The journey down from Tranquil Peak took most of the morning.

  Lin Feng walked between his two disciples, marveling at how different the forest looked after fifty-five years. Trees that had been saplings were now towering giants. The path to the sect, once well-worn, was now barely visible.

  "It's strange," he said softly. "I spent decades on that peak, but it still feels like I left just yesterday."

  Shen Yue smiled. "Time flows differently when you're cultivating, Master."

  "True." Lin Feng looked ahead, where the Azure Sky Sect's mountain gates were becoming visible in the distance. "I wonder if anyone I knew is still around. Probably not—I was just an outer sect disciple. I doubt anyone even remembered me."

  What he didn't know was that his name had been mysteriously erased from most sect records when he'd activated the Nine Heavens Concealment Array. Only a few people had vague memories of an outer disciple named Lin Feng who had disappeared decades ago.

  As they approached the mountain gates, Lin Feng activated his concealment technique. To his perception, he simply became slightly harder to notice. In reality, he had literally stepped into a parallel spatial layer—he was now simultaneously present and not present, visible to no one unless he wished it.

  "Remember the plan," he whispered to his disciples, unaware they could no longer hear him. "You two go in through the main gate. I'll slip in separately and investigate Elder Mo's quarters. We'll meet at the old pavilion near the Mission Hall at sunset."

  Shen Yue and Zhou Yuan nodded, feeling rather than hearing their master's words—a form of direct consciousness transmission that only supreme experts could achieve, though Lin Feng thought he was just whispering.

  The guard at the mountain gate nearly dropped his spear when he saw Shen Yue approaching.

  "S-Shen Yue?! You're alive!"

  More guards came running. Within minutes, a small crowd had gathered.

  "The sect has been searching for you!"

  "Where have you been?"

  "Your cultivation... you're at Core Formation Peak?! How?!"

  Shen Yue bowed respectfully. "I was rescued after my mission went wrong. I've been recovering and training. I've returned to report my status and... I've brought someone."

  She gestured to Zhou Yuan, and the crowd gasped.

  "Zhou Yuan?! He's alive too?!"

  "Impossible! He was declared dead three weeks ago!"

  Zhou Yuan stepped forward, his expression serious. "I need to speak with the Sect Master immediately. I have information about corruption within the sect."

  The lead guard's expression changed. "Corruption? That's a serious accusation, Junior Brother Zhou. You can't just—"

  The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

  "I have evidence," Zhou Yuan said firmly, his hand resting on his sword hilt. The Primordial Dao Weapon hummed with power, and suddenly all the guards took a step back, feeling immense pressure.

  "I... I'll send word to the Sect Master immediately," the lead guard stammered.

  Meanwhile, Lin Feng had slipped past the gates with ease.

  This concealment technique really is good, he thought, walking casually through the sect grounds. No one's noticed me at all.

  He passed within inches of several disciples and even a few elders, all of whom continued their conversations without any awareness of his presence.

  In truth, Lin Feng's presence was causing significant disturbances. Several elders paused mid-conversation, feeling an inexplicable sense of reverence. Spirit beasts in the sect's taming grounds all bowed their heads simultaneously. Even the sect's protective formations flickered as they failed to comprehend the level of power passing through them.

  But no one could pinpoint the source.

  Lin Feng made his way to the inner sect's elder quarters, following the directions Zhou Yuan had provided. Elder Mo Tian's residence was a lavish compound with multiple buildings, garden courtyards, and even a small artificial lake.

  Pretty fancy for an elder, Lin Feng thought. Though I suppose after cultivating for centuries, you'd want nice accommodations.

  He slipped inside the main building and began searching. The first few rooms were ordinary—cultivation chambers, sitting rooms, a small library. But then he found a hidden door behind a bookshelf.

  Aha! Secret rooms are never a good sign.

  He opened the door and descended a staircase into an underground chamber. What he found made his blood run cold.

  Ledgers. Dozens of ledgers detailing transactions with demonic cultivators. Records of sect disciples who had "disappeared" after discovering too much. Plans for future operations. And worst of all—evidence that Elder Mo was planning to poison the sect's spirit spring during the upcoming founder's day celebration, which would kill or cripple thousands of disciples.

  "This is worse than I thought," Lin Feng muttered, quickly using a recording jade to copy all the evidence. "This man isn't just corrupt—he's planning mass murder."

  [Evidence Gathered Successfully!]

  [Warning: Elder Mo Tian has sensed a disturbance in his residence. He is returning early!]

  [Recommend: Leave immediately!]

  Lin Feng heard footsteps above. He quickly finished copying the last ledger and looked for an escape route. The only exit was the staircase he'd come down.

  The footsteps were getting closer.

  No choice, he thought. I'll have to confront him. System, what are my chances?

  [Elder Mo Tian: Nascent Soul (Middle Stage)]

  [Host's Perceived Cultivation: Foundation Establishment (Middle Stage)]

  [Recommended Action: Retreat immediately!]

  But Lin Feng couldn't retreat—Elder Mo had already reached the hidden door.

  "Who dares intrude in my sanctum?!" Elder Mo's voice boomed as he descended the stairs, spiritual energy radiating from his body like a crushing wave.

  Lin Feng pressed himself against the wall, maintaining his concealment technique. Please don't see me, please don't see me...

  Elder Mo looked around the chamber, his spiritual sense sweeping the room. Lin Feng held his breath.

  The elder frowned. "I was certain I felt something... Must be getting paranoid." He walked to one of the ledgers and flipped it open, checking to make sure nothing had been disturbed.

  Lin Feng remained absolutely still, not daring to move a muscle.

  After what felt like an eternity, Elder Mo grunted and turned to leave. "Those two brats returning to the sect has me on edge. I'll need to deal with them quickly before they cause trouble."

  He ascended the stairs and closed the hidden door behind him.

  Lin Feng let out a long breath. That was too close. I need to get this evidence to the Sect Master before Elder Mo makes his move.

  Let me clarify one of the mechanics:

  Lin Feng's concealment technique IS supreme-level (he's literally in a parallel spatial layer), which is why no one can SEE him or directly detect him. He's completely invisible and undetectable in the traditional sense.HOWEVER, his mere presence is so overwhelming that it's causing indirect effects. Think of it like a black hole: you can't see it directly, but you can observe its gravitational effects on everything around it.The elders feel "inexplicable reverence" but don't know why - they can't sense HIM, just a vague feeling. The spirit beasts bow to... nothing they can perceive. The formations glitch because they're trying to process power that exceeds their comprehension, but they can't actually identify the source.It's the cultivation world equivalent of "something's not right here, but I can't put my finger on what." They feel the disturbance but can't connect it to an actual person because Lin Feng's concealment is working perfectly.

  Does that make sense? The technique hides him completely, but it can't hide the fact that reality itself is bending around someone THAT powerful just existing in the space.

  Like how you can't see dark matter but can observe its gravitational effects. They feel something but have no idea it's a person, much less WHO.

  Thanks for reading so carefully!