Chapter 8 — A Path That Never Existed

[Cultivation Method Derivation available.]

[Awaiting Host input.]

Shen Yuan stared at the system interface.

Around him, Cloudveil Peak remained considerably more crowded than usual.

Qin Feng stood near the broken training post.

Mu Qinglan was still examining Lin Yue with the expression of someone attempting to solve a particularly irritating puzzle.

Zhao Tianming watched from nearby.

Several elders and inner disciples had gathered outside the courtyard.

Everyone seemed interested in the same thing.

Lin Yue.

Yesterday, she had been the girl with the damaged spiritual root.

Today, she had broken an Ironheart Wood training post at the third stage of Body Tempering.

Shen Yuan suspected tomorrow would be worse.

Especially if the system worked the way he thought it did.

"Master?"

Lin Yue's voice pulled his attention away from the interface.

"You said my cultivation plan changed."

"It did."

"Again."

"Yes."

She stared at him.

Shen Yuan could almost see her reconsidering whether becoming his disciple had been wise.

"Come."

He turned toward the palace.

Lin Yue followed.

Qin Feng immediately stepped forward.

"Where are you going?"

Shen Yuan glanced back.

"Inside."

"I can see that."

"Then why ask?"

Qin Feng's eyebrow twitched.

"What are you planning?"

"Teaching my disciple."

"Teaching her what?"

"I'll know shortly."

Qin Feng frowned.

"That doesn't sound reassuring."

"It wasn't meant to."

Shen Yuan continued walking.

Mu Qinglan spoke from behind them.

"Shen Yuan."

He stopped.

She looked toward Lin Yue.

"Whatever you're doing, don't rush her foundation."

There was genuine concern in her voice.

Shen Yuan nodded.

"I won't."

Mu Qinglan studied him for several seconds.

Then nodded.

That was enough.

Qin Feng wasn't finished.

"Three days."

Shen Yuan looked at him.

"You said she'd return to the ninth stage in three days."

"Approximately."

Zhao Tianming's attention sharpened.

Qin Feng pointed toward his disciple.

"Then we'll return in three days."

Shen Yuan looked at Zhao Tianming.

The young man bowed.

"I look forward to exchanging pointers with Senior Sister Lin."

Lin Yue hesitated.

Then returned the bow.

"As do I."

Shen Yuan smiled faintly.

Good.

A little competition wouldn't hurt.

As long as Qin Feng didn't teach Zhao Tianming to become as annoying as himself.

"Three days."

Shen Yuan turned away.

Qin Feng called after him.

"Don't disappear."

"No promises."

"Shen Yuan."

The palace doors closed.

The primary cultivation chamber beneath Shen Yuan's palace had not been used seriously in years.

Shen Yuan preferred cultivating near the summit.

Or beside the waterfall.

Or wherever happened to be quiet.

The chamber itself was excessive.

Nine spiritual gathering formations were layered beneath the floor.

The walls were constructed from Spirit-Calming Stone.

Four dragon-shaped channels carried spiritual Qi from the mountain's primary spirit vein into the chamber.

At the center rested a circular jade platform.

Lin Yue sat upon it.

Shen Yuan stood several steps away.

"Close your eyes."

She obeyed.

"Don't cultivate."

Her eyes opened again.

Shen Yuan sighed.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"Then why did you open your eyes?"

"You told me to sit in a cultivation chamber, close my eyes, and not cultivate."

"Correct."

"Master..."

"Trust me."

Lin Yue looked at him.

Then closed her eyes again.

Shen Yuan activated Disciple Inspection.

The familiar interface appeared.

Disciple: Lin Yue

Cultivation: Body Tempering — Third Stage

Spiritual Root: Superior Ice Spiritual Root

Innate Physique: Nine-Yin Immortal Body

Physique Awakening: 4%

First Yin Channel: Dormant

Foundation Integrity: 91%

Meridian Integrity: 97%

Current Cultivation Method: None

Destiny: Crimson-Gold

Master-Disciple Compatibility: 97%

Ninety-one percent.

Her foundation had continued improving after yesterday's treatment.

Excellent.

Shen Yuan focused on the system's new function.

[Cultivation Method Derivation.]

The interface expanded.

[Please select derivation target.]

Shen Yuan mentally selected Lin Yue.

The system reacted immediately.

[Target confirmed.]

[Nine-Yin Immortal Body detected.]

[Superior Ice Spiritual Root detected.]

[Crimson-Gold Destiny detected.]

[Recommended primary attributes:]

Yin

Ice

Moon

Soul

Secondary compatibility available:

Water

Dream

Illusion

Death

Shen Yuan paused.

