Month Three, Day Twenty-Five
Lin Feng's consciousness infrastructure felt like spider web after storm—still fundamentally intact but with gaps and weak points requiring careful repair. Operating at three streams maximum wasn't crippling, but the reduction from nine was disorienting in ways he hadn't anticipated.
Like losing six fingers, he thought, attempting to divide his consciousness into fourth stream and feeling the attempt collapse immediately. I know they should be there, but reaching for them finds nothing.
"Stop trying," Grand Elder Bingxin said without looking up from her diagnostic formation. She'd been monitoring his consciousness infrastructure for the past hour, spiritual energy probing the micro-fractures with precision that made conventional healing seem crude. "Every time you attempt stream division beyond current capacity, you stress the repair process."
"Acknowledged," Lin Feng said, forcing his consciousness back to unified awareness. "How long until full recovery?"
"Three weeks if you rest properly. Five weeks if you keep 'testing limits' like you've done seventeen times during this session alone." Her tone carried the patient exasperation of teacher who'd watched student make same mistake repeatedly. "Consciousness infrastructure heals through rest and gentle exercise, not aggressive rehabilitation."
"Gentle exercise like what?"
"Maintaining two streams for meditation. Brief three-stream exercises for tactical analysis. Absolutely no combat applications, no dimensional engineering, and no intensive cultivation until week two." Bingxin finally looked up from her formations. "Your consciousness infrastructure isn't muscle that strengthens through stress—it's more like bone that needs time to knit properly after fracture."
Lin Feng's analytical mind reluctantly accepted the medical assessment. Three weeks of reduced capacity meant significant setback for the timeline, but permanent consciousness damage would be worse.
"What about documentation work?" he asked. "Writing Inverse Void Dao curriculum doesn't require stream division."
"Writing is acceptable. Editing your own work requires at minimum two-stream perspective, which is fine during week one. Attempting complex theoretical documentation requiring multiple analytical perspectives should wait until week two." She produced jade slip containing detailed recovery schedule. "I've documented acceptable activities by week, with specific techniques approved and prohibited."
Lin Feng accepted the slip, reviewing its contents with his limited consciousness capacity. Week one was restrictively cautious—mostly rest, light meditation, basic writing. Week two introduced gentle two-stream exercises and simple cultivation. Week three allowed progressive return to normal activities, with full capability restored by day twenty-one.
"This is extremely conservative timeline," he observed.
"This is timeline that ensures complete recovery rather than chronic consciousness infrastructure weakness." Bingxin's expression turned serious. "You've built remarkable capabilities through consciousness division and multi-perspective awareness. Permanently compromising those capabilities through inadequate recovery would be catastrophic strategic error."
The long-term thinking checked Lin Feng's impatience. Three weeks of cautious recovery to preserve capabilities he'd spent months developing was pragmatic investment, not wasted time.
"Understood. I'll follow the schedule."
"See that you do. Qingxue has enforcement authority to restrict your activities if you deviate from approved recovery plan." Bingxin allowed herself slight smile. "I believe she's been preparing comprehensive arguments for why you should prioritize long-term capability preservation over short-term timeline pressure."
Through his dao companion bond, Lin Feng felt Qingxue's amusement—she'd apparently been coordinating with Bingxin about managing his recovery over-enthusiasm.
Ganging up on me for my own good, he thought with mix of annoyance and appreciation.
"Message received," he said. "Conservative recovery schedule, no heroic attempts at accelerated rehabilitation, trust that eighteen-month timeline can absorb three-week setback."
"Good. Now rest. Actual rest, not 'light meditation that somehow becomes intensive cultivation.'" Bingxin gestured dismissal. "I want to see you in one week for progress assessment."
Month Three, Day Twenty-Seven
The meeting chamber Qingxue had reserved was smaller than usual planning spaces—deliberately chosen for intimate discussion rather than formal presentation. Xiao Ling arrived precisely on time, her expression professionally curious but showing no awareness of the meeting's significance.
"You wanted to discuss administrative coordination?" she asked, settling into offered seat with characteristic efficiency.
"Among other things," Qingxue replied, exchanging glance with Lin Feng. They'd prepared this conversation carefully over the past two days. "We want to bring you into complete confidence about sect founding plans and offer you formal position as future administrative coordinator."
Xiao Ling's expression didn't change, but Lin Feng's limited spatial perception detected subtle shift in her spiritual energy—surprise carefully controlled behind professional demeanor.
