The morning began with a scream.
“LI TIAN! WAKE UP! WE ARE ALL GOING TO DIE!”
Li Tian opened one eye.
Chen Wei stood outside his window, clutching a wooden stick in one hand and a steamed bun in the other. His hair was a mess, his robe was buttoned incorrectly, and his expression suggested that he had personally witnessed the destruction of the Nine Heavens.
Li Tian pulled his blanket over his head.
“If the world is ending, let it end quietly.”
“HOW CAN YOU SAY THAT?”
“Practice.”
Chen Wei shoved the window open.
“Listen to me! I have developed a plan that will save Heavenly Cloud Sect!”
Li Tian sat up immediately.
Not because he believed Chen Wei could save the sect.
He simply feared what would happen if Chen Wei attempted to do so without supervision.
“What kind of plan?”
Chen Wei grinned.
“The kind that requires courage, intelligence, and excellent leadership.”
Li Tian looked at the wooden stick.
“Why are you holding a stick?”
“For self-defense.”
“Against whom?”
“Anyone who disagrees with my plan.”
Li Tian rubbed his forehead.
The sect is doomed.
A white head emerged from beneath his pillow.
Bao Bao yawned.
“Tell him to leave. I was having a wonderful dream about a mountain made entirely of spiritual fruit.”
Chen Wei pointed at the fox.
“Excellent! We have our first volunteer.”
Bao Bao's ears stood upright.
“Volunteer for what?”
“Operation Secret Investigation!”
The fox immediately disappeared beneath the pillow.
“I have suddenly remembered an important appointment.”
Li Tian grabbed Bao Bao by the scruff and lifted him into the air.
“You are staying.”
“Cruelty! Tyranny! The collapse of friendship!”
“Your friendship is funded entirely by my food.”
“An unfortunate economic arrangement.”
Li Tian placed the fox on the table and looked at Chen Wei.
“Explain your plan. Quickly.”
Chen Wei puffed out his chest.
“Yesterday, the elders discovered that someone had altered the defensive formations. The Void Court is searching for something beneath the western mountain, the sect master is hiding information, and Old Ghost Qiu is clearly more than an ordinary old man.”
He paused dramatically.
“Therefore, we must discover the truth before everyone else does.”
Li Tian stared at him.
“How?”
Chen Wei unrolled a piece of paper.
It contained a drawing of Heavenly Cloud Sect, several arrows, three circles, and a stick figure carrying what appeared to be an enormous chicken.
Li Tian examined it.
“What's this?”
“Our route.”
“Why does it pass through the forbidden forest?”
“Because the main road has guards.”
“Why does it pass through the formation workshop?”
“Because I heard the repair team keeps valuable materials there.”
“And why is there a chicken?”
Chen Wei looked offended.
“That's not a chicken. That's a disguise.”
Li Tian slowly lowered the paper.
“You intend to disguise yourself as poultry?”
“Not myself. You.”
Bao Bao fell off the table laughing.
Li Tian closed his eyes.
He had faced a demonic wolf, an ancient formation, and a masked stranger who claimed he was the reincarnation of some forgotten being.
Yet somehow, Chen Wei remained the greatest threat to his peace.
“Chen Wei,” he said calmly, “I have a question.”
“Ask.”
“Have you ever considered doing nothing?”
Chen Wei thought about it.
“Yes.”
“And?”
“I didn't like it.”
Naturally.
Li Tian took the paper from his hands, folded it neatly, and put it aside.
“We are not sneaking into the forbidden forest. We are not stealing formation materials. And I am certainly not disguising myself as a chicken.”
Chen Wei looked disappointed.
“So you reject my plan?”
“I reject every part of it.”
“Then we need a better plan.”
Li Tian nodded.
“Exactly.”
Chen Wei brightened.
“I knew you'd agree to help!”
Li Tian stared at him.
“That is not what I said.”
But Chen Wei was already dragging a chair toward the desk.
An hour later, the two friends stood outside the archive annex.
This time, they had permission to enter.
