Kai woke three days later in the sect's medical pavilion, every meridian screaming in protest. Master Jian sat beside his bed, expression grave.
"You used spatial teleportation at Core Formation realm," the old master said flatly. "That should have killed you."
"But it didn't."
"Because you're not normal. None of this is normal." Master Jian leaned forward. "I've been cultivating for eight hundred years. I've seen many things. But I've never seen anyone your age with your level of understanding. It's like you've lived multiple lifetimes."
Kai met his eyes steadily, saying nothing.
"I'm not asking for explanations," Master Jian continued. "I'm saying this: whatever secrets you're carrying, whatever knowledge you shouldn't have—I'm on your side. The sect is on your side. But you need to stop taking reckless risks. You matter too much now."
"Where's Yuhan?"
"Meditating. He hasn't left the pavilion since bringing you here. The boy's been worried sick."
As if summoned, Yuhan entered. His eyes widened seeing Kai awake.
"You're an idiot," Yuhan said, but his voice was thick with relief. "Using forbidden techniques, nearly killing yourself—"
"Saved both our lives."
"I know. Which is why I'm angry and grateful simultaneously." Yuhan sat on the bed's edge. "Don't do that again."
"Can't promise that. If it's you or me, I'll always choose to save you."
"That's not fair. I'd make the same choice."
"Then we're both idiots."
Master Jian stood. "I'll leave you two alone. Kai, you're confined to the medical pavilion for another week. Rest, recover, and next time someone sends you into an obvious trap, maybe don't walk into it."
After he left, Yuhan took Kai's hand.
"The trap was meant to kill us," Yuhan said quietly. "Phoenix Flame Sect is done playing political games. They want us dead."
"I know. Which means we need to get stronger faster. We need to reach Nascent Soul."
"That usually takes decades."
"We don't have decades. The demon beast tide is coming in less than five years now. The Chaos Wars are accelerating. We need power we can actually use to make a difference."
Yuhan was silent, then: "There's a place. The Forbidden Abyss. It's a cultivation ground where time moves differently—one year outside equals ten years inside. But it's incredibly dangerous. Most who enter never leave."
Kai recognized the name. In his previous life, he'd used the Forbidden Abyss to advance rapidly after a devastating loss. It had nearly destroyed him, but he'd emerged at Nascent Soul realm.
"When can we go?"
"You're serious? Kai, people die in there. Seasoned Nascent Soul cultivators have entered and never returned."
"But we're not normal cultivators. We have experience beyond our apparent age. We understand principles that take others lifetimes to grasp." Kai squeezed Yuhan's hand. "And we'll go together. Like everything else."
"Together," Yuhan echoed, though his expression remained worried.
The decision was made. Once Kai recovered, they would petition Liang Qiu for permission to enter the Forbidden Abyss.
It was risky. Possibly suicidal. But the alternative—waiting years while their enemies grew stronger—was worse.
The Chaos Wars were coming. The only question was whether they'd be strong enough to survive them.