Lin Tian jolts awake in the middle of the night, consciousness pulled from meditation's depths by an unfamiliar sensation. For a moment, he lies completely still, orienting himself in the darkness of his quarters. Something feels different—profoundly different.

  The ceiling above his sleeping mat captures his attention first. Despite near-total darkness, he discerns minute cracks in the wood, subtle variations in grain patterns that should be invisible in such low light.

  When he shifts his gaze toward the small window, the faint moonlight streaming in seems almost painfully bright, each dust mote dancing in its beam perfectly visible.

  "What is happening?" he whispers, the sound of his own voice unexpectedly loud in his ears.

  The realization dawns gradually, then strikes all at once—his breakthrough to Qi Condensation II has fundamentally altered his sensory perception. Every input is magnified, every sensation heightened to an almost unbearable degree.

  The rough texture of his sleeping mat feels like abrasive stone against his skin. The scent of herbs from Lin Feng's earlier tea preparation lingers in the air, each component distinguishable as if freshly crushed.

  Distant conversations from the outer courtyard reach his ears with unnatural clarity, though they should be well beyond normal hearing range.

  Lin Tian closes his eyes, trying to manage the overwhelming sensory bombardment. His training as Emperor Reinhart provides some framework for processing enhanced perception, but nothing had prepared him for this level of intensity.

  As he struggles to center himself, something else registers at the edge of his awareness—two distinct Qi signatures moving somewhere beyond the Eastern Pavilion walls. Under normal circumstances, Lin Tian wouldn't have detected cultivators at such a distance, especially through the sect's protective formations. But his newly enhanced senses cut through these barriers as if they barely exist.

  At first, Lin Tian dismisses the signatures. "Probably night guards on patrol," he reasons, expecting them to move along their route and fade from his perception.

  But the signatures don't fade. Instead, they pause, then deliberately change direction—toward the Eastern Pavilion. Toward his quarters.

  Lin Tian sits up slowly, disorientation momentarily forgotten as he focuses on the approaching Qi signatures. Something about their movement pattern feels deliberate, predatory. These aren't random patrols; they're moving with purpose.

  Minutes pass as Lin Tian tracks their approach. The closer they get, the more details he can discern about their Qi. Both signatures radiate power far beyond anything Lin Tian has personally encountered since his rebirth—at least Peak Realm cultivation, possibly higher.

  "Why would cultivators of that caliber be approaching the Observational Disciples' quarters at this hour?" Lin Tian murmurs, a cold sensation settling in his stomach. "And why haven't the sect's security formations detected them?"

  He concentrates harder, analyzing the quality of their Qi. One signature feels sharp and cold, like winter frost, with edges that seem to cut through the spiritual landscape. The other is dense and oppressive, a crushing presence reminiscent of mountain avalanches he had witnessed in his previous life.

  As they draw closer, Lin Tian realizes something that sends a chill down his spine—these cultivators are masking their presence, moving with stealth techniques that would render them completely undetectable to anyone without his abnormally enhanced senses.

  "These aren't sect members on legitimate business," he concludes with growing alarm. The deliberate concealment, the midnight timing, the direct approach to his quarters—all point to something far more sinister.

  Lin Tian forces himself to his feet, fighting through the disorienting sensory overload. His head pounds as he moves, each heartbeat sending waves of pain through his temples.

  The powerful Qi signatures are now close enough that their spiritual pressure affects the air around him, making it feel thick and heavy.

  "I stand no chance against cultivators radiating such bloodlust," Lin Tian acknowledges grimly. Even with his recent breakthrough, he remains woefully outmatched against Peak Realm opponents. His precise control and tactical mind can compensate for many disadvantages, but not a gap this vast.

  He glances around his quarters, assessing options. The window offers a potential escape route, but running would only delay the inevitable if these cultivators intended him harm. His gaze falls on the door to Lin Feng's adjacent room—should he wake his attendant?

  The signatures pause momentarily at what Lin Tian estimates to be the outer wall of the Eastern Pavilion. Through his enhanced hearing, he catches the faint sound of whispered words, though he can't make out their content. Then the signatures begin moving again, more quickly now, their Qi fluctuating in preparation for action.

  Lin Tian's mind races. Are they coming for him specifically? Why? Have they somehow discovered his true identity? Or is this connected to his unusual performance at the Crescent Moon Spring? The timing, immediately following his breakthrough, can't be coincidental.

  "I need to prepare," he thinks, reaching for his inner Qi reserves. If he can't fight, perhaps he can at least create a distraction to escape.

  As the signatures draw critically near—now just outside the building housing his quarters—Lin Tian feels their bloodlust spike. There's no longer any doubt about their intentions. He can sense their killing intent even through the walls, focused and hungry.

