The descent from the ridge into the valley that housed Azure Peak Sect took the better part of two hours, following a well-maintained path that wound through increasingly cultivated terrain. What had been wild mountain landscape gradually gave way to ordered gardens, practice fields, and the outer boundaries of the sect's extensive infrastructure. Chen Feng observed everything with keen attention, recognizing that understanding the physical layout and organization of his new home would be essential to navigating it successfully in the days and weeks ahead.
The sect's outer perimeter was marked by a formation barrier that Chen Feng's enhanced vision revealed as an intricate network of connections linking dozens of formation pillars positioned at regular intervals around the valley's boundary. The barrier was not designed to be impenetrable but rather served as a monitoring and filtering mechanism that allowed authorized individuals to pass while alerting sect security to unauthorized intrusions or potentially dangerous entities attempting entry. Senior Brother Zhao produced a jade token from within his robes and held it toward the barrier, which responded by creating a localized opening that permitted the group to pass through without triggering any defensive responses.
Beyond the perimeter barrier, the sect's organization became more apparent. The valley was divided into distinct sections that Chen Feng learned corresponded to different aspects of sect life and hierarchy. The outer sect areas, where new disciples like himself would initially reside, occupied the valley's periphery in a ring of modest but well-constructed residential halls and basic training facilities. Moving inward toward the valley's center, the buildings grew progressively larger and more elaborate, marking the territories of inner disciples, core disciples, and finally the sect elders whose domains occupied the prime locations closest to the mountain itself.
The group proceeded along a main thoroughfare that cut through the outer sect areas toward the central administrative complex. Chen Feng observed numerous disciples going about their daily activities, their ages ranging from children who appeared no older than ten to adults who might have been in their thirties or even older, though cultivators' appearances could be deceptive regarding their actual ages. The disciples wore robes that varied in color and ornamentation according to their status within the sect hierarchy. Outer disciples wore simple grey robes marked with minimal embroidery. Inner disciples displayed blue robes with more elaborate designs. Core disciples were distinguished by deep azure robes that incorporated silver threadwork in patterns that suggested both rank and individual achievement.
Many of the disciples they passed stopped to observe the arriving group with expressions that ranged from casual curiosity to focused interest. Chen Feng became aware that he was attracting particular attention, likely because his plain village clothing marked him as a newcomer and his presence alongside several higher-ranked disciples suggested circumstances of interest. He maintained a neutral expression and steady posture, following Lin Yue's earlier advice about remaining composed when faced with scrutiny.
Their destination proved to be a substantial building near the sect's administrative heart, constructed in a traditional architectural style with multiple levels and a roof that curved upward at its corners in the manner common to structures of significance. Characters carved above the main entrance identified it as the Disciple Affairs Hall, the administrative center responsible for managing all matters related to new recruits, sect assignments, and the various bureaucratic necessities that accompanied any large organization.
Inside, the hall was divided into numerous smaller offices and reception areas, all bustling with activity as disciples and administrators conducted the business of maintaining a sect that housed thousands of individuals. Senior Brother Zhao led the group to a specific office where an elderly woman in the robes of an inner elder sat reviewing documents with the focused attention of someone responsible for important decisions. She looked up as they entered, her eyes moving across the group before settling on Chen Feng with an intensity that suggested she already knew something of his circumstances.
"Elder Qian," Senior Brother Zhao said respectfully, bowing in the formal manner appropriate for addressing someone of her rank. "I have brought the new disciple from Redwood Village as discussed in the message talismans. Chen Feng, step forward and greet Elder Qian properly."
Chen Feng moved forward and performed the formal bow he had observed Zhao demonstrate, hoping his execution was adequate despite his complete lack of experience with such protocols. Elder Qian studied him for a long moment with an expression that revealed nothing of her thoughts before gesturing for him to straighten.
"You are the one with the Void Mark," Elder Qian stated rather than asked. "Show it to me."
Chen Feng pushed back his hair to reveal the symbol on his forehead, which seemed to pulse with faint light in response to the elder's attention. Her eyes narrowed as she examined the mark, and Chen Feng felt a sensation of being probed by some force that extended from the elder's consciousness to examine him with thoroughness that was neither gentle nor aggressive but simply comprehensive. The examination lasted perhaps ten seconds before Elder Qian withdrew her attention and made a notation on a jade slip that rested on her desk.
