Discovered ?

The next day, Lin Feng woke up early, the first rays of dawn barely piercing through the inn's small window. Today, he was eager to delve into his new cultivation manual, the Path of Infinite Theories. He sat cross-legged on the floor, his mind clear and focused. After ingesting one of his Intermediate Qi Gathering Pills, he felt the familiar cool sensation as the pill dissolved, enabling him to gather the surrounding Qi more efficiently.

Lin Feng closed his eyes and took a deep breath, calming his Inner Sea. Normally, he would let his Refined Qi Circulation skill guide the Qi through established pathways, but today he had something different in mind. He focused on a small strand of Qi, directing all his attention to it. The Qi, now under his conscious control, felt like a vibrant thread of energy, pulsing with potential.

In his mind, the pathways inside his body transformed into a network of tunnels, each made of a myriad of stars. Reaching one star would lead him closer to his dantian, but there were risks: the star might collapse under the strain of the Qi, the Qi might dissipate, or the path might end abruptly with no connection to the next star. It was a complex, delicate journey.

Inside the small fragment left of his Inner Sea, he saw a small shadowy figure sitting in the same meditative posture as himself. This figure was an embodiment of his inner self, mirroring his physical form. He sensed a tiny spark of Qi journeying through the figure's body, uncontrolled and bold. Determined, Lin Feng seized control of the spark, guiding it with meticulous care.

He led the spark through the shadowy figure's body along a specific pathway. The Qi rotated, undulated, broke apart, and rejoined, undergoing a myriad of transformations. As it reached the first stop in its journey, a critical juncture, the figure in his mind exploded, dissipating into nothingness. Lin Feng was abruptly pulled out of his trance, his eyes snapping open.

He realized that what he had just experienced was the cultivation process prescribed by the manual. A figure identical to him had appeared in his mind, and he had theorized a path for the Qi. Yet, it had failed. The path, the way of traversing it, the amount of Qi, its quality—there were countless variables to consider. Each failure was a step closer to success, a lesson learned.

Far from being discouraged, Lin Feng rejoiced. He had merely scratched the surface of this new method, yet it already felt fantastic. He knew that today's progress, though not resulting in condensed Qi, was miles ahead of anything he had achieved before.

With the pill's effects dissipating, Lin Feng rose from his meditative state, feeling invigorated. He dressed and prepared to face the day. The streets of Baiyun were bustling with activity as merchants set up their stalls, vendors called out their wares, and the general hum of the city filled the air. Lin Feng made his way to the Guild of Spell Crafters, blending into the crowd.

When Lin Feng arrived at Mei Lan's class, he immediately noticed that something was off. Mei Lan, usually composed and methodical, looked frantic and jittery, her movements hurried and erratic. She was more absent-minded than usual, frequently glancing at the door and the windows as if expecting something—or someone. She eyed every single person around her, muttering under her breath.

The apprentices gathered, sensing her unease but saying nothing. Mei Lan tried to proceed with the lesson, but her mind was clearly elsewhere. After only a short while, she dismissed the class early, something she rarely did.

"Class dismissed," she said abruptly. "I have urgent matters to attend to."

She left the room in a rush, leaving the apprentices bewildered and whispering among themselves. Lin Feng, though curious, knew better than to pry. He left the guild, still considered nothing more than a lowly servant by the other apprentices. Their disdain was palpable, but Lin Feng paid it no mind. He had more pressing concerns.

Walking through the bustling streets of Baiyun, Lin Feng listened to the conversations around him, absorbing bits and pieces of information about the world. The discussions gave him a broader understanding of current events and the shifting power dynamics within the Yuxian continent.

As he strolled through the market, he overheard a group of merchants discussing the escalating conflicts in the region.

"The Azure Dragon Sect is becoming bolder by the day," one merchant said, his voice tinged with concern. "They've escalated conflicts with the Crimson Blade Clan and the White Lotus Sect."

"Why would they risk it?" another merchant asked, shaking his head. "The Crimson Blade Clan is not one to be trifled with. And the White Lotus Sect... they're known for their strategic prowess. This can't end well."

The first merchant nodded. "It makes you wonder what the Azure Dragon Sect has up their sleeve. They must have something powerful to back their actions. Otherwise, they wouldn't be so audacious."

Lin Feng felt a twinge of apprehension. The Azure Dragon Sect, his former sect, situated in the East, was a formidable power. If they were so bold as to escalate conflicts with their rivals...Lin Feng didn't want to imagine his fate. The thought of their potential power made Lin Feng uneasy, breaking his concentration. He found himself unable to focus on his cultivation manual for a while, the shadowy figures in his mind dissipating before they could fully form.

Moving on, he passed a tea shop where a group of scholars were engaged in a heated debate about the political situation in the Ganlu Basin, which lay in the central region of the Yuxian continent.

"The coalition of sects governing the Ganlu Basin is under immense pressure," one scholar said. "The friction between the sects is causing significant instability."

"Indeed," another scholar agreed. "The recent skirmishes between the Iron Fist Sect and the Silver Moon Sect have only exacerbated the situation. If this continues, it could lead to a full-scale war."

A third scholar chimed in. "It's not just the internal conflicts we have to worry about. There's news of increased tensions with the neighboring Yunhai Plains to the northwest. The Black Tortoise Sect there is holding their ground against invaders from the Crimson Flame Empire."

