As spring turned to autumn and summer gave way to winter, five cycles of cold and heat passed. It was now the height of summer in July, and the countless peaks above the Cloud Sea in Wuyue Court were lush and green. However, Zhuoyu Peak remained bitterly cold, with wind and snow swirling around it. Yet, it was no longer as desolate as before.
Since noon, disciples had been flying to Zhuoyu Peak, staying for a while before leaving in disappointment. After finishing her lunch, Zhao Min stepped out of the main hall and saw several male disciples from Yaoguang Peak waiting in the snow-laden corridor. She was too tired to ask questions and directly said, “Junior Sister is not at Zhuoyu Peak these days. You all should return and focus on your cultivation.”
The male disciples hurriedly bowed and took their leave. This legendary Senior Sister Zhao Min had broken through her bottleneck two years ago, becoming the only direct disciple of Master Chongyi. With her noble status and cold demeanor, she held herself with great pride, causing the disciples who frequently visited Zhuoyu Peak to feel intimidated.
It was truly bothersome. Zhao Min shook her head. These disciples were still at a low level of cultivation, yet they were constantly distracted by beauty. What achievements could they hope for in the future?
She regretted allowing Li Fei to travel freely between the southern and northern parts of Wuyue Court after she learned to fly. As Li Fei grew older, she transformed like a butterfly emerging from its cocoon. If they hadn’t spent every day together, it would have been hard to believe that such a significant change could occur in one person’s appearance.
After learning to fly, Li Fei made several trips to Yaoguang Peak, where Lei Xiuyuan was. Since then, Zhuoyu Peak has lost its tranquility. Most of the disciples at Yaoguang Peak were male, and although some were older, Lei Xiuyuan had only recently become a disciple, surrounded by others of similar status, all around ten years old. Once they learned which sect Li Fei belonged to, they would come to Zhuoyu Peak frequently, especially during lunch breaks and before dinner.
When they arrived, they didn’t dare to disturb her, sneaking glances at Li Fei like thieves. Occasionally, they would manage to say a few words, but their speech was incoherent, making them seem like fools. While it was natural for young men to be infatuated with beauty, their behavior was excessive.
What surprised her, even more, was that Elder Guangwei had taken Hu Jiaping and Lei Xiuyuan to the inner peak of Yaoguang three years ago for alchemical training. With no elders present at Yaoguang Peak, Master Chongyi had never cared about such matters. He was known for his eccentricity and indulgence, and Li Fei’s beauty became widely known among the disciples at Yaoguang Peak. He even took pride in it, as there was no reliable elder to stop such absurd behavior, leading to the current situation.
As Zhao Min turned a corner in the corridor, about to enter her room, she suddenly heard the sound of wind behind her. Someone had landed on Zhuoyu Peak. She frowned and coldly said, “If there’s nothing important, go back and focus on your cultivation! What’s the point of constantly coming to Zhuoyu Peak?!”
As soon as she finished speaking, an old man’s voice chuckled, “Zhao Min, your temper is getting worse. Who are you scolding?”
She turned in surprise to see Master Dongyang and Master Qingyue watching her with amusement. Feeling a bit embarrassed, she quickly bowed and said, “Disciple Zhao Min greets Elder Dongyang and Elder Qingyue. I didn’t realize it was you two elders just now, and my words may have been offensive…”
Master Dongyang waved his hand dismissively. “Stop the rambling. You’re still the same. Where’s your master? And that girl Li Fei?”
“Master took Junior Sister to Shacui Valley for training ten days ago and won’t be back for a while.”
Master Qingyue smiled kindly. “Oh? Shacui Valley? There are many fierce beasts there. You took her there after only five years?”
Zhao Min felt a hint of pride and replied, “Junior Sister is very diligent in her cultivation and has excellent talent.”
“Excellent talent?” Both Master Qingyue and Master Dongyang couldn’t help but chuckle. They had hesitated to accept Li Fei into their sect due to her average talent back then, but unexpectedly, Master Chongyi managed to turn her into a promising disciple.
Master Dongyang felt particularly emotional. Li Fei had not been accepted, and as a result, they had also missed out on Lei Xiuyuan, a true prodigy. This boy was exceptionally gifted; he had broken through the first bottleneck within just two years of entering the sect, shocking the entire Wuyue Court. That was why Master Guangwei decided to take him into alchemical training.
The spiritual energy in the alchemical cave was even denser than that above the Cloud Sea. For cultivators, denser spiritual energy wasn’t always better. In a place like the alchemical cave, a careless mistake could damage the cauldron, making it impossible to cultivate again. Master Guangwei had accompanied Hu Jiaping and Lei Xiuyuan, spending three years there together, which showed how much he valued this training.
Master Qingyue was also filled with emotion. Li Fei had been the first person to seek him out, but he had turned her down. Such matters were not to be pondered deeply by the elders; every time they thought about it, they sighed. There was no such thing as regret medicine in this world, and even immortals had to accept their regrets calmly.
Seeing that Chongyi had not yet returned, the two elders were about to leave when they suddenly spotted a small black dot flying from a distance. In an instant, it was right in front of them. The newcomer’s eyes sparkled with brilliance, clear and smiling. Who else could it be but Chongyi?
Master Dongyang laughed, “Ah, you finally made it! Where’s the girl?”
Chongyi replied with a smile, “She went outside the alchemical cave. Lei Xiuyuan is likely to come out in the next few days.”
These two young disciples had entered Wuyue Court together and had only cultivated for two years. Three years ago, Lei Xiuyuan had been taken into the alchemical cave by Master Guangwei and had not been seen since. Recently, the fluctuations of spiritual energy outside the cave had been quite intense, indicating that those inside were preparing to emerge. The first thing Li Fei would do upon returning was to check on the situation in the alchemical cave.
