The moonlight was soft that night, draping Dao Xuanzhen Academy in a silver glow. The air was still, save for the faint chirp of insects and the gentle whisper of the lake's surface. A ripple broke the stillness — Polyfalls Yen sat cross-legged near the edge of the water, his reflection dim and wavering beneath the pale moon. His breathing was calm, yet his body trembled faintly.
The faint blue-white glow that pulsed from his chest was not ordinary qi — it was the formation of his spiritual worm, the mark of someone stepping into Foundation Establishment.
He had not slept for days. Each night since his encounter with Ming's awakening, he had meditated tirelessly, cycling his spiritual essence, refining his inner meridians. His body had begun to change — muscles hardening, veins glowing faintly like the roots of a divine tree.
I can feel it now… the boundary breaking.
The Yin and Yang I've cultivated are merging — chaos turning to creation.
He felt the faint hum of energy resonate from within, from the very core of his dantian. His spiritual essence stirred, forming a whirlpool of blue and silver light. Slowly, it condensed into the shape of a small, writhing creature — translucent, serpentine, and luminous.
The spiritual worm was alive.
When cultivators reached this stage, they formed what scholars called the "Embryonic Spirit." To Polyfalls, it felt like giving birth to a part of his soul — fragile yet infinite.
His eyes snapped open. A faint mist of blue fire lingered in the air before fading into the wind. His breath came out shaky, but a faint smile curved his lips.
He had done it.
"Foundation Establishment… at last," he murmured, his voice both weary and proud.
A quiet rustle came from behind. Polyfalls turned his head slightly and saw Meilin Xue standing a few steps away, moonlight tracing her outline. Her eyes shimmered — not with their usual brilliance, but with something softer, heavier.
"You've been out here for days," she said quietly. "We've all been worried… I've been worried."
Polyfalls exhaled slowly, eyes returning to the lake. "Worry wastes energy. You should focus on your cultivation."
"That's just like you," she said, sitting beside him, knees drawn to her chest. "Always hiding behind discipline."
He didn't reply. For a moment, they just listened to the quiet lapping of water against the stones. Then, he glanced sideways — and noticed tears gathering at the corner of her eyes.
"What's wrong?" he asked, voice soft but uncertain.
Meilin didn't answer immediately. She looked up at the stars, her long lashes trembling. "Have you ever wondered if cultivation is worth it? All this pain, all this blood we shed, the people we lose… sometimes it feels endless."
He paused. "Cultivation is the only path forward. Without strength, you're nothing but dust under someone else's feet."
She gave a weak laugh. "And yet… even dust can carry memories."
Her tears finally fell, glinting under the moonlight. Polyfalls hesitated — emotion was not something he understood. His world had been shaped by demons, by ambition, by survival. But watching her shoulders shake quietly stirred something unfamiliar within him.
Without a word, he reached out, resting his hand gently over hers. Her fingers tensed, then relaxed.
She's fragile… yet stronger than she knows.
Why does her pain feel heavier than my own?
Meilin leaned slightly against his shoulder, her voice barely a whisper. "You're warm…"
Polyfalls didn't move. For once, he allowed himself to breathe — to simply exist in the moment. The moon reflected off the lake, and the faint pulse of his newly formed spiritual worm glowed beneath his skin, its color merging with the silver of the night.
Meanwhile, across the academy, deep within the Elder Council Hall, several robed figures gathered. The flickering lamplight painted their faces in long shadows.
Elder Jiang, the chief of the Health Division, slammed his hand on the table. "We can't ignore this any longer. The righteous sects have begun to move. Their disciples scout our borders — it's only a matter of time before they strike openly."
Master Qian, the alchemy instructor, stroked his beard, his tone calm but grave. "We've survived worse. Our path is demonic, yes, but we are not beasts. If the righteous path seeks to extinguish us, we must prepare to respond — not through fear, but through unity."
An older woman — Elder Mei, known for her icy temperament — crossed her arms. "Unity means nothing if our younger generation falls behind. Half of our disciples lack proper cultivation resources. The righteous sects hoard spirit stones and heavenly pills while we trade blood and pain to advance."
Jiang frowned. "Then what do you suggest, Mei? That we beg for mercy?"
She scoffed. "No. But perhaps… we place our hopes on the one who carries the Demon Whale's mark."
The room fell silent.
Master Qian's gaze turned distant. "Polyfalls Yen… that boy's existence is dangerous. But if the legends are true — if he indeed carries Chi You's demonic inheritance — he may become the key to our survival."
Elder Jiang leaned back, eyes narrowing. "Or the key to our destruction."
Back by the lake, the night had deepened. Meilin's tears had stopped. Her breathing steadied as she gazed at the faint blue light flickering around Polyfalls' form.
"That glow… it's beautiful," she said softly. "What is it?"
"My spiritual worm," he replied. "The mark of Foundation Establishment."
"Then… you've grown stronger again."
He nodded. "Strong enough to protect what's mine."
She smiled faintly. "And what is yours, Polyfalls?"
He looked down at her, the corner of his mouth twitching. "I'm still figuring that out."
She laughed quietly, the sound melting into the rhythm of the lake's waves. Then she leaned closer, her head resting against his chest. "You don't have to figure everything out alone."
For a long moment, neither spoke. The moon's reflection rippled across the surface of the water like a living dream.
I don't deserve this peace, Polyfalls thought, but perhaps… I can borrow it, just for tonight.
Deep within his spiritual realm, a faint pulse stirred. Ming's voice — faint and distant — echoed like a sigh through water.
"So this is warmth… I see why mortals chase it."
Polyfalls' eyes flickered slightly, but he said nothing aloud. Somewhere deep inside, he felt the Demon Whale's approving presence — not commanding, not scolding, but watching.
And as the night stretched on, the faint blue embers beneath the lake continued to shimmer — the sign of a cultivator stepping into a new stage, and a heart beginning to understand something beyond power.