Death?

Interesting.

He selected it.

A description appeared.

[Nine-Yin Immortal Body possesses natural affinity with the stillness aspect of Death Law.]

[Recommendation: Do not introduce Death Law before Nascent Soul.]

Reasonable.

Shen Yuan deselected it.

No reason to teach his seventeen-year-old Body Tempering disciple the Dao of Death on her second day.

Even he had standards.

He selected Yin, Ice, and Moon.

Then hesitated.

Soul.

Lin Yue's physique apparently possessed exceptional affinity with soul cultivation.

That could become extremely powerful later.

But introducing too many principles into a foundation technique might make it unnecessarily complicated.

"System. Can the cultivation method evolve?"

[Yes.]

Shen Yuan's eyes brightened.

[Evolutionary cultivation framework can be constructed.]

[Initial method may develop alongside disciple's cultivation, physique awakening, comprehension, and available Dao resources.]

That was better.

Far better.

Rather than creating one technique Lin Yue would eventually outgrow—

he could create a path.

Something that evolved with her.

"Use Yin as the foundation."

[Confirmed.]

"Ice as the primary manifestation."

[Confirmed.]

"Moon as the higher-order Dao direction."

[Confirmed.]

"Soul remains dormant until Nascent Soul."

[Confirmed.]

The system processed the framework.

Then another interface appeared.

[Select resources for derivation.]

A long list unfolded.

Spirit stones.

Cultivation manuals.

Techniques.

Treasures.

Shen Yuan scanned it.

He had plenty.

The Cloudveil Peak library alone contained hundreds of cultivation methods.

Most weren't extraordinary.

But the system apparently didn't require extraordinary individual resources.

It needed information.

Principles.

Concepts.

Shen Yuan selected twelve Yin cultivation methods.

Eight Ice techniques.

Three Moon-related scriptures.

Two ancient meditation arts.

One Soul scripture.

The system calculated.

[Estimated Derived Grade: Earth — High.]

Shen Yuan frowned.

Too low.

He added more.

Twenty additional techniques.

[Earth — Transcendent.]

More.

Several Heavenly-grade scriptures from his personal collection.

[Heaven — Mid.]

Better.

Still not enough.

Lin Yue possessed an Immortal physique.

Giving her a Heavenly-grade cultivation method would solve her immediate problem.

But eventually—

she would outgrow it.

Shen Yuan looked at the available resources.

Then he saw it.

Primordial Lunar Origin.

The reward from the ten-thousandfold cashback.

He selected it.

The system immediately issued a warning.

[Dao-Origin resource selected.]

[Warning: Full consumption unnecessary.]

Shen Yuan paused.

"How much is required?"

[0.000003%.]

He stared.

"That's all?"

[Sufficient.]

Shen Yuan suddenly gained a new appreciation for how absurd the Primordial Lunar Origin actually was.

He confirmed.

The estimated grade changed.

[Immortal — High.]

Shen Yuan's expression sharpened.

Good.

Then another option appeared.

[Host Dao comprehension may be contributed.]

He raised an eyebrow.

His Primordial Autonomous Dao Body had been passively absorbing and understanding surrounding laws since activation.

He hadn't properly examined how much comprehension had accumulated.

Shen Yuan selected the option.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

The system froze.

Then—

[Analyzing Host...]

A second passed.

Five.

Ten.

Shen Yuan frowned.

"Problem?"

[Analysis incomplete.]

Interesting.

[Host Dao state exceeds current derivation function measurement range.]

Shen Yuan blinked.

That was new.

"Can you use part of it?"

[Yes.]

[Recommended contribution: Minimal.]

"How minimal?"

[Minimum possible.]

That sounded mildly insulting.

Shen Yuan confirmed.

The interface changed.

[Derived Grade recalculating...]

[Immortal — High.]

[Immortal — Transcendent.]

The text flickered.

Then disappeared.

A new designation replaced it.

[Dao Scripture — Embryonic.]

Shen Yuan stared.

That wasn't a normal cultivation grade.

He opened the description.

[Embryonic Dao Scripture]

A cultivation method possessing the potential to evolve beyond fixed cultivation grades.

Growth depends upon the cultivator's comprehension and relationship with the Dao principle embedded within the scripture.

Current scripture may evolve alongside Lin Yue's Nine-Yin Immortal Body.

Shen Yuan smiled.

Perfect.

[Begin derivation?]

Yes.

The system disappeared.

For several seconds—

nothing happened.

Lin Yue remained seated.

Shen Yuan waited.

