Ashes of the star forge

The shelter was quiet except for the low hum of the filtration unit and the distant howl of wind across the canyon rim.

Lian sat with his back against the cold stone wall, the black liquid beneath his skin still working to close the deeper tissue damage. Elara remained standing near the entrance, her thunder blade within easy reach, alloy fingers flexing occasionally as her own systems stabilized the shoulder wound. Neither of them fully trusted the temporary safety of the cave.

Ryzek Vorn watched them both with his four amber eyes. The crystalline ridges along his arms caught the dim light as he leaned against the opposite wall, arms crossed. His presence remained steady and controlled — a cultivator who had clearly survived on Veythara’s Grave for some time.

“You said you are here for training,” Ryzek began. “That may be true. But no one is sent to this planet lightly. The pressure alone kills most who arrive unprepared. The storms and the native predators finish the rest. Star 7 experts have died here. Yet the two of you were dropped onto the surface with almost no equipment and left to survive.”

His gaze settled on Lian.

“Who is supervising you?”

Lian met the stare without looking away. He had already chosen how much truth to offer.

“Someone strong enough to leave us here and still expect us to live,” he said. “She monitors from a distance. She will only intervene if we face something we cannot survive.”

Ryzek’s tail flicked once behind him. The answer clearly aligned with what he had already suspected.

“I see.” He pushed away from the wall and moved to a small crate near the filtration unit, removing two sealed containers of processed water and a set of dense nutrient bars. He set them down within reach of Lian and Elara. “Then we can speak plainly. I am not your enemy — for now. I have been on this planet for eleven months. I came seeking a specific mineral vein that only forms under these extreme conditions. I found it. I am waiting for extraction support that has been delayed. In the meantime, I survive.”

Elara’s eyes narrowed slightly. “And you help stranded cultivators out of kindness?”

“No,” Ryzek answered without hesitation. “I help when it is useful. Two additional fighters who can already handle Star 1 predators increase the odds of mutual survival while I wait. In exchange, I offer information, a secure temporary base, and guidance on how to function under this planet’s pressure. That is the arrangement. Accept it or leave and take your chances with the things still hunting your scent.”

Lian glanced at Elara. She gave a small, reluctant nod. They both understood the reality of their situation. Pride would not keep them alive here.

“We accept,” Lian said.

Ryzek inclined his head once.

“Good. Then listen carefully. The pressure on Veythara’s Grave is not only physical. It constantly drains Qi from anyone who has not adapted. If you circulate normally, you will exhaust yourselves within days. You must learn to compress your energy tighter and cycle it in shorter, denser loops. Flight will remain costly until your bodies adjust. The predators you encountered today are common in this region. There are worse things deeper in the mountain ranges and inside the larger fissure systems. Some of them do not hunt alone.”

He paused, then added, “And one more thing. The invisible one that chased you earlier — that was a Phase Stalker. They are difficult to detect and even harder to kill without specialized methods. If you meet another, do not try to fight it head-on in open terrain.”

Lian filed every word away. The information was practical and immediately useful. Whether Ryzek’s motives remained purely transactional or not, the knowledge itself had value.

Outside the shelter, the winds of the death world continued without pause. Somewhere beyond the canyon, the hunting cries of the earlier pack still occasionally rose into the blood-colored sky.

Lian closed his eyes and began circulating his Qi in the tighter pattern Ryzek had described, feeling the black liquid respond in kind.

Power Scale / Cultivation Realms (Quick Reminder)

Foundation Realm (Layers 1–9): Body forging, no external Qi.

Circuit Awakening Realm (Early–Peak): First Qi loop, internal bursts.

Core Condensation Realm (Early–Peak): External Qi release, short flight.

Stellar Circuit Realm (1–9 Stars): True flight, Qi armor, energy projection.

Nebula Dominion Realm and higher: Domain control, galaxy-level power, etc

Power Scale Reminder

Lian Yu: Stellar Circuit Star 1.

Elara Voss: Core Condensation Middle

Keep it as reminders

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