The spirit sword soared through the clouds like a silent hawk. Wind rushed past Lin Yuan's face as he stood upon its smooth blade, eyes wide with awe as the endless sky stretched before him. The horizon shimmered. The world below was distant, irrelevant.
It felt like freedom.
"Afraid?" asked a soft, elegant voice behind him.
Lady Yuexian, the Sect Leader of Taiyin Sect, stood with her silver robes fluttering like moonlight incarnate. Her presence felt distant yet warm—like a dream you didn't want to wake from.
Lin Yuan smiled faintly. "No. I used to fly like this… with my mother."
"Mn." Her lips curved slightly. "Then I'll go faster."
The sword picked up speed, slicing through cloud after cloud. Wind blurred the sky into white and blue ribbons.
Before long, Lin Yuan drifted into a peaceful sleep.
---
He woke on a soft bed, sunlight slipping through white silk curtains. Nearby, Xiao Hu and Qingxue crouched beside a lacquered box, whispering.
"Where are we?" Lin Yuan asked, rubbing his eyes.
Xiao Hu answered through voice transmission. "Sect Leader's personal residence."
Qingxue giggled, "We're solving a spirit puzzle box! If we open it, we get candy. Don't worry—we're still pretending to be spiritual pets!"
"My wings feel squashed," Qingxue pouted. "I want to fly again!"
Lin Yuan stretched, changed into his feminine disguise, and stepped outside.
Lady Yuexian was already waiting.
"You're awake."
"Yes, Sect Leader."
"Come. I will show you the sect."
"Let's buy some milk for xaio hu. " Lin yuan say.
---
The inner sect market was refined and peaceful. Stalls lined the marble paths, selling rare herbs, pills, and beast treats.
Yuexian handed him a glass of fresh spirit milk. "This one's for you."
"But… it's for Xiao Hu."
"I'll order more for him. You need nourishment too."
Several disciples nearby stared at Xiao Hu in wonder.
"Is that… a black tiger cub?"
"Rare bloodline," Yuexian said calmly. "This is the first I've seen in person."
Lin Yuan added seriously, "He mostly drinks milk."
"For Qingxue," Yuexian said to the vendor, "Some fried meat… and fried grasshoppers."
An old lady chuckled. "My bird likes those too. Here, extra crispy!"
Yuexian summoned her spirit sword again. "Now… I'll show you your new home."
---
They descended to a barren stretch of land—once a spirit mine, now silent and dust-covered. Though abandoned, faint spiritual energy still lingered in the soil.
"This is your new residence," Yuexian said. "No servants. No pavilion. No roof. Live simply or live with me.If you're discovered… you die. Understood?"
Lin Yuan nodded. "I understand."
"I'll bring you food. I'll wash your robes if needed. You're not a prisoner… but you must remain hidden."
"Can I get some soul tree?"
"I'll transfer you ten. But rest you should plant them yourself."
Then she vanished—like smoke under moonlight.
Xiao Hu darted across the spirit grass fields like a streak of white flame, barking joyfully. Qingxue soared overhead in her bird form, her golden wings catching the morning light as she called down playfully.
Lin Yuan sat on a flat stone, quietly watching them. The wind stirred his robes, and the jade pendant at his neck pulsed faintly with soul warmth.
> Should I tell them?
Should I tell them that my soul is cracked? That I touched the dream realm and nearly shattered?
His fingers tightened around a pouch at his waist. It held high-grade spirit stones — enough to buy soul fruit for months.
> I have money now. I can buy what I need. I don't need to risk exposure… not yet.
But should I rush to fix my soul? Or… take it slowly, hide among the crowd, and heal piece by piece?
He looked up at the sky, expression unreadable.
> If the demon clans discover I'm alive… if the sect realizes who I really am…
No. I can't afford attention. Not yet. I'll eat soul fruit quietly. Strengthen in silence. Grow without sound.
Qingxue circled lower and transformed mid-air, landing with the elegance of a noblewoman beside him.
"You're thinking too much again," she teased softly, brushing wind-blown strands from his face. "Let's go. If you stare at the sky any longer, even the clouds will feel awkward."
He smiled faintly.
"Yeah... let's go."
But inside, a fire had already begun to stir.
> Whether slow or fast… I will heal. I will grow. Even if I walk in shadow, I will rise.
Moments later, she returned with a portable house and big soul trees.She brings her spirit ship. It's massive.
"Thank you," Lin Yuan said gratefully.
But she wasn't alone.