Then every cultivation manual he'd selected vanished from his storage.

Not physically destroyed.

The knowledge inside them was extracted.

Pages became blank.

Jade slips cracked.

Ancient scriptures lost their spiritual fluctuations.

Countless fragments of information appeared inside Shen Yuan's consciousness.

Breathing patterns.

Meridian routes.

Ice techniques.

Yin circulation.

Moonlight absorption.

Soul meditation.

They collided.

Separated.

Recombined.

Then—

a thread of silver light appeared.

Shen Yuan felt something leave the Primordial Lunar Origin.

An amount so tiny he would never have noticed without the system.

The silver thread entered the mass of knowledge.

Everything changed.

The cultivation methods stopped behaving like separate techniques.

They became principles.

Ice.

Stillness.

Night.

Moon.

Yin.

Then something else entered.

A trace of Shen Yuan's own Dao comprehension.

The chamber went silent.

Completely silent.

The spiritual gathering formations stopped.

The spirit vein stopped flowing.

Even dust suspended in the air became motionless.

Lin Yue opened her eyes.

"Master?"

Shen Yuan didn't respond.

His eyes were closed.

Behind him—

a moon appeared.

Not physically.

A phantom.

Enormous.

Silver-white.

It filled the chamber without occupying space.

Lin Yue stared.

The moon seemed impossibly distant.

And yet she felt she could reach out and touch it.

Then darkness spread around it.

Not frightening darkness.

Quiet darkness.

The kind that existed before dawn.

Lin Yue's Nine-Yin Immortal Body reacted.

Her pupils turned pale blue.

The Lunar Yin Marrow stored nearby began trembling.

The first dormant Yin Channel inside her body—

moved.

Shen Yuan's eyes opened.

[Derivation complete.]

Golden characters appeared.

[Please name cultivation method.]

Shen Yuan paused.

He hadn't thought about that.

Names mattered in cultivation worlds.

The more ridiculous the technique, the longer the name usually became.

He could call it something like:

Supreme Nine Heavens Primordial Lunar Yin Immortal Scripture.

No.

Absolutely not.

Lin Yue was watching him.

"Master?"

Shen Yuan looked toward the phantom moon.

Simple.

"Nine-Yin Lunar Scripture."

The system accepted it.

[Name confirmed.]

[Nine-Yin Lunar Scripture created.]

Grade: Embryonic Dao Scripture

Current Equivalent: Immortal — Transcendent

Creator: Shen Yuan / Disciple Cashback System

Primary Cultivator: Lin Yue

Compatibility: 100%

Core Principle:

Nine Yin Channels.

Nine transformations.

Nine lunar phases.

Each major stage awakens deeper aspects of the Nine-Yin Immortal Body while allowing the cultivation method to evolve alongside its cultivator.

Current Chapter Available:

First Moon — Mortal Foundation

Shen Yuan smiled.

One hundred percent.

That was what he wanted.

"Lin Yue."

She straightened.

"Yes, Master."

"I'm going to give you your cultivation method."

Her expression became serious.

"Clear your mind."

Lin Yue closed her eyes.

Shen Yuan placed two fingers against her forehead.

Information flowed.

Not words.

Not pages.

Understanding.

Lin Yue's body trembled.

The Nine-Yin Lunar Scripture entered her consciousness.

Her breathing changed.

One breath.

Then another.

The spiritual Qi inside the cultivation chamber began moving.

Shen Yuan immediately noticed the difference.

The Cold River Breathing Art had forced Qi into Lin Yue's meridians.

This technique didn't.

It invited it.

Yin energy gathered naturally.

Softly.

Like moonlight collecting on still water.

Lin Yue's expression relaxed.

For the first time in years—

cultivation didn't hurt.

She almost stopped because the sensation was so unfamiliar.

"Continue."

Shen Yuan's voice reached her.

Lin Yue obeyed.

The technique circulated.

First cycle.

Second.

Third.

Then—

the Lunar Yin Marrow reacted.

A strand of dark-blue energy entered her body.

The Nine-Yin Lunar Scripture caught it immediately.

Instead of allowing the energy to crash through her meridians—

it guided it.

Down.

Across.

Around the dantian.

Then toward something that had remained dormant since birth.

The First Yin Channel.

Lin Yue gasped.

Cold exploded through her body.

Shen Yuan raised his hand.

"Steady."

Her breathing stabilized.

The channel began opening.

One percent.

Three.

Five.

Shen Yuan watched through Disciple Inspection.

[First Yin Channel awakening initiated.]

[Physique Awakening: 4% → 5%]

The temperature dropped.

