The meditation chamber beneath Celestial Dawn's Grand Archive existed in perpetual twilight, spiritual energy so dense it manifested as visible shimmer in the air. Lin Feng had secured access to this restricted cultivation space as one of his core disciple privileges—a room where time seemed to move differently, where a single day of cultivation produced results that would normally require three.
He'd been here for six hours already, consciousness divided into nine streams while maintaining four-perspective awareness. The strain was considerable, but manageable. Barely.
Stream One: Perfect meridian circulation optimization
Stream Two: Void energy refinement and compression
Stream Three: Dao companion bond maintenance with Qingxue
Stream Four: Spatial perception expansion exercises
Stream Five: Formation pattern analysis
Stream Six: Consciousness infrastructure reinforcement
Stream Seven: Combat scenario simulation
Stream Eight: Temporal progression monitoring
Stream Nine: Overall coordination and integration
Progress toward Divine Domain Level 8 had reached forty-three percent—measurable advancement over the past two weeks since the ceremony. But eighteen months to sect founding meant six months to reach Level 8, and forty-three percent in two weeks wouldn't scale linearly. The early portions of any cultivation level always progressed faster than later consolidation phases.
Lin Feng's analytical mind calculated the mathematics coldly: at current rates, he'd reach perhaps seventy percent by month four, requiring intensive breakthrough cultivation for the final thirty percent. Aggressive, but achievable.
A subtle shift in spatial energy announced Qingxue's arrival before she entered. Their dao companion bond had grown sophisticated enough that he felt her approaching through layers of sect formations and reinforced walls.
"Six hours continuous," she observed, settling onto a meditation cushion across from him. "You're pushing harder than usual."
"Eighteen month timeline," Lin Feng replied, not opening his eyes. "Requires recalibration of what constitutes 'usual' training intensity."
"Recalibration that leads to burnout serves no one." Her voice carried Ice Goddess authority—the tone that had commanded disciples and intimidated rivals. "You've been maintaining nine streams for six hours daily all week. Your consciousness infrastructure needs recovery time."
"My consciousness infrastructure is fine."
"Your consciousness infrastructure is showing micro-fractures in streams seven and nine that will become serious problems if you don't moderate." Through their bond, she pushed evidence directly into his awareness—subtle degradation patterns his own monitoring had missed while focusing on advancement metrics.
Lin Feng's consciousness streams paused to analyze what she was showing him. She was right. Stream seven had developed inefficient processing loops, and stream nine showed coordination delays that suggested infrastructure stress.
He gradually withdrew from deep cultivation, collapsing his nine streams back into unified awareness. The transition brought its usual moment of disorientation, followed by recognition that Qingxue was correct—he felt mentally exhausted in ways that spiritual energy replenishment wouldn't address.
"How bad?" he asked.
"Not serious yet, but trending toward problems. You need one full day of rest per six days of intensive cultivation. Consciousness infrastructure repairs itself during downtime, but only if you actually give it downtime."
Lin Feng's temporal analysis projected forward, calculating lost cultivation time versus accumulated consciousness damage. The mathematics supported her recommendation—pushing continuously would eventually cause efficiency collapse that cost more time than regular rest would.
"One day rest per six days cultivation," he confirmed. "Though 'rest' can still include light training and organizational planning."
"Obviously. I'm recommending consciousness rest, not complete inactivity." Qingxue produced jade slips from her storage ring. "Speaking of organizational planning—I've compiled responses to the eleven alliance commitments from the ceremony. We need to prioritize which relationships to develop first."
Lin Feng accepted the slips, his spatial perception automatically cataloging their contents while his analytical mind began processing. Eleven formal recognitions meant eleven ongoing diplomatic relationships requiring maintenance. Each would demand time, attention, and strategic decisions about resource allocation.
"Frozen Sky and Azure Sky are obvious priorities," he said, reviewing documentation. "They provide political protection and resource access. Starfall Valley offers academic collaboration that advances formation theory. The eight others..."
