After My Rebirth, I Ended Up Happily Ever After with the Saintess - Chapter 77

Night Li’s steadily rising status within the sect was like a shot in the arm for the quietly developing Dark Pavilion. The massive resources and higher authority she brought back provided an unprecedented opportunity for growth for this organization, still in its infancy. During the brief period of calm after returning to the sect, Night Li dedicated most of her energy to integrating and expanding the Dark Pavilion.

In the quiet room of the Cloud Elixir Peak’s small courtyard. The faint light projected by the sub-mirror of the Cycle Mirror shone upon Night Li’s calm and profound face. Lin Feng, who was thousands of miles away in the Demon Suppressing City in the Northern Territory, was respectfully reporting the detailed recent situation of the Dark Pavilion through the sub-mirror.

“…Thanks to the resources you brought back, Pavilion Master, Senior Sister Zhihe has successfully refined several batches of the ‘Spirit Mansion Pill.’ Although they are only low-grade, the success rate is stable, and a portion has been sold through covert channels. The response has been excellent, providing us with a stable income of Spirit Stones. Sun Xiaohou’s intelligence network has initially covered the three main market cities surrounding the sect and can obtain some scattered information from the Northern Territory. Zhao Xiaoyi’s managed internal channels are operating smoothly. As per your previous instructions, we conducted a half-year observation on the two peripheral probationary disciples (Zhang Yuan, Li Yun). Both have stable temperaments, clean backgrounds, and showed a strong defense of the group during an unexpected conflict, thus passing the assessment.”

Night Li listened carefully, her fingers lightly tapping the table. The development of the Dark Pavilion was smoother than she had anticipated, which was inseparable from Lin Feng’s steady management and the efforts of Xia Zhihe and others.

“Well done,” Night Li affirmed. “Since Zhang Yuan and Li Yun have passed the assessment, they can be officially absorbed as core members. Tomorrow at the You hour (5-7 PM), at the usual spot, I will meet them personally.”

“Yes!” Lin Feng’s voice carried a hint of excitement. The Dark Pavilion was finally about to gain new blood.

“Next,” Night Li continued to give instructions, “the development focus of the Dark Pavilion has three points.”

“Firstly, strength enhancement. Lin Feng, you and Zhihe must prioritize breaking through to the Spirit Mansion Realm. The Spirit Mansion Pill will be supplied to the two of you first, supplemented by other resources, and you must achieve a breakthrough within one year. Only by stepping into the Spirit Mansion Realm can you truly possess the right to speak within the sect, and only then can the Dark Pavilion be considered to have a basic ability to protect itself.”

“Secondly, functional deepening. Apart from refining elixirs, Zhihe needs to start paying attention to and attempting to collect information on various heavenly materials and earthly treasures needed to refine a ‘Lifebound Artifact,’ especially focusing on Ice-type and Space-type materials. Sun Xiaohou’s intelligence network needs to evolve toward a more professional direction. He must not only gather information but also learn to analyze and assess it, focusing on monitoring the core disciples of the Battle Maniac Peak, the movements of the Scarlet Flame Sect in the Northern Territory, and… any clues related to the ‘Ice Soul Profound Palace’ or ancient array formations. Zhao Xiaoyi needs to start learning basic management and resource allocation knowledge.”

“Thirdly, cautious expansion. Temporarily halt the large-scale absorption of new members. At the current stage, quality over quantity is the goal. We will consider the next expansion plan only after you and Zhihe break through to the Spirit Mansion Realm.”

Night Li’s thinking was clear and precise: first, solidify the strength of the core layer (elevate to the Spirit Mansion Realm), then deepen professional capabilities, and finally, plan for expansion. This was a safe and highly efficient development path.

“Your subordinate understands! I will not fail the Pavilion Master’s trust!” Lin Feng responded solemnly.

The communication ended. Night Li put away the sub-mirror, a hint of expectation flashing in her eyes. Lin Feng and Xia Zhihe were both talented. With ample resource support, there was great hope for them to break through to the Spirit Mansion Realm within a year. Once successful, the Dark Pavilion would have two core members in the Spirit Mansion Realm, plus her, the Pavilion Master whose strength far surpassed her peers. Only then could it be considered to have truly taken root within the Profound Cloud Sect, possessing a preliminary capacity for self-protection and profitability.

The next day at the You hour, in the depths of the bamboo forest. Night Li once again met with Lin Feng, Xia Zhihe, Sun Xiaohou, and Zhao Xiaoyi, as well as the two slightly nervous but determined new members—Zhang Yuan and Li Yun.

Zhang Yuan was a resolute young man, originally an outer sect disciple of the Artifact Hall. His cultivation was at the mid-stage of the Meridian Condensation Realm. He specialized in artifact refining and had a unique expertise in material identification. Li Yun was a meticulous woman from the Elixir Mist Peak, with early-stage Meridian Condensation Realm cultivation. She was quite talented in spiritual plant cultivation and pharmacology analysis.

Night Li’s gaze swept over the two. The invisible pressure made Zhang Yuan and Li Yun involuntarily straighten their backs.

“Zhang Yuan, Li Yun,” Night Li spoke, her voice clear and cool. “Lin Feng has reported your assessment results to me. The Dark Pavilion does not value false reputation, only practical action and loyalty. To join my Dark Pavilion, you must make a Heart Demon Vow, share weal and woe, and never betray. Are you willing?”

