Convergence

The air in the underground chamber crackled with tension. Lian Wei stood frozen in the doorway, acutely aware of the elders' scrutiny. Their combined spiritual pressure was overwhelming—like standing at the edge of a precipice with a gale-force wind threatening to push him over.

*Power assessment: Four Core Formation cultivators present. Elder Jin: Fifth Stage. Elder with white streak in hair: Fourth Stage. Female Elder: Sixth Stage. Elderly Elder: Late Core Formation, possibly approaching Nascent Soul.*

The Archaeon Archive's analysis only confirmed what Lian Wei already sensed—he was in a room with individuals who could end his life with a casual gesture. And yet, something in Old Man Zhu's steady gaze kept his panic at bay.

"Well?" Elder Jin prompted, his voice deceptively mild. "We're waiting for your contribution, Disciple Wei."

Lian Wei stepped fully into the chamber, the door swinging shut behind him with an ominous thud. He bowed deeply to the assembled elders, buying precious seconds to organize his thoughts.

"I'm not sure what insight a mere outer disciple could add to the honored elders' deliberations," he said carefully.

The female elder—a stern-faced woman with elaborately pinned hair adorned with jade ornaments—snorted in derision. "Stop wasting our time with false modesty. You've been translating the fragments. What have you discovered?"

"Only fragments of an ancient cultivation technique," Lian Wei replied, rising from his bow. "As I told Elder Jin, the script is archaic and the information incomplete."

"Yet Master Zhu saw fit to share these fragments specifically with you," said the elderly elder, his voice surprisingly gentle despite the circumstances. He was by far the oldest person in the room, his face a map of deep wrinkles, his beard so long it nearly touched the floor where he sat. "Why would he choose a failing outer disciple for such a task?"

Before Lian Wei could respond, a tremendous boom shook the ceiling, causing dust to filter down from above. The attack on the sect was intensifying.

"The defensive formations will hold," Elder Jin said dismissively. "Let the Crimson Cloud heretics exhaust themselves. Our main force will crush them once they've depleted their spirit tools."

"Unless they have inside help," the white-streaked elder suggested, his sharp eyes fixed on Old Man Zhu. "Their timing is suspiciously convenient."

Old Man Zhu remained silent, his expression revealing nothing.

"Speak, archivist," Elder Jin commanded. "You've hidden these fragments for decades. Why reveal them now, and to this particular disciple?"

The old archivist shifted slightly, wincing at what appeared to be an injury to his side. "As I've already explained, Elder Jin, I shared historical curiosities with a disciple who showed scholarly aptitude. There is no conspiracy here."

"Lies," hissed the white-streaked elder. "These are fragments of the Spiral Meridian Method—a technique that violates the Cultivation Accord signed after the Great Fracturing. Possession alone is a serious offense."

Lian Wei carefully controlled his expression, though internally, his mind raced. The Cultivation Accord? He had never heard of such a thing in his studies at the Falling Leaf Sect.

*Historical reference located. Cultivation Accord: Treaty signed by surviving sects after the Great Fracturing. Primary provision: Ban on twelve specific cultivation techniques deemed responsible for the cataclysm. The Spiral Meridian Method is listed as the first prohibited technique.*

The Archive's information was stunning. If true, it meant the technique Old Man Zhu had given him wasn't just forgotten—it was forbidden. But why? What could make a cultivation method so dangerous that all sects would agree to ban it?

"I think our young friend is having a revelation," the elderly elder observed, watching Lian Wei's face with keen eyes. "You didn't know, did you, boy? You didn't know what Master Zhu was involving you in."

"I..." Lian Wei hesitated, unsure how to respond.

"It doesn't matter what the boy knows," the female elder cut in impatiently. "What matters is securing all fragments of the Spiral Meridian Method before the Crimson Cloud Sect obtains them. Their assault proves they know what we've found."

Another explosion rattled the chamber, closer this time.

"Impossible," Elder Jin frowned. "The main defensive formation cannot be breached so quickly."

"Unless they have a formation breaker," the elderly elder said quietly. "Or someone has sabotaged our defenses from within."

All eyes turned to Old Man Zhu, who remained impassive.

"Elder Feng," Elder Jin addressed the elderly elder, "you were alive during the last conflict with the Crimson Cloud Sect. Could they have developed such capabilities?"

Elder Feng stroked his long beard thoughtfully. "Not through conventional means. But if they've recovered other forbidden techniques..."

