Three weeks had passed since Li Wei's first real confrontation with Chen Feng's lackeys, and the courtyard had become a far darker place since then. In that time, Li Wei had broken through not one but two stages, now standing at Qi Refinement Stage 8. His power had grown exponentially, and so had the number of minions under his control.
Chen Feng's growing paranoia had led to more confrontations, and each one had ended in the same way: bodies left at Li Wei's feet, consumed by Azrael's necromantic arts. Five new souls had been bound to him—two disciples at Qi Refinement Stage 7, and three at Stage 6. They stood like silent sentinels around the courtyard, their once-vibrant faces now blank, eyes dull as they awaited their master's command.
These minions were useful, but they lacked something that Azrael had always valued in his own creations during his ancient reign: true autonomy, the ability to evolve on their own. The undead under Li Wei's control moved when commanded, attacked with precision, and defended without hesitation, but they were ultimately limited—merely puppets bound by the power of Azrael's necromancy. They couldn't think, plan, or grow without guidance.
Azrael's thoughts lingered on the subject of his minions as he observed them, standing in rigid formation under the dim moonlight.
"In my time, the undead were not simply tools—they were a force capable of growing in power, of mastering the dark arts as well as any living being," Azrael mused. "Back then, I used alchemy, rare materials, and complex arcane rituals to enhance their strength. With the right components, I could give them life beyond mere animation—intelligence, autonomy, the ability to cultivate and evolve like living beings."
His thoughts turned to the resources of this world—the qi system, cultivation techniques, and the spiritual energy that flooded the environment. This world had power that Azrael had never encountered before in his ancient realm, and now he had the opportunity to experiment, to see if his old ways could fuse with the power of this new world.
"If I could blend the necromantic arts of my past with this world's cultivation techniques, these minions could become more than simple puppets. They could truly serve us—grow with us."
Azrael's curiosity had been piqued, and he was never one to resist the pull of experimentation. His gaze landed on one of the Qi Refinement Stage 7 disciples standing before him—still and silent, his face devoid of emotion, his soul bound within him like a tethered animal.
"Let us see what potential lies within," Azrael thought.
The tendril of qi latched onto the minion's soul, and with a slow, deliberate motion, Azrael began to separate a portion of the soul that had been consumed by the necromantic binding. It was a delicate process, one that required fine control, but Azrael's mastery over such arts was unmatched. He had done this countless times in the past, but never with a creature in this world, never with a soul bound by the rules of cultivation.
As Azrael worked, Li Wei felt a strange pull within himself—a draining sensation, subtle but noticeable. The energy he had gained from consuming the minion's soul began to dissipate, his cultivation strength dipping slightly. His control over the Qi Refinement Stage 8 realm weakened, his power now teetering on the edge as if he had just entered it, rather than fully mastering it. The more of the minion's soul that was restored, the more power Li Wei lost, until it felt as though he had only just broken through to the eighth stage.
Azrael noticed the shift immediately, his ancient voice resonating with understanding. "Ah, so that is the price. By returning the soul to its former state, thou art relinquishing the power thou hast drawn from it."
Slowly, the disciple's dull eyes began to change. A flicker of consciousness stirred within them, the first signs of awakening. As Azrael returned more of the soul's essence to the body, the disciple's breathing became less mechanical, more natural. His fingers twitched, and his body seemed to relax slightly from its rigid stance. The cultivation aura around him weakened, settling to the lower levels of Qi Refinement Stage 7, reflecting the soul's partial restoration.
With a deep breath, the undead disciple blinked, his eyes clearing of their deadened haze. He looked around the courtyard in confusion, his gaze finally settling on Li Wei. For a brief moment, there was silence.
Suddenly, the disciple dropped to his knees, his face etched with an expression of pure horror and regret. "Master Li Wei! Forgive me!" he cried, his voice hoarse but filled with emotion. "I— I did not know your greatness! To have dared offend someone of your power… to have raised a hand against such a divine being… I was blind! Please, punish me as you see fit, but know that I am eternally loyal to you now! My life, my soul—it is all yours!"