“Disciple Zhang Yuan (Li Yun), is willing to swear to join the Dark Pavilion, follow the Pavilion Master, and never betray!” The two did not hesitate and immediately made the Heart Demon Vow on the spot.

The moment the oath was established, an invisible bond closely connected the six people.

“Good.” A faint smile appeared on Night Li’s face. She took out two Dark Pavilion Tokens and two prepared storage bags and handed them to the pair. “These are the Dark Pavilion’s tokens and welcoming gifts. From now on, you are core members of the Dark Pavilion. Zhang Yuan, you are temporarily under Lin Feng’s command, responsible for material identification, weapon maintenance, and assisting Xiaoyi in managing supplies. Li Yun, you will assist Zhihe, responsible for spiritual plant cultivation and elixir raw material processing.”

“We obey the Pavilion Master’s command!” Zhang Yuan and Li Yun excitedly accepted them, and feeling the generous resources in the storage bags, their confidence was greatly boosted.

With this, the core members of the Dark Pavilion increased to six, and the structure initially took shape: Pavilion Master Night Li (Combat core, decision-maker); Chief Steward Lin Feng (Overall management, intelligence analysis); Elixir Hall Steward Xia Zhihe (Elixir supply, resource preparation); Information Hall Steward Sun Xiaohou (Intelligence gathering, external liaison); Logistics Steward Zhao Xiaoyi (Internal management, material circulation); Newly added Artifact Hall Provisional Zhang Yuan (Materials, weapons), and Medicine Hall Provisional Li Yun (Spiritual plants, pharmacology). A small but refined, functionally clear small group was formally established.

With the support of the massive resources Night Li brought back, the Dark Pavilion began operating at high speed and with a low profile, like a precision instrument that had been wound up.

Lin Feng and Xia Zhihe practically entered a state of semi-seclusion, fully focused on breaking through to the Spirit Mansion Realm. With the supply of vast amounts of Spirit Mansion Pills and other supplementary resources, their cultivation progressed with incredible speed.

Sun Xiaohou’s intelligence network became more professional. He was no longer satisfied with hearsay but began attempting to bribe low-level stewards in key positions, establish secret liaison points in the market cities, and even send people disguised as rogue cultivators to infiltrate some exploration teams to obtain first-hand, more in-depth information. The news that Gao Sheng of the Battle Maniac Peak had recently frequently gone to the sect’s secret treasury to exchange for a certain fire-type artifact refining material, as well as the news that an elder of the Scarlet Flame Sect had secretly arrived in a border city, were timely relayed to Night Li.

Zhao Xiaoyi managed internal affairs with perfect order, ensuring the efficient flow of resources and the confidentiality of information. Zhang Yuan and Li Yun also quickly integrated into their roles. One used his expertise to start repairing and optimizing weapons for the Dark Pavilion members, while the other began attempting to open a small, hidden herb garden in the back mountain of the Cloud Elixir Peak to cultivate commonly used spiritual herbs.

The Dark Pavilion even began to have a meager “profit.” The surplus elixirs refined by Xia Zhihe and some artifacts repaired by Zhang Yuan quietly flowed out through Sun Xiaohou’s channels. The Spirit Stones exchanged for them, in turn, fed back into the pavilion’s consumption, forming a preliminary virtuous cycle.

All this was happening in an extremely secretive state. To outsiders, Night Li returned and lived in seclusion, concentrating on her cultivation, and her disciples (Lin Feng and others) were mostly in seclusion or busy with sect missions, showing no abnormality. No one noticed that a potentially huge shadow organization was quietly taking root and sprouting within the Profound Cloud Sect.

Night Li remotely controlled the Dark Pavilion’s development direction through the sub-mirror and was quite satisfied with the current progress. However, she did not relax her vigilance, deeply aware that the Dark Pavilion was still fragile and could not withstand major storms. She focused more energy on her own cultivation and the analysis of information regarding the Ice Soul Profound Palace ruins.

On this day, as she was deducing the subsequent variations of the Star Silence sword moves, the Dark Pavilion Token transmitted an encrypted message from Lin Feng. The content instantly made her eyes sharpen:

“Pavilion Master, according to highly confidential information obtained by Sun Xiaohou, the sect has preliminarily determined the draft list of disciples for exploring the Ice Soul Profound Palace ruins. You are at the top of the core list! However, Situ Kuang of the Battle Maniac Peak strongly opposes this and proposes, on the grounds of sect safety, that all participating disciples must undergo a ‘Heart-Seeking Mirror’ examination to ensure they have not been corrupted by demonic energy or possess unknown exotic treasures! This proposal has been seconded by some elders!”

Heart-Seeking Mirror! That was a special artifact of the sect, capable of illuminating a cultivator’s heart. Although it would not necessarily pry into all secrets, the existence of the Cycle Mirror and the Star Core posed an immense risk!

Situ Kuang’s move was utterly malicious! Ostensibly for the public good, it was actually a deliberate attempt to suppress her!

A cold light flashed in Night Li’s eyes. It seemed that the hidden struggle had already begun before the ruins exploration had even started. She had to find a way to deal with this “Heart-Seeking Mirror” dilemma; otherwise, she would not only lose the opportunity but her greatest secret could also be exposed.

The initial development of the Dark Pavilion provided a foundation of confidence, but the challenges ahead remained severe.