The summons arrived at dawn.
Lin Feng had just finished his morning meditation when a messenger appeared at his door—not a servant, but an inner disciple wearing the sect's formal ceremonial robes. The young man's expression was carefully neutral, but Lin Feng's enhanced senses detected his nervousness.
"Lin Feng? Patriarch Cloud Eternal requests your presence in the Hall of Heavenly Mandate. Immediately."
So it begins.
"I will come at once." Lin Feng stood, checking his appearance in the small bronze mirror. The Robe of Thousand Stars had shifted to clean but simple servant's garments—appropriate for someone of his supposed station being called before the sect's highest authority.
The walk through the sect was torturous. Every disciple they passed stopped to stare. Whispers followed in their wake like ripples spreading across still water. By the time they reached the central mountain, half the sect probably knew that the mysterious servant with perfect meridians had been summoned by the Patriarch himself.
So much for keeping a low profile.
The Hall of Heavenly Mandate occupied the peak of the central mountain, a structure of white jade and dark wood that seemed to merge seamlessly with the mountain itself. Ancient formations covered every surface, their runes glowing with soft golden light. This was the seat of the sect's power, where decisions that shaped the Eastern Continent were made.
Lin Feng had never been inside. Servants didn't enter the Hall unless specifically summoned, and in fourteen years, he'd never warranted such attention.
Until now.
The inner disciple led him through corridors lined with statues of past Patriarchs and legendary sect masters. Each stone face seemed to judge him as he passed, as if asking: What right does a servant have to walk these sacred halls?
Finally, they reached a set of massive double doors carved with intricate scenes of cultivation breakthroughs and heaven-defying feats. The inner disciple knocked three times, and the doors swung open silently.
"The Patriarch will see you now."
Lin Feng stepped through into a chamber that stole his breath.
The Hall's interior was vast, with a ceiling that seemed to stretch into infinity. Pillars of jade supported nothing visible, merely existing as monuments to power and permanence. At the far end, elevated on a platform of white stone, sat Patriarch Cloud Eternal on a throne that appeared carved from a single piece of celestial jade.
But the Patriarch was not alone.
Standing in a semicircle before the throne were seven figures—the sect's Grand Elders, each one a powerhouse at Immortal Emperor level. Lin Feng recognized them from sect records: Elder Shan of the Martial Hall, Elder Yuan who had examined him, Elder Ming of the Alchemy Pavilion, Elder Feng of the Formation Arrays, Elder Liu of the Grand Library, Elder Shen of the Herb Gardens, and—
Elder Shadow.
Xu Eternal Shadow stood at the leftmost position, his face impassive but his eyes sharp as he watched Lin Feng enter. The elder who had been spying on him. The elder whose spiritual signature felt wrong.
This is a formal inquiry. They're all here to evaluate me, to decide what I am and what to do with me.
"Lin Feng." Patriarch Cloud's voice echoed through the chamber, warm but carrying undeniable authority. "Thank you for coming so promptly. Please, approach."
Lin Feng walked forward, acutely aware of every eye upon him. His enhanced senses picked up details others would miss—the subtle tension in Elder Shadow's posture, the curiosity in Elder Ming's expression, the concern radiating from Elder Shen.
He stopped at the appropriate distance and bowed deeply. "This disciple greets the Patriarch and honored elders."
"Rise, child." Patriarch Cloud studied him with eyes that had seen two thousand years pass. "You have become quite the topic of discussion in our sect. A servant with fractured meridians for fourteen years, suddenly breaking through with perfect spiritual channels. It's the kind of story one might find in ancient legends."
"This disciple was fortunate, Patriarch."
"Fortunate." Elder Shadow's voice was silk over steel. "An interesting choice of words. Tell me, Lin Feng, how exactly does one stumble upon fortune in the forbidden back mountains? A place where even talented disciples regularly perish?"
Lin Feng had prepared for this. "I was sent to collect Azure Spirit Moss for Elder Shen. I encountered Shadow Wolves and fell into a hidden ravine while fleeing. At the bottom, I discovered a sealed cave."
"And in this cave?" Elder Ming leaned forward, her interest piqued.
"An ancient cultivator's remains. The cave had been sealed for what must have been centuries—perhaps millennia. The formations were still active but fading." Lin Feng chose his words carefully, weaving truth and omission. "There was a jade tablet with cultivation insights, some spirit herbs that had been growing undisturbed, and several pills."