Azrael remained calm, his voice steady as he analyzed the situation. "Thou hast seen the two paths laid before thee, Li Wei. When a soul is fully bound, it provides thee with power—raw strength thou canst wield as thy own, bolstering thy cultivation. But when the soul is returned, even partially, the power drawn from it is lost, and the minion gains its intelligence back. A loyal servant, yes, but at the cost of thy own strength."
Li Wei processed this new revelation, his mind racing. "So, I can either drain their soul and gain power, or return it and create intelligent minions?"
"Indeed," Azrael replied, a note of satisfaction in his tone. "Therein lies thy choice. Thou may create hollow husks, mindless but potent sources of strength that bolster thy cultivation, or restore their intelligence, allowing them to act as autonomous agents—loyal, and with the ability to grow. One gives thee immediate power, the other grants a resource that may evolve over time."
Li Wei looked down at the disciple still groveling before him. The undead's qi aura was weaker than before, but he had retained his cultivation, his ability to grow stronger. But the cost was clear: Li Wei's own cultivation had suffered, the energy drawn from the disciple now flowing back to its original owner.
"Master, I will serve you in any capacity you desire," the disciple said, his voice trembling. "Please, allow me to prove my loyalty, to grow stronger in your name!"
Azrael's voice hummed in the back of Li Wei's mind. "This is the trade-off, Li Wei. With intelligent minions, thou shalt gain capable servants, able to act without thy constant supervision. But if it is raw power you seek, then turning them into husks is the better path.
Li Wei considered this deeply. The power of controlling intelligent undead was undeniable—minions who could think, strategize, and act on their own would be invaluable. But each one would come at the cost of his own cultivation progress. On the other hand, hollow husks provided immediate gains in power, pushing his cultivation to new heights rapidly, but they would remain limited in their usefulness beyond that.
"It will depend on the situation," Li Wei thought aloud. "Some will need to be mindless tools for strength. Others, like him,"—he gestured to the disciple still kneeling—"can be used for more complex tasks, for growing our influence."
Azrael nodded internally. "Thou learnest quickly. you are beginning to see the grander picture. In time, thou shalt have an army of the dead—both mindless warriors and intelligent commanders—at thy disposal. But first, let us continue this experiment. Test if this one can truly cultivate and grow."
Li Wei ordered the newly awakened disciple to rise and begin cultivating once more. As the disciple settled into a meditative posture, his body hummed with faint energy, his connection to the world around him slowly reforming. He began to draw qi into himself, and though the process was slower than before, there was no doubt—he could still cultivate.
The disciple's breathing deepened, and after a few minutes, a faint aura surrounded him once more, indicating that he had begun to regain his strength, slowly pushing himself back toward the peak of Qi Refinement Stage 7.
Azrael's approval was palpable. "As I suspected. The souls of this world retain their cultivation potential, even in undeath. This one will grow stronger over time, and with it, so too will thy influence."
Azrael's voice echoed within Li Wei's mind, calm but authoritative, as the minion's cultivation continued to rise in strength. "We have learned much from this experiment, but it is time to consolidate our power. Organize what we have built and prepare for what is to come. Thou hast hesitated long enough, Li Wei."
Li Wei stood silently, feeling the weight of Azrael's words. Azrael had done most of the heavy lifting—building their strength, creating their undead forces, and eliminating threats. Li Wei's own hesitation had nearly cost them on more than one occasion. But now, with his power at Qi Refinement Stage 8 and the growing undead force at his command, the time had come to put them to use.
Azrael's focus sharpened. "Summon the others."
Li Wei raised his hand, sending out a pulse of qi. In moments, his undead servants—Meng Zhi and the remaining disciples—appeared, assembling before him. Their eyes were dull, their postures rigid, as they stood in silent rows awaiting orders.