Outside the palace—

Cloudveil Peak changed.

The sky darkened slightly.

It was still morning.

Yet a pale moon became visible above the clouds.

Mu Qinglan stopped walking.

She looked upward.

Qin Feng did the same.

Zhao Tianming stared.

"What is that?"

Nobody answered.

A moon visible in daylight wasn't impossible.

But this moon—

was directly above Cloudveil Peak.

And it was growing brighter.

Inside the cultivation chamber, Lin Yue continued.

Ten percent.

Fifteen.

Twenty.

The First Yin Channel resisted.

Not because something was wrong.

Because it had never been opened.

Shen Yuan could force it.

He didn't.

This was Lin Yue's foundation.

She needed to do it herself.

"Don't fight it."

Lin Yue heard him.

Her brow furrowed.

The channel felt like a frozen river.

Her instinct was to break the ice.

Shen Yuan's voice came again.

"Guide it."

Lin Yue changed approach.

Instead of pushing—

she circulated around the obstruction.

Again.

Again.

Again.

The Yin energy gradually seeped through.

A crack appeared.

Then another.

Lin Yue understood.

The frozen river wasn't blocking her.

It was part of her.

She stopped trying to destroy it.

Instead—

she accepted the cold.

Crack.

The First Yin Channel opened.

Boom.

A pillar of pale-blue light erupted from Cloudveil Peak.

The entire Azure Origin Sect saw it.

Gu Tianhe was halfway through signing a document.

His brush stopped.

He looked toward the window.

Blue light illuminated the sky.

Gu Tianhe closed his eyes.

"Shen Yuan."

Of course.

Who else?

Deep beneath the central mountain—

Grand Elder Mo Qingfeng opened his eyes again.

He had returned to seclusion less than one day ago.

Apparently, that had been optimistic.

The old man looked upward.

His divine sense expanded.

Then stopped.

A strange expression appeared.

"Moon Dao?"

He disappeared.

On Heavenly Sword Peak, hundreds of swords began humming.

Zhao Tianming looked toward the weapons.

"What is happening?"

Qin Feng's expression became serious.

"The spiritual Qi is changing."

"Because of Senior Sister Lin?"

Qin Feng looked toward Cloudveil Peak.

"Probably."

He wasn't certain.

That irritated him.

Before Shen Yuan accepted a disciple, Cloudveil Peak had been the quietest place in the entire sect.

Two days.

It had taken two days for that to change completely.

Qin Feng suddenly wondered what would happen if Shen Yuan accepted ten disciples.

He decided not to imagine it.

Inside the cultivation chamber—

Lin Yue opened her eyes.

Silver-blue light filled them.

The world looked different.

She could see Yin energy.

Not metaphorically.

Actually see it.

It existed everywhere.

Inside stone.

Inside water.

Within shadows.

In the cool spaces beneath trees.

In the lingering night energy hidden from the morning sun.

And above all—

the moon.

Even during the day.

Lin Yue inhaled.

Yin Qi entered her body.

The First Yin Channel circulated.

Her cultivation changed.

Body Tempering — Third Stage.

Then—

Fourth.

Lin Yue's eyes widened.

The breakthrough happened without resistance.

Her body absorbed the energy naturally.

Shen Yuan watched.

[Body Tempering — Fourth Stage achieved.]

Her foundation remained stable.

Very stable.

Then the Half-Immortal Nine Heavens Foundation Rebirth Pill inside Shen Yuan's storage reacted.

The system displayed a recommendation.

[Optimal moment detected.]

[Recommend administering Nine Heavens Foundation Rebirth Pill.]

Shen Yuan frowned.

Now?

He checked Lin Yue.

Foundation integrity:

96%.

First Yin Channel:

Awakened.

Physique:

11%.

The system was right.

This was the moment.

Shen Yuan retrieved the pill.

"Lin Yue."

She opened her eyes.

Then saw the pill.

Her expression changed.

"Master."

"Yes."

"That's the Half-Immortal one."

She remembered.

"Correct."

"Now?"

"Now."

Lin Yue looked at the pill.

Then at him.

Two days ago, she would have refused.

Yesterday, she would have argued.

Today—

she simply held out her hand.

Shen Yuan smiled.

Progress.

He gave it to her.

[Ding!]

The cashback system activated.

Shen Yuan had almost forgotten about that.

Almost.

[Disciple Lin Yue received: Half-Immortal Nine Heavens Foundation Rebirth Pill.]

[Evaluating investment...]

The system paused.

[Resource suitability: Perfect.]

[Disciple need: Perfect.]

[Cultivation timing: Perfect.]

