Lin Feng woke fourteen hours after the operation, his body having claimed the rest it desperately needed. The exhaustion that had threatened to collapse him immediately after extraction had been profound—not just physical fatigue but spiritual depletion from maintaining maximum consciousness division and spatial manipulation for thirty continuous minutes.
Yun Qingxue sat in meditation across from him, her presence having apparently remained constant throughout his unconscious recovery. Through their dao companion bond, he felt her immediate awareness of his waking, her consciousness touching his with gentle concern.
How do you feel? she asked through the bond.
Alive, Lin Feng responded. Exhausted but functional. How long was I unconscious?
Fourteen hours. Grand Elder Bingxin examined you twice and confirmed it was natural recovery sleep rather than spiritual damage. Your consciousness simply shut down non-essential functions to focus on restoration.
Lin Feng sat up slowly, taking inventory of his condition. His spiritual energy reserves had recovered to approximately seventy percent—lower than optimal but acceptable considering the expenditure. His meridians felt stable, his consciousness division capability intact, his spatial perception functioning normally.
The operation had pushed him to his absolute limits, but it hadn't broken anything permanently.
There's been significant activity while you rested, Qingxue continued. Azure Sky completed initial interrogation of the twenty-three captured demonic cultivators. Patriarch Cloud Heaven has called a strategy council for this afternoon. And...
She hesitated, her emotions through the bond conveying something complex—concern mixed with anticipation.
And? Lin Feng prompted.
You're very close to Divine Domain Level 7. Grand Elder Bingxin estimates you're perhaps five percent away from breakthrough. The operation pushed your cultivation to the edge of advancement.
Lin Feng checked his internal cultivation state carefully. Qingxue was right—the intense spiritual energy expenditure during the operation, combined with the pressure of life-threatening circumstances, had compressed months of normal cultivation progress into a single night. His meridians had adapted to higher energy flow rates. His consciousness had integrated the extreme multi-stream operation into baseline capability. His spatial perception had refined itself through practical application in hostile conditions.
All the signs of imminent breakthrough were present.
Five percent, Lin Feng mused. Perhaps three to four days of intensive synchronized cultivation. Or one more combat situation that requires maximum performance.
I vote for the three to four days option, Qingxue said firmly. You just survived an operation that had sixty percent success probability. Let's not immediately throw you into another life-threatening situation.
Lin Feng smiled despite himself. Agreed. Though given Elder Shadow's probable reaction to losing his pocket dimension, another life-threatening situation might find me regardless of preference.
A knock at the chamber door interrupted their communication. "Enter," Lin Feng called.
Zhao Hai stepped inside, carrying a tray with food and tea. "You're awake. Good. The entire sect has been worried, though Grand Elder Bingxin kept telling everyone you were fine and just needed rest."
"She was correct," Lin Feng said, accepting the tea gratefully. "What's the mood in the sect?"
"Somewhere between celebration and nervous anticipation," Zhao Hai said, settling into a sitting position near the door. "Everyone knows you destroyed Elder Shadow's pocket dimension. The story has spread through the outer disciples, inner disciples, even reached the servant quarters. You're being called the 'Void Walker' now—the cultivator who can infiltrate impossible places and accomplish what no one else could."
Lin Feng grimaced slightly. Impressive titles were useful for reputation but dangerous for survival. Every title made him a higher-priority target for the Crimson Empress and other potential enemies.
"What about the interrogations?" Lin Feng asked, steering the conversation to tactical matters. "Have Azure Sky learned anything useful from the captured demonic cultivators?"
"Some," Zhao Hai confirmed. "Elder Wei attended the initial sessions and briefed Patriarch Cloud Heaven. Most of the captured cultivators were recently recruited—within the past six months. Elder Shadow had been assembling his force specifically for an assault on either Celestial Dawn or Frozen Sky, though they didn't know which target or when the assault would occur."
"Recently recruited means they might have less commitment to demonic cultivation," Lin Feng observed. "Potentially more willing to defect or provide information in exchange for leniency."