"Future administrative coordinator," she repeated carefully. "For the Hollow Peak Sect you're planning to establish in fifteen months."
"You knew about that?" Lin Feng asked.
"I coordinate your schedules, manage correspondence, and organize meetings with alliance representatives. I'd have to be deliberately obtuse not to piece together that you're preparing sect founding." Xiao Ling's tone carried mild amusement. "The question is why you're making it official now."
"Because informal support without proper recognition was acceptable when the project was private planning," Qingxue said. "Now it's becoming formal operation requiring institutional structure. We need competent administration, you've proven exceptional organizational capabilities, and you deserve official position rather than operating in ambiguous support role."
"What does 'official position' entail specifically?" Xiao Ling asked, her sharp mind immediately focusing on practical details.
Lin Feng produced jade slips containing organizational documentation. "Complete access to sect founding plans, formal authority over administrative operations, guaranteed leadership position when Hollow Peak Sect is established. You'd coordinate resource acquisition, manage correspondence with alliance partners, oversee documentation projects, and handle logistics we're currently managing poorly between cultivation and combat training."
"Compensation?" Xiao Ling asked bluntly.
"Immediate stipend of five hundred spiritual stones monthly during preparation phase," Qingxue replied. "Increasing to two thousand monthly after sect founding, plus housing, cultivation resources, and authority to hire administrative staff as needed. You'd report directly to us as co-founders but have autonomy over administrative operations."
Xiao Ling reviewed the documentation silently for several minutes, her expression thoughtful. Lin Feng maintained patient waiting—she was too intelligent to accept immediately without thorough evaluation.
"This is generous offer," she finally said. "Unusually generous for someone currently Foundation Establishment Level 9. What's the catch?"
"The catch is that sect founding is genuinely risky," Lin Feng replied honestly. "We're attempting something ambitious on aggressive timeline. If we fail, your administrative work is wasted effort. If we succeed but attract wrong attention, you could be targeted as key institutional figure. This isn't safe, secure position—it's high-risk opportunity."
"But you're doing it anyway," Xiao Ling observed.
"We're doing it anyway," Qingxue confirmed. "Question is whether you want to be part of building something unprecedented or remain in safe administrative position at Celestial Dawn."
"Safe is boring," Xiao Ling said immediately. "I've been organizing other people's schedules for three years while watching talented cultivators waste potential through poor planning. Opportunity to build institutional structure from foundation using actual competent organization?" Her expression showed genuine enthusiasm. "That's not risk, that's dream opportunity."
Lin Feng felt tension he hadn't recognized release—Xiao Ling's administrative genius was significant asset, but more importantly, she was friend who deserved inclusion in their ambitious project.
"Then you accept?" he asked.
"I accept with conditions," Xiao Ling replied, producing her own jade slip. "I've been maintaining unofficial documentation of sect founding preparations for six weeks, anticipating this conversation. Here's my analysis of current organizational gaps and recommended systematic improvements."
She'd prepared comprehensive organizational assessment covering everything from resource tracking to alliance relationship management to timeline optimization. The documentation was thorough, insightful, and immediately useful.
"You've been planning this for six weeks?" Qingxue asked with obvious respect.
"I've been planning this since you started meeting regularly three months ago," Xiao Ling corrected. "The question wasn't whether you'd eventually need professional administration—it was when you'd recognize you needed it and whether you'd ask me or find someone else."
"We're asking you," Lin Feng confirmed. "Officially. Administrative coordinator for Hollow Peak Sect founding, effective immediately."
"Accepted," Xiao Ling said. "Now, let's discuss the seventeen organizational gaps I've identified, starting with your resource tracking system which is frankly embarrassing for people of your intelligence."
The next three hours involved systematic review of every planning aspect, with Xiao Ling identifying inefficiencies, redundancies, and gaps that Lin Feng and Qingxue had missed despite careful preparation. By the end, they had refined organizational structure that would save hours of administrative overhead weekly.
"This is why we needed you," Qingxue said with genuine appreciation. "Our tactical and strategic thinking is solid, but operational administration isn't our strength."
"Everyone has comparative advantages," Xiao Ling replied pragmatically. "You two cultivate, fight, and plan grand strategy. I organize, coordinate, and ensure nothing falls through cracks. Division of labor according to expertise."
She paused, expression turning more serious. "One more thing. If I'm taking this position, I need to know: are you actually going to succeed? Not hopeful optimism—realistic assessment."
