Chapter 17 — The Boy With No Spiritual Root

Lu Chen had developed a system.

Not a cultivation system.

That would have been helpful.

His system was for getting rejected by cultivation sects.

First—

arrive early.

Testing lines became unbearable after noon.

Second—

bring food.

Some sects took hours to tell you that you were useless.

There was no reason to be useless and hungry.

Third—

never argue with the testing elder.

They had heard every excuse.

The stone is broken.

I didn't sleep well.

My spiritual root hasn't awakened yet.

My grandfather said I was special.

A wandering immortal told my mother I was destined for greatness.

Lu Chen had tried three of those.

Not the grandfather one.

His grandfather had been extremely clear that Lu Chen was probably ordinary.

Fourth—

always ask to test twice.

Testing stones could malfunction.

Apparently.

Lu Chen had never actually seen one malfunction.

But statistically—

it seemed possible.

Fifth—

when rejected, leave politely.

There was always another sect.

Probably.

Lu Chen adjusted the cloth bag over his shoulder.

Behind him, the gates of the Flowing Cloud Sect disappeared into the mountains.

Fifth sect.

Fifth rejection.

No spiritual root.

He took out a piece of paper.

Five names were written on it.

Green Mountain Sect — Failed.

Golden Crane Sect — Failed.

Nine Rivers Pavilion — Failed.

Clear Sky Hall — Failed.

Flowing Cloud Sect — Failed.

Below them—

three names remained.

Lu Chen studied the list.

"Moonwater Sect..."

Too far east.

"Great Spear Sect..."

He looked at his arms.

Maybe not.

Then—

"Azure Origin Sect."

He paused.

He had heard of that one.

Large.

Old.

Five Great Peaks.

Their recruitment ceremony had apparently happened several days ago.

Which was unfortunate.

Still—

Lu Chen circled it.

"Azure Origin."

Sixth attempt.

He folded the paper.

Then looked south.

Then north.

Then east.

He frowned.

"Which direction was it?"

A farmer pulling a cart passed.

Lu Chen waved.

"Uncle!"

The farmer stopped.

"Do you know the way to Azure Origin Sect?"

The farmer stared.

"Azure Origin?"

"Yes."

"That's more than a thousand kilometers north."

Lu Chen's smile slowly disappeared.

"Ah."

The farmer looked at his worn shoes.

"You're walking?"

"That was the plan."

"Bad plan."

"Yes."

Lu Chen unfolded his list again.

Maybe Great Spear Sect.

Then—

the sky tore open.

Lu Chen looked up.

A man stepped through space.

White robes.

Long dark hair.

Calm expression.

Lu Chen stared.

The farmer stared.

The ox stared.

Shen Yuan looked around.

Road.

Fields.

Village.

One fifteen-year-old boy.

Good.

His spatial travel was improving.

He'd only missed by—

Shen Yuan checked.

Six kilometers.

Excellent.

Lu Chen raised one hand.

"Senior?"

Shen Yuan looked at him.

The system appeared.

Name: Lu Chen

Age: 15

Cultivation: None

Spiritual Root: Chaos Spiritual Root — Dormant

Classification: Primordial

Detection Status: Invisible to standard mortal testing methods

Talent: ???

Comprehension: High

Destiny: Purple-Gold

Special Condition: Primordial Root Concealment

Compatibility: 96%

There he was.

Shen Yuan smiled.

Lu Chen took one step backward.

The farmer quietly pulled his ox away.

Shen Yuan noticed.

"Why are you backing up?"

Lu Chen stopped.

"You're smiling."

"Is that concerning?"

"Usually when powerful cultivators appear from nowhere and smile at ordinary people, something happens."

Shen Yuan considered.

Fair.

"I'm Shen Yuan."

Lu Chen waited.

Shen Yuan waited.

Nothing.

"You don't know me."

"Should I?"

This felt familiar.

Jian Wuchen hadn't known him either.

Shen Yuan was beginning to appreciate people outside Azure Origin Sect.

"No."

"Good."

Lu Chen relaxed.

"Nice to meet you, Senior Shen."

Shen Yuan looked at the paper in his hand.

"Looking for a sect?"

Lu Chen immediately brightened.

