Chongyi Zhenren walked over and touched the split stone, noting its smooth, scorched surface. Instead of being displeased, he smiled. "This is due to insufficient fire-element spiritual energy. Advanced Immortal Techniques are like this—a tiny deviation leads to a huge error. The precise control of spiritual energy is the most crucial aspect for cultivators. Don’t rush; take your time."
Li Fei acknowledged his words and focused again on calculating the spiritual energy required. Unlike her previous training, where she pushed the alchemical furnace to its limits by consuming spiritual energy, this required a different kind of exhaustion. She had to concentrate fully, meticulously guiding the flow of spiritual energy with utmost caution.
A slightly larger stone materialized before her. Li Fei erected an Earth Barrier, this time more adeptly. She quickly calculated the required fire-element spiritual energy and carefully released it. The stone exploded instantly, shattering the Earth Barrier in the blink of an eye. Flustered, she hastily cast multiple Bronze Wall Techniques for defense, but sharp, blade-like fragments still grazed her arm, and the flames on the stone ignited her disciple uniform. She immediately cast the Spring Rain Art, and when everything finally settled, the ground was pockmarked with deep craters. Though not as devastating as Chongyi Zhenren’s earlier Giant Stone Art, the sight was still shocking.
"Excellent!" Chongyi Zhenren’s eyes shone with admiration. This child had an innate, instinctive advantage in controlling spiritual energy. Succeeding in releasing the Giant Stone Art on her second attempt was nothing short of miraculous. Among disciples newly introduced to Advanced Immortal Techniques, many couldn’t even calculate the spiritual energy properly for days.
Noticing the bone-deep wound on Li Fei’s arm, he immediately cast a Healing Net and advised, "Don’t rush next time. The Bronze Wall Technique and basic Earth-element defenses can’t withstand Advanced Immortal Techniques. You must maintain the Earth Barrier at all times. You did well just now—keep it up."
Seeing him turn away contentedly, Li Fei waited until he was out of earshot before grinning at Ri Yan. "Well? How was that? Won’t call me wasteful with spiritual energy now, will you?"
Ri Yan flicked his ears and lounged lazily on the ground, chuckling. "Just the beginning. This is only an Advanced Immortal Technique combining two types of spiritual energy. Beyond this, there are techniques blending three, four, even five types—the Netherworld Great Magic. That’s when you approach the true pinnacle of the Five Elements."
"You know about the Netherworld Great Magic?" Li Fei was surprised.
Ri Yan’s eyes once again took on that almost nostalgic, even melancholic look. He said lightly, "It’s infamous. Only a clueless fool like you wouldn’t know—and even get injured by your own technique. I’d laugh my tail off!"
"Laugh your tail off?" Li Fei burst into laughter but quickly covered her mouth, afraid of drawing her master’s attention.
"Watch me train. Later, when I rest, I’ll take you around."
The fox hesitated uncharacteristically, then turned to gaze at the vast Cloud Sea in the distance. After a long pause, he murmured, "Hmm, let’s visit Hu She Feng."
Hu She Feng was the easternmost peak of the No Moon Court, where no elder had yet settled. Li Fei had no idea how Ri Yan knew of it—and doubted he’d explain. When it came to being enigmatic, this fox outdid even Lei Xiuyuan.It was already late November, deep into autumn, and darkness fell early. By the time they reached Hu She Feng, the sky had already darkened. Li Fei examined this steep yet peculiar mountain with some surprise. Among the countless peaks above No Moon Court's Cloud Sea, some were occupied by elders who had built cottages, while others remained untouched. This Hu She Feng clearly had no elder's cottage, yet halfway up the mountain stood a row of houses with plain white walls and black tiles, simple yet immaculate.
Ri Yan hovered midair and let out a long sigh. "It really does look like a club."
Li Fei was particularly sensitive to the word "club" and immediately turned to look at him. "What club?"
To her surprise, Ri Yan actually laughed. "Look at the shape of this mountain. Doesn't it resemble a club?"
He flew quietly toward the row of houses halfway up the mountain. Li Fei hurried after him, cautiously surveying their surroundings. "There's no elder's cottage here, yet there are houses. We shouldn't wander around recklessly. Maybe we shouldn't enter?"
"There used to be one, but the cottage's owner is no longer here. I didn't expect the houses to still be standing. Humans... I really don't understand them."
Baffled, Li Fei followed Ri Yan as they landed in a small courtyard halfway up the mountain. Though no one lived here, the courtyard was spotless—not a speck of dust on the ground, and the Bronze Cauldron in the corner was free of grime. Along the mountain wall stood several weathered stone figurines, their designs ancient. The cliff face bore marks from Supreme Harmony Art's slashes and Li Fire Art's scorches, suggesting disciples had once trained here.
Ri Yan blew softly at the tightly shut courtyard gate, and the wooden door swung open silently. Without hesitation, he flew into the inner courtyard. Emboldened, Li Fei quickened her pace and followed. Inside, she saw an exceptionally thick camphor tree—so massive it would take over ten people to encircle its trunk—with lush green leaves and a fragrant aroma. The surrounding tile-roofed houses were neatly arranged, and even the door knockers were dust-free. Were it not for the utter silence and the absence of candlelight in the windows, one might think someone still lived here.
"Your little Master is thoughtful, remembering to clean here regularly," Ri Yan remarked as he soared high, gazing down at the modest courtyard and the camphor tree, his eyes filled with emotion. "This tree really exists. Five hundred years have passed, and now it stands tall and flourishing."
