Steadily Upgrading Everything!
Chapter 36: Just don’t fall in love with me.

Chapter 36: Just don’t fall in love with me.

The next morning, John made his way through the misty streets of Nine Sky City, his robes lightly rustling in the cool breeze.

His expression was calm, yet there was a hidden weight in his steps, he knew the day would mark another turning point.

Soon, he arrived at the massive gates of the Blue Cauldron Sect’s test area, the same place where the alchemy examination had been conducted days ago.

But as he stepped inside the grand plaza, his eyes widened.

"What the..." he muttered under his breath.

The entire grand hall had been transformed.

Where once stood a thousand alchemical stations, rows of bubbling cauldrons and shelves of herbs, now the space was completely empty, stripped bare.

Even the roof was gone, deconstructed and dismantled overnight.

In the center of the now-open sky hall, a gigantic flying ship rested atop a circular platform, its hull a shimmering blend of silver-blue alloy and runic etchings that glowed faintly with spirit energy.

It hovered slightly above the ground, humming softly like a slumbering beast of power.

John’s mouth fell open.

The ship was enormous—easily the size of a Boeing jetliner from his past life, if not larger.

Its wings were wide and curved upward at the ends, carved with detailed spirit runes.

Large vent-like thrusters on the sides hummed with restrained energy, and a crystal dome covered the top deck, giving it a majestic, otherworldly aura.

He wasn’t alone in his awe.

Around the plaza, other selected participants had also arrived and were craning their necks in stunned silence, marveling at the flying fortress.

"This thing... can fly?" John whispered, stepping closer.

As his eyes adjusted to the scale, he noticed a familiar figure standing at the platform ahead, the same white-haired elder from before, clad in blue robes with a Cauldron Crest glowing on his chest.

Beside him stood several younger sect disciples, and behind them, around a hundred participants stood in formation, clearly the ones who had passed the alchemy test.

John took a deep breath and strode forward, hurrying to join the group.

As he approached, a familiar voice called out from the right.

"You’re late, Mr. Lone Pill Master."

He turned and saw Riara Greenblade, dressed in a fresh forest-green robe, her long hair braided behind her head with a delicate silver pin.

She gave him a smug grin and gestured to the spot beside her.

John chuckled and moved over to stand next to her.

"Had to get a full night’s rest," he said. "You know, unlike people who keep me up with cheap food and life advice."

Riara rolled her eyes. "Please. That dumpling changed your life, admit it."

Then she pointed at the massive ship. "Beautiful, isn’t it?"

"It’s incredible," John admitted, still staring at it. "How does it fly?"

"Oh, it’s powered by high-grade Spirit Stones, thousands of them packed into its propulsion core," Riara replied with a hint of pride, as if the ship belonged to her family.

"This model is a Heaven-Class Transport Vessel, custom-crafted by the Iron Ring Sect in the Western Mountain Range."

John raised his eyebrows. "Never heard of them."

"That’s because you’re poor," she replied cheerfully. "Anyway, this beauty can carry up to five thousand people, has multiple spirit barrier layers, and even a defense mechanism strong enough to kill a Core Formation Realm cultivator or a spirit beast of the same rank."

John blinked. "Wait...kill?"

She nodded smugly. "That’s right. The defensive array built into the hull is powered by a cluster of engraved Core Realm beast cores. If activated, it could vaporize even a cultivator a realm above us."

"...Why would they need that on a transport ship?"

Riara leaned closer, her voice lowering. "Because they don’t just fly this thing over tea parties. The sect sends this ship deep into dangerous territories for missions. Plus, the most important part..."

She tapped the hull with her foot, the surface humming under her sole.

"...No ghost spirit can enter the barrier once it’s activated. It’s completely sealed against spiritual intrusions."

John’s eyes flickered at the mention of ghost spirits.

That detail struck a chord deep inside.

Riara smiled wider. "Cool, right? This baby has it all."

John gave her a look. "You do realize you’re acting like you built this thing?"

