The morning after the emergency assembly, Heavenly Cloud Sect issued a new order.
Every outer disciple was required to participate in a mountain patrol mission.
Officially, the purpose was to inspect the defensive formations surrounding the western forest and report any unusual spiritual fluctuations.
Unofficially, the elders wanted to see who would panic when they approached the forbidden mountain.
Li Tian read the mission notice twice.
Then he folded it carefully and put it inside his sleeve.
“This is troublesome.”
Beside him, Chen Wei stared at the notice as if it were a death warrant.
“Troublesome?” Chen Wei clutched his chest. “Brother Li, the elders have sent us toward a mountain that contains an ancient coffin, a mysterious voice, and possibly a creature that eats entire sects for breakfast. That is not troublesome. That is a funeral invitation!”
Bao Bao sat on Li Tian’s shoulder, lazily licking his paw.
“You worry too much. If something eats the sect, it will probably start with the elders. They have more spiritual energy.”
Chen Wei froze.
“That is supposed to comfort me?”
“No,” Bao Bao replied. “I was simply explaining the order of consumption.”
Li Tian sighed.
He was beginning to suspect that keeping the fox around was more dangerous than keeping the ancient coffin sealed.
A faint notification appeared before his eyes.
[Hidden Cultivation System]
Mission detected: Western Mountain Perimeter Inspection.
Risk assessment: Unknown.
Potential rewards: Survival cultivation, technique analysis, memory fragments.
Warning: Host's bloodline resonance may attract unidentified entities.
Li Tian's expression remained unchanged.
Of course. Even the system thinks this is a terrible idea.
He had survived the wolf, Elder Zhao's spiritual pressure, and a mysterious voice that called him its child. Now the sect was sending him to investigate the very place that had triggered all three incidents.
Perhaps he should have become a farmer instead.
At least vegetables rarely called people their children.
“Let's go,” he said.
Chen Wei grabbed his sleeve.
“Before we go, I have one small request.”
“What?”
“If we encounter a powerful demonic beast, please remember that I have always considered you my closest brother.”
Li Tian looked at him.
“You said that yesterday when Elder Zhao asked for volunteers to clean the training grounds.”
“And I meant it yesterday, too!”
The patrol group gathered at the eastern gate shortly after sunrise.
Twenty outer disciples had been selected, accompanied by two instructors. Elder Zhao stood nearby, speaking quietly with a formation specialist.
Mei Ling was among the selected disciples.
She carried her practice sword at her waist and wore a pale blue robe. Unlike Chen Wei, she appeared neither frightened nor excited. Her attention remained fixed on the distant western mountain.
When she noticed Li Tian, she walked over.
“You were assigned to this patrol?”
“So it seems.”
“Then stay close to the group. The formation around the western forest has been unstable since last night.”
“I will.”
Mei Ling studied him for a moment.
“You always say that.”
“Because it is usually good advice.”
“That isn't what I meant.”
Before Li Tian could respond, the instructor called the group to attention.
Instructor Gao was a broad-shouldered man at the seventh layer of Qi Refinement. He had a reputation for strict discipline and little patience for excuses.
“Listen carefully. You will inspect the outer boundary markers, record any damaged formations, and return before noon. Nobody is to cross the red boundary stones. Nobody is to touch unfamiliar artifacts. If you hear voices coming from underground, you will report them immediately.”
Chen Wei slowly raised his hand.
Instructor Gao frowned. “What is it?”
“If the underground voice asks us a question, are we allowed to answer politely?”
A few disciples laughed.
Instructor Gao did not.
“If an underground voice speaks to you, Chen Wei, I recommend that you run until you can no longer hear it.”
Chen Wei lowered his hand.
“Finally. An instructor who understands me.”
The patrol departed.
At first, the path was ordinary. Sunlight filtered through the trees, birds called from the branches, and the mountain breeze carried the scent of pine needles.
But the farther west they traveled, the quieter the forest became.
The birds disappeared first.
Then the insects.
Even the wind seemed reluctant to pass between the trees.
Li Tian noticed that several boundary stones had been placed at irregular intervals. Their surfaces were carved with old symbols, some nearly erased by time.
He slowed down.
Something was wrong.
The stones were not merely marking the perimeter. Their positions formed part of a much larger pattern, one that extended beneath the forest floor.