"We waste time with speculation," the female elder snapped. "Jin Cao, take the boy and the fragments to the inner sanctum. The rest of us will deal with the Crimson Cloud intruders."

"Yes, Elder Mei," Jin Cao bowed respectfully.

"And Master Zhu?" Elder Jin inquired, gesturing to the bound archivist.

"Bring him as well," Elder Feng said. "His knowledge may yet prove useful."

Elder Jin looked displeased but nodded to his son, who roughly pulled Old Man Zhu to his feet. The archivist grimaced in pain but remained silent.

*Alert: Unusual energy fluctuation detected in captive. Master Zhu appears to be circulating energy in a pattern matching Fragment 3-A.*

The Archive's alert drew Lian Wei's attention to Old Man Zhu more carefully. Indeed, there was something strange about the old man's breathing—a subtle rhythm that seemed at odds with his apparent distress. Was he preparing something?

"What of the fragments still in the North Repository?" Lian Wei asked suddenly, remembering the information gleaned from his brief connection with Fragment 3-A. "Master Zhu mentioned additional pieces stored there."

The reaction was immediate. Elder Jin's eyes widened, while Old Man Zhu shot Lian Wei a warning glance.

"What fragments?" Elder Mei demanded. "Speak plainly, boy!"

"I—" Lian Wei began, but was interrupted by the loudest explosion yet. This time, the entire chamber shook violently, and the sound of crashing masonry could be heard from above.

"They've breached the main hall," Elder Jin said grimly. "We must move now."

"To the inner sanctum," Elder Feng agreed. "Quickly!"

As the elders moved toward a concealed door at the rear of the chamber, a section of the ceiling collapsed, sending chunks of stone crashing down. Elder Mei reacted instantly, raising a protective barrier of spiritual energy that shielded the group from the falling debris.

Through the newly created opening, acrid smoke poured into the chamber, followed by a figure that dropped gracefully from above—a woman clad in crimson robes, her face obscured by a veil of the same color. She landed in a low crouch, then rose to her full height, surveying the room with calculating eyes.

"Elder Jin," she greeted, her voice melodious despite the tension of the moment. "How kind of you to gather everything we seek in one convenient location."

"Yue Fei," Elder Jin snarled. "You dare invade our sect?"

"Invade?" The woman laughed softly. "I prefer to think of it as... reclaiming what was wrongfully taken." Her gaze fell on Old Man Zhu, and something like recognition passed between them. "Ah, Master Zhu. I see they discovered your little project."

Before anyone could respond, more crimson-robed figures descended through the opening, quickly taking positions around the chamber. They were outnumbered, but Lian Wei could sense the power radiating from each intruder—these were no ordinary disciples.

*Threat assessment: Eight Core Formation cultivators. Three displaying energy signatures consistent with the use of unorthodox cultivation methods. Recommend immediate evasive action.*

"Jin Cao," Elder Jin commanded, "take the boy and the fragments through the escape tunnel. Now!"

Jin Cao grabbed Lian Wei's arm with one hand and the cloth bag containing the fragments with the other, pulling them both toward the concealed door the elders had been approaching. Old Man Zhu was momentarily forgotten in the chaos.

As they reached the door, a deafening crash announced more of the ceiling giving way. Dust filled the chamber, obscuring everything in a thick haze. Lian Wei felt Jin Cao's grip tighten painfully on his arm as they stumbled through the doorway into a narrow tunnel lit by the same spirit stones as the stairwell.

"Move!" Jin Cao shouted, shoving Lian Wei forward as sounds of combat erupted behind them—the clash of spiritual energy, shouts of anger and pain, the distinctive whine of spirit tools being activated.

They ran down the tunnel, the sounds of battle growing fainter behind them. Lian Wei's mind was reeling from the rapid turn of events. The Crimson Cloud Sect had attacked specifically for the fragments. Old Man Zhu somehow knew their leader. The Spiral Meridian Method was forbidden by something called the Cultivation Accord. Nothing made sense anymore.

"In here," Jin Cao ordered, pushing Lian Wei through another doorway into a small, circular room. Unlike the lavish chamber they had fled, this room was austere—stone walls, floor, and ceiling, with a single stone pedestal at its center. The only illumination came from formation marks carved into the floor, which glowed with a soft blue light.