Lin Feng divided his consciousness into two streams—maximum safe capacity during recovery—to analyze the question from multiple perspectives. Success probability considering cultivation advancement, resource acquisition, alliance relationships, timeline constraints, and inevitable complications.
"Seventy percent chance of successful sect founding within eighteen months," he assessed. "Eighty-five percent within twenty-four months if we accept timeline extension. Complications are guaranteed, but we have sufficient resources and preparation to handle most probable obstacles."
"And the thirty percent failure probability?" Xiao Ling pressed.
"Mostly catastrophic cultivation failures—me dying during breakthrough attempt, or one of us suffering cultivation deviation, or major alliance backing withdrawing support. Things we can't fully control through preparation." Lin Feng met her gaze steadily. "But thirty percent failure risk is acceptable for project this ambitious."
"Acceptable to you," Xiao Ling noted. "My risk tolerance is different, but seventy percent success probability is enough to commit." She produced official jade seal from storage ring. "Where do I sign?"
They formalized the arrangement with spiritual contracts binding all three parties—Lin Feng and Qingxue committing to compensation and authority, Xiao Ling committing to administrative service and confidentiality. The contract included provisions for sect founding success, failure scenarios, and timeline extensions.
When they finished, Xiao Ling had become officially part of Hollow Peak Sect's founding structure—third key member of the institutional framework they were building.
"Welcome to the impossible project," Lin Feng said.
"Glad to be here," Xiao Ling replied. "Now, about your documentation schedule that assumes you can write three hours daily while recovering from consciousness infrastructure damage..."
Month Four, Day Three
The message arrived via Azure Sky's secure communication network—jade slip with formations that would self-destruct if tampered with. Lin Feng opened it carefully in his secure meditation chamber, his two-stream consciousness processing contents with available capacity.
INTELLIGENCE REPORT - PRIORITY: MEDIUM
Your recent mission success has generated continental attention. Summary of notable responses:
1. Starfall Valley requests expanded academic collaboration, citing dimensional engineering breakthrough potential
2. Three mid-tier sects (Crimson Cloud, Iron Mountain, Jade River) submitted formal alliance inquiries
3. Seven minor sects requested audience regarding Inverse Void Dao instruction
4. Shadow Network published updated assessment upgrading you to "Continental-Level Concern" rating
5. Two verified demonic cultivator bounties placed on your capture (120,000 and 85,000 spiritual stones respectively)
6. Unconfirmed reports suggest at least one major sect considering recruitment approaches
Azure Sky assessment: Your visibility has increased substantially. Recommend heightened security and strategic management of reputation to prevent attracting unwanted attention before sect founding stabilizes position.
Lin Feng's two streams analyzed the intelligence systematically. Increased attention was inevitable given the Shadow Serpent mission's public nature, but the speed and scope surprised him.
Continental-Level Concern rating. Wonderful. That's definitely what I needed during recovery period.
He forwarded the intelligence to Qingxue and Xiao Ling with request for strategic consultation. Within two hours, they'd assembled in planning chamber to discuss implications.
"Two hundred and five thousand spiritual stones in bounties," Qingxue noted. "That's serious money. Demonic cultivators will actively hunt you for those contracts."
"Which means heightened security becomes essential," Xiao Ling added, already making annotations on organizational jade slip. "Han Shu and Liu Feng provide excellent close protection, but we need expanded security framework for extended operations beyond Celestial Dawn's territory."
"Seven sects requesting Inverse Void Dao instruction could be opportunity," Lin Feng observed. "Early disciples before official sect founding would establish legitimacy and generate revenue."
"Or spread your techniques to potential competitors before you've established institutional control," Qingxue countered. "I recommend delaying instructional arrangements until after Hollow Peak Sect founding—then you teach from position of institutional authority rather than as individual contractor."
Xiao Ling nodded agreement. "The alliance inquiries are more interesting. Crimson Cloud, Iron Mountain, and Jade River are all mid-tier sects with strong military capabilities. Formalizing alliances now would enhance security significantly."
"At cost of obligation," Lin Feng noted. "Alliance means mutual defense commitments, resource exchange expectations, and potential entanglement in their conflicts."
"Which is why we evaluate each carefully," Qingxue said. "Crimson Cloud specializes in combat training—could provide excellent disciple instruction exchanges. Iron Mountain controls significant mineral resources—useful for sect construction. Jade River has sophisticated intelligence network—valuable for security operations."
