Two weeks into his secret training, Lin Moxian made his first serious mistake.
It happened during Master Shen's Advanced Character Formation class, a subject that had always been Lin's weakest area. The lesson focused on combat applications of basic characters—how to write "fire" with sufficient speed and spiritual energy to create actual flames for battle.
Lin had been half-listening, his mind still processing the previous night's practice session in the Restricted Archive. He had successfully accumulated thirty-two layers of the character for "strength" and was beginning to feel a subtle enhancement to his physical capabilities. The progress was intoxicating after years of stagnation.
"Lin Moxian," Master Shen's sharp voice cut through his reverie. "Since you appear to be daydreaming about something more interesting than my instruction, perhaps you'd care to demonstrate the morning's lesson for your classmates?"
Snickers rippled through the classroom. This was a familiar scenario—Master Shen calling on Lin to fail publicly, reinforcing his reputation as the Academy's most hopeless student.
"Of course, Master Shen." Lin rose from his seat, brush in hand, and approached the practice area where a series of target dummies waited.
The assignment was simple: write the character for "fire" with sufficient spiritual infusion to ignite the straw dummy from a distance of three feet. Even first-year students could accomplish this basic task, which made Lin's consistent failures all the more humiliating.
Lin positioned himself before the target, raised his brush, and began to write. But something was different this time. The weeks of practicing Chen Wushuang's accumulation methods had altered his relationship with ink and intention. As he formed the character for "fire," he found himself unconsciously applying the layering technique he had been perfecting in secret.
The first stroke settled into the air with unusual solidity. The second built upon it, adding depth and resonance. By the time he completed the character, it hung in the space before him with a three-dimensional quality that none of his classmates' work ever achieved.
For a moment, nothing happened, and Lin felt the familiar wash of disappointment. Then the character pulsed once, twice—and exploded into flames so intense they not only ignited the target dummy but spread to the stone floor around it, creating a circle of fire that sent students scrambling backward from their seats.
The classroom erupted in chaos. Students shouted in alarm, chairs overturned as everyone tried to distance themselves from the unexpected inferno. Master Shen's eyes went wide with shock before his training kicked in, and he quickly wrote a series of suppression characters that gradually contained the flames.
In the sudden silence that followed, every eye in the room focused on Lin, who stood frozen with his brush still raised, staring at the smoldering remains of what had been three practice dummies.
"What," Master Shen said slowly, his voice carrying a dangerous edge, "was that?"
Lin's mind raced. He couldn't explain about the accumulation techniques or the Restricted Archive. But he also couldn't pretend this was normal—everyone had just witnessed him produce a cultivation effect far beyond anything he had ever achieved before.
"I... I don't know," he stammered, which was partially true. He hadn't expected the layering technique to work so dramatically with a single character. "I was just trying to write 'fire' like everyone else."
Zhang Haoyu pushed forward from the crowd of students. "That wasn't normal fire cultivation, Lin. That character had structural depth I've never seen from a Scribbler Realm cultivator. What technique were you using?"
Before Lin could answer, the classroom door burst open and Master Liu entered, his usually composed demeanor showing cracks of concern. His eyes took in the scene—the charred floor, the destroyed dummies, the students pressed against the walls, and Lin standing in the center of it all like the eye of a storm.
"Master Shen," Liu said carefully, "perhaps this is a matter that should be discussed privately rather than in front of the entire class?"
Master Shen's jaw tightened. "Indeed. Moxian, you will report to my office immediately after classes conclude. The rest of you—" He turned to address the students, but his words were cut off by a new commotion.
Li Meiling, who had been standing near the back of the classroom, suddenly swayed on her feet. Her face had gone pale, and she was staring at Lin with an expression of recognition mixed with fear.
"The resonance," she whispered, her voice barely audible but carrying clearly in the silence. "I can feel it in the spiritual energy patterns. That wasn't Scribbler Realm cultivation at all."
Several students turned to look at her. Li Meiling was known for her sensitivity to spiritual fluctuations—a trait that made her particularly gifted at Poet Realm techniques. If she sensed something unusual about Lin's cultivation, others would take notice.