"Yes."

"Any luck?"

"No."

"How many?"

"Five."

"Why?"

"No spiritual root."

Lu Chen said it casually.

Too casually.

As though he'd repeated the sentence enough times that it had stopped hurting.

Shen Yuan understood.

"May I see your list?"

Lu Chen handed it over.

Shen Yuan read.

Five failures.

Three remaining options.

Azure Origin Sect circled.

He raised an eyebrow.

"You were coming to us."

"Eventually."

"Eventually?"

"It's far."

"True."

Shen Yuan handed the paper back.

"Why keep trying?"

Lu Chen shrugged.

"I want to cultivate."

"That doesn't answer the question."

"It does."

"No."

Lu Chen thought.

Then smiled.

"My mother says I'm stubborn."

"That explains more."

"She doesn't mean it as a compliment."

"Still useful."

Lu Chen folded the paper.

"Senior Shen."

"Hm?"

"Are you from Azure Origin Sect?"

"Yes."

"Can you take me there?"

Shen Yuan stared.

That was fast.

"You don't know who I am."

"You came through space."

"So?"

"People who can do that are usually important."

Reasonable.

"And if you're lying about being from Azure Origin Sect..."

Lu Chen looked at the empty road.

"...I'm probably already in trouble."

Shen Yuan laughed.

He liked this one.

"Before that."

He pointed toward Lu Chen.

"Would you like me to test your spiritual root?"

Lu Chen's expression changed.

Hope.

Then caution.

"You have a testing stone?"

"No."

"Formation?"

"No."

"Artifact?"

"No."

"Then how?"

Shen Yuan smiled.

"Profoundly."

Lu Chen stared.

Shen Yuan immediately regretted it.

Again.

He needed to stop using that word.

"Fine."

Lu Chen stood straighter.

"What do I do?"

"Nothing."

Shen Yuan placed two fingers on his shoulder.

Immortal perception entered.

Carefully.

He saw flesh.

Bone.

Meridians.

Dantian.

Nothing unusual.

No spiritual root.

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Exactly what every testing artifact had seen.

Then Shen Yuan looked deeper.

Nothing.

Deeper.

Still nothing.

He frowned.

The system insisted.

Chaos Spiritual Root.

Dormant.

Primordial.

So where was it?

Shen Yuan pushed his perception further.

The world changed.

For a fraction of a second—

Lu Chen's dantian disappeared.

Not physically.

Conceptually.

There was no center.

No defined element.

No stable spiritual structure.

Instead—

everything.

And nothing.

Fire.

Water.

Earth.

Metal.

Wood.

Lightning.

Wind.

Yin.

Yang.

All existed.

All contradicted one another.

All canceled one another so perfectly that mortal testing artifacts saw—

nothing.

Shen Yuan's eyes sharpened.

There.

Chaos.

Not a spiritual root containing every element.

A spiritual root existing before the elements separated.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

Shen Yuan withdrew his perception.

Lu Chen waited.

"Well?"

"You have a spiritual root."

Silence.

Lu Chen stared.

Then laughed.

Shen Yuan didn't.

The laughter stopped.

"You're serious."

"Yes."

"What grade?"

"Complicated."

Lu Chen's eyes narrowed.

"That's not a grade."

"I've heard that before."

"What element?"

"Also complicated."

"Senior."

"Hm?"

"Are you sure you know how spiritual roots work?"

Shen Yuan considered.

"More than the five sects you visited."

Lu Chen became quiet.

That was a strong claim.

"What kind?"

"Chaos."

Lu Chen blinked.

"Is that good?"

"Probably."

"Probably?"

Shen Yuan checked the system.

Primordial.

Undetectable.

Ninety-six percent compatibility.

Yes.

"Very."

Lu Chen stared at him.

Then at his hands.

Then back.

"Why couldn't the stones detect it?"

"Because your spiritual root doesn't behave like ordinary spiritual roots."

"Can I cultivate?"

Shen Yuan paused.

That was the real question.

The system displayed more information.

[Chaos Spiritual Root requires specialized cultivation architecture.]

[Standard elemental cultivation methods: Extremely Low Compatibility.]

[Five-Element methods: Low Compatibility.]