"Range from genuinely useful to political obligations we can't ignore but shouldn't prioritize," Qingxue finished. "I've categorized them by strategic value versus maintenance cost. Three are worth active development, five require minimal engagement, and the remaining three are pure political courtesy."
Her organizational genius continued to manifest in increasingly valuable ways. What would have taken Lin Feng hours of analysis, she'd distilled into actionable frameworks.
"What's your recommendation for the three worth developing?" he asked.
"Thousand Streams Academy—scholarly institution with formation archives we can access. Crimson Cloud Sect—military power that provides combat training exchange opportunities. Verdant Peak Sect—resource specialists who can help with sect founding material requirements."
Lin Feng's consciousness divided, analyzing each faction's potential contribution. Academic knowledge, combat methodology, material resources—practical benefits that would directly support their eighteen-month timeline.
"Agreed. Prioritize those three beyond Frozen Sky and Azure Sky. Minimize the others without causing diplomatic offense." He set down the jade slips. "What about our internal preparation? Sect founding requires more than political alliances."
Qingxue produced another set of documentation—this one covering systematic preparation for Hollow Peak Sect's establishment. Lin Feng had seen earlier versions, but she'd clearly spent considerable time refining details.
"Six major categories," she began. "First: cultivation techniques. We need comprehensive documentation of the Inverse Void Dao suitable for teaching disciples at every level. Currently we have fragments and personal insights, but not systematic methodology."
"That's months of work," Lin Feng noted.
"Eight months, by my estimate, working three hours daily on documentation while maintaining cultivation schedule. Which means we need to start immediately."
"Agreed. Second category?"
"Organizational structure. We have frameworks, but need detailed implementation—specific roles, authority hierarchies, resource distribution systems, disciplinary procedures. Another four months of work."
"Third?"
"Physical location. We need territory for sect establishment—preferably with natural spiritual energy concentration, defensible geography, and proximity to trade routes without being too accessible. Finding and securing appropriate location will take two to three months including negotiations."
Lin Feng's spatial perception instinctively began analyzing geographical requirements. Defensible meant mountain ranges or isolated valleys. Spiritual energy concentration required natural formation nodes. Trade route proximity but not accessibility suggested locations near major paths but requiring cultivation to reach.
"Recommendations?" he asked.
"I have three potential locations identified based on Azure Sky intelligence reports. We should investigate them starting at the ten-month mark—after you reach Level 9 but before Cloud Transformation breakthrough. Being stronger during territorial negotiations improves our position."
"Smart. Fourth category?"
"Founding disciples. We can't establish a sect without disciples, but recruiting before we're ready creates problems. I recommend identifying potential candidates starting at month twelve, making formal offers at month fifteen, with disciples arriving immediately after sect founding."
"How many disciples for initial establishment?"
"Minimum twelve, maximum twenty. Enough to create genuine institutional structure, not so many we can't provide adequate attention during formation phase. I'd prefer fifteen—enough for three squads of five if we need tactical organization."
Lin Feng's consciousness streams processed the logic. Fifteen founding disciples meant fifteen people whose cultivation they'd directly shape, whose character would influence institutional culture, whose loyalty would be tested repeatedly.
"Quality over quantity," he said. "Better fifteen exceptional disciples than thirty mediocre ones."
"Exactly my thinking. Fifth category: resources. Conservative estimate for basic sect founding—five hundred thousand spiritual stones for initial infrastructure, another three hundred thousand for first year operational costs, plus specialized materials for formations, cultivation chambers, defensive arrays."
The numbers made Lin Feng's consciousness briefly stagger. Eight hundred thousand spiritual stones was more wealth than he'd contemplated in his entire previous life as a servant.
"Where do we get eight hundred thousand spiritual stones?" he asked carefully.
"Multiple sources. Frozen Sky has committed one hundred thousand as sect founding gift. Azure Sky will provide another seventy-five thousand. My personal resources from Patriarch Bingfeng: two hundred thousand. Your tournament winnings and payments from recent operations: thirty thousand. Which leaves four hundred thousand we need to acquire."