"What do you mean?" asked Chen Weihua, who had been unusually quiet during the commotion.
Li Meiling's eyes remained fixed on Lin. "The spiritual energy signature was... layered. Like multiple cultivation techniques happening simultaneously, but perfectly synchronized. I've never felt anything like it."
Master Liu stepped forward smoothly. "Miss Li, you may be experiencing spiritual backlash from the unexpected cultivation burst. Such intense manifestations can affect those with sensitive spiritual perception. Perhaps you should visit the medical pavilion to ensure you're not experiencing any adverse effects."
His words were reasonable, but Lin caught the subtle warning in his tone. Master Liu was trying to redirect attention away from Li Meiling's observations, but the damage was already done. Several students were now studying Lin with new interest, and Master Shen's expression had shifted from anger to calculation.
"Yes," Master Shen said slowly. "Miss Li should indeed seek medical attention. As for the rest of you, class is dismissed early today. Please reflect on what you've witnessed and remember that cultivation breakthroughs can sometimes manifest in unexpected ways."
The students filed out reluctantly, clearly wanting to discuss what they had seen but recognizing dismissal when they heard it. Lin started to follow them, but Master Liu's hand on his shoulder stopped him.
"Not you, Moxian. We need to talk."
When the last student had left, Master Shen sealed the classroom door with a privacy ward that would prevent eavesdropping. The three of them stood in the charred remains of the practice area, the smell of smoke still heavy in the air.
"Explain," Master Shen said without preamble.
Lin looked to Master Liu, hoping for guidance, but his mentor's expression remained neutral. This was Lin's test to handle on his own.
"I've been practicing more diligently since our last conversation about my impending expulsion," Lin said carefully. "Perhaps something finally clicked."
Master Shen's eyes narrowed. "Students don't go from complete inability to advanced-level manifestation overnight, Moxian. What you just accomplished would be impressive for a Poet Realm cultivator, let alone someone who has never successfully lit so much as a candle with spiritual energy."
"Sometimes breakthrough happens suddenly," Master Liu interjected. "The cultivation path is not always linear."
"Don't," Master Shen snapped, turning his attention to Liu. "Don't insult my intelligence with textbook platitudes. You and I both know what we just witnessed was not a normal cultivation breakthrough." He looked back at Lin. "That character formation technique—where did you learn it?"
Lin felt sweat beading on his forehead. "I've been studying theoretical texts, trying to understand where my cultivation was going wrong. Maybe I accidentally discovered a more effective approach."
It wasn't entirely a lie, but it wasn't the whole truth either. Master Shen studied him for a long moment, then walked to where the character had manifested. Despite the flames and destruction, faint traces of Lin's spiritual energy still lingered in the air.
"Liu," Master Shen said quietly, "come and examine this residual energy pattern."
Master Liu approached reluctantly, his face carefully composed. Lin watched as he extended his spiritual senses to analyze the lingering traces of the fire character.
"Interesting," Liu said after a moment. "The energy signature does show unusual characteristics. Almost as if multiple techniques were layered together."
"Exactly what Miss Li observed." Master Shen turned back to Lin. "So I'll ask you one more time, Moxian—what technique were you using?"
The weight of the moment pressed down on Lin. He could feel his carefully constructed facade beginning to crumble. If he revealed too much, he would expose not only his own secret but potentially Master Liu's involvement and the existence of the Restricted Archive. But if he said nothing, Master Shen's suspicions would only grow.
"I call it accumulation writing," Lin said finally, choosing his words carefully. "Instead of trying to force all my spiritual energy into a single character at once, I've been practicing a technique where I build up the character in layers, letting each stroke reinforce the previous ones."
Master Shen's eyebrows rose. "That's... actually quite innovative. And explains the structural depth that Zhang observed." He paused. "But it also suggests you've been deliberately concealing your capabilities. How long have you been able to perform this technique?"
"I only mastered it recently," Lin said, which was technically true. "I wanted to be sure it worked before demonstrating it in class."
