Akashic_Tales Originals
God-Tier Shop System: I Sell Everything But Mercy
[Author – SYTTROX]
[Editor – MiT7]
Chapter 9: Loyalty Bond (1)
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The Vermillion Sect's local compound stood in stark contrast to Azurecrest City's predominantly blue-gray architecture. Nestled on the city's eastern edge, its crimson walls and pagoda-style roofs created a visual statement impossible to ignore, exactly as intended. Guards in matching robes patrolled the perimeter, their cultivation bases noticeably stronger than average city watchmen.
Lin Tian approached the ornate gate on the morning of the third day, having deliberately waited until the last moment of Bai Yuelin's deadline. The jade token hummed in his palm, responding to proximity with its parent formation. He wore formal attire that balanced merchant respectability with cultivator aesthetics, black and silver robes with crimson accents that acknowledged the sect's colors while maintaining his own identity.
"Calculated timing," Kiera observed from beside him. She had insisted on accompanying him despite his assurances that he could handle the meeting alone. Her hunter's instincts had been refined by recent events into something sharper, a protective vigilance that extended beyond business partnership.
"Information gathering takes time," Lin Tian replied with a slight smile. "Three days was barely sufficient."
Indeed, they had used every available resource to investigate the Vermillion Sect's sudden interest in Azurecrest. His father's commercial networks, Kiera's hunter connections, and even carefully worded inquiries through Crimson Hawk channels had yielded valuable insights. The sect had established their local compound just two weeks earlier, suspiciously close to the timing of Lin Tian's public bloodline manifestation.
The system had compiled and analyzed all gathered intelligence, generating a comprehensive assessment.
[Vermillion Sect Analysis]
[Primary Motivation: Bloodline Research/Acquisition]
[Secondary Motivation: Territorial Expansion]
[Threat Assessment: Moderate to High]
[Opportunity Assessment: Significant (Knowledge Access)]
[Recommended Approach: Limited Engagement, Information Exchange Only]
Armed with this understanding, Lin Tian activated the token. The gate guards straightened immediately, one disappearing inside while the other bowed with practiced deference.
"Merchant Lin, we've been expecting you. Please follow me."
They were led through meticulously maintained gardens where every plant bore red flowers or foliage, regardless of natural coloration, evidence of long-term energy manipulation to match the sect's aesthetic preferences. The main hall loomed ahead, its entrance flanked by statues of phoenixes rendered in red jade, their wings spread as if preparing for flight.
"Subtle," Kiera muttered under her breath.
Lin Tian suppressed a smile. The Vermillion Sect's ostentatious display of their phoenix affiliation seemed almost desperate compared to his own naturally manifested bloodline. Perhaps that explained their interest, envy disguised as scholarly concern.
Inside the hall, Bai Yuelin waited with two older cultivators. Her expression remained coldly professional, though Lin Tian detected a flicker of surprise at Kiera's presence.
"You bring an attendant?" she asked, disapproval evident in her tone.
"Business partner," Lin Tian corrected smoothly. "Ms. Frost oversees operations during my absences. Her presence ensures continuity should our discussions extend beyond today."
Before Bai Yuelin could object, one of the older cultivators stepped forward, a woman whose ageless face contrasted with eyes that had clearly witnessed centuries. Her robes bore additional embroidery marking her as someone of significant rank within the sect hierarchy.
"I am Elder Mei," she introduced herself, her voice carrying the distinctive resonance of a Soul Realm cultivator. "Inner Circle overseer for bloodline research. These are unusual circumstances that warrant flexibility in our protocols." Her gaze shifted to Kiera briefly before returning to Lin Tian. "Your companion may remain, provided she understands the confidential nature of our discussions."
Lin Tian bowed with precise formality, respectful without subservience. "Elder Mei, your accommodation is appreciated. I've come as invited to learn more about the Vermillion Sect's interest in my bloodline manifestation."
"Direct," Elder Mei noted with approval. "Then I shall reciprocate with equal directness. The Abyssal Phoenix bloodline has not manifested in recorded history, over ten thousand years of careful documentation. Its appearance now, in a merchant with no cultivation lineage, represents an anomaly of significant research value."
"Research value," Lin Tian repeated, keeping his tone neutral. "And what form would this research take?"
The third cultivator, a stern-faced man with a flame-shaped brand visible on his exposed forearm, answered instead. "Blood sampling, energy resonance testing, meridian mapping, and controlled manifestation trials. Standard protocols for bloodline classification and analysis."
Lin Tian noted how the man spoke about him as a specimen rather than a person. The system identified him automatically.
