A few months passed and rumors of Lin Shen's condition spread.
Enemies listened while allies helped.
And during this time Lin Shen was in his room schematics on the walls
Then he heard three knocks
He opened the door and found his mother arms crossed
She entered Lin Shen's room and sat on his bed.
"Mother what brings you here" asked Lin Shen his tone calm and confident
"Little Shen the everything is ready but I want to know why you need them" she said in a soft tone.
Then she got up from the bed and looked at a schematic on the wall it was a sword but it looked different.
"Mother as you see I have big plans it will not be easy to explain but I will show you them when the time is right"
"Alright little Shen if you ever need anything just remember you have my full support" she said with a soft smile before leaving the room.
Then he stepped out and saw five carts each one pulled by two senior disciples
Lin Shen led them to a cave in one of the mountains around the sect. and asked them leave the carts there.
After the disciples left he got to work
He started building not a weapon but an exosuit.
The first year since he started working on the exosuit no one noticed except for a few curious disciples who would come every now and then.
The second year was when the elders went to see what he was doing but seeing him so focused they left him alone and had a few senior disciples guard the cave.
The third-year rumors about him spread
some said he was practicing a demonic art
others defended him saying he must be refining himself
then on the fourth month the Golden Azure sect got a challenge from their rival sect the Black River.
"This is preposterous" said one elder
"They want to challenge him despite knowing his condition" said another elder
"With a Core formation disciple," said another
"I just came out and there is already a commotion" Said Lin Shen his voice carrying through the chamber like a sharpened sword"
"Little Shen you do not have to accept this challenge I will take another disciple in your place" His mother said.
"Mother, if I don't go our enemies will think we have fallen our reputation would get damaged, but if I go then we can at least accept an honorable defeat." Lin Shen said his eyes steady, voice calm. "But do not worry I am confident I can win"
"How you are only at the soul formation stage you cannot possibly handle a core formation stage cultivator" asked one elder.
"It will not be a surprise if I told you what it was" He said with a childish grin "You will see on the day of the duel"
"Prepare a response" said Lin Shen's mother
"Madam Feng you are not seriously considering this" said another elder.
"I do not know what do you mean I simply want to see what my son did with those materials the sect provided him with." Said Lin Feng without batting an eye.