"Thank you for clarifying, Master," I said, transitioning to my next question. "I also wanted to ask about the Moonlit Dew Flower we recovered from Black Mist Valley."

"Ah, yes." His expression lightened somewhat. "A fine achievement, by the way. Not many disciples at your level could have orchestrated such a successful mission."

"Thank you, but I'm curious, apart from its standard use in stabilizing breakthrough attempts, what makes it valuable enough for a City Lord to risk his reputation by stealing from juniors?"

Elder Chen Yong's eyebrows rose slightly. "I was wondering when you’d get around to asking me that." He set down his cup and leaned forward. "The Moonlit Dew Flower's spatial properties extend beyond simple stabilization. In the hands of one who knows how to use it, the flower can be used to locate and even break into others' inner worlds."

I nearly choked on my tea. "Break into inner worlds? Is that even possible at this stage?"

"More possible than most cultivators would be comfortable knowing," he confirmed with a grim nod. "You see, at lower cultivation stages, we enter our inner worlds as spiritual projections only. But it is said that upon reaching the Civilization Realm, cultivators gain the ability to 'anchor' their inner world to the main world, essentially placing it down, like setting a precious vase on a table."

He gestured around the room. "This creates benefits and risks. The main benefit is stability, the main world can reinforce an inner world, accelerating its development and enhancing its functions. Some techniques require this connection to work properly."

"And the risks?" I asked, genuinely fascinated by this new information.

"The primary risk is that once anchored, an inner world exists at a fixed spatial point within the main world." He pointed to various locations around us, a teacup, a bookshelf, the corner of the room. "It could be anywhere, invisible to normal perception. But with the right techniques or treasures, like the Moonlit Dew Flower, another cultivator could locate these subtle spatial disturbances and potentially force entry."

"Has this actually happened before?" I wondered aloud.

"Indeed, it has,” a mischievous look appeared in Elder Chen Yong's eyes. “Have you ever heard of Han and Immortal Lu of the Hundred Treasures?"

I shook my head. If there were any mention of it in the library, I hadn't come across it.

"Ah, it's a cautionary tale from about five thousand years ago." He settled back, clearly enjoying the chance to share ancient cultivation lore. "Immortal Lu was a Civilization Realm cultivator known for his collection of rare treasures, hence the title. He had anchored his inner world to better sustain his collection, which required specific spatial configurations only the main world could provide."

Elder Chen Yong took another long drink before continuing. "What Immortal Lu didn't know was that Han Changfeng, a supposedly lesser Stellar Realm cultivator, had developed a method using the essence of a Moonlit Dew Flower to infiltrate anchored inner worlds undetected. Han slipped into Immortal Lu's inner world during a period when Lu was away from his physical body, attending a grand conference of immortals."

"Didn't Lu notice the intrusion?" I asked.

"That's the frightening part," my master said, his voice dropping lower. "Lu returned to his body, even entered his inner world multiple times during the days that followed, and noticed nothing amiss. It wasn't until he went to retrieve three particular treasures, a Sunset Peach of Longevity, the Crimson Emperor's Seal, and a flask of Nine Heavens Dew, that he realized they were missing."

"But even if he didn’t detect the intruder, wouldn't his inner world spirit have detected something?”

Elder Chen Yong laughed. "Those who have the confidence to enter another's inner world know how to hide themselves from inner world spirits. Han had developed a technique to mask his presence from Lu's inner world spirit, making himself appear as nothing more than an inhabitant of the world.”

Interesting. A technique to hide from inner world spirits could be useful...

The elder leaned closer, his wine cup tilting dangerously in his hand. "The most disturbing aspect? By the time Lu realized what had happened, Han had already used those three treasures to break through to the Life Realm. When Lu confronted him years later, Han was powerful enough to fight him to a standstill, using treasures stolen from Lu's own collection against him!"

If someone could infiltrate a Civilization Realm cultivator's inner world without detection, what defenses could possibly be sufficient?

"Is there any protection against such intrusions?" I asked.

"Several methods exist, though none are foolproof. The most reliable is simply not anchoring your inner world unnecessarily." He shrugged. "Each additional layer of protection typically comes with its own costs and limitations."

I nodded thoughtfully, sipping my tea while considering the parallels to my own situation. With the Genesis Seed guarding my inner world, I had natural protections most cultivators lacked. Still, the story was a sobering reminder that even the mightiest cultivators had vulnerabilities.

The tale of Immortal Lu made me reconsider the Moonlit Dew Flower in an entirely new light. What I had thought was simply a stabilization herb was actually a coveted treasure capable of breaking through the most intimate barriers of a cultivator's existence.

If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

Wait a moment.

Something didn't add up. If the flower was truly so valuable, capable of infiltrating even a Civilization Realm cultivator's inner world...

"Master," I said, setting my teacup down with a bit more force than intended, "if the Moonlit Dew Flower possesses such extraordinary capabilities, why was my mission to retrieve it only worth a thousand contribution points? That seems... suspiciously low."

Elder Chen Yong laughter filled the room. "Ah, Ke Yin, there you have exposed one of the cultivation world's oldest traditions, seniors taking advantage of juniors." His eyes twinkled with amusement. "For most cultivators, especially at lower ranks, the flower is useful only for its standard application. They have no idea of its true potential."

