Chapter 120 | First Operation of the Web

Chapter 120: 120 | First Operation of the Web

Before sunrise, Elder Liu’s latest pill refinement failed.

Inside her private refining chamber, the three-legged cauldron still gave off strong heat as the remaining Earth-Fire slowly settled beneath it. She stood beside the cauldron, staring at the ruined pill with a dark expression.

Similar failures had appeared several times in recent days. The Earth-Fire became unstable whenever she increased the flow for a larger refinement, while the high-grade Yang-attribute herbs she relied on were becoming harder to obtain.

Elder Liu inspected the formation beneath the cauldron once more. The runes were intact, and nothing appeared damaged, yet the strange instability remained.

She dismissed the remaining flames and turned toward the empty herb containers.

"I need better materials."

She had no idea that the problems around her were already beginning to build.

Later that morning, inside the Cloud-Sea Pavilion, the Tier-3 isolation formations quietly shielded the chamber from wandering Divine Senses.

Lin Tian sat in his spirit-wood chair, dressed in pristine obsidian robes. His golden Liquid Qi flowed steadily through his widened meridians, denser and more refined than before.

Madam Shen, Aunt Lin, and Lady Yun stood before him with their Foundation Establishment auras fully restrained.

The time for preparation was over.

"The foundation is secure," Lin Tian said, his gaze passing over the three women. "Now we begin. Our primary target remains Elder Liu of Alchemy Peak, but we also need to watch how the sect reacts around her. The first operation of the Shadow Web starts today."

His eyes settled on the woman in the dark-crimson robe.

"Madam Shen."

Madam Shen stepped forward and bowed slightly. "I’m listening."

"The pressure on Elder Liu’s Yang-attribute herb supply is already beginning to take effect. From now on, quietly track the high-grade Yang-attribute herbs passing through the Resource Hall."

Madam Shen’s eyes narrowed slightly. "Do you suspect someone else may secretly supply her?"

"When her usual methods stop working, she will eventually look for another source," Lin Tian replied. "I want to know the moment that happens."

Madam Shen nodded. "I will keep an eye on the records for Crimson-Sun Roots, Dragon-Fire Lotuses, Vermilion Flame Fruits, and other high-grade Yang-attribute herbs. I won’t block anything directly. Any delays will appear to be part of normal transfers or routine problems."

"Good." Lin Tian’s voice remained calm. "Remember, you are the Vice-Manager, not the Hall Master. Don’t interfere with other powerful cultivators directly. Use your position carefully and keep everything within normal procedures."

Madam Shen lowered her head. "Understood. Nothing will point back to us."

Lin Tian gave a small nod. "Then continue as planned."

Madam Shen returned to her place, her expression calm as she considered the records she would need to watch.

With the intelligence gathering arranged, Lin Tian dismissed Madam Shen and Lady Yun, then gestured for Aunt Lin to remain.

Aunt Lin stood beside the heavy spirit-wood desk in her golden-brown artisan robes. Her cultivation had settled firmly at the Early Stage of Foundation Establishment, and the years of Qi Stagnation that had once troubled her were now completely behind her.

"Aunt Lin," Lin Tian said, motioning toward the desk.

She stepped closer. "What do you need?"

"The sect’s standard defenses are too rigid. Most of them try to stop an attack head-on instead of redirecting its force." Lin Tian unrolled a sheet of spirit-beast parchment and picked up a brush. "I want you to begin designing two new artifacts for the Shadow Web."

Aunt Lin watched as he began to draw.

"The first is a defensive treasure shaped like an umbrella. Instead of using a flat barrier to take the full force of an attack, the formation will guide that force along the curved surface and release it outward."

He marked several lines along the umbrella’s ribs.

"The formation should work with the shape. When an attack strikes the canopy, the force will spread along the ribs and slide toward the edges instead of pushing directly against the user."

Aunt Lin studied the drawing closely. "So the artifact won’t try to overpower the attack. It will guide it away."

"Exactly." Lin Tian added another formation mark. "That should greatly reduce the burden on the user’s Dantian while improving the artifact’s defensive strength."

Aunt Lin’s eyes sharpened as she followed the formation lines. "That is very different from the defensive formations commonly used in the sect. With the right materials and enough control, the recoil could be greatly reduced."

Lin Tian nodded and turned to the second drawing.

"The second is a concealment artifact. A jade pendant engraved with a concealment formation. It should hide both spiritual aura and the wearer’s outline by blending them with the surroundings."

Aunt Lin examined the design for several breaths before nodding slowly.

"It could make the wearer difficult to see and even harder to sense. This would be especially useful for those moving outside the sect’s protected areas."

"That’s the purpose."

Aunt Lin carefully rolled the parchment back into place. "I understand. I will begin working on the designs and choose the materials that can support these formations."

Lin Tian nodded.

"Start with the defensive umbrella. Once its formation is stable, move on to the pendant."

"Understood."