"Pills of what rank?" Elder Yuan asked sharply.
"I couldn't identify them precisely, Elder. But one of them radiated such intense energy that I believed it might help my condition. I consumed it, and..." He gestured to himself. "The transformation took seven days. My meridians were completely reconstructed."
"Conveniently consuming the evidence," Elder Shadow observed. "How fortunate that you cannot produce these miraculous pills for examination."
"I kept one, Elder." Lin Feng reached into his robe—actually his spatial ring, but that detail went unnoticed—and withdrew a jade bottle containing a single Emperor-rank healing pill. Not the Divine Rebirth Pill, obviously, but something impressive enough to validate his story. "I saved it in case the transformation proved unstable and I needed additional treatment."
Elder Ming's eyes widened as she accepted the bottle and examined its contents. "This is... remarkable. An Emperor-rank Restoration Pill of exceptional purity. This alone could heal injuries that would cripple most cultivators." She looked up at Lin Feng with new respect. "If you consumed something stronger than this, it's no wonder your meridians were reformed."
"May I see the pill?" Elder Shadow extended his hand.
Elder Ming passed the bottle to him. Lin Feng watched carefully as the elder examined the pill, his spiritual sense probing its composition. For several long moments, Elder Shadow said nothing, his expression unreadable.
"This pill is genuine," he finally admitted, returning the bottle to Elder Ming. "Ancient refinement techniques, materials that haven't been seen in this region for thousands of years." He looked directly at Lin Feng. "You claim there were more of these?"
"Several bottles, Elder. But I used them during my breakthrough and recovery. This was the only one I kept."
It wasn't technically a lie—there were many pills in his spatial ring. He just wasn't mentioning that they came from the Void Emperor's personal collection rather than some random cave.
"And the jade tablet?" Elder Liu, master of the Grand Library, spoke for the first time. "What happened to it?"
"It dissolved after I read it, Elder. The formation anchoring its existence failed, and it crumbled to dust."
Another careful truth. The jade tablet had dissolved—after downloading the complete Inverse Void Dao directly into his mind.
Patriarch Cloud observed this exchange with thoughtful silence, his ancient eyes missing nothing. "Tell me, Lin Feng. This cave—could you find it again?"
Dangerous question. If I say yes, they'll send expeditions. If I say no, they'll wonder why.
"I don't believe so, Patriarch. The ravine I fell into was deep in the forbidden zone, and the cave entrance was hidden by formations that faded after I left. I tried to mark the location in my memory, but the back mountains all look similar, and I was injured and disoriented." He paused. "However, I could describe the general area to a mapping team, if the sect wishes to search."
It was a calculated risk. Let them search if they wanted—they'd find nothing. The Void Emperor's seal would have reactivated after Lin Feng left, making the cave invisible to anyone without the Twin Soul Pendant's resonance.
"That may be wise," Elder Shan rumbled. The Martial Hall Elder was a mountain of a man, his cultivation focused on body refinement. "If there are more treasures in that area, we should secure them before other sects learn of it."
"Agreed," Elder Ming added. "Ancient pill refiners often left multiple caches. This could be an opportunity for the sect."
Elder Shadow, however, looked unconvinced. "Or it could be a wild ghost chase based on a servant's story. We have only his word about any of this."
"We have his perfect meridians," Elder Yuan countered. "I examined them myself. That kind of reconstruction is not natural. Something powerful transformed his foundation—whether it was these pills or something else, the result is undeniable."
"Which brings us to the real question," Patriarch Cloud said, his voice cutting through the debate. "Not what happened, but what we do about it." He leaned forward slightly. "Lin Feng, you stand before us as someone who has been touched by extraordinary fortune. Your foundation is now among the finest I've seen in my two millennia. The question is: what will you do with this opportunity?"
Lin Feng met the Patriarch's gaze steadily. "I wish to serve the sect, Patriarch. To cultivate properly, to contribute where I can. If the sect will permit it, I would like to petition for Outer Disciple status."
"Outer Disciple?" Elder Shan laughed, a booming sound. "Boy, with your foundation, you could skip straight to Inner Disciple if you showed sufficient talent. Why aim so low?"
"Because I am still only at Mortal Awakening Level 3, Elder Shan. I have the foundation, yes, but I lack the cultivation, the techniques, and the experience. I would rather prove myself through genuine advancement than be promoted beyond my capabilities."