After the incident with the black-robed intruder, Sect Master Yun Dao had ordered the elders to investigate every suspicious alteration in the sect's defensive network. Han Feng had been assigned to lead the examination, while Elder Zhao supervised the outer formations.
Li Tian had been appointed as Han Feng's assistant because he had noticed the flaw in the previous formation.
Chen Wei had not been appointed to anything.
He had followed them anyway.
Han Feng opened the archive door and looked at the three visitors.
“Why is Chen Wei here?”
Chen Wei immediately bowed.
“I am an independent investigator.”
“No, you're not,” Li Tian said.
“I am an independent observer.”
“No.”
“A volunteer security consultant?”
Han Feng looked at Elder Zhao.
Elder Zhao sighed.
“Let him remain near the entrance. If he touches anything, remove him.”
Chen Wei saluted.
“I promise not to touch anything important.”
Bao Bao hopped onto a nearby shelf.
“What about unimportant things?”
Chen Wei hesitated.
“I make no promises.”
Han Feng shook his head and entered the archive.
Li Tian followed.
The room smelled of old paper, dust, and spiritual ink. Tall shelves lined the walls, holding centuries of records concerning cultivation, formations, and the history of Heavenly Cloud Sect.
Han Feng spread several diagrams across the central table.
“These are the original defensive formations. We will compare them with the current maintenance records and identify any unauthorized alterations.”
Li Tian studied the diagrams.
At first, everything appeared ordinary. The defensive network formed a broad circle around the sect, with several channels directing spiritual energy toward the outer barriers.
Then he noticed a small discrepancy.
One line curved inward instead of outward.
He leaned closer.
“Han Feng, this line is different.”
The inner disciple examined it.
“Where?”
“Here. The original design sends energy away from the mountain. The altered version sends part of it toward the underground chamber.”
Elder Zhao moved to the table.
His expression darkened.
“You're correct.”
Chen Wei leaned over Li Tian's shoulder.
“Possibly,” Han Feng answered. “But we cannot determine the purpose from this diagram alone.”
Chen Wei nodded gravely.
“Then we must interrogate the coffin.”
Everyone turned toward him.
He swallowed.
“From a safe distance.”
Bao Bao snorted.
“Your courage is truly a treasure.”
“I am saving my courage for an emergency.”
“This is an emergency.”
“Then I am saving it for a bigger emergency.”
Li Tian ignored them and continued studying the diagram.
The irregularity was not isolated. Several smaller formations around the sect contained similar changes. Each one redirected a small amount of spiritual energy toward the western mountain.
Individually, the changes were almost invisible.
Together, they formed a second network.
Someone had spent considerable time altering the defensive formations without attracting the elders' attention.
That person knew the sect's layout.
They knew how its formations worked.
And they knew exactly which modifications would escape ordinary inspection.
Li Tian traced the altered lines with his finger.
“This wasn't done by someone who merely stole the formation records.”
Han Feng looked at him.
“What do you mean?”
“The alterations are too precise. Whoever made them understood the original structure well enough to change it without immediately destabilizing the entire network.”
Elder Zhao nodded slowly.
“An experienced formation specialist.”
“Or someone who had access to one,” Li Tian added.
The elder's expression grew serious.
“Then the investigation must remain confidential.”
Chen Wei raised his hand.
“May I suggest that we keep the records in a locked room guarded by several powerful cultivators?”
“That is already our plan,” Elder Zhao replied.
Chen Wei lowered his hand.
“Excellent. I have contributed.”
Li Tian was about to continue examining the diagram when a strange sensation passed through his spiritual sense.
For a moment, the symbols on the paper seemed to move.
The lines connected.
The altered channels formed a pattern that Li Tian recognized from his dream.
Nine rings surrounding a dark center.
His breathing slowed.
A faint notification appeared.
[Hidden Cultivation System]
[Ancient Formation Resonance Detected.]
[Formation Affinity activated.]
[Partial structure identified: Nine Heavens Locking Formation.]
[Warning: This formation is responding to the host.]
Li Tian immediately withdrew his hand.
The sensation disappeared.
Han Feng noticed.