[Yin-Yang methods: Moderate Compatibility.]

[Chaos-aligned method: Optimal.]

[Warning: No suitable mortal-world cultivation method detected within current Host knowledge.]

Of course.

Another disciple who couldn't use normal methods.

Shen Yuan almost missed simple problems.

"Yes."

Lu Chen's eyes brightened.

"But."

There it was.

"You'll need a cultivation method that doesn't currently exist."

Lu Chen stared.

"That sounds bad."

"I've dealt with worse."

"How?"

"I made one."

"For yourself?"

"No."

"My disciple."

Lu Chen looked impressed.

"You're a teacher?"

"Peak Master."

Lu Chen froze.

"Peak Master?"

"Cloudveil Peak."

The boy's eyes widened.

"Azure Origin Sect?"

"Yes."

"One of the Five Great Peaks?"

"Yes."

Lu Chen looked down at his rejection list.

Then at Shen Yuan.

Then back at the list.

"You're serious."

"Usually."

Lu Chen became extremely still.

Shen Yuan waited.

Then the boy bowed.

"Can I join?"

Shen Yuan smiled.

"That's why I'm here."

Lu Chen looked up.

"Wait."

Shen Yuan paused.

"You came here for me?"

"Yes."

"How did you know I was here?"

"Complicated."

Lu Chen frowned.

"You say that a lot."

"So I've been told."

"Did someone recommend me?"

"No."

"Did you see me at one of the sect tests?"

"No."

"Do you know my family?"

"No."

"Then how—"

"Do you want to cultivate?"

Lu Chen stopped.

"Yes."

"Do you want to become my disciple?"

Silence.

The question landed differently.

Lu Chen looked at Shen Yuan.

No mockery.

No pity.

No hesitation.

Five sects had told him no.

Some politely.

Some dismissively.

One elder had laughed when Lu Chen asked for a third test.

Now a Peak Master from one of the Northern Region's great sects had crossed more than a thousand kilometers—

for him.

Lu Chen swallowed.

"What if you're wrong?"

"About your spiritual root?"

"Yes."

"I'm not."

"What if I can't cultivate?"

"Then we'll figure out why."

"What if I'm slow?"

"Then you'll cultivate slowly."

"What if—"

"Lu Chen."

He stopped.

Shen Yuan's expression was calm.

"I didn't ask whether you'd be easy to teach."

The boy stared.

"I asked whether you wanted to cultivate."

Silence.

Then Lu Chen bowed.

Deeply.

"Disciple Lu Chen greets Master."

The system chimed.

[Third disciple successfully accepted.]

[Disciple registered: Lu Chen.]

[Compatibility: 96%.]

[Chaos Spiritual Root detected.]

[Primordial classification confirmed.]

[Special Disciple Mission generated.]

[Create the first stable cultivation foundation for a Chaos Spiritual Root.]

[Reward: Unknown.]

Shen Yuan smiled.

Three disciples.

Cloudveil Peak was becoming crowded.

Not literally.

There were thirty-six residences.

But spiritually.

Lu Chen straightened.

"What now?"

Shen Yuan opened a spatial passage.

"Home."

Lu Chen stared through it.

On the other side—

Cloudveil Peak floated above an endless sea of clouds.

Palaces gleamed in sunlight.

Waterfalls fell into mist.

Spiritual birds circled the mountain.

Lu Chen's mouth opened.

Then closed.

Then opened again.

"That's your mountain?"

"Ours."

The boy became silent.

Shen Yuan stepped through.

Lu Chen immediately followed.

The passage closed.

The farmer standing beside the road stared at the empty space.

His ox chewed grass.

After several seconds—

the farmer looked down at the animal.

"Did that boy just become an immortal's disciple?"

The ox continued chewing.

"Right."

He pulled the cart onward.

"None of my business."

Cloudveil Peak.

Chen An was updating the disciple registry.

He had developed a bad feeling.

There was no logical reason for it.

The Bloodriver invasion had ended.

Lin Yue's spar had ended.

Jian Wuchen was stabilizing his new cultivation.

Ye Feng was temporarily staying in a guest courtyard.

Peak Master Shen had disappeared shortly after the system—

No.

Chen An didn't know about the system.