It was the right answer. Lin Feng saw approval in several elders' expressions. Humility was a virtue in cultivation—arrogance led to heavenly tribulation and early death.
"Well said," Patriarch Cloud nodded. "However, I must inform you that your situation is not quite so simple. The Azure Sky Family's presence here complicates matters."
Here it comes.
"Young Master Li Xian has expressed... interest in you," the Patriarch continued. "After your public introduction yesterday, he made inquiries about your background, your abilities, your potential. He seems to view you as something of a curiosity."
"Or a threat," Elder Shadow said quietly. "Young Master Li is possessive of what he considers his. And Sacred Disciple Yun has been seen speaking with you on multiple occasions."
The temperature in the hall seemed to drop. All eyes fixed on Lin Feng with new intensity.
"I assure you, Elders, there is nothing inappropriate in my interactions with Sacred Disciple Yun," Lin Feng said carefully. "She has been kind enough to offer guidance on proper cultivation etiquette, as befits her role as Sacred Disciple."
"Nevertheless," Patriarch Cloud's voice carried a warning, "you should be aware that Young Master Li's interest is unlikely to be benevolent. He may see you as competition, undeserved though such a perspective might be. This places you—and by extension, our sect—in a delicate political position."
"I understand, Patriarch."
"Do you?" Elder Shadow stepped forward. "Young Master Li comes from one of the most powerful families on the Eastern Continent. His father is a Sovereign Monarch. Their resources are vast, their influence extends to every major sect. If Li Xian decides you are an obstacle to be removed, there are many ways he could arrange your death that would appear accidental."
"Is the Elder suggesting I should leave the sect?" Lin Feng kept his voice respectful but firm. "To avoid causing political difficulties?"
"No," Patriarch Cloud said before Elder Shadow could respond. "I am suggesting you be very, very careful. The Outer Disciple examination in two days will be public. Many eyes will be watching. If you perform too well, you draw more attention. If you perform too poorly, you waste your potential and appear suspicious."
"What would the Patriarch recommend?"
The ancient cultivator smiled slightly. "Show competence, but not genius. Demonstrate that your perfect meridians provide advantage, but not overwhelming advantage. Give the impression of a talented student who will take years to reach his peak, not a hidden dragon about to take flight."
In other words, hide your power. But not too well.
"I will do my best, Patriarch."
"See that you do." Patriarch Cloud's expression grew more serious. "Lin Feng, I will be direct with you. This sect has invested much in maintaining its alliance with the Azure Sky Family. Sacred Disciple Yun's engagement to Young Master Li represents decades of careful negotiation. I cannot—will not—allow that alliance to fracture over a servant's sudden breakthrough, no matter how remarkable."
The message was clear: Do not interfere with Yun Qingxue's engagement.
Through the Dao Thread, Lin Feng felt a pulse of emotion from somewhere in the sect—Yun Qingxue had sensed the Patriarch's warning, felt Lin Feng's reaction to it. Frustration. Resignation. Determination.
"I understand, Patriarch," Lin Feng said aloud. "I have no intention of causing difficulties for the sect or for Sacred Disciple Yun."
At least, not intentionally. Not yet.
"Good." Patriarch Cloud leaned back. "Then we move to the final matter. Elder Shen has offered to sponsor your petition for Outer Disciple status. Normally, this would be approved automatically. However, given the unusual circumstances, I am requiring a formal evaluation."
"What kind of evaluation, Patriarch?"
"Before the examination in two days, you will undergo private testing here in the Hall of Heavenly Mandate. The Grand Elders will assess your cultivation comprehension, your technique execution, and your character. If you pass, you will be permitted to take the public examination. If you fail..." He left the consequence unspoken.
A private test before the public one. They want to see what I can really do without outside witnesses.
"I accept, Patriarch. When will this evaluation take place?"
"Tomorrow evening, after the Azure Sky delegation departs for their tour of our sect's outer territories. You will report to the Martial Hall at sunset." Patriarch Cloud's gaze swept over all the elders. "This evaluation will remain confidential. Whatever we discover about young Lin Feng's capabilities will be discussed only among those present in this hall. Agreed?"
The elders nodded, though Elder Shadow's agreement seemed reluctant.
"You are dismissed, Lin Feng. Prepare yourself. Tomorrow's evaluation will not be easy."
