The first month after the delegation's departure established a rhythm that was simultaneously demanding and satisfying.
Lin Feng's daily schedule had evolved into carefully structured balance between primary cultivation advancement and auxiliary path development:
Dawn (Two Hours): Primary void cultivation—spiritual energy circulation, dantian expansion, meridian refinement. The fundamental work that would eventually carry him to Level 7.
Morning (Three Hours): Spatial mastery exercises from Grand Elder Bingxin's jade slip. Starting with basic spatial perception enhancement—learning to sense the fabric of space itself rather than just objects within it.
Midday (Two Hours): Formation creation theory with Elder Wei. Moving beyond deploying existing patterns to understanding the geometric principles that would allow original formation design.
Afternoon (Three Hours): Consciousness expansion practices. The most challenging of the three auxiliary paths because it required fundamentally different mental approach than consciousness division.
Evening (Two Hours): Dao synchronization with Yun Qingxue when she visited, or personal meditation when she was occupied with her own training at Frozen Sky.
Night: Rest, review, and integration of the day's learning.
It was exhausting schedule that left Lin Feng mentally and spiritually depleted each evening. But the progress was tangible—each auxiliary path showing incremental advancement that would compound over months and years.
"You're trying to do too much simultaneously," Mei She observed during one of their periodic check-ins. "Most cultivators would focus on primary advancement exclusively until reaching Cloud Transformation. You're attempting parallel development of three auxiliary paths while also pushing toward Level 7."
"Grand Elder Bingxin suggested parallel development was possible with perfect meridians," Lin Feng replied.
"Possible doesn't mean optimal. You risk spreading your attention so thin that you advance slowly in everything instead of quickly in one thing." Mei She studied him critically. "Why the rush? You're twenty years old. You have decades to develop these capabilities."
Lin Feng considered the question carefully before responding. "Because Elder Shadow won't wait decades. The Crimson Empress won't wait decades. If I develop only primary cultivation and ignore auxiliary paths, I'll be stronger but less versatile. Against sophisticated opponents, versatility matters as much as raw power."
"That's pragmatic reasoning. But it assumes you know which auxiliary capabilities will prove most valuable. You might invest months in spatial mastery only to discover formation creation would have been more useful for your specific challenges."
"Then I'll have spatial mastery as backup capability while I develop formation creation further. The perfect meridians give me capacity to pursue multiple paths. Seems wasteful not to use that advantage."
Mei She's expression might have been approval. "Fair argument. But watch for burnout. Cultivation advancement requires sustainable pace, not constant maximum effort. Listen to your body and mind when they signal exhaustion."
The spatial mastery training proved immediately fascinating but frustratingly slow.
The first exercise was simple in concept: perceive space itself rather than objects occupying space. Close eyes, extend awareness, and sense the fundamental structure of reality rather than just spiritual energy or physical matter.
Lin Feng had spent three days achieving even fleeting success. His void cultivation actually made it harder—he was too accustomed to perceiving emptiness and potential rather than the spatial structure that defined where emptiness could exist.
But on the fourth day, something clicked.
He was meditating in his quarters when his awareness suddenly shifted perspective. Instead of perceiving the room as collection of objects in empty space, he perceived space itself as tangible structure—geometric framework that objects occupied but didn't create.
The shift lasted perhaps five seconds before his normal perception reasserted itself. But those five seconds were revelatory.
Space isn't absence of things, he understood. It's the framework that allows things to exist in relationship to each other.
From that insight, progress accelerated. By the end of the first week, he could maintain spatial perception for minutes at a time. By the second week, he was beginning to manipulate that perceived space in minor ways—creating fractional distortions that made distances feel slightly longer or shorter than physical measurement suggested.
"You're advancing faster than expected," Elder Wei observed during one of their formation theory sessions. "Grand Elder Bingxin's exercises usually take months to show noticeable results. You're achieving them in weeks."
"Void cultivation provides foundation. I'm not learning completely new skill—I'm extending existing capability in more systematic direction."
"That's the advantage of well-matched auxiliary paths to primary cultivation." Elder Wei created demonstration formation. "Which is why I believe formation creation will prove even more natural for you than spatial mastery. Your void techniques already involve geometric manipulation. Learning to design original formations is logical extension."