Two Outer Sect disciples in standard gray robes moved carefully through a dense grove near the misty border of the Outer Sect.

"Are you sure about this?" one whispered, clutching a small jade talisman. "Lin Tian’s rise has been too fast. He was a nobody not long ago, and now the Artifact Pavilion favors him. Someone wants to know what changed."

"Keep your voice down," the other replied. "We only need to follow him and find out who he meets at night. The people who hired us promised a good reward."

Before he could finish, the shadows between the willow trees shifted.

Lady Yun stepped out of the darkness in a dark outer robe, her aura concealed until the last moment. Before either disciple could react, she appeared in front of them and forced them back.

"Who sent you?"

The two disciples exchanged a nervous glance. One tried to retreat, but Lady Yun caught him before he could escape.

She searched them quickly and found the jade talisman, several spirit stones, and a small token bearing an unfamiliar mark.

"This isn’t from the Outer Sect."

Neither disciple answered.

Lady Yun looked at them for a moment before asking again. "Who gave you this token?"

After a brief struggle, one of them finally revealed that an Inner Sect enforcer had contacted them through a middleman. Their task was simple: watch Lin Tian’s movements, learn who he met at night, and report everything they discovered.

Lady Yun asked a few more questions and memorized the names, meeting place, and instructions they provided. Once she had what she needed, she left the two disciples where they were and took the token with her.

She disappeared into the shadows without leaving a trace.

Someone inside the sect had begun watching Lin Tian.

Lady Yun intended to find out exactly who.

While the Shadow Web quietly carried out its tasks, Lin Tian also maintained a normal public image. If he suddenly stopped participating in sect affairs, the Core Formation Patriarchs would eventually grow suspicious.

By midday, Lin Tian arrived at the Inner Sect Contribution Hall.

He kept his true cultivation hidden. The Abyssal Shadow Veil concealed the pressure of his denser Liquid Qi, making him appear to be a talented cultivator around the Peak of Qi Gathering who had only recently stepped into Foundation Establishment.

He selected an ordinary mission to clear mutated Iron-Hide Boars from the sect’s outer spiritual herb gardens.

A dozen large boars were roaming through the muddy fields when he arrived. Lin Tian deliberately limited his strength and fought with ordinary sword forms, targeting their weaker joints instead of cutting through their thick hides.

He allowed his breathing to become slightly heavy, making the battle look difficult without putting himself in danger.

After nearly an hour, the last boar fell. Lin Tian collected the beast cores and intact iron hides, leaving his robes slightly dirty and a thin layer of sweat on his brow.

To anyone watching, he looked like a talented disciple who had earned his victory through effort.

Until the Shadow Web reaches the highest levels of this sect, I will remain nothing more than a promising disciple in their eyes.

He returned to the Contribution Hall, submitted the beast cores, and collected his sect points before leaving.

As night settled over the Crimson Nimbus Sect, the heavy spirit-wood doors of the Cloud-Sea Pavilion’s inner chamber closed once more. The Tier-3 isolation formations sealed the room, cutting it off from wandering Divine Senses.

Lin Tian sat at the spirit-wood table while Madam Shen, Aunt Lin, and Lady Yun stood before him. The three had already completed their first tasks.

"Report."

Madam Shen stepped forward. "The high-grade Yang-attribute herbs are being monitored through the Resource Hall. The records show nothing unusual from the other Patriarchs, and Elder Liu’s requests are still being handled normally. But several shipments have been delayed, so her supply is becoming less reliable."

Lin Tian nodded. "Good. Keep it natural. We cannot let anyone see a pattern."

Madam Shen bowed slightly. "Understood."

Aunt Lin stepped forward next and handed him a jade slip. "The designs for the Umbrella of Shifting Heavens and the Void-Walker’s Pendant are complete. I’ve already begun preparing the materials, and nothing about their true purpose has attracted attention."

Lin Tian looked over the jade slip before returning it.

"Good. Keep their appearance and formation structure within the standards of ordinary sect artifacts. Their true value must remain hidden."

Aunt Lin nodded. "I understand."

Lady Yun then stepped forward.

"Two Outer Sect disciples were investigating your movements. I caught them before they could learn anything useful. They were working for an Inner Sect enforcer through a middleman, and I brought back the names and meeting place."

Lin Tian’s eyes narrowed slightly.

"Good. Keep watching them, but do not act unless necessary. I want to know who is behind them."

Lady Yun bowed. "Understood."

Lin Tian leaned back and looked at the three women.

"Madam Shen is tightening the resource flow. Aunt Lin is preparing the tools we may need later. Lady Yun is tracing those who have begun watching me."

His gaze shifted toward the distant peak hidden behind the night mist.

"So far, nothing points back to us."

He paused before continuing.

"Elder Liu’s condition is getting harder to manage, and her usual supply is no longer dependable. When her own methods stop being enough, she may have to look outside the sect for help."

The room fell quiet.

Lin Tian’s expression remained calm.

"That will be our next opening."