Lin Fan stood in his courtyard, the wolf core's pulse a fierce rhythm in his hand, echoing the call of the Myriad Dao Secret Realm, now just one day away. His **Qi Condensation Layer 6 Peak** cultivation and **Soul Awakening Stage 4** marked him as a rising star in the Dao Sect, yet the Blood Fang Sect's illusion trap and Chu Hao's schemes loomed. The *Heaven-Defying Comprehension System* thrummed, its voice sharper than ever:
> *"Task progress: 1110/600 CP. System update initiated. New abilities unlocked: Envy Absorption (Gain CP when others feel jealousy toward host), Wrath Empowerment (Gain CP when host or any living being—human, beast, demon, ghost—feels anger). New task: Survive the secret realm's opening trial. Earn 700 CP by the trial's end. Current CP: 1110."*
Lin Fan's eyes widened. "Jealousy and anger? This changes everything." His *Tempest Scale Barrage* and *Spirit Flame Control* were ready, but the *Ancestral Symbol* relic demanded more. Chu Hao and Lei Yan's envy, and the Blood Fang Sect's malice, would now fuel his rise.
The Dao Sect's Martial Hall buzzed with anticipation, disciples preparing for the secret realm. Lin Fan joined a final sparring session under Elder Liang. His opponent, a Qi Condensation Layer 9 disciple named Liu Feng, wielded *Starfall Sword Art*, its starry Qi slashing the air. Liu Feng's eyes glinted with envy at Lin Fan's rapid rise. "You think you're sect material?" he sneered.
> *"Envy detected. CP +15. Humiliation detected. CP +10. Current CP: 1135."*
Lin Fan dodged, his 40-meter divine sense tracking the sword's arc. He activated *Dao Enlightenment*, copying the technique:
> *"Observed: Starfall Sword Art. Copied as Starfall Palm (Basic). CP +20. Current CP: 1155."*
Lin Fan's *Tempest Scale Barrage* roared, lightning, fire, wind, shadow, and earth clashing with Liu Feng's sword. The disciple fell, stunned. The crowd whispered, no longer calling him weak—except for Chu Hao, watching with venomous eyes. "He's nothing," Chu Hao hissed to Lei Yan, his Core Manifestation Tier 2 aura flaring with jealousy.
> *"Envy detected from Chu Hao. CP +20. Current CP: 1175."*
Elder Liang's gaze sharpened. "Lin Fan, you're ready for the secret realm."
After the spar, Lin Fan tested *Beast Copying* in the Beast Training Grounds, facing a Rank 1 *Stormclaw Bear* at Qi Condensation Layer 8. Its claws sparked with wind Qi. Chu Hao and Lei Yan watched from afar, their envy palpable as Lin Fan fought.
> *"Envy detected from Chu Hao and Lei Yan. CP +30. Current CP: 1205."*
Lin Fan copied the bear's technique:
> *"Observed: Stormclaw Slash. Copied as Stormclaw Fist (Mid-Grade). CP +30. Current CP: 1235."*
His *Tempest Scale Barrage* crushed the bear, its core pulsing. Chu Hao's anger flared, his fists clenched. "How dare he surpass me?"
> *"Anger detected from Chu Hao. CP +20. Current CP: 1255."*
Lin Fan fused *Stormclaw Fist* with *Tempest Scale Barrage*, creating *Tempest Claw Barrage*, a high-grade art with enhanced wind and claw force.
> *"Skill Fusion successful. Tempest Claw Barrage created. CP +35. Current CP: 1290."*
That evening, Lin Fan refined a *Spirit Condensation Pill* in the Alchemy Hall. His *Spirit Flame Control* burned bright, but Lei Yan "accidentally" scattered his herbs. "Careless as ever," Lei Yan mocked, his Core Manifestation Tier 1 aura smug with envy.
