Chapter 150 | The Divine Valkyrie

Chapter 150: 150 | The Divine Valkyrie

The stronger resonance of his Irresistible Yang Scent lingered around him after the breakthrough, creating a subtle warmth within the three women’s Yin meridians, but none of them lost their composure.

"The mission also served its purpose," Lin Tian said. "The Blood-Ash Canyon provided useful materials, and the combat helped refine my control."

Aunt Lin glanced toward the harvested spoils. "Did you find anything particularly valuable?"

"The Blood-Ash Lotus."

Lin Tian indicated the jade box he had brought back.

"It was growing in the deepest part of the canyon. Its properties are unusual, and its usable essence helped push my cultivation through the final bottleneck."

Madam Shen nodded. "Then it was worth the journey."

Lin Tian’s gaze moved toward the distant mountains.

"Now that I have broken through, we can continue with the same approach. My public cultivation remains concealed, and the Shadow Web remains unchanged."

Madam Shen understood immediately.

"The Resource Hall will continue its normal procedures."

"No artificial shortages, no sudden pressure, and no unnecessary interference," Lin Tian said. "We keep the records clean."

"Understood."

Aunt Lin added, "The Crimson-Sun Roots Elder Liu sent will also be studied through ordinary Artifact Pavilion work. Nothing will be handled in a way that attracts attention."

Lin Tian nodded. "Good."

Lady Yun stepped forward slightly.

"As for Alchemy Peak, Elder Liu has made no direct move since sending the roots. She appears to be examining the structural alignment method on her own."

Lin Tian rested one hand against the arm of his chair.

"Then leave the matter alone."

He did not need to predict what Elder Liu would do next. She had already shown interest through her actions, while her next decision remained her own. Pushing her now would only make their previous interactions look less natural.

Madam Shen asked, "Should the existing routing delays remain?"

"Yes. Keep them subtle and explainable through normal sect procedures. We apply pressure only where ordinary circumstances already provide it. Nothing should appear unusual."

Lady Yun nodded. "I will continue observing the situation around Alchemy Peak from a distance."

"Do so. Do not approach her directly unless something genuinely changes. Maintain your distance and simply watch for any unexpected movement."

The three women fell silent.

Lin Tian leaned back and considered the situation.

His cultivation had advanced, Nothing unusual had occurred in the Resource Hall, the Artifact Pavilion, or the Ghost Market that could point toward a hidden hand.

That was how their influence had to grow, quietly and steadily.

Not through open force, but through small advantages accumulated over time, each one adding to their position without drawing attention.

Lin Tian looked across the hall, his thoughts moving beyond their current plans .

"Alchemy Peak is only one part of the Inner Sect. We have no reason to limit our attention to a single pillar."

Madam Shen’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully as she considered his meaning. "You want to expand our intelligence?"

"I want to understand the sect more completely, including the forces that shape it."

He activated his Insight Eye and reviewed the stored profiles already gathered, carefully examining the information they had already collected so far.

He moved past the records of his partners and the information he had collected on Elder Liu. Then he stopped at another profile he had scanned weeks earlier during the martial exhibitions in the outer courtyards.

The profile belonged to a woman whose position placed her directly within the sect’s martial structure.

Lin Tian read the data carefully.

She was not an unknown cultivator. As the Head Referee of the Inner Sect Tournament and a Martial Arts Master, Instructor Qing held a position that naturally connected her with many disciples and senior cultivators within the Crimson Nimbus Sect for many years.

Her cultivation also stood at the Peak Stage of Foundation Establishment.

More importantly, the scan revealed something hidden beneath that strength.

A lingering Fire-Poison from an old battle.

Lin Tian’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Unlike Elder Liu, Instructor Qing had never approached him, and there was currently no reason for her to know anything about him. Her initial Obsession Level was also unchanged.

That made her situation different.

There was no need to approach her immediately.

First, he needed to understand the position she held, the people connected to her, and whether her hidden condition affected her duties within the sect.

Lin Tian’s expression remained calm as he studied the profile.

One new profile did not mean a new operation.

It meant another possibility had appeared.

He continued reading.

[Target no.5 status pannel ]

[Name: Instructor Qing]

[Age: 35]

[Identity: Head Referee of the Inner Sect Tournament / Martial Arts Master]

[Cultivation Level: Foundation Establishment Realm (Peak Stage)]

[Physique: Divine Valkyrie Body]

[Hidden Weakness/Illness: Lethal Fire-Poison from an old battle.]

Lin Tian projected a faint stream of spiritual energy into the air, sketching the basic structure of Crimson Nimbus Sect.

