## Liam''s Perspective


    "This can''t be opened by force?" I asked, tapping the ancient stone archway at the edge of Iceheart Lake.


    Phoebe shook her head, her breath forming small clouds in the frigid air. "Generations have tried. The gap opens only during the Blood Moon, which won''t ur for another seven months."


    The stone arch looked ordinary, weathered by centuries of exposure. But I could feel the dormant power within, hinting at treasures beyond.


    "Disappointing," I admitted. "But not unexpected."


    We walked back toward the mainpound of Jade Moon Vi, the morning sun casting long shadows across the freshly painted buildings. In just three days, our sect had grown considerably. New disciples arrived hourly, drawn by my reputation and our defiance against the Ascendant Saints Order.


    "Your announcement in The Warrior''s Scroll is working," Phoebe said. "We''ve already recruited over two hundred new disciples."


    I nodded, but my mind was elsewhere. "Tell me something, Phoebe. Have our scouts reported any unusual movement along the eastern roads?"


    She frowned. "Nothing significant. Why?"


    I stopped walking, turning to face her directly. "Because it''s time I told you the truth about that announcement."


    Her brow furrowed. "What truth?"


    "The announcement wasn''t meant to recruit disciples," I said calmly. "It was bait."


    "Bait?" Confusion shed across her face, quickly followed by rm. "You''re trying to lure the Ascendant Saints Order here? Are you insane?"


    I resumed walking, forcing her to keep pace. "Not the entire Order. Just one man – Josiah Hale."


    Phoebe''s face paled. "The Supreme Leader himself? That''s suicide, Liam!"


    "It''s strategy," I corrected. "Josiah Hale is likely already on his way here, exactly as I nned."


    We reached the main hall of Jade Moon Vi, where dozens of disciples practiced formation techniques under the guidance of senior members. I waited until we were in my private chamber before continuing.


    "While Josiah races here to confront me, his headquarters will be vulnerable," I exined, unrolling a map of the region. "And that''s where I''ll be."


    Realization dawned in Phoebe''s eyes. "You''re nning to raid the Ascendant Saints Order while their leader is away."


    "Precisely."


    She sat heavily in a nearby chair. "That''s either brilliant or suicidal. What exactly are you after?"


    I marked a spot on the map – a secluded mountain valley deep in Ascendant Saints territory.


    "Their Spiritual Spring," I said. "The source of their sect''s power for centuries."


    Phoebe''s eyes widened. "The legends are true? It exists?" <cite ss="frag-ec2453">Thank<i ss="node-sep"></i>you<i ss="node-sep"></i>for<i ss="node-sep"></i>reading.<i ss="node-sep"></i>This<i ss="node-sep"></i>was<i ss="node-sep"></i>brought<i ss="node-sep"></i>to<i ss="node-sep"></i>you<i ss="node-sep"></i>by<i ss="node-sep"></i>*.</cite>


    "It exists," I confirmed. "And I intend to absorb its energy."


    "Absorb—" She cut herself off, staring at me in disbelief. "That''s impossible. Such concentrated spiritual energy would tear your meridians apart."


    I smiled thinly. "For most cultivators, yes. But I''m not most cultivators."


    The truth was, I wasn''t entirely certain my body could handle it either. But desperation drove me. To rescue Isabelle, I needed power beyond what conventional cultivation could provide. The Spiritual Spring represented my best chance.


    "Even if you seed," Phoebe argued, "you''ll make an eternal enemy of the entire Order."


    "They''re already my enemies," I countered. "They took Isabelle. Everything else is just details."


    Phoebe studied my face, searching for doubt but finding none. "What do you need me to do?"


    "Evacuate the vi," I said. "Take our core members and retreat to the secondary location we established."


    "You want us to abandon our new home?" Protest filled her voice.


    "Temporarily," I assured her. "Josiah Hale will arrive expecting to find me. When he discovers I''ve tricked him, his rage will be... considerable."


    Understanding crossed her features. "And anyone left here will bear the brunt of it."