A woman stood beside her—fox-like eyes, nine shimmering tails, and hair silver as moonlight. Crimson eyes sparkled with danger and curiosity.
"She saw through your disguise while you slept," Yuexian said coolly.
The nine-tailed fox smiled. "Illusion cannot deceive illusion. I know what you are… boy.And I know your secret."
Lin Yuan tensed.
"I'm not here to expose you," she continued. "I want a deal. You owe me one favor. I won't ask now. But I will."
"…Alright. I agree."Lin yuan know that she is clearly saying , I know you are not human.
Her smile deepened. "Good. Just don't fall in love with me. That would be tragic."
Then she vanished into a petal of mist.
Sect leader say,"You can use my ship as your new home. "
---
That night, beneath a glowing soul tree, Lin Yuan sat quietly. Xiao Hu snored beside him. Qingxue chirped while munching jerky.
Lady Yuexian appeared again.
"That fox… was dangerous."
"She already knew. At least now… she's bound by a favor."
"Watch her closely. She once served the former Sect Leader. Her motives are never simple."
She handed him a scroll. "Mission registry. You'll begin earning contribution points tomorrow."
"Yes, Sect Leader."
Her voice softened. "If you ever feel lost… you can come to me. You are not alone, Yuan'er."
✦ The Next Morning
The Taiyin Sect buzzed with activity. Lin Yuan, now Lin Yue, dressed in pale robes, joined the crowd at the mission plaza.
He chose a simple task: feeding spiritual cranes.
A white-haired senior sister handed him a bag of spirit grain. "They bite when cranky."
Under the morning sun, the silver-feathered cranes fluttered gracefully. They accepted his offerings—and even let him stroke them.
Suddenly, the fox woman appeared again. "Come with me."
Lady Mingyan's voice echoed in Lin Yuan's mind:
"Touch the pendant to her."
He obeyed.
The fox vanished instantly—then returned, her expression sour.
"I was going to let you meet someone.I am also a demon.Why don't you understand we should help each other.But now I don't feel like it."
Mingyan's voice came again.
"I planted a soul bomb. If she reveals your secret… she dies.Do not go around demon. Buy some soul fruit and eat as much as you can."
Lin yuan complete the mission. Then he go to biggest fruit shop and buy 1000 soul fruit with ten high grade spirit stone. Lin yuan also take the foxs shadow. Now he knows are direction every time.
Later, Lin Yuan purchased twenty bottles of spiritual milk and sacks of seeds. He returned home, only to be summoned by Yuexian again.
"This way," she said. "Time to assess your body."
She led him to a secluded shrine. A glowing spirit-testing stone awaited.
"Place your hand on it."
He did.
…Nothing.
Then, barely a flicker.
"…Mortal Body?" Yuexian whispered. "Even the janitor has a spiritual body…"
Inside his robe, the jade pendant pulsed.
Lady Mingyan's voice was cold:
"Your bloodline is sealed.Your mom seal your spiritual seal with tai yin seal.The Taiyin Seal blocks your body.You should wash your body to sami Devine body.When can remove the seal you will get Devine body."
Yuexian sighed. "We'll proceed anyway. Let fate decide."
She brought him to the sacred Moonmist Hall.
Silver mist swirled like dancing serpents. Pools of pale light shimmered beneath a moon-carved cliff.
"Bathe in the outer spring. Then come."
When he returned, Yuexian was already in the pool.
"Come."
He stepped into the water—and immediately gasped. Cold as knives. It felt like needles piercing his skin.
"I don't know how to swim!"
She laughed softly. "Then I'll teach you. Just don't pee in the pool. Even moon spirits have dignity."
For an hour, she guided him. Though the pain was immense, the Taiyin Qi slowly seeped into his bones.
"I feel like I'm dying…" Lin Yuan muttered.
"Good. That means it's working."
She handed him a healing pill.
He swallowed.
And another.
And another…
160 medium-grade healing pills later, Yuexian stared at him in disbelief.
"Are you… a beast or a bottomless well?"
Lin Yuan smiled weakly. "Still alive."
She collapsed onto the bench beside the pool. "Forget missions. Just come to me every morning. I'll personally train you."
He bowed. "Yes, Sect Leader."
---
That night, as the stars sparkled overhead and soul trees whispered in the breeze, Lin Yuan looked up and whispered:
"This world is far too strange… but I won't fall behind."
And so, his journey truly began.
Among foxes, secrets, moonlight… and the weight of hidden blood.
---