The morning sun filtered through the window of Lin Feng's quarters as he sat in meditation, his consciousness already divided into nine streams. Three focused on primary cultivation, stabilizing the Divine Domain Level 6 foundation. Three monitored his spatial perception, mapping the intricate structure of space itself within a fifteen-meter radius. Two worked through formation theory, analyzing the geometric principles that made his original designs function. The ninth remained alert, processing external stimuli and maintaining awareness of his physical surroundings.
It had been ten weeks since Grand Elder Bingxin's arrival. Ten weeks of systematic development that felt simultaneously like years and moments.
A knock at the door pulled one consciousness stream toward full awareness. "Enter," Lin Feng said, opening his eyes.
Zhao Hai stepped inside, his expression unusually serious. "Elder Wei requests your presence in the Formation Hall. He says it's urgent."
Lin Feng rose smoothly, his nine consciousness streams collapsing back into unified awareness with practiced ease. "Did he specify the nature of the urgency?"
"No, but..." Zhao Hai hesitated. "There are three visitors from Azure Sky Sect. They arrived an hour ago and went directly to the Patriarch."
Lin Feng's mind immediately began tactical analysis. Azure Sky had proposed offensive operations twice, both times declined. Their sudden arrival, unannounced, suggested either new intelligence or a shift in their strategic position.
"Thank you for the information," Lin Feng said. "I'll go immediately."
As they walked through Celestial Dawn's inner sect grounds, Lin Feng noticed the subtle signs of increased alertness. Disciples moved with purpose rather than leisure. Patrol patterns had shifted, becoming less predictable. The sect was ready for something, though what remained unclear.
The Formation Hall stood at the eastern edge of the inner sect, a three-story structure dedicated to the study and development of formation arrays. Elder Wei's workspace occupied the entire third floor, a sprawling laboratory filled with formation diagrams, spiritual materials, and experimental arrays in various states of completion.
Elder Wei looked up as Lin Feng entered. The formation master appeared to have aged a decade in the past weeks, though Lin Feng knew it was exhaustion rather than time. They had been collaborating intensively, Elder Wei providing centuries of accumulated knowledge while Lin Feng offered insights from void cultivation and spatial perception that no traditional formation master possessed.
"Lin Feng," Elder Wei said without preamble. "We have a problem, and possibly an opportunity."
He gestured to a formation diagram spread across his primary workbench. Lin Feng recognized it immediately—one of his own original designs, the spatial-geometric synthesis he had achieved three weeks ago. But something was wrong with it. Additional notations covered the diagram in Elder Wei's precise handwriting, mathematical calculations that grew increasingly complex toward the center.
"I've been analyzing your formation," Elder Wei continued. "Specifically, trying to understand why it works when traditional theory says it shouldn't."
Lin Feng approached the workbench, his consciousness automatically dividing into multiple streams to process the information. One stream focused on Elder Wei's calculations. Another examined the original formation structure. A third began modeling spatial relationships. The remaining streams maintained awareness and tactical readiness.
"And?" Lin Feng prompted.
"It works because you're not actually creating a formation in the traditional sense," Elder Wei said. "You're creating a spatial structure that happens to channel spiritual energy through formation-like principles. The geometry isn't symbolic—it's literal. You're building architecture in space itself."
Lin Feng absorbed this insight, feeling something shift in his understanding. "That's why three-dimensional patterns work better than two-dimensional ones."
"Exactly. But here's the problem." Elder Wei pointed to a specific section of his calculations. "If you're building structures in space, those structures can potentially be... inhabited."
The implications crystallized instantly. Lin Feng's expression remained neutral, but internally, every consciousness stream focused on this single revelation. "You mean someone could enter a formation I create."
"Not just enter. They could exist within it, protected by its structure." Elder Wei's voice carried a mixture of excitement and concern. "Lin Feng, you might have accidentally discovered the foundation for pocket dimension creation."
Pocket dimensions. Lin Feng had read about them in the Frozen Sky archives—stable spaces created and maintained by cultivators of exceptional power, typically Immortal Emperor level or higher. Personal realms where time could flow differently, where resources could be stored without risk of theft or degradation, where entire training facilities could exist independent of the physical world.
"That should be impossible at Divine Domain level," Lin Feng said carefully.
"It should be impossible at any level using your methods," Elder Wei corrected. "Traditional pocket dimension creation requires forcing reality to accept a new space. You're not forcing anything—you're building within existing spatial structure, using void principles to create stability. It's elegant, efficient, and completely unprecedented."
