Lin Fan stood in the Alchemy Hall, the scent of herbs and smoldering coals filling the air. His *Tempest Lotus Strike* still thrummed in his veins from last night's training, but today's focus was alchemy. The Myriad Dao Secret Realm loomed closer, a crucible of relics and traps where Chu Hao and the Blood Fang Sect plotted his downfall. The *Heaven-Defying Comprehension System* stirred, its voice sharp in his mind:
> *"Task progress: 335/300 CP. New task: Survive a targeted sabotage and refine a mid-grade pill within one week. Earn 400 CP by the Myriad Dao Secret Realm. Current CP: 335."*
Lin Fan's eyes narrowed. Sabotage? He scanned the hall, where disciples tended glowing cauldrons under Elder Huo's watchful gaze. At Qi Condensation Layer 4, Lin Fan was the weakest here, his recent *Qi Refining Pill* success dismissed as a fluke. Lei Yan, the Lei Clan disciple allied with Chu Hao, smirked from across the hall, his Core Manifestation Tier 1 aura pulsing as he handled a polished cauldron.
The day's lesson was the *Spirit Condensation Pill*, a mid-grade Mortal Alchemist Tier 2 pill that stabilized Qi for breakthroughs. Elder Huo demonstrated, his flames weaving intricate patterns. Lin Fan activated *Dao Enlightenment*, his 30-meter divine sense—honed by *Soul Awakening Stage 3*—catching every nuance of the technique.
> *"Observed: Spirit Condensation Pill Technique. Copied as Spirit Flame Control (Mid-Grade). CP +25. Current CP: 360."*
Lin Fan approached his battered cauldron, tossing in Moonpetal Herb, Starfire Root, and Azure Dew. His *Spirit Flame Control* sparked, flames dancing with newfound precision. The hall's disciples whispered, their voices laced with scorn. "He thinks he's a genius now?" one sneered. "He'll blow that cauldron to bits."
> *"Humiliation detected. CP +15. Current CP: 375."*
Lin Fan ignored them, focusing on the cauldron. But something felt off—the herbs' energies clashed unnaturally. His divine sense caught a faint tampering: a shard of Voidstone, a rare mineral that disrupted Qi, hidden in the cauldron's base. Lei Yan's smirk widened.
"Sabotage," Lin Fan muttered, heart racing. The system chimed:
> *"Threat detected. Strategic insight gained. CP +10. Current CP: 385."*
If the cauldron exploded, he'd be humiliated—or worse, expelled. Lin Fan activated *Insight Surge* (CP -50, Total: 335), his mind blazing with clarity. He adjusted his *Spirit Flame Control*, isolating the Voidstone's interference. The cauldron trembled, then stabilized, emitting a rich medicinal scent. A glossy *Spirit Condensation Pill* emerged, its quality mid-grade.
The hall fell silent. Elder Huo's jaw tightened. "Passable," he grunted, but his eyes betrayed shock. Lei Yan's face twisted, his plan foiled.
> *"Alchemy success. Spirit Condensation Pill refined (Mid-Grade). CP +40. Current CP: 375."*
Lin Fan pocketed the pill, his gaze locking with Lei Yan's. "Nice try," he said, voice low. Lei Yan stormed out, muttering to a cloaked figure outside—another Blood Fang Sect spy.
That night, Lin Fan entered the *Comprehension Arena*, facing a shadow version of Lei Yan wielding *Thunder Serpent Whip*. The whip lashed, crackling with Core Manifestation power. Lin Fan countered with *Tempest Lotus Strike*, lightning, fire, wind, and shadow swirling in a deadly dance. The system critiqued: *"Stance too rigid. Adjust balance for 10% faster strikes."* Lin Fan refined his form, defeating the shadow in a burst of light.
> *"Comprehension Arena training completed. CP +20. Current CP: 395."*
He returned to reality, sweat beading on his brow. The arena sharpened his skills without risk, a secret weapon for the secret realm. He consumed the *Spirit Condensation Pill*, his Qi surging, pushing him to the edge of **Qi Condensation Layer 5**. His meridians pulsed, inches from a breakthrough.
