Chapter 28: Rising Tensions
The evening banquet following the second-round matches carried a different energy than previous gatherings. Lin Feng could feel it the moment he entered the grand hall—a subtle shift in how people looked at him, how conversations paused when he walked near, how space opened around him in ways that suggested both respect and wariness.
Divine Domain Level 4 at his age changed everything. He was no longer an interesting curiosity from a minor sect. He was a genuine contender, someone who could potentially advance deep into the tournament bracket. Someone worth taking seriously.
"You're drawing more attention than the Celestial Roast Pheasant," Zhao Hai murmured beside him, having won his own second-round match through grit and tactical brilliance. "Half the room is watching you. The other half is pretending not to."
"Breakthrough visibility has consequences." Lin Feng accepted a cup of spirit wine from a passing server—mild enough not to affect cultivation but refined enough to be worth drinking. "At least the attention is mostly positive. Curiosity rather than hostility."
"Mostly."
Zhao Hai's emphasis made Lin Feng follow his gaze across the banquet hall to where Li Xian held court with Azure Sky Sect disciples and allied cultivators. The young master's expression was carefully neutral, but his eyes when they met Lin Feng's carried unmistakable hostility.
Li Xian had also won his second-round match, naturally. Against a Divine Domain Level 2 opponent who'd been thoroughly outmatched. The victory had been brutal if efficient—Li Xian seemed determined to prove his superiority through overwhelming displays of power.
"He's going to come after you eventually," Zhao Hai predicted. "Either in the tournament or outside it. That kind of hatred doesn't just disappear."
"I know. But there's nothing I can do about his feelings except be prepared when he acts on them." Lin Feng sipped his wine, scanning the room systematically. "For now, I focus on what I can control—training, advancement, building alliances where possible."
Speaking of alliances, several sect representatives had approached him throughout the evening with varying degrees of subtlety. Some offered congratulations on his breakthrough. Others asked about his cultivation techniques with academic interest. A few made carefully worded suggestions about future cooperation between their sects and Celestial Dawn.
Elder Yuan had coached him on handling these approaches: be polite but non-committal, acknowledge interest without making promises, gather information while revealing minimal details about himself.
It was exhausting in ways that combat wasn't.
"Lin Feng," a familiar voice interrupted his thoughts. He turned to find Mei She approaching, her expression carrying approval mixed with something like concern. "Walk with me. We should talk privately."
They excused themselves from the banquet hall, moving to one of the garden areas that surrounded the tournament complex. Formation barriers ensured privacy while allowing them to appear to be taking a casual evening stroll.
"Your breakthrough was masterfully executed," Mei She began once they were certain of privacy. "Combat-triggered, publicly visible, perfectly timed to appear natural. Anyone analyzing it would conclude you were Divine Domain Level 3 approaching Level 4 and the match pressure pushed you through."
"But?"
"But I know your real foundation. I know you were already Level 3 with your actual baseline hidden beneath. Which means this 'breakthrough' to Level 4 was actually consolidation of power you already possessed." Her dark eyes studied him intently. "How close are you really to Level 5?"
Lin Feng considered how much to reveal. Mei She was his combat instructor, someone who needed accurate information to train him properly. And more importantly, someone he trusted with knowledge others couldn't have.
"Not close. Level 4 is genuine—I just advanced through consolidation rather than pure breakthrough." He paused, feeling the spiritual energy patterns in his body. "But my foundation is extremely solid. If I pushed hard, I could probably reach Level 5 within three months. Naturally, without forcing, perhaps six months to a year."
"Remarkably fast even by exceptional standards." Mei She's tone carried impressed acknowledgment. "The Inverse Void Dao is living up to its legendary reputation. Most cultivators take five to ten years advancing from Divine Domain Level 4 to Level 5."
"Which creates its own problems. If I advance too quickly, people will wonder about the source. Start investigating my background more thoroughly." Lin Feng watched moonlight play across a meditation pond's surface. "There's a balance between being impressively talented and being suspiciously exceptional."
"You're already past 'impressively talented' and well into 'suspiciously exceptional' territory." Mei She's bluntness was one of her defining characteristics. "After today's performance, major sects will be researching your background extensively. They'll discover you were a servant until recently. They'll question how someone with that history developed such refined techniques and powerful cultivation."
"Let them question. They won't find answers that make sense to them." Lin Feng smiled slightly. "The Void Inheritance is hidden too deeply. The Heart of Void is undetectable. My perfect meridians appear natural if tested. Without knowing what to look for, they'll conclude I'm simply exceptionally talented with access to good resources."
"And when they offer you those 'good resources' directly? When major sects start serious recruitment attempts?" Mei She's concern became more evident. "Lin Feng, you need to think about what happens after this tournament. The Celestial Dawn Sect cannot provide the level of resources and protection you'll need going forward. At some point, you'll outgrow what we can offer."