Master Dongyang asked, “Since she hasn’t arrived yet, Chongyi, what do you think of your little disciple’s cultivation?”
Chongyi had already anticipated that they would not come without a reason. After a moment of thought, he immediately understood their intent and smiled, “Is it about going to Lili Valley? It’s about time she went.”
Master Qingyue was surprised by his tone. “You’re quite confident! Lili Valley is not the same as Shacui Valley. Don’t regret it later just to save face!”
Chongyi smiled slightly. “I know my disciple well. She will be able to go to Lili Valley.”
Master Dongyang sighed. To be honest, if there weren’t so few disciples eligible to go to Lili Valley this year, they wouldn’t have come to ask Chongyi. Li Fei had been in the sect for five years and showed no signs of breaking through the first bottleneck. Disciples who hadn’t broken through the first bottleneck would find it difficult in Lili Valley. If something went wrong in the valley, who could save her from a thousand miles away?
However, this year, the total number of disciples recommended by the elders from various peaks was less than twenty. They couldn’t even open the seal to Lili Valley, so they had no choice but to come and inquire about the situation.
“Since you say so, let’s count the girl in,” Master Dongyang shook his head. “Master Guangwei should be coming out of the alchemical cave soon. If we add Lei Xiuyuan, there will be five of them, just enough to make twenty disciples. Sigh, there have been too few prodigies among the new disciples in recent years. It’s truly concerning.”
Master Qingyue wanted to say more but suddenly noticed something. Turning around, she saw a slender figure rushing in from outside. In the blink of an eye, it landed in the corridor. Before they could see her face clearly, Chongyi suddenly made a move, sending several beams of golden light toward the newcomer, fast as lightning.
So fast! Both Dongyang and Qingyue were slightly startled. This disciple might be in trouble!
To their surprise, the beams of golden light struck the newcomer, only producing a series of clanging sounds as they scattered across the ground. The figure swayed and transformed into smoke, disappearing in an instant. Chongyi raised his left arm slightly, and a burst of fire erupted from the ground. The other disciples had already taken to the air, watching the two engage in battle.
The sea of fire blazed fiercely, but in an instant, it was extinguished by a sudden downpour of spring rain. Amidst the rolling smoke, several green lights silently approached. Chongyi swayed slightly, narrowly avoiding the small leaves. Dongyang saw the green smoke condensing behind him, and in the blink of an eye, it transformed into a figure, causing him to exclaim, “Oh!”
Chongyi spread his hands and looked at the two elders, who were both astonished. “Can she go to Lili Valley now?”
The two elders were still in disbelief. Who would have thought that a girl with average talent and a unique physique would be taught to such a level in five years?
Although they didn’t know how Chongyi had guided Li Fei, anyone with eyes could see her performance just now. The way she adapted and utilized the five elemental immortal techniques was something ordinary disciples could never achieve.
For cultivators, the sheer power of an immortal technique was not the most important aspect. What mattered most was releasing the right technique at the right moment, precisely allocating one’s spiritual energy without waste. Understanding this step was what made one a true cultivator.
Li Fei had already become a genuine cultivator, and it was this point that amazed and impressed everyone. What puzzled them was why, at this level, she had not yet broken through the first bottleneck. Could it be that she had already broken through without them noticing? However, there would always be signs of breaking through a bottleneck, such as fluctuations in spiritual energy, yet she showed none. How could she possess a cultivation level that seemed to surpass the first bottleneck?
Chongyi waved his long sleeves, and the corridor, which had been thrown into disarray by the immortal techniques, instantly returned to its original state. The graceful figure behind him stepped forward and calmly greeted, “Disciple Jiang Li Fei, greets Elder Dongyang and Elder Qingyue.”
Her voice was as clear as the wind in the forest, neither seductive nor cloying, making it very pleasant to hear.
After speaking, she looked up with a smile, revealing skin as radiant as snow. Her eyes sparkled with warmth and vitality. Although she was still young, her cheeks were plump, retaining a hint of childishness that made others feel drawn to her, filling their hearts with joy. Five years had passed, and the little girl with braided hair was nowhere to be found. The young woman before them had an elegant hairstyle, a slender figure, and a string of crystal beads swaying gently by her ears. Her posture, demeanor, and the faint smile on her face were all impeccable.
The two elders were momentarily stunned, staring for a long time. They felt she didn’t resemble the girl they remembered. Five years had passed, and she seemed to have transformed into a different person. Not only had her appearance changed, but her aura had also shifted, leaving no trace of her former self.
Master Dongyang looked left and right, marveling at how much a girl could change in eighteen years. This transformation was simply unbelievable. There were always so many extraordinary things about this child. He whispered, “Girl, you are… Is that you, Jiang Li Fei?”
He could hardly believe that this graceful and gentle young lady was the same girl who had been a wild child with braided hair years ago.
Li Fei took out the talisman given to her by Elder Dongyang. “Elder Dongyang gave me this talisman. I’ve kept it all this time.”
It truly was his talisman. Master Dongyang took the bead string, unable to suppress a laugh. He turned to look at Master Qingyue, who was equally astonished and delighted, praising, “This child… has grown so beautifully!”
Master Dongyang patted Li Fei on the shoulder, both laughing and sighing. “The tomboy from back then has blossomed into such a lovely girl. I’m afraid I can’t even let my disciples go to Lili Valley with her now… Chongyi, what do you think? Should your disciple wait a few more years before going to Lili Valley?”
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