The news arrived during a routine Council meeting.
"Han Wei has achieved Golden Core breakthrough."
Wei Jin kept his expression appropriately congratulatory while his mind raced through implications. The possessed vessel—Master Wu wearing borrowed flesh—had finally advanced beyond Foundation Establishment. After nearly two decades of patient performance, the ancient consciousness had decided to claim the potential it had cultivated.
"This is excellent news for the division," Elder Feng Yue declared, her late-Foundation cultivation now the highest among Wei Jin's original training group. "His healing research will advance significantly with Golden Core capabilities."
"Indeed." Wei Jin nodded agreement. "Senior Brother Han Wei's dedication has always been admirable."
The thing wearing Han Wei's face was not present at the meeting—Golden Core breakthrough required intensive consolidation that isolated the cultivator for weeks or months. But Wei Jin could imagine its satisfaction. The body it had stolen decades ago was finally reaching its true potential, the single-element high-grade roots enabling advancement that the original consciousness would never experience.
The announcement continued with details that Wei Jin absorbed with careful attention. Han Wei would be departing the Alchemy Peak to "pursue external research opportunities"—a common excuse for Golden Core cultivators who wished to explore resources beyond their home sect's boundaries.
In truth, Master Wu was probably seeking safer hunting grounds. Golden Core cultivation attracted attention that might eventually expose the possession. Better to establish new identity elsewhere, continuing the cycle that had probably repeated countless times across centuries.
"We should organize a departure ceremony," someone suggested. "Acknowledge Senior Brother Han Wei's contributions before he leaves."
Wei Jin volunteered to help coordinate the event, recognizing the opportunity for final observation before the possessor vanished from his life. The creature that had taught him to recognize his enemies was leaving—taking with it the constant reminder of what walked among unsuspecting cultivators.
The departure ceremony occurred two weeks later.
Han Wei—Master Wu—stood at the center of a gathering that included decades of colleagues and students. His Golden Core cultivation radiated power that dwarfed the Foundation cultivators surrounding him, the gap between realms manifesting as an almost physical weight in the air.
Wei Jin watched the possessor accept congratulations with the same patient grace it had displayed for twenty years. The performance was flawless—every expression appropriate, every word perfectly calibrated. Only Wei Jin's perfected perception detected the subtle wrongness beneath the surface.
"Take care of yourself, Junior Brother Wei Jin." The possessed voice carried warmth that seemed genuine but was not. "Your contributions to our training group have been invaluable."
"Safe travels, Senior Brother." Wei Jin bowed with appropriate respect. "May your research bring breakthroughs that benefit all cultivators."
Their eyes met for a moment—borrowed eyes that had watched Wei Jin develop from uncertain newcomer to respected Council member. Did Master Wu suspect that Wei Jin knew the truth? Had the ancient consciousness ever detected the awareness that had guided Wei Jin's careful behavior for so many years?
Impossible to know. And soon, irrelevant.
Han Wei departed that evening, his Golden Core cultivation carrying him beyond the sect's boundaries with speed that Foundation disciples could not match. Wei Jin watched the distant figure disappear into the gathering dusk and felt something he had not expected.
Relief.
The constant pressure of maintaining composure around a known predator was finally lifting. The reminder of cultivation's darkest possibilities was removing itself from his daily existence. For the first time in two decades, Wei Jin could attend training group meetings without scanning for signs of possession in a colleague's aura.
But relief was dangerous.
One possessor had left. Others might remain. The shadow war continued even if its most visible combatant had departed.
Wei Jin returned to his preparations with renewed dedication.
—————
The Family Council
The gathering occurred in Wei Jin's private study, formation arrays activated to prevent any possibility of surveillance. Lin Mei sat at his right, her mid-Foundation cultivation providing support for what would be a difficult conversation. Their four children arranged themselves according to age—Wei Feng at twenty-nine, Wei Hua at thirty-two, Wei Lan at twenty-six, Wei Yun at eighteen.
All Foundation Establishment cultivators now. Wei Yun had broken through six months ago, completing the family's collective advancement beyond the mortal realms of cultivation.
"What I'm about to share cannot leave this room," Wei Jin began, his voice carrying the weight of secrets held for over two decades. "The knowledge itself creates danger for those who possess it. You must understand this before I continue."
"We understand, Father." Wei Feng's voice was steady, the combat disciple's discipline evident in his composed attention.
"We trust you." Wei Lan's softer tone held the same conviction.
Wei Jin took a breath and began.