"The mark is genuine and appears stable in its current state," Elder Qian said, addressing her comments to Senior Brother Zhao rather than to Chen Feng directly. "However, Void Marks are inherently unpredictable in their development. He will require monitoring by someone qualified to recognize dangerous fluctuations before they manifest as actual crises. I will assign him to Elder Wu's supervision. The old man has expertise in unusual spiritual phenomena and should be capable of providing appropriate guidance."
She turned her attention to Chen Feng then, her expression stern but not unkind. "Chen Feng, you are being accepted into Azure Peak Sect as an outer disciple with provisional status pending the completion of a three-month evaluation period. During this time, you will be assessed not only on your cultivation progress but also on your conduct, your ability to follow sect rules, and your compatibility with our traditions and values. Successfully completing this evaluation will result in full acceptance as an outer disciple with all associated privileges and responsibilities. Failure to complete the evaluation satisfactorily may result in your removal from the sect and return to your home village. Do you understand these terms?"
"I understand, Elder Qian," Chen Feng replied clearly, recognizing the formality of what was being established and the importance of demonstrating appropriate seriousness.
"Good. You will be assigned quarters in the outer disciple residential area. Your specific residence hall and room assignment are noted here." She produced a small jade token and passed it across her desk to Chen Feng. "This token serves as your sect identification and will allow you passage through barriers and access to facilities appropriate to your rank. Guard it carefully, as its loss will result in significant inconvenience and potential security concerns."
Chen Feng accepted the token, which was slightly warm to the touch and bore characters identifying him by name along with notations he did not yet know how to interpret. He secured it carefully in an inner pocket of his clothing, recognizing the object's importance despite its small size.
Elder Qian continued her instructions with the efficient delivery of someone who had conducted similar orientations countless times before. "New outer disciples attend mandatory instruction sessions covering sect rules, cultivation fundamentals, and basic techniques. These sessions occur in the morning hours for the first month of your residency. Afternoons are dedicated to personal cultivation practice and optional skill development courses. You will find a complete schedule and list of available resources in your residence hall. Questions or concerns should be directed to your hall supervisor initially, with more serious matters escalated to Elder Wu as your assigned mentor."
She paused, then added with an expression that suggested this was information of particular significance. "Your circumstances are unusual enough that certain exceptions will be made to standard protocols. Elder Wu has requested that you report to his residence directly after settling into your quarters. He wishes to conduct his own assessment of your Void Mark and begin developing an appropriate curriculum for your unique needs. Do not delay in fulfilling this obligation, as elders do not appreciate having their time wasted by disciples who fail to respond promptly to summons."
"I will go to Elder Wu immediately after settling in," Chen Feng confirmed, noting the clear expectation and the implicit warning about the consequences of failing to meet it.
The administrative processing concluded with several additional formalities including the recording of Chen Feng's basic information on sect records and the provision of outer disciple robes to replace his village clothing. The robes were of simple but good quality, far superior to what he had worn previously, though the grey color and minimal embroidery marked them as the lowest tier of sect attire. Chen Feng accepted them with appropriate gratitude, recognizing that complaints about starting at the bottom of any hierarchy would be both inappropriate and futile.
Senior Brother Zhao and the other disciples who had escorted Chen Feng from his village took their leave after the administrative matters concluded, having fulfilled their responsibility to deliver him safely to the sect. Lin Yue lingered for a moment, drawing Chen Feng aside for a brief private conversation before she departed.
"Your residence hall is in the eastern section of the outer disciple area," she informed him quietly. "My own quarters as an inner disciple are in the second ring, which is not immediately adjacent but is close enough that finding me should not be difficult if you need assistance or guidance. Do not hesitate to seek me out if you encounter situations that seem beyond your current ability to navigate alone. The sect can be overwhelming for new disciples, particularly those dealing with circumstances as unique as yours."
