Two weeks had passed since we unearthed the ancient ruin and claimed our spirit weapons. Each of us had become inseparable from the tools that now felt like extensions of ourselves. The ruin wasn’t just a discovery—it was the catalyst for our transformation. Bao’s daggers, Ming Lian’s glaive, Wang Jian’s longsword, and my blade Illusion had redefined how we fought and cultivated.

  The village itself mirrored our progress. Where it once felt like a fragile refuge, it now had the air of a burgeoning stronghold. Freed captives worked tirelessly, fortifying walls, building shelters, and carving out a semblance of normal life. But as I observed it all, a pressing truth hung heavy over us: strength was fleeting without growth, and cultivation demanded resources.

  We needed to grow stronger—individually and as a team. The path forward wasn’t just about survival. It was about thriving.

  Ming Lian had turned one of the larger, intact buildings into his personal alchemy lab. Inside, shelves made from salvaged planks were crammed with jars of herbs, minerals, and Chi-rich plants we had gathered. The air was thick with the scent of crushed petals and burnt resin. Ming Lian moved like a craftsman at work, his glaive leaning against the wall, its energy resonating faintly as he prepared his mixtures.

  When I entered the lab that morning, he was hunched over a bubbling solution, carefully adding ground powder to the liquid. “These herbs we found in the ruin are incredible,” he said without looking up. “They’re spirit-grade. Perfect for refining pills with permanent effects.”

  I leaned against the doorframe, watching him work. “What’s this batch for?”

  “Body-strengthening pills,” he replied. “Not just for endurance, either. These will permanently enhance physical strength.”

  I raised an eyebrow. “And after that?”

  “Mental fortitude pills,” he said, glancing at me briefly. “They’ll bolster clarity and resistance to illusions or mental attacks. Also permanent. Healing pills are simpler—they don’t require this level of precision.”

  His calm tone didn’t mask the pride in his work. “And the others?”

  “Wang Jian’s sparring near the village edge, and Bao’s testing his afterimage techniques. Same as usual. You?”

  “Checking on you,” I said, watching the mixture glow faintly as it bubbled. “We’ll need those pills soon.”

  He smiled faintly. “The first batch will be ready by midday.”

  By the time Ming Lian called us together, the sun was high in the sky. In his hands, he held several small, iridescent pills. Their glow reminded me of the Chi-rich energy we’d felt in the ruin.

  “These will permanently increase your physical strength,” he explained. “The herbs and minerals from the ruin made this possible. I’ve refined them to amplify the body’s ability to absorb Chi.”

  Bao grabbed his pill first, inspecting it with his usual grin. “Finally. I’ve been waiting for something like this.”

  Wang Jian accepted his with a nod, his gaze steady as he examined the glowing orb. “You’ve outdone yourself, Ming Lian.”

  I took mine last, holding it between my fingers as I felt its energy. “How does it work?”

  “Swallow it,” Ming Lian said simply. “The Chi infusion will take time to settle, but the results will be permanent. You’ll feel the effects gradually over the next few days.”

  Bao didn’t wait for further explanation, popping the pill into his mouth. “Here’s to getting stronger,” he said, grinning as he swallowed.

  Wang Jian followed suit, his expression calm but determined. “Let’s see what this can do.”

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  I took my pill, feeling a surge of warmth spread through my core as it dissolved. The sensation was subtle yet powerful, like a steady flame igniting deep within. My body seemed to hum with energy, a quiet promise of strength yet to come.

  That afternoon, the four of us gathered near the forest edge for training. The past two weeks had honed us into a formidable team, each of us finding harmony between weapon and cultivation. But with the pills beginning to take effect, it was time to push our limits further.

  Wang Jian stepped forward first, his longsword gleaming in the sunlight. With a single motion, he activated Sword Echo, sending an arc of Chi slicing through the air. It struck a distant tree with a thunderous crack, splitting it cleanly in two.

  “This weapon is extraordinary,” he said, lowering the blade. “The resonance with my Chi makes every strike feel effortless.”