Lin Feng's ninth consciousness stream, the one maintaining tactical awareness, suddenly sharpened. This conversation was dangerous. Every new capability he demonstrated made him a higher-priority target for the Crimson Empress. Pocket dimension creation, even theoretical, would escalate that priority dramatically.
"What's the opportunity you mentioned?" Lin Feng asked.
Elder Wei's expression grew more serious. "The Azure Sky delegation brought intelligence about Elder Shadow's operation. They've identified his base of operations—a corrupted pocket dimension he created through demonic cultivation. Standard assault would be suicidal. But if you could create a spatial formation that destabilized his dimension from within..."
"We could collapse his entire operation without a direct confrontation," Lin Feng finished. "But that would require me entering a hostile pocket dimension, which Elder Shadow controls completely."
"Which is why it's an opportunity rather than a plan," Elder Wei said. "I wanted you to understand what your formations might be capable of before the tactical discussion begins. The Patriarch has called a strategy council for this afternoon. You'll be expected to attend."
Lin Feng nodded slowly. His mind was already working through the implications, consciousness streams analyzing from multiple angles. This changed everything and nothing. The timeline remained the same—three months until the Crimson Empress operation. But now there might be a path to eliminating Elder Shadow's threat without waiting for his prepared assault.
Assuming, of course, that it wasn't a trap.
"Thank you for the analysis, Elder Wei," Lin Feng said. "I'll need time to consider whether this is even possible."
"I understand. But Lin Feng..." Elder Wei hesitated. "Be careful in the council. Azure Sky has their own interests. They want this knowledge, and they'll be evaluating whether you can be recruited or should be eliminated as a potential threat."
"Understood."
Lin Feng left the Formation Hall with his mind churning through tactical scenarios. Azure Sky's timing was suspiciously convenient. They had proposed offensive operations before, been declined, and now suddenly appeared with intelligence about Elder Shadow's base and a theoretical solution that required Lin Feng's unique capabilities.
It could be genuine. Azure Sky had proven reliable as intelligence providers, and their self-interest aligned with eliminating Elder Shadow's threat. But it could also be a test, an attempt to gauge his capabilities more precisely before making a recruitment decision.
Or worse, it could be a trap designed by the Crimson Empress, using Azure Sky as unwitting intermediaries.
He found Yun Qingxue in the cultivation chamber they had claimed for synchronized training. She sat in meditation, her spiritual energy creating visible frost patterns in the air around her. Without speaking, Lin Feng sat across from her and began synchronizing his cultivation rhythm with hers.
Their dao companion bond had deepened considerably over the past weeks. What had once required conscious effort now happened almost automatically, their spiritual energies resonating in harmony. Through this connection, Lin Feng could share information without words, and Qingxue could sense his emotional state even when his expression remained neutral.
Trouble, her consciousness touched his through the bond.
Opportunity and danger, he responded in kind. Azure Sky has intelligence about Elder Shadow. They want me to attempt something that might be impossible.
Show me.
Lin Feng opened his consciousness fully, allowing Qingxue to see his conversation with Elder Wei through his memory. She absorbed the information with the same tactical precision that made her a tournament champion, analyzing from angles he hadn't considered.
The formation theory is sound, she concluded after several minutes. But entering Elder Shadow's pocket dimension would be suicide unless you had an anchor point in normal space.
An anchor point?
Someone maintaining a spatial connection to your location, preventing the pocket dimension from closing completely. Her consciousness conveyed absolute certainty. It would require Divine Domain Level 7 or higher, perfect spatial awareness, and willingness to hold that connection for potentially hours under hostile conditions.
You're volunteering, Lin Feng realized.
If it comes to that, yes. Her spiritual energy pulsed with determination through their bond. But first, we attend the council and determine whether this is genuine intelligence or an elaborate trap.
They synchronized their cultivation for another hour, using the shared focus to achieve clarity. When they finally opened their eyes, Lin Feng felt more centered than he had since the morning.
"Whatever the council decides," Qingxue said aloud, "we face it together."
"Together," Lin Feng agreed.
The strategy council convened in Patriarch Cloud Heaven's private chambers, a space that accommodated fifteen people with ample room for formation diagrams and strategic materials. Lin Feng entered to find the Azure Sky delegation already seated—three cultivators, each radiating the controlled power of Cloud Transformation level.
