Nightfall swept across the Crimson Sect valley as the returning expedition crossed the sandstone arch of the outer gate.
Jin Zhen stood tall at the front, the sand-dusted robes around him fluttering in the wind. His crimson eyes gleamed faintly under the moonlight, still reflecting flickers of temporal fire from the Mirage Vault.
Behind him, the elite disciples murmured in awe. News of the vault conquest had spread like wildfire. The Flame Lotus Seed nestled in Jin Zhen's storage ring pulsed with quiet power.
---
[System Notification]
[SP Available: 3]
[Suggested Usage: Cultivation Speed Enhancement, Bloodline Resonance, or Skill Enhancement]
Jin Zhen smirked. "Let's feed the flames."
He opened the system panel.
[You have chosen to spend 2 SP]
[Skill Enhanced: Sandfire Spear Manifestation → Sandfire Spear – Level 2]
[Effect: Increased Range. Now leaves a burning trail. Ignores low-level fire resistance.]
[Remaining SP: 1]
Jin Zhen glanced at his status.
---
[Status Panel – Jin Zhen]
Cultivation: Core Formation (Mid)
Talent Grade: Crimson Starfire – Divine Grade
Body Constitution: Infernal Ember Physique (Advanced Tier)
Wealth: 39,500 Spirit Stones | 6 Flame Lotus Seeds | 1 Mirage Core
Reputation: Revered Leader – Local Tier
---
The next morning, Jin Zhen gathered the elders and inner court disciples for a meeting. A large spirit herb map was unrolled across the table.
"The soil in the valley is rich," he began. "We will establish an agriculture division—not for survival, but dominance."
"You want to grow spirit herbs?" Lan Yuer raised a brow.
"More than that," Jin Zhen replied. "We'll refine alchemical ingredients, breed flame-resistant crops, and trade rare seeds. This will be a legacy economy."
Fang Mu grinned. "Finally, a sect that grows wealth instead of corpses."
---
In the coming days, Jin Zhen led by example. He used flame-infused tilling formations to cultivate Fire Root Grass. He taught disciples to plant Flame Lotus sprouts using purified ash and ember pearls. With guidance from the system, his yield doubled by the hour.
He also commissioned artisan workshops to build alchemy labs, enchantment greenhouses, and irrigation channels fed by spirit wells.
[System Perk Activated: Agriculture Mastery – Rank 1]
[Increased efficiency of all spirit plant cultivation by 12%]
Within a week, the sect's valley had transformed. Scarlet vines climbed enchanted trellises. Golden-leaf herbs bloomed under moonlight. Disciples sang while tending to crops.
Even Lan Yuer found herself smiling. "This doesn't feel like an evil sect."
Jin Zhen laughed. "It will once we start overpricing our herbs."
---
But peace was a fragile illusion.
That night, as Jin Zhen meditated in the Flame Lotus Courtyard, a whisper touched the edge of his mind.
"...master..."
He opened his eyes. The air was still, yet something watched him.
[System Alert: Mirage Sovereign's Imprint Awakening – 3%]
[Unknown intelligence attempting to interface with host consciousness. Suppression in progress.]
"What… are you?" Jin Zhen whispered.
No answer came. But the flame in his core flickered—not with fear, but challenge.
He stood and walked to the edge of the courtyard, overlooking his glowing sect.
"We've only just begun."