I sat cross-legged on the floor of my shop, surrounded by a dozen potted plants in varying states of growth. Some were familiar species I’d foraged from the forest, while others were native to my garden, now transformed by the essence infusions I’d been experimenting with.

Not bad, but not nearly enough.

I leaned over the newest batch, inspecting the leaves of a wild ginseng plant I had infused just the day before. Its roots, once spindly and pale, now had a faint glow, and the leaves shimmered with a vitality that hadn’t been there before.

The infusion had taken, but it wasn’t enough. It needed more.

"Resilient plants," I muttered, running my fingers gently along the ginseng’s stalk. “That’s the key.”

Plants like this one, hardy and built to survive in tough conditions, seemed to absorb essence more easily. Not like the delicate wintergreen or frostroot that had withered as soon as I tried to infuse them with anything even slightly misaligned. Ginseng, though—this one had potential. I’d have to infuse it at least one more time to make sure the changes settled in, but it had already made more progress than some of my earlier experiments.

I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck. "Gotta find that balance. Too much essence and they burn out. Too little, and there''s no effect."

I glanced over at the cinnamon tree in the far corner. I’d nearly given up on that one, figuring a plant of that size and strength wouldn’t take to an infusion. But after several attempts, I realized it just needed more infusions of essence. Subtle, gradual infusions had started to alter it, the bark darkening in some places, the leaves becoming more robust, their edges curling slightly as they absorbed the new energy.

The trick wasn’t overwhelming it with essence all at once. I had to be patient, layering the energy in stages, and allowing the tree to adjust before adding more.

"Like growing roots deeper before reaching for the sky," I murmured to myself, feeling a small smile tug at my lips. This was the kind of discovery I lived for.

Tianyi fluttered overhead, her wings shimmering softly in the afternoon light as she circled the shop, keeping a watchful eye on the garden just outside. Windy, meanwhile, slithered lazily along the edge of the potted plants, his blue-tinted scales glinting as he flicked his tongue at each one as if assessing their viability himself.

He gave a slight flick of his tail, barely acknowledging me, his attention focused on whatever invisible threat he thought might be lurking outside.

I turned back to the plants, picking up a small vial of essence from the table beside me. This one was wild sage, carefully extracted and ready for infusion. I uncorked the vial and held it over the ginseng plant, letting a single drop fall onto the soil near its roots. The plant trembled slightly as it absorbed the essence, the glow around it intensifying.

“Slow and steady,” I whispered. “Let it take root.”

I repeated the process, careful not to overwhelm the plant. Patience had always been the hardest part for me, but if I’d learned anything in the past few weeks, it was that rushing wouldn’t get me anywhere.

The cinnamon tree was next. I approached it, admiring the subtle changes that had already begun to take hold. The bark was tougher now, its scent stronger, more fragrant.

I tipped the vial over the base of the tree, watching as the essence soaked into the soil, and took a step back.

Quest: Mastery of Spiritual Plant Cultivation

- Cultivate and grow fifty viable and different plant hybrids. (12/50)

“Thirty-eight to go,” I muttered, but there was no frustration in my voice, only determination. “Piece by piece.”

I stood, stretching my arms over my head as the late afternoon light streamed through the windows. “Well, I think that’s enough for today.”

With the plants infused and the day’s experimentation wrapped up, I turned my attention to the other task at hand—the contract with the Azure Silk Trading Company. My first batch was due today.

Stacks of elixirs sat neatly on my workbench. At first, the contract had seemed like a mountain to climb. I’d promised a larger supply than I probably should have in exchange for a bigger advance, but with the improvements in my techniques, the challenge was easier than I initially thought.

Thanks to the Refinement Simulation technique, I cut off the unnecessary steps. Combined with my Two Star Pagoda Pill Furnace, the work had become almost seamless. What would’ve taken a full month before now took only a fraction of the time.

I began carefully organizing the vials, securing each one with padded cloth and placing them inside small wooden crates. As I stacked the last few, a small crate of essences caught my eye, a gift I’d prepared for the Verdant Lotus sect I''d be sending off alongside this. It was a personal touch, something to show appreciation for the opportunities they had provided me with.

The crate was filled with purified essences: ginseng, wintergreen, cinnamon, and even some Moonlit Grace Lily, a batch that I was particularly proud of. Each one was carefully bottled, glowing faintly with the raw power of the plants they’d been extracted from. It was a simple gesture, but one I hoped would go a long way toward building a stronger relationship with the sect that gave so much without expecting anything in return.

With the last vial stored, I moved everything outside, placing the crates onto the wooden cart that sat just outside my shop. The cart creaked under the weight, but it held steady as I double-checked the straps, making sure nothing would shift during transport.

As I stepped back to inspect my work, my eyes drifted toward the unfinished greenhouse. One side of it was seamlessly joined to the wall of my shop, the wood so expertly fitted together that it looked like one continuous piece, sloping downward. It would allow rainwater to run off easily, something I hadn’t even considered until Li Wei pointed it out in the initial design.

The craftsmanship was impeccable, each beam and joint meticulously designed to serve a purpose.

