Chapter 18 — Someone Above the Heavens Is Watching

The golden-robed man had not expected the mirror to go dark.

That alone made him curious.

The Heaven-Viewing Mirror had existed for longer than most Immortal dynasties.

It did not see everything.

Nothing did.

But a mortal cultivator hiding from it?

Impossible.

An ordinary Immortal hiding from it while standing in a lower world?

Difficult.

Yet the mountain had vanished.

Not merely from sight.

The coordinates themselves had become uncertain.

The mirror showed only clouds.

Ji Wushang stood before it in silence.

Behind him, the attendant remained kneeling.

"Lord Envoy."

Ji Wushang lifted one hand.

The attendant stopped.

The Immortal Realm stretched beyond the palace windows.

Floating continents hung beneath a golden sky.

Rivers of Immortal Qi moved between mountain ranges.

Ancient palaces rested atop clouds.

Far away—

a celestial beast large enough to swallow a mortal city flew between peaks.

None of it held Ji Wushang's attention.

He looked only at the mirror.

Three destinies.

The first had felt like frozen moonlight.

Ancient.

Incomplete.

Awakening.

The second—

a sword.

Sharp enough that even the Heaven-Viewing Mirror had reacted.

The third—

nothing.

That was the strangest.

The mirror had tried to calculate the boy.

And failed.

Not because the destiny was weak.

Because the underlying spiritual structure did not fit the categories the mirror understood.

Then—

the Immortal.

A man standing where no Immortal should be standing.

Ji Wushang spoke.

"How long since the Lower Realm Ascension Passage last opened naturally?"

The attendant answered immediately.

"Seven hundred and eighty-two years."

"And forced ascension?"

"Two hundred and nineteen."

"Successful?"

The attendant hesitated.

"None."

Ji Wushang's eyes narrowed.

"And yet an Immortal stands below."

"Perhaps he descended."

"No."

Ji Wushang touched the mirror.

Golden ripples spread across its surface.

"He carries lower-world karma."

The attendant looked up.

"Then he ascended and returned?"

"Impossible."

"Why?"

Ji Wushang looked at him.

The attendant immediately lowered his head.

Ji Wushang turned back to the mirror.

"Because the road only goes one way."

A pause.

"Or it did."

He remembered the brief image.

White robes.

Dark hair.

No visible Immortal aura.

Yet the moment Ji Wushang's observation touched the mountain—

the man looked directly at him.

Not toward the sky.

At him.

Across realms.

Across the Severed Barrier.

Through the Heaven-Viewing Mirror.

Then Cloudveil Peak vanished.

Ji Wushang smiled faintly.

"Interesting."

The attendant waited.

"Bring me the records from eight thousand years ago."

"All of them?"

"Everything related to the Mortal Realm."

The attendant's expression tightened.

"Those archives require authorization from the Celestial Registry Palace."

Ji Wushang looked at him.

"I am an Immortal Envoy."

"Yes, Lord Envoy."

"Then request it."

The attendant bowed.

"Immediately."

He disappeared.

Ji Wushang remained alone.

The mirror slowly cleared.

For a fraction of a second—

a black thread appeared across its surface.

Ji Wushang froze.

Then it vanished.

He frowned.

That—

had not come from the mountain.

Something else was watching.

Something older.

He stepped closer.

"Who are you?"

The mirror gave no answer.

Cloudveil Peak.

Shen Yuan stared at the sky for a long time.

Nothing else happened.

Good.

He preferred problems that waited until morning.

Unfortunately—

the system disagreed.

[Higher-realm observation event recorded.]

[New System Advisory generated.]

Shen Yuan sighed.

"Of course."

[Host's current concealment is incomplete.]

[Estimated effectiveness against ordinary mortal divine sense: 100%.]

[Against Body Integration: 100%.]

[Tribulation Transcendence: 99.7%.]

[Mahayana: 98.2%.]

[Ordinary Immortal observation: 63%.]

That was less good.

[High-level Immortal artifacts: 21%.]

Worse.

[Unknown higher-order entities: Cannot calculate.]