"Exactly what Patriarch Zhang Tian concluded. Azure Sky is offering selective clemency—full cooperation in exchange for reduced punishment and possible rehabilitation. Three cultivators have already accepted the offer and provided detailed information about Elder Shadow's operations."
That was excellent tactical outcome. Converting enemy forces was always more valuable than simply eliminating them. Three sources of intelligence about Elder Shadow's methods, locations, and plans would significantly improve their strategic position.
"What about the fourteen who escaped?" Qingxue asked.
"Scattered across the Eastern Continent. Azure Sky is tracking them through their intelligence network, but the priority is information extraction from the captured ones rather than hunting down escapees. The assumption is that without their pocket dimension base, the scattered cultivators will either try to rejoin Elder Shadow or attempt to hide. Either way, they're not an immediate threat."
Lin Feng nodded, his consciousness processing the tactical situation. Elder Shadow had lost his primary base, most of his assembled force, and the security of his pocket dimension. He would be weakened, angry, and probably desperate—which made him more dangerous in unpredictable ways but less capable of executing sophisticated long-term plans.
The question was: would Elder Shadow attempt immediate retaliation, or would he retreat to rebuild his strength?
"The strategy council this afternoon will address that question," Zhao Hai said, apparently reading Lin Feng's expression. "Patriarch Cloud Heaven wants comprehensive assessment of Elder Shadow's probable responses and how to prepare for each scenario."
"What time is the council scheduled?"
"Two hours from now. Which gives you time to eat, recover fully, and prepare your operational report."
After Zhao Hai departed, Lin Feng spent the next hour in light meditation, allowing his spiritual energy to continue recovering while his consciousness remained alert. Yun Qingxue joined him in synchronized cultivation, their dao companion bond accelerating his recovery through resonant energy exchange.
By the time he needed to prepare for the strategy council, his spiritual energy had recovered to ninety percent—not quite full strength but close enough for normal operation.
The strategy council convened in Patriarch Cloud Heaven's chambers with an expanded attendance reflecting the operation's significance. Patriarch Cloud Heaven presided, with Grand Elder Bingxin to his right representing Frozen Sky's formal involvement. Elder Wei, Mei She, and three other Celestial Dawn elders completed the sect's representation.
Azure Sky had sent a substantial delegation: Patriarch Zhang Tian himself, Wei Shen the tactical coordinator, Lian Yue the formation specialist, and two additional Cloud Transformation level cultivators Lin Feng didn't recognize. Their presence indicated Azure Sky's continued investment in the situation's development.
Lin Feng entered with Yun Qingxue, taking positions that allowed them to observe all participants while remaining accessible for questions. Their dao companion bond hummed with tactical awareness, each one processing the room's dynamics from their respective perspectives.
"Lin Feng," Patriarch Cloud Heaven began without preamble. "Your operational report, please. Complete account of the infiltration, including any details you observed that might inform our strategic assessment."
Lin Feng had prepared this report during his meditation, organizing his observations into coherent narrative. He spoke for twenty minutes, describing the dimensional structure, the natural foundation distribution, the demonic cultivators' positioning and responses, and the destabilization process. His consciousness division allowed perfect recall—every detail preserved exactly as perceived.
When he concluded, the council sat in silence for several seconds, processing the information.
"The geometric foundation pattern you identified," Lian Yue said finally, "suggests Elder Shadow received training from someone with master-level spatial theory knowledge. That level of sophistication isn't common among demonic cultivators—they typically prioritize raw power over elegant design."
"Which raises the question of whether Elder Shadow developed this knowledge independently or received instruction from the Crimson Empress," Grand Elder Bingxin observed. "If the latter, we need to assume the Crimson Empress has comparable or superior understanding of pocket dimension construction."
"The interrogated cultivators confirmed Elder Shadow received direct training from the Crimson Empress," Patriarch Zhang Tian said. "He's not just an independent demonic cultivator operating in her territory—he's a formal subordinate, trained specifically to serve as regional operational commander on the Eastern Continent."