The statement hurt because it was true. Lin Feng had immense respect and affection for his sect, but its limitations were real. Celestial Dawn couldn't protect him from Sovereign Monarch enemies. Couldn't provide cultivation resources appropriate for his advancement speed. Couldn't give him access to higher-level techniques and training that major sects took for granted.
"The Patriarch mentioned similar concerns," Lin Feng admitted. "He suggested I might need to accept recruitment eventually. Or..." He trailed off, uncertain how much to say about his relationship with Yun Qingxue.
"Or formalize your connection with Lady Yun and join the Frozen Sky Sect through that relationship." Mei She's perceptiveness was unsurprising. "I'm not blind, Lin Feng. The way you two look at each other when you think no one's watching. The Dao resonance that's clearly present between you. You've formed some kind of bond."
"Dao Companion bond," he confirmed quietly. "Established through the Inverse Void Dao's unique properties. It's... complicated."
"All relationships at your level of cultivation are complicated. But one with the Ice Goddess herself?" Mei She shook her head with something like admiration. "That's complexity on an entirely different scale. The political implications alone—"
"I'm aware. Everyone seems eager to remind me about political implications." Lin Feng's frustration leaked through despite efforts to maintain composure. "Can't a relationship just be about two people caring for each other without becoming strategic calculation?"
"Not when one person is a rising void cultivation genius and the other is the most sought-after young woman on the continent." Mei She's tone softened slightly. "I'm not criticizing, Lin Feng. I'm warning. Because caring for someone at your level means their enemies become your enemies. Their allies become stakeholders in your survival. Their choices impact your path whether you want them to or not."
They walked in silence for several minutes, processing the conversation's weight. Finally, Mei She spoke again:
"The third round is in two days. Another rest day tomorrow, then matches resume. Your opponent will be significantly stronger than previous rounds—you're entering territory where everyone remaining is genuine elite talent."
"Do we know the matchup yet?"
"The bracket was just announced while we were walking. You're facing Wu Chen from the Iron Mountain Sect. Divine Domain Level 4, defensive specialist with earth-element cultivation." Mei She's expression became more focused—this was instructor mode, tactical analysis rather than personal advice. "He's known for having the strongest physical defense in this tournament bracket. His techniques focus on turning his body into living iron, absorbing and deflecting attacks rather than dodging."
"Void versus earth. Interesting matchup." Lin Feng's mind immediately began working through strategic options. "Void should have advantages—I can attack internal structures rather than external defenses. But if he's truly specialized in defense, he'll have methods to protect against internal attacks too."
"Correct. Wu Chen has trained specifically against cultivators who use internal-focused techniques. He'll be prepared for spatial attacks, spiritual energy disruption, even soul-based assault." Mei She stopped walking, turning to face him directly. "This match won't be won through pure power or clever techniques. You'll need to outlast him. Force him to maintain maximum defense until his spiritual energy depletes."
"War of attrition."
"Exactly. Which plays to your advantages if you use them correctly. Your void cultivation is naturally efficient—techniques that would cost normal cultivators significant energy cost you much less. Your recovery rate is exceptional. And your actual power level is higher than he'll anticipate even after seeing your 'breakthrough.'"
They discussed tactics for another thirty minutes—specific techniques to test Wu Chen's defenses, patterns to watch for that might reveal weaknesses, strategies for spiritual energy management over extended combat. By the time they returned to the banquet hall, Lin Feng felt prepared for the challenge ahead.
The banquet was winding down, many cultivators having already retired to rest or cultivate. Lin Feng made his way back to the Celestial Dawn Sect's designated area, intending to do the same.
Through the Dao Thread, Yun Qingxue's presence suddenly sharpened with urgency: Don't go back to your quarters yet. Come to the eastern meditation garden. Alone. It's important.
What's wrong?
Can't explain through the connection. Need to show you something. Be careful—take an indirect route.
Lin Feng altered his path immediately, using the crowd's remaining movement as cover while working toward the eastern garden. He employed subtle void manipulation to mask his spiritual signature, making himself forgettable to casual observation.
The eastern meditation garden was smaller than other tournament areas, designed for quiet contemplation rather than social gathering. At this hour it should have been empty except for perhaps a few cultivators seeking peaceful meditation spots.
Yun Qingxue waited near a small pagoda, her ice-blue robes making her appear almost ghostlike in moonlight. But her expression carried none of the Ice Goddess's usual serene composure. She looked worried.
"What happened?" Lin Feng asked immediately.
"Look at this. Carefully." She produced a jade slip and handed it to him. "I found it in my quarters an hour ago. No formation breach, no entry detected. Someone simply left it there."
Lin Feng channeled spiritual energy into the jade slip, accessing the information stored within. What he found made his blood run cold.
Detailed intelligence about him. Not just public information—private details that should have been impossible to obtain. His servant background, yes, but also specifics about his cultivation speed, his training sessions, his relationship with various sect members. Even references to "unusual spiritual energy patterns" and "suspected hidden capabilities."
Worse, the information was dated. Someone had been gathering this intelligence for months, since well before the tournament began.
