Chapter 63: I’ll Grant You a Fateful Chance

Chapter 63 - I’ll Grant You a Fateful Chance Kinson Wexford's heart churned like a storm-wracked sea, utterly captivated by Lordi Payne's alchemy display—until the acrid tang of something burnt coiled into his nostrils, snapping him from his reverie. His brow twitched. Lordi Payne's hands, which had been weaving intricate seals over the furnace's ghostly green Nether Fire, had frozen mid-motion. The flickering flames cast eerie highlighting the sudden tension in his jaw. A beat passed before Lordi Payne jerked back to life, hastily withdrawing the half-activated Dao Fulu with an awkward cough. "Ah... Senior Brother," he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck, "I've been running too hard lately. My spiritual energy's running dry, so..." "No matter." Kinson Wexford's gaze flicked to the blackened remnants at the furnace's base. A wasted batch—yet it meant nothing. After all, the previous batch of Premium-level Bone Tempering Pills had already proven Lordi Payne's monstrous talent. Shocking! Unbelievable! Even if one alchemy attempt were ruined now, what did it matter? A slow, calculating smile curled Kinson Wexford's lips as he folded his arms. "Very well," he said, voice low, deliberate, like the hum of a blade being unsheathed. "I've seen enough to acknowledge—your talent in alchemy is exceptional." Lordi Payne's eyes lit up, his mouth already opening—no doubt to start haggling over profits, protection fees, and sales routes—but Wexford cut him off with a raised hand. "Here's what you'll do," he commanded, stepping closer. "Listen. Return to your place now. Cultivate as if your very life depends on it. And when you reach the fifth layer of the Qi Refinement Stage—" His voice dropped to a whisper, laden with unreadable promise. "—I'll grant you a fateful chance." A fateful chance? The words coiled in Lordi Payne's mind. Once before he entered the holy sect, such a promise would have set his heart ablaze—visions of forbidden martial arts, divine relics, or earth-shaking secrets dancing before his eyes. But now? Now, with the weight of seventy thousand D-grade spirit stones crushing down on him like an executioner's blade, the words rang hollow. The sect's laws were merciless. Unless this so-called "chance" could ascend him to godhood overnight or make him invincible across the realms, it was worthless. Because in three months, if he failed to pay his debt—the Punishment Crypt would flay the flesh from his bones to settle the balance. His lips parted, already shaping an excuse to dodge away. But Kinson Wexford cut him off, his voice smooth, deliberate. "This chance is rare beyond measure," he murmured, eyes glinting like polished obsidian. "The kind of fortune most cultivators never glimpse in their lifetime. Waste it, and you'll curse your own weakness until your dying breath." A pause. Then, his softer voice like a blade wrapped in silk. "And if you seize it? That fine of your killing Lee Sagwon trio? Nothing. And your status in the entire Abyss Pit Sect? Completely different!" Lordi Payne's breath hitched. "The fine... is nothing?" His pulse spiked. For the first time in weeks, something like hope flickered in his chest. "Senior Brother," he ventured, voice carefully measured, "what exactly is this... fateful chance?" Kinson Wexford merely smiled—a slow, knowing curve of his lips. "You'll see when the time comes." A dismissive wave. "For now? Focus on breaking through. No matter how grand this opportunity, without strength, it's as distant as the moon." Lordi Payne's jaw tightened. He wasn't buying it. He needed details— But then Kinson Wexford's expression darkened, his aura thickening like storm clouds before a tempest. "Do as I say." The words were soft, yet final as a guillotine's fall. "What? Do you think I'd waste my time deceiving you?" "Don't you worry, Senior Brother!" Lordi Payne didn't dare to question more, he backpedaled, clasping his fists in a hasty salute. "This Junior brother will cultivate day and night! I won't disappoint you!" Moments later, Kinson Wexford observed Lordi Payne's departing silhouette disappear past the villa's gate, his thoughts swirling. "This Junior Brother Payne possesses an extraordinary gift for alchemy. And given how swiftly he advanced from the second to the fourth layer before, his cultivation talent is far from ordinary. With his current robust Qi, he's on the cusp of breaking through to the fifth layer of the Qi Refinement Stage." "At most, it'll take half a month—perhaps a full month—for him to achieve that breakthrough." "That timeframe still falls within my ability to mediate and stall the other sect bloodlines." "If Lordi Payne's breakthrough comes any later, no matter how brilliant he is, it'd be hard to argue against claims that his talent or fortune are lacking." "Still, I hope Junior Brother Payne won't let me down—or disappoint Senior Sister, Her Highness." ----- Once Lordi Payne returned to the outer sect, he threw himself into relentless practice. After all, though this demonic sect was a nest of vipers and serpents, Kinson Wexford's status and cultivation prowess meant he had no need for deceit if he intended to harm Lordi Payne. Especially now, with Lordi Payne having openly displayed his remarkable alchemy skills, Kinson Wexford had little motive to scheme against him at this juncture. Even if he did, such a plot would likely only postpone Lordi Payne's pill-making and debt repayment. After careful reflection, Lordi Payne felt confident he wasn't far from the fifth layer of the Qi Refinement Stage, based on his prior cultivation progress. This advancement wouldn't hold him back for long. Indeed, after just two sessions of AllFullOS-guided pill-enhanced cultivation, he broke through to the fifth layer as if it were inevitable. Lordi Payne gently clenched his fist, sensing the surge of stronger energy coursing