The reconnaissance activity escalated during the second month.
What had been occasional spiritual energy signatures became systematic surveillance—different locations each time, but with patterns that revealed coordinated intelligence gathering. Elder Shadow's forces were preparing something, and they were taking their time to do it properly.
"Seventeen confirmed observation events over the past four weeks," Liu Feng reported during the security briefing. "All maintaining distance from sect territory but clearly mapping our patrol patterns, response times, and formation coverage. Professional work that suggests significant resources behind the operation."
"Recommendations?" Patriarch Cloud Heaven asked.
"Varied patrol schedules to prevent pattern recognition. Enhanced concealment formations to obscure actual response capabilities. And—" Liu Feng glanced at Lin Feng, "—consideration of strategic misdirection. Let them think they understand our security while preparing surprises for actual assault."
"Using their reconnaissance against them," Lin Feng understood. "Show them false patterns while hiding actual capabilities."
"Exactly. They're gathering intelligence. We can control what intelligence they gather."
The strategic deception was implemented over the following weeks. Patrol patterns appeared consistent but actually varied by calculated intervals. Formation coverage looked comprehensive but left deliberate apparent gaps that were actually heavily trapped. Response times seemed predictable but concealed rapid-deployment capabilities that could activate instantly if needed.
"It's exhausting maintaining this level of operational security," Xiao Ling observed during one of her administrative updates. "Every patrol requires coordination, every formation adjustment needs documentation, every response drill must appear routine while actually being sophisticated preparation. The organizational complexity is enormous."
"That's the price of defending against patient professional adversary," Lin Feng replied. "Elder Shadow failed with direct assault. Now he's trying careful preparation. We need to be equally patient and careful in response."
Despite the external threat, Lin Feng's training continued progressing steadily.
The spatial mastery practice reached significant milestone during the fifth week of the second month—his first successful short-range teleportation.
It happened during practice session in the advanced training grounds. Lin Feng was attempting to sense and manipulate spatial connections between two points five meters apart. He'd been practicing the exercise for days, perceiving the space between locations but unable to actually traverse it through spatial manipulation.
Then his consciousness expanded into triple-perspective—viewing both locations and the space connecting them simultaneously. In that moment of unified multi-perspective awareness, he understood something fundamental:
Teleportation isn't moving through space. It's recognizing that distant locations are already connected through spatial structure, then asserting presence at both points simultaneously before collapsing awareness to single location.
He attempted the technique—
—and suddenly he was five meters away from where he'd been standing, spiritual energy disoriented but body intact.
"Did you just teleport?" Zhao Hai asked from the training ground entrance where he'd been observing. "That looked like teleportation."
"Five meters," Lin Feng confirmed, his head spinning from the spatial displacement. "Not controlled or efficient, but actual teleportation rather than just fast movement."
"That's supposed to take years to develop. You've been practicing spatial mastery for six weeks."
"Void cultivation provides foundation, consciousness expansion allows the necessary unified perspective, and perfect meridians support the spiritual energy requirements." Lin Feng sat down abruptly as vertigo caught up with him. "Though clearly my body needs time to adapt to the technique. That was nauseating."
Over the following days, he refined the short-range teleportation until it became reliable if limited—five to seven meters maximum, requiring several seconds of concentration, and causing diminishing disorientation with practice. Not combat-applicable yet, but genuine teleportation that would only improve with continued development.
Grand Elder Bingxin, contacted through communication formation, was impressed. "Most cultivators spend months just achieving their first unstable teleportation. You've reached that milestone in weeks and are already working on refinement. The auxiliary path integration is proving even more effective than I projected."
The formation creation training produced its first major success during the same period.
Lin Feng had been working on original defensive formation that combined void and earth element principles—stable geometric base structure with void overlay that could adapt to incoming attacks. Previous attempts had failed because the elements resisted integration at fundamental level.
But his spatial mastery advancement had given him new perspective. He began perceiving formations not as flat geometric patterns but as three-dimensional spatial structures. The earth element base wasn't just geometric arrangement on single plane—it was volumetric framework that extended through space.
With that understanding, he redesigned the formation to utilize spatial depth. The earth element created stable three-dimensional lattice while void techniques operated within the spaces between the lattice points. Instead of competing principles, they became complementary aspects of unified spatial structure.
The formation manifested perfectly on first attempt—stable, efficient, and significantly more effective than either pure earth or pure void formations of equivalent complexity.