He told them about body seizure. About ancient consciousnesses that could transfer from one body to another, displacing or destroying the original soul. About the possessed Han Wei—Master Wu—who had walked among them for decades while wearing a murdered genius's face.
He told them about the elder who had given him the miraculous lotus, then attacked when his gifts failed to produce expected vulnerability. About the confrontation that had tested every preparation Wei Jin had developed. About the corpse that had vanished without trace during wartime chaos.
He told them about Purple Eyes and the layered auras that revealed possession. About mental cultivation and the spiritual defenses that protected against seizure attempts. About the importance of cultivation purity—avoiding pills and spirit stones that created subtle vulnerabilities in spiritual foundations.
The children absorbed this information with varying reactions.
Wei Feng's expression hardened into warrior alertness, his combat training translating the abstract threat into tactical concerns. "How do we identify them? What signs should we watch for?"
Wei Hua's gentle features held horror that gradually transformed into determined understanding. "The mental cultivation techniques you taught us—they were always about this, weren't they?"
Wei Lan's analytical nature emerged in pointed questions about the possessors' limitations and vulnerabilities. Wei Yun, youngest and most recently advanced, simply listened with wide eyes that processed information too vast for immediate response.
Lin Mei's hand found Wei Jin's beneath the table, her grip communicating support that words could not express. She had carried partial knowledge for years, trusting him when he could not explain. Now she understood the full weight of what he had borne alone.
"Why tell us now?" Wei Feng asked finally. "You've hidden this for over twenty years. What changed?"
"Han Wei is gone." Wei Jin's voice was measured. "The possessor I could observe has departed. I can no longer use that observation to protect you. You need to protect yourselves."
"And you think we're ready?"
"I think you're strong enough to handle the truth. And I think the truth is necessary for survival." Wei Jin looked at each of his children in turn. "You are all Foundation Establishment cultivators now. You will attract attention that Qi Gathering disciples never receive. Some of that attention may come from predators like the ones I've described."
"What do we do?" Wei Lan's practical question cut through the emotional weight of the revelation.
"You cultivate your mental defenses. You avoid unnecessary pills and spirit stones—natural advancement produces purer foundations that resist seizure. You watch for the signs I've described—layered auras, timing inconsistencies, behavioral patterns that don't match known history." Wei Jin paused. "And you never, ever discuss this knowledge with anyone outside this room."
"What about allies?" Wei Feng pressed. "Disciples we trust, colleagues who might help?"
"There are no disciples you can trust with this information. Anyone might be possessed. Anyone might become possessed. The only safe assumption is that every cultivator you meet could be wearing a mask." Wei Jin's voice softened slightly. "I know this sounds paranoid. I know it will make relationships more difficult. But the alternative—trusting someone who then consumes you—is worse."
The family sat in heavy silence, processing a reality that transformed their understanding of the cultivation world.
"One more thing." Wei Jin reached beneath his desk and produced a sealed container—materials he had kept hidden for a decade. "The elder who attacked me carried possessions I did not immediately examine. The risk of hidden traps seemed too great. But ten years have passed, and I believe sufficient time has elapsed for any temporal contamination to expire."
He opened the container, revealing contents that made even his experienced children gasp.
Plants. Rare, luminescent, pulsing with spiritual energy that exceeded anything the Wei family had previously encountered.
"More Root Transformation Lotus?" Lin Mei's voice held wonder.
"Several varieties." Wei Jin began identifying the specimens. "Heavenly Root Transformation Lotus—three specimens, the same type that upgraded my fire root. Azure Spirit Purification Flower—capable of refining existing root quality without changing its nature. Golden Origin Seed—the rarest of all, said to enable entirely new root development in cultivators who have reached their apparent limits."
"Where did the elder obtain these?" Wei Hua asked.
"I don't know. Perhaps accumulated over centuries of existence. Perhaps stolen from victims whose potential they enhanced. What matters is that we have them now." Wei Jin began sorting the specimens. "I will use three of the lotus plants to upgrade my remaining roots. The others—" he pushed a portion toward his children "—I am distributing among the family."
"Father, these are invaluable." Wei Feng's protest was automatic. "You should use them all yourself. Your advancement protects the entire family."
"My advancement also paints a larger target on my back." Wei Jin shook his head. "The family's survival depends on collective strength, not individual prominence. You will each receive materials appropriate to your current cultivation and future potential."
The distribution that followed was carefully calculated. Wei Feng received a lotus plant that would enhance his fire root, complementing the combat techniques he had developed. Wei Hua received an Azure Spirit Purification Flower suited to her wood affinity. Wei Lan and Wei Yun received specimens matched to their particular spiritual configurations. Even Lin Mei received materials that would accelerate her advancement toward late-Foundation.
