Mu Binyun's gaze softened as she looked at Li Feng, her nephew, her eyes glinting with a blue light emitted from the barrier she had erected. His vacant expression tugged at her heartstrings.
"Li Feng," she whispered, her voice was devoid of the coldness one expected from the famed sword Fairy . It was as if she was an entirely different person. But this was a face only reserved for someone, who perhaps would not understand her for her entire lifetime
And yet, his eyes locked onto hers, his face slack. This was the only face that had managed to etch itself in his memory, even though hid didn't know who she was. Every time he was in trouble or struggling she would always be there.
Mu Binyun's hands hovered over his shoulders, hesitant to touch him. She knew his past, the pain and neglect he endured.
Without thinking, she gently stroked his hair. Li Feng's eyes widened, and he leaned into her touch, his face tilting upward. A faint cooing sound escaped his lips, “M”, and yet he seemed unable to complete the syllable.
Mu binyun gaze softened further, but she new it was time for him to enter the pool, even though it might not make him have peerless talent, it’d at least allow him to prolong is life, _that was enough_. She would hold up the sky if it ever collapsed.
But just as she turned her back, the barrier which had started to unveil paused, her dress had been tugged. She turned around and unexpectedly it was Li feng, the joy evident on her face was something many would offer cities to witness. He had finally showed some action, beyond simple actions
That small event was all she could ask for, telling her heart, however the flashing round jade token around her waist, disturbed the moment. She had actually neglected her clan summoning to tend for Li feng, now that he was okay , she had to rush back. She slowly unwrapped his fingers, dispelled the formation. But before she left she took one last glare at the Li clan disciples before she took off on her sword
A few breathes later …
The geniuses lined up according to their ranking, each one entering the pool. Li Jian's face twisted in discontent, knowing those who entered first would absorb the best energy. It was like fishing in a crowded pool – each passing moment decreased the chances of catching more.
As the line passed, Li Jian's eyes locked onto Li Feng, standing motionless at the edge of the pool. While others meditated, absorbing the miraculous liquid, Li Feng remained expressionless, lost in his routine.
“Heh, trash is trash” Li Jian sneered, relieved. _At least he wasn’t the most embarrassing_ Putting away distracting thoughts he immediately got into a meditation position, the energy slowly gathering in his direction
Minutes passed, and as the allocated time neared its end, an unusual phenomenon occurred. A vortex of energy swirled around Li Feng, the pool's liquid rushing toward him. Something that shouldn’t have occurred to him, yet no one seemed surprised.
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They had seen this before—brief bursts of activity around Li Feng, only for nothing to come of it. They even came with they’re “logical explanation” - Li feng’ body having developed some affinity with the pool after soaking in it for years.
So ingrained was this belief that many had even considered refining him into a pill for cultivation, however recalling the brief encounter with the sword fairy, their backs instantly got wet as they turned away their gazes and focused on absorbing and mending their constitution
And as they had guessed, the energy surge around Li Feng soon faded. The same pattern continued throughout the session—short bursts of suction, followed by abrupt stops, like an engine cranking but failing to start. While most dismissed it as expected, one pair of disbelieving eyes locked onto Li Feng, observing his every move.
For the elder, however, the brief movements sparked a glimmer of mystery. After today’ events he had an unprecedented urge to dig deep within Li feng secrets.
As his eagle eyes focused, he noticed faint strands of energy drifting from the bodies of the geniuses into the depths of the pool. For each strand siphoned away, a milky substance would emerge, replacing it into their bodies.
When he compared this with Li Feng’s sudden bursts of energy absorption, his eyes sparkled with confusion. He couldn’t believe the clan would go as far as to siphon talent from the clan geniuses , all for the ray of awakening a talent he might not have inherited. His piqued interest was instantly doused.
Yet, unbeknownst to anyone, in a secluded chamber hidden deep within the clan’s stronghold, a group of supreme elders sat around a table, with an glowing orb placed in the middle. The entire scene at the spiritual pool playing before their eyes.
The supreme elders faces were pale, devoid of the grandeur and dignity expected from peak experts. They had been witnessing the entire scuffle and had to resist the urge of rushing up as it would arouse suspicion.
“Shew, the boy is clearly fine”, the patriarch slumped into his seat reaching out for a jade from his sleeve
“Our intelligence reports indicate that other factions have started moving. The day we’ve been waiting for… it’s finally approaching.” The patriarch, seated at the head of the table, spoke solemnly, clutching a report with trembling hands.
“Elder Lu, what is the status of the divine essence integration?”
Along with the clan head’s question, all eyes shifted to a rugged figure two seats down, an elder whose outward appearance belied his skill. One would almost mistaken him as a beggar seeking help but he was one of the few peak experts of the clan, who had stripped all his dignity to go undercover and monitor the clan’s hope.
“Ninety percent,” Elder Lu replied, though he hesitated, his voice faltering slightly. “Harvest can begin in three days... but…”
“But what?” the patriarch abruptly cut the explanation irritation flashing across
“The boy shows signs of resistance and his awakening might be… a complication” Elder Lu let out as his peeked a glance at the elder beside him. And as he had guessed.
The elder slammed his fists. “The lad has already suffered enough can’t he just go in peace?” The elders’ face burned with indignation, he who was an acquaintance of the late Dragon-Phoenix pair had to sit and watch as the clan sacrifice their only offspring for a chance at hegemony. He had stayed quiet for all these years and yet the guilt continued to gnaw at his heart like a million ants.
“Don’t worry Elder Ruo, these are only signs of the final phase”
“When the entire essence is gathered from the host, the suppression on the soul is relinquished hence the brief moments of awakening”
“His name is Li feng!! Not just a host for some ritual”, the elder shouted his qi berserk as he stood up and left the scene.
Another elder immediately stood up, a black sickle appearing in his hands. His intentions clear.
“At ease”, the clan head sounded. This was not the time to lose warriors due to internal conflict. He knew the deep feelings of Li Ruo but she will always put the clans’ interests first.
“Elder Lu, continue monitoring Li feng. Make sure nothing goes wrong at the last moment”.
With the command the elder silently vanished from the room.