Jin Cao sealed the door behind them, activating a protective formation with a surge of spiritual energy. "This is the inner sanctum," he explained, his voice tight with tension. "The formation will hide our presence and protect us from attack."

"What about the elders?" Lian Wei asked. "And Master Zhu?"

"They can handle themselves," Jin Cao replied dismissively, moving to the pedestal. He placed the cloth bag containing the fragments on its surface. "My only orders were to protect these."

A moment of awkward silence fell between them. Despite being the same age, they occupied entirely different worlds within the sect—Jin Cao as the favored inner disciple and elder's son, Lian Wei as the failing outer disciple barely worth notice. Now they were trapped together in a crisis neither fully understood.

"Why would the Crimson Cloud Sect risk open conflict over these fragments?" Lian Wei finally asked, genuinely curious about Jin Cao's perspective.

The inner disciple hesitated, clearly debating how much to share. "The fragments are more valuable than you realize," he eventually said. "They're part of a technique that existed before the Great Fracturing—one that could potentially accelerate cultivation beyond normal limits."

"The Spiral Meridian Method," Lian Wei nodded. "I heard the elders mention it." He paused, then pressed further: "They also mentioned a Cultivation Accord that forbids it. Why is the technique banned?"

Jin Cao's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "How much did that old fool Zhu tell you?"

"Nothing about any Accord," Lian Wei replied truthfully. "He only showed me the fragments and asked for my help interpreting the script."

"And you could read them? Just like that?" Jin Cao's skepticism was evident.

Lian Wei chose his words carefully. "Some parts seemed... familiar. As if I'd seen similar notation before." It wasn't exactly a lie—his previous life's archaeological knowledge, enhanced by the Archaeon Archive, did make the ancient script recognizable in ways he couldn't fully explain.

"Hmph." Jin Cao clearly didn't believe him entirely but seemed to accept the explanation for now. "The Cultivation Accord was signed after the Great Fracturing to prevent another cataclysm. Twelve techniques were specifically banned, including the Spiral Meridian Method."

"Why?" Lian Wei pressed. "What makes it so dangerous?"

Jin Cao moved away from the pedestal, pacing the small confines of the room. "The official story is that these techniques damaged the natural order—corrupted the very foundations of cultivation by taking shortcuts that ultimately led to disaster." He paused, then added more quietly, "But my father believes the true reason was to maintain control. The powerful sects that survived the Fracturing wanted to ensure no one could rise too quickly, challenge the new order they established."

It was more information than Lian Wei had expected Jin Cao to share. Perhaps the stress of their situation had loosened the inner disciple's usual caution.

*Analysis: Jin Cao's statement contains 78% correlation with historical data fragments. Control hypothesis highly plausible based on post-Fracturing power consolidation patterns.*

"So your father wants to use the forbidden technique to increase his power?" Lian Wei asked, carefully keeping his tone neutral.

Jin Cao shot him a warning look. "My father seeks knowledge that rightfully belongs to all cultivators, not just those who survived the Fracturing and dictated terms to the rest."

Before Lian Wei could respond, the entire sanctum trembled. Dust sifted down from the ceiling as the protective formation around them flickered momentarily.

"Impossible," Jin Cao whispered, his face paling. "This formation is tied to the sect's foundation stone. It cannot be breached without—"

"Without what?" Lian Wei prompted when Jin Cao abruptly fell silent.

"Without someone who knows its weaknesses," the inner disciple finished, his expression hardening. "Someone like the master archivist."

Another tremor shook the room, stronger this time. The formation markings on the floor flickered again, longer than before.

"We need to move," Jin Cao decided, snatching up the cloth bag. "There's another exit—a passage that leads to the forest beyond the sect's walls."

He pressed his palm against a section of wall, channeling spiritual energy into what appeared to be solid stone. A seam appeared, widening into a narrow opening barely large enough for one person to squeeze through.

"You first," Jin Cao ordered, gesturing for Lian Wei to enter the passageway.

Lian Wei hesitated. Something felt wrong about this sudden evacuation. If the inner sanctum was supposedly impregnable, why flee at the first sign of pressure on its defenses?

*Warning: Deception indicators detected in Jin Cao's physiological response. Recommend caution.*

The Archive's warning confirmed his suspicion. Jin Cao wasn't being entirely truthful about their situation.

"What about your father?" Lian Wei asked. "Shouldn't we wait for the elders?"

"My orders are to protect the fragments at all costs," Jin Cao insisted, his expression growing impatient. "Now go!"