"Four hundred thousand spiritual stones in eighteen months."
"Fifteen months, accounting for the three months needed for actual sect construction. Which means we need funding secured by month fifteen." Qingxue's expression remained calm despite the aggressive timeline. "I have three strategies: accepting sponsored missions from major sects, selling formation theory documentation to academic institutions, and leveraging our 'Friend of Azure Sky' status for favorable trade arrangements."
Lin Feng divided his consciousness, analyzing each funding strategy's feasibility. Sponsored missions would provide substantial payment but require time away from cultivation. Documentation sales offered steady income without time commitment but required completing the documentation first. Trade arrangements leveraged political connections but needed initial capital to generate returns.
"Combined approach," he concluded. "Heavy emphasis on documentation sales since we need that anyway. Selective mission acceptance—only high-value operations that provide dual benefits of payment and political advantage. Trade arrangements as supplementary income once we have initial capital."
"My thinking exactly. Sixth category: defensive measures."
"There's a sixth category?"
"Obviously. Establishing a sect makes us a target. We need defensive formations, early warning systems, emergency protocols, and alliance with nearby military powers for rapid response if we're attacked during vulnerable founding phase."
Lin Feng's tactical mind immediately engaged with the challenge. A new sect represented easy target—insufficient defenses, untrained disciples, leadership stretched thin managing establishment chaos. Anyone with grudges or ambitions might strike during those first critical months.
"Elder Shadow," he said quietly. "If he survived, he'll see sect founding as perfect opportunity for revenge. When we're most vulnerable."
"Which is why we need defenses established before announcing sect location. Formation work begins immediately after securing territory, three months before official founding. Elder Wei has agreed to help design defensive arrays specifically countering demonic cultivation."
The systematic thoroughness of her planning impressed Lin Feng's analytical mind. Qingxue had thought through every major challenge and developed preliminary solutions for each.
"This is brilliant," he said honestly. "How long did this take you?"
"Every night for the past two weeks while you were doing intensive cultivation. Someone needed to think systematically about implementation while you focused on advancement." She allowed herself a small smile. "We balance each other well."
Through their dao companion bond, Lin Feng felt the depth of her commitment—not romantic sentiment alone, but genuine partnership directed toward shared ambitious goals. They were building something together, each contributing unique capabilities toward common purpose.
"We do," he agreed. "Though I should probably contribute more to organizational planning instead of leaving everything to you."
"You will, once you reach Level 8 and can reduce intensive cultivation somewhat. For now, advancement is your primary responsibility. I handle planning."
"Distribution of labor according to comparative advantage," Lin Feng mused, recognizing the economic principle.
"Exactly. Now—" she glanced at a jade slip "—you've been cultivating or planning for seven hours today. Elder Wei requested your presence for formation theory discussion, and you have combat training with Han Shu and Liu Feng scheduled afterward. Dense day."
Lin Feng rose from meditation position, noting the mild protest from muscles held still too long. His spatial perception automatically mapped the path to Elder Wei's workshop while his consciousness began transitioning into the different mental framework required for technical discussion.
"Dense eighteen months ahead," he corrected. "Today is just representative sample."
"Then we'd better get efficient at managing density," Qingxue said pragmatically.
Elder Wei's workshop had somehow accumulated even more documentation since Lin Feng's last visit. Jade slips covered every surface, formation components spilled from overflowing containers, and spiritual materials created a maze requiring spatial perception to navigate safely.
"Lin Feng!" Wei greeted enthusiastically, not looking up from whatever schematic he was studying. "Perfect timing. I've been analyzing Starfall Valley's dimensional theory documentation against your formation mechanics and found fascinating correlations."
"Correlations between what specifically?" Lin Feng asked, approaching the workbench carefully.
"Between your spatial-geometric formations and traditional pocket dimension construction techniques. The mathematics are nearly identical—you're essentially creating micro-pocket dimensions when you deploy formations, except you're doing it instinctively rather than through formal dimensional engineering."