[Subject Identified: Master Feng Zhi]
[Position: Vermillion Sect Bloodline Extraction Specialist]
[Cultivation: Core Formation Stage 5]
[Notable: Specialized in Bloodline Transfer Techniques]
Bloodline extraction specialist? The title itself raised immediate concerns.
"Invasive procedures," Lin Tian observed. "With what benefit to me?"
"Knowledge," Elder Mei replied. "The Vermillion Sect possesses the most comprehensive bloodline cultivation techniques in the known world. While your Abyssal Phoenix represents a... divergent evolution of the pure phoenix bloodline, many principles remain applicable. We offer guidance that could accelerate your advancement and prevent potential complications."
"Complications?"
"Bloodline rejection," Master Feng Zhi stated bluntly. "Unstable manifestations. Mental degradation. Essence corruption. The list is extensive for untrained bloodline carriers, particularly those with no familial history of cultivation."
The threats were thinly veiled beneath a veneer of concern. Lin Tian maintained his composed expression while the system analyzed the claims.
[Claim Analysis: Bloodline Complications]
[Validity: Partially True]
[Relevant Context: Applies Primarily to Artificially Transferred Bloodlines]
[Current Risk to Host: Minimal (Natural Integration Progressing Optimally)]
"Generous of you to offer guidance," Lin Tian said carefully. "Though I note your compound was established remarkably quickly after my bloodline manifestation became public knowledge. Such urgency suggests interests beyond academic research."
Elder Mei's eyes narrowed slightly. "Perceptive. The Vermillion Sect has monitored Azurecrest since the Northern Forest dungeon anomaly began. Your manifestation accelerated our timetable, but was not its sole catalyst."
"The Abyss Rift," Lin Tian surmised.
"Indeed." Elder Mei gestured, and a formation activated in the center of the hall, projecting a three-dimensional map of the dungeon. "The Rift has stabilized temporarily, but its influence continues to spread. The energy signature matches ancient records of the Chaos Realms, a dimensional bleed that occurs perhaps once in ten thousand years."
The projection zoomed in on the dungeon's inner ring, showing a tear in reality that pulsed with familiar energy, the same black-crimson pattern that manifested in Lin Tian's void flames.
"Your bloodline resonates with this energy," Bai Yuelin stated, watching Lin Tian's reaction closely. "The Abyssal Phoenix originated in the Chaos Realms, according to our oldest texts. Its appearance now, coinciding with the Rift, cannot be coincidence."
Lin Tian absorbed this information, connecting it with his system's earlier bloodline analysis. The Abyssal Phoenix's origin in "Primordial Chaos" aligned with the sect's claims about the Chaos Realms. His bloodline awakening hadn't been random, it had been triggered by proximity to energy from its original dimension.
"You believe I'm connected to the Rift expansion," he stated rather than asked.
"We believe your bloodline represents both opportunity and potential threat," Elder Mei corrected. "The Abyssal Phoenix was known as a consumer of worlds, a destroyer of realms. Yet it also possessed the power of rebirth and creation. Which aspect manifests in you remains to be determined."
The conversation had shifted from research to something more fundamental, an assessment of whether Lin Tian represented an existential danger. He sensed the underlying tension in the room, the readiness of all three sect members to act if his response proved unsatisfactory.
"I seek neither destruction nor creation on cosmic scales," he said carefully. "My ambitions remain focused on commerce and personal cultivation advancement."
"For now," Master Feng Zhi noted skeptically. "Bloodlines influence their carriers over time, shaping desires and perceptions. What you want today may not reflect your ambitions a year from now."
A fair point, Lin Tian acknowledged internally. He had already noticed subtle changes in his thinking, an increased appetite for growth and expansion, a deeper satisfaction in consumption of resources. The system had warned about identity alteration through integration; perhaps the bloodline exerted similar influence.
"Which brings us back to your invitation," Lin Tian redirected. "You offer knowledge in exchange for research access. What specific form would this arrangement take?"
Elder Mei seemed pleased by his pragmatic approach. "Three months of residence at our mountain headquarters. Daily sessions with our bloodline specialists. Access to our library of cultivation techniques, with emphasis on energy control and manifestation stability. In exchange, we document your bloodline's characteristics and development patterns."
"And if I decline?"
The temperature in the room dropped perceptibly as Elder Mei's expression hardened. "The Vermillion Sect does not coerce, Merchant Lin. We invite. We offer. We suggest. But we also protect the wider world from bloodline threats when necessary. Your cooperation is preferred but not required for us to fulfill our responsibilities."
