Dawn painted the crest of the Misty Dawn Peak in gold and scarlet. In the Hidden Orchid Valley, the morning mist was beginning to lazily retreat, revealing a sanctuary of green and serenity. Lin Feng and Xiao Lan stood at the edge of the clearing, the decision to depart already made, the echo of the elders' visit still resonating in their minds like a warning.
"So, the Distant Echo Mountains," Lin Feng murmured, more to himself than to her, as he adjusted a small, improvised backpack with some basic provisions. The idea of a real expedition, far from the oppressive atmosphere of the sect, produced a mixture of nervousness and a strange excitement.
Xiao Lan nodded, her gaze fixed on the distant peaks barely visible through an opening in the forest canopy. "The Moonfrost Spirit Grass. A legendary ingredient. If the texts don't lie, its extremely pure Yin energy is perfect for tempering and stabilizing newly formed spiritual cores, especially those with complex fire affinities like my Umbral Phoenix Flame. It's also said to sharpen soul perception." Her voice was calm, but Lin Feng detected a hint of anticipation in it.
"Grand Elder Wei and Elder Liu seemed... displeased by your refusal to accept an escort," Lin Feng commented, recalling the tension of the visit. Glob, now reduced to the size of a smooth river stone and hidden in an inner pocket of his robe, emitted a faint warm pulse, as if sharing his memory.
"They expected more deference, perhaps even submission," Xiao Lan replied with a faint, ironic smile. "My advancement to the Gold Core has altered the balance of power in the sect, but it has also made me an asset they wish to control and direct. An entourage of 'protectors' would have, in reality, been an entourage of watchers and perhaps, saboteurs of my independence if my interests didn't perfectly align with those of certain factions." She turned to him. "Our alibi – your supposed erudition and my need for a discreet assistant with anomalous knowledge – is our best defense for now. We must be flawless in its execution."
"Understood, Senior Sister," Lin Feng said. "Glob and I will be the shadow of your bookish wisdom." He felt Glob shift slightly, a vibration of amused assent.
They set off, leaving behind the safety and isolation of the valley. The initial journey to leave the Scarlet Cloud Sect's territory was a lesson in stealth and perception. Xiao Lan, with her Gold Core power, could have simply flown or pushed through the patrols with her aura, but discretion was paramount. It was here that Glob's new evolution, openly shared between Lin Feng and Xiao Lan, proved its worth.
"Senior Sister," Lin Feng said in a low voice as they hid behind some rocks, observing a group of inner disciples patrolling a main path. "Glob is showing me something... different. It's no longer just 'feelings' of danger. It's as if I can see a map of the energy currents of nearby cultivators, their fluctuations. It indicates that patrol will deviate westward in a few minutes, leaving the dry stream path clear. It seems its ability to 'map' essences has become much more precise and detailed after the Lotus and Guardian's energy."
Xiao Lan looked at him, her jade eyes shining with interest. She was already aware of Glob's basic ability to sense energies; Lin Feng had explained it to her after their first feast in the chaotic cavern. But this… this was a new level. "An energy map, you say? With such precision?"
Lin Feng nodded. "It's like I see their spiritual 'signatures,' their intentions of movement. It's a very clear mental image."
"Fascinating," Xiao Lan murmured. "Your familiar is an inexhaustible source of surprises, Lin Feng. That ability is... invaluable for evasion and exploration. When we have to justify how we avoided that patrol, you'll say you remembered a passage in 'Infiltration Tactics of the Misty Forest Clans' that described how sect patrols often use the morning sun to mask their movements in certain valleys."
Lin Feng smiled. "Understood, Senior Sister. My personal library of 'ancient texts' seems to grow with each new ability of Glob's."
They followed Lin Feng's "intuition" (fueled by Glob) and, sure enough, the patrol veered off, allowing them to cross unseen. This pattern repeated itself several times. Glob detected patrols, beast nests, or even subtle energy fluctuations indicating unstable natural formations, and Lin Feng "translated" it to Xiao Lan as a deduction based on his supposed erudition or keen observation of the environment.
"That knowledge of yours about 'anomalous wind patterns preceding collapses in narrow canyons' was surprisingly timely, Lin Feng," Xiao Lan commented with a hint of amusement in her voice after he had them stop just before a section of a cliff broke away with a crash.
"Pure luck and dusty readings, Senior Sister," he replied, maintaining the facade, though they both knew the truth. These small conspiracies, these truths shared only between them, were weaving threads of trust and camaraderie that went beyond their initial pact.
Once they left behind the peaks and valleys that demarcated the Scarlet Cloud Sect's territory, the world opened up before them, vast and filled with a wild beauty. They traversed ancient forests where sunlight barely penetrated, creating an atmosphere of perpetual twilight. They crossed plains swept by winds that sang forgotten songs, and waded through rivers of water so pure they could see every pebble at the bottom.
During the nights, around a discreet campfire that Xiao Lan started with a minuscule manifestation of her Umbral Phoenix Flame, their conversations became more extensive, more personal.
"The elders..." Lin Feng began one night, watching the tri-colored flames dance. "They seemed to have many plans for you, Senior Sister. Alliances, prestige for the sect..."