He remembered the formation diagrams he had examined under Elder Zhao's supervision.
These stones aren't reinforcing the seal.
They're redirecting its energy.
A subtle vibration passed through the ground.
The system appeared.
[Warning: Abnormal formation activity detected.]
[Formation analysis initiated.]
[Analysis incomplete.]
[Detected structure: Nine Heavens Locking Formation.]
[Additional structure detected: Unknown secondary formation.]
Li Tian's eyes narrowed.
A secondary formation?
The sect elders had spoken as if the ancient formation beneath the mountain were a single structure. If a second formation had been hidden within it, someone might have deliberately altered the original seal.
Or the second formation might be older than the seal itself.
Neither possibility was reassuring.
“Li Tian.”
Mei Ling's voice interrupted his thoughts.
He looked up. New chapters come out on g.com first.
She was watching him.
“You've been staring at that stone for some time. Do you recognize the markings?”
“Not really. I was wondering why they were placed so unevenly.”
Mei Ling examined the nearest stone.
“Now that you mention it, the spacing is strange. A formation meant to stabilize spiritual energy would usually follow a more consistent pattern.”
“You understand formations?”
“Only the basics. My sword instructor says that a sword cultivator who understands formations has a better chance of surviving against a stronger opponent.”
“That sounds useful.”
“It is. You should learn some.”
Li Tian smiled faintly.
I would prefer to learn how to avoid stronger opponents entirely.
Before he could answer, a sharp crack echoed from farther up the trail.
One of the boundary stones split down the middle.
Black mist seeped from the fracture.
Instructor Gao immediately raised his hand.
“Everyone, stop!”
The disciples backed away.
The black mist curled above the broken stone, twisting like a living creature. Strange symbols flashed within it before disappearing.
Then a voice emerged from the forest.
“Who has touched the lock?”
Every disciple went pale.
Chen Wei moved behind Li Tian so quickly that his robe nearly wrapped around Li Tian's waist.
“I didn't touch anything,” he whispered. “I barely touch my own belongings. Things are expensive.”
Instructor Gao drew his sword.
“Identify yourself!”
The voice did not answer.
Instead, the black mist spread across the ground.
The nearest trees shuddered. Their leaves turned gray, and thin branches crumbled into dust.
A disciple screamed.
“It's consuming the trees!”
“Fall back!” Instructor Gao shouted. “Move toward the eastern markers!”
The group began retreating.
Then the ground beneath them flashed with dark red light.
A circular formation emerged from under the soil, enclosing the patrol group. Lines of black energy connected the broken stone to the other boundary markers.
Instructor Gao slashed at one of the lines.
His sword struck the energy and rebounded with a deafening clang.
He stumbled backward, his sword arm trembling.
“What kind of formation is this?”
The black mist gathered in the center of the circle.
A tall figure slowly emerged.
It wore a black robe and a featureless iron mask. Dark chains hung from its shoulders, each engraved with symbols that Li Tian had seen in the old shrine.
The masked figure tilted its head.
“After so many years, the sect has finally disturbed the lock.”
Instructor Gao tightened his grip on his sword.
“Are you a member of the Void Court?”
The figure remained silent for a moment.
Then it laughed.
“You still use that name?”
The sound was soft, but it sent a chill through the forest.
“Interesting. The world has forgotten more than I expected.”
Mei Ling stepped forward, her sword half drawn.
“What do you want?”
The masked figure turned toward her.
“Nothing from you, little swordswoman.”
Its gaze shifted.
It stopped on Li Tian.
For a single instant, the forest seemed to fall completely silent.
The figure's posture changed.
Not much. A slight tightening of its shoulders. A pause in its breathing.
But Li Tian noticed.
So did Bao Bao.
The fox, who had spent the entire journey pretending to sleep, suddenly opened both eyes.
The masked figure took one step toward Li Tian.
“Impossible.”
Li Tian lowered his head slightly, adopting the same frightened expression as the other disciples.
“Senior, I am only an outer disciple. I don't know anything about this formation.”
The figure stared at him.
Then it took another step.
“Your aura is weak.”
Li Tian remained silent.
“But the formation recognizes you.”
A notification flashed before his eyes.
[Critical Warning.]
[Unknown entity attempting to identify host.]
