The Moon Reflection Sect was quiet in a way that unsettled most newcomers.
Lin Xuan noticed it immediately.
There were hundreds of disciples on the floating island, yet almost no noise. Conversations were soft. Footsteps were light. Even the wind that moved through the silver-leaf trees seemed muted.
It was as if the entire sect existed inside a calm, reflective dream.
But beneath that calm surface—
Lin Xuan could feel power everywhere.
Every disciple he passed carried a deep, stable aura. Even the weakest of them possessed a level of control far beyond the cultivators in Celestial Gate City.
The Moon Reflection Sect was not loud.
But it was dangerous.
Shen Tianyu walked beside Lin Xuan along one of the white stone bridges that curved over a crystal lake.
"You adapted quickly," Shen Tianyu said.
Lin Xuan shrugged.
"I'm good at learning."
Shen Tianyu chuckled softly.
"That's not learning."
He glanced sideways at him.
"That's devouring."
Lin Xuan didn't deny it.
Ahead of them, Bai Lianhua walked quietly, studying the surrounding pavilions.
The structures were elegant and simple—white columns, curved rooftops, and silk banners that reflected moonlight even in daytime.
"You'll receive your residence soon," Shen Tianyu continued.
"Inner disciples live in the Silver Crescent District."
Lin Xuan raised an eyebrow.
"District?"
The young disciple nodded.
"The island is larger than it looks."
Lin Xuan had noticed that as well.
From the outside, the Moon Reflection island seemed roughly the size of a city.
But inside—
The space was much larger.
Reality itself seemed stretched.
"A spatial formation," Lin Xuan murmured.
Shen Tianyu smiled faintly.
"You're observant."
They crossed several floating bridges before arriving at a quiet valley.
Dozens of small pavilions were scattered along the lakeside, each surrounded by silver bamboo and moonflowers.
"This is where the inner disciples live," Shen Tianyu explained.
Lin Xuan looked around slowly.
It was peaceful.
Too peaceful.
"Most disciples are meditating right now," Shen Tianyu added.
"Moon Reflection techniques require calm minds."
Lin Xuan nodded.
"That explains the silence."
Shen Tianyu stopped in front of a pavilion overlooking the lake.
"This one is yours."
Lin Xuan pushed the door open.
Inside was a spacious room filled with soft white light filtering through paper windows.
A meditation platform sat at the center.
Several shelves held cultivation scrolls and jade manuals.
And near the window—
A small stone table overlooked the water.
Lin Xuan stepped inside.
The air was rich with spiritual energy.
Dense.
Pure.
Perfect for cultivation.
"Not bad," he said.
Shen Tianyu leaned against the doorway.
"You're taking this very calmly."
Lin Xuan glanced back at him.
"Should I be screaming?"
Shen Tianyu laughed.
"No."
"But most new disciples would be overwhelmed."
Lin Xuan sat on the meditation platform.
"I've been in worse places."
A moment later—
A sharp wave of spiritual pressure swept across the valley.
Shen Tianyu straightened instantly.
"Ah."
Lin Xuan looked toward the lake.
A group of disciples had gathered on a distant platform.
At their center stood a woman dressed in pale blue robes.
Her long hair flowed down her back like black silk.
Even from this distance—
Her presence dominated the entire valley.
Shen Tianyu sighed.
"She's back."
Lin Xuan watched quietly.
"Who is she?"
Shen Tianyu hesitated.
Then he answered:
"Luo Meiyue."
Lin Xuan noticed something interesting.
Every disciple nearby had suddenly become tense.
"Is she strong?" he asked.
Shen Tianyu gave a tired smile.
"She's the number one genius of the Moon Reflection Sect."
Lin Xuan walked outside again.
The platform across the lake had become crowded with disciples.
At the center of the platform—
Luo Meiyue raised her hand.
The lake responded instantly.
Hundreds of reflections rose from the water.
Each reflection carried a faint aura.
Not illusions.
Real constructs made from law energy.
Lin Xuan's eyes sharpened.
"Reflection Law."
Shen Tianyu nodded.
"She mastered it years ago."
Luo Meiyue moved her fingers slightly.
The reflections began fighting each other.
Their sword strikes were fast.
Precise.
Perfectly synchronized.
Lin Xuan felt the Devourer Star stir inside him.
Hungry.
Curious.
"Interesting technique," he said.
Shen Tianyu sighed again.
"You're not the only one who thinks so."
As if sensing his gaze—
Luo Meiyue suddenly stopped.
Her head turned.
Her eyes locked directly onto Lin Xuan.
The entire valley went silent.
Several disciples whispered quietly.
"That's him."
"The Devourer…"
"The one who beat Huo Zhen."
Luo Meiyue stepped off the platform.
Her movements were calm and effortless.
The water beneath her feet solidified into a thin mirror surface as she walked across the lake.
Within seconds—
She stood before Lin Xuan.