"Obviously not. But I have taste. And good taste appreciates craftsmanship."

He laughed softly and turned his gaze back toward the majestic vessel.

For a moment, he allowed himself to feel the weight of it all, the battles he’d fought, the ghosts he’d faced, and now, this.

Just as John and Riara stood admiring the massive flying ship, a shadow fell over them, accompanied by the sound of loud, deliberate footsteps.

John turned his head slightly and saw Brandon Flamewell approaching, his two loyal lackeys trailing behind him like oversized shadows.

Brandon’s plump frame jiggled slightly with each stride, and his round face was twisted in a barely contained sneer.

The moment his eyes landed on Riara and John, his expression soured even more, like he’d just tasted something rotten.

"Well, well..." Brandon grumbled, crossing his thick arms. "If it isn’t the cheap alchemist and his loud-mouthed girlfriend."

John didn’t flinch, but Riara raised an eyebrow.

"Oh? You mean the same loud-mouthed girlfriend who called you a walking piglet last week? Glad to see you’re still wearing the same double-stitched robe. I guess the tailor’s still suffering."

Brandon’s face turned red, and he gritted his teeth audibly, veins bulging on his temples.

"I haven’t forgotten your insults," he growled. "You think just because you passed one test, you’re untouchable? Just wait, if I get the chance in the Combat Test, I’ll personally make sure you both leave in stretchers."

He then turned his beady eyes toward John. "And you, lowborn trash, don’t think your luck will last. You don’t belong here with the rest of us. With your shabby roots, you’ll never make it past the first round."

John remained calm, his arms folded, but before he could say anything, Riara let out an exaggerated yawn.

"Oh gods, he’s doing monologues now," she said with mock boredom. "Quick, someone bring him a mirror. If he sees what he looks like while ranting, he might pass out."

A snicker escaped one of Brandon’s lackeys.

The other tried to hold it in but failed, letting out a low chuckle.

Brandon’s head snapped around, his eyes like daggers. "You two, did you just laugh?"

"N-No, young master Brandon! I... it was just a cough," one of them said, bowing immediately. "Forgive me!"

Brandon narrowed his eyes at them, his anger now split between his opponents and his own companions.

John, meanwhile, couldn’t help but let out a light laugh of his own.

A few others in the crowd, who were pretending not to listen, smiled or chuckled quietly, clearly enjoying the spectacle.

"Laugh all you want," Brandon growled, voice low. "But on that battlefield, I’ll wipe those smirks off your faces. Both of you."

He turned sharply, robes fluttering behind him, and stomped away.

His two lackeys followed, heads low, whispering hasty apologies as they trailed him.

Riara watched them leave with a smug grin, then turned to John.

"Don’t worry about him," she said, waving her hand dismissively. "He barks loud, but he’s not even a threat."

John raised an eyebrow. "You seem awfully confident."

She flicked her long braid over her shoulder. "Of course I am. I’m at the Spirit Seed Realm, thank you very much. That’s right... A realm higher then you, and with better hair and a superior attitude."

John smiled.

"And besides," she added, placing a hand over her heart with mock gallantry, "should trouble arise, worry not, dear alchemist, I shall become your knight in shining robes."

John burst out laughing. "That’s awfully generous of you."

Riara winked. "You’re welcome. Just don’t fall in love with me too fast."

The mood between them lightened as the tension of Brandon’s interruption faded away.

Around them, the crowd continued to gather near the massive flying ship, the hum of spirit energy intensifying as the boarding was about to begin.

Just as the last of the thousand selected participants gathered around the colossal spirit ship, the white-haired elder from the Blue Cauldron Sect stepped forward.

His blue robe fluttered gently in the morning wind, the Cauldron Crest on his chest glowing faintly under the rising sun.

He stood at the edge of the platform, hands folded behind his back, his presence alone enough to silence the murmurs and whispers among the cultivators.

His voice rang out clearly, calm yet commanding. "Now that all thousand of you are present, it’s time to begin the final stage of the sect’s entrance examination, the Combat Trial."