Naturally.

Shen Yuan folded his arms.

"What do I need?"

The system displayed three options.

[Option One: Cultivate concealment formation.]

Estimated time: 17 days passive / variable active.

[Option Two: Obtain higher-order concealment treasure.]

[Option Three: Upgrade Cloudveil Peak.]

Shen Yuan paused.

"Upgrade?"

[Cloudveil Peak currently classified as Host's primary disciple territory.]

[Territory functions may be strengthened through investment.]

His eyes narrowed.

"You never mentioned territory investment."

[Requirement previously unmet.]

"What requirement?"

[Three registered disciples.]

Shen Yuan looked toward the residences.

So accepting Lu Chen had unlocked more than Disciple Resonance.

"Show me."

The system changed.

[Primary Territory: Cloudveil Peak.]

Owner: Shen Yuan.

Registered Disciples: 3.

Resident Subordinates: 14.

Spiritual Energy Density: High — Mortal Realm.

Defensive Formation: Heaven-grade High.

Concealment Formation: Immortal-grade Low — Temporary.

Training Facilities: Earth–Heaven grade.

Alchemy Facilities: Earth grade.

Artifact Refining Facilities: Earth grade.

Disciple Residences: 36.

Dao Environment: Unstable — Developing.

Territory Grade: Heaven — Low.

Shen Yuan stared.

Cloudveil Peak was apparently mediocre.

That felt rude.

It was a nice mountain.

"What does upgrading it do?"

[Improves disciple cultivation environment.]

[Improves territory concealment.]

[Improves defensive capabilities.]

[Improves Dao resonance.]

[Improves resource generation.]

[May unlock specialized disciple facilities.]

Now that was interesting.

"Does territory investment trigger cashback?"

Pause.

[Only when investment directly and genuinely benefits registered disciples.]

Shen Yuan smiled.

There it was.

"Show recommendations."

The list appeared.

It was long.

Very long.

Spirit gathering formations.

Training arrays.

Sword halls.

Yin pools.

Body tempering chambers.

Alchemy rooms.

Dao comprehension pavilions.

Weapon refinement furnaces.

Defensive formations.

Concealment arrays.

Medicinal gardens.

Spirit beast habitats.

Library expansions.

Shen Yuan's smile widened.

Then he saw the estimated cost.

His smile weakened.

Cloudveil Peak was going to become expensive.

Morning.

Lu Chen woke because someone was hammering outside.

Bang.

Bang.

Bang.

He opened his eyes.

For several seconds—

he forgot where he was.

Then remembered.

Cloudveil Peak.

The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

Cultivation sect.

Peak Master as his master.

Chaos Spiritual Root.

Potential explosion.

Right.

Normal morning.

Bang.

He got out of bed.

Everything hurt.

His legs.

Back.

Shoulders.

Muscles he hadn't known existed.

Lin Yue's Body Tempering training had been extremely educational.

Mostly about pain.

He opened the door.

Then stopped.

Dozens of people were moving through Cloudveil Peak.

Workers.

Formation masters.

Sect disciples carrying materials.

Spirit beasts pulling carts.

Several enormous crates floated through the air.

Chen An stood in the middle of it all holding a clipboard.

"Spirit stones go to the western formation platform."

"Not there."

"The other west."

A disciple carrying a crate stopped.

"There are two western platforms?"

"There are now."

The disciple looked confused.

Chen An pointed.

"That one."

"Right."

Lu Chen approached.

"Senior Chen?"

Chen An looked over.

"Good morning."

"What's happening?"

"Renovation."

Lu Chen stared at the mountain.

Yesterday it had looked perfect.

"What are we renovating?"

"Everything."

Of course.

"Why?"

"Peak Master Shen."

Also of course.

A massive slab of black metal floated past.

Lu Chen stepped aside.

"What is that?"

"Training hall foundation."

"What kind of training hall needs that?"

Chen An checked his notes.

"Chaos Body Refinement Chamber."

Lu Chen became silent.

"That's for me."

"Yes."

He looked at the metal.