  "Are they here to execute me?" he wonders, heart pounding. "But on whose orders?"

  His head now throbs painfully, his over-sensitive meridians reacting to the proximity of such powerful Qi. The sensory dissonance from his breakthrough combined with the stress of the situation makes concentration increasingly difficult.

  Just as Lin Tian braces for the intruders to breach his door, something extraordinary happens. A third Qi signature flashes into existence—appearing out of nowhere as if materializing from thin air. This new presence is so overwhelming that Lin Tian's breath catches in his throat. The signature dwarfs the other two completely, a vast ocean compared to modest lakes.

  There's a momentary silence, then a muffled sound of surprise from outside. The air grows dense with spiritual pressure, so intense that Lin Tian's knees nearly buckle. Through his enhanced hearing, he catches fragments of hurried whispers.

  "How did you—"

  "Impossible—"

  "We were promised no interfer—"

  The whispers cut off abruptly, replaced by the unmistakable sounds of conflict—but unlike any battle Lin Tian has witnessed in this world. There are no thunderous collisions of Qi, no destructive techniques tearing through the night. Instead, there's only a series of soft impacts, two choked gasps of pain, and then silence.

  The entire confrontation lasts mere seconds.

  Lin Tian strains his senses, trying to identify what happened. The two hostile Qi signatures fluctuate wildly, then diminish rapidly—not retreating, but fading like candles extinguished by a sudden wind. The third presence, the overwhelming one, remains steady for a moment longer.

  Cautiously, Lin Tian extends his spiritual perception, attempting to identify this powerful savior—or perhaps new threat. But the moment he directs his attention toward it, the signature vanishes completely. Not retreating or fading gradually, but disappearing instantly as if it had never existed.

  His eyes widen in shock. "That's impossible," he whispers. To completely conceal one's Qi at that level of power would require mastery beyond anything Lin Tian had encountered, even in his previous life as Emperor Reinhart.

  Someone had just effortlessly dispatched two Peak Realm cultivators without making enough noise to alert even the nearest disciples. Whoever it was possessed not just overwhelming power, but perfect control and the ability to completely mask their presence at will.

  As his mind races through possibilities, Lin Tian senses a subtle disturbance in the air behind him—a shift so slight that even his enhanced perception barely registers it. Before he can turn, a pressure point on his neck is touched with expert precision.

  Lin Tian tries to resist, but his body refuses to respond. As unconsciousness claims him, he can only wonder who could possess such overwhelming power yet move with such stealth. The question follows Lin Tian into darkness as he collapses back onto his sleeping mat.

  In a dimly lit chamber far from the Eastern Pavilion, two figures lie prostrate on the ground, their features indiscernible in the shadows. Before them, seated on what appears to be an ornate throne, a figure radiates an immense spiritual pressure that makes the air itself feel heavy.

  "What did you say?" The seated figure's voice is soft yet carries an unmistakable threat.

  One of the prostrate figures, shivering visibly, responds with terror evident in his voice. "M-my lord, it appears that the twins have failed in their assassination mission."

  The figure on the throne releases a pulse of spiritual pressure so powerful it begins to scorch the surrounding air. "Are you telling me that two Peak Realm cultivators couldn't even kill a brat at Qi Condensation I?"

  "N-no, my lord. It appears that someone is protecting the boy."

  The elder's voice grows dangerously quiet. "Who? And why?"

  The guard swallows hard, his forehead still pressed to the ground. "We believe... it might be his attendant, my lord."

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  "His attendant?" The elder's eyebrow raises sharply. "What do you mean, his attendant?"

  "That Lin Feng one," the second guard mutters, his voice barely audible.

  "What was that?" The elder leans forward, his eyes narrowing.

  "Y-yes, my lord," the guard stammers. "That's what we think. Lin Feng is the one protecting Young Master Lin Tian."

  The elder scoffs dismissively. "A mere attendant could possibly be at Supreme Peak—" He stops abruptly, his expression changing. "Wait. What did you say? Supreme Peak?"

  The guards exchange a nervous glance before the first one speaks. "Great lord, there have been five attempts of assassination on Lin Tian throughout the course of his life."

  "Five?" The elder's voice drops to a dangerous whisper.

  "Yes, great lord. And every single time, the perpetrators died almost instantly. At first, we thought it was the guards placed on Lin Tian by the patriarch, but after he showed no promise in cultivation, we assumed the guards were removed by the clan."

  The second guard continues, "A rival clan sent assassins to kill Lin Tian, and again, the perpetrators died. Each time, Lin Feng was next to Lin Tian."

  "It could very much be a coincidence, my lord," the first guard adds quickly, "but the order of events doesn't make it seem like that."