The leader was Chen Yue, the same representative who had provided intelligence before. Next to him sat a woman Lin Feng didn't recognize, her spiritual energy suggesting Cloud Transformation Level 3 with ice affinity similar to Qingxue's. The third was an older man whose cultivation felt deliberately suppressed, marking him as either extremely paranoid or extremely powerful.
Patriarch Cloud Heaven occupied his usual position at the head of the chamber. Grand Elder Bingxin sat to his right, her presence adding considerable weight to Celestial Dawn's position in these negotiations. Elder Wei and three other Celestial Dawn elders completed the sect's representation.
Yun Qingxue entered behind Lin Feng, taking a position that allowed her to observe both the Azure Sky delegation and the exits. Her bodyguards, Han Shu and Liu Feng, remained outside but clearly ready for immediate action if necessary.
"Thank you all for attending," Patriarch Cloud Heaven began. "Azure Sky has brought information that may alter our strategic timeline significantly. Chen Yue, please present your intelligence."
Chen Yue stood smoothly, producing a detailed map that he spread across the central table. Lin Feng recognized the geography—a mountain range three hundred kilometers northwest of Celestial Dawn, known for unstable spiritual energy and minimal human habitation.
"Two weeks ago, one of our reconnaissance specialists detected spatial anomalies in this region," Chen Yue said, pointing to a specific valley. "Further investigation revealed the signature of a corrupted pocket dimension, maintained by demonic cultivation techniques. We believe this is Elder Shadow's primary base of operations."
He produced additional documentation—spiritual energy readings, temporal measurements, and observational reports from multiple angles. Lin Feng's consciousness divided automatically, processing the information through multiple analytical frameworks.
The intelligence appeared genuine. The spatial signatures matched what he would expect from a pocket dimension created through demonic methods—unstable, heavily fortified, and anchored to physical reality through corrupted formation arrays. The temporal data suggested time flowed differently within the dimension, possibly allowing accelerated cultivation or training.
"If this is accurate," Elder Wei said carefully, "a standard assault would be impossible. Pocket dimensions can be defended from within with minimal resource expenditure. The attacker would need overwhelming force, and even then, Elder Shadow could simply collapse the dimension and escape."
"Precisely," Chen Yue agreed. "Which is why we propose an alternative approach, one that requires specific capabilities we believe Lin Feng possesses."
All attention turned to Lin Feng. He maintained his neutral expression, waiting to hear their proposal before revealing his own analysis.
The woman from Azure Sky spoke next, her voice carrying the crisp precision of advanced tactical training. "I am Lian Yue, Azure Sky's formation specialist. Elder Wei's recent research into spatial-geometric formations has reached our intelligence network. If Lin Feng can create formations that function as spatial structures rather than symbolic arrays, he might be able to destabilize Elder Shadow's pocket dimension from within."
"Might," Lin Feng repeated carefully. "That's an optimistic assessment."
"We have reason for optimism," Lian Yue said. She produced another diagram, this one showing the formation structure anchoring Elder Shadow's pocket dimension to reality. "These anchor formations are sophisticated but traditional. They rely on symbolic correspondence rather than literal spatial manipulation. A formation that operates on different principles might bypass their defensive properties entirely."
Grand Elder Bingxin leaned forward slightly. "You're proposing that Lin Feng enter a hostile pocket dimension controlled by a Sovereign Monarch level demonic cultivator, create a formation that has never been successfully tested, and destabilize the entire space before being killed or corrupted."
"When you phrase it that way, it does sound unreasonable," Chen Yue admitted. "However, we have additional intelligence that changes the calculation. Elder Shadow is not currently present at this location. He departed three days ago, and our tracking suggests he won't return for at least two weeks. The dimension is maintained by his subordinates—thirty-seven demonic cultivators, the strongest of which is Divine Domain Level 8."
Lin Feng's consciousness streams worked through tactical scenarios. Entering a pocket dimension was inherently dangerous, but without Elder Shadow present, the risk decreased significantly. Divine Domain Level 8 was formidable but not unbeatable, especially if he could leverage spatial manipulation to create advantageous conditions.
The question was: why were Azure Sky so invested in this operation?
"What does Azure Sky gain from Elder Shadow's elimination?" Lin Feng asked directly.
The older man from Azure Sky finally spoke, his voice carrying the weight of absolute authority. "I am Azure Sky's Patriarch, Zhang Tian. What we gain is stability on the Eastern Continent and the elimination of a threat that targets unique talents—talents that Azure Sky has considerable interest in recruiting. We are not subtle in our self-interest, Lin Feng. Elder Shadow's operation threatens our strategic position, and we have decided his elimination serves our purposes better than waiting for the Crimson Empress's timeline to play out."