Then toward Shen Yuan's palace.

"How much does it cost?"

Chen An named a number.

Lu Chen almost fell over.

"That's for one room?!"

"Apparently."

"Why?!"

"The materials need to withstand conflicting elemental energy."

Lu Chen stared.

"Can I just train outside?"

Chen An considered.

"You exploded three sections of courtyard by standing still."

"...Right."

Jian Wuchen walked past carrying Clear Wind.

"Morning."

Lu Chen looked at him.

"Senior Brother."

Jian stopped.

"What?"

"Master is building me an expensive room."

Jian nodded.

"He made me a Dao Scripture yesterday."

Lu Chen remembered.

Right.

Lin Yue appeared from another path.

"He rebuilt my entire cultivation foundation."

Lu Chen looked between them.

"Does he do this for everyone?"

Both answered simultaneously.

"Apparently."

Inside his palace—

Shen Yuan sneezed again.

He stared at the wall.

This was becoming suspicious.

By midmorning—

Gu Tianhe arrived.

He looked at Cloudveil Peak.

Then at Shen Yuan.

Then back at the mountain.

"What are you doing?"

"Improving it."

Gu stared at a group of formation masters installing a massive jade pillar.

"With whose permission?"

Shen Yuan paused.

"Mine."

Gu's eye twitched.

"This is Azure Origin Sect territory."

"And I'm Peak Master."

"You cannot modify mountain ley lines without informing the Sect Master."

"I didn't modify them."

A deep rumble traveled through Cloudveil Peak.

Gu slowly looked down.

Shen Yuan continued.

"Yet."

"Shen Yuan."

"Hm?"

"What exactly are you building?"

Shen Yuan handed him a list.

Gu read.

His expression changed line by line.

Nine-Yin Lunar Cultivation Pool.

Sword Intent Tempering Hall.

Chaos Body Refinement Chamber.

Expanded Scripture Pavilion.

Immortal-grade Concealment Formation.

Immortal-grade Defensive Formation.

Five-Element Spirit Garden.

Soul Meditation Pavilion.

Weapon Evolution Platform.

Dao Comprehension Terrace.

Gu stopped.

"Immortal-grade."

"Yes."

"Twice."

"Yes."

"Where did you get Immortal-grade formation materials?"

"Storage ring."

Gu stared.

"Why do you have Immortal-grade formation materials in your storage ring?"

Shen Yuan thought.

System rewards.

Treasury purchases.

Things he'd accumulated after becoming absurdly wealthy.

"Preparedness."

Gu closed his eyes.

"How much is this costing?"

Shen Yuan told him.

Gu opened his eyes.

"Stop."

"What?"

"Stop building."

"Why?"

"Because I need time to understand the number you just said."

Shen Yuan waited.

Gu stared into the distance.

Then:

"No."

"No?"

"That number is larger than Azure Origin Sect's annual resource expenditure."

"Only slightly."

"Three times."

"Still single digit."

Gu looked at him.

Shen Yuan smiled.

Gu handed the list back.

"Where is the money coming from?"

"Mine."

"How?"

Shen Yuan paused.

"Investments."

Technically true.

Gu rubbed his forehead.

"I don't want to know."

"Good."

"But the formations need to integrate with the sect defense."

"Mu Qinglan can do it."

"You already asked her?"

"No."

"Then why are you volunteering her?"

"She's good at formations."

Gu stared.

That was not how management worked.

Then again—

Mu Qinglan would absolutely want to inspect an Immortal-grade formation.

Fine.

"I'll send her."

"Good."

Gu turned to leave.

Then stopped.

"Bloodriver Sect."

Shen Yuan looked over.

"What about them?"

"Patriarch Bloodriver responded."

That was fast.

"What did he say?"

Gu's expression became strange.

"He denied ordering the invasion."

Shen Yuan raised an eyebrow.

Interesting.

"Xue Ming said he personally received the order."

"He did."

"So someone's lying."

"Possibly."

"Or?"

Gu looked north.

"Patriarch Bloodriver claims he ordered Xue Ming to investigate the black token."