[Custom cultivation method compatibility detected.]

[Physique awakening synergy detected.]

Shen Yuan's expression changed.

That was a lot of "perfect."

Then—

[First Disciple Bonus expired.]

Shen Yuan blinked.

Right.

Twenty-four hours.

The bonus had ended.

He wasn't particularly disappointed.

He'd already received Primordial Lunar Origin from it.

The system continued.

[Cashback multiplier determined.]

[2,000× Cashback activated.]

Shen Yuan raised an eyebrow.

Even without the bonus?

Interesting.

[Reward optimization activated.]

[Obtained: Immortal Foundation Dao Seed.]

He inspected it.

[Immortal Foundation Dao Seed]

Grade: Immortal — Transcendent

A condensed seed of perfected foundational principles.

When refined, establishes an Immortal-grade foundation independent of cultivation realm.

May permanently increase:

Dao affinity

Meridian quality

Dantian capacity

Spiritual perception

Cultivation stability

Law comprehension

Shen Yuan stored it.

Another excellent reward.

But his attention remained on Lin Yue.

She swallowed the Half-Immortal pill.

The effect began immediately.

Her body trembled.

Then—

her cultivation disappeared.

Again.

Lin Yue's eyes opened.

She looked at Shen Yuan.

Shen Yuan looked back.

Neither spoke.

Finally—

"Master."

"Hm?"

"It happened again."

"Yes."

"My fourth-stage cultivation."

"Gone."

Lin Yue closed her eyes.

She breathed slowly.

Shen Yuan waited for the complaint.

It didn't come.

Instead, Lin Yue asked:

"Better foundation?"

Shen Yuan smiled.

"Much better."

She sighed.

"Fine."

That was all.

Shen Yuan was impressed.

His disciple was adapting.

Then the real transformation began.

The Half-Immortal pill dissolved.

Lin Yue's body became translucent.

Not literally.

But Shen Yuan's perception could see every meridian glowing beneath her skin.

The First Yin Channel shone silver.

Her spiritual root dissolved.

Lin Yue gasped.

This time—

Shen Yuan moved.

His Immortal Qi surrounded her.

"Don't panic."

"My spiritual root—"

"Let it change."

"Into what?"

"I don't know."

Lin Yue's eyes snapped open.

"Master!"

"The system didn't specify."

She didn't know what system meant.

That somehow made the answer worse.

Shen Yuan corrected himself.

"The pill is rebuilding according to your potential."

"Is that safe?"

"Probably."

Lin Yue stared.

Shen Yuan smiled reassuringly.

It didn't help.

Then—

her spiritual root reformed.

Blue.

Silver.

Then transparent.

The system reacted.

[Spiritual Root transformation detected.]

[Superior Ice Spiritual Root evolving...]

[Influence detected: Nine-Yin Immortal Body.]

[Influence detected: Nine-Yin Lunar Scripture.]

[Influence detected: Lunar Yin Marrow.]

The spiritual root changed again.

Nine tiny silver markings appeared within it.

[Evolution complete.]

[New Spiritual Root: Nine-Yin Lunar Root.]

Shen Yuan raised an eyebrow.

That wasn't a standard spiritual root.

The system provided information.

[Nine-Yin Lunar Root]

Grade: Immortal

Artificially evolved spiritual root produced through interaction between the Nine-Yin Immortal Body and an Embryonic Dao Scripture.

Possesses perfect compatibility with Yin, Ice, and Lunar spiritual energy.

Special Trait:

Spiritual root will evolve alongside Nine-Yin Lunar Scripture.

Shen Yuan stared.

Lin Yue had entered Cloudveil Peak with a damaged High-grade Ice root.

Two days later—

Immortal spiritual root.

That seemed reasonable.

For Cloudveil Peak.

The transformation continued.

Her dantian expanded.

Meridians strengthened.

Bones became denser.

Blood carried traces of silver Yin energy.

Then her cultivation returned.

Body Tempering.

First stage.

Second.

Third.

Fourth.

Fifth.

Shen Yuan watched silently.

Lin Yue didn't even seem aware.

Her consciousness had entered a deep meditative state.

Sixth stage.

The entire cultivation chamber trembled.

Seventh.

The palace formations activated.

Eighth.

Outside—

the moon above Cloudveil Peak became enormous.

Every disciple in the Azure Origin Sect could see it.

Ninth.

Boom.

A ring of silver light expanded from the mountain.

Across Cloudveil Peak—

flowers covered in frost bloomed simultaneously.

The waterfalls froze for a single breath.

Then began flowing upward.

Clouds rotated around the mountain.

