The gray mist receded like a tide, and the surroundings gradually cleared.

  Lin Chen and Shi Meng stood at the exit of Spirit Qi Valley. Behind them lay the chaotic space and the thunder?battlefield; ahead, the familiar mountain path of the sect. Morning sunlight spilled over the blue?stone steps, casting a faint golden glow. The air carried the fragrance of grass and trees, mixed with the distant clamor of the training grounds.

  Three days.

  They had spent only three days inside the chaotic space.

  Yet seven full days had passed in the outside world.

  This was the information Lin Chen had gleaned from the Star?pattern Stone Tablet—the flow of time inside that chaotic space differed from the outside world, roughly two to one. Three days inside equaled seven days outside.

  Only one day remained before the Outer Sect arena tournament.

  “Time is running out.” Shi Meng hefted the giant axe already chipped at the edge and grinned. “But the haul this time is huge. I feel I can break through to Condensation Stage Level Eight anytime.”

  Lin Chen nodded.

  His own aura had now stabilized at the peak of Condensation Stage Level Eight.

  Only a thin barrier lay between him and Spiritual Light Realm · Starlight Stage. But that barrier was like a chasm—it would require opportunity, or a life?and?death battle, to shatter.

  The greater gain was the opening of the Star?pattern Space.

  In the moment he had refined the Thunder?horned Rhinoceros core and achieved nine?attribute balance, the Star?pattern on his forehead had trembled violently, opening up a grey space roughly ten meters square within his consciousness sea. This space could store inanimate objects. Though small for now, it was enough to conceal critical items like the star?path map fragment.

  Right now, the jade slip obtained from the stone tablet, along with the remaining essence of the Thunder?horned Rhinoceros core, lay quietly inside the Star?pattern Space.

  No one could detect it except himself.

  This was his biggest trump card against Deacon Zhao.

  Lin Chen closed his eyes, his consciousness sinking into that grey space. At its center hovered the jade slip, its surface flowing with ancient silver runes that brightened and dimmed like breathing. He tried touching it with his soul?sense, and a warm ripple immediately emanated from the slip, like the greeting of a long?parted friend. The information of the star?path map fragment was incomplete, marking only the general location of Meteorite Valley and the countdown to the secret realm’s opening—eighty?seven days. Less than three months. Time was so tight it felt suffocating. Yet Lin Chen did not retreat; instead, a blazing fighting spirit ignited in his heart. Ten years ago, his father Lin Xiaotian had walked this star?path, gone to Meteorite Valley in search of the Stellar Tower Key, and ended up trapped in space?time turbulence. As his son, he had to walk it too—and he had to … bring his father back. This was his duty, and his destiny.

  “Let’s go.” Lin Chen stepped onto the blue?stone steps. “First back to the Outer Sect quarters, wash and change, then … head to the training grounds to register.”

  Shi Meng followed, his burly frame casting a thick shadow on the steps.

  But the two had walked barely a hundred paces—

  Swish! Swish! Swish!

  Three figures flashed out from the woods flanking the mountain path, forming a triangular encirclement around them.

  Uniform black robes of the Law Enforcement Hall, black tokens hanging at their waists, faces utterly expressionless—only icy gazes that scraped over Lin Chen like blades.

  The leader was a tall, thin young man with a shallow scar between his eyebrows. His aura was unmistakably Condensation Stage Level Nine, early stage.

  Law Enforcement Hall Inner Sect disciple, Chen Feng.

  The two behind him, left and right, were both at Condensation Stage Level Eight peak, auras sharp and fierce—clearly battle?hardened.

  “Lin Chen.” Chen Feng’s voice was flat, but carried an undeniable pressure. “The Law Enforcement Hall has received a report that you have been hoarding sect treasures inside Spirit Qi Valley. Come with us now.”

  Shi Meng’s face changed. He crossed his giant axe in front of his chest. “Bullshit! We just came out—how could we be hoarding anything?”

  Chen Feng didn’t even glance at Shi Meng, keeping his eyes fixed on Lin Chen. “The informant provided solid evidence that you took an ancient jade slip from the valley floor. That is a lost heritage object of the sect—it must be surrendered.”

  Lin Chen laughed coldly inside.

  Solid evidence?

  Who besides Deacon Zhao could “provide evidence”?