> *"Envy detected from Lei Yan. CP +20. Humiliation detected. CP +15. Current CP: 1325."*
Lin Fan salvaged the refinement, producing two high-grade pills. Elder Huo's eyes widened. "Remarkable," he admitted.
> *"Alchemy success. Two Spirit Condensation Pills refined (High-Grade). CP +60. Current CP: 1385."*
Lin Fan consumed one, his Qi surging. A crack resounded as he broke through to **Qi Condensation Layer 7**, surpassing Chu Hao's Core Manifestation Tier 2. Chu Hao, spying from the hall's edge, trembled with rage and jealousy. "He's… above me?"
> *"Envy detected from Chu Hao. CP +25. Anger detected from Chu Hao. CP +20. Current CP: 1430."*
Lin Fan's anger flared at the sabotage, fueling the system:
> *"Anger detected from host. CP +15. Current CP: 1445."*
At midnight, Lin Fan entered the *Comprehension Arena*, facing a shadow of a Rank 2 *Bloodshadow Panther* at Core Manifestation Tier 2. Its speed tested his *Tempest Claw Barrage*. The system advised: *"Strike angle suboptimal. Adjust wrist by 5 degrees."* Lin Fan defeated the shadow, refining his form.
> *"Comprehension Arena training completed. CP +25. Current CP: 1470."*
The next morning, Lin Fan visited the archive, seeking more on the secret realm's maze. A scroll warned of a "Devouring Illusion" that preyed on cultivators' fears. The wolf core pulsed, resonating with the text. Chu Hao's clan elder, Chu Wei, a Foundation Forging Stage 3 cultivator, watched him, his envy at Lin Fan's rise palpable.
> *"Envy detected from Chu Wei. CP +20. Observed: Ancient scroll. Comprehended illusion trap. CP +30. Current CP: 1520."*
A Blood Fang Sect spy trailed him, their Core Manifestation Tier 3 aura cloaked. Lin Fan's divine sense caught them, the system warning:
> *"Threat detected. CP +15. Current CP: 1535."*
That afternoon, Lin Fan trained *Tempest Claw Barrage* in the grove. Chu Hao confronted him, his face twisted with rage. "You think you're untouchable now?" he roared, his *Blazing Tiger Fist* flaring. Lei Yan and Chu Wei watched, their jealousy burning.
> *"Envy detected from Chu Hao, Lei Yan, Chu Wei. CP +45. Anger detected from Chu Hao. CP +20. Current CP: 1600."*
Lin Fan's anger surged at Chu Hao's arrogance:
> *"Anger detected from host. CP +15. Current CP: 1615."*
Lin Fan dodged, countering with *Tempest Claw Barrage*. Lightning, fire, wind, shadow, earth, and claw force exploded, slamming Chu Hao into a tree. He crumpled, bloodied. "Impossible!" Chu Wei gasped, his envy spiking.
> *"Victory achieved. CP +30. Envy detected from Chu Wei, Lei Yan. CP +30. Current CP: 1675."*
Chu Xue appeared, her ice-blue eyes wide. "You've surpassed him," she said, voice soft. "The secret realm will test you further."
The system confirmed: *"No detection of system. Host's secret is safe."*
Lin Fan nodded. "I'm ready."
> *"Interaction analyzed. Ally trust increased. CP +15. Current CP: 1690."*
Lin Fan spent 50 CP on a *Qi Condensation Pill (Tier 4)*, stabilizing his **Qi Condensation Layer 7**.
> *"Purchase confirmed. CP -50. Current CP: 1640."*
The pill pushed his Qi to the peak, inches from Layer 8. The secret realm's opening loomed, its maze, illusions, and Blood Fang Sect trap waiting. Chu Hao's defeat fueled the Chu Clan's envy, and Venerable Shadow Fang's shadow grew darker. Lin Fan's *Heaven-Defying Comprehension System* blazed, feeding on jealousy and anger.
"I'll claim the *Ancestral Symbol*," he vowed, *Tempest Claw Barrage* roaring. "No one will stand in my way."