The Jade Dawn Oath had woven a fragile thread of unity among the Order of the Jade Dawn, their shared vow strengthening Li Wei's resolve despite the persistent fever and pain that gnawed at his body. The hidden valley, with its shimmering pool, ancient tree, and glowing blossoms, pulsed with an energy that seemed to affirm the warmth in his dantian—a warmth he believed was his nascent Golden Core, nurturing a fledgling Nascent Soul. Azure Dragon, his scruffy spirit beast, remained a loyal companion, curled by the stone altar as Li Wei pored over the scroll, its worn bamboo slats a sacred guide through his trials. The scroll's latest passage unveiled a chilling new challenge: "The Phantom Sect, where shadows of rival cultivators test the true path. Guard the heart, for their whispers may lead astray."
In the cultivation novels Li Wei had devoured in Beijing, rival sects were a staple—shadowy groups of cultivators who challenged the protagonist's resolve with sabotage, combat, or deception. The scroll's description was more enigmatic but equally compelling: "Beware the phantoms who cloak themselves in the Dao's guise. Face their challenge with qi, and prove the path's truth." Li Wei, tempered by lightning, betrayal, and moments of clarity, felt a surge of paranoia. The betrayals of Wang Hao and Lin Tao had left him wary, and his earlier encounter with the hiker—whom he'd imagined as a rival scout—fueled his suspicion that real enemies might lurk beyond the valley's cliffs. His body, ravaged by hunger, fever, and the throbbing infection in his hand, ached with every movement, but the scroll's warning and the valley's mystical aura urged him to stay vigilant.
Li Wei prepared with the caution of a warrior guarding a sacred fortress. He reinforced his altar with heavy stones, carving spirals inspired by the Starstone to channel the valley's qi, and placed the scroll, jade slip, Starstone, and stolen booklet at its center, surrounded by the ancient tree's glowing blossoms, their light a ward against unseen threats. Azure Dragon watched, head tilted, as Li Wei sipped the valley's crystal-clear water, its coolness a fleeting relief against his fever. The scroll suggested vigilance and a meditative focus to "pierce the phantoms' guise," so he patrolled the valley's edges, the Star Blade in hand, practicing his Heavenly Sword Art to hone his qi. The warmth in his dantian pulsed, ready to confront any rival.
One twilight, as the valley was cloaked in a golden haze, Li Wei's paranoia peaked. Azure Dragon growled, hackles raised, as a faint glow flickered beyond the cliffs—a campfire, its light dancing through the ferns. His heart raced; this was no natural phenomenon. The scroll's warning of a Phantom Sect conjured images of rival cultivators, perhaps drawn by the valley's energy to steal his scroll or challenge his path. He gripped the Star Blade, chanting the scroll's incantations, and crept toward the glow, Azure Dragon limping at his side. The warmth in his dantian surged, and he visualized his qi as a radiant shield, ready to repel any foe.
As he neared, the glow revealed a small campsite—tattered gear, a smoldering fire, but no figures. Empty food wrappers and a broken water bottle littered the ground, likely left by hikers. Li Wei's imagination, fueled by the scroll, saw it differently—a Phantom Sect's trap, their presence cloaked by spiritual deception. He raised the Star Blade, shouting, "Reveal yourselves!" His voice echoed off the cliffs, and he swung the blade in a wide arc, visualizing qi bursting forth. The campfire flickered, as if responding, and Azure Dragon barked, startling a flock of birds from the trees. No rivals appeared, but Li Wei felt a surge of triumph, convinced he'd repelled the phantoms with his qi.
Back at the altar, he collapsed, panting, his fever spiking, the infection in his hand throbbing. Azure Dragon nudged his leg, a quiet comfort. Had he faced a true Phantom Sect, or just the shadows of his paranoia? The scroll promised that confronting rivals proved the path's truth, and Li Wei chose to believe he'd passed the test. He scribbled in his notebook, hands trembling: "Phantom Sect repelled. Qi vigilant, path defended. Body falters, spirit holds." The valley's whispers seemed to approve, their murmurs blending with the breeze, the ancient tree's blossoms glowing brighter.
During the next video call with the Order of the Jade Dawn, Li Wei shared the encounter, framing the campfire as a spiritual challenge. Zhang Wei, eyes wide, called it a "divine skirmish," suggesting alchemical wards to protect the valley. Liu Mei, her serene face lit by moonlight, praised his vigilance but warned: "Phantoms may be within, not without. Seek clarity." Chen Xiu saw it as proof of rival cultivators, her mysticism clashing with Zhao Feng's skepticism, who dismissed it as a hiker's litter, sparking a heated debate. Li Wei mediated, hiding his worsening fever and pain, fearing their concern might fracture the sect's unity.
As dawn broke, Li Wei sat by the pool, the Starstone warm in his hands, Azure Dragon snoring softly. The scroll promised that the Phantom Sect tested the heart, but also opened new paths. The valley's energy, his sect's support, and the scroll's guidance bolstered him, even as his body weakened. With his Golden Core and Nascent Soul pulsing as beacons, Li Wei felt ready to face the next challenge, his spirit vigilant against shadows—real or imagined—one defensive strike at a time toward immortality.