  Clearly, the other side had been waiting at the exit, just for them to emerge.

  But this move … was too hasty.

  So hasty they couldn’t even be bothered to hide it.

  “I am not hoarding any treasures.” Lin Chen said calmly. “If the three senior brothers do not believe me, you may search.”

  Chen Feng’s eyes flickered slightly.

  He hadn’t expected Lin Chen to be so straightforward.

  But soon, the corner of his mouth lifted in a mocking curl. “We will search, of course … but not here. The Law Enforcement Hall has a dedicated inspection chamber. Please come with us.”

  “On what grounds?” Shi Meng roared, his axe gouging a deep scratch in the ground. “You say search and we search, say go and we go? Does the Law Enforcement Hall get to arrest people at will?”

  Chen Feng finally glanced at Shi Meng, his gaze like that on an insect. “On the grounds that I am an Inner Sect disciple of the Law Enforcement Hall, and you are merely Outer Sect disciples. Resistance … will be treated as sect?betrayal.”

  The two words “sect?betrayal” fell like a heavy hammer.

  Under Azure Cloud Sect law, sect?betrayers—were to be executed without mercy!

  Shi Meng trembled with rage, veins bulging on his neck, but dared not speak again.

  Because the two behind Chen Feng had already quietly rested their hands on their sword hilts.

  Swords not yet drawn, killing intent already congealed.

  Lin Chen pressed Shi Meng’s shoulder, signaling him to calm down.

  “Fine, I’ll go with you.” Lin Chen said lightly. “But Shi Meng has nothing to do with this—let him return to the Outer Sect first.”

  Chen Feng nodded. “Agreed.”

  Shi Meng cried out, “Brother Lin!”

  “Go back and wait for my news.” Lin Chen gave him a meaningful look.

  The look was subtle, but Shi Meng understood—Find Liu Ruyan, think of a way.

  Shi Meng gnashed his teeth, finally shouldered his axe and turned away. Each step he took made the blue?stone steps shudder slightly, as if pouring all the fury in his heart onto this mountain path.

  Chen Feng made a gesture. The other two Law Enforcement Hall disciples flanked Lin Chen, left and right.

  “After you.”

  The three escorted Lin Chen toward the direction of the Law Enforcement Hall.

  The mountain path wound; the morning light grew stronger.

  But in Lin Chen’s heart, there was only an icy chill.

  Deacon Zhao’s move was both vicious and cunning.

  If the jade slip were truly discovered, not only would the treasure be seized, Lin Chen would also be branded with the crime of “stealing the sect’s heritage”—punishable by crippling of cultivation and expulsion from the sect, or even … summary execution.

  And even if nothing were found, Deacon Zhao could still use the Law Enforcement Hall’s authority to detain him, buying time.

  Tomorrow was the Arena Tournament.

  If Lin Chen couldn’t break free today and missed registration, it would be as good as forfeiting.

  Then Deacon Zhao could, openly and within “sect rules,” arrange for his elimination.

  A fine scheme.

  But Deacon Zhao had miscalculated one thing—

  The Star?pattern Space.

  Unless a powerhouse at the Sect Master level personally searched his soul, no one could detect that grey space within his consciousness sea.

  The jade slip was safe.

  What he needed to do now was play along with their act, then … on the arena stage, openly smash every one of Deacon Zhao’s schemes.

  The Law Enforcement Hall lay within the Inner Sect region—a seven?story black stone palace, its roof crowned with a massive statue of a xiezhi, its single horn pointing to the sky, symbolizing law and judgment.

  The plaza before the hall was paved with blue?black flagstones, each carved with intricate formation runes that faintly pulsed with spiritual energy.

  Though still early morning, many disciples were already waiting in line outside the hall for various matters.

  But when Chen Feng escorted Lin Chen forward, all the disciples instinctively cleared a path, their gazes varied—curiosity, pity, even schadenfreude.

  Lin Chen’s face remained expressionless as he followed Chen Feng into the hall.

  A wave of yin?cold air rushed over him.

  Inside, the light was dim, only the night?luminous pearls embedded in the side walls emitting an eerie green glow. The air smelled faintly of blood, and something else—an oppressive, almost suffocating aura of killing.

  They passed through a long, dim corridor that stretched a hundred paces. On both sides were rows of sealed stone chambers, doors marked with numbers. Occasionally, one could hear shrill screams or pleas from within.