> *"Cultivation progress enhanced. CP +15. Current CP: 410."*
The next morning, Lin Fan trained in the Martial Hall, sparring with a Qi Condensation Layer 7 disciple, Zhang Wei. Zhang's *Iron Rhino Charge* was a brutal, heavy art. "You're out of your depth, Lin Fan," Zhang taunted, his fists glowing with earthy Qi. "Stick to your little pills."
> *"Humiliation detected. CP +10. Current CP: 420."*
Lin Fan dodged, copying the technique mid-fight:
> *"Observed: Iron Rhino Charge. Copied as Iron Rhino Palm (Basic). CP +15. Current CP: 435."*
He countered with *Tempest Lotus Strike*, its multi-elemental force knocking Zhang back. The crowd murmured, impressed yet skeptical. "He's just lucky," one disciple scoffed.
> *"Humiliation detected. CP +10. Current CP: 445."*
After the spar, Lin Fan visited the Dao Sect's archive, seeking more on the *Ancestral Symbol*. A dusty tome, *Chronicles of the Eastern Xuan*, mentioned a relic in the Myriad Dao Secret Realm, tied to Lin Dong's *Devouring Ancestral Symbol*. It hinted at a trial of will and power, guarded by ancient formations.
> *"Observed: Ancient text. Comprehended relic knowledge. CP +20. Current CP: 465."*
As he read, his divine sense caught a faint killing intent. A Blood Fang Sect spy, cloaked in shadow, watched from the archive's edge. Lin Fan slipped away, heart pounding. The system warned:
> *"Threat detected. CP +10. Current CP: 475."*
That evening, Lin Fan trained in a secluded grove, fusing *Iron Rhino Palm* with *Tempest Lotus Strike* to create *Tempest Rhino Barrage*, a high-grade art blending earth's weight with lightning, fire, wind, and shadow.
> *"Skill Fusion successful. Tempest Rhino Barrage created. CP +30. Current CP: 505."*
A soft footstep interrupted him. Chu Xue emerged, her ice-blue robes catching the moonlight. "You're pushing too hard, Lin Fan," she said, voice cool but edged with concern. "The secret realm isn't a game. Chu Hao's allies are moving."
The system confirmed: *"No detection of system. Host's secret is safe."*
Lin Fan met her gaze. "Why warn me? You're a Chu."
Chu Xue's eyes flickered. "I don't like underhanded schemes. Watch your back." She vanished into the night.
> *"Interaction analyzed. Ally trust increased. CP +15. Current CP: 520."*
The next day, Lin Fan faced a surprise test in the Alchemy Hall. Elder Huo assigned him a *Spirit Condensation Pill* refinement under stricter conditions: half the time, double the herbs. Lei Yan whispered to his peers, "He'll choke without his tricks."
> *"Humiliation detected. CP +15. Current CP: 535."*
Lin Fan's *Spirit Flame Control* burned steady, his divine sense guiding each step. The cauldron glowed, producing two mid-grade pills. Elder Huo's scowl softened. "Adequate," he said, but the hall buzzed with disbelief.
> *"Alchemy success. Two Spirit Condensation Pills refined (Mid-Grade). CP +50. Current CP: 585."*
Lin Fan consumed one pill, his Qi surging. A crack resounded in his meridians as he broke through to **Qi Condensation Layer 5**, his aura sharper, stronger.
> *"Cultivation breakthrough. Qi Condensation Layer 5 reached. CP +25. Current CP: 610."*
That night, Lin Fan overheard Lei Yan and Chu Hao in a shadowed alley. "The Blood Fang Sect's trap is set," Chu Hao hissed. "The secret realm will be his grave."
> *"Eavesdropping successful. Strategic insight gained. CP +20. Current CP: 630."*
Lin Fan retreated, his mind racing. The Myriad Dao Secret Realm was days away, a trial of relics and death. Chu Hao's plot, the Blood Fang Sect's schemes, and Venerable Shadow Fang's unseen hand closed in. But Lin Fan's *Heaven-Defying Comprehension System* burned bright, his *Tempest Rhino Barrage* ready to shatter any trap.
He clutched the wolf core, its pulse stronger, whispering of Lin Dong's legacy. "I'm coming for you, Ancestral Symbol," he murmured. "No one's stopping me."