When Lin Feng entered the quarters of Inner Disciples, there was a thick, unspoken tension in the air; every step sounded loud with the creaking blackwood as Lin Feng walked. Every pair of eyes regarded him with admiration mixed with fear. Amongst the disciples, Lin Feng's sudden rise had sent ripples; some envied him, others feared him, and a few saw him as an opportunity.

In a shadowy corner of the hall, Zhao Qing waited. Her wiry frame radiated restrained violence, her eyes scanning the room like a predator assessing her prey. Beside her stood Yan Wei, his fingers idly tracing patterns on a jade slip, his sly grin suggesting he knew more than he let on.

“You’re late,” Zhao Qing said, her tone curt.

Lin Feng walked forward, silent authority, tone even. "Punctuality is for the predictable."

Yan Wei burst into laughter. Zhao Qing scowled further. Lin Feng said, "I have a proposition for the two of you. Follow me, and you'll be able to learn techniques, have resources beyond your wildest dreams. Go against me, and you will be swept aside like the rest."

Zhao Qing's fists were clenched, but Yan Wei spoke first. "And what makes you think we'd follow you, Lin Feng? Ambition without results is just empty air."

Lin Feng stretched into his robe and fished out a small jade slip, which he then tossed towards Yan Wei. The latter caught it deftly. His eyes widened as he scanned its contents—a fragment of the Soul Refining Pool's techniques, stolen from the Crimson Sky Pavilion.

"This," Lin Feng said; his voice was cold and certain. "is just a taste of what I offer."

There was a moment of silence before Zhao Qing finally nodded, an unwilling respect in her eyes. "All right. But once you weaken, do not blame me when I seize the opportunity for myself."

Lin Feng gave a slight, undeniable smirk. "That's the spirit."

---

It was chillier than usual in the Hall of Serenity; the air was thick with bad omen. Elder Shen sat on his throne, incisive as Lin Feng entered and bowed deeply.

"You've been causing ripples, Lin Feng," Elder Shen started, his expression unreadable. "But ambition must be tempered by loyalty. Do you understand?"

Lin Feng nodded calmly. "I live to serve the sect, Elder Shen."

"Good." The elder leaned forward, eyes narrowing. "There are several gathered rogue cultivators in the Wailing Forest. They've gained an artifact of great power-the Seal of Calamity. You will infiltrate their ranks, eliminate their leaders, and retrieve the artifact."

His mind was abuzz, digesting the task set before him. Wailing Forest sounded a plethora of dangers, while the Seal of Calamity he had heard was bound to drive its wielder to madness. A mission that, in more ways than one, tested his loyalty-and survival.

"I will not fail," Lin Feng replied firmly.

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"See that you don't," said Elder Shen finally, as cold as ice. "The sect does not have room for disappointment of any kind."

The Wailing Forest lived up to its name. The air was thick with mist, the trees twisted and gnarled as if writhing in silent agony. Lin Feng moved with calculated precision, his Thousand Veil Technique active and faint duplicates scouting ahead and guarding his flanks.

Beside him, Yan Wei walked with an air of practiced nonchalance, his sharp eyes constantly scanning their surroundings. "The rogues will test you the moment they see you," Yan Wei said. "They don't trust outsiders."

Lin Feng smirked faintly. "Then I'll give them something to trust—a shared enemy."

When he approached the rogue camp, Lin Feng let a sentry see him; then he was captured. Lin Feng was then bound and dragged into the camp. He played along and acted defeated, but his eyes moved nonstop as his brain worked out every possibility.

Qian Lu was at the helm of the rogues and was an inordinately tall, cruelly smiling man with a blade flashing with evil light. The Seal of Calamity floated by his side as the evil energy it harbored pulsed rhythmically, matching his breathing.

"Who're you?" he sneered as his eyes narrowed.

"A defector," Lin Feng replied, his voice trembling enough to sound true. "I seek asylum from the sects."