Lin Feng bowed deeply. "Thank you, Patriarch. Honored Elders."
He turned and walked back toward the massive doors, feeling their eyes on his back every step. The moment the doors closed behind him, he exhaled slowly.
That went better than expected. They're suspicious but willing to give me a chance. Elder Shadow remains a problem, but he's outvoted for now.
The inner disciple who had brought him was nowhere to be seen—apparently, he was expected to find his own way back. Lin Feng didn't mind. It gave him time to think.
The private evaluation tomorrow was both opportunity and danger. It would let him demonstrate real capability without revealing everything, potentially earning the elders' genuine support. But it also meant performing techniques in front of Immortal Emperor level experts who would notice any inconsistency.
I need to prepare carefully. Show enough to impress, not enough to terrify.
Lost in thought, he didn't notice the figure waiting for him until he'd descended halfway down the mountain path.
Li Xian stood in the middle of the trail, his azure robes pristine, his expression carefully neutral. Two attendants flanked him, both at Nascent Soul level.
Lin Feng stopped at a respectful distance and bowed. "Young Master Li."
"Lin Feng." Li Xian's voice was pleasant, conversational. "I've been curious about you. The mysterious servant who suddenly possesses perfect meridians. Quite the story."
"I was fortunate, Young Master."
"So everyone keeps saying. Fortunate." Li Xian began walking slowly toward him, his attendants matching his pace. "I wonder, though. Is it really fortune? Or is it something else?"
"I don't understand, Young Master."
"Don't you?" Li Xian stopped an arm's length away. Up close, his handsome features held no warmth. "Let me be direct. I saw how Qingxue looked at you yesterday. How she sought you out for private conversation. Now I learn you've been summoned by the Patriarch himself. For a servant who stumbled upon lucky herbs, you're attracting considerable attention."
"I assure you, Young Master, there is nothing between Sacred Disciple Yun and myself—"
"Of course there isn't." Li Xian's smile was sharp. "Because she is engaged to me. She is mine, Lin Feng. And I protect what is mine very carefully."
The threat was naked now, barely veiled by polite words.
"I have no designs on Sacred Disciple Yun," Lin Feng said carefully. "I am merely a servant trying to improve my cultivation."
"Are you?" Li Xian circled him slowly, like a predator examining prey. "Because from where I stand, it looks like you're trying to rise above your station. Trying to attract the attention of people far beyond your reach."
Through the Dao Thread, Lin Feng felt Yun Qingxue's alarm. She was aware of this confrontation somehow, felt the danger in it.
"I seek only to serve the sect, Young Master."
"How noble." Li Xian stopped in front of him again. "Then let me offer you some advice. The Outer Disciple examination is dangerous. Every year, several candidates die during the trials. Accidents happen—a formation malfunction, a spirit beast attack, a technique gone wrong. It would be tragic if your miraculous rise ended so suddenly."
"Is the Young Master threatening me?"
"Threatening?" Li Xian's eyes widened in mock surprise. "Of course not. I'm simply concerned for your safety. After all, someone with your limited experience could easily be overwhelmed by challenges meant for more seasoned cultivators."
One of his attendants—a thin man with cold eyes—spoke up: "Young Master Li has been very generous with his concern. It would be wise to appreciate his advice."
The implication was clear: withdraw from the examination, or face consequences.
Lin Feng met Li Xian's gaze steadily. "I thank the Young Master for his concern. However, I must take the examination. The Patriarch himself has commanded it."
Something dangerous flickered in Li Xian's eyes. "The Patriarch commanded it. How interesting." He stepped back. "Then I suppose we'll see how your fortune holds during the trials. I'll be watching your performance with great interest."
"I look forward to proving myself worthy of the sect's faith."
"Faith." Li Xian laughed. "Yes, faith is important. Faith that people know their place. Faith that the natural order is maintained." He turned to leave, then paused. "Oh, and Lin Feng? Stay away from Qingxue. This is your only warning."
He walked away, his attendants following. But before they rounded the bend in the path, the thin attendant looked back and made a gesture—a subtle hand sign that Lin Feng recognized from the Void Emperor's memories.
An assassination sign. They're marking me as a target.
Lin Feng stood alone on the mountain path, feeling the weight of the threat settle on his shoulders. Li Xian had made his position clear: interfere with his claim on Yun Qingxue, and die.