The threat, while elegantly phrased, was unmistakable. Lin Tian felt Kiera tense beside him, her hand drifting subtly toward a concealed weapon. He sent her a calming glance before responding.
"I appreciate the Vermillion Sect's dedication to knowledge and safety," he said diplomatically. "Three months, however, would severely impact my business operations during a critical growth phase. Perhaps we might consider an alternative arrangement, weekly consultations here at your local compound, with a shorter residence at your headquarters after my business reaches suitable stability."
Elder Mei considered this counterproposal, exchanging glances with her colleagues. "Two sessions weekly, with bloodline samples provided for remote analysis. A one-month residence at our headquarters within six months. Acceptable?"
Lin Tian nodded, satisfied with this compromise. "Acceptable, with two conditions: all research findings are shared with me in full, and any techniques developed from my bloodline remain my intellectual property."
"Presumptuous," Bai Yuelin muttered, though Elder Mei silenced her with a gesture.
"Reasonable protections," the elder acknowledged. "We will prepare an agreement reflecting these terms. The first session will commence tomorrow morning."
As they concluded the meeting, Master Feng Zhi approached Lin Tian directly. "A word of advice, merchant. The Abyssal Phoenix bloodline carries tremendous potential, but also significant risk. I've witnessed many promising cultivators destroyed by powers they couldn't control. Consider our guidance an investment in your longevity."
The warning seemed genuine despite the man's earlier clinical approach. Lin Tian inclined his head in acknowledgment. "Wisdom from experience is always valuable, Master Feng."
As they departed the compound, Kiera maintained silence until they were well beyond earshot of the guards. "That was... intense. They practically admitted they'd eliminate you if they deemed you a threat."
"Standard sect politics," Lin Tian replied, though he shared her concern. "They fear what they don't control, especially power with potential to rival their own."
"Are you really going through with these 'research sessions'? They'll be invasive at best, dangerous at worst."
"Knowledge flows both ways," Lin Tian reminded her. "What they learn about my bloodline, I learn about their techniques. The Vermillion Sect has accumulated cultivation wisdom for thousands of years, wisdom that could accelerate my advancement significantly."
Kiera frowned, unconvinced. "And the bloodline samples? Who knows what they could do with those."
"The system will help create decoys, samples that register as authentic but lack the true essence." Lin Tian had already planned this countermeasure. "I'll give them enough to satisfy their curiosity without providing tools that could be used against me."
They walked in thoughtful silence through Azurecrest's morning bustle, the city oblivious to the power negotiations occurring in its midst. Lin Tian processed the meeting's revelations, particularly the connection between his bloodline and the Abyss Rift. The system provided additional context as he reflected.
[Chaos Realms Analysis]
[Dimensional Classification: Origin Realm]
[Connection to Host Bloodline: Direct Lineage]
[Potential Significance: Source of Additional Power, Possible Evolution Catalyst]
[Warning: Prolonged Exposure May Accelerate Bloodline Dominance]
The implications were significant. If the Abyss Rift represented a direct connection to his bloodline's origin dimension, it could offer unprecedented advancement opportunities, but also accelerate the identity changes he'd already begun experiencing.
"You're quiet," Kiera observed as they approached their shop building.
"Processing," Lin Tian admitted. "The connection between my bloodline and the Rift explains much, but raises more questions than it answers."
"Like whether you're somehow responsible for the Rift's appearance?"
"Or whether it appeared specifically for me," he countered. "Cause and effect become circular when dealing with dimensional phenomena. Perhaps my presence in this world drew the Rift, or perhaps the Rift's energy awakened my bloodline. Either way, they're connected."
Kiera studied him with concern. "Does it change your plans?"
"It expands them." Lin Tian's eyes gleamed with new possibilities. "The dungeon reopens to authorized explorers next week. We should ensure we're among the first to enter."
"After what happened last time?" Kiera looked incredulous. "Your bloodline nearly went critical, and that was just from the outer ring exposure."
"Which is precisely why we need to investigate further, but with proper preparation." Lin Tian lowered his voice as they entered their building. "The Rift represents both opportunity and threat, better to understand it than remain ignorant."
The shop's ground floor bustled with morning customers, their employees managing transactions with practiced efficiency. Lin Tian nodded acknowledgments as they passed through to the private staircase leading to the upper floors.
In his office, he activated privacy seals before continuing their conversation. "The Vermillion Sect fears the Rift because they don't understand it. They see only the destructive potential, not the creative possibilities."
