The journey to the extraction point should have taken two days.

It took four.

[MURPHY'S LAW: ACTIVE]

[EVERYTHING THAT CAN GO WRONG: WILL]

[WELCOME TO THE CRIMSON WASTES]

The first complication appeared on day one, corrupted beasts. Not the Stage 4 wolves we'd encountered before, but a full pack of Stage 5 and 6 variants that tracked us for hours.

"They smell blood," Wei Long reported, returning from a scouting run. "The wounded Team 4 members are attracting them. We can't shake them."

"Then we don't shake them," Chen Rou decided. "We eliminate them. Set up an ambush at that narrow pass ahead. Standard beast elimination formation."

[TACTICAL DECISION: OFFENSIVE]

[BETTER TO CONTROL THE ENGAGEMENT]

[SMART]

The ambush worked perfectly. Twenty corrupted wolves charged into the pass, and we were waiting. Zhao Fei's formations funneled them into kill zones where Chen Rou, Tang Bolin, Han Feng, and I cut them down systematically.

The Infinite Tide Scripture flowed perfectly through my Stage 6 cultivation. Each strike was precise, efficient, deadly. My sword moved like water, finding gaps in corrupted flesh and striking vital points.

[CORRUPTED WOLVES ELIMINATED: 20]

[TECHNIQUE PROFICIENCY: 81% → 84%]

[COMBAT EXPERIENCE: INCREASING]

[YOU'RE GETTING SCARY GOOD AT THIS]

"Clear," Wei Long confirmed after the last beast fell.

Zhou Ming stared at the carnage, his face pale. "Twenty beasts in under five minutes."

"Teamwork," Su Mei said, cleaning her staff. "Individually, any of those could have killed us. Together? Not even close."

[LESSON: COORDINATION > INDIVIDUAL POWER]

[TEAM 7 IS BECOMING A REAL UNIT]

The second complication came on day two, Crimson Peak disciples.

Not the same group from the vault battle, but a different team entirely. Six cultivators, all Stage 5-7, and they looked hungry for revenge.

"Azure Peak," their leader, a scarred man with Stage 7 cultivation, called out. "We heard what you did at the vault. Interfered in sect business. Attacked our brothers."

"We rescued our people," Chen Rou replied calmly. "No different than what you'd do."

"Except we're not soft," Scarface sneered. "We take what we want. And right now? We want your supplies, your treasures, and maybe some blood payment."

[NEGOTIATION: FAILING]

[CONFLICT: INEVITABLE]

[HERE WE GO AGAIN]

Chen Rou's expression didn't change. "You're welcome to try. But know this, I'm Stage 9. My vice-leader is Stage 7. We've killed more disciples this week than you've probably seen in your life. Walk away, or become a statistic."

The Crimson Peak disciples hesitated. They'd clearly expected intimidation to work. Chen Rou's cold confidence threw them off balance.

"Six against thirteen," Tang Bolin added, his deep voice rumbling. "Bad math."

[PSYCHOLOGICAL WARFARE: EFFECTIVE]

[ENEMY MORALE: SHAKEN]

Scarface's face twisted with frustration. "This isn't over, Azure Peak. We'll remember this."

"Good," Chen Rou said. "Remember to avoid us in the future."

They left, but the tension remained. We'd made another enemy, and in the Wastes, enemies were dangerous.

"Will they come back?" Feng Yue asked nervously.

"Probably not," Chen Rou said. "They're cowards, looking for easy targets. We're not easy." She glanced at the rescued disciples. "But this is why reduced teams are vulnerable. Without numbers, you become prey."

[LESSON: STRENGTH IN NUMBERS]

[TEAM 4 WOULD HAVE BEEN DESTROYED WITHOUT US]

On day three, we found something unexpected.

Wei Long discovered it during a routine scout, a hidden valley, shielded by ancient formations, containing what looked like an intact meditation chamber from the Immortal Era.

"No signs of recent activity," he reported. "The formations are strong, they've kept everything preserved."

Chen Rou studied the valley carefully. "It's a rest site. High-level cultivators from the Immortal Era would build these as safe havens for extended cultivation sessions." She turned to Team 4. "You need this more than us. Use it to recover while we stand guard."