through him. After a fleeting moment of satisfaction, he stepped onto the Corpse Cloud and sped back toward Withered Orchid Villa. ----- Kinson Wexford's initial displeasure flared as he spotted Lordi Payne approaching. "Didn't I tell you to focus on cultivating—" His words cut off mid-sentence, eyes narrowing as they fixed on Lordi Payne's aura. To his astonishment, Lordi Payne had broken through to the fifth layer of the Qi Refinement Stage. His jaw dropped, disbelief coursing through him. "A peerless alchemy prodigy and a world-class cultivation talent—Lordi Payne's excellence is unreal!" Inwardly, he cursed the Payne Clan. "Those brainless fools. A genius like him is the kind of unicorn every cultivation family dreams of, and they let him waste away in a side branch just because of his birth?" If not for his senior sister's keen eye, wouldn't Lordi Payne's extraordinary potential have been squandered? Truly, a petty, insignificant clan like the Payne Clan was doomed to stagnation—small-minded ants with no vision for growth. Sidelining Lordi Payne while funneling resources into that clown Hugo Payne—what future could they possibly hope for? No wonder they were going nowhere. Kinson Wexford pulled himself, masking his awe with a curt nod. "Well, it looks like you've been diligent these past two days," he said, forcing a gruff tone. With a quick hand seal, he sent a few transmitted words to summon his men. As they waited, he turned to Lordi Payne. "Do you know why I've been pushing you toward the fifth layer?" "Please, Senior Brother, enlighten me," Lordi Payne replied, bowing deeply with unwavering respect. Kinson Wexford straightened, his voice taking on a lecturing edge. "It's because the Bone Tempering Art reforges your skeletal foundation—progressing your bones from Iron tier to Refined tier, and eventually to Jade tier. Each tier has quality grades: low, mid, high, and the elusive perfect. This applies to Iron tier, Refined tier, and Jade tier bones alike. The bone tier aligns with your cultivation level: first to third layers of Qi Refinement Stage are Iron tier, fourth to sixth are Refined tier, and seventh to ninth are Jade tier." Lordi Payne nodded, hanging on every word. "You've been to the Task Division," Kinson Wexford continued. "You must've noticed many tasks are restricted to disciples at the sixth layer of Qi Refinement Stage or higher." Lordi Payne inclined his head in agreement. "That's because the sixth layer marks a turning point. At that stage, Refined-tier Bones are fully tempered, and for some exceptional disciples, they even begin transitioning to Jade-tier Bones. This grants them a dramatic surge in strength compared to the average fifth-layer cultivator. Now, the Ice Pith Fire—it's just one tier above the Nether Fire, but taming it is no small feat. Back when you were only at the fourth layer, I doubted you could handle it. Even now, at the fifth layer, it's still a significant risk." Lordi Payne was stunned, gut twisting, when he heard this. He shouted in his mind. "Ice Pith Fire? Risk?" "Didn't you say that it was a fateful chance? ? ?" "Didn't you say that the fine was nothing? ? ?" Lordi Payne forced calm, voice tentative, "Senior Brother, what exactly is this Ice Pith Fire? Is it valuable? And since it's so risky, why don't we hold off this time? Maybe wait until I've cultivated to a higher level and feel more prepared?" "No." Kinson Wexford's refusal was sharp as a blade. "The Ice Pith Fire isn't just an eighth-tier Dao Flame—it's a treasure that refines marrow and purifies cultivation. Half the bloodlines' eyes are on it. If we delay, someone else will seize it. I only secured this chance by invoking Senior Sister's name. We must act soon." His gaze narrowed, suspicion darkening his expression as he studied Lordi Payne. "What is your problem? Before you joined the holy sect, you had the spine to steal my Bone Tempering Pills for your breakthrough. Fearless. Ruthless. I respected that." A cold smirk twisted his lips. "Yet now, after a few weeks of safety, you hesitate like a cornered rabbit." Oh fuck, fearless my ass! That was the AwfulOS system glitching—since when do I have a death wish? Outwardly, Lordi Payne dipped his head in deference. "Senior Brother misunderstands. I only fear my weakness will waste your efforts. If I fail you, wouldn't that—" Kinson Wexford eyed him, hard and long. And when he assured that this junior brother was sitting upright, with eye gaze bright in confident, unflinching, he was finally relieved and said earnestly tone. "Junioir Brother Pay, you must know that if you don't advance, you will retreat! " "As the saying goes. No mercy waits, no gentle hand to guide, Through blood and fire, the Dao is earned, not tried." "Especially for a cultivator like you who comes from a humble background, if you fall behind one step, you will fall behind step by step. After a century later, you will regret it, but you will have no chance anymore." "With the vastness of the Holy Sect and the large number of disciples, there are few people with your talent, but they are by no means rare. If you don't work hard and make progress, you will definitely be lost in the crowd if you make a mistake!" "By that time, you will be like countless predecessors, thriving hard for a hundred years and eventually turning into a pile of dirt." Lordi Payne's face tightened, and he bowed his head immediately: "Aye, Senior Brother—your words hit like thunder. I'll carve them into my soul!" But inwardly, he thought. Everyone's quick to preach noble ideals, but when it comes to suicidal ventures? No thank you. Even chances exist aren't worth my gamble. Before Lordi Payne could press for details, a knock echoed through the courtyard. Kinson Wexford flicked his sleeve, dissolving the villa defense array. Three senior disciples—a woman and two men, smart inner sect robes—strode in, their auras sharp and formidable.