Morning mist clung to the Liu family training grounds as Zǔ Zhòu moved through the modified Raging Tiger forms. Each motion flowed with precision that shouldn't exist in a Body Tempering cultivator, yet remained imperfect enough to seem achievable.
"Better," Elder Feng noted, circling him like a predator. "Your temporal offset theory shows merit. The qi circulation accelerates by approximately—"
"Twenty percent," Zǔ Zhòu finished, allowing pride to color his voice. "I felt it click during last night's meditation. Like... like time itself was teaching me."
Other disciples training nearby cast envious glances. Liu Wei's transformation from waste to potential genius had become the estate's primary gossip. Some whispered about deviation-granted gifts. Others suspected demonic influences. None guessed the truth.
"Again," Elder Feng commanded. "This time, extend the temporal perception through the entire sequence."
Zǔ Zhòu obeyed, carefully calibrating his performance. Too perfect and suspicion would bloom. Too flawed and his reputation wouldn't build properly. The sweet spot lay in showing struggle that yielded to breakthrough—the narrative of hard-won success.
"Young Master Wei works like a man possessed," one disciple muttered.
"Deviation changed him," another replied. "My cousin saw his room—covered in formation diagrams. He barely sleeps."
Good. Let them spread stories of dedication. Every rumor added another layer to his disguise.
The morning session concluded with Elder Feng documenting his progress in meticulous detail. "Your advancement rate exceeds normal parameters by a significant margin. From Third Stage to Sixth Stage in three months..."
"Is it too fast?" Zǔ Zhòu injected worry into his tone. "Sometimes I feel like I'm burning through my potential. What if—"
"Natural talent often emerges through crisis," Elder Feng interrupted. "Your deviation may have unlocked latent abilities. Continue at this pace but monitor for instabilities."
After dismissal, Zǔ Zhòu returned to his chambers where his temporal anchor servant waited with prepared materials.
"Fifth Stage advancement tonight?"
"Yes. The temporal crystals have stabilized enough for safe absorption." He pulled out three crystals harvested from the scar—compressed paradox energy humming with possibility. "Public advancement to peak Fourth Stage. Secret reality: solid Fifth Stage. The gap provides maneuvering room."
That evening, he descended to the temporal scar chamber. The servant batteries were already in position, their souls pre-loosened for optimal energy filtering. He'd refined the process over weeks, achieving 34% efficiency—remarkable for a prototype system.
"Begin extraction."
Paradox energy flowed through the servant chain, each soul processing impossibility into something his body could contain. The temporal crystals dissolved one by one, their compressed cultivation accelerating his advancement by decades.
Body Tempering Fifth Stage solidified with a sensation like bones turning to iron while remaining flesh. His muscles didn't just strengthen—they learned strength from futures where they'd already grown powerful.
"Advancement confirmed," he noted, feeling the energy settle. "Fifth Stage achieved. Sixth Stage possible within two months at current rate."
"The servants?"
Three had expired during processing, their souls too fractured to maintain coherence. Acceptable losses. He had the corpses fed to the scar—even death served his purposes.
"Young Master," a guard called from above. "Lady Liu Mei requests your presence."
Perfect timing. He adjusted his apparent cultivation back to peak Fourth Stage and ascended.
Liu Mei waited in the garden pavilion, surrounded by basic cultivation manuals. At twelve, she'd just begun formal training, her innocent enthusiasm untainted by cultivation world realities.
"Third Brother!" She bounced up, beaming. "I heard Elder Feng praised your progress again. Will you help me understand the breathing exercises? My instructor explains poorly."
"Of course, Mei'er." He sat beside her, cataloging her vulnerabilities like a butcher studying meat. Such perfect material for long-term corruption—trusting, talented, desperate for approval. Her eventual transformation into a weapon would provide decades of entertainment. "Show me your current method."
She demonstrated basic qi breathing—inefficient but standard for beginners. Her spiritual roots were actually superior to his body's, a fact that would devastate her brothers if known.
"Your technique is correct but limited," he began, adjusting her posture. "Cultivation isn't just about gathering qi. It's about power. The power to protect what matters."
"Like family?"
"Exactly. But protection requires strength. And strength..." He guided her through a modified breathing pattern—still orthodox but subtly aggressive. "Strength sometimes demands harsh choices."
She followed his instruction, qi flowing more smoothly. "Harsh how?"
"Imagine someone threatened me. Or Mother. What would you do?"
"Tell Father! He'd stop them."
"But what if Father wasn't there? What if you were the only one who could act?" He kept his tone gentle while planting seeds. "Would you have the strength to do what's necessary?"
Her young face scrunched in thought. "I... I'd try to stop them."
"Even if it meant hurting them?"
"If they were hurting you? Yes!" The conviction in her voice delighted him. Such natural protective instincts, so easy to twist toward darker purposes.
"Good. That's why we cultivate—to have choices. Weakness means watching loved ones suffer. Strength means preventing that suffering." He taught her another modification, this one emphasizing offensive application. "Power isn't evil, Mei'er. It's a tool. What matters is protecting those we love."
She absorbed the lesson eagerly, trusting her beloved brother completely. Each word carefully chosen to seem reasonable while establishing dangerous foundations. In years to come, she'd justify increasingly extreme actions through the lens of protective necessity.
"Third Brother, why did you change so much after your deviation?"
He let vulnerability show. "I realized how weak I was. How useless. If real danger came, I couldn't protect anyone. That knowledge... it drove me to improve."
"You were never useless to me," she said firmly, hugging him with childish affection.
The gesture meant nothing to someone who'd tortured gods. Her trust was merely confirmation that the tool was properly prepared. Not affection—he was incapable of that. But aesthetic appreciation for corruption potential. This pure trust would make her eventual realization so much more delicious.
"Thank you, Mei'er. Practice those modifications daily. In a month, you'll surpass your peers."
"Because I'll be strong enough to protect everyone!"
"Yes," he agreed, knowing she'd eventually interpret 'protection' in ways that would horrify her current self. "Exactly right."
After she left, he compiled mental notes. The deviation insights provided perfect cover for rapid advancement. Elder Feng documented everything, creating official records of his improvement. Liu Mei's corruption proceeded on schedule—subtle shifts that would compound over years.
"Calculated progress in all areas," he told his servant that night. "Public advancement maintains believability. Secret cultivation accumulates real power. Social manipulation builds future resources."
"The observers seemed particularly engaged during the teaching session."
"Corrupting innocence through kindness. Classic yet effective." He smiled coldly. "By the time she realizes what I've taught her, she'll be too invested to turn back."
Tomorrow would bring more supervised training, more documented struggle hiding effortless comprehension. But tonight's secret advancement had pushed him closer to his goals.
Body Tempering Fifth Stage (Hidden) / Fourth Stage Peak (Public).
The gap between appearance and reality widened daily. Soon, he'd "discover" materials that perfectly aligned with his deviation insights. The Temporal Demon Transformation Scripture waited in the wings, ready for its dramatic entrance.
But not yet. First, more foundation. More reputation. More careful steps toward inevitable ascension.
The late bloomer blessed by deviation—such a perfect role for a monster pretending to be human.
And everyone believed it.