Another violent shake rocked the sanctum, and this time, cracks appeared in the stone floor. The formation markings flickered erratically, their blue light dimming.

Making a quick decision, Lian Wei stepped toward the hidden passage. As he approached, he deliberately stumbled against Jin Cao, his hand brushing against the cloth bag containing the fragments.

*Contact established with Fragment 3-A. Synchronization continuing.*

In that brief moment of contact, the Archaeon Archive connected once more with the fragment, downloading additional information about the Spiral Meridian Method—and something else. A memory, not his own but embedded within the fragment itself, of a vast chamber filled with standing stones, each carved with portions of the technique. The memory was accompanied by a location: Dawn Peak, the highest mountain on Falling Leaf Sect territory.

"Stop dawdling!" Jin Cao shoved him toward the opening.

Lian Wei entered the narrow passage, Jin Cao close behind him. Unlike the previous tunnel, this one was rough-hewn, more like a natural cave than a constructed pathway. The only light came from a luminous moss that grew in patches along the walls, casting an eerie green glow.

They moved in silence for several minutes, the sounds of conflict growing more distant behind them. The passage sloped upward, winding its way through the earth beneath the sect grounds.

"How much further?" Lian Wei asked, his voice echoing slightly in the confined space.

"Not far," Jin Cao replied tersely. "Keep moving."

As they continued, Lian Wei's mind raced with possibilities. If he could somehow separate Jin Cao from the fragments, he might be able to connect with them more thoroughly, extract the complete information about the Spiral Meridian Method. But the inner disciple kept the cloth bag clutched tightly in his hand, clearly unwilling to let it out of his grasp even for a moment.

More concerning was Old Man Zhu's fate. Had the archivist escaped in the chaos? Was he captured by the Crimson Cloud Sect? Or worse, had he been working with them all along? The woman in crimson had seemed to know him, had implied some prior connection.

The passage suddenly widened, opening into a small cave with multiple tunnels branching off in different directions. Jin Cao paused, apparently considering which route to take.

*Analysis: Cave formation natural, not constructed. Estimated distance from sect main compound: 0.8 kilometers. Direction: northeast. Notable: Correlation with direction of Dawn Peak.*

The information gave Lian Wei pause. Why would an escape route lead toward Dawn Peak rather than away from sect territory?

"This way," Jin Cao decided, pointing to a passage on the right.

"Wait," Lian Wei said, frowning. "That tunnel leads deeper into sect territory, not away from it."

Jin Cao's expression flickered with surprise before hardening into suspicion. "How would you know that? You've never been in these passages before."

"Simple reasoning," Lian Wei replied quickly. "The air flow from that tunnel carries the scent of cypress trees that grow on the eastern slopes. The escape route should lead west, away from sect lands."

It was a hasty explanation, but Jin Cao seemed to accept it, though his suspicion didn't entirely fade. "Perhaps I misjudged the direction in the darkness," he said. "The western tunnel is this one." He pointed to another opening.

*Warning: Jin Cao's statement contains physiological markers of deception. He is deliberately misleading you.*

The Archive's warning only confirmed what Lian Wei already suspected—Jin Cao was leading him not to safety, but to some other destination. But why? What could the inner disciple hope to gain by deceiving him now?

Before he could consider further, a new sound reached them—voices echoing through one of the tunnels, growing louder.

"Crimson Cloud disciples," Jin Cao hissed. "They've found the passage network. Quickly, this way!"

He grabbed Lian Wei's arm and pulled him toward one of the smaller tunnels, this one so low they had to crouch to enter it. They moved as quickly as possible through the cramped space, the voices behind them growing louder, then receding as they put distance between themselves and their pursuers.

After what felt like an eternity of crawling through increasingly tight passages, they emerged into another, larger cave. This one was different—clearly modified by human hands, with smooth walls and a level floor. At its center stood a stone altar, illuminated by shafts of moonlight filtering through cracks in the ceiling high above.

"What is this place?" Lian Wei asked, looking around in wonder.

Jin Cao didn't answer immediately. Instead, he walked to the altar and placed the cloth bag upon it, carefully removing the fragments and arranging them in a specific pattern.

"This," he finally said, "is where we complete what Master Zhu started—whether he wishes it or not."

The implications of Jin Cao's statement sent a chill through Lian Wei. "You knew about the fragments all along," he realized aloud. "Even before you saw me meeting with Master Zhu."