Feng Yue's eyes widened. "You'd give this to us?"

"Sect loyalty," Chen Rou said simply. "We can cultivate anywhere. You need optimal conditions to stabilize your injuries."

[GENEROSITY: UNEXPECTED]

[ALSO: STRATEGIC]

[HEALTHY TEAM 4 = EASIER ESCORT]

While Team 4 cultivated in the meditation chamber, Team 7 maintained perimeter security. The valley was indeed well-hidden, natural formations combined with artificial ones to create a pocket of stability in the chaotic Wastes.

I took the opportunity to meditate as well, processing the combat experience from the past few days and consolidating my cultivation base.

[AUTO-CULTIVATION: ACTIVE]

[COMBAT INSIGHTS: INTEGRATING]

[STAGE 6: STABILIZING]

[PROGRESS TO STAGE 7: 12%]

'Twelve percent already?' I thought, surprised.

[COMBAT ACCELERATES CULTIVATION]

[ESPECIALLY LIFE-OR-DEATH COMBAT]

[YOUR BODY ADAPTS TO SURVIVE]

[ALSO, YOU'VE BEEN FIGHTING A LOT]

"Lin Tian?"

I opened my eyes to find Yun Xia approaching. "Hey. Your watch already?"

"Not for another hour. Just wanted to check on you." She sat beside me. "You've been different the last few days. More... focused. Distant."

[OBSERVATION: ACCURATE]

[YOU HAVE BEEN MORE COMBAT-ORIENTED]

[SURVIVAL MODE ACTIVATED]

"The Wastes change people," I said. "Every fight could be our last. Hard to stay relaxed."

"I know. But don't lose yourself to it." She took my hand. "The Lin Tian I care about is kind, slightly awkward, and makes terrible jokes. Don't let combat turn you into someone else."

Her words hit harder than expected. I had been different, more clinical, more focused on efficiency and survival. The system's influence, maybe. Or just adapting to constant danger.

"You're right," I admitted. "I'll try to remember who I am."

"That's all I ask." She smiled. "Now, want to practice our paired combat techniques? We've got time, and Chen Rou says we're still not coordinating our Qi flows optimally."

[RELATIONSHIP MOMENT: WHOLESOME]

[ALSO: PRACTICAL TRAINING]

[MULTITASKING]

We spent the next hour working on synchronized techniques, learning to blend the Infinite Tide Scripture's flowing style with her Flowing Water Palm defensive approach. The combination was surprisingly effective, creating a combat system where offense and defense flowed seamlessly between us.

[PAIRED TECHNIQUE DEVELOPMENT: PROGRESSING]

[SYNERGY RATING: 73%]

[POTENTIAL: HIGH]

[YOU TWO ARE BECOMING A FORMIDABLE PAIR]

Su Mei watched us practice, offering occasional corrections. "You two are disgustingly synchronized. I mean that as a compliment. Sort of."

"Jealous?" Yun Xia teased.

"Extremely. My cultivation partner is a wooden training dummy." Su Mei laughed. "Maybe I should find a boyfriend who can actually coordinate with me."

[SU MEI RELATIONSHIP STATUS: SINGLE]

[POTENTIAL HAREM CANDIDATE: NOTED]

[SYSTEM, NO]

[SYSTEM, ALWAYS YES]

Day four brought the final complication, and the biggest surprise.

We reached the extraction point, a clearing where sect formations allowed disciples to teleport directly back to Azure Peak. The formations were ancient but maintained, powered by Qi crystals that needed periodic replacement.

"There," Chen Rou pointed. "Extraction point. Team 4, you're home free."

But Wei Long's expression was troubled. "Problem. The formations have been sabotaged."

[OH NO]

Chen Rou and Zhao Fei examined the formation arrays carefully. After several minutes, Zhao Fei confirmed Wei Long's assessment.

"Someone disabled the power crystals. Deliberately." He held up a cracked crystal. "This was broken recently, within the last day or two."

"Who would sabotage an extraction point?" Feng Yue asked, horrified.

"Someone who wants to trap disciples in the Wastes," Chen Rou said grimly. "Or kill them when they try to leave."