That information shifted the tactical picture significantly. Lin Feng had destroyed not just Elder Shadow's personal operation but a Crimson Empress asset, making this success a direct attack on her organizational structure.
"Then the Crimson Empress will certainly respond," Patriarch Cloud Heaven said. "The question is how and when."
"The interrogations provided partial insight," Wei Shen said. "According to the cultivators who accepted clemency, Elder Shadow's assault on either Celestial Dawn or Frozen Sky was scheduled for approximately six weeks from now. The Crimson Empress's larger operation—the one Azure Sky detected two months ago—was scheduled for approximately eight weeks from now. By destroying Elder Shadow's pocket dimension, we've disrupted both timelines."
"Will they advance the Crimson Empress operation to compensate for Elder Shadow's loss?" Elder Wei asked. "Or delay it to rebuild their forces?"
"Unknown," Patriarch Zhang Tian admitted. "But my tactical assessment suggests advancement is more likely than delay. The Crimson Empress has invested considerable resources in recruiting and training specialized cultivators. Delaying the operation allows more time for their targets—including Lin Feng—to advance cultivation and improve defensive preparations. She'll want to strike while her relative power advantage remains significant."
Lin Feng's consciousness processed this logic and found it sound. If he were the Crimson Empress, facing a target who had just demonstrated capability to destroy pocket dimensions and was rapidly advancing toward higher cultivation levels, he would accelerate rather than delay confrontation. Every week of delay gave Lin Feng another week to grow stronger.
"How much acceleration are we estimating?" Grand Elder Bingxin asked.
"Worst case: two weeks," Wei Shen said. "Best case: the original timeline holds. Most likely: somewhere in between, perhaps three to five weeks instead of eight."
Three to five weeks. Lin Feng ran calculations through his consciousness streams. With intensive synchronized cultivation, he could definitely reach Divine Domain Level 7 within three weeks. Possibly Level 8 within five weeks if circumstances provided combat pressure to accelerate breakthroughs. But that assumed continuous cultivation without major interruptions like assassination attempts or defensive operations.
"We should assume the accelerated timeline," Patriarch Cloud Heaven said. "Which means Celestial Dawn needs to maximize defensive preparations immediately. Elder Wei, I want formation arrays reinforced throughout the sect—not just boundaries but internal defensive positions. If the Crimson Empress attacks, I want multiple fallback positions where we can hold ground even if outer defenses are breached."
"Understood," Elder Wei confirmed. "I'll coordinate with Lin Feng on incorporating void-enhanced formations where appropriate."
"Frozen Sky will provide military support," Grand Elder Bingxin said. "Patriarch Bingfeng has authorized deployment of one hundred Divine Domain cultivators to Celestial Dawn, with Cloud Transformation level commanders. They'll arrive within three days and establish integrated defensive positions."
One hundred Divine Domain cultivators plus Cloud Transformation leadership. That was substantial military commitment, transforming Celestial Dawn from vulnerable mid-tier sect into temporarily fortified position that could withstand significant assault.
"Azure Sky offers similar support," Patriarch Zhang Tian said. "Fifty Divine Domain cultivators as rapid response force, positioned within one hour of Celestial Dawn. We won't station them directly in your sect—that would create political complications—but close enough for emergency reinforcement if the Crimson Empress attacks."
Between Frozen Sky and Azure Sky, that was one hundred fifty additional Divine Domain cultivators committed to Celestial Dawn's defense. Combined with Celestial Dawn's own forces, it created a defensive capability far exceeding anything a mid-tier sect would normally possess.
"The Crimson Empress will certainly detect this military buildup," Mei She observed. "She'll know we're preparing for her operation specifically."
"Let her know," Grand Elder Bingxin said. "Knowing we're prepared might discourage the attack entirely, forcing her to seek softer targets. And if she attacks anyway, at least we'll be ready."