Shen Yuan's expression changed.

"Not invade?"

"No."

"Then why did Xue Ming say Patriarch Bloodriver told him to go?"

"He may have interpreted it."

"Convenient."

"Very."

Gu continued.

"Patriarch Bloodriver wants Xue Ming returned."

"No."

"I assumed."

"And the prisoners?"

"He wants them too."

"No."

"Also assumed."

Shen Yuan looked at him.

"Anything else?"

"Yes."

Gu paused.

"He wants to visit Azure Origin Sect."

Shen Yuan smiled.

Gu pointed at him.

"Don't."

"What?"

"That expression."

"I didn't do anything."

"You looked pleased."

"I am."

"He's Tribulation Transcendence."

"So?"

Gu stared.

Right.

Immortal.

He still wasn't used to that.

"When?"

"Three days."

Shen Yuan considered.

Same day Jian Wuchen stabilized.

Potential trip to Dead Sword Wasteland.

Now Patriarch Bloodriver.

Busy.

He missed the six years when nothing happened.

Gu turned.

Then stopped again.

"One more thing."

"What?"

"The Profound Sword Sect's internal conflict ended."

Shen Yuan's eyes sharpened.

"Li Cangwu?"

"Alive."

"Zhou Tianluo?"

"Also alive."

Interesting.

"Result?"

"No result."

Shen Yuan frowned.

Gu continued.

"Li Cangwu broke the Sevenfold Sword Prison Formation."

"Then?"

"Nothing."

"Nothing?"

"He didn't attack Zhou Tianluo."

"Why?"

Gu handed him a jade slip.

"Because the Profound Sword Sect's actual Sect Master came out of seclusion."

Shen Yuan remembered.

Sect Master Lu.

Seven months secluded.

"What happened?"

"He ordered everyone to stand down."

"And Li listened?"

"Apparently."

That didn't sound right.

Li Cangwu had been prepared to fight an entire lineage.

Something must have changed.

"Did he send a message?"

"Yes."

Gu's expression became serious.

"To you."

Shen Yuan took the jade.

One sentence.

Do not come to Profound Sword Sect.

Then another.

The traitor is not outside the Seven Lineages.

Shen Yuan's expression changed.

A third line appeared.

He is one of us.

Then—

Trust no Sword Tomb Guardian until I return.

Shen Yuan stared.

Gu watched him.

"Problem?"

"Yes."

"Large?"

"Eight thousand years."

Gu closed his eyes.

"Of course."

He left.

Shen Yuan looked at the message again.

One of us.

The traitor still lives.

Seven Guardian Lineages.

If the traitor was one of them—

how?

Eight thousand years.

Body Integration couldn't live that long.

Tribulation Transcendence couldn't.

Even Mahayana longevity had limits.

Unless—

the traitor wasn't alive in the normal sense.

Possession.

Reincarnation.

Soul transfer.

Sealing.

Bloodline inheritance.

Or—

something from the higher realm.

Shen Yuan looked toward the sky.

More pieces.

Still no picture.

At noon—

Mu Qinglan arrived.

She brought seventeen formation masters.

Then she saw Shen Yuan's formation diagram.

She sent sixteen away.

Shen Yuan raised an eyebrow.

"Why?"

"They'll slow me down."

The remaining formation master looked proud.

Mu looked at him.

"You too."

His pride disappeared.

He left.

Shen Yuan smiled.

"You seem excited."

Mu Qinglan ignored him.

"Where did you get this?"

She held the diagram.

Immortal-grade concealment formation.

"Made it."

Her hand stopped.

"You?"

"Mostly."

"When?"

"Last night."

Mu looked at him.

"How long?"

"Several hours."

She became silent.

Shen Yuan waited.

Finally:

"I dislike you."

"Understandable."

She looked back at the formation.

"No."

She corrected herself.

"I dislike your talent."

"Also understandable."

Her eyes moved across the diagram.

Then—

she frowned.

"This isn't a formation."

Shen Yuan looked over.

"It has formation lines."

"Yes."

