The three-day recovery period felt simultaneously too long and insufficiently adequate.
Lin Feng spent the time in enforced stillness, his body recovering from the accumulated trauma of combat breakthrough while his cultivation foundation settled into its new configuration. Divine Domain Level 6 felt qualitatively different from Level 5—not just more power, but fundamentally enhanced capabilities across every aspect of his cultivation.
His spiritual energy capacity had increased by approximately forty percent. His meridians conducted energy with greater efficiency. His dantian had deepened significantly, creating reservoir that could sustain extended high-intensity techniques. And most notably, his consciousness division capabilities had naturally expanded to support eight simultaneous awareness streams.
"Your foundation is remarkably stable given the circumstances," Elder Chen observed during her daily examination. "Combat breakthroughs typically cause micro-fractures in meridian networks that require weeks to heal properly. You show no such damage."
"The dao companion bond stabilization?" Lin Feng suggested.
"Partially. But I suspect your perfect meridians and void cultivation also contributed. Your spiritual energy pathways are so fundamentally sound that even chaotic advancement couldn't significantly damage them." She set aside her diagnostic formations. "You're cleared for light cultivation practice starting tomorrow. But nothing intensive for another week minimum."
After Elder Chen departed, Zhao Hai arrived with food and the accumulated gossip from three days of sect activity.
"So," he announced cheerfully while arranging the meal, "you're officially famous now. Not just 'promising disciple who did well in tournaments' famous. More like 'cultivator who purified Sovereign Monarch level demonic corruption through unprecedented void technique' famous. There's apparently betting pools about when major sects will make recruitment offers."
"That's concerning rather than exciting."
"It's both. But mostly concerning, yes." Zhao Hai's humor faded into seriousness. "The political aftermath has been complicated. Three neighboring sects sent formal inquiries about Celestial Dawn's 'enhanced security capabilities'—diplomatic language for 'are you secretly much more powerful than we realized.' Patriarch Cloud Heaven is handling it by being strategically vague while emphasizing our alliance with Frozen Sky."
"Using my relationship with Qingxue as political shield."
"Using the alliance as political shield. Your relationship with Qingxue is personal bonus that makes the strategic partnership seem more credible." Zhao Hai paused. "Also, Azure Sky Sect sent another message. Chen Yue wants to schedule follow-up meeting to discuss 'recent developments of mutual concern.'"
Lin Feng felt immediate suspicion. "The timing is convenient. Attack happens, I demonstrate new capabilities, and suddenly Azure Sky wants another conversation."
"Patriarch Cloud Heaven thinks the same thing. He's considering declining the meeting entirely, but that might signal we're worried about their attention." Zhao Hai shrugged. "Cultivation politics is exhausting even from peripheral position. I can't imagine managing it directly."
After Zhao Hai left, Lin Feng spent several hours in meditation, examining his new cultivation foundation with careful attention. The breakthrough to Level 6 had reorganized his internal spiritual energy networks in ways that required understanding and integration.
His consciousness fragmented into eight streams naturally now, each one clearer and more stable than his previous six-stream capability. The mental load that had been crushing before felt almost comfortable—his mind had genuinely reorganized to support parallel processing.
This is what advancement means, he realized. Not just more power, but qualitative transformation of what's possible.
A discrete knock announced Yun Qingxue's arrival for their first dao synchronization session since the attack. She entered with her characteristic grace, though Lin Feng sensed concern beneath her composed exterior through their bond.
"How are you actually feeling?" she asked once they'd settled into meditation position. "Not the answer you give Elder Chen or Patriarch Cloud Heaven. The truth."
Lin Feng considered before responding through their mental connection once their consciousness streams had intertwined.
Physically recovered. Spiritually stable. Mentally... processing. He projected the complex mixture of satisfaction at surviving, anxiety about continued threats, and lingering uncertainty about whether he'd made correct tactical decisions. The breakthrough was necessary but reckless. I'm not sure I'd make the same choice with time to plan.
But you didn't have time to plan, Qingxue's mental presence reminded him gently. You had seconds to respond to impossible situation. The fact that you survived with successful advancement rather than cultivation deviation is testament to your foundation quality and tactical intelligence.
Or extreme luck.
Luck is what we call the intersection of preparation and opportunity. You prepared extensively—perfect meridians, consciousness division training, formation mastery, dao companion bond. When opportunity arrived in terrible circumstances, you survived because the preparation was sufficient. She paused. Don't diminish your accomplishments by attributing them to chance.