Xiao Lan nodded, her face illuminated by the fire. "A Gold Core cultivator at my age is a powerful pawn in the game of sects. They will seek to use me to secure the future of the Scarlet Cloud. It's understandable, from their perspective." There was a resignation in her voice, but also a steely determination. "But my Dao is my own, Lin Feng. And my debts… are also my own." A fleeting flash of pain and icy fury crossed her eyes, so fast Lin Feng almost thought he had imagined it. It was the first time he glimpsed the true burden she carried, beyond simple ambition for power.
He didn't ask. He knew there were wounds that should not be touched without permission. Instead, he changed the subject. "I've been exploring the Primordial Library, Senior Sister. There's a section on 'Harmonizing the Five Elements with Primordial Chaos.' It's incredibly abstract, but it talks about how chaos isn't the antithesis of the elements, but their origin and their potential for transformation. Maybe… maybe there's something there that can help you further with your Umbral Phoenix Flame."
Xiao Lan's eyes lit up with genuine interest. "That is… a fascinating perspective. Orthodox texts always describe chaos as a purely destructive force that must be suppressed or purged. The idea that it can be harmonized with the elements, even be their origin… is heretical, but intriguing. What else have you discovered?"
And so, under the blanket of unknown stars, Lin Feng began to cautiously share some of the most fundamental and "safe" concepts he had begun to understand from his library, while Xiao Lan listened, questioned, and offered her own perspective from her deep knowledge of the Dao of Fire. It wasn't a lesson, but an exchange, a joint exploration of mysteries that surpassed them both. Glob, nestled between them, seemed to absorb these words as well, its internal light pulsing softly.
On one occasion, as they traversed a region of arid, rocky hills, Glob emitted an urgent pulse. Lin Feng, interpreting the clear mental image he received, stopped. "Senior Sister, Glob is very excited. It's showing me a… very particular energetic 'fragrance' emanating from that crevice in the rocks. It says it's 'tasty food' and 'shiny stones'."
Xiao Lan smiled faintly. "Glob's 'energetic fragrance' and 'shiny stones' often translate into trouble or treasure. Let's see what your little chaotic gourmand has found."
Cautiously, they explored the crevice, which widened into a small cavern. Inside, they found a nest of Crystal Fire Lizards, low-level beasts but whose eggs were translucent and contained a remarkably pure, though unstable, fire energy. And next to the nest, there were several exposed veins of mid-grade Sunfire Stone.
"Your familiar has an infallible nose, Lin Feng," Xiao Lan said, her eyes shining at the find. "These eggs, if refined correctly, can enhance my flame. And the Sunfire Stones are excellent fuel for fire cultivation." Then, with a knowing smile as she clapped him on the back, she added, "When we return, you'll say you remembered a passage from the 'Treatise on Minor Igneous Beasts' that described the nesting habits of these lizards in rock formations with traces of this mineral. Agreed?"
"Of course, Senior Sister," Lin Feng replied, returning her smile. "My erudition knows no bounds."
Lin Feng knew Xiao Lan's sense of humor wasn't great, yet he was amused that she was no longer as cold and distant as before.
The collection was simple. Xiao Lan dispatched the few adult lizards with insulting ease, and Lin Feng, under her direction, helped collect the eggs and crystals. It was a small haul, but the ease with which they obtained it thanks to Glob's ability, and the way they built the "official story" together, strengthened their camaraderie.
Finally, after nearly two weeks of travel, the Distant Echo Mountains rose before them, a wall of jagged, snow-capped peaks that disappeared into the clouds, emanating an aura of icy power and awe-inspiring antiquity. The air became noticeably colder, and the wind howled between the crags with a lament that seemed like the echo of forgotten dragons.
"There they are," Xiao Lan said, her voice now devoid of any lightness, her eyes fixed on the imposing mountain range. "The Distant Echo Mountains. The Moonfrost Spirit Grass, if the legends are true, only grows in its highest, hidden valleys, often guarded by ice beasts that possess great power even for a Gold Core stage cultivator."
They stopped on the last hill before the terrain began to ascend steeply towards the icy foothills. The silence here was different, heavier, charged with an ancient, wild energy. Glob, even hidden, emitted a vibration of deep caution, but also an undeniable attraction towards the heart of the mountains.
Lin Feng felt his Chaotic Heart respond to that energy, a cold, primordial resonance. He looked at Xiao Lan. Her face was a mask of concentration, the warrior in her taking absolute control.
"The Distant Echo Mountains do not yield their treasures easily, Lin Feng," she said, her breath forming a white cloud in the frigid air. "From here on, every step is a gamble against the fury of nature and the guardians who have protected these peaks for countless generations. Our 'cooperation,' our ingenuity, and our power will be tested to the limit."
Lin Feng nodded, a cold, clear determination settling within him. Fear was an icy needle in his gut, yes, but so was a wild excitement, the call of the unknown, the promise of power and knowledge that could change everything. This was what he had fought for, what he had endured.
"I'm ready, Senior Sister," he said, his voice firm despite the icy wind whipping his face.
And together, a Daughter of Heaven with a reborn fire and a trash disciple with a universe of chaos within him, their shared secret their only true shield, they took the first step towards the Distant Echo Mountains, towards the legend and danger that awaited them.