Chapter 3: The Hidden Cultivation

The first week after the merge was a study in concealment.

Lin Xiao returned to his duties as if nothing had changed, walking with the same limp he'd always had—though now it was an act rather than a necessity. He kept his eyes downcast, his voice submissive, his posture defeated. Everything about his external appearance remained exactly what the sect expected.

But inside, everything was different.

*Your control is impressive,* the Demon Emperor observed as Lin Xiao scrubbed floors in the guest hall. *Most new vessels can't suppress the changes this effectively.*

"I've had years of practice hiding what I'm thinking," Lin Xiao thought back, having discovered that internal communication was as simple as directing his thoughts toward the Emperor's presence. "Being invisible was the only way to survive."

*A skill that will serve you well. Infernal cultivation thrives in secret—the orthodox world will destroy what it doesn't understand.*

The nights were for learning.

After his duties ended and the sect settled into darkness, Lin Xiao would slip away to the abandoned storage building at the mountain's lowest tier. No one came here—the structure was scheduled for demolition, useful only for housing broken furniture and forgotten supplies. It was perfect.

*The foundation of Infernal cultivation is different from orthodox practice,* the Emperor explained during their first session. *They draw Qi from heaven and earth, purifying it through their bodies. You will draw power from emotion—specifically, from the negative emotions that saturate this world.*

"From other people's emotions?"

*Eventually. For now, focus on your own. The despair you've accumulated, the rage, the humiliation—these are fuel. Feel them. Let them burn.*

Lin Xiao closed his eyes and reached for the feelings he'd spent years suppressing. The memory of his parents' deaths. The countless beatings from Chen Wei. The daily reminders that he was worthless, useless, better off dead.

The emotions rose like bile, and with them came power.

Crimson energy pulsed through his newly-carved channels, stronger each time he called upon it. The sensation was unlike anything he'd experienced during his failed attempts at orthodox cultivation—this power didn't need to be coaxed or refined. It responded to his pain like fire to fuel.

*Good. Now channel it into your core.*

The process was instinctive in a way that spiritual cultivation had never been. The demonic essence flowed to his center, condensing into something denser, more concentrated. Each session left him exhausted but stronger.

*You're at what orthodox cultivators would call Qi Condensation Stage One,* the Emperor assessed after three days. *But the comparison is imperfect. Infernal stages work differently—each advancement requires not just accumulated power but psychological transformation.*

"Psychological transformation?"

*You must confront and master the emotions that fuel you. A cultivator who remains enslaved by their rage can never advance beyond the early stages. The power must be yours to command, not the other way around.*

Lin Xiao understood. The demonic essence wanted to be indulged—every cell in his body screamed for revenge, for violence, for the satisfaction of making those who'd hurt him suffer. But giving in to those urges without control would make him a slave to the power rather than its master.

"How do I know when I've mastered an emotion?"

*When you can feel it fully without being controlled by it. When you can call upon its power and then dismiss it at will.* The Emperor paused. *It takes most demons centuries to achieve this. You will need to do it faster, or you'll be discovered before you're strong enough to survive.*

---

The second week brought his first test.

Chen Wei found him in the eastern courtyard, carrying a basket of laundry toward the washing stations. The Sect Master's nephew was accompanied by his usual cronies, their presence blocking the only exit.

"There's our favorite cripple," Chen Wei announced. "I've missed our conversations."

Lin Xiao bowed, forcing himself to maintain the submissive posture he'd always worn. Inside, the demonic essence surged with hunger, demanding release.

*Control,* the Emperor warned. *Feel the anger but don't let it control you.*

"Senior Brother Chen," Lin Xiao said, keeping his voice meek. "How may I serve you?"

"How may I serve you," Chen Wei mimicked in a mocking falsetto. "Still pathetic after all these years. I thought maybe a week of peace would give you some spine."

The blow came without warning—a casual backhand that would have sent the old Lin Xiao sprawling. But his transformed body processed the impact differently. The pain registered, but instead of overwhelming him, it became fuel. Demonic essence flowed to the point of impact, absorbing the force, converting it to power.

He let himself fall anyway, maintaining the appearance of helplessness.

"You're boring me," Chen Wei declared, losing interest. "Go do your laundry, cripple. Try not to drown yourself in the river."

They left, laughing at a joke that hadn't been funny the first time they'd made it years ago.

Lin Xiao gathered his scattered laundry with hands that didn't shake, though they wanted to. The hunger was there—the desire to chase them down, to use his new strength, to show them exactly how wrong they'd been about him.

But that would be stupid.

Chen Wei was at Foundation Establishment, Middle Stage. His cultivation was genuine, backed by years of training and resources that Lin Xiao couldn't match. A direct confrontation now would only result in death, and probably uncover the nature of his new power before he was ready.

*You're learning,* the Emperor observed with something like approval. *The hunger is strong, but so is your mind. That will serve you well.*

"He'll pay eventually," Lin Xiao thought back. "When I'm ready."

*Yes. But 'eventually' can be a very long time. Don't let vengeance consume your judgment.*

Lin Xiao continued to the river, performing his duties with the same broken efficiency he'd always shown.

But inside, the count had begun.

---

By the end of the month, Lin Xiao had reached what the Emperor called the Corruption Seed stage—the first true level of Infernal cultivation.

"Your body has accepted the demonic essence as part of itself," the Emperor explained. "The changes are permanent now. Even if I were somehow removed, you would retain what you've gained."

"And what have I gained?"

"Enhanced physical capabilities—strength, speed, durability all roughly doubled from your baseline. Accelerated healing that will repair most wounds within hours rather than days. And the foundation for further advancement."

Lin Xiao examined himself in the moonlight, noting changes that wouldn't be visible to casual observers. His eyes held a faint crimson tint when his emotions ran high. The veins in his arms pulsed with dark energy when he channeled power. His twisted leg, though he still pretended it was damaged, moved with perfect efficiency.

"Will the changes become more obvious?"

"Eventually. The later stages of Infernal cultivation transform the body more dramatically—your appearance will shift to reflect your nature. But that's years away, at the earliest. For now, your disguise remains intact."

"Good." Lin Xiao flexed his newly-strong hands. "I'm not ready to reveal anything yet."

"When will you be ready?"

"When I can kill Chen Wei without anyone being able to stop me."

*That's a specific goal. I approve.* The Emperor's amusement rippled through their connection. *But I should warn you—revenge is satisfying, but it's not a foundation for growth. You'll need something more to fuel your advancement beyond the initial stages.*

"Like what?"

*That's something you'll have to discover yourself. Every Infernal cultivator finds their own source of emotional power. Mine was conquest—the desire to rule everything. Others have been driven by fear, or love, or simple survival.*

"And if I can't find something?"

*Then your advancement will stall at the intermediate stages, and the orthodox cultivators will eventually overwhelm you. The Demon Realm is full of powerful beings who never transcended because they couldn't master their own hearts.*

Lin Xiao filed this warning away for future consideration. Right now, revenge was enough. The desire to make Chen Wei—and everyone else who'd tormented him—suffer was a flame that burned steadily in his chest.

He would worry about deeper motivations later.

Tonight, he would train.

Tomorrow, he would pretend to be worthless.

Lin Xiao smiled in the darkness.

For the first time in ten years, he was looking forward to tomorrow.