The extraction point was a miracle of Immortal Era engineering.

Hidden in a cave system, protected by formations so subtle we'd have walked past without Team 3's knowledge, it pulsed with stable Qi that felt like a balm after weeks in the corrupted Wastes.

"Here," Jin Wei said, limping toward the formation circle. "This was built as an emergency exit. The main sects don't even know about it, discovered by accident during the last expedition."

[EXTRACTION FORMATION: ANCIENT BUT FUNCTIONAL]

[CAPACITY: 20 PEOPLE PER ACTIVATION]

[COOLDOWN: 6 HOURS]

[YOU CAN ALL LEAVE]

[FINALLY]

Chen Rou examined the formation carefully. "Zhao Fei, verification?"

Zhao Fei studied the arrays, running his hands along the formation lines. "Stable. Untampered. This one's safe." He looked up. "We can go home."

The words hung in the air. Home. Safety. An end to the constant danger.

"Not yet," Chen Rou said. She pulled out the memory jade, the evidence of Elder Shen's crimes. "This needs to reach the sect. But if we all extract now, Elder Shen might intercept us on the other side."

"He's wounded," Han Feng pointed out. "Your attack and Lin Tian's strike seriously hurt him."

"Core Formation cultivators heal fast," Chen Rou countered. "And he has allies, this 'Patron' person Wei Long heard about. We need to be strategic."

[TACTICAL CONSIDERATION: VALID]

[ELDER SHEN IS WOUNDED BUT DANGEROUS]

[THE CONSPIRACY GOES DEEPER]

"I'll go first," I said. "Stage 7, fresh breakthrough. If there's an ambush, I can handle it long enough for backup."

"No," Yun Xia said immediately. "We go together or not at all."

"She's right," Su Mei added, wincing from her injuries. "We've survived this long as a team. We finish as a team."

Chen Rou considered. "Compromise. First extraction: me, Tang Bolin, Lin Tian, and four Team 3 members. We secure the arrival zone. If it's safe, we send a signal. The rest follow in six hours."

[STRATEGY: REASONABLE]

[SPLIT THE RISK]

[SMART LEADERSHIP AS ALWAYS]

Everyone agreed. Jin Wei selected four of her healthiest members to accompany the first group. The rest, Yun Xia, Su Mei, Han Feng, Zhou Ming, Liu Yan, Zhao Fei, and three Team 3 survivors, would wait for the all-clear signal.

"Six hours," I told Yun Xia. "Then you're home."

"Don't die in the next six hours," she replied, squeezing my hand.

"I'll try my best."

[ROMANTIC MOMENT]

[BRIEF BUT SINCERE]

[SIX HOURS APART AFTER TWO WEEKS TOGETHER]

[SEPARATION ANXIETY: MUTUAL]

We stepped into the formation. Zhao Fei activated it from outside, and the world twisted.

[SPATIAL DISPLACEMENT: ACTIVE]

[DESTINATION: AZURE PEAK SECT]

[TELEPORTATION: ENGAGED]

The sensation was familiar now, reality compressing, expanding, reality reforming. But this time, instead of arriving in cursed ruins, we materialized in clean mountain air and proper sunlight.

Azure Peak Sect. Home.

[ARRIVAL: SUCCESSFUL]

[LOCATION: MAIN PLAZA]

[DETECTING: MULTIPLE ELDER QI SIGNATURES]

[THEY WERE EXPECTING US]

Elder Hu stood waiting, along with several other sect elders. Their expressions shifted from stern vigilance to surprise when they saw us.

"Team 7," Elder Hu said. "And Team 3 survivors. You're... early."

"Emergency extraction," Chen Rou reported immediately, still in tactical mode. "We have critical intelligence regarding—"

"Elder Shen's operation," a new voice interrupted.

Sect Master Liang stepped forward, his Nascent Soul cultivation making the air itself feel heavy. "We know. Team 4 reported sabotaged extraction points when they returned. We've been investigating."

[SECT MASTER: ALREADY AWARE]

[INVESTIGATION: ONGOING]

[WE'RE NOT THE FIRST TO REPORT]

Chen Rou pulled out the memory jade. "We have direct evidence. Elder Shen confessed to systematic murder, theft, and conspiracy with an unknown patron. Everything is recorded here."