The formation creation training started with analysis rather than construction. Elder Wei had him examine hundreds of existing formations—not learning to deploy them, but understanding why specific geometric patterns produced particular effects.
"Every formation is geometric expression of spiritual energy principles," Elder Wei explained. "Fire formations use triangular patterns because three-point structures create dynamic instability—energy wants to move and transform. Water formations use circular or flowing curves because that geometry naturally encourages circulation. Earth formations use square or rectangular base structures because four-point stability represents solidity."
Lin Feng absorbed pattern after pattern, his consciousness division capability allowing him to analyze multiple formations simultaneously. What should have taken months of sequential study compressed into weeks of parallel processing.
"Your ice-void hybrid formation at the tournament worked because you intuitively combined stable square base structure with dynamic void overlay," Elder Wei continued. "The geometry unified opposing principles through complementary relationship. That was genius instinct. Now we're making that instinct systematic."
By the third week, Lin Feng was attempting his first original formation designs—simple constructs that achieved minor effects through novel geometric approaches. Most failed. Some worked partially. A few succeeded exactly as intended.
"That's normal ratio," Elder Wei assured him. "Formation creation is experimental process. Even master formation cultivators expect seventy percent failure rate when developing new techniques. You're actually succeeding more often than typical beginners."
The consciousness expansion training proved most challenging because it required abandoning approach that had proven successful.
Consciousness division worked by fragmenting unified awareness into separate independent streams. Consciousness expansion required opposite mental movement—maintaining unified awareness while simultaneously perceiving from multiple perspectives.
The foundational exercise was meditation while observing object from multiple viewpoints. Not moving perspective between viewpoints sequentially, but perceiving from all viewpoints at once while remaining unified consciousness.
Lin Feng spent two weeks barely grasping the basic concept. His mind kept defaulting to consciousness division—fragmenting into separate streams that viewed from different perspectives. But that wasn't expansion. That was fragmentation disguised as expansion.
The breakthrough came during dao synchronization session with Yun Qingxue.
Their consciousness streams were intertwined as usual, their awareness blending through dao companion resonance. Lin Feng was simultaneously himself and aware of Qingxue's perspective—not switching between the two, but experiencing both at once through their bond.
This, he realized. This is what consciousness expansion feels like. Not fragments coordinating, but genuine unified awareness experiencing multiple perspectives simultaneously.
"You just understood something significant," Qingxue observed through their mental connection. "Your consciousness structure shifted."
Consciousness expansion. I've been approaching it wrong. Trying to force it through willpower instead of allowing it to emerge naturally through proper mental framework.
Dao companion bonds naturally create mild consciousness expansion, Qingxue sent back. That's why they enhance cultivation—you experience not just your own advancement but echoes of your partner's advancement simultaneously. You've been practicing consciousness expansion every time we synchronize. You just didn't recognize it.
After that insight, the consciousness expansion exercises became more intuitive. Lin Feng practiced perceiving his quarters from multiple viewpoints simultaneously—not fragmenting his awareness but genuinely experiencing unified perception across different perspectives.
By the end of the first month, he could maintain dual-perspective consciousness expansion for several minutes. Not as versatile as his nine-stream consciousness division, but fundamentally different capability with its own tactical applications.
"You're progressing unusually quickly across all three auxiliary paths," Patriarch Cloud Heaven observed during their weekly strategic meeting. "Grand Elder Bingxin sent message expressing pleased surprise at your advancement rate."
"The paths complement each other," Lin Feng explained. "Spatial mastery helps with formation creation because I perceive geometric structures more clearly. Formation creation helps with consciousness expansion because I'm learning to recognize patterns across multiple perspectives. Consciousness expansion helps with spatial mastery because I can perceive space from various viewpoints simultaneously. They're not separate developments—they're integrated advancement."
"That's sophisticated understanding for someone who only started these practices a month ago." Cloud Heaven's expression turned more serious. "But that integration also means you're building increasingly complex cultivation foundation. If something disrupts one path, it could destabilize the others."
"Everything in cultivation carries risk. This seems like acceptable trade-off—enhanced capabilities in exchange for increased complexity."
