The forging of his soul in the Hidden Forge, though it had pushed Li Wei's frail body to the brink with fever and pain, had left him with a purified sense of purpose, his qi pulsing clearer as if his nascent Golden Core and fledgling Nascent Soul had been refined by the trial. The hidden valley, with its shimmering pool, ancient tree, and glowing blossoms, pulsed with an energy that seemed to affirm his path to immortality. 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 protective new challenge: "The Spirit Veil, where the cultivator weaves a shield of qi to guard the soul from the shadows of doubt and desire."
In the cultivation novels Li Wei had devoured in Beijing, spiritual veils were mystical barriers—shields of energy that protected cultivators from inner demons or external temptations, preserving their focus on the Dao. The scroll's description was more introspective but equally compelling: "Raise the veil of spirit to shield the heart from mortal and ethereal distractions. Weave with purity, for a tainted soul binds itself to illusion." Li Wei, tempered by lightning, betrayal, and moments of clarity, felt a surge of determination. The betrayals of Wang Hao and Lin Tao, the hiker's mockery, and the lingering pull of Mei Ling's smile had tested his resolve, and the Demon's Echo had reminded him of his vulnerabilities. His body, ravaged by hunger, fever, and the throbbing infections in his hand and arm, ached with every movement, but the valley's mystical aura and the scroll's promise fueled his resolve to weave this shield.
Li Wei prepared with the reverence of a guardian fortifying a sacred sanctuary. He reinforced his altar with smooth stones, their surfaces carved with star-like patterns inspired by the Starstone to channel the valley's qi. He placed the scroll, jade slip, Starstone, and stolen booklet at the altar's center, surrounded by the ancient tree's glowing blossoms, their light pulsing like a spiritual ward. Azure Dragon watched, head tilted, as Li Wei sipped the valley's crystal-clear water, its coolness a fleeting relief against his persistent fever. The scroll suggested a meditative trance to "weave the veil," so he chose a twilight hour, when the valley's mist swirled thickly, to begin, believing the dim light would amplify the challenge.
As the sky deepened to a violet hue, Li Wei sat by the altar, the Starstone in one hand, the jade slip pressed to his chest. He chanted the scroll's incantations, their rhythmic tones blending with the valley's whispers, which seemed to hum with protective energy. He focused on his dantian, visualizing his Golden Core as a radiant star, its light weaving strands of qi into a shimmering veil around his soul. The scroll urged him to "shield the heart," so he imagined the veil blocking mortal distractions—his mother's worried voice, Mei Ling's smile, the forum's ridicule—and ethereal threats like the Demon's Echo or the Phantom Sect. The warmth in his dantian surged, pulsing in rhythm with his chants, and he felt a tingling sensation, as if his qi were truly forming a barrier.
Hours passed, his body trembling from the strain, his fever intensifying, the pain in his infected wounds throbbing with each heartbeat. In his trance, the valley faded, replaced by a starry expanse where his Nascent Soul stood, a glowing figure enveloped by a radiant veil. Shadows pressed against it—Wang Hao's sneering face, Lin Tao's cold betrayal, Mei Ling's smile—whispering doubts and desires: "Return to the mortal world. Your path is madness." Li Wei's heart raced, the pull of Mei Ling's kindness threatening to unravel his focus, but he chanted louder, visualizing his Nascent Soul reinforcing the veil. "The Dao is my shield," he declared, his voice hoarse but resolute. The shadows retreated, and the veil glowed brighter, but his body faltered, the fever spiking as dizziness gripped him. He collapsed by the altar, gasping, Azure Dragon whining and nudging his face.
The Starstone felt warmer, as if infused with the veil's energy, and the warmth in his dantian pulsed stronger, clearer, as if the ritual had fortified his spirit. Had he truly woven the Spirit Veil, or was it another fevered vision? The scroll promised protection but warned of illusion, and Li Wei chose to believe he'd passed the test, even at a cost. He scribbled in his notebook, hands trembling: "Spirit Veil raised. Shadows repelled, qi shields. Body falters, soul endures." The valley's whispers seemed to approve, their murmurs blending with the evening breeze, the ancient tree's blossoms glowing brighter.
During the next video call with the Order of the Jade Dawn, Li Wei shared the ritual, describing the glowing veil and the retreating shadows. Zhang Wei, eyes wide, called it a "divine ward," urging him to brew an elixir with the valley's water to strengthen it. Liu Mei, her serene face lit by moonlight, praised his focus but insisted he seek medical care: "The veil guards the soul, but the body must endure." Chen Xiu saw it as proof of spiritual mastery, while Zhao Feng, skeptical, suggested it was delirium, sparking a heated debate that tested Li Wei's leadership. He hid his worsening fever and the throbbing pain in his wounds, 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 Spirit Veil shielded the path, but also warned of greater trials. 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 soul shielded by the veil of his qi, one protective trance at a time toward immortality.