"Thank you for everything," Chen Feng said, the simple words inadequate to fully convey his gratitude for her guidance and support throughout the journey and his introduction to the sect. "Your help has made this transition far less difficult than it might otherwise have been."
Lin Yue smiled, and the expression softened her normally serious features in a manner that Chen Feng found unexpectedly affecting. "We will see each other again soon. Focus on establishing your foundation and beginning your studies with Elder Wu. The coming weeks will be demanding, but they will also be formative. The choices you make and the habits you establish now will influence your entire cultivation path going forward."
She departed then, leaving Chen Feng alone in the Disciple Affairs Hall with his new sect identification token, his grey outer disciple robes, and directions to his assigned residence. He took a moment to orient himself, consulting a map that had been provided along with his other orientation materials, then set out to locate his new home within the vast sect compound.
The walk to the eastern outer disciple residential area provided Chen Feng with additional opportunities to observe sect life in operation. Practice fields scattered throughout the outer sect areas hosted disciples engaged in various forms of training, from basic physical conditioning exercises to more advanced technique drills that incorporated spiritual energy in ways Chen Feng could perceive but not yet understand. The sounds of weapons clashing and instructors calling out corrections filled the air, creating an atmosphere of purposeful activity that suggested the sect took cultivation seriously as both discipline and pursuit of excellence.
The residential hall to which Chen Feng had been assigned was a three-story wooden structure that housed approximately sixty outer disciples according to the information placard mounted near its entrance. The building was well-maintained and clean, with wide corridors and adequate lighting from windows positioned to maximize natural illumination. Chen Feng's assigned room was on the second floor, a small private space containing a sleeping mat, a desk with chair, a storage chest, and little else. The simplicity was neither surprising nor problematic, as Chen Feng had never required elaborate accommodations and recognized that outer disciples ranked lowest in the sect hierarchy and received resources accordingly.
He changed into his new sect robes, folding his village clothing carefully and storing it in the chest along with his few personal possessions. The transformation from village youth to sect disciple was now complete in appearance if not yet in substance. Chen Feng studied his reflection in the small bronze mirror that had been among his packed items, seeing someone who looked simultaneously familiar and foreign, still recognizably himself but also visibly changed by the events of recent days.
The Void Mark on his forehead was fully visible now that he was no longer attempting to conceal it behind arranged hair. The symbol seemed to have stabilized somewhat from its initial appearance, the geometric pattern now consistent rather than subtly shifting as it had during the first days after manifestation. Chen Feng touched the mark briefly, feeling its characteristic warmth and the sense of potential that it represented. This symbol had changed his life irrevocably, opening paths that would have remained permanently closed otherwise while simultaneously burdening him with responsibilities and dangers he was only beginning to comprehend.
Chen Feng secured his residence and departed to fulfill Elder Qian's directive to report to Elder Wu without delay. The elder's residence was located in a section of the sect grounds reserved for teaching elders, a cluster of individual buildings that offered more privacy and space than the communal residential halls assigned to disciples. Directions provided by a helpful outer disciple who Chen Feng encountered along the way led him to a modest but well-appointed structure surrounded by carefully maintained gardens that seemed to incorporate both aesthetic beauty and functional purposes related to cultivation practices.
He approached the entrance and announced himself according to the protocols that had been explained during his orientation, stating his name and purpose in a clear voice that would carry to anyone inside the building. A moment later, the door opened to reveal an elderly man whose appearance suggested significant age despite the vitality that Chen Feng's enhanced perception detected beneath the surface of physical frailty. Elder Wu's eyes were sharp and assessing as they examined the young man standing before him, and Chen Feng had the distinct impression that the elder was perceiving far more than simple visual appearance.
"Chen Feng," Elder Wu said, his voice surprisingly strong despite his aged appearance. "Enter. We have much to discuss regarding your Void Mark and the path it has set you upon."
The interior of Elder Wu's residence was substantially more elaborate than Chen Feng had anticipated, with walls lined by shelves containing thousands of jade slips, scrolls, and bound volumes that presumably represented accumulated knowledge from decades or centuries of study and practice. Arrays and formation diagrams covered several flat surfaces, their purposes unclear to Chen Feng's inexperienced perception but clearly significant given the care with which they had been constructed and maintained. The space felt simultaneously like a scholar's study and a cultivator's laboratory, dedicated to understanding phenomena that existed at the intersection of theory and practice.