“Are you all right?”
“Fine. I think the diagram is damaged.”
Elder Zhao examined the paper.
“The ink is old, but the formation is intact.”
“Perhaps I need more sleep.”
Chen Wei nodded sympathetically.
“That's an excellent diagnosis. I also require more sleep whenever I am asked to work.”
Elder Zhao gave him a look.
Chen Wei immediately became fascinated by the ceiling.
Li Tian returned his attention to the diagram.
He would have to investigate the formation's response later, when he could do so without attracting attention.
For now, the safest course was to remain ordinary.
It had served him well for three years.
He intended to continue the tradition.
The investigation continued until noon.
Han Feng discovered that two boundary markers had been replaced without proper authorization. Elder Zhao found a missing maintenance report, and Li Tian identified three more irregularities in the defensive diagrams.
None of them could determine who had made the changes.
But they had established one important fact.
The altered formations were not random.
They formed a network.
And the network was connected to the ancient chamber beneath the western mountain.
When the group finally left the archive, Chen Wei stretched his arms.
“Excellent work. We have successfully investigated the situation without entering the forbidden forest, confronting any demonic beasts, or being stabbed by a masked stranger.”
Bao Bao looked at him.
“You did nothing.”
“I provided moral support.”
“You ate four buns.”
“Moral support requires energy.”
Li Tian shook his head.
They had barely reached the courtyard when a young disciple hurried toward them.
“Senior Han! Elder Zhao! There has been an incident near the eastern formation workshop!”
Han Feng immediately straightened.
“What happened?”
“A formation needle was discovered embedded in the workshop wall. The formation specialists say it resembles the objects recovered from the earlier attack.”
Elder Zhao's expression hardened.
“Show us.”
The disciple led them toward the eastern courtyard.
Chen Wei looked at Li Tian.
“Do you think this is connected?”
“Almost certainly.”
“Should we go?”
Li Tian glanced at the courtyard ahead.
“We should follow the elders' instructions and avoid doing anything reckless.”
Chen Wei nodded.
“Agreed.”
He paused.
“However, if something reckless happens naturally, I reserve the right to run.”
“Of course.”
They followed the group.
The eastern formation workshop stood beside a row of old pine trees. It was a modest building used to store tools, repair materials, and small artifacts needed to maintain the sect's defensive network.
Several disciples had gathered outside.
A black needle protruded from the wooden wall near the entrance.
Elder Zhao approached cautiously.
“Everyone, step back.”
He formed a hand seal and examined the object from a distance.
The needle was identical to those used in the earlier attacks.
Its surface absorbed the surrounding spiritual energy, leaving a faint distortion in the air.
Han Feng frowned.
“This one is different.”
“How?” Li Tian asked.
“The others were used to disrupt formations. This one appears to be transmitting something.”
He pointed toward the base of the needle.
Tiny symbols had been carved into the wood around it.
Li Tian studied them.
A pulse of energy traveled from the needle into the wall, then disappeared beneath the workshop.
The system appeared.
[Abnormal spiritual signal detected.]
[Function: Remote transmission.]
[Destination: Unknown.]
[Warning: Do not remove the object without disabling its connection.]
Li Tian stepped back.
“Elder Zhao, we should not pull it out.”
The elder turned toward him.
“Why?”
“The energy is still flowing through it. Removing the needle might disrupt the connection in an unpredictable way.”
“He may be right. The needle is acting as an anchor.”
Elder Zhao nodded.
“Then we will isolate it first.”
The elders began preparing a containment formation.
As the spiritual barriers formed around the needle, the black symbols suddenly lit up.
A low hum emerged from the workshop.
Then a voice spoke from the wall.
“Investigation confirmed.”
Everyone froze.
The voice was distorted, as though it were traveling across a great distance.
“Second stage commencing.”
The black needle cracked.
A wave of energy spread through the workshop, illuminating every formation mark in the surrounding courtyard.
Then the energy vanished.
The needle fell to the ground.
Han Feng picked it up using a cloth.
“It's destroyed.”
Elder Zhao looked toward the western mountain.