They spent two hours analyzing each faction's potential contribution against obligation costs, eventually deciding to accept preliminary discussions with all three while committing to none immediately.
"The Starfall Valley collaboration is obvious acceptance," Xiao Ling said. "Academic exchange benefits both parties with minimal political complications."
"Agreed," Lin Feng confirmed. "I'll send response accepting expanded dimensional engineering collaboration."
"And the bounties?" Qingxue asked, her tone carrying ice. "Two hundred thousand spiritual stones will attract serious hunters."
"We increase security protocols, avoid unnecessary travel outside sect territory, and rely on alliance protection when missions require external operations." Lin Feng's limited consciousness calculated probabilities. "Most bounty hunters are opportunistic—they'll target me in vulnerable situations but won't assault Celestial Dawn directly. As long as I'm careful, risk is manageable."
"Manageable until it isn't," Qingxue said darkly. "But I acknowledge we can't hide for fifteen months. We just need to be smart about exposure."
Xiao Ling made final notes on administrative documentation. "I'll coordinate with Azure Sky for regular intelligence updates about known bounty hunters. Enhanced security protocols go into effect immediately—no solo travel, mandatory bodyguard presence for any external operations, verification protocols for all correspondence."
The systematic security planning demonstrated why bringing Xiao Ling into formal coordination was valuable—she thought in terms of preventative systems rather than reactive responses.
"Continental-Level Concern," Lin Feng mused. "At twenty years old with Divine Domain Level 7 cultivation. I'm not sure whether to be proud or concerned."
"Both," Qingxue and Xiao Ling said simultaneously.
"Both is appropriate," Qingxue elaborated. "Your achievements justify recognition, but recognition attracts dangers that could derail everything we're building."
"Which is why we manage reputation strategically," Xiao Ling added. "Some visibility is valuable for sect founding legitimacy. Too much visibility creates security vulnerabilities. We need to calibrate public presence carefully."
"How do we calibrate that?" Lin Feng asked.
"By controlling narrative," Xiao Ling replied, pulling out detailed documentation she'd apparently prepared before the meeting. "We emphasize your academic contributions through Starfall Valley collaboration. We highlight alliance relationships demonstrating political legitimacy. We downplay combat operations and dangerous missions. We position you as serious scholar-cultivator developing new techniques rather than combat specialist who fights Sovereign Monarchs."
"Except I am combat specialist who fights Sovereign Monarchs," Lin Feng observed.
"Who also happens to be scholar-cultivator developing new techniques. Both are true—we choose which aspect to emphasize publicly." Xiao Ling's expression showed satisfaction with her strategic framing. "Scholars attract academic interest. Combat specialists attract bounty hunters and assassination attempts. We want the former more than the latter."
The sophisticated reputation management was beyond anything Lin Feng had considered. Xiao Ling wasn't just organizing schedules—she was thinking strategically about institutional positioning and long-term perception management.
"You've been studying this," he said.
"I've been studying everything relevant to sect founding for three months," Xiao Ling confirmed. "Reputation management is critical for new institutions. We control early narrative or others control it for us—usually in ways that don't serve our interests."
"Agreed," Qingxue said. "Implement the reputation management framework. Coordinate with Azure Sky about controlled information release emphasizing academic contributions. Accept Starfall Valley collaboration publicly. Defer alliance inquiries until we've evaluated carefully."
"And the bounties?" Lin Feng asked.
"Enhanced security, avoid unnecessary exposure, accept that some risk is inherent to the path we've chosen." Qingxue's tone turned philosophical. "The Inverse Void Dao emphasizes liberation from constraints. Sometimes that means accepting the constraint of increased danger as consequence of visible excellence."
Through their dao companion bond, Lin Feng felt her acceptance of this reality—not happiness about danger, but pragmatic recognition that their ambitions inevitably attracted attention both positive and threatening.
"Fifteen months until sect founding," he said quietly. "Until we have institutional protection rather than individual vulnerability."
"Fifteen months," Qingxue confirmed.
"Fifteen months," Xiao Ling echoed. "We can manage reputation and security for fifteen months. Probably."
"Probably is better than definitely impossible," Lin Feng said.
"Which is basically our entire project summary," Qingxue noted with dry amusement.
