Floki stood in his new private room, the space far better than the crowded outer disciple barracks.
The small room had a polished wooden floor, a simple but comfortable bed, and a wardrobe filled with fresh new training robes, colored black and trimmed in red.
On a desk in the corner were tools for cultivation practice, neatly arranged beside several glowing resources.
Floki smirked as he touched the soft bedding, far better than the rough straw sacks he had before.
"This is more like it," Floki muttered, dropping his staff lightly against the wall.
The resources on the desk caught his attention immediately.
Two medium-tier and one high-tier spirit essences glowed faintly in small containers.
Five blades of purple spirit grass rested on a silk cloth, their energy soft but steady.
Three white spirit lotuses sat nearby, their petals radiating a calm light.
A single golden mushroom lay in a box, its surface shimmering faintly like polished gold.
The system pulsed softly, offering details about the items.
[Cultivation Resources Detected:] - Medium-Tier Spirit Essences: Replenish Spiritual Well Efficiently. - Purple Spirit Grass: Increases Spirit Well Capacity by 10%. - White Spirit Lotus: Enhances Mental Fortitude. - Golden Mushroom: Improves Physical Strength.]
Floki sat cross-legged on the bed, reaching for the first spirit essence with a satisfied grin.
As the liquid energy flowed into him, his spiritual well grew steadier and brighter.
"This is what I've been waiting for," Floki said, feeling the energy settle into his core.
[Spirit Well Capacity Increased: Current Level: 75% of Disciple Standard.]
He worked through the resources methodically, consuming the purple spirit grass and white spirit lotus next.
The spirit grass brought a cool, tingling sensation, while the lotus petals calmed his restless thoughts.
By the time he finished the golden mushroom, his muscles felt stronger, his body sharper and ready for more.
The system pulsed again, confirming his progress.
[Spiritual Well Capacity: 85% Standard. Mental Fortitude Enhanced. Physical Strengthening Progress: Moderate.]
Floki leaned back, letting the changes settle into his body.
Despite his progress, his thoughts kept returning to the rankings of the Inner Core Disciples.
He was now the 10th-ranked disciple, the lowest of the inner ranks, and had much to prove.
Kaida, the 9th disciple, had already made it clear she was watching him closely.
Above Kaida were eight more powerful disciples, each with their own skill and reputation.
The top-ranked disciple, Chang, held authority over all training sessions and inner disciple affairs.
Floki thought about each rank, his mind already planning how to climb higher, as he didn't want to be stuck training the outer core disciples, as that was the 10th's job.
"One step at a time," Floki muttered, his grin sharp as ever.
The next morning, Floki joined the inner disciples in the training grounds.
The air felt tense, each disciple standing in their rank's assigned spot.
Chang, the #1 disciple, stood at the front of the group, his expression calm but commanding.
Kaida, the 9th disciple, stood near the back, her sharp eyes glancing briefly at Floki before focusing ahead.
The ranks between them—2nd through 8th—stood in order, each holding themselves with practiced discipline.
Chang stepped forward, his presence filling the space as he began the lesson.
"Today we focus on energy manipulation," Chang said, his voice steady and clear.
He demonstrated the Shadow Thread Binding technique, creating thin strands of energy that twisted and tightened into a glowing net.
Floki's eyes followed the movements closely, his system offering constant insights.
[Technique: Shadow Thread Binding. Creates temporary restraints using focused shadow energy.]
"The key to this technique is focus," Chang continued, his tone calm but firm. "If your energy wavers, the threads will collapse."
One of the disciples raised their hand. "How do we maintain the thread's tension for longer periods?"
Chang nodded approvingly. "Good question. The trick is to cycle your energy flow through your outer meridians. This distributes the strain evenly."
Floki mimicked the technique subtly, feeling the threads of shadow energy form in his hands.
The threads flickered at first, but stabilized as Floki adjusted his energy flow.
Chang's gaze lingered on him briefly, but he said nothing, moving on to guide the others.
The disciples sparred in pairs, their strikes swift and controlled.
Floki's turn came, and he faced Kaida, the 9th inner disciple.
Kaida moved first, her strikes sharp and calculated as her shadow blade flickered in the dim light.
As she attacked, Kaida felt a growing interest in Floki. His calm demeanor and precise counters stood out, stirring something she hadn't felt in a long time.
Floki dodged smoothly, his staff deflecting the attacks with calm precision.
"Not bad," Floki said, his grin sharp, "but I expected more from the 9th rank."
Kaida's strikes became faster, her energy focused, but Floki countered each move with ease.
With a quick flick of his staff, Floki redirected her blade, leaving her momentarily off balance.
Kaida recovered quickly, her eyes narrowing as she adjusted her stance, but something in her gaze softened for a moment. She liked strong opponents, and Floki had proven he wasn't like the others.
"Your balance is off," Floki said, his tone mocking as his staff tapped her blade lightly.
Kaida's eyes narrowed further. "You talk too much."
Floki laughed. "It's part of the strategy."
The spar ended with a final strike from Floki's staff, tapping Kaida's blade lightly to signal his control of the match.
Kaida stepped back, her breathing steady, but there was a faint smile on her lips as she looked at Floki.
"You're better than I expected," she said, her tone quieter than before.
The other disciples watched quietly, their expressions curious and wary.
Chang stepped forward, nodding once to end the session.
"You all need to refine your focus," Chang said, his tone leaving no room for argument. "And remember, distraction is often your greatest enemy."
Floki's grin didn't fade as he left the training grounds, his thoughts already moving to his next goal.
That evening, Floki sat cross-legged in his room, the system pulsing faintly in his vision.
[New Mission: Advance in Inner Disciple Rankings. Current Rank: 10th.]
The message was simple, but Floki understood its importance.
Climbing the ranks would take skill, strategy, and patience.
Kaida's sharp eyes and the looming presence of Chang reminded him that the higher ranks were watching closely.
Floki's grin widened as he leaned back against the wall, his staff resting beside him.
"Let them watch," he muttered, his tone sharp and confident.
The path ahead was long, but Floki was ready for every challenge the Shadow Clan had to offer.