[Hidden Aura suppression: Active.]
[Bloodline resonance detected.]
[Recommended action: Leave the affected area immediately.]
An excellent suggestion, Li Tian thought.
Unfortunately, the formation has other plans.
The masked figure lifted one hand.
The black chains on its shoulders rattled.
“Tell me, young disciple. Have you ever dreamed of a battlefield beneath a broken sky?”
Li Tian's heart gave a single, heavy beat.
The white-robed man.
The countless shattered stars.
The voice that had whispered, Do not trust the heavens.
He forced himself to shake his head.
The masked figure became perfectly still.
“You lie.”
Before it could move again, Mei Ling stepped between them.
“Enough. If you wish to question someone, explain yourself first.”
The figure looked at her with faint amusement.
“You would protect him?”
“I would protect anyone you threaten without cause.”
For a moment, Li Tian did not know what to say.
Mei Ling did not know the truth about him. She had no reason to believe he was important. As far as she knew, he was merely a weak outer disciple who had somehow ended up in the wrong place.
Yet she had still stepped forward.
The masked figure raised its hand.
A chain shot toward Mei Ling.
Li Tian moved.
It was only a small movement, barely more than shifting his foot.
But the chain missed Mei Ling by the width of a finger and struck the ground beside her.
The impact shattered the earth.
Mei Ling turned sharply.
She had seen Li Tian move.
For a brief instant, his footwork had seemed impossibly precise, as if he had already known where the chain would fall.
Li Tian immediately stumbled backward.
“Ah! That was close!”
Chen Wei seized his arm.
“Close? That thing nearly turned us into decorative stains! Instructor, I formally request permission to resign from this patrol!”
Instructor Gao was too busy trying to keep the formation from closing around them to answer.
The masked figure stared at Li Tian's feet.
Then it looked up.
A strange, almost reverent expression appeared behind the iron mask, though no face was visible.
“Those steps…”
It whispered a name.
A name Li Tian could not hear.
Bao Bao's fur stood on end.
For the first time since Li Tian had met him, the fox looked genuinely afraid.
“Li Tian,” Bao Bao whispered. “Do not let it touch you.”
“Why?”
“Because I don't think it wants to kill you.”
The fox swallowed.
“I think it wants to wake you up.”
The masked figure spread both arms.
The black formation blazed.
Across the western mountain, something answered.
A deep vibration rolled through the earth, powerful enough to shake leaves from every tree. Far below the sect, the ancient coffin gave a single, thunderous knock.
Then another.
And another.
The masked figure dropped to one knee.
“After all this time…”
Its voice trembled.
“The Silent One has returned.”
Every disciple heard the words.
Instructor Gao's face drained of color.
Mei Ling looked at Li Tian.
Chen Wei slowly turned toward his friend.
“Brother Li,” he whispered, “I have known you for three years. You have borrowed my money, eaten my food, and once pretended to be sick to avoid carrying water.”
Li Tian stared at him.
“Now is not the time.”
“I know. That's why I'm asking quickly.”
Chen Wei's eyes widened.
“Who exactly are you?”
Li Tian had no answer he could safely give.
Because beneath his vision, the system had just displayed a message unlike any he had seen before.
[Ancient Memory Fragment Resonance: 0.02% → 0.03%.]
[Identity classification temporarily unlocked.]
[Recovered designation: The Silent One.]
[Warning: External observers have detected the resonance.]
[Warning: Multiple hostile entities are now searching for the host.]
The masked figure slowly rose.
“The seal has found its master.”
It extended a gloved hand toward Li Tian.
“Come with me, child. Before the heavens discover that you are still alive.”
Li Tian's expression remained calm.
Inside, however, he was already making a decision.
He would not follow the stranger.
He would not reveal his strength.
And he certainly would not allow anyone to drag him away from the sect where he had finally found a place to live quietly.
He glanced at the black formation beneath his feet.
Then at the broken boundary stone.
Then at Mei Ling, who was still standing protectively beside him.
I only wanted to cultivate in peace.
Why does everyone keep making that so difficult?
Li Tian took one small step forward.
The formation went dark.
Every black chain froze in midair.
The masked figure's outstretched hand began to tremble.
And from deep beneath the western mountain, a voice spoke with unmistakable joy.
“At last. You have taken your first step.”
To be continued…