    "Exactly. I don''t want innocent blood on my hands."


    She stood, resolution hardening her expression. "When do we leave?"


    "Today. Now." I rolled up the map. "My sources suggest Josiah is no more than a day''s journey away."


    Phoebe nodded. "I''ll begin the evacuation immediately."


    "Good," I said. "Tell the disciples it''s a training exercise if necessary. The fewer who know the truth, the better."


    After she left, I gazed out my window at the bustling grounds of Jade Moon Vi. The sect I''d helped create would likely be reduced to rubble by this time tomorrow. The thought brought me no pleasure, but neither did it give me pause.


    In this war against the Ascendant Saints Order, sacrifices were inevitable.


    ---


    Twilight shrouded the mountains surrounding the Ascendant Saints Order headquarters. I crouched on a ridge overlooking the massivepound, studying the patrols and defensive formations.


    The journey here had been swift and silent, powered by my Dark Phantom technique. Now, as darkness fell, I prepared to infiltrate one of the most heavily guarded sects in the realm.


    Thepound sprawled across a valley floor, dozens of ornate buildings arranged in concentric rings around a central peak. Atop that peak stood the Grand Hall, where Josiah Hale normally resided. And beneath it, if my intelligence was correct,y the Spiritual Spring.


    Guards patrolled in groups of four, each team including at least one Grandmaster. Defensive formations hummed with energy, creating a web of protection that would instantly alert the sect to intruders.


    For most, such defenses would be imprable.


    For me, they were merely obstacles.


    I withdrew a small jade bottle from my robe and drank its contents – a special concoction I''d prepared specifically for this mission. The alchemical mixture dampened my spiritual signature, making me nearly undetectable to the formation arrays.


    Then I moved, bing shadow itself.


    The first patrol never saw me. I slipped between them like smoke, my footsteps silent on the stone path.


    The second patrol came closer to detecting me. A hound apanying them growled softly as I passed, but a quick pressure point touch sent the animal into a temporary sleep.


    I reached the inner ring without incident, then paused in the shadow of arge storage building. Aheady the central peak, its sides too steep to climb without being exposed.


    The main path was heavily guarded, of course. But my research had revealed another way – an underground passage used by servants to deliver supplies to the Grand Hall. Finding its entrance took only moments.


    The tunnel was dimly lit and smelled of damp earth. I moved quickly, encountering no one until I reached its end. A heavy wooden door blocked my path, voices audible on the other side.


    "—still don''t understand why Master Hale left so suddenly," said one voice.


    "Didn''t you hear? That Liam Knight bastard has shown his face again," replied another. "Established some new sect near Iceheart Lake, openly challenging the Order."


    "Foolish. When Master Hale returns with his head, we''ll disy it as a warning to others."


    I smiled in the darkness. My n was working perfectly.


    I waited until the voices moved away, then eased the door open. Beyondy the kitchens of the Grand Hall, bustling with servants preparing the evening meal. None noticed as I slipped through, using serving carts and columns for cover.


    From there, I navigated deeper into the Grand Hall, avoiding disciples and elders through abination of stealth and timing. My destination was the restricted area beneath the hall – the sacred ground where the Spiritual Spring bubbled forth.


    The entrance was guarded, of course. Two Grandmaster cultivators stood before an ornate door covered in protective talismans. Their power was considerable, but not enough.


    I approached openly, abandoning stealth. Both guards immediately tensed, hands moving to their weapons.


    "Halt! Identify yourself!"


    I smiled. "Liam Knight."


    Their eyes widened in recognition and fear, but before either could raise the rm, I struck. My Dark Phantom Strike technique connected with the first guard''s chest, rupturing his core directly. He copsed without a sound.


    The second guard managed to deflect my initial attack and shouted a warning. His sword shed with blue energy as he shed toward my throat.


    Too slow.


    I caught his wrist, twisting until bones cracked. As he gasped in pain, I delivered a precise strike to his temple, rendering him unconscious.


    rms red throughout thepound. My time was now limited.


