Chapter 130 | First Signs

Chapter 130: 130 | First Signs

Madam Shen sat behind the main desk of the Inner Sect Resource Hall, reviewing the latest requisitions as glowing jade slips moved quietly through the busy chamber. Deacons and disciples handled their duties around her, sorting requests, recording approvals, and arranging the delivery of sect resources.

Dressed in dark-crimson silk robes, Madam Shen carried the calm authority expected of the Resource Hall’s Vice-Manager. Beneath her composed expression, she kept Lin Tian’s instructions firmly in mind.

Another request from Alchemy Peak had arrived for high-grade Yang-attribute herbs. Elder Liu’s disciples needed the herbs to help suppress their master’s Phantom Burns.

Madam Shen opened the requisition ledger and briefly checked the previous delivery. After confirming the records, she approved the full quantity and routed the shipment through the slower Eastern Valley channel, keeping everything within the Resource Hall’s normal procedures.

Nothing had been denied.

She then reviewed the accompanying spirit stone request and placed it under routine verification. The step was common enough to raise no questions, yet it would create another small delay.

A waiting deacon stepped forward and accepted the sealed jade slip. "Understood, Vice-Manager."

Madam Shen gave a slight nod before returning her attention to the ledger. The slower route would make the herbs’ arrival less predictable, while the separate verification would delay the spirit stones.

Neither delay was serious on its own, but repeated inconveniences would gradually become harder for Elder Liu to overlook.

For now, everything still appeared routine.

The delay first became noticeable at Alchemy Peak later that day.

Senior Disciple Han stood inside the outer alchemy chamber, waiting for the latest shipment of high-grade Yang-attribute herbs. Elder Liu’s next refinement cycle was already scheduled, and the Crimson-Sun Roots were expected to arrive before it began.

"They still haven’t arrived?" Han asked, glancing toward the disciple responsible for checking deliveries.

The younger disciple quickly consulted the delivery jade slip. "Not yet, Senior Brother Han. The shipment has been routed through the Eastern Valley channel, so it is taking longer than usual."

Han frowned when he heard the route. "Eastern Valley? That will delay it."

"Yes. The shipment has already been dispatched."

Han glanced toward the furnace room, where several disciples were preparing the other ingredients for the upcoming refinement. With the main herbs still absent, the preparations could not proceed as planned.

"Then adjust the schedule for now," Han said. "We will begin once the herbs arrive."

"Understood, Senior Brother."

The disciples immediately began rearranging the ingredients and setting aside the materials that could not yet be used.

The delay eventually reached Elder Liu.

"When will the herbs arrive?" she asked from beside the Earth-Fire furnace.

Han bowed slightly. "The shipment has been dispatched, Master, but it was sent through the Eastern Valley channel. We do not know exactly when it will arrive."

Elder Liu was silent for a moment. Her gaze shifted toward the remaining Yang-attribute herbs near the furnace.

"Then postpone the refinement," she said. "Do not use the reserve unless necessary."

"Yes, Master."

Han withdrew to inform the other disciples.

The delay was still minor, and no rule had been broken. Yet for the first time, Alchemy Peak had been forced to change its routine because an important resource had not arrived when expected.

Nothing looked unusual from the outside.

But the delay had already begun to leave its mark.

Late that night, moonlight fell across the Cloud-Sea Pavilion as the isolation formation hummed softly around the secluded inner chamber.

Lin Tian sat at the edge of the bed while Madam Shen stood before him, the stern composure she wore during the day softened in his presence. She gave him a slight bow, her eyes carrying a quiet warmth.

"Report, my Resource Queen."

"The delay has already affected Alchemy Peak’s routine," Madam Shen replied. "Elder Liu has postponed her next refinement cycle and ordered her disciples to preserve the Yang-attribute herbs they still have."

Lin Tian nodded thoughtfully. "And her reaction?"

"She remained calm, but she has become more careful with her remaining supplies," Madam Shen said. "Her disciples are adjusting their preparations around what is currently available."

She paused briefly before continuing. "They also changed the order in which they prepare the other ingredients. Nothing dramatic, but several disciples had to remain behind to reorganize the materials that had already been gathered."

Lin Tian listened without interrupting.

