"He died?" Raoni’s eyes went wide, shocked and scared. "But he was perfectly fine yesterday! How did this happen?!"
"I don’t know the exact details, but it seems there was a problem with his cultivation last night. I’m not qualified to know more, but the High Elder wants to see you immediately. Come on, quick."
Without wasting any time, Cinoi led Raoni to a secluded area at the back of the sect, known as the Divine Ancestral Tomb. Only the highest experts of the sect had their ashes buried there.
When they arrived, two guards blocked their way. "Entry is prohibited!"
"This is Raoni, the last apprentice of the vice-leader. He should be allowed to say goodbye to his master," Cinoi explained respectfully.
One of the guards went into the tomb and, upon returning, shook his head. "You’re too late. The vice-leader’s ashes have already been buried... everything was done in haste for some hidden reason. The sect leader ordered you to leave."
With no choice, Cinoi and Raoni turned away. Alm and Bruno were internally calm; they were obviously the ones responsible for that bastard’s death. A little gift had been hidden in the pill they created.
With him dead, he would be more valuable than alive. The two were short on time, so they had to stir things up; having a master breathing down their necks wasn’t good. Even Bruno wanted to kill him; his karma level was surprising, and the world wouldn’t miss him.
A few hours later, Zemuo showed up in person to see Raoni.
"Don’t be distressed, Raoni," Zemuo began seriously. "Despite the vice-leader’s death, you still have his support. I’m here to tell you some important things. First, your shy nature needs to change, or you won’t last long." He said in a stern tone.
"But…" Raoni tried to argue, but his eyes clearly betrayed his reluctance. Zemuo, however, cut him off coldly:
"No ’buts.’ With the vice-leader’s death, our faction has lost its greatest defender. Soon, someone will be promoted to replace him, and under the circumstances, the only two qualified people are from the conservative faction. If that happens, our position will become even more fragile. In the sect, nobody cares about personal disputes, only results. If you keep being weak, let me warn you: they will find a way to kick you out, using the sect’s iron rules. And no one will be able to save you."
"So you’re saying that if someone tries to intimidate me, I should fight back?" Raoni asked hesitantly.
"It’s not just about fighting back. You need to be bold, arrogant, and completely unrestrained. You understand what I mean? With your status as the last apprentice of the vice-leader, you have the right to be arrogant," Zemuo asserted without hesitation.
"But... I was his apprentice for only a few hours..." Raoni murmured, lacking confidence.
"Nobody needs to know that," Zemuo replied with a deep look. "You were the only one and still were his final apprentice before his death. In fact, you are the apprentice he cared about the most before he died, got it?"
Raoni understood immediately. With the death of his master, he could shape the narrative however he wanted. The dead don’t talk, and that would be his most powerful shield.
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"Remember: only those who prove their worth can gain more resources. And right now, we’re short on talent. This is your opportunity. If you know how to seize it, you will rise quickly. If not, your life will be miserable. Think carefully about this. If you need anything, talk to Cinoi." With those words, Zemuo hurried away, clearly affected by the vice-leader’s death.
Cinoi approached, placing her hand on Raoni’s shoulder. "Raoni, this is a rare opportunity. It’s time for you to show your skills. But let me warn you: the Heroic Pill Hall is a battlefield much more complex than it seems. The power of the conservative faction now far exceeds ours. Now, within the sect, if you want the right to speak, you need to bring your power to the forefront. Even the disciples of the Heroic Pill Hall have the right to vote on the sect’s decisions. Although this vote isn’t that significant and can be overridden, it still holds power."
He paused before continuing: "The High Elder’s words are true. You not only need to fight back; you must be ruthless. If you try to take down each enemy individually, you’ll end up wasting your energy. You need to be imposing and terrifying, create a reputation that makes everyone think twice before messing with you."
Raoni’s expression was tense, but internally, Alm and Bruno were beaming. Having a free pass to cause chaos was a dream scenario.
’That’s our specialty!’ Bruno murmured mentally. ’Let’s stir up such an intense cataclysm that even the gods will be left dumbfounded!’
Cinoi, oblivious to Alm and Bruno’s thoughts, continued:
"Also, the High Elder wants you to be bold not only to establish your authority but also to impress the neutrals, hoping to gain some of their votes. Although they don’t easily join a faction, their influence can be decisive. This is crucial. Do you understand?"
Cinoi explained everything clearly. If Raoni still didn’t get it, he’d be a fool. Even so, he nervously replied, "But I really am not good at this. After all, I’ve always been a peaceful person. My mom taught me to avoid conflicts..."
"Who the hell cares!?" Cinoi exploded, furious. "What matters is knowing how to let loose! Let all the resentment you’ve been holding in come pouring out. If someone insults you, just walk up to them and slap them in the face without a second thought. Do whatever you want, just don’t kill them. Oh, and how’s your fighting skills?"
"Fighting techniques? I’m not good at that either," Raoni replied, feeling down.
Cinoi sighed heavily. "Shit... that’s alright. Alchemists aren’t meant to fight, so it makes sense. I’ll find you some fighting techniques to train with."
"Got it. I’ll do my best. I won’t let down the High Elder’s sincere expectations or yours," Raoni said, gritting his teeth in determination.
"With your ability to learn, you’ll do just fine with a bit of practice. Just remember one thing: be bold and be ruthless. The Phoenix Cry Sect has enough healing pills to take care of even the worst injuries, so don’t hesitate to hurt them. Everything gets sorted with time and medicine," Cinoi said seriously.
The entry of new disciples into the Heroic Pill Hall was postponed due to the recent events. But the next day, after everything was organized, a disciple led Raoni to the back of the sect.
The Phoenix Cry Sect was located on a planet covered by vast oceans, with only two continents; one of them hidden from the senses and sight of anyone outside.
A long river separated the two continents, and to reach his destination, Raoni crossed a bridge. At the end, an imposing gate surrounded by a spatial formation appeared. Above it, golden letters shone: Heroic Pill Hall.
As he crossed the gate, a gentle breeze filled with fragrances wrapped around him, and the sound of singing birds filled the air. Lush mountains adorned the landscape, interspersed with crystal-clear streams, ancient trees, and thick vines, as if he had stepped into a celestial garden.
Right at the entrance, two guards checked his badge before allowing him to proceed. Alm and Bruno had imagined the Heroic Pill Hall would be a huge classroom, packed with disciples absorbed in books and pill furnaces, with strict teachers watching every move.
But what they found was something completely different: a sacred sanctuary, contrasting with the frantic pace of alchemy outside. The soft green grass, like a carpet, stretched beneath their feet, and the pure, fresh air seemed to cleanse the heart and soul of anyone who breathed it in.
Until...
"Hey, newbie!" A voice echoed from a group of young alchemists, causing Raoni to turn.
For a moment, a cheerful... and incredibly sinister smile spread across Raoni’s face. Those alchemists froze in place, a chill running down their spines.
But before anything else could happen, a distant voice called out: "Hmm? Young man, let me give you some valuable advice..."
Raoni turned towards the voice. It was an elder, who seemed to be overseeing the group from his faction.
"Fuck off." Raoni’s words came out calm, but with a sharp coldness. The elder felt a shiver run down his spine; something was clearly off...