Tonight, the shadows in the Hall of Serenity were thick, clinging to Elder Ji like a cloak as he sat crossed-legged on an ancient dais; the gleam in his eye was faintly shining in that dim light, cold gazes fixed upon Lin Feng.

“You’ve done well, Lin Feng,” Elder Ji said, his voice low and measured. “Earning Elder Shen’s favor is no small feat. But in the Black Lotus Sect, past success means nothing without future results.”

Lin Feng bowed deeply, his expression humble but his mind calculating. He knew this meeting was more than just acknowledgment; it was a test, a probe into his loyalty and value.

"I am here to serve the sect, Elder Ji," Lin Feng replied. "What task do you require of me?"

Elder Ji's mouth curled into a thin-lipped smile. "The Crimson Sky Pavilion has been a thorn in our side for far too many years. But recently they've let slip there is some sort of secret technique able to shift that equation of powers. You will be infiltrating them as an exchange disciple, whereby you must gain their full trust such that you are able to return that knowledge."

Lin Feng's heart wasn't shaken, even though he knew how huge the task was. "And if a chance comes to weaken their sect?"

"Exploit it," Elder Ji said simply. "But let me warn you-the Crimson Sky Pavilion is no haven for the weak. They will suspect you, test you, and should you fail…" Elder Ji's voice turned cold. "Do not return."

Lin Feng bowed again, this time hiding the spark of ambition which had just flared up within him. "I will not disappoint."

---

inner Disciple quarters in the Black Lotus Sect were as different from the Outer Disciple barracks as chalk and cheese. Lavishly decorated with intricate runes and carvings, they seemed to exude an aura of privilege and danger.

This is the first time he met Jiang Yue. One of the rising stars of all the inner disciples, incisive in intellect as in the combat skills her persona commanded, even among all the elite.

“You’re the famous Lin Feng,” Jiang Yue said, approaching him in the training grounds. Her voice was calm, but her eyes glinted with curiosity and challenge. “The one who rose from nothing.”

Lin Feng inclined his head slightly, his demeanour measured. "I prefer actions to fame, Senior Sister."

"Good," Jiang Yue said, her blade flashing in a smooth, quick motion. "Show me what those actions are worth."

Their sparring drew the attention of the other disciples. Jiang Yue attacked precisely, strikes in relentless calculation. Lin Feng moved in a purely defensive manner, evading and lightly parrying to allow her to dictate the pace of the fight.

But as Jiang Yue pressed forward, Lin Feng countered like a sudden storm. The suddenness and unpredictability of his movements compelled Jiang Yue to retreat for the first time.

"Good," Jiang Yue said, belatedly lowering her blade. "But let me make one thing clear-if you overextend yourself, you'll be isolated and flattened."

Lin Feng smiled faintly. "Thanks for the advice, Senior Sister. I'll remember it."

---

Lin Feng came to Crimson Sky Pavilion as discreetly as possible. He was low-profile, few words and carefully considered every action.

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The sect was a cluster of grand, fantastical pagodas that floated in the air, joined together by bridges made of pure qi, while the disciples sat cross-legged on air, meditating. But behind this serene exterior, Lin Feng sensed the same undercurrents of ambition and rivalry coursing through the Black Lotus Sect.

Over the next few weeks, Lin Feng quietly merged into the lower ranks of the sect, noted the hierarchy, and discreetly made links with disgruntled disciples. His big break came in the form of the Soul Refining Pool, a forbidden chamber tucked deep within the sect's grounds.

The pool was oppressively somber, its surface churning with crimson light. Through careful eavesdropping, Lin Feng picked up that this pool was the linchpin to Elder Xun's plan in preparing the sect disciples to invade the Black Lotus Sect.

Standing before the pool one night, Lin Feng wrestled with temptation. This energy within the pool was quite different from anything he had ever seen, a dark and intoxicating force that might send his cultivation to newer heights.

But Lin Feng's pragmatism prevailed. This would delay the invasion and therefore weaken Elder Xun's position; it was a strategic choice that promised long-term benefits.

The following days, Lin Feng created chaos with his Thousand Veil Technique, he created illusions implicating Elder Xun's loyalists in acts of sabotage. There was false evidence to make suspicion fall upon internal betrayal, causing the once cohesive factions of the sect leadership to fracture.

At the right moment, Lin Feng slipped into the Soul Refining Pool at night and tampered with the pool's formations, making sure that when turned on again, the whole chamber would collapse.

This marks the official beginning of the chaos because accusations of treason begin with Elder Xun's faction, internal strife started amongst the leadership, Lin Feng began fake-burning himself in a frenzy in order to leave them an ash offering of his existence to hoodwink further pursuers.

Within the Black Lotus Sect, Lin Feng was very anxious and promptly handed over the techniques to Elder Ji. His face as the elder mentor looked rather caught, but caution was adopted first as he asked Lin Feng to give an account about his trip.

"The Crimson Sky Pavilion is in disarray, their invasion plans delayed and their leadership fractured."

Elder Ji nodded, but his expression was unreadable. "Well done, Lin Feng. But remember— ambition without control is a blade without hilt. It cuts its wielder as easily as its enemies."

Later that evening, Jiang Yue confronted Lin Feng in his quarters.

"You've stirred up quite the storm," she said, an equal dose of admiration and warning woven into her voice. "But storms have a way of turning on their creators."

Lin Feng met her gaze evenly. "I'll keep that in mind, Senior Sister. Though I wonder—are you here to warn me or to see if I'm a threat to you?"

Jiang Yue's lips arced into a thin smile. "Both."

Lin Feng's face hardened as he walked out of the hall. The Black Lotus Sect was a battlefield, and his path to dominance was far from over.