Shortly after staring south and smiling.

That alone should have warned him.

He dipped his brush in ink.

First Disciple — Lin Yue.

Second Disciple — Jian Wuchen.

The third line remained blank.

Chen An stared at it.

Then—

space opened in the courtyard.

He closed his eyes.

Of course.

Shen Yuan stepped through.

A fifteen-year-old boy followed.

Chen An looked at the boy.

Then at Shen Yuan.

Then at the registry.

He didn't ask.

He simply picked up his brush.

Shen Yuan smiled.

"Chen An."

"Name?"

Lu Chen blinked.

Shen Yuan answered.

"Lu Chen."

Scratch.

Third Disciple — Lu Chen.

Chen An blew gently on the ink.

"Residence three?"

"Yes."

"Robes?"

"Yes."

"Food?"

Lu Chen raised his hand.

"Yes."

Chen An looked at him.

"Any allergies?"

"No."

"Preferred room temperature?"

Lu Chen blinked.

"Normal?"

"Good."

Chen An turned toward an attendant.

"Prepare Residence Three."

The attendant bowed and left.

Lu Chen stared.

"Master."

"Hm?"

"Was he expecting me?"

"No."

Chen An looked up.

"I was."

Shen Yuan frowned.

"You were?"

"No."

Chen An returned to writing.

That was revenge for the tea misunderstanding.

Shen Yuan respected it.

Footsteps approached.

Lin Yue arrived first.

Jian Wuchen behind her.

Ye Feng followed.

Lin Yue saw Lu Chen.

Then Shen Yuan.

Then Lu Chen again.

Her expression became knowing.

"Another one."

Jian Wuchen nodded.

"I told you."

Lu Chen looked between them.

Shen Yuan gestured.

"Lin Yue. First disciple."

Lu Chen immediately bowed.

"Senior Sister."

Lin Yue smiled.

"Junior Brother."

She was getting used to that.

"Jian Wuchen. Second disciple."

Lu Chen turned.

Then froze.

Broken sword.

Calm face.

Sword Intent.

"Jian Wuchen?"

Jian raised an eyebrow.

"You know me too?"

Lu Chen's eyes widened.

"You're the fallen sword genius."

Silence.

Chen An stopped writing.

Ye Feng looked away.

Lin Yue winced slightly.

Lu Chen realized.

"That sounded rude."

"A little," Jian said.

"Sorry."

"It's fine."

Lu Chen stared at Clear Wind.

"I heard you lost all your cultivation."

"I did."

"But you're here."

"Yes."

"And cultivating?"

"Something like that."

Lu Chen smiled.

"That's amazing."

Jian Wuchen paused.

There was no pity in the boy's voice.

Just genuine admiration.

His expression softened slightly.

"Thank you."

Shen Yuan pointed toward Ye Feng.

"And that's Ye Feng."

Lu Chen's eyes widened again.

"The sword genius who replaced Jian Wuchen in the rankings?"

Ye Feng closed his eyes.

Jian Wuchen smiled.

"I like him."

Ye Feng sighed.

Lu Chen immediately bowed.

"Sorry."

"It's fine."

It wasn't.

But it would be.

Lin Yue looked at Shen Yuan.

"What's special about him?"

Lu Chen blinked.

"Special?"

Shen Yuan answered.

"Chaos Spiritual Root."

Silence.

Lin Yue frowned.

Jian Wuchen frowned.

Ye Feng frowned.

Chen An kept writing.

He had stopped reacting to impossible phrases.

Lu Chen looked at everyone.

"Is that rare?"

Jian Wuchen answered.

"I've never heard of it."

Lin Yue shook her head.

"Neither have I."

Ye Feng did the same.

Lu Chen looked worried.

"Master said it's good."

All three looked at Shen Yuan.

"It is."

Jian Wuchen nodded.

"Then it probably is."

That level of trust had developed disturbingly fast.

Shen Yuan approved.

Lin Yue approached Lu Chen.

"What realm?"

"None."

"Method?"

"None."

"Weapon?"

"None."

"Previous training?"

Lu Chen thought.

"I carried sacks of rice for my uncle."

Lin Yue looked at Shen Yuan.

Shen Yuan shrugged.