Elder Wu gestured for Chen Feng to sit on a cushion positioned in the center of the main room, then settled himself on a slightly elevated platform that allowed him to look down at his visitor from a position of both physical and symbolic authority. The elder spent several long moments simply observing Chen Feng in silence, his eyes moving across the young man's features and occasionally focusing with particular intensity on the Void Mark.
"Show me your ability," Elder Wu commanded without preamble. "Perceive the connections in this room and describe what you see."
Chen Feng activated his enhanced vision, allowing the normally suppressed perception to come fully forward. The room transformed as countless connections became visible, linking every object to every other object through bonds of varying strength and nature. The jade slips on the shelves were connected to each other through relationships of subject matter and shared authorship. The formation diagrams were linked to sources of spiritual energy that flowed through the building's structure. Elder Wu himself was surrounded by a dense network of connections that suggested both his accumulated relationships with people and places throughout his long life and his deep integration with the cultivation techniques and spiritual forces he had mastered over decades of practice.
Chen Feng described what he perceived, choosing his words carefully to convey the information clearly while avoiding claims to understanding that he did not yet possess. Elder Wu listened with focused attention, occasionally asking clarifying questions or requesting additional detail about specific aspects of Chen Feng's perception. The examination continued for perhaps twenty minutes before the elder finally nodded with an expression that suggested satisfaction.
"Your perceptive abilities are indeed remarkable and appear to be functioning stably within parameters that do not suggest immediate danger of collapse or corruption," Elder Wu assessed. "However, perception alone is insufficient. The true measure of a Void Mark bearer is the ability to sever connections in a controlled and purposeful manner. Demonstrate this ability for me, targeting the connection between that cup and the table it rests upon."
Elder Wu gestured toward a simple ceramic cup positioned on a low table near the room's edge. Chen Feng focused his perception on the cup and identified the connection linking it to the table's surface, a bond that combined physical contact, gravitational force, and friction into a stable relationship that kept the cup stationary. He extended his consciousness toward that connection and carefully severed it, cutting the bonds with precision that had improved through practice over recent days.
The cup immediately began to float upward as its connection to the table ceased to constrain it. The object rose perhaps six inches before Chen Feng allowed the severed connection to reassert itself, the natural forces resuming their normal operation and bringing the cup back to rest on the table's surface. The entire demonstration lasted only a few seconds but successfully conveyed both Chen Feng's ability and his control over its application.
Elder Wu's expression remained neutral, though Chen Feng detected a subtle shift in the elder's demeanor that suggested approval or at least absence of disapproval. "Adequate control for someone who has possessed this ability for less than a week. Your instinctive understanding of severance mechanics is superior to what historical records suggest was typical for newly awakened Void Mark bearers, which may indicate either exceptional natural aptitude or beneficial circumstances during your initial development period."
The elder rose from his seated position and moved to one of the shelves, selecting a particular jade slip that he examined briefly before returning and offering it to Chen Feng. "This contains records related to Void Mark cultivation from the ancient era, compiled by scholars who studied practitioners of the Severance Path when such individuals were more common than they are today. The information is fragmented and often contradictory, as different practitioners apparently developed their abilities along divergent trajectories that shared certain commonalities but also demonstrated significant individual variation."
Chen Feng accepted the jade slip and held it carefully, recognizing the value of access to historical knowledge about abilities that were apparently rare enough that living expertise was essentially nonexistent. Elder Wu continued speaking, his tone taking on the quality of formal instruction.
"Your cultivation will proceed along two parallel tracks. The first track will focus on standard cultivation progression through the established realm structure, building your spiritual foundation and developing your capacity to gather, refine, and utilize spiritual energy. This aspect of your development will largely follow the curriculum provided to all outer disciples, with some modifications to account for your late start compared to disciples who enter the sect at younger ages. The second track will address your Void Mark specifically, teaching you to understand and control your severance abilities while avoiding the catastrophic failures that claimed the lives of historical practitioners who lacked adequate guidance or restraint."