Jin Cao smiled thinly. "Not everything revolves around you, failure. My father has been searching for the Spiral Meridian Method for decades. Master Zhu's research was never as secret as he believed."

"Then why the charade? Why pretend to report me for theft if you wanted the fragments anyway?"

"Because," Jin Cao said with exaggerated patience, as if explaining to a child, "we needed to know if you could actually read the fragments. Master Zhu wouldn't cooperate willingly, but you—a nobody, a failing outer disciple with no backing or protection—you could be manipulated, used."

The casual cruelty of the assessment stung, but Lian Wei kept his expression neutral. "And the Crimson Cloud attack?"

"An unfortunate coincidence," Jin Cao admitted, continuing to arrange the fragments. "Or perhaps not so unfortunate. The chaos provides perfect cover for what happens next."

"Which is what, exactly?" Lian Wei asked, eyeing the pattern Jin Cao was creating. The fragments were being arranged in a spiral, matching the symbol he had seen in his vision.

"The completion of the first stage of the Spiral Meridian Method," Jin Cao replied. "These fragments contain enough of the technique to establish a foundation—a flawed one, perhaps, but sufficient for our purposes."

"Our purposes?"

"My father's, primarily," Jin Cao said with a dismissive shrug. "But I'll benefit as well. Once he breaks through to the Nascent Soul realm using this method, my path to the upper echelons of cultivation will be assured."

"And what's my role in all this?" Lian Wei asked, though he was beginning to suspect the answer.

Jin Cao's smile turned cruel. "Someone needs to test the technique first, to ensure it's safe for more... valuable practitioners." He gestured to the altar. "Congratulations, Lian Wei. You're about to become the first cultivator in a thousand years to attempt the Spiral Meridian Method."

Lian Wei stared at him in disbelief. "You expect me to willingly practice a forbidden technique that might kill me, just so you can see if it's safe for your father?"

"Willingly? No," Jin Cao laughed. "But you don't actually have a choice."

With a swift motion, he activated a formation inscribed on the altar—one that had been hidden beneath a layer of dust until his arranging of the fragments had cleared it. The formation marks glowed with a sickly yellow light, and Lian Wei felt his body freeze in place, paralyzed by the spiritual energy now binding him.

"Spirit binding formation," Jin Cao explained unnecessarily. "You can't move, can't resist. But you can still cultivate." He began placing the fragments in specific positions around Lian Wei's immobilized form. "The method is simple enough—the energy will flow through the pathways defined by the fragments, creating new meridians in your body. If you survive, we'll know it's viable. If not..." He shrugged. "The sect loses nothing of value."

Panic rose in Lian Wei's chest, but the paralysis was complete—he couldn't even speak to protest. This was madness. Attempting an incomplete, forbidden technique under duress, with no preparation or understanding of the consequences? It was a death sentence.

*Emergency protocol activated. Host vital systems endangered. Initiating defensive measures.*

The Archaeon Archive's voice in his mind was the only comfort, but what could it possibly do against a spirit binding formation? He was trapped, about to become an unwilling test subject for Jin Cao's ambition.

"Don't worry," Jin Cao said, mistaking Lian Wei's silent panic for mere fear. "It will all be over soon. Either you'll break through to the Foundation Establishment realm in minutes rather than years—a miracle by any standard—or you'll die quickly as your meridians rupture. Either way, I win."

He completed the arrangement of fragments, then stepped back to observe his work. The stone pieces now formed a perfect spiral around Lian Wei's frozen body, each positioned to align with specific acupoints.

"Now," Jin Cao said, raising his hands to channel spiritual energy, "let's see what the forbidden technique can really do."

As the inner disciple began chanting in an ancient language, the fragments started to glow—not with the blue light of the Archaeon Archive's interface, but with a pulsing red energy that felt wrong, corrupted somehow. The energy snaked from the fragments toward Lian Wei's body, seeking entry points.

*Warning: Incompatible energy signature detected. Current fragment configuration will cause critical meridian damage if activated. Analysis: Jin Cao has deliberately arranged fragments incorrectly to ensure failure.*

The Archive's warning confirmed Lian Wei's worst fears—this wasn't just a dangerous experiment; it was a deliberate execution. Jin Cao never intended for him to survive. But why go through such an elaborate charade?