  The elder rises from his seat, pacing slowly. "Tell me more about this Lin Feng."

  "There's something off about the history of Lin Feng, my lord. We can't find any records of him except that he was hired by the Lin clan during the birth of Lin Tian. He was appointed when he was a mere child himself—almost 15 years old when he began serving Lin Tian as an infant. That's all we know."

  The elder's brow furrows in thought. "But he's a coward, based on the information we've gathered. He essentially let things like bullying or other things happen to Lin Tian and didn't say anything or rebut. How could someone like that possibly be so strong?"

  "Great lord," the guard replies, gaining confidence, "that could very well be a guise. Attendants are not supposed to intervene in sect matters in any way except to guide their young master. It could have been him just acting according to his role."

  The elder stops pacing, his interest clearly piqued. "You seem convinced. What else do you have?"

  "We have one thing about him that might change your mind," the guard says, his voice dropping to just above a whisper.

  The elder's eyes narrow. "What is it?"

  "It's—"

  The guard's words are cut short as the chamber door creaks open. A slender figure glides in, bowing deeply before the elder.

  "Forgive the interruption, Master," the newcomer says, "but there's been a development at the Eastern Pavilion. Lin Tian has experienced a breakthrough."

  The elder dismisses the guards with a wave of his hand. As they scramble to leave, he turns his attention to the new arrival. "Tell me everything."

  When Lin Tian next opens his eyes, early morning light filters through his window. For a moment, he lies still, trying to determine if the night's events were merely a dream born from the disorientation of his breakthrough.

  The persistent headache and overwhelming sensory input quickly confirm the reality of his situation. His advancement to Qi Condensation II is certainly real—and likely, so was the midnight encounter.

  Lin Tian sits up carefully, noting that his body feels different. His muscles respond with newfound precision, his balance perfect without conscious effort. Even the persistent fatigue that had plagued him since childhood—a consequence of his previously constricted meridians—has vanished completely.

  But these improvements come at a cost. Every sensory input remains painfully intense. The morning birdsong outside his window sounds like a cacophony. The scent of breakfast being prepared in distant kitchens fills his nostrils as if he were standing among the cooks. When he glances at his hands, he can see the subtle flow of Qi beneath his skin, meridians glowing faintly with energy.

  "Young Master, you're awake."

  Lin Feng's voice from the doorway sends a spike of pain through Lin Tian's sensitive hearing. His attendant enters carrying a tray with a steaming cup of herbal tea, his expression showing no sign of awareness regarding the night's events.

  "Did you sleep well?" Lin Feng asks, placing the tray beside Lin Tian's mat. "You seem... different this morning."

  Lin Tian studies his attendant carefully, searching for any sign that he might be the mysterious protector from the night before. But Lin Feng's Qi signature remains as modest as ever, showing no hint of the overwhelming power Lin Tian had sensed.

  "Lin Feng," Lin Tian says carefully, "did you notice anything unusual last night? Any disturbances near our quarters?"

  The attendant frowns slightly, shaking his head. "Nothing unusual, Young Master. Though..." He hesitates. "You were muttering in your sleep when I checked on you during the night. You seemed distressed."

  "When exactly did you check on me?" Lin Tian asks, keeping his tone casual.

  "Shortly after midnight, Young Master. You were tossing in your sleep, so I looked in briefly before returning to my own rest."

  Lin Tian nods slowly, revealing nothing of his thoughts. Either Lin Feng is an exceptionally skilled actor who can perfectly mask his true power, or he genuinely knows nothing about the midnight confrontation.

  Still, looking through the original Lin Tian's memories, he realizes something he had overlooked before. His attendant had always been remarkably competent, far more so than a typical servant. And despite being the son of a family with enemies, there had never been successful assassination attempts against the original Lin Tian.

  "I'm experiencing some... side effects from yesterday's training at the Crescent Moon Spring," Lin Tian explains, deciding to share part of the truth. "My senses are overwhelmed. Everything is too loud, too bright, too intense."

  Lin Feng's expression shifts to one of recognition. "Sense Dissonance," he says immediately. "It's a known condition when cultivation advances too rapidly. Your meridians have expanded significantly, but your sensory processing hasn't adjusted yet."

  Lin Tian can't hide his surprise at Lin Feng's immediate and detailed diagnosis. "You seem quite knowledgeable about this condition."

  The attendant catches himself, his manner becoming more formal. "I've seen similar cases among other disciples, Young Master. It's not uncommon after significant breakthroughs." His explanation sounds rehearsed, and Lin Tian files away this small inconsistency for future consideration.

  "Will it pass?" Lin Tian asks.