The discussion continued for another hour, working through defensive scenarios and resource allocation. By the time the council concluded, Celestial Dawn had a comprehensive defensive plan that leveraged alliance support while maintaining sect autonomy.
As participants began departing, Patriarch Zhang Tian approached Lin Feng directly. "A moment of your time, if possible."
Lin Feng nodded, his tactical awareness immediately heightening. Private conversation with Azure Sky's Patriarch meant either recruitment discussion or intelligence exchange—possibly both.
Yun Qingxue remained at his side, their dao companion bond providing mutual tactical support. Grand Elder Bingxin also stayed, her presence making clear that Lin Feng's interests were protected by Frozen Sky's authority.
"You accomplished something remarkable last night," Patriarch Zhang Tian said once they had relative privacy. "Infiltrating and destroying a pocket dimension at Divine Domain Level 6 shouldn't be possible. Yet you did it with near-perfect execution. That capability makes you extremely valuable—and extremely vulnerable."
"I'm aware," Lin Feng said carefully.
"Azure Sky remains interested in eventual recruitment," Patriarch Zhang Tian continued. "But we're realistic about timing. You have commitments to Celestial Dawn and Frozen Sky that we respect. However, I want to make our position clear: when you eventually advance beyond these commitments, Azure Sky offers a home where your unique capabilities would be valued and protected."
It was the most direct recruitment pitch Lin Feng had received—no subtle hints or political maneuvering, just straightforward statement of interest and offer.
"I appreciate the clarity," Lin Feng said. "And I'll remember Azure Sky's support during this crisis. But as you noted, I have current commitments that take priority."
"Understood. However, there's a more immediate concern I wanted to discuss privately." Patriarch Zhang Tian's expression grew more serious. "The Crimson Empress's seventy percent recruitment success rate isn't random chance. She has techniques—some would call them manipulation, others would call them corruption—that allow her to identify and exploit a person's deepest desires and vulnerabilities. She doesn't recruit through force. She recruits by offering what people believe they want most."
Lin Feng absorbed this information, his consciousness streams immediately analyzing implications. Manipulation through desire was more insidious than simple corruption. It created willing converts who believed they were making rational choices rather than victims who knew they'd been forced.
"How does she identify those desires?" Qingxue asked.
"We don't fully understand her methods," Patriarch Zhang Tian admitted. "But the interrogated cultivators described experiencing vivid visions or dreams before their recruitment—scenarios that seemed to show them achieving their deepest goals. Power, recognition, revenge against perceived enemies, protection for loved ones. Whatever they wanted most, the visions showed them obtaining it through the Crimson Empress's support."
"Psychological manipulation enhanced by spiritual techniques," Grand Elder Bingxin said. "Sophisticated and dangerous."
"Exactly. And Lin Feng, you need to understand that you're a priority target. She'll certainly attempt personal recruitment before resorting to elimination. You've demonstrated capabilities she wants for her organization, and your rapid advancement suggests you'll become even more valuable with time."
"What defense exists against this kind of manipulation?" Lin Feng asked.
"Self-awareness," Patriarch Zhang Tian said simply. "Understanding your own desires and vulnerabilities so clearly that external manipulation becomes obvious. The cultivators who resisted her recruitment—the thirty percent who survived—all reported recognizing the visions as false because they conflicted with their core values. The seventy percent who succumbed believed the visions were revealing truth rather than manipulation."
Lin Feng nodded slowly, understanding. This aligned with the core values discussion he'd had weeks ago—identifying what truly mattered versus what seemed appealing but conflicted with fundamental principles.
"I've already done considerable work on self-awareness," Lin Feng said. "But I'll reinforce that foundation specifically against manipulation attempts."
"Good. Because Azure Sky's intelligence suggests the Crimson Empress may attempt personal recruitment within the next two to three weeks—before her larger operation, while you're still at Divine Domain Level 6 or early Level 7. She wants to recruit you before you become powerful enough to be genuine threat rather than valuable asset."