As the red energy tendrils touched his skin, searing pain shot through Lian Wei's body. He would have screamed if he could move his mouth. The corrupted energy began forcing its way into his meridians, burning like acid through channels never meant to contain such power.

*Initiating emergency countermeasures. Activating Archaeon Archive defensive protocols. Attempting energy redirection.*

Within his mind, Lian Wei could see what the Archive was trying to do—create alternate pathways for the invasive energy, diverting it away from vital meridians and into temporary channels it was constructing throughout his body. It was a desperate measure, one that might save his life but at great cost to his cultivation potential.

As his consciousness began to fade under the onslaught of pain, Lian Wei heard Jin Cao's satisfied chuckle. "Your sacrifice will be remembered, failure—as a stepping stone to greatness."

Then darkness claimed him, and he knew nothing more.

---

Consciousness returned in fragments. First came sensation—the cool touch of stone against his back, the smell of earth and moss, the distant sound of water dripping. Then pain—a deep, throbbing ache that seemed to permeate every cell of his body, as if he'd been torn apart and haphazardly reassembled.

*Host vital signs stabilizing. Severe meridian damage sustained. Emergency reconstruction partially successful.*

The Archive's clinical assessment was little comfort as Lian Wei struggled to open his eyes. When he finally managed, he found himself staring at a rough stone ceiling, illuminated by a soft blue glow that seemed to emanate from his own skin.

"He's awake," a familiar voice observed. "Remarkable. I truly didn't expect him to survive."

With enormous effort, Lian Wei turned his head slightly to see Jin Cao standing several feet away, observing him with clinical interest. The inner disciple was no longer alone—Elder Jin stood beside him, along with a figure Lian Wei didn't recognize, shrouded in dark robes that concealed their features.

"The boy is more resilient than anticipated," Elder Jin noted. "Perhaps there's more to him than we realized."

"Or perhaps the technique is simply more forgiving than the records suggested," the shrouded figure replied, their voice oddly distorted, neither male nor female. "Either way, we have our answer. The Spiral Meridian Method can be initiated with incomplete fragments."

Lian Wei tried to speak, but his throat produced only a dry rasp. His body felt wrong—altered in fundamental ways. When he attempted to move, new sensations cascaded through him, as if pathways that had never existed before were now carrying foreign energy through his system.

"Don't strain yourself," Elder Jin advised, noticing his struggles. "The technique has rewired your entire cultivation base. It will take time to adapt—if you survive the transition."

"Why..." Lian Wei managed to croak.

"Why you?" Elder Jin guessed his question. "Because you were convenient. Expendable. And because Master Zhu chose you, which suggested you might have some special affinity for the technique."

"He still doesn't understand," Jin Cao said with a smirk. "Show him."

Elder Jin made a gesture, and a portion of the cave wall rippled like water, becoming transparent. Beyond it, Lian Wei could see a larger chamber where dozens of disciples—both Falling Leaf and Crimson Cloud, judging by their robes—lay unconscious on the ground, arranged in concentric circles. At the center stood Old Man Zhu, surrounded by a containment formation, his face lined with exhaustion and defeat.

"The attack was never about stealing the fragments," Elder Jin explained, noting Lian Wei's confusion. "It was a coordinated effort to gather suitable test subjects while creating a distraction for what comes next."

"The Crimson Cloud Sect has been our ally for generations," the shrouded figure added. "The public hostility is merely a convenient fiction to hide our true agenda."

"Which is?" Lian Wei asked, his voice stronger now as his body began to adjust to its new configuration.

"The restoration of what was lost," Elder Jin replied. "The reclamation of cultivation techniques stolen from humanity during the Great Fracturing."

"Not stolen," a new voice interrupted. "Sealed away for good reason."

All heads turned to see Elder Feng standing in the entrance to the cave, his ancient frame somehow radiating immense power despite his apparent frailty. Behind him stood Elder Mei, her hands already forming seals for a combat technique.

"Feng," Elder Jin acknowledged coldly. "I wondered when you would find us."

"Did you think I wouldn't recognize a false attack when I saw one?" the ancient elder asked. "I was there for the last alliance between Falling Leaf and Crimson Cloud—a dark chapter our sect has spent centuries trying to erase."

"You mean centuries concealing the truth," Elder Jin countered. "The Spiral Meridian Method isn't forbidden because it's dangerous—it's forbidden because it would break the monopoly on power the surviving sects established after the Fracturing."