"That's remarkable work," Elder Wei said, studying the formation with professional fascination. "You've essentially created new category of defensive technique by treating geometric patterns as spatial structures rather than flat diagrams. This could influence formation cultivation theory across multiple disciplines."
"It only works because of the spatial mastery training. Without ability to perceive and manipulate three-dimensional spatial relationships, the formation would collapse."
"Which demonstrates the value of auxiliary path integration. Your spatial mastery isn't just separate capability—it's enhancement that makes your formation creation more sophisticated." Elder Wei began documenting the technique carefully. "We should publish this once it's fully refined. Original formation theory of this significance benefits entire cultivation community."
Lin Feng was less certain about public publication. "Wouldn't that reveal tactical capabilities I'd prefer opponents not understand?"
"Yes. Which is why we'd publish general principles while keeping specific implementation details restricted. Let other formation cultivators know that spatial-geometric synthesis is possible without teaching them exactly how you achieve it." Elder Wei smiled slightly. "Welcome to the balance between contributing to cultivation knowledge and maintaining competitive advantages."
The consciousness expansion training advanced to sustainable triple-perspective by the end of the second month. Not as stable as dual-perspective, but functional enough for extended practice sessions.
The breakthrough came during dao synchronization with Yun Qingxue, who'd been visiting more frequently as her own training at Frozen Sky permitted.
"Try expanding to include my perspective along with your dual viewpoints," she suggested through their mental connection. "The dao companion bond provides stable third perspective that doesn't require you to create it through willpower alone."
Lin Feng attempted the technique—his normal awareness, spatial perception from elevated viewpoint, and Qingxue's consciousness all unified in single expanded awareness. It was disorienting but manageable, three perspectives blending while remaining distinct.
This is extraordinary, he sent through the connection. I can perceive tactical situations from multiple angles simultaneously while remaining unified decision-maker.
That's the true power of consciousness expansion, Qingxue replied. Division makes you efficient through parallel processing. Expansion makes you omniscient through comprehensive perspective.
After the session concluded, they discussed the deeper implications of their dao companion bond's development.
"Our connection is becoming more sophisticated than typical cultivation partnerships," Qingxue observed. "Most dao companions share spiritual energy and provide emotional support. We're developing integrated consciousness that enhances both our technical capabilities."
"Is that concerning? The permanent integration Grand Elder Bingxin mentioned?"
"It's reality we need to acknowledge. Our cultivations are genuinely intertwined now. That provides enormous advantages but also creates vulnerability—anything that damages one of us affects the other." Her ice-blue eyes held his. "Are you comfortable with that level of connection?"
Lin Feng considered carefully before responding. "The connection feels natural rather than imposed. When we synchronize, I'm not losing myself in you—I'm becoming fuller version of myself through the bond. That seems worth the vulnerability."
"I feel the same." Qingxue smiled slightly. "Though my mother would be exasperated to hear us discussing cultivation partnership in emotional terms rather than tactical calculations."
"Your mother seems quite good at tactical calculations herself. Pretty sure she approved our bond partly because of genuine enhancement and partly because it ties Frozen Sky interests to Celestial Dawn through personal relationship."
"Obviously. She's sect patriarch. Everything is tactical calculation, even when it's also emotionally genuine." Qingxue's expression turned more serious. "Speaking of tactics—there's concerning intelligence development. May I share it here, or should we request secure location?"
They moved to the formation-sealed chamber Patriarch Cloud Heaven used for sensitive discussions. Once privacy was assured, Qingxue shared what Frozen Sky had discovered.
"The Crimson Empress is planning major operation for three months from now. We don't know the target or specific objectives yet, but intelligence suggests coordinated action involving dozens of demonic cultivators including Elder Shadow's specialized force."
Lin Feng felt cold settle in his chest. "Three months. That's before our planned confrontation timeline."
"Correct. If she's targeting you specifically, you'll face the assault before reaching Level 7 and before completing your auxiliary path development." Qingxue created an ice formation displaying what intelligence they had. "Alternative possibility is that she's targeting something else and Elder Shadow will use the chaos as opportunity for separate operation against you. Either way, the timeline has compressed."
"What's Frozen Sky's assessment of my chances if assault comes in three months?"
"Better than they were two months ago due to your auxiliary path progress. But still concerning because Elder Shadow leads Sovereign Monarch level force and you're currently Level 6 approaching but not yet reaching Level 7." She paused. "Mother is considering whether Frozen Sky should provide direct military support—send Level 8 or 9 cultivators to defend against the threat."
"That would make Celestial Dawn look weak. Like we need major sect protection to handle our own security."