“Second stage?”
Li Tian felt a cold sensation in his stomach.
The intruders were not merely attacking the sect.
They were following a plan.
And the plan had stages.
Whatever came next, they had just been given a warning.
That evening, Li Tian returned to his guest courtyard.
He sat at his desk, reviewing the copied formation diagrams while Bao Bao slept beside a bowl of spiritual fruit.
The events of the day had raised more questions than they had answered.
Someone had altered the defensive network.
Someone had planted transmission needles around the sect.
And someone had announced that a second stage was beginning.
Li Tian opened the system interface.
Stored Cultivation: 1,155 years.
Memory Recovery: 0.04%.
Formation Affinity: Active.
He considered releasing a small amount of stored cultivation to strengthen himself.
But the warning about the ancient seal remained in his mind.
He would not risk destabilizing the formation without understanding the consequences.
Instead, he focused on the diagram.
The nine-ring symbol appeared again.
This time, he noticed something he had overlooked earlier.
The rings were not arranged evenly.
Eight surrounded the center.
The ninth stood slightly apart.
It was not part of the outer formation.
It was connected to something beyond it.
Li Tian traced the line with his finger.
The system flashed.
[Formation analysis progressing.]
[Partial insight acquired: The Ninth Ring serves as a boundary between two connected spaces.]
[Further analysis restricted.]
Li Tian slowly lowered his hand.
A boundary between two spaces.
Was the ancient chamber connected to another place?
The Immortal Realm?
The Void Court?
Or somewhere that no longer existed?
He had no answers.
Then he noticed a small inscription at the bottom of the diagram.
It had been written in faded ink, almost invisible beneath the dust.
When the Silent One returns, do not open the door.
Li Tian stared at the words.
A chill passed through him.
The coffin beneath the mountain had called him its child.
The masked stranger had called him the Silent One.
And the ancient formation had been designed around his return.
Perhaps the seal was not simply waiting to be broken.
Perhaps someone was trying to make him break it.
Bao Bao opened one eye.
“You look troubled.”
Li Tian turned the diagram toward him.
“Do you recognize this inscription?”
The fox's expression changed the moment he read it.
For once, he did not joke.
“Where did you find that?”
“In the formation records.”
Bao Bao slowly rose from his cushion.
“Li Tian, listen carefully. Whatever happens, do not attempt to open the Ninth Seal yourself.”
“Why?”
“Because the last time someone tried to open it, the stars went dark.”
Li Tian stared at him.
“Who tried?”
The fox looked toward the western mountain.
“I don't know whether I should tell you.”
“Bao Bao.”
The fox sighed.
“The person who tried to open it was the Silent One.”
Li Tian felt the room grow colder.
Before he could ask another question, the ground trembled.
A distant bell rang from the western watchtower.
Once.
Twice.
Then a third time.
The emergency signal.
Li Tian rushed to the window.
Beyond the rooftops, a column of black light rose from the western mountain and pierced the night sky.
Every defensive formation in Heavenly Cloud Sect activated at once.
The black light spread outward, forming an enormous symbol above the mountain.
Nine rings.
Eight silver.
One black.
The system appeared before Li Tian's eyes.
[Critical Warning.]
[Ninth Seal instability increasing.]
[External interference detected.]
[Host resonance required for further analysis.]
Li Tian's face tightened.
Required?
He had no intention of approaching the ancient chamber.
But the next notification changed everything.
[Warning: A second formation has activated inside Heavenly Cloud Sect.]
[Location: Inner Sect.]
[Target: Sect Master Yun Dao.]
Far across the compound, a powerful explosion shook the main hall.
And from the western mountain came a voice that Li Tian now recognized.
The voice from his dreams.
The voice that had called him its child.
“Come to me, Silent One.”
Li Tian stood motionless.
Bao Bao's fur rose.
Then the fox spoke, his voice barely above a whisper.
“Li Tian…”
“The enemy isn't trying to break the seal.”
He looked toward the black symbol spreading across the sky.
“They're trying to force you to open it.”
To be continued…