"It has nodes."

"Yes."

"It uses spirit stones."

"Yes."

"Then?"

Mu pointed.

"Formations create effects by arranging energy according to fixed laws."

"This..."

Her eyes narrowed.

"...is arranging space itself."

Shen Yuan smiled.

"Better?"

"No."

She looked offended.

"This shouldn't work."

"It does."

"That makes it worse."

Shen Yuan liked formation masters.

They became upset in interesting ways.

Mu continued studying.

Then stopped at one section.

"This part."

"Hm?"

"If we connect it to Azure Origin's main defensive formation, Cloudveil could become an anchor."

"Good?"

"Very."

"Then do it."

Mu looked at him.

"Do you know what that means?"

"No."

She sighed.

"It means if the sect formation is attacked, Cloudveil could reinforce the entire network."

"Excellent."

"With enough energy, it could increase the sect's defensive strength by several levels."

"Even better."

Mu looked toward the materials.

Then back.

"You're really spending all this on three disciples?"

Shen Yuan paused.

"Mostly."

"Why?"

The question was genuine.

Not suspicion.

Curiosity.

Shen Yuan looked toward the training grounds.

Lin Yue was correcting Lu Chen's stance.

Jian Wuchen sat beneath a tree, Clear Wind floating before him.

Three days ago—

none of them had been here.

Cloudveil Peak had been quiet.

Very quiet.

He had liked it.

Now—

someone was always training.

Eating.

Breaking something.

Asking questions.

Chen An was busier.

The kitchens cooked more.

The training grounds were actually used.

The mountain felt different.

"Because they live here."

Mu waited.

Shen Yuan shrugged.

"Home should be useful."

Mu Qinglan stared.

Then smiled faintly.

"That's a very expensive definition of home."

"Apparently."

She laughed.

"Fine."

She rolled up her sleeves.

"Let's build it."

The Nine-Yin Lunar Cultivation Pool was completed first.

Lin Yue stood beside it.

Silver water filled a circular stone basin.

Moonlight seemed to exist inside despite the afternoon sun.

She looked at Shen Yuan.

"This is for me?"

"Yes."

"How much did it cost?"

"No."

She blinked.

"No?"

"Don't ask questions you don't need answered."

Chen An, passing nearby, nodded approvingly.

Lin Yue looked at the pool.

The system appeared before Shen Yuan.

[Investment opportunity detected.]

Good.

[Host has constructed Nine-Yin Lunar Cultivation Pool for Disciple Lin Yue.]

[Evaluating...]

[Suitability: 99%.]

[Current need: High.]

[Long-term developmental value: Extremely High.]

[Cashback multiplier: 1,000×.]

Shen Yuan's eyes brightened.

[Reward obtained.]

[Lunar Dao Spring Eye.]

Grade: Immortal — Transcendent.

A natural source capable of continuously generating Lunar Dao Essence.

When integrated into suitable terrain, may gradually transform surrounding environment into a Lunar Dao Sacred Land.

Shen Yuan stared.

Continuous.

Not consumable.

Excellent.

He immediately looked at the cultivation pool.

The system understood.

[Integrate Lunar Dao Spring Eye into Cloudveil Peak?]

"Yes."

Deep beneath the mountain—

something changed.

A silver point appeared.

Tiny.

Then water formed.

A spring.

Lunar Dao Essence entered the mountain ley lines.

The cultivation pool glowed.

Lin Yue's Nine-Yin Immortal Body reacted.

Her eyes widened.

"Master."

"Hm?"

"What did you do?"

"Improved it."

The water rose.

Silver mist spread.

Moonlight covered the courtyard.

In broad daylight.

Mu Qinglan stopped working.

She looked over.

Then at Shen Yuan.

"What did you do?"

"Improved it."

"Stop improving things without warning me."

Fair.

The system updated.

[Cloudveil Peak Dao Environment improving.]

[Territory Grade: Heaven — Low → Heaven — Mid.]

Shen Yuan smiled.

One facility.

One thousandfold return.

This could become dangerous.

For his finances?