[SABOTAGE: CONFIRMED]

[CULPRITS: UNKNOWN]

[MOTIVATION: PROBABLY EVIL]

"Can you fix it?" I asked Zhao Fei.

"Maybe. If I had replacement crystals." He examined the formation more closely. "I'd need at least three Stage 6 Qi Condensation Crystals. High quality. We don't have any."

"Where would we get them?" Tang Bolin asked.

"Vault sites. Ancient treasure caches. Beast cores from Stage 7+ corrupted creatures." Zhao Fei shrugged. "None of which are easy to acquire."

[PROBLEM: SIGNIFICANT]

[SOLUTION: COMPLICATED AND DANGEROUS]

Chen Rou thought for a moment. "Options. One: We escort Team 4 back the long way, ten days through the Wastes to the main extraction site. High danger. Two: We find replacement crystals and repair this formation. Medium danger but time-consuming. Three: Team 4 stays with us for the full three months. High resource strain."

"I vote for option two," I said. "Wei Long, have you seen any potential crystal sources during your scouting?"

He nodded slowly. "There's a ruined temple about eight kilometers north. I spotted it yesterday but didn't investigate, seemed risky. But temples usually have crystal caches for their formations."

"Risky how?" Chen Rou asked.

"Corrupted guardian beasts. Stage 7, maybe Stage 8. They're territorial."

[DANGEROUS MISSION]

[HIGH DIFFICULTY]

[SIGNIFICANT REWARD IF SUCCESSFUL]

Chen Rou looked at each of us. "Team vote. Do we risk the temple for crystals, or take the long route with Team 4?"

"Temple," Han Feng said immediately. "I didn't come to the Wastes to play it safe."

"Temple," Su Mei agreed. "Faster resolution means less time Team 4 is vulnerable."

One by one, everyone voted. Temple mission won unanimously.

"Then we hunt crystals tomorrow," Chen Rou decided. "Tonight, we rest and prepare. This won't be like the other fights, corrupted guardians are on another level."

[MISSION: ACCEPTED]

[DIFFICULTY: EXTREME]

[REWARDS: NECESSARY]

[SURVIVAL PROBABILITY: RECALCULATING...]

[CURRENT: 61%]

[DROPPING TO: 56%]

[THIS IS DANGEROUS]

That night, as I lay in my bedroll beside Yun Xia, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.

The sabotage wasn't random. Someone had deliberately disabled the extraction point. But why? To trap disciples? To force them deeper into the Wastes?

[CONSPIRACY THEORY: DEVELOPING]

[INSUFFICIENT DATA]

[BUT YOUR INSTINCTS ARE CORRECT]

[SOMETHING IS HAPPENING]

"Can't sleep?" Yun Xia whispered.

"Thinking about the sabotage. It doesn't make sense."

"Maybe it's just rival sects being assholes."

"Maybe." But I didn't believe that.

[PLOT THICKENING]

[MYSTERIES DEEPENING]

[COMPLICATIONS MULTIPLYING]

[TYPICAL CULTIVATION WORLD]

Tomorrow, we'd raid a temple guarded by Stage 7-8 beasts.

Tomorrow, we'd risk our lives for crystals to save Team 4.

Tomorrow, maybe we'd get answers.

Or maybe we'd just find more questions.

And probably more things trying to kill us.

[WELCOME TO THE CRIMSON WASTES]

[WHERE SIMPLE ESCORT MISSIONS BECOME COMPLICATED ADVENTURES]

[ENJOY YOUR STAY]

I closed my eyes and let the automated cultivation take over.

Tomorrow would be dangerous.

But we'd face it together.

Team 7, against whatever the Wastes threw at us.

[NEXT: TEMPLE RAID AND GUARDIAN BOSS FIGHT]

[DIFFICULTY: RAID BOSS]

[PREPARE ACCORDINGLY]

[DAYS IN WASTES: 4]

[DAYS REMAINING: 86]

[TEAM 7 STATUS: INTACT]

[CULTIVATION: PROGRESSING]

[MYSTERIES: ACCUMULATING]

[SURVIVAL: ONGOING]

[BOSS FIGHT: INCOMING]

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