"Fresh start."

Jian Wuchen almost laughed.

Lin Yue nodded.

"Good."

Lu Chen wasn't sure why that was good.

Then she smiled.

"Welcome to Cloudveil Peak."

Something warm settled in his chest.

"Thank you, Senior Sister."

Jian Wuchen nodded.

"Welcome."

Chen An finished the registry entry.

"Welcome."

Ye Feng hesitated.

He wasn't part of Cloudveil.

Still—

"Welcome."

Lu Chen smiled.

Five sects had rejected him.

The sixth—

apparently hadn't even required a test.

Strange.

He liked it.

Then the mountain shook.

Everyone froze.

Lu Chen looked around.

"What was that?"

Shen Yuan frowned.

The system appeared.

[Chaos Spiritual Root resonance detected.]

[Environmental spiritual energy destabilizing.]

Shen Yuan looked at Lu Chen.

The boy looked back.

"I didn't do anything."

"I know."

The mountain shook again.

This time—

spiritual Qi moved.

Everywhere.

Fire Qi from the southern gardens.

Water Qi from the waterfalls.

Earth Qi from the mountain.

Metal Qi from training grounds.

Wood Qi from spirit forests.

Yin.

Yang.

Wind.

Lightning.

All began moving toward Lu Chen.

Then—

stopped.

They couldn't enter him.

Instead—

they collided.

Boom.

A small explosion erupted ten meters away.

Lu Chen jumped.

"What was that?!"

Shen Yuan's eyes narrowed.

Another collision.

Boom.

Then another.

Boom.

Lin Yue raised an ice barrier.

Jian Wuchen drew Clear Wind.

Chen An immediately shouted:

"Activate courtyard formations!"

Attendants moved.

Shen Yuan lifted one hand.

All spiritual energy froze.

Silence returned.

Lu Chen stared.

"Did I do that?"

"Indirectly."

"Is that bad?"

Shen Yuan checked the system.

[Chaos Spiritual Root is attempting to absorb all compatible energies simultaneously.]

[No stable circulation framework exists.]

[Elemental energies are mutually conflicting before conversion to Chaos Qi.]

[Warning: Direct cultivation without suitable method may cause internal elemental collapse.]

Shen Yuan stared.

"Yes."

Lu Chen swallowed.

"Very bad?"

"Potentially explosive."

Lu Chen looked at his stomach.

"Explosive?"

"Don't cultivate."

"I don't know how."

"Excellent."

For once—

ignorance was useful.

The system continued.

[Recommended solution:]

Construct Primordial Chaos Foundation Method.

Required concepts:

Five Elements.

Yin-Yang.

Void.

Creation.

Destruction.

Balance.

Shen Yuan stared.

Lin Yue's method had been difficult.

Jian Wuchen's had been expensive.

This—

was going to be annoying.

The system added:

[Additional recommendation.]

Disciple possesses unusually high compatibility with Body Cultivation.]

Recommended: Dual cultivation of body and Chaos Qi.

Shen Yuan's eyes brightened.

That was interesting.

Lu Chen saw it.

"Master."

"Hm?"

"You're smiling again."

Jian Wuchen placed a hand on his shoulder.

Lu Chen looked at him.

Jian spoke quietly.

"You'll get used to it."

That was not reassuring.

By afternoon—

Lu Chen had been inspected thoroughly.

He sat inside Shen Yuan's palace.

Lin Yue on one side.

Jian Wuchen on the other.

Shen Yuan in front.

Chen An had brought snacks.

Lu Chen ate while the system displayed his full information.

Name: Lu Chen

Age: 15

Cultivation: None

Spiritual Root: Primordial Chaos Spiritual Root

State: Dormant

Talent: Unmeasurable by conventional elemental standards

Comprehension: High

Physical Constitution: Ordinary

Body Cultivation Compatibility: 93%

Destiny: Purple-Gold

Primary Affinity: Chaos

Secondary Affinities: All elemental laws

Special Characteristics:

— Mortal artifacts detect no spiritual root.

— Can theoretically refine any form of spiritual energy.

— Requires conversion before stable absorption.

— Conventional elemental conflict does not apply after successful Chaos conversion.

— Foundation quality has no known conventional upper limit.

