Why is My System Glitching

The marsh's edge crackled with tension, the cherry blossoms' faint rustle a mocking backdrop to the standoff.

"Well, well, well." Donovan Valdez stood resolute, his scarred face a mask of calm, but his voice carried a razor's edge, his white cloak billowing like a war banner. "Since all my dear sect comrades seek the Alchemy Formula of Foundation Establishment Pill and the Crimson Whisker Vine, then let martial skill decide. Everything is possible. Just prove your worth and claim the prize through cultivation, battle prowess and the favor of the Great Dao."

With a curt nod, he turned, signaling his Dominator Squad to withdraw, his pearl locket glinting ominously.

"Senior Brother Valdez!" Shirley Quinn called out, her eyes flashed and her voice a silken blade, sharp yet alluring. "Please stay. Hear your junior sister out, just for a moment."

Her feather fan unfurled, veiling half her face, a coy smile playing beneath it. "Though the Alchemy Formula and the Vine are rare treasures, we are still sect comrades—akin to brothers and sisters. Especially now, away from the holy sect on an outer sect task, we should watch each other's backs, not turn blades upon one another. Should we let a mere Hanz Clan Estate task fracture our bonds, pitting us against each other like foes?"

Shirley stepped forward, her scant red gauze dress whispering against her alabaster skin, the venomous creatures adorning her—shimmering butterflies, writhing green snakes, a massive black spider, a coiled centipede, and crimson beetles—stirring faintly, their movements amplifying her lethal charm. Her fan flicked, sending a musky scent wafting through the air. "In this humble junior sister's opinion, neither the Alchemy Formula nor the cultivation insights are single-use treasures—they can be shared. The only prize worth a potential bloodshed is the Crimson Whisker Vine. So why don't we cooperate? Why don't we join forces? Even if most of us miss the rare Vine, no one need leave empty-handed. What say you, Mister First Dominator?"

Donovan Valdez's brow furrowed slightly, his reply forming, "Junior Sister Quinn—"

But before he could continue, Jorge Blue cut in, his scholarly demeanor belying his firm resolve, his calm smile unwavering. "I stand with Senior Sister Quinn. We came here seeking the chance to establish our Foundation Souls, to claim the Alchemy Formula for the key Pill and ascend—not to clash in bloodshed needlessly. Since the Crimson Whisker Vine cannot be divided, let fate and strength decide its owner. But the Alchemy Formula? The Cultivation Insights? It's just a matter of merely making a few copies. Why draw blades over what can be shared?"

He raised a hand, his tone solemn, his voice carried the weight of a vow, clear and unshakable "I, Jorge Blue, Captain of the dauntless Thirst Bull Squad, swear the Inner Demon Oath on my Dao Heart: If I obtain the Alchemy Formula of the Foundation Establishment Pill or any cultivation insights within the Hanz Clan Estate, I will share them willingly with all of you here."

Garrick Blackthorn's eyes narrowed, his voice steady but laced with resolve. "Junior Sister Quinn speaks wisely. I support her plan."

The three captains—Garrick Blackthorn, Shirley Quinn, and Jorge Blue—had spoken, their gazes now fixed on Donovan Valdez, the lone holdout. His scarred face darkened, sensing the subtle alliance forming against him. The air grew taut, their unity a quiet challenge to his dominance. After a tense heartbeat, Donovan's expression shifted, a warm smile breaking through, though his eyes remained guarded. "I was about to say the same, Shirley. Your plan mirrors my own thoughts perfectly."