The Sect Master took the jade, his expression darkening as he quickly reviewed the contents. "This confirms our suspicions. Elder Shen was under investigation for irregularities, but we lacked proof." He looked at Chen Rou with respect. "You've done the sect a great service."

"What about the other disciples still in the Wastes?" Chen Rou asked. "Fifty are already dead. The survivors need to be extracted immediately."

"Already in progress," Elder Hu said. "Emergency extraction protocols were activated yesterday. All remaining teams have been recalled."

[EMERGENCY RECALL: ACTIVE]

[REMAINING DISCIPLES: BEING EXTRACTED]

[THE EXPEDITION IS EFFECTIVELY OVER]

I felt relief wash over me. Yun Xia and the others would be extracted with everyone else. They'd be safe soon.

"Elder Shen?" I asked. "He escaped our ambush. Where is he?"

Sect Master Liang's expression grew cold. "Gone. He fled the region entirely. But he cannot hide forever. The three major sects have issued a joint execution order. He will be found."

[ELDER SHEN: FUGITIVE]

[MANHUNT: ACTIVE]

[HE'S DONE]

"And the Patron?" Chen Rou pressed.

"Under investigation. The conspiracy appears to involve multiple parties, possibly even elements within the sects themselves." The Sect Master's tone made it clear this was all he'd say publicly. "You've provided crucial evidence. Leave the rest to us."

[CONSPIRACY: DEEPER THAN EXPECTED]

[HIGH-LEVEL INVOLVEMENT SUSPECTED]

[ABOVE YOUR PAY GRADE NOW]

"Team 7," Elder Hu said. "Report to medical pavilion for evaluation. You're officially off-duty until cleared by healers."

"What about the rest of our team?" I asked. "They're waiting at the hidden extraction point."

"They'll be retrieved within hours," the Sect Master assured. "All disciples are being brought home."

The medical pavilion was chaos.

Disciples from various teams filled every bed, healers rushing between patients treating injuries ranging from minor to critical. The forty-percent casualty rate meant sixty survivors, all traumatized, wounded, exhausted.

Medical Disciple Wen found me immediately. "You again. What did you break this time?"

"Nothing. Actually feeling good."

She examined me with her spiritual sense, then her eyes widened. "Stage 7? You were Stage 6 when you left!" She checked again, as if not believing her own senses. "Two stage advancement in two weeks?"

"Stressful expedition," I said.

"Stressful." She shook her head in disbelief. "Your cultivation speed is still absurd. But your foundation is stable, surprisingly so, given the rapid advancement." She handed me a pill. "Take this anyway. It'll help consolidate your breakthrough."

[MEDICAL CLEARANCE: OBTAINED]

[FOUNDATION: STABLE]

[STAGE 7: FULLY ESTABLISHED]

[YOU'RE OFFICIALLY SCARY NOW]

I found Chen Rou being treated for exhaustion and multiple injuries. Despite her condition, she was already writing a detailed report.

"Rest," I told her. "The report can wait."

"Reports are how things get done properly," she replied, not stopping. "Elder Shen needs to be caught. The Patron needs to be identified. And the disciples who died deserve justice."

[CHEN ROU: DEDICATED]

[EVEN EXHAUSTED AND INJURED]

[RESPECT: MAXIMUM]

"We did good work out there," I said. "Everyone survived because of your leadership."

She paused, looking at me seriously. "Everyone survived because we worked together. Leadership is only as good as the team." A slight smile. "And you breaking through to Stage 7 mid-combat was insane but effective."

"Desperate times."

"Indeed." She returned to her report. "Get some rest, Lin Tian. Real rest. You've earned it."

Six hours later, I stood in the main plaza as the extraction formations activated again.

Yun Xia emerged first, her eyes immediately finding mine. She crossed the distance and crashed into me, holding tight.

"You're okay," she said into my chest.

"I'm okay. You're okay. Everyone's okay."