Two to three weeks. That timeline was tighter than expected but not surprising given Elder Shadow's pocket dimension destruction.
After Patriarch Zhang Tian departed, Lin Feng remained with Yun Qingxue and Grand Elder Bingxin, processing the conversation's implications.
"He's right about the recruitment attempt," Grand Elder Bingxin said. "The Crimson Empress will want you as subordinate rather than enemy. That gives us tactical advantage—she won't immediately try to kill you, giving you time to advance cultivation and strengthen defenses."
"But if recruitment fails, elimination becomes her next priority," Qingxue added through their bond.
"Which means the next two to three weeks are critical," Lin Feng concluded. "Advance to Divine Domain Level 7, reinforce psychological defenses against manipulation, and prepare for either recruitment attempt or assassination depending on which the Crimson Empress chooses first."
"Then we begin immediately," Grand Elder Bingxin said. "Intensive synchronized cultivation starting today. I'll personally supervise to ensure optimal advancement rate. Your breakthrough to Level 7 is the single most important tactical objective for the next two weeks."
The next thirteen days passed in focused intensity. Lin Feng and Yun Qingxue spent six hours daily in synchronized cultivation under Grand Elder Bingxin's supervision, their dao companion bond accelerating progress through resonant energy exchange. Another four hours each day went to formation reinforcement throughout Celestial Dawn, incorporating void-enhanced defensive arrays that would provide tactical advantages during any assault.
The remaining time split between tactical preparation, psychological reinforcement exercises, and necessary rest.
Frozen Sky's one hundred Divine Domain cultivators arrived on schedule, integrating smoothly with Celestial Dawn's defensive structure. Azure Sky's fifty-cultivator rapid response force positioned covertly within strike range. The sect transformed from vulnerable target into fortified position capable of withstanding significant assault.
Lin Feng's cultivation advanced steadily. By day five, he was three percent from Divine Domain Level 7. By day nine, one percent away—so close to breakthrough that his spiritual energy circulation felt constantly on edge, ready to transition at any moment.
On day thirteen, during synchronized cultivation with Yun Qingxue, Lin Feng felt his meridians reach the saturation point where advancement became inevitable. His spiritual energy circulation accelerated automatically, his consciousness expanding to accommodate increased processing capacity, his spatial perception deepening as breakthrough approached.
Now, Qingxue's consciousness touched his through their bond. The breakthrough is ready. Don't force it—let it happen naturally.
Lin Feng released conscious control, allowing his cultivation to follow its natural progression. His spiritual energy flowed through meridians in patterns that had become instinctive over weeks of practice, each circulation refining his foundation incrementally.
And then, like a dam finally releasing after days of mounting pressure, the breakthrough occurred.
Divine Domain Level 7.
The transition was smooth—none of the violent disruption that had characterized his Level 6 breakthrough during Elder Shadow's assault. This advancement was natural, earned through systematic cultivation rather than forced through combat necessity.
Lin Feng's spiritual energy reserves increased by approximately forty percent—not dramatic like some breakthroughs, but substantial improvement in sustainable power. His consciousness division capability remained at nine streams, but each stream operated with noticeably greater sophistication. His spatial perception range extended from fifteen to twenty meters, with improved resolution at all distances.
More importantly, his overall spiritual energy density increased significantly. Techniques that had required conscious effort at Level 6 now felt natural at Level 7. Spatial manipulation that had depleted his reserves quickly now consumed energy at sustainable rates.
He opened his eyes to find Yun Qingxue smiling at him, her consciousness conveying pride and relief through their bond.
Congratulations, she said. Divine Domain Level 7. You're now among the elite cultivators of the Eastern Continent.
We achieved it together, Lin Feng corrected. Your dao companion bond provided at least thirty percent acceleration. I would still be weeks away from breakthrough without synchronized cultivation.
Grand Elder Bingxin entered the chamber, her spiritual perception having apparently detected the breakthrough from outside. "Divine Domain Level 7, achieved in thirteen days through synchronized cultivation. Acceptable progress. Now you need to consolidate the breakthrough over the next forty-eight hours before attempting any combat operations."
