Three months had passed since the competition that changed everything. Autumn painted the Liu estate in golds and reds, but in the abandoned wing's command center, Zǔ Zhòu reviewed a different kind of harvest.
"Comprehensive status report," he commanded his assembled network leaders.
Hong stepped forward first. "Servant network encompasses sixty-seven active assets within the estate, forty-three in Azure Cloud City. Information flow has achieved self-sustaining momentum—assets recruit naturally based on debt, blackmail, or genuine belief in your cause."
"The suffering arrays?"
Wu Chen's shadow signed numbers while he spoke. "Seventeen secondary arrays installed throughout the manor. Training equipment, meditation mats, even tea ceremony implements. Disguised as quality improvements, they passively harvest frustration during daily activities."
Yang Mei added her report, skin patterns shifting to confident blues. "Emotional mapping complete for all Liu family members under age thirty. Personality profiles, breakdown triggers, optimal manipulation strategies documented."
"Liu Hao?"
"Has identified forty-three severely injured individuals in the city. His 'charitable visits' increase in frequency—now daily. He describes the cases with disturbing enthusiasm while believing himself compassionate."
Zǔ Zhòu nodded, satisfied. Each system had evolved beyond initial parameters. The servant network gathered intelligence autonomously. The suffering arrays powered his cultivation without active management. Liu Hao hunted pain while thinking himself holy.
"And my dear sister?"
Jin Wei consulted his notes. "Liu Mei's transformation accelerates. Yesterday, she suggested executing a servant who spilled tea on her training manual. When told that was excessive, she argued, 'Weakness that damages strength should be eliminated.'"
"Her training intensity?"
"Borderline self-destructive. She uses your cultivation chamber four times weekly, pushing until she collapses. Her advancement speed has tripled, but more concerning—she's begun developing her own techniques. Variations on family styles but notably more vicious."
The bloodline awakening, fertilized by his corruption. Perfect timing.
"Speaking of which," Hong interjected, "Elder Feng requested private audience with your father yesterday. Topic: 'concerning traits in thirteenth-generation disciples.'"
So the family had noticed. Time to execute the next phase before they could implement countermeasures.
"Prepare my formal robes," Zǔ Zhòu decided. "I'm requesting audience with Father tonight."
That evening, he stood in Liu Tiansheng's study, every inch the devoted son who'd found his path. Body Tempering Sixth Stage cultivation radiated steadily—impressive but not threatening. His bearing mixed confidence with appropriate deference.
"Wei'er," his father acknowledged, setting aside cultivation manuals. "You've been productive these months. The Zhang-Chen conflict has consumed both families' resources, leaving our operations untouched."
Indeed, his suggestion from the small council had worked perfectly. The two families had discovered their "duplicate" offers, accused each other of espionage, and escalated to trade wars that the city lord was too busy enjoying to stop.
"I'm pleased to have contributed," Zǔ Zhòu replied. "However, I come with a request."
"Speak."
"My cultivation has reached a plateau. The temporal manual describes advanced techniques, but they require... specific conditions. I've researched locations mentioned in the text—places where time moves strangely, where the manual claims breakthrough insights await."
Liu Tiansheng's expression sharpened. "You wish to leave the estate?"
"A training journey. Six months to a year, visiting these temporal anomalies. The manual promises significant advancement for those who comprehend time's mysteries in their natural habitat."
His father stood, pacing to the window. Outside, disciples trained in evening formations, unaware their every frustration fed hidden arrays.
"You've proven yourself these months," Liu Tiansheng said finally. "Your insights saved resources, your healing saved Liu Hao, your cultivation advances steadily. But training journeys carry risks."
"I've prepared thoroughly. Routes mapped, safe houses identified, emergency protocols established." All true, though for different purposes than implied. "This isn't youthful wanderlust but calculated advancement."
"And Liu Mei? She relies on your guidance."
Ah, the real concern. They'd noticed her changes and hoped his influence might moderate them.