They sealed their planning with synchronized review of adjusted timelines, security protocols, and reputation management strategies. Three people attempting to build institution in fifteen months while managing continental attention, active bounties, and recovery from recent injuries.
The impossible made merely improbable through systematic planning and professional administration.
Lin Feng's consciousness—still limited to two streams during recovery—nonetheless felt optimistic. They had resources, alliances, planning frameworks, and now professional administration to manage complexity.
Fifteen months.
Four hundred and fifty days remaining.
The countdown continued despite complications, injuries, and increased continental visibility.
Progress was progress.
Even when complicated by bounties, reputation concerns, and recovery limitations.
Month Four, Day Seven
Lin Feng's consciousness infrastructure had improved enough to support reliable three-stream operation—still far below his normal nine streams, but progress measured in capacity restoration rather than new capability development.
He sat in meditation chamber attempting gentle three-stream exercise Bingxin had approved: one stream monitoring cultivation progress, one stream analyzing dimensional engineering theory, one stream coordinating between the two.
The exercise was frustratingly simple compared to his usual consciousness work, but he forced patience. Proper recovery now meant full capacity later.
Through his dao companion bond, he felt Qingxue approaching—her presence always recognizable through their connection's unique resonance.
She entered carrying jade slips and expression mixing satisfaction with concern.
"News?" he asked.
"Several items. First: Starfall Valley accepted expanded collaboration with enthusiasm bordering on scholarly obsession. Master Jiang wants to schedule monthly dimensional engineering seminars starting next month."
"Acceptable. Continue?"
"Second: Crimson Cloud Sect submitted formal alliance proposal with very favorable terms—they're genuinely interested in combat methodology exchange. I recommend accepting pending final review."
"Agreed. Third?"
"Third is concerning. Azure Sky intelligence reports increased bounty hunter activity in region. At least five verified operatives have arrived in Celestial Dawn's territory over past four days, all with capabilities suggesting serious intent."
Lin Feng's three consciousness streams immediately engaged with threat assessment. Five bounty hunters suggested organized effort rather than opportunistic individuals.
"Coordinated operation?" he asked.
"Likely. Azure Sky believes someone is organizing multiple hunters for simultaneous strike—reduces our ability to defend against multiple vectors."
"Who's organizing it?"
"Unknown. Could be demonic cultivator remnants seeking revenge. Could be rival faction attempting elimination before we establish sect. Could be independent contractor coordinating for efficiency." Qingxue's expression showed frustration. "Azure Sky is investigating, but intelligence takes time."
Lin Feng's analytical mind calculated response options. Increased security was obvious, but purely defensive posture gave initiative to attackers. They needed to identify organizer and disrupt coordination before simultaneous strike could launch.
"What's Azure Sky's recommendation?" he asked.
"Lockdown protocol. You remain within Celestial Dawn's secured territory, accept no external missions, minimize exposure until intelligence identifies organizer." Qingxue produced jade slip. "Patriarch Cloud Heaven has reinforced sect formations and assigned additional guard rotations to core disciple quarters."
"How long does Azure Sky estimate until intelligence breakthrough?"
"One to three weeks. Maybe longer if organizer is sophisticated about operational security."
Lin Feng's consciousness streams analyzed implications. One to three weeks of lockdown during recovery period wasn't catastrophic, but it meant lost time for collaboration meetings, alliance negotiations, and external operations.
"Acceptable," he decided. "We implement lockdown protocol, focus on internal projects during recovery period, and let Azure Sky handle intelligence work. I'm operating at reduced capacity anyway—might as well use confinement productively."
"I was hoping you'd be sensible about this," Qingxue said, relief evident through their bond.
"Occasionally I make decisions that don't horrify my allies," Lin Feng replied dryly.
"Occasionally," she agreed with slight smile. "Though your track record suggests this sensible decision will be followed by something tactically brilliant but personally terrifying."
"No promises," he said. "But for now: lockdown protocol, internal focus, systematic recovery. The impossible timeline can wait three weeks."
Through their bond, he felt Qingxue's satisfaction at his pragmatic approach—and her underlying concern about what complications the next fifteen months would bring.
Four hundred and forty-three days remaining, Lin Feng thought. Fifteen months of managing reputation, security threats, cultivation advancement, documentation projects, alliance relationships, and organizational development.
While recovering from consciousness infrastructure damage and operating under active bounty contracts totaling two hundred thousand spiritual stones.
Completely manageable.
Probably.
End of Chapter 79