Spirit cranes landed.

Every Yin-attributed spirit beast within hundreds of kilometers turned toward the peak.

The phenomenon continued expanding.

Shen Yuan frowned.

Too much.

He raised one hand.

The Primordial Autonomous Dao Body reacted.

Space around Cloudveil Peak folded.

The phenomenon stopped spreading.

To everyone outside the Azure Origin Sect—

nothing happened.

Inside?

That was another problem.

"Shen Yuan!"

Gu Tianhe's voice came from outside the palace.

Shen Yuan sighed.

Of course.

Lin Yue opened her eyes.

Silver-blue light flashed.

Her cultivation stabilized.

Body Tempering — Ninth Stage.

Exactly where she had been three years ago.

Except—

nothing was the same.

Shen Yuan activated Disciple Inspection.

Disciple: Lin Yue

Cultivation: Body Tempering — Ninth Stage

Foundation: Immortal-grade

Spiritual Root: Nine-Yin Lunar Root — Immortal Grade

Innate Physique: Nine-Yin Immortal Body — 14% Awakened

Yin Channels: 1/9

Cultivation Method: Nine-Yin Lunar Scripture

Method Grade: Embryonic Dao Scripture

Method Compatibility: 100%

Meridian Integrity: Perfect

Foundation Integrity: Perfect

Destiny: Crimson-Gold

Combat Assessment:

Calculating...

The system paused.

Then—

[Conventional Body Tempering metrics insufficient.]

Shen Yuan smiled.

That was promising.

Lin Yue looked down at her hands.

She clenched one fist.

The air cracked.

Her eyes widened.

"Master."

"Hm?"

"I think I'm stronger."

"A little."

She looked toward him.

"A little?"

Shen Yuan smiled.

"Compared to me."

Lin Yue immediately stopped asking.

Fair enough.

Then—

Boom.

The cultivation chamber door opened.

Gu Tianhe entered.

Qin Feng followed.

Mu Qinglan.

Grand Elder Mo Qingfeng.

Several elders attempted to follow.

Gu Tianhe turned.

"Stay outside."

The doors closed.

Silence.

Four of the most powerful people in the Azure Origin Sect stared at Lin Yue.

Lin Yue stared back.

She stood.

"Disciple Lin Yue greets Sect Master, Grand Elder, and Peak Masters."

Mo Qingfeng didn't answer.

His eyes were fixed on her.

The Grand Elder looked ancient.

Long white hair.

Simple robes.

No unnecessary ornamentation.

His gaze carried the weight of someone who had lived for centuries.

He examined Lin Yue.

Then frowned.

He looked at Shen Yuan.

Then back at Lin Yue.

Finally—

"What did you do?"

Shen Yuan considered.

"Teaching."

Mo Qingfeng stared.

"That is not teaching."

"Depends on the teacher."

Gu Tianhe rubbed his forehead.

"Shen Yuan."

"Yes?"

"Yesterday, she was seventh-stage Body Tempering with damaged spiritual roots."

"Correct."

"This morning, she was third stage."

"Also correct."

"And now..."

Gu Tianhe looked at Lin Yue.

"Ninth."

"Correct."

Qin Feng's eyes narrowed.

"Her aura isn't Body Tempering."

"It is."

"It doesn't feel like it."

"That's because her foundation is unusual."

Mu Qinglan stepped closer.

She looked at Lin Yue.

"May I examine you again?"

Lin Yue looked toward Shen Yuan.

He nodded.

Mu Qinglan touched her wrist.

One second.

Two.

Her expression changed.

Three.

She released Lin Yue immediately.

Everyone looked at her.

Mu Qinglan remained silent.

Qin Feng frowned.

"Well?"

Mu Qinglan looked toward Shen Yuan.

"What is she?"

Lin Yue stiffened.

Shen Yuan's expression changed slightly.

Mu Qinglan realized how that sounded.

"I mean her spiritual root."

She looked genuinely confused.

"I've never felt anything like it."

Shen Yuan answered simply.

"It evolved."

Gu Tianhe stared.

"Spiritual roots don't evolve."

"Everyone keeps saying that."

"Because they don't."

Shen Yuan pointed toward Lin Yue.

"Apparently they do."

Gu Tianhe had no response.

Grand Elder Mo Qingfeng finally stepped forward.

His expression was serious.

"Girl."

Lin Yue straightened.

"Grand Elder."

"Strike me."

Everyone paused.

Lin Yue looked at Shen Yuan.

Qin Feng smiled.

This was familiar.

Shen Yuan nodded.

"Go ahead."