He paused to ensure Chen Feng was absorbing this information before continuing. "These two tracks are not independent but rather deeply interconnected. Your Void Mark abilities draw upon spiritual energy as their power source, meaning that advancing your cultivation base will directly enhance your severance capabilities. Conversely, skillful application of severance techniques can facilitate cultivation progress by allowing you to cut away impediments and inefficiencies in your spiritual pathways. The synergy between conventional cultivation and Void Mark development creates potential for rapid advancement but also introduces risks that you must learn to recognize and manage."
Elder Wu settled back into his elevated position and fixed Chen Feng with a penetrating stare. "I will now explain something that you must understand and internalize completely if you wish to survive and thrive as a Void Mark bearer. The Severance Path is fundamentally about making choices. Every connection you perceive represents a choice about whether to maintain or sever that bond. Some choices have minimal consequences beyond the immediate effect you intend. Others have ramifications that cascade through systems in ways that can be difficult or impossible to predict without extensive study and experience. The practitioners who achieved transcendence were those who learned to evaluate potential consequences before acting and who developed the wisdom to know when severance was appropriate and when it would cause more harm than benefit."
The elder's expression grew even more serious as he delivered what was clearly intended as a crucial warning. "There will be times when you possess the ability to sever connections that you should not sever, when the immediate benefits of cutting a particular bond are vastly outweighed by the systemic damage that severance would cause. Resisting the temptation to exercise power simply because you possess it is perhaps the most important discipline you must develop. Void Mark bearers who failed to develop this discipline either destroyed themselves through catastrophic severances that unraveled their own existence or were eventually eliminated by others who recognized them as existential threats to reality's stability."
Chen Feng felt the weight of these words settling into his understanding like stones finding their places in a foundation. Elder Wu was not simply warning him about technique failures or cultivation deviations but rather about fundamental choices regarding how he would wield abilities that apparently possessed the potential to affect reality at its most basic level. The responsibility was sobering and somewhat terrifying, but Chen Feng recognized that attempting to avoid or deny that responsibility would be both impossible and ultimately more dangerous than accepting it and striving to develop the wisdom necessary to bear it properly.
"I understand, Elder Wu," Chen Feng said, his voice carrying the seriousness that the moment demanded. "I will dedicate myself to developing not only power but also the judgment necessary to wield that power appropriately."
Elder Wu nodded, apparently satisfied by this response. "Good. Your training will begin in earnest tomorrow morning. Attend the standard new disciple orientation sessions as required, but report to me each afternoon for specialized instruction in Void Mark cultivation and severance techniques. I expect you to study the historical records I have provided tonight and come prepared with questions tomorrow. If you encounter difficulties or concerning phenomena related to your mark, notify me immediately regardless of the hour. Void Mark instabilities can develop rapidly and may require urgent intervention to prevent serious consequences."
The elder rose, signaling that the interview had concluded. Chen Feng stood as well and bowed respectfully, expressing gratitude for Elder Wu's willingness to serve as his mentor despite the apparent complexities and risks associated with training a Void Mark bearer. Elder Wu accepted the bow with the dignified composure of someone accustomed to such displays of respect, then showed Chen Feng to the door with brief but clear directions for finding his way back to the outer disciple residential area.
The walk back to his assigned quarters provided Chen Feng with time to process everything he had learned and experienced during his first day at Azure Peak Sect. The sun was setting now, painting the mountain peaks in shades of orange and gold that created dramatic contrasts with the deepening shadows in the valley below. Disciples were returning from their various activities to their residences, the evening meal hour approaching and the sect's daily rhythm shifting from active cultivation and training toward rest and recovery.
Chen Feng reached his room as twilight transitioned into true darkness, the sect's illumination formations activating automatically to provide light along major pathways and in common areas while leaving individual residences dark unless their occupants chose to light lamps or candles. He lit a small oil lamp that had been provided in his room, then settled at his desk with the jade slip Elder Wu had given him.