A heavy silence descended over the crowd. John straightened his back as Riara tilted her head slightly, intrigued.

"The Combat Trial will take place on the Blood Ghost Island," the elder continued. "An isolated, heavily restricted zone where Spirit Beasts and Ghost Spirits run rampant."

Whispers began to rise again among the participants, but the elder raised a hand and they died down.

"Do not panic. The Blue Cauldron Sect has already swept the island. All creatures of Core Formation Realm and above have been eliminated. The highest threat would be at Spirit Fruit Realm and you will rarely find a Spirit Tree Realm beast."

John’s brows furrowed slightly. That still meant powerful beasts, and ghosts, that could kill them with ease.

"The rules are simple," the elder said. "You will be transported to the island aboard this ship. Once there, you will be released into various locations across the island in random groups."

He paused, letting the gravity of his words settle.

"The trial will last for ten days. It is a survival test."

Murmurs resumed, more serious this time.

"The first five hundred participants to die or give up will be eliminated. The remaining five hundred will officially become outer disciples of the Blue Cauldron Sect."

At this, the crowd stiffened.

"Furthermore," the elder said, lifting a finger, "this is not only about survival. Every Spirit Beast and Ghost Spirit you kill will leave behind a core. You are to collect these. At the end of ten days, the top fifty participants with the most cores will be rewarded according to their rank."

He gave a small smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes.

"So if you wish to do more than survive, if you wish to be noticed, rewarded, and trained, hunt. Prove your worth."

A current of tension rippled through the crowd.

Some clenched their fists.

Others closed their eyes, trying to center themselves.

Riara, however, exhaled with a smirk. "Heh. Now this is more like it."

John glanced at her. "You don’t seem nervous."

"I’ve been waiting to stretch my legs," she replied. "Besides, I want that reward."

Before John could reply, the ship’s ramp extended with a heavy clang, releasing a soft pulse of spirit energy into the plaza.

The elder gestured with one hand. "Board the ship. Your rooms and allocations will be marked on the tokens you receive inside. Prepare yourselves."

The participants began to move, and John followed the flow of the crowd.

As he ascended the ramp, Riara bounced beside him with surprising enthusiasm.

Once aboard, the ship’s interior opened into a long, vaulted corridor bathed in bluish spirit light.

The walls were engraved with intricate arrays that pulsed gently, and soft carpets lined the metal flooring.

Rows of compartment doors stretched out on both sides, each marked with a glowing number.

John’s eyes flicked around. "Feels more like a luxury inn than a warship."

"That’s because it is one," Riara said, practically vibrating with excitement. "This beauty has over five thousand compartments, each warded with spirit seals for personal training. Some even have alchemy chambers. Look, see the crystal veins along the wall? That’s a self-sustaining spirit gathering array. Just walking inside restores Qi."

"You really are a ship nerd," John muttered.

"Thank you," she said proudly. "Also, there are emergency teleportation talismans hidden in the floorboards, just in case someone breaches the defense array. And did you know this model’s wings can fold inward for vertical descent..."

"I get it, I get it," John said, waving his hands with a laugh. "You know more about this ship than the engineers who built it."

"Hey, I read the manual!" she beamed.

A nearby disciple handed them small brass keys with glowing jade centers. "Your compartments. Check the number and proceed."

John looked down and sighed. "Room 72G. And let me guess..."

Riara already had her key out. "11B."

They exchanged looks.

John smiled bitterly. "Of course. Other side of the ship."

Riara grinned. "Looks like you’ll have to survive ten days without me saving your life."

John chuckled. "I’ll try to manage."

The two gave each other a nod before heading to their separate compartments.

As John entered his room, the door closed with a hiss behind him.

The spirit array inside lit up, bathing the space in calming light.

He sat on the bed and closed his eyes, allowing himself one last moment of calm.

Ten days.

Blood Ghost Island.

His next trial was just beginning.