  “Your aim’s not bad either,” Bao joked, flipping one of his new daggers between his fingers. He activated his afterimage technique, darting forward in a blur of motion. His illusions multiplied, making it nearly impossible to discern the real Bao as he struck at a series of targets we had set up.

  “These daggers are perfect,” Bao said, grinning as his afterimages dissipated. “Sharp, fast, and they make my illusions so much more convincing.”

  Ming Lian stepped into the clearing next, his glaive held steady. With a practiced motion, he spun the weapon in a wide arc, the energy it radiated carving a shallow trench into the ground. “The glaive’s balance is flawless,” he said. “It enhances my control in combat—and in the lab.”

  He paused, his eyes scanning the forest. “There are more herbs out here,” he added. “I’ll need them to refine the next batch of pills.”

  I stepped forward last, drawing Illusion. The shadows trailing its blade multiplied as I activated my own illusions. They moved with a life of their own, weaving around the clearing like specters. As I struck, the phantoms mirrored my movements, each one a deadly echo of my blade.

  “The Path of the Mind grows stronger with every strike,” I said, sheathing the sword. “We’re not just stronger as individuals—we’re stronger as a team.”

  That evening, Ming Lian presented us with the second batch of pills. These were smaller, their translucent surfaces glowing faintly in the dim light of the village square.

  “These will bolster your mental clarity and resistance to illusions,” he explained. “Like the body-strengthening pills, the effects are permanent.”

  Wang Jian accepted his with a nod, his respect for Ming Lian evident in his expression. “You’ve done more for us than I ever expected.”

  Bao held his pill up, squinting at it. “You’re sure this won’t make me think too much? I like my mind the way it is.”

  Ming Lian smirked. “Just take it.”

  I swallowed mine without hesitation, feeling a cool wave of clarity wash over me. It was subtle but immediate, as though a fog I hadn’t noticed had lifted from my mind.

  “These are incredible,” Wang Jian said after taking his. “I feel... sharper.”

  Bao nodded, his usual grin replaced by a look of quiet focus. “Yeah, this is something else.”

  Ming Lian’s pride was evident, though he tried to mask it. “This is only the beginning. With more resources, I can refine even better pills.”

  Over the next few days, the effects of the pills became undeniable. My strikes were faster, more deliberate, and my illusions more intricate. Wang Jian’s strength and precision were unmatched, his Chi slashes cutting through multiple targets with ease. Bao’s agility and afterimage techniques reached new heights, making him a blur of movement in battle. Ming Lian’s control over his glaive—and his ability to refine pills—had reached a level that bordered on mastery.

  But progress wasn’t without its challenges. As our cultivation deepened, the strain on our bodies and minds grew. Each of us faced moments of exhaustion, frustration, and doubt. It was during these times that our bond as a team became our greatest asset. We pushed each other, supported each other, and grew stronger together.

  “We’re not just individuals anymore,” Wang Jian said one evening as we gathered near the fire. “We’re a unit. That’s what sets us apart.”

  Despite our progress, I knew we couldn’t grow complacent. The ruin had given us a taste of what was possible, but it was only a glimpse of the challenges ahead. We needed more resources, more tools, and more knowledge to keep advancing.

  “Mira,” I said one night, as I stood watch near the village perimeter, “what’s next? Where do we go from here?”

  [The ruin was only the beginning,] she replied. [There are other areas of high Chi concentration in this region. Some may hold spirit-grade resources or knowledge that can further your cultivation. However, these places will be far more dangerous than the ruin.]

  I nodded, her words resonating with the truth I already knew. “We’ll need to be ready.”

  [You’re making remarkable progress, Jayson,] she continued. [Your team has grown stronger, but strength is not just about power. It’s about unity. The more you cultivate together, the more you will achieve. Prepare carefully for what lies ahead.]

  Her voice faded, leaving me alone with my thoughts. The forest beyond the village seemed darker than usual, the faint glow of the distant ruin barely visible. The journey ahead would be treacherous, but for the first time, I felt like we were truly prepared to face it.

  This wasn’t just about survival anymore. It was about building something greater.