The twilight painted the Azure Cloud Sect in soft hues of orange and purple, as the setting sun sank behind the towering mountain peaks, casting long shadows over the outer sect’s winding stone paths. The commotion at the entrance of Spirit Stream Valley had long faded, but the ripples it stirred spread through every corner of the outer sect, and even reached the inner sect’s secluded courtyards. Lin Mo walked alone, his steps unhurried, the wooden token warm against his chest through the robe, a silent shield that made him feel at ease amid the chaos.

Whispers followed him as he passed the clusters of outer sect disciples, but this time, there was no mockery or contempt in their voices—only awe, fear, and cautious respect. Some bowed their heads slightly as he went by, others fell silent mid-conversation, their eyes fixed on his back with a mix of wonder and trepidation. The boy who had once been the laughingstock of the outer sect was now a figure they dared not look down upon, a cultivator who had single-handedly defeated an inner sect disciple at Qi Refining Great Perfection. Lin Mo paid them no mind, his gaze focused on the small, shabby hut that had been his home for years. To him, the changing attitudes of others meant little; only cultivation, and the power to control his own fate, mattered.

He pushed open the creaky wooden door of his hut and stepped inside. The small space was simple, with only a stone bed, a tattered wooden table, and a few stacked scrolls, but it was quiet, a perfect haven for undisturbed cultivation. He closed the door behind him, blocking out the outside noise, and sat cross-legged on the stone bed. He took out the cloud-patterned wooden token first, holding it in his palm and sensing the gentle, stable spiritual energy flowing from it. This token was not just a protective charm, but a promise from Elder Qing, a lifeline in the dangerous web of the sect. He placed it beside him on the stone bed, then closed his eyes and began to circulate the Heavenly Immortal Art once more.

The spiritual energy in the air, thin as it was in the outer sect, converged toward him at an astonishing speed, drawn by the irresistible pull of the Six Paths Immortal Root. It flowed through his meridians smoothly, washing over every inch of his meridians, strengthening them further, and merging into the vast ocean of power in his dantian. His Qi Refining Great Perfection realm was still new, and he needed to consolidate it thoroughly, to make the power his own rather than a fleeting breakthrough. He could feel the faint imperfections in his cultivation base being smoothed out, his control over spiritual energy becoming more precise with each circulation. Every breath he took brought him closer to the peak of Qi Refining, the threshold of the Foundation Establishment realm looming faintly in the distance, a realm that had once been nothing but a distant dream.

Midway through his cultivation, a soft, ethereal voice echoed directly in his mind, without a sound reaching his ears—it was a sound transmission, a secret technique of high-level cultivators. “Lin Mo, this is Elder Qing. Listen carefully.”

Lin Mo’s eyes remained closed, but his mind tensed slightly, focusing intently on the voice in his head.

“The Wang family will not let this matter rest,” Elder Qing’s voice was calm, yet laced with a hint of solemnity. “Elder Wang, the inner sect elder backing the Wang family, is a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, and he holds great power in the sect. He has already sensed your defeat of Li Feng, and he is plotting against you. He will not act openly, for he fears my attention, but he will send more covert troubles your way, and he will try to cut off your access to cultivation resources.”

Lin Mo’s heart sank slightly. He had known the Wang family would retaliate, but he had not expected the elder to move so quickly.

“Your Six Paths Immortal Root and the Heavenly Immortal Art are too extraordinary to hide forever,” Elder Qing continued. “For now, keep a low profile. Do not seek out conflicts, but do not hesitate to defend yourself if provoked. The outer sect’s Spirit Stone Pavilion will distribute monthly spirit stones in three days—Elder Wang will try to bar you from receiving your share. I have left a mark on your token; present it to the pavilion keeper, and he will give you your due. Additionally, the sect’s outer sect trial will be held in a month’s time. The top ten disciples will gain entry to the inner sect’s low-level spirit stone mines and a chance to browse the inner sect’s Scripture Pavilion. This trial is your best opportunity to gain more resources and break through to Foundation Establishment.”

A surge of resolve welled up in Lin Mo’s chest. The outer sect trial was his chance to