The afternoon sun painted the towering Twin Peaks of the Scarlet Cloud Sect in hues of gold and purple as the return portals, vibrant with spatial energy, deposited the surviving disciples onto the spacious gathering platform of Condor Peak. The air, previously thick with the tension of departure, was now permeated with the metallic scent of dried blood, stale sweat, and a palpable relief that struggled to assert itself over the still-fresh trauma of the Spiritual Beast Trial.
Lin Feng emerged from the flickering portal one step behind Xiao Lan, his slight frame and worn, stained outer disciple robes seeking to blend into the shadows of the inner disciples surrounding him. Beneath his clothes, in a carefully sewn inner pocket, Glob, reduced to the size of a small dark pearl, rested silently, a warm, secret presence against his skin. The Return Token in his hand had ceased its urgent vibration.
Xiao Lan's arrival was like a stone dropped into a calm pond. Even before a single word was spoken, a subtle but undeniable transformation in her bearing and the energy emanating from her silenced murmurs and drew all eyes. She was no longer just the cold beauty and prodigious talent of a standout inner disciple; there was a depth to her, an unfathomable serenity that set her apart, as if a phoenix had truly been reborn from its own ashes.
They headed towards the registration tables, where Elder Liu, with his grizzled beard and penetrating gaze, alongside the more jovial but equally respected Elder Fei, and the stern Elder Hong, oversaw the process.
As Xiao Lan stepped forward, her calm demeanor contrasted sharply with the surrounding agitation. She serenely presented a selection of high-grade beast cores, among them that of the Cave Basilisk and one particularly large and dark one that Lin Feng recognized as the Shadow Chimera's. "These are the most notable spoils from my foray into the depths of the Umbral Mountain Range, Elders," she said in a clear voice. "Furthermore, after an arduous and dangerous confrontation with its guardian, I had the immense fortune of finding and partially refining the essence of the legendary Umbral Heart Lotus."
Elder Liu, whose own cultivation was at the peak of the Foundation Establishment Realm, a single step away from a breakthrough that had eluded him for decades, observed her intently. His spiritual sense, keen and experienced, swept over Xiao Lan. What he felt made him blanch. His eyes, normally stern, widened with absolute disbelief, and he took a step back as if he had received an invisible blow.
"It can't be!" he exclaimed, his normally firm voice now a trembling thread that, nonetheless, cut through the platform's murmurs like a knife. "Your aura… the resonance of your spiritual core… You've crossed the Great Threshold! This is the unmistakable power of the Golden Core Realm!"
The declaration fell with the weight of a mountain. A deathly silence seized the crowd, followed by an explosion of gasps and choked exclamations.
"Golden Core? Senior Sister Xiao Lan?" "But she was barely consolidating the late stage of Foundation Establishment—the third stage—before the trial! To reach Golden Core, the fourth stage, in one fell swoop is… it's a heavenly miracle!" "An unparalleled genius has been born in our Scarlet Cloud Sect! Not even the most talented usually see the Golden Core before forty years of age!"
Elder Fei and Elder Hong hurried forward, their own spiritual senses confirming the astonishing truth, their faces a mix of shock and uncontrollable euphoria.
"It's true! It's a genuine and stable Golden Core!" cried Elder Fei, his eyes gleaming with tears. "Xiao Lan, you are a true Daughter of Heaven, a phoenix destined to rise and lead our sect to glory!"
The news was a cataclysm. The Golden Core Realm was the pinnacle of power in their Scarlet Cloud Sect; only Sect Master Ouyang Zhen had reached the peak of this fourth stage, while the Grand Elders resided in its middle stage. For such a young disciple to achieve it, and so meteorically, was a sign, a promise of a glorious future for a sect that had always been considered low-tier, a minor power in the confines of the Hundred Mountain Alliance, almost forgotten and far from the bustling, rich cultivation cities of the continent.
As Xiao Lan was surrounded by a jubilant crowd of deacons and elders congratulating her and eagerly questioning her, Lin Feng seized the commotion to try and slip away unnoticed. But luck rarely sided with him completely.
Elder Liu, partially recovering from his astonishment but with a new spark of authority in his voice, fixed his penetrating gaze on him. "You. Disciple Lin Feng." His voice, though less strident, was still authoritative. "You're still alive. A first-stage Qi Condensation cultivator, the most basic level of our martial path. Explain yourself. How did you survive dangers that even inner disciples in Meridian Opening or early Foundation Establishment couldn't overcome? And what is your connection to the extraordinary breakthrough of the now Elite Disciple Xiao Lan?" (Though not yet official, the title of "Elder" already floated in the air for her.)
