The Broken Sky Sect, nestled within the craggy mountain range, had always been proud of its well-guarded spiritual formations. These intricate arrays, formed through centuries of refinement, protected the sect from external threats, stabilized spiritual energy, and ensured the safety of the cultivators. The elders had long since believed the formations were in their prime—perfectly balanced, silent sentinels against the dangers of the world.
But that afternoon, a faint pulse of energy disturbed the peace.
It wasn't enough to rattle the sect immediately, but it was enough to stir something ancient beneath the mountain. A quiet tremor ran through the very earth itself, unnoticed by the majority of disciples. Yet, for those attuned to the spiritual world, it was a signal.
Lin Yuan, quietly walking back to his quarters after his daily meditation, felt the subtle energy shift. The Orb, resting within his core, hummed gently—a quiet warning, an invisible call to action.
> [Orb Interface Activated]
— Energy Disturbance Detected: Formation Array Unstable
— Type: Earth-Spirit Sealing Array
— Degradation Level: 73%
— Risk: Formation Collapse (Partial)
— Immediate Action Required
Lin Yuan paused. His eyes narrowed as the Orb's analysis played out in his mind.
A collapse of this formation could destabilize a large section of the sect's spiritual foundation, affecting Qi circulation for both cultivators and mortals alike. If left unchecked, the consequences could be disastrous, even causing permanent damage to the sect's infrastructure.
But there was one catch.
No one had noticed the formation's degradation yet. The elders were far too focused on other matters. Even with the innate connection between formations and the spiritual energy of the land, Lin Yuan knew this anomaly would go unnoticed by the sect's most skilled elders. That was, unless someone intervened.
He glanced around the outer courtyard, ensuring no one was watching. With the natural grace of a cultivator well-versed in discretion, he made his way toward the northern cliffs—away from the main sect grounds and into the hidden areas of the mountain.
The path down was narrow, lined with overgrown moss and ancient stone. The air grew thick with Qi as he approached the fissure where the disturbance originated. His body moved as though guided by instinct, Earth-Forged Step ensuring his every motion was silent, swift, and purposeful.
When he reached the fissure, Lin Yuan knelt before the damaged formation core, his fingers brushing the cool stone. The formation was cracked, its symbols blurred and weak, the spiritual stone at its center fractured.
> [Orb Analysis: Compatible Origin Material Detected]
— Absorption?
— Y/N
Lin Yuan knelt and pressed his palm to the fractured surface. He nodded silently.
> Absorbing…
— Qi-Infused Rune Dust +13
— Broken Earth-Stabilizing Stone +1
— Formation Energy: Moderate
Skill Insight Gained: Formation Weaving – Foundation Level
Orb Power Surge: Realm Elevated
— Qi Condensation (fourth - layer) Achieved
A faint glow radiated from within his core. The Orb's power fed directly into his meridians, gently expanding his Qi sea. The breakthrough came without struggle—quiet and efficient.
Lin Yuan exhaled softly, steadying his breathing.
He extended his other hand and activated Whispering Flame, letting the technique weave through his fingers in controlled threads of warm fire. Unlike its typical use in combat, here it served a more delicate purpose. The soft flames danced over the broken runes, burning away the decay and restoring the integrity of the formation.
Guided by the Orb's silent feedback, Lin Yuan etched the restored rune patterns into place. It was careful work, but he had already begun grasping the art of formation through the absorbed insights.
The cavern trembled faintly—then stilled.
The formation's core hummed to life, restored, as if it had never broken.
> [ORB INTERFACE]
— Formation Stabilized
— Energy Pulse Normalized
— Reward Logged
— Qi Reserves: +22
— Skill: Formation Weaving updated (Proficiency: 3%)
He took a deep breath. The pulse in his veins was stronger than before. His cultivation, which normally required days of focused effort, had climbed another step simply by absorbing a crumbling formation. This was his path: not pill-forged nor trial-blooded, but woven through absorption.
And no one would know.
As he silently returned to the sect grounds, the Orb's glow faded. His presence was no more noticeable than a leaf on the wind.
Far above, in the Grand Pavilion, Elder Chen stirred uneasily in meditation.
"The Earth-Spirit Sealing Array… it's different," he muttered, standing. "There's no external trace, yet its flow is somehow... cleaner."
Sect Master Yao blinked from his meditation. "We sensed no threat."
"There was none," Chen said, his brow furrowed. "But someone interfered. Expertly. Secretly."
The elders convened in private, puzzled. Their formation logs showed no sign of activation, and all outer sect disciples were accounted for. Whoever had done this had evaded even the most sensitive detection.
The sect was left to speculate—some whispering about an ancient guardian spirit, others a hidden master walking among them.
Lin Yuan, however, said nothing.
That evening, in his courtyard, he sat cross-legged beneath a flowering pine, the stars reflecting in his calm eyes. His cultivation had grown. His understanding of formations had expanded. And no one suspected the quiet boy in the outer grounds had saved the sect from an unseen disaster.
The Orb pulsed once more—quiet, steady, waiting.
And Lin Yuan simply smiled.