Lin Feng's consciousness divided, processing implications. His formations created literal spatial structures rather than symbolic patterns. If those structures functioned like miniature pocket dimensions, that suggested capabilities he hadn't explored.
"What would that enable practically?" he asked.
"Theoretically? Formations that exist partially outside normal space, making them nearly impossible to disrupt through conventional means. Pocket storage integrated into defensive arrays. Spatial manipulation that doesn't just affect local area but creates genuine dimensional interfaces."
Elder Wei finally looked up, eyes gleaming with scholarly excitement. "You could potentially create formations that store spiritual energy in pocket dimensions, releasing it only when triggered. Defensive arrays that don't just block attacks but redirect them into isolated dimensional spaces. Training chambers where time flows differently than outside."
Each possibility made Lin Feng's analytical mind engage more deeply. Time-dilated training chambers alone would dramatically accelerate disciple development. Energy storage formations would solve numerous resource constraint problems.
"How do I learn dimensional engineering properly?" he asked.
"That's why I called you here. Starfall Valley sent three technical manuals on dimensional theory—with explicit permission for you to study them as part of academic exchange arrangement." Wei produced jade slips that practically vibrated with complex information. "Fair warning: this is graduate-level cultivation theory. Most cultivators spend decades mastering basics."
"How long do you estimate for me to achieve working proficiency?"
Elder Wei considered carefully. "With your perfect meridians, existing spatial manipulation foundation, and consciousness division? Optimistically, six months for basic competency. Twelve months for advanced applications. Eighteen months might see you creating genuinely novel dimensional techniques."
The timeline aligned perfectly with sect founding schedule. Lin Feng could study dimensional engineering while progressing cultivation levels, then apply advanced techniques during Hollow Peak Sect's physical construction.
"I'll start immediately," he decided. "Though I'll need to balance this against cultivation advancement and other obligations."
"Two hours per day should be sufficient," Wei suggested. "Dimensional theory requires contemplation more than intensive practice—your consciousness streams can process theoretical frameworks while you're engaged in other activities."
That was practically custom-designed for Lin Feng's capabilities. His consciousness division let him study theory using background streams while foreground streams handled cultivation or combat training.
"Agreed. Two hours daily for dimensional engineering study."
"Excellent. I've prepared a curriculum—" Wei produced yet another jade slip "—starting with fundamental principles and progressing toward advanced applications. Starfall Valley's Master Jiang also offered remote consultation if you encounter theoretical obstacles."
Lin Feng accepted the curriculum, his spatial perception cataloging the systematic progression from basics to advanced topics. Properly structured learning that would build understanding incrementally rather than overwhelming him with complexity.
"This is incredibly valuable," he said. "Thank you for arranging the exchange."
"Thank me by creating dimensional formations that revolutionize the field," Wei replied with a grin. "Academic contribution is its own reward, but being associated with genuine innovation doesn't hurt either."
They spent the next hour discussing fundamental dimensional principles—how space could be folded, compressed, expanded, or isolated. How pocket dimensions maintained stability through formation anchors. How energy and matter behaved differently in dimensional spaces versus normal reality.
By the end, Lin Feng's consciousness ached with new information, but he'd grasped the basics well enough to begin systematic study.
Combat training with Han Shu and Liu Feng provided welcome contrast to theoretical study. Pure physical engagement, tactical problem-solving, no complex theory—just refined violence applied intelligently.
The training courtyard had been reserved for their exclusive use, formations activated to contain spiritual energy and prevent observation. Both Frozen Sky bodyguards waited in combat stances, radiating the controlled intensity of experienced warriors.
"Same parameters as last session?" Han Shu asked, his bulky frame deceptively agile. "Two versus one, you defend for fifteen minutes, we attempt to land three clean strikes?"
"Modified parameters," Lin Feng replied, his spatial perception already mapping the courtyard's dimensions. "Twenty minutes, four clean strikes required. I want to test consciousness stream allocation under extended pressure."