Her eyes were cold but curious.
"So you're Lin Xuan."
Her voice was calm, but it carried absolute confidence.
Lin Xuan nodded.
"That's what people call me."
She studied him carefully.
"You devoured reflection law during your test."
Lin Xuan shrugged.
"It was convenient."
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
"Arrogant."
Lin Xuan smirked.
"Honest."
Shen Tianyu quietly stepped aside.
He knew better than to stand between two monsters.
Luo Meiyue circled Lin Xuan slowly.
Her aura pressed against him like a calm but unstoppable tide.
"You're only in the Core Formation Realm," she said.
Lin Xuan nodded.
"For now."
She stopped in front of him.
"Yet you defeated a Spirit Sovereign."
"Yes."
Her eyes glimmered faintly.
"Show me."
Lin Xuan raised an eyebrow.
"Show you what?"
"Your power."
Bai Lianhua leaned against the pavilion doorway.
"You're challenging him?"
Luo Meiyue glanced at her.
"I'm curious."
Lin Xuan thought about it for a moment.
Then he stood.
"Fine."
The disciples quickly cleared space around the lake.
This time—
Both cultivators stood on the mirror-like surface of the water.
The reflections beneath them shimmered quietly.
Shen Tianyu whispered to Bai Lianhua.
"This is going to be terrifying."
Bai Lianhua smiled faintly.
"I know."
Luo Meiyue raised one hand.
The lake rippled.
Thousands of reflections appeared instantly.
But unlike Shen Tianyu's technique—
These reflections were sharper.
More stable.
Each one carried a fragment of Luo Meiyue's aura.
Lin Xuan whistled softly.
"That's impressive."
She tilted her head slightly.
"Are you ready?"
Lin Xuan cracked his neck.
"Whenever."
The reflections attacked simultaneously.
Hundreds of sword strikes descended toward Lin Xuan from every direction.
Lin Xuan moved instantly.
His body blurred through the attacks.
But the reflections adjusted quickly.
Each one predicted his movement.
He blocked several strikes.
The impact sent ripples through the lake.
The Devourer Star began absorbing fragments of reflection law.
But this time—
The reflections didn't collapse immediately.
Luo Meiyue smiled faintly.
"They regenerate."
Lin Xuan grinned.
"Good."
He spread his arms.
The Devourer Star ignited.
A vortex of dark energy formed around him.
One reflection shattered.
Then another.
Then ten.
But for every reflection he devoured—
Another appeared.
The lake became a battlefield of shattered mirrors.
Minutes passed.
Neither cultivator had gained a clear advantage.
Luo Meiyue's technique continued producing reflections endlessly.
Lin Xuan continued devouring them.
The disciples watching were stunned.
Shen Tianyu whispered in disbelief.
"She's actually being pushed…"
Bai Lianhua nodded.
"Of course."
At the center of the lake—
Lin Xuan suddenly stopped moving.
Luo Meiyue frowned slightly.
"What are you doing?"
Lin Xuan smiled.
"Learning."
The Devourer Star pulsed.
For a brief moment—
The lake reflected Lin Xuan instead of Luo Meiyue.
A single reflection rose from the water.
Luo Meiyue's eyes widened.
"You copied my technique?"
Lin Xuan shrugged.
"Borrowed it."
His reflection attacked.
The two techniques collided.
The lake exploded into countless shards of mirrored light.
Finally—
Both cultivators stepped back.
Breathing lightly.
Neither injured.
Neither defeated.
Luo Meiyue studied him quietly.
Then she laughed.
A soft, genuine laugh.
"You're interesting."
Lin Xuan smirked.
"So are you."
High above the island—
Hidden within the clouds—
A dark figure observed the duel.
Their robes were black.
Their aura completely concealed.
The figure whispered into a small jade communication stone.
"The Devourer has joined the Moon Reflection Sect."
A voice answered from the stone.
"Confirmed?"
"Yes."
"And his strength?"
The figure watched Lin Xuan carefully.
"Far beyond expectations."
Silence followed.
Then the voice spoke again.
"Proceed with Phase One."
The dark figure nodded.
Below—
Lin Xuan suddenly felt the Devourer Star pulse uneasily.
He looked up toward the sky.
Something felt wrong.
Very wrong.
Luo Meiyue noticed his expression.
"What is it?"
Lin Xuan narrowed his eyes.
"Someone's watching."
Back in the Silver Crescent District, the evening moon slowly rose above the lake.
Lin Xuan sat on the stone table outside his pavilion.
The water reflected the moon perfectly.
But tonight—
The reflection seemed distorted.
The Devourer Star inside him pulsed again.
Hungry.
Alert.
Danger was approaching.
Somewhere beyond the peaceful surface of the Moon Reflection Sect—
An organization had begun moving.
A group dedicated to one purpose.
The extermination of Devourers.
And Lin Xuan had just become their newest target.