Lin Feng felt all eyes on him, laden with envy, suspicion, and disdain. He bowed his head respectfully, his face a carefully rehearsed mask of humility and exhaustion. "This disciple had fortune I barely comprehend, Elder Liu. Most of the trial I spent hidden, preventing any direct confrontation. As for Elite Disciple Xiao Lan…" He paused, as if choosing his words with utmost care. "After being separated from my initial group and narrowly escaping a beast, I was immensely fortunate to find her trail. She, in her magnanimity and seeing my pitiful state, allowed me to follow her at a safe distance. She found that my years of obsessive study of ancient, forgotten texts in the outer library had granted me certain fragmentary knowledge regarding the poisonous flora and anomalous energies of the Umbral Mountain Range. These observations, though humble, seemed to be of marginal use to her in identifying some dangers and optimizing her route into the deeper zones where she found her heavenly opportunity."
It was the story they had perfected. It mentioned neither Glob, nor the chaos, nor the synergy, nor the Primordial Library. His survival was luck and Xiao Lan's protection; his usefulness, an intellectual peculiarity.
Elder Liu scrutinized him, his eyes narrowed. The explanation was plausible, though Lin Feng's "luck" was certainly extraordinary. But with Xiao Lan's Golden Core miracle occupying all thoughts, the survival of an insignificant outer disciple was, indeed, a footnote. "Hmph. That your 'luck' and your 'erudition' served Elite Disciple Xiao Lan is, I suppose, a credit to you, however minimal. Report to the Hall of External Affairs tomorrow and submit a detailed report of all your 'observations.' Now, withdraw and cause no trouble."
Lin Feng bowed deeply and slipped away, grateful to escape the scrutiny. The gazes of Zhang Fu and Li Wei followed him, laden with a confused bile and resentment they didn't fully understand, for their most vivid memories of Lin Feng's humiliation and strange power in the caverns had been veiled by the Guardian. Only the old animosity remained, and the incomprehension of how this trash was still alive and even vaguely associated with the sect's new goddess.
Hours later, the Celestial Phoenix Hall, the heart of the Scarlet Cloud Sect's power, hummed with contained excitement. Xiao Lan stood at the center, before the Sect Master, Ouyang Zhen, and the five Grand Elders of the sect. Ouyang Zhen, a middle-aged man with a three-pointed beard and a gaze that seemed to hold the wisdom of a deep lake, resided at the peak of the Golden Core Realm. The Grand Elders, all venerable figures in the middle Golden Core stage, observed her with an intensity that would have made any other youth tremble.
The hall was imposing, carved from white jade and adorned with pillars depicting ascending phoenixes, a recent addition in honor of the sect's new star. The air vibrated with dense spiritual energy.
"Elder Xiao Lan," Sect Master Ouyang Zhen began – already bestowing upon her the title her new realm deserved – his voice calm but with an echo of power that filled the hall. "Your breakthrough is not just a personal achievement; it is a momentous event for our Scarlet Cloud Sect. You have reached the Golden Core, the fourth of the ten known Cultivation Stages on this plane, at an age that breaks all our annals. Not even I, in my youth, showed such speed. Please, tell us in full detail how this heavenly fortune occurred. Omit nothing, no matter how insignificant it may seem."
Xiao Lan, her face a mask of serene composure that concealed the whirlwind of calculations within, bowed respectfully. "Sect Master, Honorable Grand Elders. The Umbral Mountain Range proved to be a place of unexpected dangers and opportunities." She began her account, describing the arduous battle against the Shadow Chimera, the discovery of the Umbral Heart Lotus at a moment of near-absolute despair, and her risky decision to attempt to refine a portion of its essence on the spot.
"The Lotus's energy was wild, primordial," she continued, her voice resonating with the truth of that part of the experience. "The refining process brought me to the brink of destruction on multiple occasions. It was a clash of wills, my Fire Dao against the Lotus's icy purity. Only thanks to an unyielding will and perhaps a blessing from the heavens, I managed to assimilate a fraction of its power, which catalyzed my breakthrough."