Brutal honesty. Lin Feng appreciated that more than diplomatic maneuvering.
"If I agree to this," Lin Feng said slowly, "I would need certain guarantees. First, an anchor point maintained by someone I trust absolutely. Second, complete intelligence about the pocket dimension's internal structure. Third, Azure Sky's commitment to military support if the operation fails and Elder Shadow retaliates against Celestial Dawn."
"The first is reasonable and expected," Patriarch Zhang Tian said. "The second we can provide within three days. The third..." He paused, considering. "We can commit to defensive support. If Elder Shadow attacks Celestial Dawn directly, Azure Sky will provide military assistance. However, we will not commit to an offensive campaign if you are captured or killed. That risk is yours to bear."
"Acceptable," Lin Feng said. He looked at Patriarch Cloud Heaven. "What is Celestial Dawn's position?"
Patriarch Cloud Heaven had been observing the exchange with careful attention. "This council cannot order you to attempt this operation, Lin Feng. The risk is too great, and the probability of success too uncertain. However, if you choose to proceed, Celestial Dawn will support you completely. We recognize that eliminating Elder Shadow now, before the Crimson Empress's operation, significantly improves our strategic position."
Lin Feng turned to Grand Elder Bingxin. "And Frozen Sky's position?"
"You are my formal disciple," Grand Elder Bingxin said calmly. "If you attempt this operation, I will personally maintain your anchor point. My cultivation is Immortal Emperor Level 5—sufficient to hold a spatial connection against any interference short of Elder Shadow himself. However, I will only do so if you can demonstrate successful pocket dimension creation within the next three days. Theory is insufficient. You must prove this is possible before risking your life on it."
That was fair. Lin Feng would never have agreed to attempt the operation without successful testing anyway.
"Then I propose this timeline," Lin Feng said. "Three days for Azure Sky to provide detailed intelligence about the pocket dimension structure. During those three days, I will attempt to create a stable pocket space—not a full dimension, but enough to prove the principle works. If successful, we move to planning and preparation. If unsuccessful, we acknowledge this approach isn't viable and develop alternatives."
"Agreed," Patriarch Zhang Tian said immediately. Chen Yue and Lian Yue nodded their assent.
"Agreed," Patriarch Cloud Heaven confirmed.
"Agreed," Grand Elder Bingxin said. "Though I will observe your testing personally to assess the risks involved."
The council continued for another hour, working through logistical details and contingency planning. But the core decision had been made. Lin Feng would have three days to achieve something that should be impossible at his cultivation level—creating a stable pocket space through spatial-geometric formations.
As the council dissolved, Yun Qingxue appeared at his side. Through their dao companion bond, he felt her mixture of concern and pride.
You agreed to test the impossible again, she observed.
The impossible seems to be my specialty, Lin Feng responded through the bond. Besides, if I can eliminate Elder Shadow before he becomes a greater threat, the Crimson Empress's operation loses significant force.
And if you can't create the pocket space?
Then we have three days to develop our cultivation and nothing has been lost but time.
They walked together through Celestial Dawn's grounds, their synchronized steps reflecting the harmony of their dao companion bond. Lin Feng's mind was already working through the formation theory, consciousness streams analyzing from multiple angles.
Creating a pocket space would require synthesizing all three of his auxiliary paths simultaneously. Spatial mastery to perceive and manipulate the structure of reality. Formation creation to build stable geometric patterns in space itself. Consciousness expansion to maintain awareness of both normal space and the pocket space simultaneously.
It should be impossible.
But then, defeating Feng Chen in the Jade Lotus Tournament should have been impossible. Surviving Shen Long in the Frozen Sky tournament should have been impossible. Breaking through to Divine Domain Level 6 while purifying an entire sect of demonic corruption should have been impossible.
Lin Feng had made a career of achieving the impossible.
"Three days," he said aloud to Qingxue. "We'll need synchronized cultivation to accelerate my progress."
"Then we begin immediately," she replied.
As they entered their cultivation chamber, Lin Feng felt the familiar sensation of multiple consciousness streams dividing his awareness, each one focused on a different aspect of the challenge ahead. This was what he did best—taking theoretical concepts and transforming them into tactical reality through systematic development and intelligent analysis.
The impossible was simply what he hadn't accomplished yet.
But in three days, that would change.
End of Chapter 62
Next: Chapter 63 - Creating the Impossible