Strongest Family System

Robert steadied his breathing, then flicked two fingers. Indigo spiritual fire spiraled in a thin line beneath the bronze pot, caressing the surface until pale runes around its border blazed amber.

Stage one—Herb Dissolution.

He released the Verdant Dragon-tongue Grass first. Leaves coiled tightly, emitting jade-colored mist that pushed against the cauldron's closed top. Robert channeled a sliver of qi to press the vapor back, guiding it into the liquid base. Too much pressure would scorch the essence; too little and the vitality would dissipate. Beads of sweat formed at his temples as he balanced the flow.

The Ember lotus petals followed. Flames flared crimson, clashing with the earlier emerald vapor and sending the cauldron's temperature into dangerous territory. Robert's pulse spiked—if the Frost cloud Crystal was added too soon, it would shatter, ruining the entire batch. He waited three breaths, then dropped the shard. A hiss cut the air; frost and fire met, stabilizing in a swirling violet mist. The cauldron quaked but did not crack.

Stage two—Essence Fusion.

The mixture grew thicker from ground Iron-marrow Bark; its gritty fragments clustered into stubborn masses. Robert amplified his soul power, pushing Spirit Root energy through the cauldron's rune channels. The clumps broke apart, yet a harsh metallic scent warned him he was seconds from failure.

He opened the jade container and allowed a single golden droplet to descend. Golden Roc Gall ignited with a sharp chirp, sending a spiral of luminous threads through the brew and purging the impurity. Robert exhaled—crisis averted.

Final stage—Pill Condensation.

The Nine-Ring Ginseng root hovered above the cauldron, held by Robert's qi. Each ring glimmered in turn as he shaved it slice by slice, every sliver melting into the violet-gold mixture. Power currents inside the cauldron rotated with increasing speed, forming a tiny whirlpool. The fire threatened to gutter; his energy reserves dipped toward exhaustion.

"Hold," he muttered. Tapping into his leftover spiritual energy, he channeled a continuous flow toward the runic pattern. Light flared. The cyclone compressed into three fist-sized globes, then shrank further until each became a perfect, pearl-smooth pill glowing jade-green.

Silence settled. The cauldron cooled, and Robert lifted the lid. "Inside rested three Spirit Root Nourishing Pills, emanating soft heat and an aroma that sharpened his thoughts."

His shoulders slumped with relief, fatigue washing over him, but a quiet smile formed. First attempt—hard-won success. Sai would have the strength he needed, and Robert had proven his own mastery had leapt another bound. Outside, distant courtyard bells marked the hour; inside, the future of the Osborn clan gleamed softly in his palm.

His shoulders slumped with relief, fatigue washing over him, but a quiet smile formed as he slipped one of his own rapid-recovery pills beneath his tongue. Warm medicinal qi spread through his meridians, knitting frayed channels and restoring depleted reserves.

"Robert rested his back against the stone, closed his eyes, and entered meditation until the bronze bell from the far watchtower chimed twice—approximately three hours later."

Energy renewed, he drew the next nine sets of ingredients from his ring—enough to stock the Shadow Pavilion and leave a reserve for future missions. The cauldron's runes blazed anew, and Robert guided each cycle with steadier hands, muscle memory smoothing earlier missteps. Ember lotus and Frost cloud balanced in perfect cadence; Golden Roc Gall sang through the mixture without a single impurity spark.

By the time the sun dipped low and crimson light slanted through the lattice windows, twelve additional jade-green pills had cooled within the cauldron. Robert sealed them in a carved sandalwood box, satisfaction settling over him like a cloak. When Sai returned for final instructions, the covert warrior would depart with strength enough to stand against any shadow the James clan might cast.

Robert drew the heavy door shut behind him, a sandalwood box tucked beneath one arm. Sai stood at attention in the quiet corridor, grey cloak blending with the dimming light. The moment their gazes met, the covert operative dipped into a precise bow.

"Young Master."

"Well met, Sai." Robert returned the gesture, then flipped the box lid and produced four lustrous pills. "Spirit-Root Nourishing grade two line pills, freshly refined. Use them to push your foundation to Level 5; You will need that margin when you slip behind enemy lines."

Sai accepted the porcelain vial with steady hands, slipping it into a hidden sleeve pocket. His expression remained unreadable, but the faint ripple of his aura betrayed restrained gratitude.

"Your orders, Young Master?"

"Shadow the James estate. Watch their gates, their messengers, and the merchants they host. I expect a concise report every nightfall—deliver it through the tuned stone only. No physical notes, no relay agents."

"Understood."

Robert's voice lowered. "And remember: should word of Father's seclusion surface, cut the source before the rumor takes root."

Sai's eyes flashed with cold resolve. "It will not leave a whisper."

With a final clasped-fist salute, he turned and slipped into the lengthening shadows beyond the courtyard arch. Robert watched until the grey cloak and soft footfalls vanished into the evening haze, then inhaled the cool air—certain the first counterstroke of the Osborn clan had begun.

