yi... there are many stronger than me. They brought all the prodigies here."

He frowned subtly. "Why? Why send the best students—those with the brightest futures—into something that might explode into war? Some, like Zeng Shiyang, are even clan heirs. And Han Yi... she's the disciple of the institute leader himself."

The more he thought about it, the more it didn't make sense.

"Unless... unless the higher-ups are convinced that the Jiang clan wouldn't dare to openly attack with so many important students present. Maybe they believe that our presence will serve as a deterrent. Or maybe... they plan to use us as bait."

Lin Shu's expression didn't change as he ran—but inside, he felt the weight of a trap tightening.

The group moved like a blade through undergrowth, cutting down any beast that dared cross their path. Blood was spilled quickly, efficiently—nothing large, just threats too foolish or desperate to avoid a marching band of cultivators. Now, with only one day left before reaching the Azure Crystals Mine, they took their first proper rest. No fires were lit; even the most reckless students knew better than to tempt fate in enemy territory.

Xu Jin sat beside Lin Shu, perched on a stone like a restless crow, arms crossed as he stared at the moonlit treetops. "I really hope we get positioned inside the mines," he muttered. "Better to fight Sawtooth Worms than risk getting poisoned by some Jiang bastard. But that probably won't happen. Those safe spots? Guaranteed to be handed over to the geniuses." His voice was low, irritated, filled with that familiar frustration toward favoritism.

"Say, Xu Jin," Lin Shu asked quietly, leaning back against the cool stone, "why were they even chosen for this mission? Doesn't it make more sense not to send the institute's best into a fight that might become a slaughter? They're valuable to their clans. To the Institute."

Xu Jin scoffed. "Well, I heard some volunteered—Han Yi did, apparently. And Zeng Shiyang followed right after. Rumors say he's got a thing for her." He gave a dry laugh. "Too bad for him—she's as warm as ice. Probably doesn't even remember his name half the time."

"I see," Lin Shu replied, voice flat. He slowly stretched out and laid down, staring up at the night sky. "Hey… what do you know about Ren Hao?"

"Nothing much. Why?"

"No reason. Just interested in his background."

Xu Jin scratched his head and leaned back a little. "Well, not much is really known about him. Hell, most students here have foggy pasts. Take Yan Bai and Yan Hei—the twins from that mission a few months back. No records, no clans, nothing. Probably lone cultivators who stumbled onto some decent technique by luck."

"But I did hear a few things about Ren Hao," he added, voice dropping just slightly, like sharing a secret. "First, he pissed off Zeng Shiyang. No idea how, but now the entire Zeng Clan holds a grudge against him. Second, an instructor tried to take Ren Hao in as a disciple. He refused. Politely, yeah, but... apparently that instructor didn't take the rejection well. Word is, he might've pushed to have Ren Hao included in this mission, out of spite."

Xu Jin gave a cruel little laugh. "If that's true, then he really should've just bowed his head and accepted the offer. Might've saved his life."

Lin Shu raised an eyebrow. "How the hell do you know all this?"

Xu Jin grinned. "Professional's secret, brother."

That was the end of that. Lin Shu didn't press further. He knew well enough not to pry into the methods of someone who lived off information. Xu Jin didn't sell cheaply, and Lin Shu had no intention of buying. Not yet, at least.

Cultivators took shifts guarding the perimeter, blades drawn, senses sharp in the cold silence. Lin Shu lay near the edge of the camp, half-hidden in the dark like a stone amidst the underbrush. His breathing slowed as he entered a light meditative state, cycling his energy through his meridians with practiced precision.

His thoughts, however, ran deeper than his breath.

I still need a few more years to reach the high stage of Rank 1. Maybe even five… unless I get my hands on a Crimson Flow Pill.

But not just any kind—he needed a mid-tier one, the kind that could shave years off his cultivation path.

Twenty thousand gold coins, he thought bitterly. That's the price.

He had 45,902 stored in his spatial ring—barely enough for the pill and the first stage of the Thunderforge Physique. The early ingredients were within reach. Common enough, if you knew where to look. But the second stage was a different story altogether.

Controlled by sects, clans, or scattered in dangerous regions. If I rely on the wild to find them, it could take me a long time and I might even die.

But even worse was the danger of possessing such wealth. He knew all too well how the world worked.

"No cultivator at mid-stage Rank 1 is supposed to have twenty thousand gold. The moment I show that kind of coin, they'll suspect I'm backed by someone powerful. And once they realize I'm not... they'll take my wealth, then my life."

His fingers tapped against the fabric of his robes—nervous, calculating.

"I have to move carefully. No mistakes. No arrogance."

He let his thoughts drift to the mines. "If I can steal some Azure Crystals and slip away, that would be ideal... but only if I'm absolutely sure I can escape. I won't risk my life with a Rank 2 cultivator breathing down my neck. I'm not stupid."

He thought back on his weaknesses. Healing? Lacking. Tracking? None. Offense? Too weak. Defense? Slipping—especially against more advanced techniques.

Only two fields gave him an edge: ranged attacks and his movement technique.

But once the Thunderforge Physique was complete...

"Stronger bones, enhanced resilience—even against high-tier techniques. And more than that... I'd gain a built-in battle technique comparable to a peak-tier skill. A true weapon born within my body."

His blood pulsed with longing. "I just have to wait. Be patient. When the time comes, I'll leave everything behind and head for the Lightning Peak Ranges. I'll get the ingredients. I'll complete the physique. Then…"

He heard someone call his name.

It was his turn.

With a silent exhale, Lin Shu rose to his feet and walked toward the outer camp, each step quiet but steady. His heart beat not with fear or hesitation—but with hunger.

Hunger for power. Hunger for the moment his patience would finally be rewarded.