No.

For everyone else's understanding of reality.

Definitely.

Next came Jian Wuchen's Sword Intent Tempering Hall.

A simple stone hall.

At least externally.

Inside—

Shen Yuan placed several sword comprehension stones.

One Heaven-grade sword crystal.

A fragment of Sword Soul Jade.

And—

after consideration—

one microscopic trace of the Heaven-Severing Sword Dao Origin.

Not enough to harm anything.

Hopefully.

Jian Wuchen stepped inside.

His Sword Heart nearly stopped.

He looked at Shen Yuan.

"What is this?"

"Training room."

"No."

Shen Yuan looked around.

"It has walls."

"Master."

"Hm?"

"The air is cutting my clothes."

Shen Yuan looked.

Tiny lines had appeared across Jian Wuchen's sleeve.

"Good."

"How is that good?"

"Means it's working."

Lin Yue smiled from outside.

Jian Wuchen looked betrayed.

She had stolen her own training phrase.

The system appeared.

[Investment detected.]

[Sword Intent Tempering Hall.]

[Suitability: 100%.]

[Cashback multiplier calculating...]

[2,000×.]

[Reward obtained.]

[Primordial Sword Stone.]

Shen Yuan froze.

Another primordial item.

Primordial Sword Stone

Grade: Dao-Origin Fragment.

A stone formed where the concept of Sword first condensed within a primordial world.

Functions:

— generates pure Sword Intent.

— assists Sword Heart awakening.

— nurtures sword spirits.

— improves Sword Dao comprehension.

— may gradually create Sword Dao sacred terrain.

Warning:

Do not fully activate in mortal world.

Shen Yuan looked at the hall.

Then at Jian Wuchen.

Then at the stone in his system inventory.

Cloudveil Peak was about to become ridiculous.

Good.

He integrated it.

Deep beneath another part of the mountain—

a gray stone appeared.

Sword Intent spread through the earth.

The entire peak trembled.

Every sword within ten kilometers hummed.

On Heavenly Sword Peak—

thousands of swords suddenly turned toward Cloudveil.

Qin Feng was drinking tea.

His sword leapt out of its sheath.

He caught it.

"What?"

Every disciple outside shouted.

Qin walked to the balcony.

Thousands of swords were pointing at one mountain.

Cloudveil.

Qin closed his eyes.

"Shen Yuan."

Of course.

Then came Lu Chen's Chaos Body Refinement Chamber.

Shen Yuan stood before it.

Lu Chen stood beside him.

The boy looked worried.

"What does it do?"

"Strengthens you."

"How?"

"Painfully."

Lu Chen stared.

Shen Yuan smiled.

"Probably."

"Master."

"Hm?"

"I preferred when you said complicated."

Inside were five elemental zones.

Metal.

Wood.

Water.

Fire.

Earth.

Then Yin and Yang chambers.

Eventually—

Lu Chen would train by allowing his body to adapt to each energy before learning to merge them.

For now—

only the most basic body refinement formation would activate.

Shen Yuan handed him a pill.

Third-grade Body Tempering Pill.

Ordinary.

Safe.

Useful.

Lu Chen accepted it.

The system chimed.

[Investment detected.]

Shen Yuan smiled.

Third-grade pill.

Probably modest return.

[Disciple Lu Chen received Body Tempering Pill.]

[Suitability: 88%.]

[Current need: High.]

[Chaos Spiritual Root interaction detected.]

The multiplier climbed.

Ten.

Fifty.

One hundred.

Five hundred.

Shen Yuan blinked.

Why?

[1,000×.]

Then—

[5,000×.]

Shen Yuan's eyes widened slightly.

[10,000× Cashback activated.]

"What?"

Lu Chen looked at him.

"Master?"

"Nothing."

The system continued.

[Reward optimizing.]

[Reward obtained.]

[Primordial Chaos Body Seed.]

Shen Yuan became silent.

No.

Absolutely not.

He opened the description.

Primordial Chaos Body Seed

Grade: Dao-Origin.