The process of accessing the information stored in the jade slip was now familiar from his experience with the cultivation manual Lin Yue had provided during their journey. Chen Feng pressed the slip to his forehead and felt the rush of knowledge transferring into his consciousness, though this time the information was far more complex and nuanced than simple technique instructions. Historical accounts, theoretical treatises, cautionary tales, and fragmentary records from practitioners long dead all flooded into his awareness in an overwhelming cascade that took several minutes to fully process and organize.
Many of the records were indeed contradictory as Elder Wu had warned, with different practitioners describing their abilities and development in ways that sometimes aligned with Chen Feng's own experiences and sometimes bore little apparent relationship to what he had discovered through his practice. However, certain themes recurred consistently across multiple accounts, suggesting fundamental principles that transcended individual variation.
The most frequently emphasized principle was the concept that Elder Wu had stressed during their meeting, the absolute necessity of understanding consequences before severing connections. Multiple historical practitioners had apparently destroyed themselves or caused catastrophic damage through careless severances that unraveled more than intended. One particularly sobering account described a Void Mark bearer who had attempted to sever his connection to a curse afflicting him, only to accidentally severe his connection to his own life force in the process, resulting in instant death despite his otherwise significant cultivation base.
Another recurring theme was the relationship between severance and balance. Several practitioners noted that cutting connections in one area of a system often created compensatory changes elsewhere, as reality sought to maintain equilibrium through alternative pathways. A cultivator who had severed the connections binding him to a particular location found that he subsequently struggled to form stable connections to any place, becoming a permanent wanderer incapable of establishing lasting bonds with communities or environments. The lesson seemed to be that severance was not truly elimination but rather transformation, changing the nature and distribution of connections rather than removing them from existence entirely.
Chen Feng absorbed these lessons and warnings, recognizing their relevance to his own situation and committing them to memory for future reference. The historical records also contained descriptions of advanced severance techniques that were far beyond his current capabilities but that suggested the ultimate potential of abilities he was only beginning to develop. Void Mark bearers who achieved mastery could apparently sever conceptual connections such as cause and effect, past and future, self and other. Such applications of severance bordered on reality manipulation of the most fundamental kind, explaining both why accomplished practitioners were described as having achieved transcendence and why failures at that level would be catastrophically destructive.
The evening had progressed to full night by the time Chen Feng finished his initial study of the historical records. He extinguished his lamp and lay on his sleeping mat, his mind too active with new knowledge and understanding to permit immediate sleep despite the physical exhaustion accumulated over days of travel and transformation. The room was dark and quiet around him, the sounds of other disciples settling into their own evening routines creating a backdrop of normalcy that was both comforting and slightly surreal given how drastically his life had changed.
Chen Feng found himself thinking about his parents in Redwood Village, wondering what they were doing at this moment and whether they were worrying about him or had accepted his departure as a necessary transition they needed to process in their own time. He thought about Lin Yue and the strange resonance she had described between their respective abilities, wondering what implications that connection might have for both their futures. He thought about the corrupted beasts and the malevolent intelligence that had directed them, recognizing that threats existed in this world that went far beyond anything his village life had prepared him to comprehend.
But primarily Chen Feng thought about the path that lay ahead, the journey of cultivation and development that would determine who he became and what he might ultimately achieve. The Void Mark had given him abilities of extraordinary potential, but potential meant nothing without the dedication to develop it properly and the wisdom to wield it responsibly. Elder Wu's warnings about the fates of past practitioners who lacked adequate guidance or restraint served as sobering reminders that power without wisdom led inevitably to destruction.
Chen Feng touched the mark on his forehead one final time before allowing sleep to claim him, feeling its familiar warmth and sensing within it both promise and warning. The symbol represented possibility, the chance to rise far beyond the limitations that would have constrained him as a simple village youth without cultivation potential. But it also represented responsibility, the obligation to use his abilities in ways that created value rather than harm, that built rather than merely destroyed.
His first day at Azure Peak Sect had concluded. Countless more days awaited, each presenting opportunities for growth and challenges to overcome. Chen Feng was ready to face them, armed with abilities he was learning to control, guided by mentors who understood both cultivation and the unique circumstances of his situation, and motivated by determination to prove himself worthy of the opportunities he had been granted.
The path of the Void Sovereign had truly begun.