"The Resource Hall handles supplies. The Artifact Pavilion supports our equipment and formations, while the intelligence network gathers information. What we still lack is influence within the sect’s martial structure."

His gaze settled on the profile before him.

"Instructor Qing is worth watching. She is the Head Referee of the Inner Sect Tournament, a Martial Arts Master, and a Peak Stage Foundation Establishment cultivator. She also possesses the rare Divine Valkyrie Body."

Madam Shen’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "The Martial Pavilions do have considerable influence among Inner Sect disciples."

"Exactly."

Lin Tian continued, "Qing also carries Fire-Poison from an old battle . It has remained suppressed, but a condition like that can restrict both her combat strength and future cultivation."

Aunt Lin frowned. "If the poison has settled into her meridians, ordinary treatment may only suppress the symptoms."

"That is the concern," Lin Tian said. "But we are not approaching her simply because she has a weakness. She already noticed my Yang energy during the earlier martial exhibitions. Her reaction was not hostility. There was curiosity, and a trace of warmth."

Lady Yun’s eyes flickered with amusement. "She did seem more comfortable around your aura than most cultivators."

Lin Tian nodded. "Then we let that familiarity remain natural. Curiosity is not trust."

He dissolved the projection with a gesture.

"In time, if our influence expands into the martial divisions, Instructor Qing may become a useful contact. For now, she remains outside the Shadow Web."

Madam Shen understood. "So we observe rather than interfere."

"Exactly."

Lady Yun stepped forward. "There is also new information concerning the Myriad Herb Secret Realm."

Lin Tian looked at her.

"Our usual intelligence channels indicate that a sect-sanctioned expedition will enter the Secret Realm in two weeks. It is a fragmented dimension that opens once every decade, and its unstable spatial structure prevents Core Formation cultivators from entering."

"Then Foundation Establishment disciples will form the main expedition."

"Yes. Elder Liu has selected three trusted disciples to participate."

"What are they seeking?"

"A Tier-4 Pure-Yang Lotus."

Lin Tian’s expression became thoughtful.

"The lotus is a valuable Yang-attribute resource," Lady Yun continued. "It could strengthen Elder Liu’s ability to suppress the Phantom Burns, though it would not remove the underlying Pill Toxicity."

Madam Shen considered this. "Then it could give her more time to investigate your method."

"Which is another reason not to interfere unnecessarily," Lin Tian replied.

He looked toward the distant mountains.

"We do not need to stop her disciples. I will simply join the expedition and compete for whatever resources the Secret Realm provides."

Aunt Lin nodded. "That would also give you legitimate access to the expedition."

"Exactly. I have just returned from a successful external mission. Applying for another legitimate assignment will look natural and may even strengthen my public reputation."

Lin Tian turned toward Madam Shen.

"Process my application through the normal channels. No special priority."

"Understood," she replied.

He looked at Aunt Lin next.

"Prepare a few suitable mid-grade formations for wilderness defense and containment. They should be practical, not excessive."

Aunt Lin smiled. "I will make them look like ordinary expedition equipment."

Finally, Lin Tian faced Lady Yun.

"Gather the known terrain of the Myriad Herb Secret Realm, previous expedition records, dangerous regions, and the cultivation levels and known strengths of Elder Liu’s three disciples."

Lady Yun inclined her head. "I will."

"And include Instructor Qing’s position and connections within the martial divisions."

"Understood."

Lin Tian leaned back in his chair.

The situation was becoming clearer.

Elder Liu remained a separate matter. Her interest in his structural alignment method was growing, but she had not made another direct move. He had no reason to doubt Qing’s growing curiosity, but neither would he mistake that warmth for trust. Time would eventually reveal what she truly wanted from him.

Instructor Qing was different. She already knew him, and his Yang energy had left a favorable impression. That gave him a possible point of contact later, but it was far too early to turn curiosity into anything more.

For now, the Secret Realm offered the cleaner opportunity.

A legitimate expedition would let him gather resources, temper his recently advanced cultivation, and interact with Inner Sect disciples without creating an unusual reason for his presence.

More importantly, it could place him close to a Tier-4 Pure-Yang Lotus without requiring the Shadow Web to manipulate anyone’s choices.

Lin Tian’s gaze settled on the distant peaks.

"The martial divisions can wait. First, we prepare for the Secret Realm."

The three women nodded.

His breakthrough had opened a new path, but the next step would not be taken through force. It would begin with an ordinary sect assignment—and whatever opportunities the Secret Realm itself revealed.