They continued meditation while their cultivation resonance enhanced both their advancements. Lin Feng felt his Level 6 foundation consolidating further, spiritual energy patterns stabilizing, consciousness streams integrating more smoothly.
How long until Level 7? he asked through their connection.
Six months minimum with steady advancement. Four months if we increase synchronization frequency and you maintain aggressive training schedule. Two months if you experience multiple combat breakthroughs. Her mental presence carried dry humor. Though I'd prefer you avoid that last timeline given how dangerous combat breakthroughs are.
Agreed. I'd rather advance through systematic training than repeated near-death experiences.
After their synchronization session concluded, they discussed the political aftermath more directly.
"My mother is sending formal delegation to Celestial Dawn next week," Qingxue explained. "Officially it's diplomatic visit to reinforce alliance. Unofficially, it's security assessment and strategic consultation about Elder Shadow threat."
"Does Frozen Sky consider Elder Shadow significant threat to them as well?"
"Yes. Sovereign Monarch level demonic cultivators are continental security concerns, not just local problems. If he's successfully established himself and built power base, he could threaten multiple organizations." Qingxue's expression turned calculating. "Also, Mother is concerned about his specific interest in you. Personal vendettas make cultivators unpredictable and potentially more dangerous than purely strategic operators."
"Wonderful. So I'm not just target for capture contracts, but also personal revenge from demonic cultivator I helped thwart."
"Correct. Your life continues to be remarkably complicated." She smiled slightly. "But you're also significantly stronger now. Level 6 gives you capabilities that make capture considerably more difficult. And your void purification technique demonstrated abilities that might actually deter some threats—demonic cultivators prefer opponents they can corrupt, not ones who can cleanse their techniques."
The evening brought strategic meeting with Patriarch Cloud Heaven and the senior elders to discuss long-term response to the attack.
"Three primary concerns," Cloud Heaven outlined once everyone had assembled. "First: Elder Shadow's continued threat and likely future attempts. Second: the broader demonic infiltration—was Chen Wei the only compromised disciple or are there others? Third: the political attention this incident generated and how we manage it without appearing either weak or suspiciously powerful."
Elder Wei spoke first. "I've completed comprehensive audit of all formation networks. No additional sabotage detected beyond what Chen Wei accomplished. If there are other infiltrators, they haven't yet acted against our infrastructure."
"That's limited reassurance," Mei She observed. "Absence of detected sabotage doesn't prove absence of infiltrators. Just proves they're either inactive or better concealed than Chen Wei."
"Agreed," Cloud Heaven acknowledged. "Which is why we're implementing enhanced monitoring indefinitely. Not just formation networks, but also behavioral patterns, spiritual energy signatures, and social connections. Demonic cultivation leaves subtle traces if you know what to look for."
"What about Elder Shadow specifically?" one of the elders asked. "Do we have intelligence about his current location and capabilities?"
"Limited. Shadow Network has him operating from hidden base somewhere in the Northern Wastes—demonic cultivation stronghold beyond conventional sect authority." Cloud Heaven created a formation displaying regional geography. "He's built network of corrupted cultivators and demonic practitioners. Estimate suggests he commands perhaps thirty to fifty cultivators ranging from Divine Domain to Cloud Transformation levels."
Lin Feng felt cold settle in his chest. That was significant force—not enough to directly assault major sects, but more than adequate for targeted operations and strategic disruption.
"His vendetta against Lin Feng creates tactical opportunity," Mei She pointed out. "Personal revenge makes people predictable. He'll attempt another capture or elimination operation eventually, which means we can prepare ambush rather than purely defending."
"That requires using Lin Feng as bait," Elder Wei said with obvious discomfort. "Which seems both strategically sound and ethically questionable."
"I'm already bait whether we plan it or not," Lin Feng interjected. "Elder Shadow wants me captured for research purposes. The capture contract might have failed, but his motivation remains. Better to prepare for inevitable attempt than pretend it's not coming."
Cloud Heaven studied him carefully. "You're volunteering to be deliberate target?"
"I'm acknowledging reality and suggesting we make tactical use of it. If Elder Shadow is going to come for me regardless, we should choose favorable circumstances for that confrontation." Lin Feng paused. "Though preferably after I've advanced further and we've had time to prepare thoroughly."