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  This … was Azure Cloud Sect’s place of punishment.

  A hell that countless disciples spoke of only in whispers.

  Finally, Chen Feng stopped before the door of a certain secret chamber.

  The door bore no number, only a crimson rune that faintly radiated pressure at the Spiritual Light Realm level.

  “Inside.” Chen Feng pushed the door open.

  The chamber was not large—about ten paces square. Its walls were built of mind?blocking obsidian, the floor engraved with a complex confinement formation. In the center stood a stone table, and behind it sat a man.

  It was Deacon Zhao.

  Today he wore a dark?violet elder’s robe, embroidered on the chest with Azure Cloud Sect’s mountain?river pattern. He toyed with a blood?red jade pendant, his gaze locking onto Lin Chen like a venomous snake.

  Chen Feng and the other two waited outside. The chamber door slowly closed.

  Sealing off inside from outside.

  Even sound could not escape.

  “Lin Chen, we meet again.” Deacon Zhao’s voice was mild, yet carried a piercing chill. “You’ve gained quite a bit these past few days in Spirit Qi Valley, haven’t you?”

  Lin Chen stood before the stone table, calm. “Thanks to Deacon Zhao’s ‘kindness,’ I almost died at the valley bottom.”

  “Oh?” Deacon Zhao raised an eyebrow. “How so?”

  “At the valley bottom there was a Condensation Stage Level Eight Thunder?horned Rhinoceros. I wonder who lured it there.” Lin Chen looked straight at Deacon Zhao. “Had I not been lucky, I’d be a corpse now.”

  Deacon Zhao smiled.

  A cold smile, utterly unguarded.

  “Lucky? Indeed lucky.” He set down the pendant and leaned forward. “But how many more times will your luck hold?”

  “This disciple does not understand what Deacon Zhao means.”

  “Don’t understand?” Deacon Zhao suddenly slammed the table. “Lin Chen! Don’t think I don’t know what you obtained at the valley bottom! That stone tablet, that jade slip—that’s the ‘Star?path Map’ the sect lost a century ago! Hand it over, and I can guarantee you won’t die.”

  Pressure like a mountain range pressed down.

  A sliver of Spiritual Light Realm · Moon Radiance Stage aura was enough to make a Condensation Stage cultivator suffocate.

  Lin Chen grunted, blood seeping from the corner of his mouth, but his body did not budge.

  “This disciple … has no jade slip.”

  “Stubborn fool!” Deacon Zhao roared. “Chen Feng!”

  The chamber door opened. Chen Feng entered, holding a bronze compass.

  The compass surface was carved with intricate runes; a blood?red crystal embedded at its center now emitted a faint glow.

  “This is the ‘Spirit?seeking Compass’—it can detect spiritual energy fluctuations within a ten?pace radius.” Deacon Zhao said coldly. “The jade slip is an ancient relic with a unique spiritual signature. You cannot hide it.”

  Chen Feng activated the compass.

  The blood?red crystal suddenly blazed, shooting out a crimson beam that swept over Lin Chen’s entire body.

  The red light was like a solid substance, piercing through clothes, skin, flesh, even … deep into his dantian.

  Lin Chen could clearly feel that probing force traveling inside him, like countless fine needles piercing through his meridians, bringing sharp pain.

  But he gritted his teeth and endured, not even frowning.

  The red light first swept over his dantian.

  There the Chaos Star Vortex rotated quietly, nine?attribute source spirit qi flowing in balance—no unusual fluctuations.

  Next it swept over his forehead.

  At the Star?pattern location, the red light lingered for three breaths.

  Lin Chen’s heart nearly stopped.

  But the Star?pattern Space existed within his consciousness sea, on a different plane from the physical body.

  The red light swept over—found nothing.

  Chen Feng frowned and swept again.

  Still no reaction.

  “Deacon Zhao, the Spirit?seeking Compass … detected no jade slip fluctuation.” Chen Feng said softly, a trace of confusion in his tone.

  Deacon Zhao’s face darkened.

  He stared at Lin Chen as if he wanted to devour this youth alive.

  “Impossible! The informant saw with his own eyes—you took the jade slip from the stone tablet!”

