Two days passed.
Adrian returned to the Crimson Vital Sect alongside Hestia and Marivelle after concluding the negotiations with the Thousand Veils Sect. The journey back had been peaceful, the starship traveling steadily through the regulated spatial lanes of the Andromeda traffic network before finally entering the sect's territory.
He finally found himself inside his own suite once again. The familiar surroundings brought a measure of relief after the tension of the trial with Nightshade. Sitting comfortably on the sofa, he activated his UNI-OS token and brought up the UNI-Market Index interface. A holographic display expanded before him, presenting the latest valuation of the Crimson Vital Sect.
Within just two days, the Crimson Vital Sect's market index had already begun to climb, and it now stood firmly at seventy points. The increase had been triggered by a public forum post released by the sect itself. In that announcement, the Crimson Vital Sect revealed the existence of Adrian, declaring publicly that the sect possessed another Peak Rule Stage cultivator within its ranks.
At first, many readers across the Andromeda Galaxy had treated the announcement with skepticism. Announcements like that were not uncommon, and lesser minor sects sometimes exaggerated their strength in an attempt to manipulate public perception and attract disciples and investors. However, everything changed the moment the leader of the Thousand Veils Sect replied publicly to the forum post. Nightshade himself confirmed that he had personally tested Adrian's strength and verified that he truly was a Peak Rule Stage cultivator.
Once that confirmation appeared, the doubts vanished almost instantly. The moment the galaxy accepted the information as true, the Crimson Vital Sect's market index surged upward and stabilized around seventy points. Occasionally the number fluctuated between seventy and seventy-one, reflecting the natural adjustments of the market evaluation system.
The rise had not stopped entirely, but Adrian's individual presence did not yet carry overwhelming influence within the Andromeda Galaxy. The market index also evaluated numerous other factors such as disciple population, long-term trade stability, resource liquidity, and infrastructure scale, etc.
Even so, the momentum had already begun.
Following the announcement, many new cultivators had already begun arriving to participate in the sect's entrance examinations. The Crimson Vital Sect was also preparing to release its high-tier healing pills into the market. Once those pills officially reached the galaxy's trade networks, and when combined with the fact that the sect now possessed two Peak Rule Stage cultivators, the index value would likely reach eighty points in an extremely short period of time.
Everything was progressing exactly as Hestia had planned.
A sect could not simply declare itself powerful and expect the galaxy to accept the claim. Market trust accumulated slowly over time. Yet the Crimson Vital Sect had revealed several decisive advantages simultaneously: the recovery of its Sect Leader, the addition of a second Peak Rule Stage being, and the production of resources that were otherwise unavailable within the galaxy.
Under such circumstances, accelerated growth was inevitable.
Adrian dismissed the hologram with a flick of his hand. He had fulfilled the task Hestia requested of him. The sect's growth was now underway. With that responsibility completed, his attention returned to his own priorities. Specifically, the willforce recovery spell he had created.
Until now, he had not been able to devise a truly satisfying method to monetize it. The only workable idea he had considered was converting the spell into a portable formation. Such a formation could be deployed at headquarters or temporary operational bases such as relic exploration sites. Once activated, the formation could continuously generate the same passive recovery effect that Adrian's spell produced.
However, the limitation of that approach bothered him. A portable formation required deployment. It could not be used instantly during unexpected situations, and once the passive effect expired, cultivators would have to return to the formation or redeploy it again to regain the benefit. While the system would still be useful in controlled environments like sect headquarters or long-term bases, it lacked the efficiency and flexibility Adrian wanted. For someone with his mindset, the method felt inelegant.
He leaned back slightly, continuing to think. Just as his thoughts circled the problem again, spatial distortion flickered inside the room.
Aerin blinked directly into existence in the middle of the suite and immediately launched herself toward Adrian like a small comet. She collided into him with the enthusiastic force of a tiny meteor.
Adrian reacted instinctively. One arm rose smoothly, catching her in midair before she could tumble across the sofa. She landed squarely against his chest, gripping the front of his robe as if she had intended the landing perfectly all along.
"Aerin," Adrian said calmly, though a faint trace of amusement entered his voice. "You should learn to use doors."
She puffed out her cheeks slightly and crossed her arms with exaggerated dignity, shifting in his lap to face him properly.
"I blinked perfectly," she declared proudly. "You just didn't expect it."