Lin Feng continued his walk, observing the city's daily life while using the Path of Infinite Theories manual without any Qi. Shadowy figures of himself appeared and disappeared inside his mind, each one lasting a bit longer than the last. He was making progress, albeit slowly.

Further along, he overheard a conversation about a battlefield in the Yunhai Plains, governed by the Black Tortoise Sect, situated to the northwest of the Ganlu Basin.

"The battle in the Yunhai Plains is intensifying," a soldier said to his companion. "The Black Tortoise Sect is holding their ground against the invaders from the Crimson Flame Empire. It's a brutal conflict."

His companion sighed. "It's all because of the rich mineral deposits in the Yunhai Plains. Both sides want control over those resources. The Ganlu Basin might get dragged into this if the conflict spreads."

Lin Feng absorbed the information, piecing together the broader picture. The Yuxian continent was a place of constant turmoil, with sects, clans, and empires vying for power and resources. The Ganlu Basin, governed by a coalition of sects, was just one region in this vast and complex landscape.

As he continued walking, more conversations reached his ears. He learned about the tensions between the Golden Sun Sect and the Shadow Serpent Clan, and the uneasy alliance between the Iron Wolf Clan and the Crimson Blossom Sect. Each snippet of conversation added to his understanding of the intricate web of alliances and conflicts shaping the world.

At one point, he passed a group of traders discussing a conflict to the south, in the Emerald Forest region governed by the Jade Tree Sect.

"I heard the Jade Tree Sect is in trouble," one trader said. "They're struggling to fend off attacks from the Blood Raven Clan. The forest is turning into a battlefield."

Another trader nodded. "Yes, and the Blood Raven Clan is known for their ruthless tactics. If the Jade Tree Sect can't hold their ground, we might see a significant shift in power in the south."

By midday, Lin Feng had gathered a wealth of information and felt that his cultivation could continue while he kept performing his duties as a Spell Crafter's servant, holding onto the promise of an apprenticeship.

When Lin Feng returned to the Guild of Spell Crafters for the second time that day, the tension in the air was palpable. He resumed his tasks, blending into the background and listening intently to the whispers and murmurs around him. He could sense that something was amiss, but he wasn't prepared for what happened next.

As he was cleaning one of the workspaces, he noticed Mei Lan and another Spell Crafter approaching him. Mei Lan's usually composed demeanor was replaced by a frantic and jittery energy. She was eyeing every single person around her, muttering under her breath. The other Spell Crafter, Huo Ying, exuded a fiery presence, her eyes sharp and accusatory. She was taller than Mei Lan, with flaming red hair tied back in a severe bun.

"Lin Feng," Mei Lan began, her voice devoid of its usual warmth. "There's been an incident. Someone has stolen important notes from my workshop, and you are the biggest suspect."

Lin Feng's heart raced. "But I didn't—"

Huo Ying cut him off with a snarl. "Your unknown origins and low cultivation are the only reasons we haven't already thrown you into a cell. You're not exactly above suspicion."

Lin Feng opened his mouth to argue, but Mei Lan's demeanor had shifted dramatically. She now spoke with the cold precision of an enforcer reading him his rights. "Lin Feng, you are to be detained and questioned. You will come with us without resistance."

Before he could react, two large figures in armor appeared behind him. They moved with the grace of seasoned warriors, their faces obscured by helmets. Each grabbed one of Lin Feng's arms, their grips like iron. Lin Feng struggled, but it felt as if his body wasn't responding properly. A strange energy invaded his body, rendering him weak and disoriented.

"Wait, I can explai—!" Lin Feng's protest was cut short as the energy sapped his strength. He was practically dragged through the guild, his vision blurring. Mei Lan and Huo Ying led the way, their expressions stern and unyielding. Plenty of people had seen this ordeal occurring yet none spared it more than a glance.

They reached a faraway room deep within the guild. The walls, floor, and ceiling were inscribed with thousands of symbols and drawings. The intricate patterns glowed faintly, pulsing with latent power. Lin Feng was chained to the center of the room, the cold metal biting into his wrists and ankles.

Mei Lan and the armored figures left, their footsteps echoing in the cavernous space. Only Huo Ying remained, standing in a corner with a heavy tome in her hand. Her eyes glinted with a mix of determination and something darker.

"Let's see if you're telling the truth," Huo Ying said, her voice dripping with contempt.

The ritual began. The inscriptions lit up in various colors, casting eerie shadows on the walls. The pages of the tome flipped rapidly as if moved by an invisible hand. Huo Ying's chanting filled the room, her voice rising and falling in a rhythmic cadence.

Lin Feng felt the energy around him shift, the symbols on the floor growing brighter. His body trembled as the strange energy surged through him, probing and invading his every fiber. He tried to focus, to use his Qi to resist, but the energy was too overwhelming and his senses were still extremely sluggish.

Huo Ying's chant grew louder, more insistent. The symbols on the walls and ceiling flared with light, blinding him. Pain lanced through Lin Feng's body, searing and relentless. He felt his consciousness slipping away, the world around him dissolving into a haze of light and sound.

Just before he passed out, Lin Feng's last thought was one of desperate confusion. How had he been discovered? The light grew brighter, the chanting louder, until everything went dark.