Current Risk: Elemental collapse if cultivation begins without stable method.

Compatibility with Host: 96%

Shen Yuan read it twice.

No special physique.

Ordinary body.

That was almost refreshing.

Except for the primordial spiritual root capable of refining everything.

Lu Chen ate another pastry.

"Am I dying?"

"No."

"Good."

"Unless you cultivate incorrectly."

He stopped chewing.

"Less good."

Lin Yue spoke.

"Master will fix it."

Lu Chen looked at her.

"You sound very certain."

"He fixed mine."

Jian Wuchen nodded.

"And mine."

Lu Chen looked between them.

"What was wrong with you?"

Lin Yue answered.

"My spiritual root was destroying itself because my physique was awakening."

Jian Wuchen followed.

"My meridians were eighty-seven percent destroyed and my dantian damaged."

Lu Chen slowly lowered the pastry.

"I couldn't make a testing stone light up."

Lin Yue nodded.

"You're doing well."

Lu Chen wasn't sure that comparison worked.

Shen Yuan leaned back.

Three disciples.

Three completely different paths.

Nine-Yin.

Sword.

Chaos.

The system was clearly doing this deliberately.

He just couldn't prove it.

"Lu Chen."

"Yes, Master?"

"Before we create your cultivation method, we strengthen your body."

"How?"

"Body Tempering."

Lu Chen nodded.

That sounded normal.

Finally.

Shen Yuan continued.

"Lin Yue."

She looked over.

"Teach him the basics."

Lu Chen smiled.

His senior sister seemed reasonable.

Lin Yue stood.

"Come."

He followed.

Jian Wuchen remained seated.

Then Shen Yuan spoke.

"You too."

Jian Wuchen frowned.

"Why?"

"Your Sword Foundation uses the body as a sheath."

"So?"

"Your body needs strengthening."

Jian Wuchen looked toward the training grounds.

Then at Lin Yue.

She smiled.

"Two thousand punches."

He stared.

Lu Chen stopped.

"Two thousand?"

Lin Yue nodded.

"That's the beginning."

Lu Chen looked at Shen Yuan.

"Can I change masters?"

Shen Yuan smiled.

"No refunds."

Jian Wuchen laughed.

Training began.

Lu Chen discovered several things.

First—

Lin Yue was terrifying.

"Lower."

He lowered his stance.

"Lower."

He lowered further.

"Lower."

"My legs are shaking."

"Good."

"How is that good?"

"Means they're working."

Jian Wuchen stood nearby in the same stance.

Perfectly stable.

Lu Chen glared.

"Why aren't your legs shaking?"

"Bone Meridian."

"I don't know what that means."

"Neither did I two days ago."

That did not help.

Lin Yue walked around them.

"Body Tempering isn't about hitting things."

Lu Chen looked toward the wooden posts.

"Then why are there posts?"

"That's later."

He became concerned.

"The goal is to strengthen the entire body before Qi cultivation."

Jian Wuchen adjusted his stance slightly.

Lin Yue immediately noticed.

"Don't cheat."

"I'm not."

"You're using Sword Intent."

Jian Wuchen became still.

Lu Chen looked between them.

"You can see that?"

"Yes."

"How?"

"Master."

Again.

Everything on Cloudveil Peak eventually returned to that answer.

An hour passed.

Lu Chen collapsed.

Jian Wuchen remained standing.

Barely.

Lin Yue looked satisfied.

"Good."

Lu Chen lay on the ground.

"I disagree."

Chen An arrived carrying water.

Lu Chen looked at him as though seeing salvation.

"Senior Chen."

Chen An handed him a cup.

"Drink slowly."

Lu Chen obeyed.

"Does training get easier?"

Chen An considered.

"No idea."

"You don't train with them?"

"No."

"Why?"

"I'm sensible."

Lu Chen immediately respected him.

Jian Wuchen accepted water.

"Senior Chen."

"Hm?"

"How long have you served Master?"

"Six years."

Lu Chen nearly choked.

"Six?"

"Yes."

"How many disciples before us?"

"None."

Lu Chen stared.

"Then he accepted three in less than a week?"

Chen An drank tea.

"Yes."

All three disciples became silent.