Lin Yue hesitated.

"With everything?"

Mo Qingfeng almost smiled.

"Everything."

Lin Yue took a breath.

The Nine-Yin Lunar Scripture circulated.

Silver energy appeared around her fist.

The temperature dropped.

Mo Qingfeng's eyes sharpened.

Lin Yue stepped forward.

Punch.

Boom.

The chamber shook.

A shockwave exploded.

Gu Tianhe raised a barrier.

Qin Feng's robes snapped backward.

Mu Qinglan's hair moved in the wind.

Mo Qingfeng remained still.

Lin Yue's fist rested against his palm.

Silence.

Then—

crack.

A thin layer of frost appeared across Mo Qingfeng's fingers.

His eyes widened.

Lin Yue immediately stepped backward.

"This disciple apologizes."

Mo Qingfeng didn't answer.

He stared at the frost.

Then laughed.

A deep laugh.

Not mocking.

Delighted.

"Good."

He looked at Shen Yuan.

"Very good."

Qin Feng stepped forward.

"How strong?"

Mo Qingfeng rubbed his fingers together.

The frost vanished.

"Pure physical force?"

Shen Yuan nodded.

"Mostly."

Mo Qingfeng looked at Lin Yue.

"Equivalent to ordinary Foundation Establishment."

Silence.

Lin Yue froze.

Zhao Tianming was ninth-stage Body Tempering.

The strongest candidates of their generation were ninth-stage Body Tempering.

Foundation Establishment was the next major realm.

Not a small stage.

A major realm.

And Mo Qingfeng had just said—

Lin Yue's physical force had reached that level.

Qin Feng's expression became complicated.

"Zhao Tianming wants to spar with her."

Mo Qingfeng looked at him.

Then at Lin Yue.

Then back at Qin Feng.

"You don't like your disciple?"

Qin Feng's face darkened.

Shen Yuan looked away.

Mu Qinglan covered her mouth.

Gu Tianhe coughed.

Lin Yue tried very hard not to smile.

Qin Feng sighed.

"He asked."

Mo Qingfeng stroked his beard.

"Let him."

Qin Feng looked surprised.

The Grand Elder continued.

"Losing early is useful."

"Who said he's going to lose?"

Mo Qingfeng glanced at Lin Yue.

Then toward Qin Feng.

"I did."

Shen Yuan smiled.

Qin Feng noticed.

"Don't look so pleased."

"I'm not."

"You are."

"Perhaps slightly."

Lin Yue looked between the Peak Masters.

For the first time, she realized something.

These terrifying senior cultivators—

were remarkably childish.

She wisely kept that thought to herself.

Gu Tianhe looked toward Shen Yuan.

"Three days."

Shen Yuan raised an eyebrow.

"What?"

"You told Qin Feng three days."

"Yes."

"It's been one."

Shen Yuan thought about it.

True.

He looked toward Lin Yue.

"Apparently I overestimated."

Gu Tianhe stared.

Then laughed despite himself.

"Of course you did."

The visitors eventually left.

Not because their questions were answered.

None were.

They left because Shen Yuan refused to explain further.

Cloudveil Peak became quiet again.

Evening arrived.

Lin Yue stood alone at the edge of the mountain.

The cloud sea stretched beneath her.

Above—

the moon was rising.

A real one this time.

She raised her hand.

Moonlight gathered around her fingers.

Soft.

Silver.

Cold.

But not painful.

Never painful.

Footsteps approached.

Shen Yuan stood beside her.

Neither spoke for a while.

Then Lin Yue asked:

"Master."

"Hm?"

"Did you create the Nine-Yin Lunar Scripture?"

Shen Yuan paused.

Technically—

yes.

With considerable assistance.

"Partly."

"Who created the rest?"

Shen Yuan looked toward the moon.

"Something complicated."

Lin Yue had learned what that meant.

Don't ask yet.

So she didn't.

Instead:

"Has anyone cultivated it before?"

"No."

"Ever?"

"No."

She looked at him.

"Then how do you know it works?"

Shen Yuan smiled.

"You reached ninth-stage Body Tempering."

"That's not reassuring."

"It should be."

"It isn't."

Shen Yuan laughed quietly.

Lin Yue smiled.

Then her expression became serious.

"Master."

"Yes?"

"I don't know how I'll repay you."

Shen Yuan looked toward her.

She continued.

"The pills."

"The treasure."

"The cultivation method."

"My spiritual root."

"My foundation."

"Everything."

Her hand tightened.

"My clan spent three years trying to help me."

She looked down.

"They sold properties."

"Medicinal fields."