"Creative possibilities of a tear in reality?" Kiera sounded skeptical.
"The Abyssal Phoenix represents destruction and rebirth, a cycle, not merely an ending." Lin Tian accessed the system interface, displaying his bloodline analysis. "What if the Rift isn't just leaking energy from another dimension, but offering a connection that could be stabilized, even utilized?"
"For what purpose?"
"Resources. Knowledge. Power." Lin Tian's eyes gleamed with ambition. "Think of it as interdimensional commerce, a market opportunity beyond anything this world has conceived."
Kiera shook her head, a reluctant smile forming. "Only you would look at a potentially world-ending dimensional tear and see a business opportunity."
"Vision is seeing potential where others see problems," he replied with a grin.
Their banter was interrupted by a system notification.
[Alert: Shop Evolution Side Effect Advancing]
[Shared Consciousness: 31% (+8%)]
[New Function Manifesting: Emotional Synchronization]
[Effect: Enhanced Empathic Connection with Bonded Individuals]
The notification intrigued Lin Tian. Emotional synchronization? The system had never demonstrated capabilities in the interpersonal domain before. This development suggested evolution beyond mere commercial and cultivation functions.
"What is it?" Kiera asked, noticing his distraction.
"System update," he explained vaguely. "New functionalities emerging."
She accepted this without pressing, accustomed to the system's ongoing evolution. "I should check inventory before the afternoon rush. The new dungeon preparation kits are selling faster than we can produce them."
As she turned to leave, Lin Tian felt a strange impulse, a pull toward connection that transcended their business relationship. The system's emotional synchronization function seemed to amplify awareness of bonds and their potential.
"Kiera," he called softly, stopping her at the door. "Thank you for accompanying me today. Your presence was... significant."
She turned back, surprise flickering across her features at his uncharacteristic sentiment. "Just doing my job as your partner."
"It's more than that." Lin Tian approached her, guided by instincts he didn't fully understand. "From the beginning, you've seen me, the real me, beyond the merchant facade or the bloodline manifestation. That perspective has value beyond measure."
Kiera's expression softened, a vulnerability showing that she rarely revealed. "You're not as difficult to see as you might think, Lin Tian. Beneath the calculation and ambition, there's something... genuine."
The system registered their interaction with unprecedented detail.
[Relationship Analysis: Kiera Frost]
[Emotional Resonance: Strong]
[Loyalty: 83% (+4%)]
[Bond Type: Professional/Personal/Romantic]
[Bond Potential: Loyalty Ritual Compatible]
[Recommendation: Deepen Connection Through Shared Experience]
The loyalty ritual. Lin Tian had encountered references to this in the system's documentation, a process that formalized and strengthened bonds between the shop owner and key associates. The details remained obscure, but its significance was clear: a transformation of relationship that transcended conventional partnerships.
"We've come a long way from that first meeting in my tiny shop space," he observed, memories of their early interactions surfacing.
"When you were just a strange merchant with unusually good products," Kiera recalled with a smile. "Before silver hair and void flames and sect politics."
"Do you ever regret it?" Lin Tian asked, genuine curiosity in his voice. "Becoming involved in all this?"
She considered the question seriously. "My life as an independent hunter was freedom without purpose. Surviving day to day, taking contracts, avoiding guild politics." She gestured to encompass their operation, "This has direction. Impact. It's changing Azurecrest, maybe eventually the world. How could I regret being part of that?"
Her answer resonated with something deep within Lin Tian, a recognition of shared values despite their different origins and backgrounds. The system's emotional synchronization function highlighted the harmony between them, a compatibility that transcended circumstance.
"The coming weeks will bring significant changes," he said, his voice taking on a more serious tone. "The Vermillion Sect, the dungeon reopening, our expansion plans, each represents opportunity and risk in equal measure."
"We'll handle it," Kiera replied with quiet confidence. "We always do."
The simple statement carried profound trust, faith in their partnership that had been earned through shared challenges and victories. Lin Tian felt the system respond to this trust, the emotional synchronization function strengthening their connection in ways he couldn't fully articulate.
"Yes," he agreed, "we will."
After she departed, Lin Tian returned to his cultivation chamber, needing to process the day's developments through meditation. The Vermillion Sect's interest, the Abyss Rift connection, and the system's evolving functions each required careful consideration.
He settled into the lotus position, activating the chamber's protective formations before accessing the system interface.
[Cultivation Status]
[Current: Qi Foundation Stage 3 (Early)]
[Bloodline Integration: 18% (Stable)]
[Recommended Focus: Energy Circulation Refinement]