Lin Yue looked toward Shen Yuan's palace.

Jian Wuchen did the same.

Lu Chen followed.

Something was suspicious.

Inside the palace—

Shen Yuan sneezed.

He frowned.

Immortals could sneeze?

Interesting.

Then the system chimed.

[Cultivation Method Derivation prepared.]

Shen Yuan's attention returned.

He had gathered everything he could find.

Five-Element methods.

Yin-Yang scriptures.

Body cultivation arts.

Void methods.

Several creation-related records.

A destruction scripture Qin Feng probably didn't remember lending him four years ago.

The interface opened.

[Target: Lu Chen.]

[Primary concept: Chaos.]

[Supporting framework insufficient.]

Shen Yuan frowned.

He added more.

Ten methods.

Twenty.

Thirty.

[Earth — Mid.]

Too low.

More.

[Earth — Transcendent.]

More.

[Heaven — Low.]

Shen Yuan stopped.

The problem wasn't quantity.

It needed a catalyst.

Something truly primordial.

Like Lin Yue's Primordial Lunar Origin.

Like Jian Wuchen's Pre-Severance Sword Dao comprehension.

Shen Yuan opened his inventory.

Primordial Lunar Origin.

Heaven-Severing Sword Dao Origin.

Neither was appropriate.

Then—

the system highlighted something.

Shen Yuan blinked.

[Immortal Foundation Dao Seed.]

The reward from Lin Yue's earlier investment.

He hadn't used it.

Grade: Immortal Transcendent.

Useful.

But not Chaos.

Suitability only 61%.

Not enough.

He kept searching.

Treasures.

Pills.

Materials.

Nothing.

Then the Primordial Autonomous Dao Body reacted.

Shen Yuan froze.

A tiny strand of energy emerged from his body.

Not spiritual Qi.

Not Immortal Qi.

Something deeper.

The system reacted immediately.

[Unknown Host-origin energy detected.]

Shen Yuan stared.

"Unknown?"

[Analyzing.]

Pause.

[Analysis incomplete.]

That was rare.

[Energy possesses primordial characteristics.]

[Potential compatibility with Chaos derivation: 99.8%.]

Shen Yuan's eyes narrowed.

His physique.

Primordial Autonomous Dao Body.

Of course.

"How much would I need?"

[0.000001%.]

Very little.

"Effect on me?"

[Negligible.]

Shen Yuan smiled.

"Use it."

The strand entered the derivation.

Everything changed.

Five Elements collapsed.

Yin and Yang merged.

Creation and destruction overlapped.

Void became structure.

Balance became circulation.

The method stopped trying to force conflicting energies to coexist.

Instead—

it returned them to what came before separation.

Chaos.

[Heaven — Low.]

[Heaven — High.]

[Heaven — Transcendent.]

[Immortal — Low.]

It continued.

[Immortal — High.]

[Immortal — Transcendent.]

Then—

[Qualitative transformation detected.]

Shen Yuan leaned forward.

[Dao Scripture — Embryonic.]

There it was.

Again.

The details appeared.

Unnamed Chaos Scripture

Grade: Dao Scripture — Embryonic

Current Equivalent: Immortal — Transcendent

Compatibility with Lu Chen: 100%

Foundation Architecture: Primordial Chaos Cycle

Primary Path: Chaos Dao

Secondary Path: Body/Qi Dual Cultivation

Special Characteristic:

All absorbed energy is broken into primordial essence before entering the disciple's foundation.

Potential compatible sources include spiritual Qi, elemental Qi, Yin, Yang, sword Qi, demonic Qi, beast essence, and higher-order energies after sufficient cultivation.

Warning:

Early-stage disciple requires exceptional physical foundation to withstand conversion.

Shen Yuan smiled.

Perfect.

[Please name the scripture.]

He thought.

Then:

"Primordial Chaos Scripture."

Simple.

Appropriate.

[Naming complete.]

A second notification appeared.

[Special Disciple Mission progress: 0% → 48%.]

Only forty-eight?

Shen Yuan frowned.

Then saw why.

[Remaining requirements:]

Strengthen disciple's mortal body.

Awaken Chaos Spiritual Root.

Establish Primordial Chaos Foundation.