"Consume these gradually," Wei Jin instructed. "Allow your cultivation bases to stabilize between applications. The enhancement is permanent but can be disruptive if rushed."
"What about the Golden Origin Seed?" Wei Lan noticed that one specimen remained in Wei Jin's collection.
"That requires special preparation and will be reserved for whoever in the family first approaches the threshold where its application becomes relevant." Wei Jin secured the remaining materials. "Golden Core breakthrough, most likely. We will reassess when someone reaches that point."
The meeting concluded with embraces that communicated more than words could express. The family that Wei Jin had built—the legacy that had motivated every preparation—now shared the knowledge that had shaped his existence for two decades.
They were no longer protected by ignorance.
They were prepared for the truth.
—————
The Triple Enhancement
Wei Jin consumed the three lotus plants over the following months, allowing each enhancement to fully integrate before proceeding to the next.
The process was transformative in ways that exceeded his first experience with root upgrading.
His fire root had already been enhanced to mid-grade a decade ago. Now it rose to high-grade, the spiritual channel widening and refining until fire-aspected energy flowed with power that approached natural affinity. His earth root followed, the once low-grade pathway expanding to match its elevated sibling. His wood root completed the transformation, the final piece of a spiritual foundation that bore no resemblance to the three-colored low-grade configuration he had been born with.
Three roots. All high-grade.
The cultivation world's statistics suggested that such a configuration enabled potential reaching into the highest realms. Nascent Soul became theoretically achievable. Even the mythical Immortal Ascension was no longer completely impossible.
[Azure Flowing Foundation Method - Current Efficiency: 100%][Subtle Mind Refinement - Current Efficiency: 100%]
The trackers confirmed that his advancement was proceeding optimally, the enhanced roots accelerating cultivation that his automatic methods had already pushed to remarkable speeds. Wei Jin could feel the changes in every aspect of his practice—techniques that had required effort now flowed naturally, barriers that had demanded patience now yielded readily, limitations that had seemed permanent now dissolved like morning frost.
One year after beginning the enhancement process, he broke through to Peak Foundation Establishment.
The advancement came during an evening meditation, his accumulated cultivation finally exceeding the threshold that separated late-Foundation from its ultimate stage. His spiritual reserves expanded dramatically, his techniques gained power that approached Golden Core capability, his perception sharpened to levels that made previous clarity seem murky.
Peak Foundation. The final stage before the transformative leap to Golden Core.
Wei Jin was forty-two years old, with cultivation that most disciples his age—even those with superior original roots—could not match. His systematic approach, his perfect efficiency, his patient accumulation of advantages over decades had produced results that defied every statistical prediction about cultivators of his background.
The clumsy agricultural disciple who had once struggled to hold a spirit hoe was now among the most powerful Foundation cultivators in the Alchemy Peak's history.
But success brought danger.
Peak Foundation attracted attention that lower stages did not. Observers who had dismissed him as a competent healer would now see a cultivator approaching the boundary of true immortality. Possessors who might have overlooked him as insufficiently promising would now recognize potential worth cultivating—or consuming.
Wei Jin redoubled his vigilance.
His mental cultivation continued its tireless operation. His poison preparations remained ready for deployment. His perception swept his environment constantly, searching for the layered auras that might reveal hidden threats.
Nothing seemed amiss.
One month passed without incident. Then two. The enhancement had settled. His cultivation had stabilized. His advancement continued at the accelerated pace that his improved roots enabled.
Everything seemed perfect.
Too perfect.
—————
The Silent Attack
Wei Jin woke from meditation with a sense of wrongness he could not immediately identify.
The session had been routine—conscious cultivation supplementing the automatic methods that operated constantly. He had focused on refining his control over the newly enhanced spiritual roots, ensuring that his techniques properly utilized their improved capacity.
Nothing had seemed unusual during the practice itself.
But now, as awareness returned to his physical surroundings, something felt… off.
He checked the efficiency trackers automatically, the habit so ingrained that he did it without conscious decision.
[Azure Flowing Foundation Method - Current Efficiency: 95%][Subtle Mind Refinement - Current Efficiency: 95%]
Wei Jin's blood ran cold.
Ninety-five percent. Both methods. The perfect efficiency he had maintained for decades had dropped by five percentage points—a decrease that had never occurred since he first achieved maximum optimization.
And the methods were not running automatically.
He could feel them now, requiring conscious direction that they had not demanded since their perfection years ago. The seamless background operation that had defined his cultivation for so long had somehow been disrupted.