"Robert shut the massive alchemy hall doors behind him, herbal fragrances from his recent work still perfuming his clothing. The night air brought sharp freshness as he traveled through twisting passages toward his personal cultivation room. The estate had embraced nighttime operations—servants finishing final obligations, guards assuming defensive positions along perimeter walls, and distant energy cultivation humming from various instruction chambers."

"Robert stepped into his cultivation chamber and immediately engaged multiple protective formations around the entrance, blocking potential disruptions to his training session. The comfortable room embraced him with its smooth wooden flooring, elaborate windows shuttered for the evening, and the meditation pad positioned centrally where spiritual currents naturally collected."

"The essential preparations are behind me," Robert muttered as he arranged himself cross-legged on the meditation pad, "which means I can concentrate on refining my foundational skills."

He had mastered Shadow Step Level 1 - Silent Footfall, but the next stage promised far greater utility. Level 2 - Breath Sync allows him to coordinate his breathing with the circulation of his spiritual energy, leading to an extraordinary balance between his stealthy actions and the internal flow of his power.

"Robert drew forth a handful of mid-grade spirit stones from his storage ring. The crystalline gems glowed with dense spiritual energy, each one possessing adequate qi to fuel hours of demanding cultivation work. Rather than the disordered spiritual energy that existed naturally in the environment, spirit stones supplied clean, concentrated power that could be instantly absorbed into one's meridian system without the prolonged cleansing process usually necessary.

"System," he murmured quietly, "show Shadow Step Level 2 training procedures."

The familiar blue interface materialized before his eyes:

[Shadow Step - Level 2: Breath Sync]

Requirements: Synchronize breathing rhythm with spiritual energy flow.

Phase 1: Establish baseline qi circulation pattern.

Phase 2: Match breath cycles to energy rotation (4 breaths per full circulation)

Phase 3: Maintain synchronization during movement.

Phase 4: Achieve seamless integration in combat scenarios.

"Robert set the spirit stones in a deliberate array around his meditation pad—one stone at north, south, east, and west, with the fifth gem placed right before his position. This setup would establish a consistent energy zone that would boost his natural spiritual capacity while preventing qi imbalance throughout the rigorous synchronization technique."

"He gripped the middle spirit stone between his palms, feeling its sleek texture heat up against his flesh. With expert smoothness, he pulled the first strands of power from the crystal, channeling the purified qi along his principal meridians. "The feeling was comparable to consuming cool mountain spring water after prolonged desert exposure—rejuvenating, reinforcing, and perfectly synchronized."

"Phase 1 - Establish baseline circulation," he whispered.

Robert began the fundamental breathing technique that all Shadow Step practitioners learned. Breathe inward for four, retain for two, breathe outward for six, retain for two. Once his respiration found this steady rhythm, he directed his spiritual power along the designated pathway: beginning at his dantian, ascending through his spinal column to his head's crown, then flowing downward through his limbs before returning to the central point.

The spirit stone's power fused perfectly with his personal qi, enhancing the flow and causing each channel to blaze with pure, potent energy. What normally took twenty minutes of careful cultivation compressed into mere moments with the spirit stone's assistance.

"Phase 2 - Match breath cycles to energy rotation."

Here, the true difficulty began. Robert needed to coordinate his respiration so that every full cycle of spiritual power aligned perfectly with four breathing sequences. Excessive speed would cause his qi to surge wildly through his energy channels, risking physical harm. Insufficient pace would make the energy pool and stagnate, preventing the required coordination.

Perspiration gathered on his brow as he struggled to preserve the fragile equilibrium. The initial spirit stone fractured and disintegrated into powder when its power was fully consumed, yet Robert's respiration remained constant. He extended his hand toward the eastern crystal without losing focus, channeling its energy to support the progressively challenging technique.

His dantian started radiating a gentle silver illumination—the trademark of achieved Respiratory Harmony cultivation. With every precisely coordinated breath, his spiritual power flowed like liquid mercury—graceful and unstoppable.

Robert continued his measured breathing tempo throughout another hour, his spiritual force flowing with greater smoothness. The metallic glow from his dantian grew stable, demonstrating he had secured minor achievement in Phase 2 - Breath Alignment.

Still, he recognized the technique remained unresolved; the timing stumbled during elaborate energy movements, needing additional perfection.

As the sixth crystal turned to ash in his palms, the seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth disintegrated afterward. Every stone's energy drew him closer to ideal synchronization, but absolute mastery remained frustratingly distant."

As the final stone dissolved, Robert noticed pale light filtering through the window shutters. He rose stiffly and pushed them open, squinting as golden morning sunlight streamed across his face.

"The entire night," he murmured, astonished. He had been so absorbed in cultivation that dawn had arrived unnoticed.

From his storage ring, he counted his remaining resources - fifteen mid-grade spirit stones left. Progress demanded patience, but with threats looming, time was a luxury the Osborn clan could ill afford.