The death of Chen Wu sent the Black Lotus Sect abuzz. Even though the Elder Council kept his status as a spy secret, the fact that Lin Feng had brought a traitor to light eventually whispered its way through the disciples. And his reputation continued to rise along with his scrutiny.

Yet, even as Elder Shen praised him, Lin Feng couldn't let the words of the spy in his final moments fall on deaf ears. The greater conspiracy Chen Wu had hinted at was a huge shadow looming over the sect, its origins and motives unknown. Lin Feng decided to get more information, not in loyalty to the sect but to exploit the information.

The jade token found on Chen Wu's body was no ordinary communication artifact, Lin Feng had turned it over to Elder Shen along with his report, but not before secretly tracing a copy of its surface runic patterns.

Later, in his quarters, Lin Feng hunched over under the faint glow of a spiritual lantern, eyeing the copied patterns. Faintly pulsating with latent energy, the inscriptions glowed with an unfamiliar design that was somehow intriguing.

"This isn't from the Burning Forge Sect," Lin Feng murmured, his sharp eyes tracing the lines. "The style is too refined. This is the work of a higher-tier sect—or perhaps something older."

Lin Feng now began to test the copied patterns with his black qi, channeling small amounts of energy into them. The inscriptions finally started to react to this, casting a faint, circular projection before him. Within the projection, a symbol appeared: an entwined lotus and serpent, their forms shimmering with an ominous glow.

Lin Feng's mind was racing. This symbol was new to him, and yet it conveyed meaning-one that spoke of an entity or faction well beyond the known enemies of the Black Lotus Sect.

"A serpent in a lotus," Lin Feng reflected. "The enemies of the sect are not as they appear."

---

The discovery of the symbol had brought up more questions than answers, and Lin Feng knew his understanding of its meaning lay within the sect's Library of Shadows. Only Inner Disciples were allowed in the higher levels, but his new status as a candidate let him in for a small amount of time.

The second floor in this library was so broad and silent, with very ancient books and jade slips on the shelves; most of them gave off a faint spiritual energy. Lin Feng approached calmly and scoured through the titles, until he finally found, in history, a section about sect and its symbols.

Hours later, he chanced upon a dust-smelling book entitled The Forgotten Alliances. It was very old, pages crumbling to pieces, but what was contained therein was revealing.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

> "In times of fragmented sects, a secret organization emerged. Through the backdoors, they were pulling the strings with betrayals and deceptions. It came to be known only as the Veil of the Serpent. Joining powerful sects with feigned loyalty, nobody knew what their real aim was. And their emblem is a serpent coiling its body around a lotus, representing corruption cloaked in beauty."

Lin Feng's fingers tightened over the edges of the book. "The Serpent's Veil," he whispered. "So this is the enemy."

The realization filled him with equal intrigue and caution. If the Serpent's Veil had infiltrated the Black Lotus Sect, their ambitions doubtless extended far beyond simple sabotage.

---

With this new knowledge, Lin Feng decided to look into the leadership of the sect a little further. Elder Shen had kept secret the full details of Chen Wu's actions and the origin of the jade token. It was obvious that the Elder Council knew more than they were letting on.

The only way for him to get to the truth was to access the Council Archives, the forbidden area where the most sensitive records were kept by the sect.

Using the Thousand Veil Technique, Lin Feng created an illusion of his person meditating in his quarters as he snuck into the archives at nighttime. The entrance was guarded by two disciples, their auras steady but vigilance lax.

Lin Feng watched them from the shadows, his black qi masking his presence. Timing his movements, he slipped past them into the archives.

The room was cold and in low light, lined with shelves of scrolls and jade slips that shimmered with protective energy. Lin Feng moved swiftly, his eyes scanning across the records in search of those related to the Serpent's Veil.

Before long, a sealed scroll with the seal of the Elder Council appeared. Wrapping it in his qi, he broke the seal gingerly. There was no alarm triggered whatsoever. And as expected, his suspicions were confirmed.

> "The Serpent's Veil has returned. Their agents infiltrate sects disguised as disciples and elders alike. The council believes their objective is to obtain ancient techniques and artifacts, but their true purpose is still unknown. Trust no one."

Lin Feng's face darkened. Even the Elder Council was afraid of this enemy. And rightly so. There was cause to be paranoid.

Just as Lin Feng emerged from the archives, a figure stepped out to block his path: Xu Yan. Her eyes gleaming in the low light, her body relaxed and threatening. "You've been busy," she purred in her low throaty voice. "Council Archives? You've gone all bold on me again, haven't you." Lin Feng raised an eyebrow. "What do you want, Xu Yan?"

"I could turn that question on you," she returned, her voice dripping amusement. "You're digging into affairs even the elders tiptoe around. The Serpent's Veil isn't some enemy-it's a sentence of death for any man who gets too near their circle."

"And yet, here you are," Lin Feng said coolly. "Why?"

Xu Yan took a step nearer, her expression serious. "Because I want the same thing you do. The Serpent's Veil is a threat to the sect, but it's also an opportunity. Imagine the leverage we'd have if we uncovered their plans—or their leaders."

Lin Feng watched her closely. Xu Yan was ambitious, but she was also cunning enough to recognize the risks.

"Fine," Lin Feng said. "We work together. But if you betray me—"

Xu Yan smirked. "Relax, Lin Feng. Betrayal isn't my style. Manipulation, maybe, but betrayal? That's just lazy."

---

Within these next couple of days, Lin Feng and Xu Yan secretly worked in reconstructing pieces of information about Serpent Veil. They realized that their layers of deception ran deep since they used people like Chen Wu as pawns-people who are not at the core.

One of the leads was to a secret gathering deep in the Obsidian Caves, a network of tunnels beneath the sect. The caves were rarely visited because the chaotic energy inside made cultivation dangerous.

Lin Feng and Xu Yan prepared carefully, knowing this mission might take them straight into the heart of the enemy-or a trap laid out with great care.

As they stepped into the caves, heavy oppressive energy was concentrated in the air. The walls pulsed with a faint life, and the faint echoes of whispers seemed to seep from the darkness.

"This is it," Xu Yan whispered.

Lin Feng nodded as his black qi churned around him. "Let's see what secrets the shadows hold."