"Perhaps. But be cautious. The Crimson Empress specifically targets cultivators with unique capabilities. The more exceptional you become, the more valuable you are to her recruitment or elimination objectives."
Speaking of the Crimson Empress, Azure Sky Sect had continued providing intelligence updates about demonic cultivation activities. The information was valuable but also increasingly concerning.
Chen Yue arrived for another meeting in the fourth week of Lin Feng's training regimen, bringing documentation of twelve new confirmed demonic cultivators—all possessing unique abilities, all recruited or corrupted within the past three months.
"The pattern is accelerating," she explained while sharing the intelligence. "The Crimson Empress is building her specialized force more aggressively. We believe she's preparing for major operation, though we don't yet know the target or timeline."
"How does Elder Shadow fit into her broader strategy?" Patriarch Cloud Heaven asked.
"He leads her acquisition division—identifying, recruiting, or eliminating cultivators with rare capabilities. His personal vendetta against Lin Feng aligns with her strategic objectives, which makes him more dangerous because he's operating with both emotional and tactical motivation."
"Wonderful," Lin Feng muttered. "Professional demonic cultivation operative with personal grudge and significant resources."
"Exactly why Azure Sky continues emphasizing coordinated response." Chen Yue produced another jade slip. "This contains updated intelligence about Elder Shadow's operations—including three attempted recruitments we observed over the past month. All three targets possessed auxiliary cultivation capabilities similar to what you're developing."
Lin Feng reviewed the intelligence with growing unease. The pattern was clear—Elder Shadow specifically sought cultivators who developed capabilities beyond their primary cultivation path. Formation specialists, spatial manipulators, consciousness expansion practitioners.
He's building force of specialists who can handle complex tactical situations, Lin Feng realized. Not just raw power, but versatility and sophistication.
"What happened to the three recruitment targets?" he asked.
"One accepted and has disappeared into demonic cultivation network. One refused and died in apparent accident two weeks later. One is currently under protective custody by their sect—similar to how Celestial Dawn is protecting you."
The implications were sobering. Accepting recruitment meant corruption and service to demonic objectives. Refusing meant living under constant threat of elimination.
"There is potential fourth option," Chen Yue added carefully. "Proactive elimination of Elder Shadow before he can complete his recruitment operations. Azure Sky has been gathering intelligence about his base location and force composition. With coordinated assault from multiple sects, he could be neutralized."
"You're suggesting offensive operation against Sovereign Monarch level threat?" Cloud Heaven's tone was skeptical. "That would require significant resources and risk major casualties."
"But would eliminate threat permanently rather than just defending reactively. We believe Elder Shadow's force is strong but not insurmountable—perhaps thirty cultivators ranging from Divine Domain to Cloud Transformation, with Elder Shadow himself as the primary power. Coordinated assault by three or four major sects could overwhelm them."
"What's Azure Sky's interest in coordinating this operation?" Lin Feng asked directly.
"Continental security and political positioning. We want to be seen as leaders in anti-demonic cultivation efforts. Also—" Chen Yue smiled slightly, "—we want to build relationship with you specifically. Helping eliminate personal threat would create gratitude and obligation that serves our recruitment interests."
Lin Feng appreciated the honesty, even if the calculated motivation was unsettling.
After Chen Yue departed, Cloud Heaven and Lin Feng discussed the proposed operation privately.
"It's strategically sound but tactically risky," Cloud Heaven assessed. "If the operation succeeds, we eliminate major threat months earlier than planned. If it fails, we've committed resources to failed assault and potentially made Elder Shadow stronger through captured cultivators and intelligence about our capabilities."
"What's your instinct?"
"Wait. Continue preparing for planned confrontation in five more months. Use that time to advance further, gather better intelligence, and build stronger coalition." Cloud Heaven paused. "You'll be closer to Level 7, auxiliary paths will be more developed, and we'll have more comprehensive understanding of Elder Shadow's actual capabilities. Rushing into confrontation now saves time but increases risk unacceptably."
Lin Feng agreed with that assessment. Better to prepare thoroughly than rush into premature confrontation.