Liu Feng, the leaner and faster of the two, raised an eyebrow. "Confident. You survived fifteen minutes last time, but barely."
"Last time I allocated seven streams to combat. Today I'm testing nine-stream combat integration."
Both bodyguards exchanged glances—the look of experienced cultivators recognizing when someone was pushing boundaries.
"Your call," Han Shu said, settling into ready position. "But nine streams under active combat pressure for twenty minutes will be brutal on consciousness infrastructure."
"Acknowledged. Begin when ready."
They moved simultaneously—Han Shu's heavy assault from the front while Liu Feng circled for flanking position. Standard paired tactics designed to divide defensive attention.
Lin Feng activated all nine consciousness streams instantly:
Stream One: Spatial perception tracking both opponents
Stream Two: Void energy manipulation for defensive formations
Stream Three: Combat movement optimization
Stream Four: Opponent pattern analysis
Stream Five: Formation deployment coordination
Stream Six: Spiritual energy efficiency monitoring
Stream Seven: Tactical scenario projection
Stream Eight: Consciousness infrastructure stability tracking
Stream Nine: Overall coordination and adaptation
The world exploded into hyper-detailed awareness. He perceived Han Shu's attack through multiple analytical layers—trajectory, force distribution, feint probabilities, counter-strike opportunities. Simultaneously tracked Liu Feng's positioning, predicted likely attack vectors, calculated optimal defensive responses.
Void Step carried him away from Han Shu's initial strike while deploying a spatial formation that blocked Liu Feng's flanking attack. Three seconds elapsed, no strikes landed.
They adapted immediately. Liu Feng went high while Han Shu swept low—vertical split forcing Lin Feng to choose priority. His consciousness streams processed both threats simultaneously, calculating that Liu Feng's aerial attack was feint while Han Shu's sweep was genuine threat.
He used Void Step laterally, letting both attacks pass through empty space, then counter-attacked with spatial strikes aimed at disrupting their coordination. Not attempting damage—just creating tactical complications.
Five minutes in, Lin Feng's consciousness infrastructure began showing strain. Nine streams under active combat pressure demanded more processing capacity than intensive cultivation. Stream eight flagged concerning stress patterns, but he pushed through.
Han Shu and Liu Feng increased pressure systematically, testing his defenses from multiple angles simultaneously. They were experienced enough to recognize someone operating at capacity and ruthless enough to exploit it.
At eight minutes, Liu Feng's blade grazed Lin Feng's shoulder—first clean strike. The bodyguard immediately called it: "One!"
Lin Feng acknowledged with a slight nod, consciousness streams analyzing what had failed. Stream seven had projected Liu Feng would commit to overhead strike, but he'd instead pivoted into horizontal slash. Prediction error under consciousness strain.
He adapted stream allocation—reduced stream seven's scenario projection complexity, redirected capacity to stream four's pattern analysis. Trade predictive depth for reactive accuracy.
The adjustment helped. Minutes nine through fourteen passed without additional strikes, his consciousness streams finding rhythm despite infrastructure stress.
At fifteen minutes—originally where previous session had ended—both bodyguards increased intensity another level. They'd been testing him; now they were genuinely challenging him.
Han Shu's heavy strike created spatial distortion that disrupted Lin Feng's perception field while Liu Feng attacked through the disruption. Sophisticated combination that targeted his primary defensive advantage.
Lin Feng's consciousness streams fragmented briefly under compound pressure. Stream three failed to optimize movement quickly enough. Liu Feng's blade struck his ribs—clean.
"Two!" Liu Feng called.
Five minutes remaining, two strikes landed, consciousness infrastructure showing serious stress. Stream nine struggled to maintain coordination as individual streams developed processing delays.
This is what failure looks like, Lin Feng's analytical mind observed with cold precision. Not sudden collapse, but gradual degradation under sustained pressure.
He adjusted again—collapsed streams seven and eight temporarily, redirecting all capacity to defensive operations. Sacrifice analytical depth for immediate survival. Accept that he couldn't optimize, only react.
