ing and majestic. Crafted from celestial jade and ancient obsidian, they shimmered under the first light of dawn. Carvings of dragons and phoenixes spiraled up the twin pillars, and an ethereal aura clung to the gate like mist—heavy and regal, like the weight of a thousand destinies.
Lin Feng stood before it, his heart steady, his eyes reflecting not awe, but clarity.
This was no longer the edge of his journey.
This was the beginning of the true path.
Arrival
As he passed through the gates, a pulse of spiritual energy rippled across his body. He staggered a step as the sensation washed over him—warm, but heavy. The Inner Sect recognized its own.
Behind him, Su Xue watched silently. She wasn't allowed past the gate—outer disciples never were. But she smiled softly, as if willing her strength to follow him.
Then, she was gone.
And Lin Feng was alone.
A disciple in jade-green robes approached, eyes narrowed. He carried an ornate staff tipped with silver wind-bells, and his cultivation base hovered at the peak of Qi Sea Realm, only half a step from Foundation Establishment.
"Name?" the disciple asked, his tone crisp and cold.
"Lin Feng."
He scanned the jade token Lin Feng handed him, eyebrows twitching just slightly. He hadn't expected that name.
"Room 13, East Pavilion. You'll report to Master Qiu Yulan for orientation at dusk."
He handed back the token, then paused. "Stay out of trouble, Lin Feng."
The words held no warmth.
Lin Feng gave a polite bow and moved on.
The East Pavilion
The Inner Sect was a world of its own.
Grand bridges stretched across floating peaks. Crystalline waterfalls cascaded from mountaintops into sky-ponds below. Wild spirit beasts grazed freely within protective barriers, and mystic formations floated in the air like silver runes dancing through invisible ley lines.
Power.
Refinement.
Danger.
This wasn't a place for the weak.
Lin Feng reached Room 13, a small but refined stone pavilion built into the edge of a cliff. It had its own spirit-gathering formation and an indoor cultivation chamber—not extravagant, but leagues above what he'd known.
He placed his belongings down, sat cross-legged, and closed his eyes.
[System Alert: Zone upgraded – Inner Sect Pavilion. Spirit density: +250%]
[Passive cultivation rate enhanced.]
He let out a breath.
Then it hit.
[New Quest: Survive the Jade Arena – Rank Initiation Challenge.]
[Description: You have entered the Inner Sect. Before your presence is accepted, you must stand your ground. All new disciples are tested within 3 days.]
[Difficulty: High.]
[Reward: System Skill Token ×1 | Cultivation EXP ×5,000 | Inner Circle Merit Badge.]
[Penalty: Expulsion from Inner Sect.]
Later That Night – Orientation
Master Qiu Yulan stood at the head of the marble terrace, long robes flowing like water, hair bound in a topknot of silver threads. Her beauty was sharp, like the edge of a sword unsheathed, and her cultivation base—Nascent Soul Realm—suffused the courtyard with a crushing pressure.
Thirty new Inner Disciples knelt before her, all silent.
"Some of you earned your place through blood. Others through merit. And some"—her gaze briefly flicked to Lin Feng—"through... unexpected methods."
"It does not matter. Only one truth holds here: The Inner Sect does not care where you began. Only where you end up."
She clapped once.
A massive jade disc floated into view above them, and names began to appear—each one glowing faintly.
The Jade Arena Challenge.
"Three days. Survive the arena. Make your mark."
"Dismissed."
A Visit in the Dark
As Lin Feng returned to his room, he found the door slightly ajar.
Instantly alert, he reached for his system interface.
[Skill Ready: Heaven-Step Movement.]
But a calm voice spoke from within.
"You're quick. Good."
A figure stood near the cultivation altar. Tall, lean, and cloaked in a deep indigo robe embroidered with cloud patterns.
His eyes were gold.
And dangerous.
"Who are you?" Lin Feng asked, voice steady.
The man smiled faintly.
"Li Yan. Senior disciple… and someone who watches the stars move before others see the sky shift."
Lin Feng narrowed his eyes. The name rang a bell—he was a Core Disciple, rumored to be one of the sect's monsters.
"You're not here to welcome me."
"No. I'm here to warn you."
Li Yan turned, and his gaze hardened.
"There are some who want you gone. Some who believe the only reason you passed the Summit Trials was because of some artifact, some fluke."
"Some are right," Lin Feng murmured.
"Ah, honesty. Good." Li Yan walked past him. "But don't think they'll care. When the Jade Arena opens… it won't be a test."
He looked back once, eyes gleaming.
"It'll be a hunt."
The Night Before the Arena
Alone again, Lin Feng stared at the moon above.
His thoughts churned—not with fear, but with resolve.
He could feel the pressure. The hate. The eyes that wanted him to fail.
He understood it.
He just didn't accept it.
He opened his system.
[New Passive Activated – Mind of the Infinite]
[Effect: Immune to all spirit-level illusions. Thought resistance +30%. Cognitive reaction speed enhanced.]
[Stat Progression: Qi Condensation (Stage 7) – 84% to next breakthrough.]
[Available Points: 12 (from hidden trial rewards)]
He placed six into Body, four into Mind, and two into Spirit.
Then he did something else.
He began crafting.
Not a technique from a scroll.
Not something the system gave.
But his own.
His path.
And it began with a breath.