  “Perhaps the informant saw wrong.” Lin Chen wiped the blood from his mouth. “Or perhaps … someone is intentionally framing this disciple.”

  “Framing?” Deacon Zhao suddenly laughed, his laughter full of derision. “Lin Chen, you think dodging this search means everything is fine?”

  He stood up and walked up to Lin Chen, looming over him.

  The distance between them was less than three feet.

  Lin Chen could clearly smell the faint odor of blood on Deacon Zhao’s body, and something else … a strange fragrance like rotting flowers.

  That was the distinctive scent of someone who had cultivated Netherworld Demonic Arts to a certain level.

  “Your father back then was just as stubborn as you.”

  Lin Chen’s pupils contracted.

  “Ten years ago, Lin Xiaotian obtained a star?chart fragment in Meteorite Valley, thought he’d hidden it perfectly.” Deacon Zhao’s voice was like a wind from the nine?underworld. “And what happened? Three Netherworld Palace Elders personally took action, trapped him in space?time turbulence—still alive or dead, nobody knows.”

  “And you—” Deacon Zhao reached out, his fingertip almost touching Lin Chen’s forehead. “You carry his blood, inherited his Star?pattern. You think you can escape?”

  Lin Chen’s entire body turned cold.

  Not from fear.

  But from … fury.

  Overwhelming fury.

  So father really was alive!

  Trapped in space?time turbulence!

  And Deacon Zhao knew it so clearly!

  “What do you want to say?” Lin Chen’s voice was hoarse.

  “Hand over the jade slip, and I can tell you your father’s exact location.” Deacon Zhao tempted. “Even … help you rescue him.”

  “What’s the condition?”

  “The condition is simple.” Deacon Zhao smiled. “Join Netherworld Palace, become my disciple.”

  The air fell dead silent.

  Only the faint hum of the formation runes flowing on the floor.

  Lin Chen suddenly laughed too.

  A laugh full of mockery, full of bitterness.

  “Deacon Zhao, you’ve gone through all this trouble just to pull me into Netherworld Palace?”

  “Not pulling you, saving you.” Deacon Zhao said solemnly. “The Star?pattern is a curse. All its bearers eventually end up hunting each other. Only Netherworld Palace has a way to suppress the Star?pattern backlash, letting you cultivate in peace.”

  “What’s the price?”

  “Price?” Deacon Zhao shook his head. “There is no price, only glory. Netherworld Palace was founded by one of the Nine Star?pattern Ancestors—‘Netherworld Ancestor’—specifically to protect Star?pattern Bearers. If your father had been willing to join back then, he wouldn’t have met such an end.”

  Lies.

  All lies.

  Lin Chen already knew the truth from the Star?pattern Stone Tablet—the Nine Star?pattern Ancestors were the greatest hunters, and Netherworld Palace was merely their lackey.

  Deacon Zhao’s so?called “protection” was just another form of captivity.

  Fattening up … then slaughtering.

  “Deacon Zhao’s kindness, this disciple appreciates.” Lin Chen said slowly. “But this disciple was born a man of Azure Cloud Sect, and will die a ghost of Azure Cloud Sect. Netherworld Palace … is not worthy.”

  Deacon Zhao’s face darkened completely.

  He stared at Lin Chen for a full ten breaths.

  Finally, he suddenly smiled again.

  “Good, very good.”

  He sat back in his stone chair, picked up the blood?red jade pendant again.

  “Since you won’t hand it over, I won’t force you. However—”

  He paused.

  “In tomorrow’s arena match, your opponent is ‘Poison Elder’. He is Spiritual Light Realm · Moon Radiance Stage third level, skilled in poison techniques, ruthless and cruel.”

  “I know.”

  “What you don’t know is …” Deacon Zhao’s eyes flashed with cruelty. “I’ve already struck a deal with Poison Elder. On the arena stage, he will cripple your cultivation, sever your meridians, then hand you … to Netherworld Palace.”

  “You cannot escape, Lin Chen.”

  “Just like your father.”

  “This is … the fate of you and your father.”

  Deacon Zhao waved his hand.

  “Take him out.”

  Chen Feng stepped forward, escorted Lin Chen out of the secret chamber.

  Outside, sunlight stabbed at the eyes.

  But in Lin Chen’s heart, there was only darkness.

  Deacon Zhao’s last few words echoed in his ears like a curse.