He's going to try to kill me during the examination. He probably has people already positioned—examiners he's bribed, formations he's tampered with, maybe even assassins disguised as spirit beasts.
Through the Dao Thread, he felt Yun Qingxue's presence—sharp concern mixed with anger. She'd known Li Xian would react, but the directness of his threat had clearly surprised even her.
I need to be ready. Not just to pass the examination, but to survive assassination attempts while appearing to struggle appropriately.
Lin Feng continued down the mountain, his mind already planning. Tomorrow's private evaluation would show the elders what he could do. The day after, the public examination would be a battlefield disguised as a test.
And through it all, he had to maintain his cover, protect his secrets, and somehow avoid being killed by a jealous young master with vast resources and no moral constraints.
Just another day in the life of the Void Emperor's heir.
Despite the situation's gravity, Lin Feng found himself smiling slightly. After fourteen years of helpless endurance, it was almost refreshing to face threats he could actually do something about.
The Inverse Void Dao pulsed within him, that infinite darkness waiting to be unleashed. Li Xian thought he was threatening a weak servant.
He had no idea what he'd actually challenged.
Tomorrow, I show the elders enough to earn their respect. The day after, I show Li Xian that threatening me was a mistake.
But carefully. Always carefully.
The game continued, and Lin Feng was learning the rules quickly.
Whether he'd survive long enough to win remained to be seen.
The rest of the day passed in tense preparation. Lin Feng returned to his quarters and immediately began planning for tomorrow's evaluation. He couldn't simply demonstrate Divine Domain techniques—that would reveal too much. But he also couldn't perform at Mortal Awakening level—that would seem suspicious given his perfect meridians.
The solution was to perform above his supposed level, but not impossibly so. Show techniques from Core Condensation or Golden Transformation realms, then claim he learned them from the jade tablet in the cave. It would mark him as talented and dedicated, but not supernatural.
He was practicing subtle variations of a basic sword technique when Xiao Ling appeared at his door, her face pale with worry.
"Lin Feng! Is it true? Did Young Master Li threaten you on the mountain?"
"How did you—"
"Everyone knows! His attendants were bragging about it in the dining hall. They're saying you were shaking with fear, that you nearly cried." Her hands clenched into fists. "They're laughing at you!"
Let them laugh. Underestimation is its own kind of camouflage.
"I wasn't shaking," Lin Feng said mildly. "Though I was certainly concerned. Young Master Li is a powerful cultivator."
"He's a bully! Just like Zhao Kun, but worse because he has more power to abuse!" Xiao Ling's eyes were bright with unshed tears. "Lin Feng, maybe you should withdraw from the examination. It's not worth dying for."
"I can't withdraw. The Patriarch commanded my participation."
"Then... then be careful. Please." She grabbed his hands. "I don't want to lose you. You're the closest thing to family I have in this sect."
Lin Feng squeezed her hands gently. "I'll be careful. I promise."
After she left, he sat in meditation, centering himself. Through the Dao Thread, he could feel Yun Qingxue's presence somewhere in the sect—probably in her quarters in the celestial halls. She was angry, frustrated, feeling helpless.
She can't protect me without revealing our connection. And I can't reveal my true power without attracting worse attention than Li Xian.
We're both trapped in our roles, playing a game where the rules are designed to keep us apart.
As darkness fell, Lin Feng felt the observation formation activate again. Elder Shadow, watching. Always watching.
But this time, Lin Feng didn't hide. He deliberately performed a Core Condensation level meditation technique—something impressive but not impossible for someone with perfect meridians and ancient insights.
Let Elder Shadow watch. Let him report to whoever he was working with. The more they thought they understood, the less they'd see coming.
The night deepened. The three moons rose. And Lin Feng prepared for tomorrow's evaluation, knowing that his performance would determine not just his immediate future, but possibly his survival.
One day at a time. First the private evaluation. Then the public examination. Then... then we see what opportunities present themselves.
Through the Dao Thread, he felt Yun Qingxue finally sleep, her worry fading into rest. Lin Feng remained awake, cultivating in the void, drawing power from that infinite darkness while the sect slept around him.
Tomorrow would bring challenges.
But tonight, for just a few hours, there was only silence, starlight, and the steady rhythm of his cultivation.
The calm before the storm.
END OF CHAPTER 5
TO BE CONTINUED IN CHAPTER 6: THE PRIVATE EVALUATION