"Hmm." Master Shen walked slowly around the practice area, his mind clearly working through the implications. "If you've developed a new cultivation technique, that's a significant achievement. Such innovations are rare, particularly from students."
Lin felt a flicker of hope. Perhaps he could frame his abilities as innovation rather than reveal their true nature.
"However," Master Shen continued, "the Academy has strict protocols for evaluating new techniques. You'll need to demonstrate your method for a panel of masters, document your theoretical framework, and undergo testing to ensure the technique is safe for general instruction."
The hope died instantly. Formal evaluation would expose everything—the true nature of his constitution, the techniques from Chen Wushuang's manual, and inevitably Master Liu's role in his training.
"Is that... necessary?" Lin asked weakly.
"Absolutely. If you've truly developed a breakthrough technique, it could revolutionize how we approach cultivation instruction. But if it's dangerous or unstable, we need to know before other students attempt to replicate it." Master Shen's expression showed the first genuine interest Lin had ever seen from him. "I'm scheduling a formal evaluation for next week. You'll present your technique to Masters Zhang, Wei, and myself."
Master Liu spoke up carefully. "Perhaps that's premature, Shen. The boy has just achieved his first successful manifestation. Rushing him into formal evaluation—"
"Is exactly what we should do," Master Shen interrupted. "Liu, if Moxian has developed a technique that can bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application, it could help other struggling students. We have a responsibility to investigate."
Lin felt the walls closing in around him. A formal evaluation would be a disaster—he couldn't demonstrate the true accumulation techniques without revealing his Infinite Ink constitution, but he also couldn't fake a lesser version convincingly enough to fool master-level cultivators.
"I need time to refine the technique," Lin said desperately. "What happened today was... more intense than I expected. I should practice more before demonstrating for the masters."
Master Shen considered this. "Very well. You have one week to prepare. Use the time wisely, Moxian. This evaluation will determine not only whether your technique has value, but whether you remain at this Academy."
After Master Shen dismissed them, Lin and Master Liu walked in tense silence until they reached a secluded courtyard where they could speak freely.
"This is a problem," Master Liu said without preamble.
"I know. I didn't mean for it to happen. The technique just worked better than I expected."
"The accumulation method isn't meant for single-character applications, Lin. You're supposed to be building layers over time, not compressing them into immediate manifestation." Master Liu ran a hand through his hair. "What you did today was essentially use a month's worth of accumulated spiritual energy in a single burst."
Lin stared at him. "I could have hurt someone."
"Yes. Or worse, you could have damaged your own spiritual channels. The human body isn't designed to channel that much accumulated energy at once." Master Liu's expression grew serious. "We need to accelerate your training even further. If you're going to survive next week's evaluation, you need to understand your abilities well enough to control them."
"What do I do about the evaluation itself?"
Master Liu was quiet for a long moment. "That depends on how much you're willing to risk. You could attempt to demonstrate a watered-down version of the accumulation technique, but master-level cultivators will likely see through any deception. Or..."
"Or?"
"Or you reveal enough of the truth to satisfy their curiosity without exposing the full extent of your constitution. Tell them you've discovered a method for layered cultivation that works with your particular spiritual makeup. It's not the whole truth, but it's not a lie either."
Lin nodded slowly. It was a dangerous middle path, but perhaps the only one that wouldn't lead to complete exposure or total failure.
That evening, as he made his way to the Restricted Archive for his nightly training session, Lin reflected on how quickly his circumstances had changed. A month ago, he had been a failed student facing expulsion. Now he was a cultivator with a rare constitution, secret training, and a formal evaluation that could expose everything he was trying to hide.
The jade token pulsed warmly in his hand as he approached the ward-protected door. Whatever happened next week, he would need every technique Chen Wushuang's manual could teach him.
As the door swung open to reveal the underground library, Lin made a silent promise to himself. He would find a way to navigate the evaluation without revealing his true nature. He would continue his training, master his abilities, and somehow make it to the Great Library competition.
But first, he had to learn to control the power that was awakening within him—before it destroyed everything he was trying to protect.
The game had changed, and the stakes were higher than ever.