The final five minutes were brutal. Without full analytical capacity, he relied increasingly on instinct and spatial perception. Both bodyguards pressed relentlessly, testing every opening, exploiting every hesitation.
At eighteen minutes, Han Shu's strike connected with Lin Feng's leg—third clean hit.
"Three!" Han Shu confirmed.
Two minutes remaining, one strike away from failure. Lin Feng's consciousness infrastructure was screaming warnings about imminent collapse. He had perhaps sixty seconds of nine-stream operation left before forced shutdown.
Sixty seconds. Make them count.
He stopped defending and attacked instead—aggressive spatial strikes forcing both bodyguards into defensive responses. Burned spiritual energy recklessly, deployed formations without efficiency optimization, used Void Step more frequently than sustainable.
The shift caught them by surprise. Defending was easier than attacking; his sudden aggression disrupted their tactical rhythm.
Thirty seconds remaining. His consciousness streams were failing—stream six went dark completely, stream nine's coordination degraded to barely functional.
Fifteen seconds. Stream two flickered, void energy manipulation becoming unreliable.
Five seconds. Only streams one, three, and five remained operational. Spatial perception, movement, and basic formation deployment.
The final countdown hit zero. Lin Feng immediately collapsed all consciousness streams, his body continuing movement through pure muscle memory for another three seconds before he could force himself to stillness.
He stood there breathing heavily, consciousness infrastructure completely exhausted, but still standing. Twenty minutes, three strikes landed instead of required four.
Technically a success.
Practically a disaster.
"That was simultaneously impressive and concerning," Han Shu assessed, his combat instructor's tone replacing friendly demeanor. "You maintained nine streams under active combat for twenty minutes, but you were on the edge of consciousness collapse at the end. Another thirty seconds would have put you down regardless of strikes landed."
"Agreed," Lin Feng said once his breathing stabilized. "Nine streams for twenty minutes under combat pressure exceeds my current infrastructure capacity. Needs to be fifteen minutes maximum until I advance to Level 8."
"Or use seven streams instead of nine," Liu Feng suggested. "You were more effective at seven streams for fifteen minutes than nine streams for twenty. More isn't always better if it causes system failure."
The tactical wisdom matched what Grand Elder Bingxin had taught about stream optimization. Lin Feng's consciousness—currently reduced to single-stream awareness while infrastructure recovered—processed the lesson carefully.
"Acknowledged. Seven streams for combat, nine streams for non-combat complex operations like cultivation or formation study."
"Better," Han Shu confirmed. "Now recover while we discuss what worked and what failed."
The next thirty minutes involved detailed tactical review. They analyzed each successful defense, each failed defense, the point where consciousness infrastructure began degrading, and adaptation strategies for managing stream allocation under pressure.
By the end, Lin Feng had refined his combat consciousness framework significantly. The training session had been brutal, but brutally effective.
Evening found Lin Feng back in his chamber, consciousness infrastructure slowly recovering from the day's abuse. Qingxue sat across from him, monitoring his condition through their dao companion bond while documenting the day's lessons.
"Six hours intensive cultivation, two hours dimensional theory study, three hours combat training, thirty minutes tactical review," she recited. "Nine and a half hours of high-intensity consciousness work. You're going to burn out."
"Nine and a half hours is sustainable with proper recovery," Lin Feng countered. "It's when I try to maintain that for consecutive days that problems develop."
"Which is why I'm enforcing rest day tomorrow. Complete consciousness rest—no stream division, no complex analysis, minimal cultivation. Let your infrastructure repair."
Lin Feng's analytical mind wanted to argue, but the data supported her position. His consciousness infrastructure needed recovery time, and pushing through would create compound problems.
"Agreed," he said reluctantly. "Complete rest tomorrow. Resume training schedule the day after."
"Good. Now tell me about the dimensional theory study—Elder Wei mentioned you grasped fundamentals quickly."