A foundational seed capable of transforming an ordinary mortal body into an embryonic Primordial Chaos Body.

Transformation is gradual.

Potential functions after development:

— extreme adaptability.

— body capable of containing conflicting energies.

— physical refinement through multiple energy types.

— natural compatibility with Chaos Qi.

— resistance to elemental law suppression.

— potential evolution without known conventional limit.

Compatibility with Lu Chen: 100%.

Shen Yuan stared at Lu Chen.

The boy was still holding the ordinary third-grade pill.

"What?"

Shen Yuan said nothing.

Lin Yue had an Immortal physique.

Jian Wuchen had Sword Heart and Sword Bone.

Lu Chen had started with an ordinary body.

For approximately one day.

Apparently that was enough.

The system had fixed it.

Shen Yuan sighed.

"Lu Chen."

"Yes?"

"I have something else for you."

The boy looked at the pill.

"Do I still take this?"

"Yes."

"Then what?"

Shen Yuan took out the Primordial Chaos Body Seed.

It appeared as a tiny sphere.

Neither black nor white.

Its surface constantly shifted between colors.

Fire.

Water.

Lightning.

Darkness.

Light.

Then colorless.

The moment it appeared—

Lu Chen's Chaos Spiritual Root reacted.

The chamber shook.

His eyes widened.

"What is that?"

"Something useful."

Lin Yue and Jian Wuchen had arrived.

Both stared.

Jian Wuchen's Sword Heart became uncomfortable.

Lin Yue's Nine-Yin Root reacted.

Chen An walked around the corner.

He saw the sphere.

Stopped.

Turned around.

Shen Yuan looked over.

"Where are you going?"

"Farther away."

"Why?"

"I've developed instincts."

Reasonable.

Lu Chen swallowed.

"Master."

"Hm?"

"Is it safe?"

The system said gradual transformation.

One hundred percent compatibility.

"Yes."

Probably.

Shen Yuan touched the seed to Lu Chen's chest.

It entered.

For one second—

nothing happened.

Then Lu Chen's eyes widened.

"Oh."

Shen Yuan leaned forward.

"What?"

"Warm."

Good.

Then—

"Cold."

Less good.

"Heavy."

Expected.

"Light."

Interesting.

"Master."

"Hm?"

"I can taste lightning."

Shen Yuan paused.

"That's new."

Then Lu Chen collapsed.

Lin Yue caught him.

"Master!"

"He's fine."

The system confirmed.

[Primordial Chaos Body Seed integrating.]

[Estimated initial transformation: 72 hours.]

[Disciple will remain unconscious for approximately 6 hours.]

Shen Yuan relaxed.

"Six hours."

Lin Yue stared.

"You could have warned him."

"I didn't know."

Jian Wuchen nodded.

"That's somehow worse."

Shen Yuan ignored them.

The system updated.

[Special Disciple Mission progress: 48% → 71%.]

[Body foundation transformation initiated.]

Good.

Then—

the territory interface flashed.

[Three disciple-specific facilities established.]

[Three high-level Dao sources integrated into Cloudveil Peak.]

[Territory transformation detected.]

The mountain shook.

Not violently.

Deeply.

Every ley line moved.

Silver Lunar Essence flowed from one side.

Pure Sword Intent from another.

Chaos resonance from Lu Chen's chamber.

Three forces spread.

They should have conflicted.

Instead—

the Primordial Autonomous Dao Body inside Shen Yuan pulsed.

A fourth influence appeared.

Balance.

The energies separated naturally.

Different regions.

Different paths.

One mountain.

The system exploded with notifications.

[Cloudveil Peak Territory Grade increasing.]

[Heaven — Mid.]

[Heaven — High.]

[Heaven — Transcendent.]

Pause.

[Transformation threshold reached.]

[Immortal-grade territory detected.]

Shen Yuan's expression changed.

The entire mountain vanished.

Not physically.

From perception.

Gu Tianhe, standing on the Main Peak, looked toward Cloudveil.

Nothing was there.

He froze.

Qin Feng stepped onto his balcony.

"Where did the mountain go?"