"That kid’s a genius," I muttered, a smile creeping onto my face as I ran my hand along one of the beams. "I’d be drowning in waterlogged plants if he hadn’t fixed that."

The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

Windy and Tianyi moved cautiously around the perimeter, their attention focused outward, vigilant as ever. I’d noticed how on edge they’d been lately, and while I hadn’t seen anything to warrant concern, I trusted their instincts. Tianyi’s wings shimmered softly in the fading light as she circled above the garden while Windy slithered gracefully between the pots, his bluish-white scales gleaming in the evening sun.

The elixirs were complete, this month''s quota fulfilled, and the greenhouse was on its way to becoming a reality. I’d even made solid progress on my quest, with twelve successful hybrids now under my belt. Things were moving forward, slowly but surely.

"Guard the place well!" I shouted to the two.

After finishing Feng Wu’s letter, I opened the second one, from Zhi Ruo. I hadn''t heard from him since we last saw each other in the Gauntlet. I leaned back in my chair as I began to read, expecting a long debrief.

But as my eyes moved over the words, my mood shifted.

The parchment felt rough under my fingers as I began to read.

Hey Kai,

First off, I hope things are going well back at home. I''ve been busy getting acclimated to my new position here at the Whispering Wind sect. They move quite fast compared to a library, you see. I’ve managed to secure a position as a junior alchemist under Jingyu Lian.

My smile froze.

Jingyu Lian. Her name stirred up something complex within me. I still remember our battle, her techniques so flawless, her composure so unwavering. I’d convinced myself I’d moved past that loss, but clearly, the bitterness hadn’t entirely faded.

“Wonder how that''s like? Working with her...” I muttered under my breath.

I continued reading, bracing myself.

I know what you’re probably thinking right now, but listen: this is an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. She may be ruthless, but she’s got knowledge that runs deep. Being in her shadow is better than being in anyone else’s spotlight, you know what I mean?

He wasn’t wrong. Jingyu Lian was one of the best, and if he could learn from her, it would only strengthen his skills.

“Well, good for you, Zhi,” I muttered, though my tone lacked conviction.

That being said, something’s going on over here that doesn’t sit right with me. You probably haven’t heard yet, but there’s been some serious turmoil regarding the Iron Claw Sect. They’ve either gone completely silent or... something worse. No one’s heard from them in weeks. They''re a minor sect about a few hours northwest of Qingmu, if you didn''t know.

I paused, the weight of his words settling in. Shan Huai. Wasn''t he part of the Iron Claw Sect? That wasn’t normal, especially for a sect that had vying for control of Qingmu. What could have happened?

I leaned forward, reading on, my grip tightening on the parchment.

The rumor is that the Silent Moon Sect might be involved. Nothing’s confirmed, but let’s be real—those rumors didn’t come out of nowhere. People are scared, Kai. Sect politics have always been messy, but this? This feels different. There’s talk of retaliation, of sects mobilizing.

The Silent Moon Sect. Of course, they’d be tied to something like this. I’d been suspicious of them from the start, but if they were responsible for an entire sect’s disappearance... this could be bad. Very bad.

I’m telling you this because you need to be careful. You’re out there in that village, building your reputation and all, but if things escalate, places like Gentle Wind won’t be overlooked. You and I both know how quickly sects move when they feel threatened.

I ran a hand through my hair, trying to process it all. He was right. If the Silent Moon Sect was really behind the Iron Claw Sect’s disappearance, and if the rumors of retaliation were true, things could spiral out of control. And fast.

I could already see the pieces falling into place. Gentle Wind Village might be small, but it wasn’t insignificant. With the Azure Silk Trading Company investing in the area, the attention I was bringing to the village with my alchemical work, and the growing tensions between the sects... it wouldn’t take much for us to get caught in the crossfire.

Anyway, keep your head down for now, and don’t do anything too flashy. I know that’s hard for you, but try. Next time we meet, remind me to show you a new elixir I’ve been working on. It’s not bad, if I do say so myself.

Stay safe, Kai.

—Zhi Ruo

I sat back, the letter resting on my lap as I let out a long breath.

“Don’t do anything too flashy, huh?” I muttered, shaking my head. Easier said than done.

Tianyi fluttered over, landing lightly on my shoulder. Her presence was a comfort, but I could feel the tension radiating from her as well. She must''ve sensed my unease.

''What''s wrong?''

“Nothing, just stupid politicking,” I said quietly, more to myself than to her. I folded the letter and set it aside, staring at it for a long moment. "Don''t worry about it."

I stood up, looking at my array of ingredients with a critical eye.

Everything had been progressing well, slowly, carefully—just the way I liked it. Plants needed time to adjust, to take root before reaching for the sky. I had to be patient, layering essence in small doses to let them thrive.

But this world I was in? It didn’t seem to share my fondness for patience.

“Slow and steady,” I muttered, echoing my own words from earlier. But as much as I wanted to stick to that, I had a sinking feeling that slow and steady wasn’t going to be enough this time. Not with sects disappearing and power plays being made in the shadows.

It looked like I’d have to speed things up after all.