What had happened?
Wei Jin immediately began systematic analysis, examining every aspect of his spiritual configuration for anomalies. His enhanced roots were intact. His meridians were clear. His dantian held its proper reserves. His cultivation base showed no signs of damage or deterioration.
But something was different.
His mental cultivation—the Subtle Mind Refinement that had protected him against the possessor elder's assault—felt slightly… occupied. As if a portion of its capacity was being devoted to something other than his own enhancement.
The realization struck like lightning.
He was under attack.
Not the obvious assault that the elder had attempted—the battering ram of mental force that his defenses had readily blocked. This was something far more subtle. Something that had slipped past his awareness without triggering any of the alarms he had developed.
Something that had been working within his consciousness, undetected, for an unknown period.
Wei Jin forced himself to remain calm despite the terror that threatened to overwhelm his composure. Panic would serve the attacker's purposes. Only systematic response could address the threat.
He began adjusting his cultivation methods, seeking to restore the perfect efficiency that had somehow been compromised. The process felt like struggling against resistance that he had never encountered before—as if something was actively opposing his optimization efforts.
The struggle continued for hours. Then days. Then weeks.
Each adjustment he made was contested by something within his own spiritual configuration. Each improvement was met with subtle sabotage that threatened to undo his progress. The battle was invisible to external observation—Wei Jin continued his normal activities, maintained his responsibilities, showed nothing that might alert the attacker to his awareness.
But internally, war raged.
[Azure Flowing Foundation Method - Current Efficiency: 96%]
Progress. Slow, painful, but measurable.
[Azure Flowing Foundation Method - Current Efficiency: 97%]
More ground reclaimed. The resistance was weakening.
[Azure Flowing Foundation Method - Current Efficiency: 98%]
Wei Jin pushed harder, dedicating every spare moment of attention to the internal struggle. Whatever had invaded his consciousness was losing its grip. His perfected mental cultivation was remembering its proper function, reasserting the defenses that had somehow been circumvented.
[Azure Flowing Foundation Method - Current Efficiency: 99%]
Almost there. One final push.
Wei Jin gathered his full concentration and directed it toward the last fragments of resistance within his spiritual configuration. The invading presence—whatever it was—had been reduced to a tiny foothold, clinging desperately to existence within his consciousness.
He crushed it.
[Azure Flowing Foundation Method - Current Efficiency: 100%][Subtle Mind Refinement - Current Efficiency: 100%]
The trackers restored to their proper levels.
And in the moment of the invader's destruction, Wei Jin heard it scream.
The sound echoed through his consciousness—a shriek of frustrated rage and defeated ambition that confirmed everything he had feared. Something had been living within his mind. Something had been slowly, patiently working to compromise his defenses from within.
A possession attempt. Not the forceful assault he had prepared for, but an infiltration so subtle that even his perfected awareness had failed to detect it until the damage was nearly complete.
How long had it been there? When had it entered? What had it learned during its occupation?
Questions without answers. The invader was destroyed, its consciousness shattered by Wei Jin's reasserted control. Whatever intelligence had attempted to claim him was gone, leaving only the echo of its final scream.
Wei Jin sat in the aftermath, trembling despite his best efforts at composure.
"That was close," he whispered to the empty room.
Close. Too close. He had nearly been consumed by an attack he had never detected, defeated by a method he had not known existed.
His preparations had saved him—the mental cultivation operating automatically, the spiritual defenses functioning even when his conscious attention was occupied elsewhere. But if the invader had been slightly more patient, slightly more subtle, slightly better at avoiding the thresholds that had eventually triggered his awareness…
He would have become another vessel. Another mask worn by ancient consciousness. Another victim whose potential served purposes that the original soul never imagined.
The shadow war had evolved.
The possessors were not merely using direct assault and long-term cultivation of victims. They had developed methods of gradual infiltration—silent invasions that could compromise cultivators without ever triggering the obvious warnings that defenders prepared for.
How many victims had never realized what was happening? How many cultivators across the world walked around hosting consciousnesses that had slipped in undetected?
Wei Jin had no way of knowing.
But he knew one thing with absolute certainty.
His preparations were inadequate.
He needed to develop new defenses against threats that operated below the threshold of conscious detection. He needed methods for identifying infiltration before it advanced to dangerous levels. He needed ways to protect his family from attacks that his current techniques could not perceive.
The shadow war continued.
And its battlefields were more treacherous than he had ever imagined.
—————
End of Chapter Ten, Book Two
—————