Azrael's gaze lingered on Meng Zhi. "This one has served faithfully since his reanimation, yet his past insolence remains. The punishment for opposing me shall be eternal enslavement, but now, it is time he regains a portion of his mind."
With a flick of qi, Azrael latched onto Meng Zhi's soul, slowly separating the necromantic binds that suppressed his intelligence, just as he had done with the earlier experiment. The tendrils of qi worked with delicate precision, carefully releasing portions of Meng Zhi's soul back to him.
As the process completed, Meng Zhi's dull eyes began to clear. His breathing became more natural, and his rigid stance relaxed slightly. Slowly, awareness returned to him, and with it, the realization of what he had become.
Meng Zhi immediately dropped to his knees, his voice trembling with terror. "Master! Please, forgive me! I— I dared to go against you! My punishment—eternal service—I accept it! I am yours, forever loyal!"
Azrael's voice hummed with satisfaction. "Thy punishment was decided long ago, Meng Zhi. Thou shalt serve us, and only us, for the rest of thy existence. But take comfort in this—thy mind is returned, and with it, a semblance of purpose."
Li Wei remained silent, letting Azrael guide the situation. Meng Zhi's fate was sealed, but his usefulness had only grown. Now, with his intelligence restored, he could be more than just a mindless tool.
Azrael addressed Meng Zhi, his tone commanding but calm. "Thou art no longer simply a puppet. Use this awareness to carry out my will. Thou shalt act as my personal shadow, handling the more complex tasks assigned to thee."
Meng Zhi bowed deeply. "Yes, Master. I will serve you with all that I am."
Azrael turned his attention to the rest of the undead, analyzing the six remaining disciples—now nothing more than hollow husks bound by his power. Unlike Meng Zhi or Shadow One, they would not regain intelligence. They were useful as brute force, nothing more.
"Thou hast a choice with each minion, Li Wei," Azrael remarked thoughtfully. "Return their soul and grant them awareness, or leave them as hollow tools. There is strength in both paths. The mindless are easier to control, but lack the ability to act beyond thy direct command. Shadow One and Meng Zhi, on the other hand, are capable of greater tasks."
Li Wei nodded, acknowledging the distinction. The intelligent undead could serve more complex purposes, but mindless soldiers still had their place. There was no need to restore intelligence to all of them. Some were better left as silent sentinels, to be used as weapons when needed.
Azrael stepped further into his plans. "Shadow One," he called, turning toward the Qi Refinement Stage 7 disciple whose intelligence had been restored. "From this moment, thou art tasked with leading these undead. This shall be Squad One, under thy command. Use them as necessary, but ensure they remain obedient."
Shadow One bowed, his voice filled with reverence. "Thank you, Master. I will guide them as you have commanded."
Satisfied with this arrangement, Azrael continued. "Meng Zhi, thou art my personal enforcer. While Shadow One leads the others, thou shalt carry out my direct will. Thou will answer only to me and Li Wei."
Meng Zhi knelt, his face still filled with reverence and fear. "I understand, Master. I live only to serve you."
With the minions organized, Azrael's thoughts turned to the larger goal. He was pleased with the strength they had amassed, but they needed to consolidate it further, to ensure that their power remained hidden from the rest of the sect for now. There was no need for the Shadow Moon Sect to know what was truly happening in this courtyard. They believed the Shadow Veil Mantra had simply reached its full potential in Li Wei's hands—nothing more.
"This shall be known as the Undead Pavilion," Azrael declared, his voice echoing with authority. "A force hidden within the sect, unseen by those who believe they control the shadows. We shall grow silently, and when the time is right, none shall oppose us."
Li Wei remained silent, processing the magnitude of what they were creating. He was no longer just a struggling disciple on the fringes of the sect—he was now at the center of a rising force. The Undead Pavilion would become a silent but deadly power within the Shadow Moon Sect, one that would shift the balance when the time came.