"Understood," Lin Feng confirmed. "Though I expect the Crimson Empress may not allow me forty-eight hours of peaceful consolidation."
"If she attacks during your consolidation period, that's her tactical error," Grand Elder Bingxin said. "Unstable cultivation makes you less valuable as recruitment target and more likely to die during elimination attempt. She'll wait until you've consolidated, which gives us exactly the forty-eight hours we need."
Lin Feng hoped that assessment was accurate, but his tactical awareness remained skeptical. The Crimson Empress had demonstrated sophisticated strategic thinking throughout her operations. She might recognize that attacking during consolidation created vulnerability she could exploit.
They would see soon enough.
For now, Lin Feng had achieved the first critical objective: Divine Domain Level 7, with improved capabilities that significantly changed his tactical position. The Crimson Empress would still consider him a valuable recruitment target, but he was no longer the relatively weak Divine Domain Level 6 cultivator who had destroyed Elder Shadow's pocket dimension.
He was stronger, faster, and more capable than ever before.
And in approximately one to two weeks, the Crimson Empress would discover whether that advancement made recruitment more appealing or elimination more necessary.
On the morning of the fifteenth day after Elder Shadow's pocket dimension destruction, Lin Feng woke to find a sealed letter on his chamber table.
He hadn't heard anyone enter during the night. His consciousness division maintained constant awareness even during sleep, with at least three streams monitoring for intrusions. Yet someone had placed this letter without triggering any of his defensive formations or alerting his tactical awareness.
That level of stealth suggested Sovereign Monarch level capability or higher.
The letter was sealed with a formation Lin Feng didn't recognize—sophisticated work that carried an aura of absolute power barely contained. Breaking this seal would require either matching that power level or using void techniques to dissolve the formation entirely.
Lin Feng chose the latter approach, carefully dismantling the seal through void manipulation. The formation dissolved without resistance, revealing a single sheet of paper with elegant calligraphy.
Lin Feng of Celestial Dawn Sect,
Your recent achievements have attracted considerable attention. Destroying Elder Shadow's pocket dimension demonstrated capabilities that few cultivators possess at any level, much less Divine Domain Level 7.
I would like to meet with you personally to discuss opportunities that may interest you. This is not a threat or demand—merely an invitation to conversation between cultivators of exceptional potential.
If you accept, travel alone to the mountain peak seventeen kilometers northeast of Celestial Dawn at sunset three days from now. I guarantee your safety during travel and conversation, and I will make no attempt at coercion or violence. You will be free to leave at any time.
If you decline, I will respect your decision and make no further contact unless circumstances require it.
The choice is yours.
- Crimson Empress
Lin Feng read the letter three times, his consciousness streams analyzing every detail. This was the recruitment attempt Patriarch Zhang Tian had predicted—personal contact offering opportunities rather than threats, creating circumstances where Lin Feng's curiosity might overcome his caution.
The letter's tone was carefully calibrated. Respectful without being obsequious. Confident without being arrogant. Offering genuine choice while making clear the Crimson Empress valued his potential enough to request personal meeting.
Sophisticated psychological manipulation, exactly as warned.
The question was: should he accept?
Meeting the Crimson Empress carried obvious risks. Despite her guarantee of safety, trusting the word of someone who commanded demonic cultivators and corrupted unique talents seemed naive at best.
But declining meant missing an intelligence opportunity. Personal interaction with the Crimson Empress would provide insights into her methods, capabilities, and strategic thinking that no second-hand report could match. And if he brought sufficient backup positioned nearby...
Lin Feng made his decision and immediately sought out Patriarch Cloud Heaven to discuss the invitation and his proposed response.
The game was entering its next phase.
And Lin Feng intended to play it with the same tactical intelligence that had brought him this far.
End of Chapter 66
Next: Chapter 67 - The Crimson Meeting