Fair.

The method was only half the work.

Shen Yuan looked toward the training grounds.

Lu Chen was currently lying flat on his back.

Lin Yue stood over him.

Jian Wuchen was doing push-ups.

Shen Yuan smiled.

Good start.

That evening—

Cloudveil Peak became quiet.

Lu Chen slept immediately.

Jian Wuchen cultivated his Sword Foundation.

Lin Yue practiced the Nine-Yin Lunar Scripture.

Chen An finished paperwork.

Shen Yuan stood on the viewing terrace.

The system hovered before him.

Three disciples.

Three paths.

Then—

something unexpected appeared.

[Disciple count threshold reached: 3.]

Shen Yuan raised an eyebrow.

[System function unlocked.]

[Cloudveil Disciple Resonance.]

Function:

When three or more registered disciples cultivate within Host territory, compatible Dao insights may produce limited mutual resonance.

Current disciples:

Lin Yue — Yin/Lunar.

Jian Wuchen — Sword.

Lu Chen — Chaos.

Potential resonance detected.

Shen Yuan frowned.

Chaos could interact with almost anything.

The system continued.

[Warning.]

That was less encouraging.

[Three high-level destiny paths are now concentrated on Cloudveil Peak.]

[Karmic visibility increasing.]

Shen Yuan's expression changed.

"What does that mean?"

[Cloudveil Peak is becoming easier for high-level entities to notice.]

There it was.

The cost.

Shen Yuan looked upward.

The night sky seemed ordinary.

Stars.

Moon.

Clouds.

But somewhere beyond them—

things had already begun looking down.

The black karmic thread connected to Jian Wuchen.

The interference around the Sword Tomb.

The Pre-Severance mystery.

And now Lu Chen's Primordial Chaos Spiritual Root.

Shen Yuan folded his hands behind his back.

"Can I hide the mountain?"

[Yes.]

He blinked.

That was easier than expected.

"How?"

[Recommended: Host comprehends a concealment formation using Primordial Autonomous Dao Body.]

"How long?"

[Estimated passive comprehension time: 17 days.]

Too long.

"Faster?"

[Host may actively cultivate.]

Shen Yuan stared.

He hadn't actually cultivated since receiving the physique.

It did everything automatically.

"What would happen?"

Pause.

[Unknown.]

Shen Yuan smiled.

Interesting.

Then—

the sky changed.

One star disappeared.

Shen Yuan's smile vanished.

Not dimmed.

Disappeared.

Then another.

And another.

A line of darkness moved across the heavens.

Shen Yuan's Immortal perception rose.

Beyond the clouds.

Beyond the atmosphere.

Beyond the mortal world's visible sky.

Something—

looked back.

For one instant—

he saw an eye.

Enormous.

Golden.

Cold.

Then it vanished.

The stars returned.

The system exploded with warnings.

[WARNING.]

[Higher-realm observation detected.]

[Source blocked by world barrier.]

[Host location partially exposed.]

[Observer identity: Unknown.]

Shen Yuan's expression became calm.

Too calm.

Three disciples.

Less than a week.

And something in the higher realms was already watching his mountain.

He looked toward the residences below.

Lin Yue.

Jian Wuchen.

Lu Chen.

All sleeping or cultivating peacefully.

Shen Yuan raised one hand.

Space folded over Cloudveil Peak.

Layer after layer.

The mountain disappeared from ordinary divine sense.

Then from karmic perception.

Then from spatial observation.

It wasn't perfect.

But it would do.

For tonight.

Far above—

beyond a barrier that had stood for thousands of years—

a golden-robed figure sat before an enormous mirror.

The mirror had gone dark.

An attendant knelt nearby.

"Lord Envoy?"

The golden-robed man opened his eyes.

"Interesting."

"What did you see?"

The man remained silent.

Then—

slowly smiled.

"A mortal mountain."

The attendant waited.

The golden-robed man looked at the dark mirror.

"With three destinies that should not exist together."

He stood.

"Find the old records."

"Which records?"

A pause.

"The Severance."

The attendant's face changed.

The golden-robed man continued.

"And find out..."

His eyes narrowed.

"...why there is an Immortal standing on the wrong side of heaven."