Today, this fox seemed unusually off. Li Fei looked up at him. "Ri Yan, have you been here before? Who used to live here?"
Ri Yan murmured, "I haven't been here, but I've heard about it. A Celestial of extraordinary talent once lived here. Sadly, he's no longer around."
A thought struck Li Fei. "You don't mean that Azure City Celestial, do you?!"
Ri Yan chuckled. "Oh, so you know his Dao Title? That's right. This Hu She Feng was once Azure City's cottage site."
"You knew him?!" Li Fei was stunned. "How did you meet?"
Could the "Celestial who went to his death" he mentioned at the Eastern Sea also be Azure City? But he was a Celestial from No Moon Court—how was he connected to the Eastern Sea?
"Why should I tell you?!" Ri Yan snapped, circling the camphor tree irritably. "Stop bothering me. Get lost."
Li Fei was about to pick up a stone to scare him when she suddenly heard the sound of an argument in the distance. Gradually, the voices grew closer, stopping just outside the courtyard. A woman's icy voice rang out sharply: "I won't go in! Don't you dare touch me again! Go find your other junior and senior sisters to amuse yourself with! You and I have nothing to do with each other anymore!"Right after, Qin Yangling's gentle voice also sounded: "Cailing, you always like to act coquettishly with me. Where would I have any senior sisters or junior sisters? Don't you know how I feel about you?"
Why did they run into this pair again? Li Fei looked up at Ri Yan, who was staring intently at the camphor tree, lost in some ancient memory so deeply that none of these disturbances could rouse him.
Le Cailing sneered coldly: "I'm tired of your sweet talk. I know what you want, and I've told you from the beginning—it's impossible! I still hope Master will change his mind and teach me the Heavenly Zither Technique. I cannot lose my purity! You agreed verbally but keep taking me to secluded places, touching me all over! I've tolerated it again and again until today!"
Qin Yangling sighed: "Cailing, it's just that emotions are hard to control. I never meant to disrespect you. If you don't like it, I won't lay a finger on you again. Calm down. That woman earlier was just an acquaintance, not what you think. Let's find a place to sit so I can explain properly, alright?"
Le Cailing's voice was icy: "Senior Brother Qin, I, Le Cailing, am not heartless, but I'm no fool either! If you truly loved me so deeply, what would it matter if we never became immortals? But you only see me as a brainless woman you can bully. Over these months, I've been angry, I've hated—today, I finally understand what kind of person you are. From now on, we'll be strangers, as if we never met! Consider these past months my blindness!"
So... they were breaking up? Li Fei felt awkward. She wanted to leave, but it was too late now—moving would only draw their attention and make things even more uncomfortable.
Qin Yangling continued soothingly: "Cailing, you've always been the only one in my heart. My feelings are as clear as the sun and moon."
...How nauseating. Li Fei curled her lip. No wonder Ge Lin said a man's ten thousand sweet words couldn't compare to a single small action. Qin Yangling's words sounded beautiful, but his actions were truly ugly.
"Let go!" Le Cailing snapped coldly, followed by the sound of fabric tearing. She gasped in shock, but the sound was abruptly cut off. Qin Yangling's gentle voice now trembled: "Cailing, I truly can't control my feelings for you! Don't blame me!"
Li Fei saw two figures stumbling through the courtyard gate. She immediately summoned a cloud and hid among the camphor tree's branches. Qin Yangling had one hand gripping Le Cailing's wrist and the other dragging her inside. She struggled desperately, making terrified sounds in her throat, but she was powerless—like a chick caught by an eagle—and was swiftly pulled into the inner courtyard.
This was bad! Li Fei clasped her hands behind her back, channeling Wood Elemental Spiritual Energy. Several wooden birds materialized in her palms and flew out silently. Ri Yan was finally startled out of his reverie. Seeing Qin Yangling push open the door and drag Le Cailing inside, he growled darkly: "Shameless scoundrel! To commit such disgraceful acts in Azure City's ancestral home!"
Li Fei saw Le Cailing's face twisted in fear and despair, one hand clawing at the doorframe until her nails broke, only to be shoved inside and thrown heavily to the ground. She couldn't just stand by and watch—by the time the elders arrived, it might be too late. She deliberately coughed twice, and the two inside froze.
Li Fei said coolly: "Senior Brother Qin, this isn't appropriate."Qin Yangling burst through the door and immediately spotted the young woman hidden among the camphor tree's branches. He stared at her in disbelief, then after a long pause, managed to force a smile. "Jiang Shi Mei, what a coincidence. Why would you come to this deserted peak?"
Li Fei remained inwardly wary. This man was a direct disciple who had arrived decades before her—his cultivation level was undoubtedly far beyond hers. If he flew into a rage and attacked recklessly, she wouldn't be able to defend herself.
"I was just wandering around for leisure," she replied softly. "What about you?"
Seeing her calm tone, Qin Yangling felt half of his tension ease. If word got out that he had forced himself on a woman, even Master might not spare him this time. Noticing Le Cailing's arms twisted behind her back as if she had fainted, he quickly picked her up and chuckled, "Just had a little disagreement with Le Shi Mei. Sorry you had to see that. I'll take her back now. It's getting late—you should return soon too."
Li Fei pressed further, "Is Le Cailing alright?"
"She must have been frightened earlier. I didn't mean to. Jiang Shi Mei, about today's incident... I'd appreciate it if you could keep it quiet for this senior brother."
Li Fei frowned. Suddenly, a rush of wind howled overhead, and her heart lightened as Zhengxu Zhenren's stern voice boomed, "Yangling! What are you doing here?!"
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