    I examined the door, quickly identifying the five-element formation locking it. Complex, but not imprable. I applied counter-talismans to each corner, disrupting the energy flow. The door shuddered and swung open.


    Beyondy a spiraling staircase descending into darkness.


    I rushed down, taking steps three at a time. The air grew warmer, more humid, charged with spiritual energy. At the bottom, another door awaited – this one unguarded but sealed with even more powerful formations.


    This would take longer to breach, and time was running out.


    I worked methodically, dismantling the protective arrays one by one. Sweat beaded on my forehead as I concentrated, ignoring the growingmotion above. Finally, thest seal broke, and the door swung inward.


    The chamber beyond took my breath away.


    In the center of a vast cavern, a spring bubbled up from the earth. But this was no ordinary water. It glowed with blinding white light, pulsing like a living heart. The air around it shimmered with concentrated spiritual energy so dense it was almost visible.


    The Spiritual Spring of the Ascendant Saints Order – the source of their power for generations.


    I approached reverently. Even standing near it, I could feel my cultivation responding, my meridians widening to amodate the influx of energy.


    "Stop right there!"


    I turned to find a middle-aged man in ornate robes standing in the doorway. His cultivation was impressive –te-stage Martial Master, bordering on Martial Marquis.


    "Tobias Bhus," I said, recognizing Josiah Hale''s second-inmand. "I was wondering when you''d arrive."


    "Liam Knight," he snarled. "Your audacity is breathtaking. You dare invade our sacred grounds?"


    "I do more than dare," I replied calmly. "I seed."


    Fury contorted his features. "You''ve sealed your fate. Even if you somehow escape today, the Ascendant Saints Order will hunt you to the ends of the earth."


    Iughed. "You were already doing that. Nothing changes."


    "Nothing except your imminent death!" He lunged forward, palm strike crackling with golden energy.


    I sidestepped easily, countering with a casual backhand that sent him crashing into the wall. Before he could recover, I was on him, my hand at his throat.


    "Your master isn''t here to save you," I said softly. "He''s currently searching for me elsewhere, exactly as I nned."


    Fear flickered in Tobias''s eyes. "You... you lured him away deliberately?"


    "Of course. Did you think my announcement was a coincidence?"


    I released him, stepping back. Tobias slumped against the wall, rubbing his throat.


    "Now," I said, "we have two options. You can continue this futile fight and die, or you can listen to a proposition that might benefit us both."


    Suspicion clouded his features. "What proposition?"


    I gestured toward the Spiritual Spring. "I came for that. I intend to absorb its energy."


    "Impossible!" he scoffed. "The spring would destroy anyone who attempted such a thing. Even Master Hale only takes small portions over time."


    "My body is different," I said simply. "But that''s not the proposition. Tell me, Tobias, how long have you served as Josiah''s second?"


    "Twenty years," he answered cautiously.


    "And in all that time, has he ever indicated you might seed him?"


    A sh of bitterness crossed his face before he could hide it. "Master Hale will lead for centuries toe."


    "Unless something happens to him," I suggested. "Unless someone more... capable... took his ce."


    Understanding dawned in his eyes. "You''re offering to make me sect leader?"


    "If you cooperate," I confirmed. "Show me how to properly ess the spring, and keep my presence here quiet when Josiah returns."


    Tobias stared at me, calction evident in his gaze. "And if I refuse?"


    "Then you die here, and I figure it out myself," I said bluntly. "But I suspect you''re too ambitious to pass up this opportunity."


    Silence stretched between us as Tobias weighed his options. I waited patiently, confident in my assessment of his character. Men like him – hungry for power but perpetually overshadowed – were predictable.


    Finally, he straightened his robes and stepped forward.


    "The spring requires specific preparation," he said. "Without it, the energy will tear you apart from the inside."


    I smiled. The fox had sessfully lured away the tiger, and now the tiger''s own den would provide me the power I needed.


    "Show me," Imanded.