Adrian raised an eyebrow but chose not to comment further.
The child leaned back slightly in his arms, a smug grin spreading across her face.
"And also…" she said triumphantly, "I already comprehended Vitality."
She extended her hand proudly, releasing a faint domain formed from the Vitality concept.
Adrian observed it briefly, "Advanced Galactic level."
She nodded vigorously, repeating the words slowly as if announcing a great achievement to the universe itself. "Advanced. Galactic. Level."
For a moment, Adrian simply looked at her. The child's talent was undeniable. She had formed her essence seed only days ago, yet she had already reached a comprehension level that typically required decades of dedicated study. Most cultivators needed centuries to advance from Basic to Advanced Galactic understanding of any concept.
Then a faint smile appeared, "That is very fast."
Aerin beamed at the praise, her earlier smugness transforming into genuine joy. She dismissed her domain.
Adrian gently placed her back onto the sofa beside him, "You should still be careful not to disturb others while they are cultivating," he said calmly. "Everyone is focused right now."
Aerin waved dismissively, "I know, Uncle. I only came out to get candies, and then I'm going back."
She leaned closer toward him conspiratorially, lowering her voice as if sharing a great secret despite being the only two people in the room. "I made a bet."
Adrian blinked once. "A bet?"
"Yes!" She straightened, pride radiating from her small frame. "With Uncle Draven and Max."
She jabbed a finger at herself, tapping her chest emphatically. "Whoever reaches Rule Stage first wins."
Adrian looked at her silently for a moment, processing the statement. A faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth before spreading wider. He could not tell whether Aerin had suddenly begun cultivating seriously because she was maturing… or because she wanted to win a bet. Most likely, it was both, blended together into a strange mixture of motivation.
He opened his mouth to respond—
The door chimed.
Aerin's expression immediately shifted to a pout, her lips pressing together as she glared toward the entrance.
"Enter," Adrian called.
The door to the suite slid open with a quiet hiss. Lysandra stepped inside. She wore the crimson robes provided by the sect.
"Hey."
Adrian turned toward her fully, "Lysandra?"
They exchanged brief smiles. Lysandra's gaze flicked momentarily to Aerin, who still sat on the sofa with her arms crossed, then returned to Adrian.
"I came to inform you of something," she said.
Adrian gestured for her to continue.
Lysandra's expression remained composed, though satisfaction colored her tone. "I have already comprehended all four arcane concepts required for Crimson Vital Dominion."
Adrian froze briefly in surprise.
Unlike Aerin, Lysandra did not possess the advantage of the miniature Source Seed. Yet it had only been about a week since he distributed the Knowledge Spheres, and she had already completed comprehension of all four required arcane concepts: Vitality, Blood, Force, and Pressure.
His mind immediately began analyzing the achievement. After a moment, understanding settled.
Lysandra was far from an ordinary cultivator. She was the Empress of Lexaria, a being who had accumulated thousands of years of experience across countless arcane concepts. As an inscriber, her work had constantly required deep conceptual understanding. And also during the long periods of peace within the milky way, she had spent enormous amounts of time studying the innovations enabled by Origin Ink, refining principles that others barely recognized.
Vitality was closely related to Life, a concept she had studied extensively. Blood had already been recognized as an arcane concept even within the Milky Way Galaxy. Force and Pressure, although newly formalized as primary concepts here in the universe, were deeply connected to numerous other arcane principles governing physics, momentum, structural integrity, and foundations Lysandra had encountered repeatedly through inscription work.
For someone like her, these were not entirely new discoveries. They were extensions of knowledge she already possessed. Understanding them would naturally be easier than for someone starting from nothing.
Before Adrian could respond, Aerin suddenly jumped to her feet, "What?!"
Her eyes widened dramatically, "You already finished all four?"
She looked between Adrian and Lysandra in disbelief, her head swiveling rapidly. Her competitive spirit ignited instantly, visible in the way her small hands clenched into fists at her sides.
"But I only just finished Vitality!"
Her expression hardened with fierce determination, "I am going back!"
Before anyone could stop her spatial essence flared around her body, and she blinked out of the room, vanishing instantly.
Adrian and Lysandra were left alone. Lysandra glanced toward the empty space where Aerin had disappeared, her eyebrow rising slightly. A faint smile touched her lips, softening her usually reserved expression.