"Reasonable timeline would be four to six months," Mei She suggested. "Enough time for Lin Feng to consolidate Level 6 and begin approaching Level 7, for us to gather better intelligence about Elder Shadow's forces, and to establish strategic advantages in chosen confrontation location."
The discussion continued for another hour, establishing preliminary plans for long-term response to the demonic cultivation threat. By the meeting's conclusion, they'd agreed on:
Enhanced security and monitoring continuing indefinitely Intelligence gathering about Elder Shadow's operations and power base Systematic advancement for Lin Feng toward Level 7 Preparation for eventual confrontation with Elder Shadow (timeline: 6-8 months) Increased cooperation with Frozen Sky Sect on demonic cultivation threats
After the meeting, Lin Feng returned to his quarters feeling the weight of long-term strategic planning. The immediate crisis had passed, but the underlying threat remained and would require months of careful preparation to address properly.
The next morning brought his return to active training, starting with formation theory session with Elder Wei.
"Your void purification technique was extraordinary," Elder Wei said without preamble. "I've been analyzing the spiritual energy patterns you left behind. The precision required to dismantle demonic corruption without causing collateral damage to underlying formations... that's master-level technique control."
"It was more desperation than mastery. I didn't have clear plan—just kept fragmenting my consciousness and attacking different aspects of the corruption simultaneously."
"That's exactly what makes it remarkable. Most cultivators would attempt systematic approach—analyze corruption, develop counter-technique, execute carefully. You used consciousness division to essentially brute-force the problem through parallel processing." Elder Wei began sketching formation diagrams. "I want to understand if this approach can be taught systematically or if it requires your specific combination of void cultivation and perfect meridians."
They spent three hours exploring the theoretical foundations of void purification. Lin Feng demonstrated techniques on small-scale corrupted samples Elder Wei had preserved from the attack, explaining his process while the formation specialist documented everything.
"The key seems to be void cultivation's relationship with structure," Elder Wei concluded. "You're not countering demonic corruption directly—you're reducing it to emptiness first, then allowing natural spiritual energy patterns to rebuild. That's fundamentally different from traditional purification that tries to overwrite corruption with pure energy."
"It's also slower and more mentally exhausting than direct purification would be."
"True. But it works on corruption that resists traditional methods. That's valuable enough to justify the costs." Elder Wei paused. "I'd like to continue this research collaboration. If we can develop systematic approach to void purification, it could benefit multiple sects facing demonic cultivation threats."
Lin Feng agreed, though he remained cautious about sharing too much specific void cultivation knowledge. The balance between helpful collaboration and protecting unique advantages was delicate.
Afternoon brought consciousness division training with Mei She, who showed no mercy regarding his recent combat breakthrough.
"Eight streams now," she announced. "We're pushing toward ten by end of month. Begin."
The training was as brutal as ever, but Lin Feng noticed the difference his advancement had made. What had been crushingly difficult at Level 5 felt merely very challenging at Level 6. His enhanced spiritual energy capacity supported the mental processing load more easily.
"You're adapting faster than expected," Mei She observed. "Level 6 provides significant cognitive enhancement beyond just power increase. Most cultivators don't recognize that higher cultivation levels make you literally smarter through improved spiritual energy circulation to mental processes."
"That's not typically emphasized in cultivation instruction."
"Because most instructors don't understand it themselves. They know higher levels make techniques more powerful, but they don't recognize the fundamental cognitive enhancement." She intensified the training scenario. "You're benefiting from perfect meridians again—your spiritual energy circulation is so efficient that your mental processing gets optimal support."
They continued training until Lin Feng could maintain nine awareness streams simultaneously for extended periods. The tenth stream remained just beyond his current capability—accessible briefly but unsustainable for more than seconds.
"That's adequate progress," Mei She judged. "Nine streams is sufficient for most survival scenarios you'll encounter. Ten or more is specialist capability that requires either higher cultivation level or obsessive focus on consciousness division specifically."
Evening brought scheduled meeting with Chen Yue from Azure Sky Sect, held in neutral location with Patriarch Cloud Heaven present and Han Shu and Liu Feng providing security.
Chen Yue arrived precisely on time, her professional composure showing no sign of concern about the enhanced security presence.
"Lin Feng," she greeted formally. "Congratulations on your advancement to Level 6. Combat breakthroughs are rare enough to be noteworthy even among major sect disciples."