He took another sip of tea before continuing. "Think about it, how many Qi Condensation disciples win treasures from dangerous places like Black Mist Valley? Their elders simply take the treasures, offering some minor resources in exchange. The disciples, ignorant of what they've truly found, are usually grateful for the transaction."

"And these elders don't feel guilty about it?" I asked, though I already knew the answer.

"Guilt?" He chuckled. "They consider it part of the natural order. Knowledge is power in our world, and those with knowledge profit from those without it. It's been happening since cultivation began."

A thought occurred to me. "Have other elders pressured you about my flower?"

"Indeed they have," he admitted with a slight smile. "But I handled it. I don't believe anyone is entitled to another's legitimate winnings, not even seniors."

"Thank you, Master," I said sincerely.

He waved it off. "I was young once too, though it may shock you to hear it."

Another question came to mind. "If the flower is so useful, why aren't Life Realm cultivators and above fighting over it constantly?"

"Because they have their own methods," Elder Chen Yong explained. "Since the dawn of cultivation, practitioners have been trying to ransack each other's inner worlds. The Moonlit Dew Flower, while easy to use, especially for those below Life Realm, is far from the most efficient method available to higher-level cultivators."

I nodded, absorbing this information while deciding how to approach my final topic – the Masked One. I couldn't reveal everything I knew, but I could plant the seed for intervention without implicating myself. "Master, there's one more matter I wanted to discuss."

"Go on," he encouraged, refilling my cup.

"At the Way Station some time ago, I witnessed a young cultivator named Li Yuan from the Flowing Stream Sect being killed by a young master."

Elder Chen Yong nodded. Such incidents were quite normal, especially when young masters were involved.

"The strange part," I continued, "is that weeks later, I saw the same Li Yuan, very much alive. He killed the young master who had ended his life, but he seemed... different. Almost like a puppet. I fear someone may be experimenting with forbidden soul techniques."

My master's eyes narrowed. "Did you notice anything else unusual?"

I shook my head. "Only that his eyes seemed hollow, and his movements mechanical. After reading about Heaven's Mandate today, I wondered if this might be something they should know about."

The elder was silent for a long moment, stroking his beard thoughtfully. "Yes," he finally said. "This does sound concerning. Soul manipulation is strictly prohibited for good reason." He shuddered visibly. "I'd rather not get involved with someone foolish enough to meddle with souls. I'll send a report to Heaven's Mandate, though whether they act on it or not is their business. They're a strange bunch."

"Strange how?" I asked, curious about his personal impression.

"They exist somewhat outside the normal cultivation world," he explained. "Their perspective is... different. They see patterns and priorities invisible to the rest of us. I've only encountered one of their agents directly, many years ago. The experience was unsettling. She knew things about me she couldn't possibly have known, spoke of threats I couldn't perceive."

He shook his head as if dispelling an uncomfortable memory. "But enough of that. Just remember what I showed you in the Formation Guild's prison, Ke Yin. Power always comes with a price. Make sure whatever price you pay, you do so willingly and with full understanding."

His words carried a weight that suggested he suspected I had ideas about accessing the Nexus. But like most true masters, he knew that certain lessons couldn't be taught, only learned through experience.

I bowed deeply. "I'll remember, Master."

We spoke for a while longer about sect affairs and my upcoming training schedule before I took my leave. As I walked back through the sect grounds, now bustling with disciples finishing their afternoon practices, my thoughts turned to the Moonlit Dew Flower in my storage ring.

The Moonlit Dew Flower's true value suddenly made perfect sense. The ability to locate and potentially breach inner worlds was an incredibly powerful and dangerous capability. I wondered what the Genesis Seed would make of the flower. I'd placed it in my storage ring immediately after obtaining it, never giving the Genesis Seed a chance to interact with it.

Given the Genesis Seed's apparent affinity for anything related to other worlds, including inner worlds, would it be able to absorb the flower's spatial properties? If I could sense the location of inner worlds, then when I became powerful enough...

"Master, you're getting distracted again," Azure's voice interrupted my thoughts. "Focus on the immediate issue."

I blinked, realizing he was right. I'd been allowing my thoughts to drift toward ambitious future plans when I should be concentrating on my immediate goal, breaking through to the Ninth Stage of Qi Condensation.

"Sorry, Azure," I replied silently. "You're right. What we learned confirms Ke Jun wasn't lying about cultivators using mediums to access the Nexus. And it seems minor blood art usage won't immediately bring Heaven's Mandate down on our heads."

"True," Azure conceded. "But there's still significant risk involved."

I paused at a viewpoint overlooking the sect's valley, watching disciples move about the training fields far below. The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the complex of buildings, giving everything a dreamlike quality.

"Nothing in cultivation comes without risk," I said finally. "And here, the benefits seem to outweigh the dangers. Ke Jun is graciously offering himself as a medium.”

"'Graciously,'" Azure repeated with audible skepticism. "Let's not forget his previous attempts to take over your body."

"I haven't," I assured him. "But even if I manage to break through to the ninth stage by painting flowers in my inner world, I'd still hit a bottleneck before reaching the Elemental Realm. Whether it's now or after the tournament, I simply need more resources than the sect can provide, or that I can find anywhere else, for that matter."

The Celestial Trade Nexus was my best hope. And while Ke Jun was only a fragment of a Civilization Realm cultivator, the techniques he possessed, even incomplete ones, should still be valuable enough to trade for breakthrough materials.

Decision made, I continued walking back to my quarters.

It was time to find some demonic blood. And I knew exactly where to look.