"There's more," Yun Qingxue said quietly. "Read the final section."
Lin Feng scrolled through the jade slip's contents to the end. There he found a message, written in elegant script:
"The void cultivator is more than he appears. His advancement is suspiciously rapid. His techniques suggest access to resources beyond minor sect capabilities. His potential makes him valuable—or dangerous, depending on perspective. Recommend immediate recruitment or elimination before he becomes unmanageable. - Shadow Network"
"Shadow Network?" Lin Feng looked up from the jade slip. "What's that?"
"Intelligence gathering organization. They work for the highest bidder, providing detailed background research on targets of interest." Yun Qingxue's expression remained troubled. "They're neutral in major sect politics, which makes them widely used. If someone hired the Shadow Network to investigate you, it means serious interest—either for recruitment or assassination."
"And they left this in your quarters because...?"
"Warning, probably. Showing they have access to high-security areas and information they shouldn't possess. Reminding me that they're watching both of us." She took the jade slip back, channeling spiritual energy through it in a specific pattern that made it crumble to dust. "The question is who hired them and what their intentions are."
Lin Feng's mind raced through possibilities. Major sects wanting to recruit him might use this kind of intelligence gathering. But so might the Crimson Empress's agents if they considered him a threat to eliminate. Even potential allies might want thorough background information before committing to support.
"Too many possibilities to narrow down without more information," he concluded. "But the message is clear—my secrets aren't as secret as I hoped. People are investigating seriously."
"Which means we need to be more careful. About everything." Yun Qingxue stepped closer, her voice dropping even lower. "Lin Feng, our relationship is probably already documented in that investigation. They'll use it as leverage if they think it will work. Either to pressure you through me or to pressure me through you."
"Then we adapt. We've been operating under the assumption our bond would eventually be discovered. This just accelerates the timeline." Lin Feng met her eyes steadily. "I'm not afraid of people knowing about us. I'm only afraid of it putting you in danger."
"I'm more worried about you. You're the one advancing impossibly fast and drawing attention from forces we don't understand yet." Her hand briefly touched his—a fleeting contact that carried warmth despite her ice-element cultivation. "Promise me you'll be extra cautious. No unnecessary risks. No hero moments that expose you to assassination."
"I promise to be as cautious as circumstances allow. Which given that I'm in a tournament fighting powerful opponents is admittedly limited." He smiled slightly despite the situation's gravity. "But I won't be reckless. Too much to lose now."
They separated quickly, returning to their respective quarters through different routes. Lin Feng employed every concealment technique he knew, masking his spiritual signature, using void manipulation to become forgettable to observation, varying his path to prevent pattern recognition.
When he finally reached his quarters, he immediately checked all defensive formations. Everything appeared intact, no signs of intrusion. But if the Shadow Network could leave jade slips in Yun Qingxue's high-security Frozen Sky Sect quarters, they could certainly bypass his void-based defenses if they tried.
Lin Feng spent an hour reinforcing his formations with additional layers, creating redundant detection systems, establishing void-space pockets that would alert him to any tampering. Security theater, perhaps, but it made him feel slightly better.
Finally, he settled into cultivation, processing the day's events while consolidating his Divine Domain Level 4 advancement. The breakthrough was stable, his foundation solid, but the spiritual energy patterns needed refinement through careful meditation.
Combat breakthrough successful. Match against Shen Wei won decisively. Public perception managed effectively. All according to plan.
But now unknown parties are investigating deeply enough to gather intelligence that should be impossible to obtain. The Shadow Network knows more about me than most of my sect members.
Variables are multiplying faster than I can track. Need to stay flexible, adaptive, ready for threats from unexpected directions.
Through his window, the tournament grounds lay quiet under moonlight. Somewhere out there, Wu Chen was probably preparing for their match. Li Xian was plotting revenge. Feng Chen was training for their eventual semifinal confrontation. Crimson Empress agents were scheming. The Shadow Network was watching everything.
And somewhere, somehow, people Lin Feng didn't even know were making decisions about his future based on information they shouldn't have.
Welcome to tournament politics at the highest levels. This is what the Patriarch warned about. What Mei She tried to prepare me for.
Power draws attention. Attention brings opportunity and danger in equal measure. The only way forward is through—become strong enough that investigation doesn't matter because openly displayed strength makes secret knowledge irrelevant.
Divine Domain Level 5. Cloud Transformation. Immortal Emperor. Each advancement makes me harder to threaten, easier to protect what matters.
Keep advancing. Keep fighting. Keep winning.
Everything else is just noise.
Lin Feng cultivated through the night, void energy circulating through perfect meridians, the Heart of Void pulsing with steady rhythm.
Tomorrow brought another rest day. Time to prepare, train, strategize.
The day after, third-round match against Wu Chen.
And beyond that, challenges that would test everything he'd become.
He was ready.
Or at least, he would be when the time came.
TO BE CONTINUED IN CHAPTER 29: THE IRON MOUNTAIN