"Fool," Elder Feng spat. "You know nothing of the true danger. The technique doesn't just accelerate cultivation—it creates a fundamental instability in the cultivator's foundation. The power comes at the cost of spiritual corruption."

The shrouded figure stepped forward. "Spiritual corruption is merely another term for evolution, Elder Feng. Those who fear change always label it corruption."

"Enough talk," Elder Mei snapped. "This ends now." Her hands completed a complex pattern, and a wave of energy surged toward Jin Cao and his companions.

The shrouded figure responded with a casual gesture that somehow deflected the attack, sending it crashing into the cave wall. "Indeed, this has gone on long enough. The boy has proven the method works. Now we proceed to phase two."

Before anyone could react, the figure made another gesture, and the transparent barrier separating them from the larger chamber dissolved. Simultaneously, the stone fragments surrounding Lian Wei began to glow again, this time with a blinding white light.

*Warning: Energy cascade detected. Multiple formation activations in progress. Recommend immediate evacuation.*

The Archive's warning came too late. The energy from the fragments erupted outward, connecting with the unconscious disciples in the larger chamber. Old Man Zhu, trapped at the center of the formation, cried out in pain as his body became a conduit for the massive energy transfer.

"What have you done?" Elder Feng demanded, horror evident in his voice.

"Created a meridian network," the shrouded figure replied calmly. "Every disciple here is now linked through the Spiral Meridian Method, their cultivation bases merging into a single system. And our friend Lian Wei, having survived the initial activation, will serve as the primary conduit."

The pain Lian Wei had felt earlier was nothing compared to what struck him now. Energy poured into him from dozens of sources, overwhelming his newly formed meridians. His vision blurred, replaced by the Archaeon Archive's interface, which frantically tried to manage the influx of power.

*Critical system overload. Unable to contain energy surge. Emergency protocols failing.*

Through the haze of agony, Lian Wei saw Elder Feng and Elder Mei launch themselves at the shrouded figure, only to be repelled by some invisible barrier. Jin Cao was backing away, confusion and fear replacing his earlier smugness as the energy manifestation grew beyond anything he had anticipated.

"Father, what's happening?" he asked, his voice cracking. "This isn't what you described!"

"The mergence is exceeding expected parameters," Elder Jin admitted, his own confident demeanor slipping. "The energy feedback loop is accelerating too quickly."

"You cannot control this power," Elder Feng warned. "No one can! This is why the technique was forbidden—not to hoard power, but to prevent this very scenario!"

The shrouded figure remained unmoved by the chaos unfolding around them. "The pain of rebirth is always intense," they said philosophically. "But from it will emerge a new era of cultivation."

Lian Wei could feel himself slipping away, his consciousness fragmenting under the assault. The Archaeon Archive was fighting a losing battle to maintain his core identity against the flood of foreign energy and the echoes of other minds now pouring into him through the meridian network.

*Emergency protocol activated. Initiating consciousness preservation sequence. Warning: Incomplete protection.*

With the last of his fading awareness, Lian Wei saw Old Man Zhu's eyes meet his across the chamber—filled with regret, sorrow, and something else. Determination.

The old archivist, despite his apparent captivity, suddenly moved with surprising speed. His bound hands came free—had he been faking his restraints?—and formed a seal Lian Wei had never seen before.

"Forgive me," the old man's voice somehow reached him despite the roaring energy storm. "This was never what I intended."

Then Old Man Zhu slammed his palm against the ground at the center of the formation. The entire cave system shuddered as if struck by an earthquake. Cracks appeared in the ceiling, spreading rapidly as the mountain itself seemed to respond to the archivist's command.

"Zhu, you fool!" the shrouded figure cried, genuine alarm in their distorted voice. "You'll kill us all!"

"Better than allowing what you intend," the old man replied calmly. "The seal must hold."

As the ceiling began to collapse, Lian Wei felt a strange calm overtake him. The pain receded, replaced by a sense of disconnection from his physical form. The Archaeon Archive's interface pulsed once more in his vision.

*Host consciousness transfer initiated. Original form compromised. Seeking suitable convergence point.*

Then there was only light, blinding and all-encompassing, as Dawn Peak began to collapse upon itself, burying the forbidden technique and its victims beneath tons of rock and earth. In his last moment of awareness, Lian Wei thought he heard the Archive speak once more:

*Rebirth protocol activated. Second transference beginning.*

And then there was nothing.