They spent the next hour discussing dimensional engineering principles, how it might integrate with void cultivation, potential applications for sect founding. Qingxue's strategic mind immediately identified three high-value applications: time-dilated training chambers, pocket storage integrated into formations, and dimensional spaces for secure archive storage.
"Time-dilated chambers alone would be revolutionary," she noted. "If we can create training spaces where disciples experience five days for every one day external, advancement rates would double at minimum."
"Assuming I can master the techniques," Lin Feng cautioned. "Elder Wei estimated twelve months for advanced applications. That's cutting it close to eighteen-month timeline."
"Which is why you start learning now. Twelve months from now is month twelve of eighteen—perfect timing for implementing advanced dimensional techniques during sect construction phase."
Her systematic thinking continued to impress him. She'd already integrated dimensional engineering into the broader sect founding timeline, identifying optimal implementation points.
"Have I mentioned that your organizational genius is terrifying?" he asked.
"You have. I take it as compliment." She produced another jade slip. "Speaking of organization—I've drafted curriculum framework for Inverse Void Dao documentation. We need your input on technical details, but I've structured the overall progression: Foundations, Basic Techniques, Intermediate Applications, Advanced Theory, Combat Integration, Formation Synthesis."
Lin Feng reviewed her framework, consciousness still operating at reduced capacity but functional enough for analysis. She'd created logical progression from fundamental concepts toward sophisticated applications, with each level building on previous understanding.
"This is excellent," he said. "Though 'Advanced Theory' probably needs subdivision—there's significant complexity difference between void manipulation theory and consciousness division theory."
"Noted. We'll refine subdivisions as we write actual content. For now, I need you to commit to three hours per day on documentation starting tomorrow."
"Tomorrow is rest day."
"Documentation writing is rest compared to consciousness division under combat pressure. Three hours, starting tomorrow, continuing for next eight months. By month nine we should have complete curriculum ready for disciple teaching."
The mathematics worked. Three hours daily for eight months produced roughly seven hundred hours of documentation time—sufficient for comprehensive curriculum if they were efficient.
"Agreed. Three hours daily on Inverse Void Dao documentation."
Qingxue marked it on her organizational jade slip, the one that tracked every commitment, deadline, and obligation in their increasingly complex schedule.
"Current daily schedule," she recited. "Six hours intensive cultivation, two hours dimensional theory, three hours combat training, three hours documentation writing, thirty minutes tactical review, one hour organizational planning. Fifteen and a half hours of structured work."
"Leaving eight and a half hours for meals, social obligations, and sleep," Lin Feng calculated.
"Assuming eight hours sleep, that leaves thirty minutes for everything else. We're going to need better time compression."
"Or accept that eighteen months of this schedule is temporary intensive period rather than permanent lifestyle."
"Obviously. But temporary intensive periods lasting eighteen months are still brutal." She set down her jade slip and looked at him directly. "This is actually sustainable?"
Lin Feng divided his consciousness briefly—two streams only, just enough for parallel analysis. One stream calculated physical sustainability, the other psychological sustainability.
"Physically, yes—assuming one rest day per six days and adequate nutrition. Psychologically... probably. Having clear purpose helps. Knowing it's eighteen months with definite endpoint helps. Having partnership makes it bearable."
Through their dao companion bond, he felt Qingxue's response—concern mixed with determination, recognition that they were attempting something extraordinary that required extraordinary commitment.
"Then we do it together," she said. "Eighteen months of impossible schedule to accomplish impossible goal."
"Together," Lin Feng confirmed.
They sealed it with synchronized meditation—not intensive cultivation, but gentle consciousness merging that repaired infrastructure while strengthening their bond. In that unified space, doubt dissolved. The path was brutal but clear.
Eighteen months to transform from promising cultivator to sect founder.
Six months to Divine Domain Level 8.
Twelve months to Level 9.
Eighteen months to Cloud Transformation and Hollow Peak Sect establishment.
The countdown continued.
Day one of six hundred: complete.
Five hundred ninety-nine remaining.
End of Chapter 75