"Her motivation seems… intense."
Adrian leaned back slightly against the sofa, "It appears so."
Lysandra walked further into the room. She stopped near the window, where faint light from Sanguis Prime's twin suns filtered through the transparent material.
"I saw the forums," she said, her tone shifting to something more serious. "About the news surrounding the Crimson Vital Sect."
Adrian nodded once. She had clearly learned everything regarding the events involving the Thousand Veils Sect.
"The sect is growing quickly," she continued, turning slightly to face him. "But compared to you… even my progress feels slow."
Adrian shook his head lightly, "You will reach the same stage soon once you form your Rule Core."
Lysandra nodded slightly, accepting his reassurance without false modesty. "That is also the other main reason why I came. I have comprehended the arcane concepts, but you have not yet passed the knowledge required to form Crimson Vital Dominion itself." She paused. "I have the divine scripture for the low-level divine spell that the sect had given everyone, but knowledge spheres are better."
Adrian immediately understood. When he distributed the earlier Knowledge Spheres, he had not yet comprehended the divine concept himself. At that time, he could only provide the arcane foundations.
But things had changed now.
Adrian had already formed Crimson Vital Dominion within his own Source Seed. He had also mastered it fully. He could now provide the complete inheritance.
Adrian raised his hand slightly, extending his palm upward. White-grey essence gathered above it, coalescing into a luminous sphere approximately the size of a fist.
He passed it to Lysandra.
She accepted it calmly, her fingers closing around the sphere without hesitation. The moment her skin made contact, the sphere dissolved into her consciousness, and knowledge flooded into her mind.
Not only did the full structure of Crimson Vital Dominion appeared but also the entire framework of Verdant Genesis.
Adrian had included both.
Lysandra's eyes unfocused slightly as her consciousness processed the information. She stood motionless for several moments, internally tracing the structure of both divine concepts, examining their compatibility, analyzing their strengths.
Eventually she blinked, her awareness returning fully to the room.
She nodded slowly. "I see."
Adrian spoke calmly, "Verdant Genesis will become extremely important for the future of the Crimson Vital Sect. It will benefit everyone."
The divine concept would allow disciples to accelerate plant growth, useful for healing, and produce high-tier healing pills. Combined with Crimson Vital Dominion, cultivators could pursue dual mastery and genuine paths toward the Astral Stage.
Lysandra nodded in agreement, "I understand."
Having obtained the knowledge she needed, she turned slightly toward the door, preparing to leave, "I will return to cultivation."
But before she could take more than two steps—
"Lysandra."
She stopped immediately and looked back.
Adrian leaned forward slightly, "There is something else I wanted to discuss."
She waited, her posture shifting subtly to indicate full attention.
Adrian briefly explained the willforce recovery spell he had created. He described how he had analyzed the Crimson Will Lotus to create this. He outlined the spell's passive nature, its twenty-hour duration, and its five-thousand-mana units cost.
Then he explained the difficulty he faced in distributing it effectively to others. He explained why the solution felt unsatisfactory.
"While the system would still be useful in controlled environments," Adrian said, "it lacks the efficiency and flexibility I want."
He hadn't found a solution yet, but he wasn't alone and could get others' minds working on it if he couldn't. While discussing this, he of course hid the fact of anything related to his source.
Lysandra listened quietly throughout his explanation. When Adrian finally finished, silence filled the room.
Although she had never experienced willforce depletion in the same extreme way Adrian did, she understood the concept clearly from studying the forums. A spell capable of accelerating willforce recovery was an extremely valuable creation. Yet Adrian producing something like that did not surprise her in the slightest.
He was their Supreme Emperor, the Astral Anomaly, the creator of Origin Ink. Compared to those achievements, replicating the effects of the Crimson Will Lotus almost seemed expected.
Lysandra stood there for several long seconds, her arms folded loosely across her chest. Then she sighed softly. "You know, in most situations, you are the most brilliant mind I have ever seen."
"But sometimes," Lysandra continued, "you can also be incredibly dumb."
Adrian blinked, "I don't understand."
Lysandra unfolded her arms, gesturing vaguely toward him with one hand. "How could you miss something that has been directly in front of you all this time that can solve the exact problem you are facing?"
She looked at him with mild exasperation, "Honestly… it almost feels like you are blind."