A Grand Elder, with sharp features and bright eyes, cleared his throat. "Impressive, Elder Xiao Lan. Truly a testament to your talent and determination. Elder Liu also informed us that an outer disciple, a certain Lin Feng, returned under your… protection, so to speak. It is unusual for a mere first-stage Qi Condensation cultivator to survive such depths, and even more so to merit the continued attention of someone of your new and exalted caliber. What exactly was his role in your expedition, beyond what you have already mentioned?" The question was subtle, but the implication was clear: was there something more to that insignificant disciple?
The eyes of everyone present fixed on Xiao Lan, awaiting her answer. The mention of Lin Feng, however trivial it seemed, hung in the charged air.
Xiao Lan maintained her serene expression, her composure unshaken. "Sect Master, Grand Elders. Outer disciple Lin Feng is, indeed, a peculiar case. As I mentioned to Elder Liu, I discovered during the trial that he possesses an almost photographic memory and a surprisingly detailed knowledge of ancient, forgotten texts, particularly those our outer library considers mere curiosities or fables. These texts, it seems, concern the energetic anomalies, dangerous flora, and treacherous natural formations of the Umbral Mountain Range."
She paused, choosing her words with the precision of a master swordsman. "Although his own cultivation is, as you well know, insignificant, his observations and his ability to identify hidden dangers or safer routes, based on that erudition, proved instrumental in allowing me to navigate the most perilous zones and conserve my strength until I reached the Chimera's lair and, subsequently, the Umbral Heart Lotus. He was, in essence, an unexpectedly useful guide at critical moments, an extra pair of eyes with a different perspective."
"As for his survival during my breakthrough," she continued, anticipating the unasked question, "the energy released during the Lotus's assimilation was, indeed, immense. He was fortunate to be in a relatively sheltered position that I myself had assessed as the safest in the vicinity while preparing for the refinement. He survived, though undoubtedly affected by the pressure and terror of the event. I considered that, having rendered a service, however humble and circumstantial, and being a disciple of our sect with knowledge that could be useful for future mapping expeditions, he deserved to return with the main group rather than being abandoned to certain death in such a hostile environment."
Her explanation was cunning and thorough. She did not mention Glob at all. She attributed Lin Feng's usefulness to free knowledge that, though rare for an outer, was not inherently threatening or indicative of hidden power in him. She made his survival seem like a mix of her own foresight (in securing the area) and Lin Feng's insignificance (not being a target for the overflowing energy). She also subtly appealed to the sect's "benevolence" and pragmatism in not abandoning a disciple who, though weak, had demonstrated "specific usefulness."
The elders exchanged glances. The explanation was plausible. Lin Feng's "luck" was still remarkable, but in the grand scheme of Xiao Lan's breakthrough to Golden Core, it was a minor detail, an eccentricity of a genius.
"I understand," Sect Master Ouyang Zhen finally said, his attention returning completely to Xiao Lan, who was the true treasure. "Peculiar knowledge can sometimes be useful, even from the humblest sources. But it is your achievement, Elder Xiao Lan, your entry into the Golden Core Realm, that fills us with joy and hope today."
And with that, the brief mention of Lin Feng was dismissed, like a speck of dust in the brilliance of a rising sun.
"Wonderful, Xiao Lan, truly wonderful!" proclaimed the Sect Master, a genuine, broad smile illuminating his face. "The heavens have truly blessed our Scarlet Cloud Sect with you! A genius of your caliber, with such a pure and now immeasurably empowered Fire Dao… this not only ensures our prosperity but could elevate the status of our humble sect in the Hundred Mountain Alliance! Our sect, as you know, has always been considered low-tier, a minor entity in this vast region, far from the true centers of power and the rich resource veins of the great cultivation cities. But your Golden Core, Xiao Lan, gives us a new and powerful voice, a new hope to raise our prestige!"
A white-bearded Grand Elder, the Chief Elder of the Techniques Hall, stepped forward with fervor. "Indeed! Reaching Golden Core at your age puts you on par with, if not above, the prodigies of those renowned sects! You have the potential, Elder Xiao Lan, to reach the fifth stage, Manifested Soul, and even the sixth, Spirit King, in a few decades! Who knows!" his eyes gleamed with an almost fanatic light, "perhaps you might even aspire to the legendary realms of Martial Saint! Or even Divine Ascension itself, the tenth and final stage of cultivation known in these lands, a feat that would secure the hegemony of our Scarlet Cloud Sect for centuries to come!"