[REUNION: EMOTIONAL]

[RELATIONSHIP: TESTED AND STRENGTHENED]

[THEY MADE IT]

The rest of Team 7 materialized, Su Mei, Han Feng, Zhou Ming, Liu Yan, Zhao Fei. All present. All alive. Against forty-percent casualty rates and systematic murder, we'd achieved zero deaths.

"Team 7, complete," Han Feng said, grinning despite obvious exhaustion. "We're actually all here."

"Miracles happen," Su Mei added.

Zhou Ming just looked around in wonder, as if not quite believing he'd survived.

[TEAM 7 FINAL STATUS:]

[MEMBERS: 10/10]

[CASUALTIES: 0]

[MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS: NUMEROUS]

[SURVIVAL RATE: 100%]

[LEGENDARY PERFORMANCE]

Elder Hu approached our assembled team. "Team 7. Preliminary reports indicate you rescued Team 4, defeated a guardian boss, gathered critical intelligence, and survived combat with a corrupt elder." He looked at each of us. "The sect recognizes your exceptional performance. Formal commendations and rewards will be announced after full debriefing."

[REWARDS INCOMING]

[PROBABLY SIGNIFICANT]

[YOU EARNED IT]

That evening, Team 7 gathered in a private dining hall, sect privilege for returning heroes. Real food, not field rations. Clean water. Safety.

"To survival," Chen Rou raised her cup.

"To survival," we echoed.

"To Team 7," Han Feng added. "Best damn team in the expedition."

"To friends," Zhou Ming said quietly. "I came into this as a scared junior. I'm leaving with family."

[TEAM BONDING: COMPLETE]

[BONDS FORGED IN COMBAT: UNBREAKABLE]

[THIS IS WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT]

I looked around the table, at people who'd risked their lives for each other, who'd faced impossible odds and won through sheer determination and teamwork.

Two weeks ago, we were strangers assigned to a group.

Now? We were Team 7.

And that meant something.

[CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT: SIGNIFICANT]

[RELATIONSHIPS: SOLIDIFIED]

[GROWTH: IMMENSE]

"What's next?" Su Mei asked. "The expedition's over, but the semester continues."

"Training," Chen Rou said. "Recovery. And for some..." she looked at me pointedly, "...probably more rapid advancement that defies all logic."

Everyone laughed.

"Also," Yun Xia added, taking my hand publicly, "some of us have personal matters to attend to."

[RELATIONSHIP STATUS: PUBLIC]

[EVERYONE KNOWS NOW]

[SHIP: OFFICIALLY SAILED]

More laughter. Even Tang Bolin cracked a smile.

The expedition was over. Fifty disciples had died. A conspiracy was being unraveled. An elder had turned traitor.

But Team 7 had survived.

All of us.

Together.

[CRIMSON WASTES ARC: COMPLETE]

[DURATION: 2 WEEKS (vs planned 3 months)]

[SURVIVAL RATE: SECTOR-WIDE 60%, TEAM 7: 100%]

[ACHIEVEMENTS UNLOCKED: NUMEROUS]

[CULTIVATION ADVANCEMENT: MASSIVE]

[RELATIONSHIPS: DEVELOPED]

[CONSPIRACY: EXPOSED BUT ONGOING]

[STATUS: LEGENDARY]

[NEXT ARC: RETURN TO SECT LIFE]

[WITH NEW POWER, NEW RELATIONSHIPS, NEW CHALLENGES]

Late that night, I stood on my quarters' balcony, looking out at Azure Peak Sect.

Stage 7 cultivation. Legendary techniques. A girlfriend. True friends. Enemies defeated.

Two months in this world. From cannon fodder to someone who mattered.

[PROGRESS REPORT:]

[TIME IN WORLD: 2 MONTHS]

[CULTIVATION: QI REFINING STAGE 7]

[REPUTATION: HERO STATUS]

[RELATIONSHIPS: SIGNIFICANT]

[SURVIVAL PROBABILITY: 78%]

[BOSS, YOU'VE COME FAR]

'Thanks, System. Couldn't have done it without you.'

[DAMN RIGHT]

[NOW REST]

[NEW ADVENTURES AWAIT]

[BUT TONIGHT? CELEBRATE SURVIVAL]

I smiled and went inside.

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