"Artifacts."

"My grandfather used nearly half our savings."

"And nothing worked."

Shen Yuan listened.

"I came here because there was nothing left to try."

Her voice became quieter.

"Then in two days..."

She looked at her hand.

Silver light moved between her fingers.

"...you fixed everything."

Shen Yuan was silent for a moment.

Then:

"I didn't."

Lin Yue looked at him.

"Your spiritual root is fixed."

He nodded toward her.

"But you're not."

She frowned.

Shen Yuan continued.

"You're at the beginning."

"Body Tempering."

"One Yin Channel."

"Fourteen percent awakened physique."

"You have eight more channels."

"Qi Refining."

"Foundation Establishment."

"Core Formation."

"Nascent Soul."

"Soul Transformation."

"Void Refining."

"Body Integration."

"Tribulation Transcendence."

"Mahayana."

"Then Immortality."

Lin Yue stared.

Most masters would have called reaching Nascent Soul a tremendous ambition.

Shen Yuan spoke about Immortality as if reading directions.

He looked toward her.

"So don't think about repayment."

"Think about tomorrow."

Lin Yue smiled faintly.

"One thousand punches?"

"Two thousand."

Her smile disappeared.

"Master."

"Your strength increased."

"That's not how numbers should work."

"It is here."

She sighed.

Shen Yuan almost smiled.

Then the system chimed.

[Ding!]

He looked toward the interface.

[Disciple milestone achieved.]

[Lin Yue has established an Immortal-grade mortal foundation.]

[Additional system function unlocked.]

Shen Yuan's attention sharpened.

[Disciple Destiny Resonance.]

He selected it.

A description appeared.

[When Host's registered disciple undergoes significant destiny changes, the system may detect individuals, locations, treasures, or events karmically connected to the disciple.]

Shen Yuan raised an eyebrow.

Interesting.

Then—

the system reacted immediately.

[Destiny resonance detected.]

A map appeared.

Not of Cloudveil Peak.

Not even of the Azure Origin Sect.

Far beyond the sect's territory.

Hundreds of kilometers away.

A red point flickered.

[Individual karmically connected to Disciple Lin Yue detected.]

Shen Yuan's expression became serious.

The system displayed incomplete information.

[Name: Unknown.]

[Status: Pursued.]

[Cultivation: Foundation Establishment.]

[Condition: Severely Injured.]

[Sword Intent: Abnormally High.]

Shen Yuan stared at the final line.

Sword intent?

The map shifted.

A mountain range appeared.

Then a ruined valley.

The red point moved.

Several black points followed it.

[Warning.]

[Target survival probability declining.]

Lin Yue noticed his expression.

"Master?"

Shen Yuan didn't answer immediately.

He looked at the distant horizon.

Somewhere beyond those mountains—

someone was running for their life.

Someone connected to Lin Yue's destiny.

Someone with abnormal sword intent.

The system chimed again.

[Potential disciple detected.]

Shen Yuan's eyes narrowed.

Cloudveil Peak had possessed no disciples for six years.

Two days after accepting Lin Yue—

apparently one disciple was no longer enough.

He sighed.

Lin Yue looked confused.

"What happened?"

Shen Yuan turned toward her.

"Go rest."

"Master?"

"I need to leave the sect."

Her expression changed.

"Where are you going?"

Shen Yuan looked toward the distant mountains.

The red point continued moving.

The black points were getting closer.

He smiled faintly.

"To see whether your future junior brother is about to die."

Lin Yue stared.

"What?"

Shen Yuan disappeared.

The mountain became quiet.

Lin Yue remained at the edge of the peak.

Moonlight gathered around her.

For several seconds, she said nothing.

Then—

"...I have a future junior brother?"

Far beyond the Azure Origin Sect—

inside a ruined valley filled with broken swords—

a young man stumbled through the rain.

Blood covered his robes.

One arm hung uselessly at his side.

Behind him—

seven cultivators followed.

The young man stopped.

There was nowhere left to run.

A cliff stood behind him.

Enemies stood ahead.

He slowly drew his sword.

The blade was broken.

Half remained.

The leader of the pursuing cultivators laughed.

"Jian Wuchen."

"You've run far enough."

The young man looked at the broken sword in his hand.

Then at the seven people approaching him.

His face was pale.

His breathing uneven.

But his hand didn't tremble.

"Perhaps."

Lightning illuminated the valley.

For a single instant—

countless broken swords buried throughout the ruins seemed to point toward him.

Jian Wuchen raised his blade.

His eyes became cold.

"But I never said..."

Sword intent erupted.

"...I was still running."