After tending to the spirit beasts, Kai made his way back to his modest shack. Inside, he retrieved a sturdy bag filled with fresh spirit herbs he had meticulously collected from the forest a few days earlier. As the stable master for the Ember Sword Sect, gathering these herbs was a crucial part of his responsibilities. They were essential ingredients for the feed he prepared for the spirit beasts under his care, enhancing their health and stimulating their cultivation.


    The herbs, when consumed, did more than just maintain the creatures'' well-being. They carried traces of natural qi that helped fortify the beasts’ internal energy and even offered a small chance of aiding them in breaking through to the next level of their cultivation. Thus, increasing the value of the beasts. It was this delicate balance of nourishment and growth that made the spirit herb-infused feed so valuable.


    However, Kai often collected more herbs than he needed for his daily duties. This surplus, far from going to waste, was part of a larger system within the sect. Any excess herbs he gathered were to be delivered to the alchemy pavilion located near the sect’s main grounds. The pavilion was a hub of activity where the collected herbs were used for crafting medicinal pills, refining elixirs, and training the sect’s disciples in the art of alchemy.


    Securing the bag of herbs on his back, Kai started down the well-worn path toward the main sect grounds. Though the alchemy pavilion wasn’t particularly far, the journey always felt like stepping into a different world. His forested home was quiet and secluded, but the main grounds buzzed with the energy of cultivators, teachers, and disciples, each pursuing their paths to immortality with relentless determination.


    As he walked, Kai couldn’t help but reflect on his role within the sect. While he lacked the talent or resources to rise beyond his current station, his work still contributed to the greater good of the Ember Sword Sect. But even so, he wouldn’t be appreciated much for the herbs he regularly supplies.


    "At least the beasts appreciate my efforts," he mused with a wry smile, adjusting the strap of the bag on his shoulder.


    The path ahead curved gently toward an imposing gate that marked the entrance to the main outer grounds of the Ember Sword Sect. The gate, crafted from dark iron and adorned with the sect''s fiery emblem, stood as a barrier between the secluded wilderness Kai inhabited and the bustling world of cultivators beyond.


    The main outer grounds were vast, resembling an entire kingdom. Towns and cities sprawled within its borders, each bustling with activity. These settlements were home to countless outer sect members, their lives a blend of mundane labor and cultivation, striving for even the smallest steps for a chance to gain entry into the inner grounds and obtain immortality. Beyond this gate lay a world that mortals could scarcely imagine—a place where the extraordinary was commonplace and dreams of ascension flickered in every corner.


    As Kai approached, the towering gates loomed overhead, guarded by two sect disciples clad in crimson robes. Their uniforms marked them as part of the Ember Sword Sect''s outer security detail, and their sharp eyes scanned every passerby with practiced scrutiny.


    One of the guards, a lean man with a smirk that seemed permanently etched on his face, spotted Kai immediately. His expression shifted into one of playful disdain.


    "Well, well, if it isn’t stinky Kai," he called out, his tone dripping with mockery. The other guard chuckled, shaking his head as if amused by some private joke.


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    Kai sighed inwardly but kept his face carefully neutral. He was no stranger to this kind of treatment; it had become an expected part of his life within the sect. His work with the spirit beasts had earned him little to no respect—even from those at the lowest ranks.


    The nickname Stinky Kai followed him like an unwanted shadow, a jab born from a rumor that he slept alongside the beasts he cared for and reeked of their wild scent. It wasn’t hard to see how the rumor had taken root. Spending most of his days among the creatures, tending to their needs and living apart from the main sect grounds, made him an easy target for such talk.


    The reality was that the role and title of sect stable master held little importance in the grand hierarchy of the cultivator world. In a realm dominated by qi techniques, flying swords, and airships, the need for spirit beasts as mounts was nearly obsolete. Aside from the rare exception like dragons—legendary creatures revered for their power and prestige—most spirit beasts were impractical for transportation or combat.


    The only real purpose for maintaining spirit beasts was either as a fresh supply of ingredients for alchemy or as part of some ostentatious vanity project.


    In Kai’s case, thankfully, it was the latter. The Ember Sword Sect’s menagerie of spirit beasts served no critical function; they weren’t being harvested for materials or used in battle formations. Instead, their upkeep was simply a pet project initiated by a sect elder’s son as a display of prestige The elder’s son, known for indulging his whims, insisted on maintaining a collection of spirit beasts as a testament to the sect''s wealth and status. It was a display of extravagance rather than practicality.


    For Kai, this meant his role was less important and more about maintenance. He wasn''t tasked with preparing these creatures for any grand purpose; he was merely ensuring they were well-fed, healthy, and presentable for the elder’s occasional inspections or the rare occasions when the menagerie was shown off to visitors. While the job lacked prestige, it offered Kai something few others in the sect could claim: a quiet existence away from the relentless scrutiny and rivalries that plagued the cultivator ranks.


    Still, he couldn’t help but feel the sting of the sect’s indifference. To most, his work was little more than a sideshow, an oddity that had no place in the ambitious, cutthroat world of cultivation.


    Let them think what they want, Kai thought, adjusting the bag on his shoulder. His work might not have garnered recognition, but it provided him with a sense of purpose. Even if others didn’t see its value, he knew the beasts did—and that was enough for him.


    "Carrying another load of weeds to the alchemists, are we?" the guard continued, his grin widening as he gestured toward the bag slung over Kai''s shoulder.


    Kai stopped a few steps from the gate and met the guard’s gaze with calm indifference. "That’s right," he replied evenly. "The weeds that help make the pills you’ll be crawling to the alchemy pavilion for the next time you injure yourself showing off."


    The smirk on the guard’s face faltered, and his companion let out a surprised laugh. "Careful, Ren," the other guard teased. "Looks like stinky Kai’s got a sharp tongue today."


    Kai didn’t linger for a response. With a slight nod to acknowledge the guards, he walked past them, the massive gates creaking open to admit him. Behind him, the guards exchanged murmurs, but Kai paid them no mind.


    As Kai stepped through the gates into the outer grounds, the atmosphere shifted dramatically. The energy of the place enveloped him, almost palpable in its intensity. The qi in the air here was noticeably richer and denser than the more diluted currents of the forest he had left behind.


    "Just another delivery," he muttered to himself, tightening his grip on the bag. "One step at a time."