"Perhaps distance will help her develop independence. She's becoming too reliant on my chamber and techniques." Let them think separation might slow her transformation.
Liu Tiansheng turned back, decision made. "Very well. Six months initially, with regular reports. You'll carry the family's emergency beacon and travel under our protection seal."
"Thank you, Father. I won't disappoint you."
"See that you don't. When do you intend to depart?"
"Three days. After the new moon—the manual claims temporal sensitivity heightens during lunar transition."
Complete fabrication, but it sounded appropriately mystical.
That night, Zǔ Zhòu held final meetings with his network. The infrastructure would operate without him—Hong managing estate intelligence, Wu Chen coordinating city assets, Jin Wei maintaining surveillance on bloodline manifestations.
"Your primary objective remains Liu Mei," he instructed. "Document every sign of awakening. If the family moves to suppress her, I want immediate notification."
"The suffering arrays?" Hong asked.
"Continue normal operation. Bank the accumulated energy in these crystals." He provided specially prepared stones. "I'll collect them upon return."
Liu Hao arrived for his weekly treatment, glowing with purpose. "Wei'er, I've found something remarkable! A veteran soldier who lost his entire unit—his survivor's guilt is... profound. Perhaps your techniques could ease his burden?"
"Document everything," Zǔ Zhòu told him while adjusting the meridian modifications. "I'll be traveling for research, but your observations remain invaluable."
"You're leaving?" Genuine distress crossed Liu Hao's features. "But the treatments—"
"Will hold for months. I've stabilized your condition completely. Continue your charitable work—you're helping more than you know."
The next morning brought an unexpected visitor. Liu Mei stood outside his chambers, practice sword in hand and determination in her eyes.
"Take me with you," she demanded without preamble.
"Mei'er—"
"I know you're leaving for training. I need real combat experience, not these controlled spars. How can I protect anyone if I never face genuine danger?"
He studied her carefully. The bloodline signs were subtle but present—a reddish tint to her pupils during emotional peaks, fingernails slightly too sharp, the way she unconsciously licked her lips when discussing violence.
"Father would never approve."
"Then don't tell him! I'll follow anyway. At least if you agree, you can keep me safe while I grow strong."
Beautiful logic from corrupted innocence. But taking her would accelerate suspicion and complicate his pilgrimage.
"Not this time," he said gently. "But I promise—when I return, I'll teach you techniques that will make our current training look like children's games."
"You promise?"
"Have I ever lied to you?"
She hugged him impulsively, and he felt the unnatural heat of her skin—another bloodline sign. The demon in her blood recognized something kindred in him, even if her conscious mind remained naive.
"Be strong while I'm gone," he told her. "But be smart. If the elders try to restrict your training, don't fight openly. Pretend compliance while practicing secretly."
"Like you did during your 'deviation recovery'?"
Perceptive little demon. "Exactly like that."
The final night, Zǔ Zhòu stood in his abandoned wing sanctuary, reviewing three months of work. Complete servant network operating autonomously. Suffering array infrastructure throughout the manor. Psychological profiles enabling precision manipulation. Liu Hao transformed into willing tool. Liu Mei's bloodline awakening under his influence. Family politics twisted to create external chaos.
"Foundation complete," he announced to the watching void. "The Liu family is perfectly positioned for long-term cultivation. They'll feed my advancement while believing I'm their rising star."
Tomorrow, he would leave for his pilgrimage—hunting temporal scars across the continent, each one containing fragments of his former power. But the true achievement was here: a self-sustaining system that would generate suffering and intelligence without his presence.
"Six months to walk the paths between my wounds," he said. "Then return to harvest what's grown in my absence."
His public face showed Body Tempering Sixth Stage, respected third son seeking advancement. The hidden truth encompassed so much more—architect of suffering, master of intelligence, corruptor of bloodlines.
Time to walk ancient paths and reclaim fragments of godhood, while his carefully cultivated garden of suffering bloomed in his absence.
The foundation was complete. Now came the pilgrimage.