"Did Elder Liu send anyone to question the delay?" he asked.

"No, Master." Madam Shen shook her head. "Her disciples checked the delivery records, but they found nothing unusual enough to pursue. The delay appears to be a simple matter of transportation."

A faint smile touched Lin Tian’s lips.

"Then the result is better than I expected."

Madam Shen lowered her gaze slightly. "There is one other detail. Elder Liu has become more cautious about using the herbs already stored at the peak. She appears unwilling to spend them unless absolutely necessary."

Lin Tian considered her words for a moment. The change was small, but it confirmed that even a minor disruption could affect Elder Liu’s carefully managed routine.

"That is exactly the kind of change we need," he said calmly. "Not enough to alarm her, only enough to make her adjust."

Madam Shen nodded. "Should I continue with the same pace?"

"For now, yes." Lin Tian’s voice remained measured. "Let the situation settle before making another move. A pattern is more useful when it grows naturally."

"I understand, Master."

She looked at him for a moment before adding, "I will keep watching the records for any unusual increase in requests."

"Do that, but don’t search too aggressively. We already have enough eyes on Alchemy Peak."

Madam Shen gave a slight smile. "I will be careful."

Lin Tian reached out and gently stroked her dark hair. Madam Shen’s expression softened beneath his touch as she leaned slightly closer.

"The work is progressing well," he murmured. "You handled it exactly as you should."

A faint warmth spread across her cheeks. "Your instructions made the path clear, Master. I only followed them carefully."

Lin Tian shook his head. "Following them without attracting attention is a skill of its own."

Madam Shen’s eyes softened further at his praise.

"Her routine has already changed," Lin Tian murmured. "For now, that is enough."

Madam Shen remained beside him, the strain of the day slowly leaving her as the chamber settled into silence.

While Madam Shen delivered her report, Aunt Lin was finishing another artifact in the forging chamber.

The intense heat of the Earth-Fire furnace filled the room as Aunt Lin carefully carved the final runes onto a small, polished dark-jade disk. She worked with steady hands, guiding the Qi along each rune until the spiritual flow settled into a smooth and stable pattern.

The shadows near the entrance shifted, and Lady Yun stepped into the chamber. Her dark outer robe blended with the dim surroundings, while her Dark Yin Body kept her aura and movements well concealed.

"Is the Master’s new tool ready, Sister Lin?" Lady Yun asked.

"It is finished, Sister Yun." Aunt Lin smiled as she lifted the dark-jade disk from the worktable. "The Master asked me to prepare a Mid-Grade Recording Jade to assist you in gathering information around Alchemy Peak."

Lady Yun accepted the disk and examined its smooth surface. "How does it work without constantly releasing spiritual energy? Even a small fluctuation could attract attention from a Core Formation cultivator."

Aunt Lin’s eyes brightened.

"The recording array makes use of the jade’s natural spiritual veins," she explained. "Rather than forcing the runes to follow an artificial path, I aligned them with the jade’s existing structure. This greatly reduces the Qi needed to maintain the formation."

Lady Yun studied the disk more carefully.

"So it remains nearly inactive while collecting information?"

"Exactly," Aunt Lin replied. "It can quietly gather surrounding sounds and changes in light while keeping its spiritual fluctuations extremely faint. A careful Divine Sense sweep could still detect it, but from a distance, it should be difficult to notice."

Lady Yun nodded slowly. "That would let me gather more information without exposing myself."

"It should also make repeated use safer," Aunt Lin added. "Just remember that it is still a Mid-Grade artifact. Don’t rely on it in places where a Core Formation expert is actively searching."

Lady Yun gave a small smile. "I understand."

She closed her fingers around the dark-jade disk and looked toward Aunt Lin. "This will make my next observation much easier."

Aunt Lin nodded. "Then use it carefully and bring the Master whatever useful information you can gather."

Lady Yun inclined her head. "I will, Sister Lin."

She turned toward the darker side of the chamber, and her figure gradually blended into the shadows. Within moments, she had disappeared from sight.

The forging chamber became quiet again as Aunt Lin returned her attention to the worktable.

The Shadow Web had gained another useful tool.

And somewhere beyond the pavilion, the first small changes around Elder Liu were beginning to reveal themselves.