  "Yes, Young Master. When your meridians expand suddenly, the influx of Qi essentially cranks your senses to their maximum. It's as if your cultivation has temporarily boosted your perceptive abilities two stages ahead of your actual level. It can be dangerous—the sensory overload has been known to harm cultivators who aren't prepared for it."

  Lin Feng's explanation is both precise and knowledgeable—far more so than would be expected from a mere attendant. Another piece of evidence that doesn't quite fit with his apparent role.

  Through the sensory chaos, Lin Tian detects an unfamiliar voice somewhere outside—faint but distinctive. He concentrates, filtering through the overwhelming input to focus on this specific sound.

  "Yes, my lord... Lin Tian has... gone through some changes..."

  The voice sounds vaguely familiar, but Lin Tian can't place it in his disoriented state. When he attempts to locate the Qi signature associated with the voice, it vanishes immediately—much like the powerful presence from the night before.

  Cold realization washes over him. Someone is watching him, reporting on his condition to some unseen master. Combined with the midnight assassination attempt, this suggests a complex web of interest and intrigue surrounding his recent activities.

  "Lin Feng," Lin Tian says quietly, "I believe someone may have attempted to harm me last night."

  The attendant's expression shifts to one of alarm. "Young Master? What happened?"

  Lin Tian describes a version of the night's events, carefully edited to exclude details that would reveal the full extent of his sensory enhancement. He mentions sensing powerful presences approaching, then an apparent conflict outside his quarters before he lost consciousness.

  Lin Feng's concern appears genuine. "This is deeply troubling, Young Master. Perhaps it connects to yesterday's discovery about the false message sent to Disciple Liu."

  Lin Tian nods slowly. "The timing suggests a connection. Someone is taking an unhealthy interest in my activities." He watches Lin Feng's face carefully, looking for any hint of deception or prior knowledge, but finds none.

  His attendant's expression hardens with unexpected resolve. "I will increase my inquiries, Young Master, but with extreme discretion. Perhaps there are whispers among the other servants."

  As they discuss possible approaches, Lin Tian realizes something with a start. "What day is it today?"

  Lin Feng freezes momentarily. "The Qi Resonance Trial is scheduled for this morning, Young Master."

  "Master Zhou might postpone your participation given your condition," Lin Feng adds, studying Lin Tian's obviously distressed state.

  Lin Tian shakes his head firmly. "I must participate. Any delay would raise suspicions."

  He stands, testing his balance. Despite the sensory overload, his physical coordination has improved dramatically. "I need to learn to control these enhanced senses quickly. The trial might reveal who's been watching me."

  Lin Feng hesitates, then suggests, "There is a temporary suppression technique that might help mask your condition for the duration of the trial."

  "It will only work for a few hours," he cautions. "After that, the symptoms will return, possibly worse."

  Lin Tian accepts the risk. "It's necessary. Teach me this technique."

  To Lin Tian's surprise, Lin Feng demonstrates the suppression method with surprising proficiency, showing Lin Tian precise pressure points along specific meridians and the corresponding breathing pattern. Another piece of evidence that his attendant was far more than he appeared.

  "How does a simple attendant know such specialized techniques?" Lin Tian wonders, but keeps the question to himself. The mystery of Lin Feng's background deepens, but now is not the time to investigate.

  As dawn fully breaks, Lin Tian practices the suppression technique. His senses gradually come under partial control, though still enhanced beyond normal levels. Through his window, he observes the Eastern Pavilion coming alive with activity as disciples prepare for the day's events.

  His enhanced vision allows him to detect unusual movement patterns—more senior disciples gathering than would be typical for a routine Qi Resonance Trial. Something significant is happening today.

  Lin Feng returns from a brief absence, his expression grave. "Elder Shen has arrived to personally oversee today's Qi Resonance Trial."

  Lin Tian tenses, recalling Lin Feng's earlier discovery about Elder Shen's connection to the false message sent to Liu Hui. The elder's personal involvement adds another layer of complexity to an already dangerous situation.

  Moving to the window, Lin Tian gazes out at the gathering disciples. His enhanced vision allows him to spot Mei Ling in the distance, standing apart from the other Observational Disciples. She briefly looks in his direction with an unreadable expression before turning away.

  Through his heightened senses, Lin Tian detects something else—a faint resonance from within his own dantian, responding to an external energy source somewhere in the compound. The sensation is subtle but unmistakable, like the humming of a tuning fork responding to its matched pair.

  "Something is calling to me," he realizes with shock, his hand instinctively moving to his chest where his dantian pulses with newfound strength.

  Lin Tian keeps this discovery to himself. Whatever—or whoever—awaits him at the trial might hold answers to questions he hasn't even thought to ask yet.

  "We should prepare for the trial," he tells Lin Feng, his voice steadier than he feels. "I suspect today will prove more significant than anyone anticipates."