"You do need protection. This isn't pride question—it's survival question. Elder Shadow wants you captured or eliminated. He has resources to accomplish that objective. Refusing help because of pride concerns would be foolish."
Lin Feng recognized she was right but still felt resistance. "What does Patriarch Cloud Heaven think?"
"That's why I'm discussing this with you first. He'll make final decision about whether to accept military support, but your preference matters. You're the target. Your tactical assessment of whether you can survive without support is relevant data."
Lin Feng spent several minutes considering the question honestly. Could he survive Sovereign Monarch level assault in three months? His current capabilities included:
Divine Domain Level 6, advancing but not yet at Level 7 Nine-stream consciousness division, functionally stable Triple-perspective consciousness expansion, developing but not refined Short-range teleportation (5-7 meters), useful but limited Original formation creation, including spatial-geometric synthesis Void purification, proven effective against demonic corruption Dao companion bond, providing enhancement and stabilization Perfect meridians and void cultivation advantages
Against that, Elder Shadow could field:
Personal Sovereign Monarch level capability Thirty to fifty demonic cultivators (Divine Domain through Cloud Transformation) Specialized force with auxiliary capabilities similar to Lin Feng's own Sophisticated tactical planning and resources from Crimson Empress network
"I can survive if they attack directly," Lin Feng concluded. "Between my own capabilities, the bodyguards, Celestial Dawn's enhanced security, and tactical advantages from controlling the defensive position. But if they use sophisticated infiltration, corruption attempts, or strategies beyond direct assault... then additional support would be valuable."
"Honest assessment. I'll convey it to Mother." Qingxue dissolved the ice formation. "Recommendation?"
"Accept military support but frame it as alliance cooperation rather than protection requirement. Frozen Sky cultivators defending against continental demonic threat that happens to target our sect. Pride preserved, actual security enhanced."
"That's good political framing." Qingxue's expression softened. "Now, less tactical question: how are you actually handling all this? The constant threats, the compressed timeline, the knowledge that powerful forces want to corrupt or eliminate you?"
Lin Feng had become practiced at diplomatic non-answers to that question. But this was Qingxue, whose consciousness had intertwined with his own through dao companion bond. Dishonesty was pointless.
"Anxious. Frustrated that I can't just focus on cultivation without political complications. Worried that I'll make tactical mistake that gets people I care about hurt." He paused. "But also determined. I chose cultivation to never be powerless again. These threats are price of that choice. I'd rather face them with anxiety than accept powerlessness with safety."
"That's healthy perspective. Recognizing the costs while maintaining commitment to your chosen path." She took his hand—rare physical contact even in private. "You're not facing these threats alone. Remember that when anxiety becomes overwhelming."
After Qingxue departed, Lin Feng spent the evening reviewing his progress across all development areas. Two months into six-month preparation timeline. Significant advancement achieved but still far from original targets.
If major operation came in three months instead of four more months, he'd be facing it at Level 6 approaching Level 7, with auxiliary capabilities partially developed, with compressed preparation time, and without planned tactical advantages.
Not ideal circumstances. But he'd survived impossible situations before through combination of systematic preparation and desperate improvisation.
Three months, he thought while settling into evening meditation. Three months to advance as far as possible, develop auxiliary paths maximally, and prepare for confrontation that's coming earlier than planned.
The systematic preparation was still valuable. Just needed to accelerate faster than originally intended.
His consciousness expanded into triple-perspective naturally now—viewing his quarters from multiple angles simultaneously while remaining unified awareness. The spatial structure of his formations was clear in his perception. The geometric patterns that protected him were understood in three-dimensional depth.
Two months ago I was Level 6 with minimal auxiliary development, he reflected. Now I have teleportation capability, original formation creation, and consciousness expansion. Two more months will bring even more advancement.
Will it be enough?
Unknown. But he'd find out in three months when the Crimson Empress's operation commenced and Elder Shadow made his move.
Lin Feng deepened his meditation into full cultivation practice, spiritual energy circulating through his perfect meridians while his mind processed development across multiple auxiliary paths.
Systematic advancement. Accelerated timeline. Inevitable confrontation.
The second month had brought genuine progress. Now came the accelerated preparation for threat arriving sooner than planned.
Let them come, he thought as meditation consumed his awareness. I'll be as ready as time permits.
Two months down. Three months remaining.
The race between advancement and threat escalation continued.
And Lin Feng would keep advancing until the inevitable confrontation forced him to prove whether preparation was sufficient.
End of Chapter 61