Lin Yuan's eyes narrowed as he pieced together the disturbing truth. The trail of demonic infiltrations, the hidden transmission array in the cave, and the mysterious ease with which these dark cultivators operated all pointed to a betrayal from within the Broken Sky Sect itself.
He thought back to the sect's elders — figures of immense power and authority. The sect leader, revered and respected by all, had reached the late Nascent Soul realm, an unsurpassed pinnacle among cultivators of the sect. The great elders, his closest advisors, hovered at mid to late Nascent Soul stages — terrifyingly powerful, capable of devastating formations and soul techniques.
Yet, none of these great figures had suspected that among them lurked a shadow. Elder Mu, the seemingly loyal and wise elder who had guided many disciples including Lin Yuan himself, was the traitor.
Lin Yuan's suspicion of Elder Mu didn't come out of nowhere; it was the result of careful observation, subtle clues, and his growing insight into the sect's hidden dangers.
1. Unexplained Security Breaches: After discovering the hidden transmission array in the cave—an intricate formation that connected the sect to outside demonic cultivators—Lin Yuan realized such a highly concealed setup required inside knowledge and access. Only a senior member with authority could have arranged this.
2. Formation Tampering: Lin Yuan sensed traces of tampering in the sect's defensive formations—signatures that matched Elder Mu's unique formation style. Elder Mu was known for his particular formation patterns, and subtle energy traces pointed to his involvement.
3. Unusual Behavior and Secrets: During his time back at the sect, Lin Yuan noticed Elder Mu frequently disappearing to secluded areas and behaving more secretively than before. He also overheard fragments of conversation hinting at dissatisfaction and hidden agendas.
4. Investigative Leads: Lin Yuan gathered information quietly from other disciples and low-level elders. Several clues hinted that Elder Mu had been acting beyond his duties—meeting unknown figures and bypassing usual protocols.
5. Orb Interface Alerts: Lin Yuan's orb interface occasionally detected fluctuations and alerts tied to demonic energy signatures within the sect's inner sanctum. Cross-referencing these anomalies with movement and formation traces led him to Elder Mu.
6. Intuition and Experience: Lin Yuan's cultivation and training had sharpened his intuition. He sensed a shadow lurking behind the sect's recent misfortunes—someone who could manipulate both formation and spiritual power from within.
Putting these pieces together, Lin Yuan concluded Elder Mu was the traitor — the mastermind behind the demonic infiltration threatening the Broken Sky Sect's safety.
Mu's cultivation realm was deceptively high—mid Nascent Soul—which gave him the power to mask his actions beneath layers of formations and spiritual fog. No one could imagine that a man of his status would be the very root of the sect's suffering.
Lin Yuan's mind raced. The elder's position allowed him unrestricted access to key sect facilities, including the formation cave. It was Elder Mu who had arranged the concealed transmission array within the cave, a sinister conduit connecting the dark forces outside directly to the sect's core.
"How long has this gone on?" Lin Yuan wondered silently.
As the realization settled, Lin Yuan recalled the sect's current state. The younger disciples mostly clustered around Qi Condensation stages, some approaching foundation, with a few prodigies edging into Golden Core. But Elder Mu's betrayal was on a different scale entirely — a grand design that risked destroying everything the Broken Sky Sect stood for.
Lin Yuan's own cultivation stood firm at middle stage Golden Core now. His core was no longer cloudy or unstable; it gleamed with a steady, potent light, a symbol of his growing mastery over his inner spiritual power. Yet, he was still only an outer disciple — meaning he had no official backing to confront the elder directly.
He knew subtlety would be key.
With the Thunderfire Dragon Scripture in hand, Lin Yuan began dedicating himself to its cultivation. The scripture's unique ability to purify and enhance affinity for both thunder and fire complemented his previous training perfectly. Though forbidden to openly challenge the elder, Lin Yuan prepared quietly, strengthening his formations and honing the Star Shattering Palm technique he had painstakingly learned.
The sect's atmosphere grew tense. Whispered rumors of strange occurrences circulated among disciples and elders alike, but no one suspected the true source.
Lin Yuan understood the stakes. Elder Mu's power in mid Nascent Soul meant he could shatter barriers, disrupt formations, and manipulate demonic forces with terrifying ease. Yet, Lin Yuan's carefully cultivated strength and his unique affinity for thunderfire essence gave him a fighting chance.