Qian Lu laughed, the sound like rough gravel. "Sanctuary? From the Black Lotus Sect? You are either very brave or a fool."

"Perhaps both," Lin Feng said, looking down. "But I bring news. Elder Shen plans to send a force to wipe out this camp."

The lie worked. Qian Lu's expression darkened, and he barked orders to fortify the camp. Meanwhile, Lin Feng subtly observed the dynamics between Qian Lu and his second-in-command, Luo Fang, whose resentful glares revealed a simmering tension.

In these two days, Lin Feng fanned the flames of discord. He whispered to Luo Fang that Qian Lu was preparing him to be sacrificed to the Seal of Calamity, while hinting to Qian Lu that Luo Fang intended to start a coup. The situation burst into a duel after which Qian Lu turned out to be weakened, and the camp was plunged into chaos.

Lin Feng entered Qian Lu's tent under the cover of night. The leader, looking battered and drained, stared up, his eyes filled with fury. "You… You planned this."

Lin Feng's expression turned cold as he unleashed his Shadow Devouring Form, overwhelming Qian Lu with a surge of black qi. The Seal of Calamity struggled against Lin Feng's grip, its energy clawing through his mind with visions of despair and madness. But Lin Feng's will was unforgiving. He imposed his dominance over the artifact, binding its power to himself.

---

When Lin Feng finally returned to the Black Lotus Sect, he handed the Seal of Calamity over to Elder Shen. In his eyes, curiosity swirled, but his expression was reserved.

"You have done well," said Elder Shen as he took it. "But let this be a lesson-power is as dangerous as those who would seek to make use of it.

Lin Feng bowed and didn't show his thoughts. He had learned how to use the Seal of Calamity during his journey and had kept its true potential hidden from Elder Shen.

Soon afterwards, Lin Feng was summoned before the Elder Council, where the oppressive silence of his elders interrogating him about his methods and what had happened in the Wailing Forest, was thick in the air. Lin Feng's expression was also very humble. However, with the Thousand Veil Technique, he projected an appearance of sincerity.

One elder, however, pressed further. "Your actions have sown chaos within the sect's enemies, but they have also drawn attention to yourself. Do you seek to rise too quickly, Lin Feng?"

Lin Feng bowed deeply. "I seek only to serve the sect. My success is the sect's success.

The answer had satisfied the greater part of the elders, but Lin Feng noticed that there was something in Elder Shen's stare; his eyes were gleaming with calculation. He knew this elder was aware of more things than he was letting on, and Lin Feng knew he would one day have to neutralize the threat.

In the solitude of his quarters, Lin Feng started to channel the Seal of Calamity's energy into his dantian. The process was excruciating as the power of the artifact tore at his mind and body, he trying to bend it to his will.

Time passed, and Lin Feng was in agony as the black qi writhed around him like living shadows. Finally, he broke through to the third stage of the Soul Devourer Manual and could now summon Shadow Phantoms: spectral constructs that mimicked one's techniques and movements.

When the power in his body finally settled down, Lin Feng sat with his gaze cold and steady. The Seal of Calamity was still talking in his head, but he had thrown those thoughts far away. After all, one should utilize the powers and not be afraid of them.

---

Days later, he heard rumors of a new rogue alliance led by the Eclipse Sovereign, a cultivator whose forces had already decimated several smaller sects. Lin Feng listened intently, recognizing an opportunity.

As he sat in meditation that night, Lin Feng received a vision. The voice of the Eclipse Sovereign echoed in his brain, cold and commanding. "Lin Feng. You are on a familiar path. but do you know to where?"

And just as suddenly, the vision ceased, leaving Lin Feng disturbed yet intrigued. The Eclipse Sovereign knew of his past life-precisely something that might well destroy Lin Feng's plans or open up new avenues.

"This is but the beginning," Lin Feng whispered, black qi roiling menacingly around him. "The heavens may plot, but I shall turn them to my purpose."