Volume 49 — Awakening the Fourth Secret
The chamber glowed softly, the remnants of the shattered shadow entity dissipating into streams of radiant energy. Lin Feng hovered at its center, petals of the First Bloom spinning in a perfect storm, now fully harmonized with the Obsidian Root Palace.
Caiyi's eyes shone with awe. "Lin Feng… the shadows are gone. But I can feel the palace… changing. Something deeper is stirring."
Lin Feng's gaze sharpened. "Exactly. The first challenge of the fourth secret is complete, but it was only the beginning. The palace is now revealing its essence. We must attune ourselves fully to awaken the fourth secret completely."
Host, the Peach Spirit whispered, the fourth secret's power is not just strength or perception. It is insight, strategy, and the ability to harmonize mind, body, and spirit with the palace. Your first trial has proven your perception; now the palace will teach you understanding.
Energy currents twisted around the chamber, forming complex patterns of light and crystal. Sigils floated in the air, each radiating a wisdom older than any living cultivator. Lin Feng's petals responded, spinning faster, connecting with the palace's energy to decipher the hidden patterns.
Caiyi stepped closer. "These sigils… they're not just symbols. They're instructions, or guidance—showing us how to channel the palace's power?"
Lin Feng nodded, eyes focused. "Yes. The fourth secret isn't about domination—it's about harmony. Every movement, every attack, every decision must flow naturally with the palace. Only then can its full potential be accessed."
The crystalline sigils pulsed, energy weaving into Lin Feng's aura. He felt a surge of insight—the ability to perceive energy flows, anticipate attacks, and even manipulate the environment itself with subtle gestures. This was power beyond brute force; it was mastery over both the battlefield and reality itself.
Caiyi's voice was filled with awe. "Lin Feng… you're… changing. I can feel it. The palace is responding to you directly."
Lin Feng's aura flared, petals spinning in a radiant storm that seemed to merge with the palace itself. "The fourth secret… it's awakening. And once fully mastered, nothing will stand in the way of the Obsidian Root Palace's true power."
The chamber hummed in acknowledgment, signaling the beginning of Lin Feng's ultimate ascent—into the deeper mysteries of the fourth ancient secret.