Mu Qinglan was still standing on Cloudveil Peak.

She looked outward.

Azure Origin Sect was visible.

Then she looked toward the formation beneath her feet.

Her face changed.

"This..."

The formation had activated itself.

Not according to her design.

Not according to Shen Yuan's design.

It had evolved.

Cloudveil Peak now existed inside a folded spatial layer.

Still connected to Azure Origin Sect.

Still physically present.

Yet partially removed from ordinary space.

Shen Yuan looked at the system.

[Primary Territory Evolution Complete.]

Cloudveil Peak

Territory Grade: Immortal — Low.

New Trait: Hidden Mountain Domain.

Effects:

— Cloudveil Peak may conceal itself within a folded spatial layer.

— external observation heavily suppressed.

— karmic tracing weakened.

— higher-realm observation partially blocked.

— disciple cultivation efficiency increased.

— Dao resonance increased.

— territory spiritual energy density evolving toward Immortal Qi compatibility.

Shen Yuan smiled.

Problem solved.

At least partially.

Then the system added:

[Warning.]

Naturally.

[Immortal-grade territory manifestation has created a minor disturbance in the Severed Barrier.]

Shen Yuan's smile disappeared.

"How minor?"

The sky above Cloudveil Peak cracked.

A golden line appeared.

Everyone looked up.

Mu Qinglan went pale.

Jian Wuchen gripped Clear Wind.

Lin Yue held unconscious Lu Chen.

Chen An, now fifty meters away, sighed.

"I knew it."

The golden crack widened.

Something descended.

Not a person.

A voice.

Ancient.

Distant.

Powerful.

"Lower Realm anomaly detected."

Shen Yuan stared upward.

The voice continued.

"Immortal-grade spiritual territory has manifested below the Severance."

A golden eye began forming beyond the crack.

The same presence from last night.

Ji Wushang.

Except this time—

the connection was stronger.

Shen Yuan stepped forward.

The eye focused.

For the first time—

the two saw each other clearly.

Ji Wushang's voice crossed the barrier.

"State your name."

Shen Yuan looked up.

"Shen Yuan."

A pause.

"Affiliation."

"Azure Origin Sect."

Another pause.

"Cultivation."

Shen Yuan considered.

Then gave his usual answer.

"Immortal."

The golden eye narrowed.

"Which realm?"

Shen Yuan looked at the system.

The system displayed:

[Immortal Realm.]

Still unhelpful.

He looked back.

"Complicated."

Silence.

Mu Qinglan slowly turned toward him.

Jian Wuchen closed his eyes.

Lin Yue almost smiled.

Even Chen An looked offended on behalf of proper communication.

Beyond the Severed Barrier—

Ji Wushang stared.

For perhaps the first time in several thousand years—

an Immortal Envoy did not know how to respond.

Then—

something changed.

Behind Ji Wushang.

Far deeper in the higher realm.

A bell rang.

Once.

The golden eye froze.

Another bell.

Twice.

Ji Wushang turned.

Third.

Fourth.

Fifth.

His expression changed.

Sixth.

Seventh.

The connection trembled.

Eighth.

Ji Wushang looked back at Shen Yuan.

For the first time—

his calm expression was gone.

Ninth.

The Heaven-Viewing Mirror shattered.

The golden crack above Cloudveil Peak collapsed.

Silence returned.

Shen Yuan stared at the empty sky.

The system appeared.

[Higher-realm observation forcibly terminated.]

[Cause: Unknown.]

Then—

[New karmic disturbance detected.]

Not Jian Wuchen.

Not Lin Yue.

Not Lu Chen.

Something else.

Far above.

Ancient.

Awake.

And in the Immortal Realm—

deep beneath a palace no one had opened in eight thousand years—

nine chains broke.

One after another.

In the darkness—

an old man opened his eyes.

Silver-blue light filled them.

Dust fell from his robes.

He looked toward the Mortal Realm.

Then whispered a name no living Immortal had spoken for millennia.

"Cloudveil..."

A faint smile appeared.

"So the mountain exists again."