  Poison Elder … Netherworld Palace …

  Father trapped in space?time turbulence …

  The hunting net of the Nine Star?pattern Ancestors …

  All the pressure piled up like mountains, crushing him until he could barely breathe.

  But he did not retreat.

  Instead—

  He grew more determined.

  “Father, wait for me.”

  Lin Chen clenched his fist, nails digging into his palm, blood dripping.

  “I will grow stronger, strong enough to tear this net apart.”

  “Strong enough to … trample all of you underfoot!”

  He raised his head, looking toward the training grounds.

  Tomorrow, the Arena Tournament.

  That was the first step to prove himself.

  And also … the beginning of revenge.

  Lin Chen returned to the Outer Sect quarters at noon.

  Shi Meng and Liu Ruyan were already waiting at the courtyard gate, both wearing anxious expressions.

  “Brother Lin!” Shi Meng rushed forward. “They didn’t do anything to you, did they?”

  Liu Ruyan examined Lin Chen carefully; seeing he wasn’t seriously injured, she let out a sigh of relief. “We investigated the Law Enforcement Hall side. The informant is anonymous, but the evidence points very clearly—it’s the jade slip you obtained from the valley bottom.”

  Lin Chen nodded. “Deacon Zhao’s doing.”

  The three entered the courtyard, closed the gate.

  Liu Ruyan set up a simple sound?blocking formation before speaking solemnly. “I checked the Law Enforcement Hall’s case records. There are dozens of similar ‘hoarding sect treasures’ reports each year, ninety percent of them false accusations. But this time … Deacon Zhao used his Inner Sect connections, directly had Chen Feng lead the arrest. Clearly he wants to settle this quickly.”

  Shi Meng raged, “That old dog, can’t beat us on the arena, resorts to these dirty tricks!”

  “No.” Lin Chen shook his head. “He wants to force me to expose all my strength on the arena.”

  Liu Ruyan paused. “What do you mean?”

  “Poison Elder is Spiritual Light Realm · Moon Radiance Stage third level. If I want to win, I must break through to the Spiritual Light Realm.” Lin Chen analyzed calmly. “And once I break through, the Star?pattern’s fluctuations can no longer be hidden. Then Deacon Zhao can openly use the charge of ‘Star?pattern Bearer’ to join hands with Netherworld Palace and capture me.”

  “Then you …”

  “I must win.” Lin Chen’s eyes flashed with cold light. “But … in a way they don’t expect.”

  Liu Ruyan took a deep breath. “What do you need me to do?”

  “Two things.” Lin Chen looked at her. “First, help me find out the weakness of Poison Elder’s techniques. Second, prepare some … pills that can temporarily suppress Star?pattern fluctuations.”

  Liu Ruyan nodded. “Done.”

  Shi Meng thumped his chest. “Brother Lin, what about me?”

  “You …” Lin Chen patted his shoulder. “Tomorrow, watch Deacon Zhao’s people from below the stage. If they make any suspicious moves, notify the Inner Sect elders immediately.”

  “Understood!”

  The three discussed for another half an hour before Liu Ruyan and Shi Meng each left.

  In the courtyard, only Lin Chen remained.

  He sat cross?legged on a stone bench and closed his eyes.

  Consciousness sank into the Star?pattern Space.

  Inside the grey space, the jade slip hovered quietly, emitting a faint silver glow.

  Lin Chen’s soul?sense drew near, carefully sensing.

  What the jade slip recorded was indeed the star?path map fragment leading to “Meteorite Valley”. But besides that, there was also a blurry message—

  “Where the Chaos Star Core fragments fell, lies the Starfall Secret Realm. The realm holds three trials: Stellar Power, Stellar Soul, Stellar Fate. Those who pass may obtain the Second Map.”

  The Stellar Power trial required cultivation at Spiritual Light Realm · Starlight Stage.

  The Stellar Soul trial required condensing a Star?pattern soul.

  The Stellar Fate trial required obtaining a Starfall Token.

  And Starfall Tokens … there were nine in total.

  The first one lay in the Netherworld Palace Azure Cloud Branch’s forbidden ground.

  The second one lay deep within Meteorite Valley’s secret realm.

  The third … unknown.

  “Three months.”

  Lin Chen murmured.

  The Meteorite Valley secret realm would open in three months.