He vowed to protect the Broken Sky Sect, to root out the darkness hiding in plain sight — even if it meant facing the very man who once served as his mentor.
...
The Broken Sky Sect was tranquil beneath the golden hue of the setting sun, but Lin Yuan's heart was anything but calm. His discovery of Elder Mu's treachery gnawed at him, a dark secret threatening to devour the sect from within. In his quiet chamber, he continued cultivating, his Thunderfire Dragon Scripture circulating smoothly. Bolts of purified thunder and strands of scorching flame danced within his core, tempering his body and qi.
A soft knock echoed through his door. Lin Yuan's eyes flicked open.
"Come in," he called, calming his breathing.
The door slid open, and Xia Zhi stepped in, her silver hair cascading like a frozen waterfall, her expression composed but with a faint trace of hesitation.
"Lin Yuan, I heard you've been keeping to yourself lately. Is everything alright?" she asked, her voice gentle, though her gaze was searching.
Lin Yuan's heart skipped a beat. Xia Zhi was one of the few people he had grown to trust, but this situation was different. One wrong move could endanger them both.
"I'm fine," he replied, forcing a faint smile. "Just focusing on my cultivation."
Xia Zhi's silver eyes narrowed slightly. "You say that, but I can tell something is bothering you."
For a moment, Lin Yuan hesitated. Could he trust her? Yet her sincerity, the quiet concern in her eyes, urged him forward. Taking a deep breath, he made a decision.
"Xia Zhi… can I trust you?"
Her expression softened. "Of course. Have I ever given you a reason to doubt me?"
Lin Yuan nodded slowly. "Then I need your help. But you must keep this to yourself."
Xia Zhi stepped closer, her gaze steady. "Tell me."
"I've recently discovered something… troubling within the sect. A conspiracy, and I suspect Elder Mu is involved."
Her eyes widened slightly, shock flickering across her composed face. "Elder Mu? But he's one of the senior elders… Are you sure?"
"I am," Lin Yuan replied. "I've seen enough to know he's been dealing with outsiders… dangerous ones. But I don't have solid proof yet."
Xia Zhi's brows furrowed. "If this is true, we must inform the sect master."
"Not yet. Without evidence, it could turn against us. We might become targets ourselves," Lin Yuan warned.
A moment of silence settled between them before Xia Zhi spoke again. "Then… what's your plan?"
Lin Yuan looked out the window, his expression resolute. "I want to investigate further, but I can't do it alone. I need someone I can trust, someone who can watch the movements within the sect while I work from the shadows."
Her gaze grew serious. "You can count on me. But… if things become dangerous, you must promise me you won't take reckless risks."
Lin Yuan smiled faintly. "I won't. I promise."
A slight relief softened Xia Zhi's expression, but then she glanced at him curiously. "By the way, Lin Yuan… you've become stronger. I can sense it. Are you… still in the Qi Condensation realm?"
Lin Yuan paused. It was a question he had expected. He couldn't reveal his true strength as a Golden Core cultivator, but hiding too much would breed suspicion.
"No… I've recently broken through to Foundation Establishment," he admitted, giving a partial truth.
Xia Zhi's eyes lit up with surprise and admiration. "That's incredible! You've progressed so quickly… I knew you were talented, but this is beyond my expectations."
Lin Yuan smiled, a touch of guilt stirring in his heart. But it was necessary. He couldn't let anyone, even Xia Zhi, know his true strength just yet.
"Thank you. But keep it a secret for now. I prefer to keep a low profile," Lin Yuan said.
Xia Zhi chuckled softly. "Always so secretive. Very well. I won't tell anyone."
As they shared a quiet moment, a sense of trust blossomed between them. But beneath it, Lin Yuan knew that the darkness within the sect was still lurking.
"I will keep an eye on Elder Mu's movements. But be careful, Lin Yuan. If what you say is true, then we're dealing with something far more dangerous than we imagined," Xia Zhi whispered.
"I know. But together, we will uncover the truth," Lin Yuan replied firmly.
Watching Xia Zhi leave, Lin Yuan's expression grew serious once more. Now he had an ally—someone who would help him in his quiet battle against the shadow threatening the Broken Sky Sect. But he also knew that the closer they got to the truth, the greater the danger would become.