The remaining three weeks of the first month brought continued advancement across all areas:
Primary Cultivation:
Divine Domain Level 6 fully consolidated Spiritual energy capacity increasing steadily toward Level 7 threshold Meridian refinement continuing without complications
Spatial Mastery:
Consistent spatial perception maintained for extended periods Minor distance distortions achieved reliably Beginning to sense potential teleportation vectors (though actual teleportation remained beyond current capability)
Formation Creation:
Twelve original formation designs attempted, four successful Beginning to understand principle synthesis—combining techniques from different element traditions into unified constructs Recognition that formation creation would require years of practice before achieving true mastery
Consciousness Expansion:
Dual-perspective expansion sustainable for extended periods Beginning to attempt triple-perspective (very unstable) Recognition that expansion and division were complementary rather than competing approaches
By month's end, Lin Feng felt genuine satisfaction with his progress. He wasn't dramatically stronger in raw power—Level 6 to Level 7 would take months of steady advancement. But he was more versatile, more sophisticated in his understanding, and more prepared for complex tactical situations.
"You look pleased with yourself," Zhao Hai observed during their evening meal. "Good training month?"
"Productive month. I'm finally developing systematic framework instead of just reacting to crises through improvisation." Lin Feng paused. "Though I'm also increasingly aware of how much I don't know. Each auxiliary path represents decades of potential development. I'm barely scratching the surface."
"That's called perspective. You're understanding the scope of cultivation advancement rather than just accumulating power blindly." Zhao Hai's humor faded into seriousness. "Also, you should know—there have been rumors of suspicious activity near sect borders again. Nothing confirmed, but multiple disciples reporting unusual spiritual energy signatures during patrol duties."
"Elder Shadow's forces conducting reconnaissance again?"
"Possibly. Or completely unrelated travelers who happen to be numerous and suspicious." Zhao Hai shrugged. "But given your situation, better to assume threat until proven otherwise."
That evening, Lin Feng met with Han Shu and Liu Feng to discuss the reported suspicious activity.
"We've detected it too," Liu Feng confirmed. "Spiritual energy signatures that appear briefly then vanish—concealment techniques suggesting advanced capability. Either professional scouts or exceptionally skilled independent cultivators."
"Frequency?" Lin Feng asked.
"Twice weekly over past three weeks. Always different locations, always maintaining distance from actual sect territory. Classic reconnaissance pattern—mapping our patrol routes and response times without committing to actual infiltration."
"Preparing for another attempt?"
"Most likely. Though this seems more patient than the previous assault. They're gathering comprehensive intelligence rather than rushing into operation." Han Shu's gravelly voice carried professional assessment. "Suggests either different faction planning independent operation, or Elder Shadow conducting more thorough preparation after previous failure."
"Either way, threat remains active and we maintain elevated vigilance," Liu Feng concluded.
Lin Feng returned to his quarters that evening with mind full of tactical considerations. The training was progressing well, but external threats continued developing regardless of his preparation timeline.
Five more months until planned confrontation, he reminded himself. Five months to advance from Level 6 to Level 7 while developing auxiliary capabilities. Five months for Elder Shadow to prepare his own operations.
It was race between advancement and threat escalation—could Lin Feng become strong enough fast enough to survive what was coming?
He settled into evening meditation, his consciousness expanding naturally into dual-perspective awareness while simultaneously perceiving the spatial structure of his quarters and analyzing the formation patterns protecting his cultivation chamber.
Three auxiliary paths developing in parallel. Primary cultivation advancing steadily. Dao companion bond enhancing everything through resonance.
One month down, he thought as meditation deepened. Five more months to go.
The first month had established foundation. Now came the long preparation for inevitable confrontation with demonic cultivation that wanted either to corrupt him or eliminate him.
Lin Feng let his meditation deepen into true cultivation practice, spiritual energy circulating through his perfect meridians while his mind processed the day's learning across multiple awareness streams.
Systematic advancement. Deliberate development. Careful preparation.
And underlying it all—the quiet certainty that when Elder Shadow came again, Lin Feng would be ready.
Not just stronger. Not just more skilled.
But transformed through systematic training into cultivator whose capabilities exceeded what any single cultivation path could achieve.
Let them come, he thought as consciousness settled into cultivation trance. I'll be ready.
End of Chapter 60