  He must, before then, obtain a Starfall Token, break through to the Spiritual Light Realm, condense a stellar soul …

  Each step, unimaginably difficult.

  But … there was no retreat.

  Because father still waited for rescue in the space?time turbulence.

  Because the hunting net of the Nine Star?pattern Ancestors had quietly spread.

  Because Deacon Zhao and Netherworld Palace watched with covetous eyes.

  He could only … move forward.

  Frantically forward!

  With that resolve, Lin Chen began circulating the Chaos Stellar Scripture.

  The Chaos Star Vortex in his dantian spun faster, nine?attribute source spirit qi flowing unceasingly like roaring rivers.

  He would attempt … to pierce that thin barrier.

  Break through to the Spiritual Light Realm!

  Even if the chance was slim, he had to gamble!

  Time flowed, minute by minute.

  The sun set in the west; night descended.

  In the courtyard, faint starlight gradually surfaced around Lin Chen’s body.

  That starlight grew brighter, finally transforming into strands of silver light?threads that coiled around his entire frame.

  His aura began to climb …

  Condensation Stage Level Eight peak …

  Level Nine early stage …

  Level Nine mid?stage …

  Level Nine late stage …

  Level Nine peak!

  Only one thin membrane away from the Spiritual Light Realm!

  But right at that moment—

  Hum!

  The Star?pattern on his forehead suddenly trembled violently!

  A violent, bloodthirsty, greedy intent surged like a tsunami, battering Lin Chen’s soul?sense!

  That was … the backlash of the Star?pattern!

  The instinctual hunting impulse between Star?pattern Bearers!

  Lin Chen’s eyes snapped open, silver light flickering madly within, nearly out of control.

  “Suppress … must suppress …”

  He gritted his teeth, took out a pill Liu Ruyan had left for him, and swallowed it.

  Cool medicinal power spread, gradually calming the Star?pattern’s agitation.

  But the breakthrough attempt … had failed.

  The gate to the Spiritual Light Realm remained tightly shut.

  “As expected … not that easy.”

  Lin Chen smiled bitterly.

  But he did not lose heart.

  Because tomorrow, on the arena stage, the life?and?death battle with Poison Elder …

  Perhaps that would be the opportunity.

  Between life and death, break through the limit!

  “Poison Elder …”

  Lin Chen looked out at the night beyond the window, his gaze icy.

  “Tomorrow, either you die …”

  “Or I perish!”

  He closed his eyes once more, beginning to adjust his state.

  To make final preparations …

  For tomorrow’s battle.

  Night deepened.

  Within Azure Cloud Sect, undercurrents surged.

  Deacon Zhao sat in his own secret chamber, a blood?red bronze mirror hovering before him.

  Reflected in the mirror was precisely the courtyard where Lin Chen resided.

  “Still cultivating?”

  Deacon Zhao sneered. “Futile.”

  Behind him, a black?robed figure bowed. “Branch Master, Poison Elder’s side has been arranged. In tomorrow’s arena match, he will use ‘Netherworld Soul?devouring Poison’ to cripple Lin Chen’s cultivation, then … extract the Star?pattern.”

  “Mm.” Deacon Zhao nodded. “Remember, the Star?pattern must be extracted intact. This is something the Ancestor wants.”

  “Yes.”

  The black?robed figure hesitated. “But … if Lin Chen breaks through to the Spiritual Light Realm during the match, Poison Elder might …”

  “Break through?” Deacon Zhao scoffed. “You think breaking through to the Spiritual Light Realm is that easy? Even if he truly breaks through, the ‘Netherworld Soul?devouring Poison’ in Poison Elder’s hands is enough to make him wish he were dead.”

  “Branch Master is wise.”

  “You may withdraw.”

  The black?robed figure vanished.

  Deacon Zhao gazed at Lin Chen in the mirror, a flash of cruelty in his eyes.

  “Lin Xiaotian, you refused to join Netherworld Palace back then, costing me a great merit.”

  “Now, your son … will repay your debt for you.”

  He put away the bronze mirror, rose, and walked to the window.

  Outside the window hung a blood?red moon.

  Its light fell upon his face, painting it … savage.

  Tomorrow …

  Was the time to draw in the net.

  And Lin Chen …

  Was destined to become Netherworld Palace’s … sacrifice!