"Thank you. Though I'd have preferred less dramatic circumstances."
"Understandably." She settled into the provided chair. "I'm here because Azure Sky Sect has concerning intelligence about Elder Shadow's operations. Intelligence we believe you specifically should be aware of."
"Why the personal interest?" Patriarch Cloud Heaven asked directly.
"Because Elder Shadow is specifically recruiting or corrupting cultivators with unique capabilities—people whose abilities exceed what their cultivation level alone would suggest." Chen Yue produced a jade slip. "This contains documented cases over the past six months. Formation specialists, consciousness division experts, bloodline cultivators, anyone with rare talents. He's building specialized force rather than just accumulating power."
Lin Feng felt tension coil in his chest. "And I represent multiple rare capabilities—void cultivation, perfect meridians, unprecedented techniques."
"Exactly. You're ideal target for his recruitment or corruption attempts. Which means his vendetta isn't just personal revenge—it's strategic acquisition of valuable asset." Chen Yue's expression remained neutral. "Azure Sky wants to propose coordinated response. Elder Shadow is continental threat, not just Celestial Dawn problem. Multiple sects working together provides better chance of successful elimination."
"What would Azure Sky want in exchange for this cooperation?" Cloud Heaven asked, cutting to the core question.
"Intelligence sharing about demonic cultivation activities. Early warning of threats. And—" Chen Yue paused meaningfully, "—first consideration if Lin Feng ever decides to seek different sect affiliation."
"That's presumptuous request," Cloud Heaven observed coolly.
"It's practical politics. We're not asking for commitment, just consideration. Help us help you while maintaining option for future relationship." Chen Yue stood. "Think about it. The offer remains open when you're ready to discuss specifics."
After she departed, Cloud Heaven and Lin Feng sat in silence processing the implications.
"She's right that Elder Shadow is broader threat," Cloud Heaven finally said. "And coordination with other sects would provide tactical advantages. But it also creates obligations and complications."
"What do you recommend?"
"Accept the intelligence sharing without committing to anything beyond that. Let Azure Sky help us without granting them influence over your decisions." Cloud Heaven's expression turned calculating. "They want to position themselves as essential allies. We let them think they're succeeding while maintaining actual independence."
"That seems manipulative."
"That's cultivation politics. Everyone manipulates everyone else through layers of perceived obligation and strategic positioning. The skill is in recognizing the manipulation while making it serve your interests anyway."
Lin Feng spent that evening reviewing the Azure Sky intelligence about Elder Shadow's recruitment patterns. The documented cases were disturbing—skilled cultivators disappearing, reappearing months later as demonic practitioners, their unique abilities now serving Elder Shadow's strategic objectives.
This is what he wanted from me, Lin Feng realized. Not just capture for research, but corruption and recruitment. Turn my void cultivation and formation mastery toward his purposes.
The thought was nauseating. But it also clarified the stakes. Elder Shadow wasn't just threat to him personally—he was threat to anyone with exceptional capabilities who refused to join his cause.
Six months until we confront him properly, Lin Feng thought. Six months to become strong enough that corruption isn't viable option and elimination requires more resources than he's willing to commit.
Divine Domain Level 7 was the target. Cloud Transformation would be even better, but that was unrealistic timeline. Level 7 would make him dangerous enough that Elder Shadow would need to commit significant forces for successful operation—forces that could be detected and ambushed.
Six months, he repeated mentally. Advance from Level 6 to Level 7 while preparing for confrontation with Sovereign Monarch level threat.
It was aggressive timeline. But Lin Feng specialized in accomplishing what seemed impossible through combination of systematic preparation and desperate improvisation when necessary.
And this time, he'd have months to prepare rather than days or hours.
Let Elder Shadow plan his recruitment or revenge, Lin Feng thought with grim determination. I'll be ready when he comes.
The consolidation period had stabilized his breakthrough. The political aftermath had clarified the ongoing threats. The training had resumed with enhanced capabilities.
Now came the long preparation for inevitable confrontation with demonic cultivation that wanted either to corrupt him or eliminate him.
Lin Feng settled into evening meditation, his eight consciousness streams organizing naturally around different aspects of his cultivation advancement, each one processing specific problem without interfering with the others.
Six months, he thought one final time before letting meditation deepen. Everything changes in six months.
End of Chapter 58