Decisions were made with a rapidity that reflected the magnitude of the event. Xiao Lan was formally confirmed as an Elder of the Sect, with all the privileges and responsibilities that entailed. She was granted Misty Dawn Peak, one of the most spiritually energetic in the entire sect mountain range, as her personal residence and cultivation ground. She was given unlimited access to the deepest levels of the Treasury and the Inner Core Techniques Library.
And, crucially, the conversation shifted towards her future and that of the sect. "Elder Xiao Lan," said the Sect Master, his tone now more confidential, "your new status and power are not only a shield for us but also an invaluable key. The Golden Wind Sect to the north, and the Winter Frost Palace to the east, are considerable powers with whom we have always sought to improve our relations. With your astounding potential now revealed, our position for negotiating with these and other sects has been immensely strengthened. A new era of diplomacy opens before us; we could secure more favorable trade agreements, access to resource routes previously denied to us, and even establish strategic alliances that we could only dream of before. Your very presence and the promise of your future growth will be a deterrent to our enemies and a powerful incentive for those who seek to cooperate with the Scarlet Cloud Sect, opening doors to incalculable benefits for our development and prestige."
Xiao Lan listened with an impassive expression, her steel resolve unwavering. She understood the implications. Her power had made her the sect's most valuable diplomatic and strategic asset. She knew her potential would be used as leverage in the political intrigues between sects. She nodded with a grace that revealed nothing of the storm of calculations within. "I understand my duty to the sect, Master and Grand Elders. My strength will serve to protect and elevate our Scarlet Cloud Sect. I will consider how my presence can best contribute to our future." But in her heart, her own plans, and her secret pact with an insignificant outer disciple who carried a universe of chaos within him, burned with a silent but indomitable flame.
As the sect celebrated its new star and wove plans for its future, Lin Feng returned to the oppressive familiarity of the outer disciple barracks. The contrast was a brutal blow to the face. Whispers followed him, the glances now more complex: open disdain, poisonous envy, superstitious fear, and a hint of reluctant curiosity. He was the shadow that had clung to the goddess in her ascension.
But to Lin Feng, for the first time, he genuinely didn't care. The opinion of these ants no longer held weight in his heart.
In the solitude of his rickety cot, with Glob – his most precious secret – resting like a dark, warm pearl in a hidden pocket, a constant, comforting presence against his skin, Lin Feng closed his eyes. The outside world could be a circus of hypocrisy and ambition. His true world, his true path, now resided in the silent, orderly universe of the Primordial Chaos Library within his dantian.
With a concentration he had honed in the misty forest under Xiao Lan's indirect and the Guardian's direct guidance, his mind plunged into that inner space. He scanned the luminous titles, feeling the weight of eons of knowledge. He paused at the "Chaotic Harmonization Meditation," reviewing its principles, feeling his Chaotic Heart respond with a calm, deep pulse, more harmonious than ever. Then, his attention fixed on one of the first battle techniques he had glimpsed: the "Ephemeral Shadow Step," a movement art that promised to turn the user into a whisper of chaos, unpredictable and undetectable.
A faint smile, filled with cold determination and a silent promise, formed on his lips.
A few days after his return, as the effervescence over Xiao Lan's ascent began to settle into a new normal of reverence and expectation within the sect, a discreet jade communication talisman, which Lin Feng recognized as part of the "useful materials" Xiao Lan had given him from the spoils of the Umbral Lotus, vibrated in his hand. He had kept it with utmost care.
Activating it with a strand of his Qi – which now flowed with surprising smoothness through his meridians, though its quantity had not increased one iota beyond the first stage of Qi Condensation – he heard Xiao Lan's voice, clear, concise, and devoid of any unnecessary formality, resonating directly in his mind.
"Lin Feng. I have consolidated my initial position and secured Misty Dawn Peak. The elders, for now, are too busy debating my future and potential alliances to pay undue attention to an 'insignificant' outer disciple with 'peculiar knowledge.' The timing is perfect. Our 'cooperation,' as you called it, must continue and deepen. Meet me in the Hidden Orchid Valley, at the foot of my peak, three days after the new moon's dawn. Discretion is our greatest weapon. Do not fail me."
The message ended. Lin Feng clutched the talisman, a wave of determination and strange anticipation coursing through him. The game of appearances in the sect had begun, a dangerous stage of power and politics. But he and Xiao Lan were already moving their own pieces on a much larger, more secret board. The outside world could underestimate him, could call him trash, could ignore him. He knew the truth that lay within him. And that truth, fueled by chaos and forged in a bond no one could comprehend, was about to bloom in the darkness.