In the middle of a wheat field full that swayed like a golden ocean, a small single-story house with a slanted roof stood robustly under the mellow sun of the evening, with a stone city wall in the distance the ground near the sole path that the connected the two places moved. A new life had reared its head from the embrace of Mother Earth, the slender shoot emerged, basking in the warmth of the sun. Pale and tender at first, it stretched skyward with an innate determination. Tiny green leaves unfold soon, embracing the light and Qi to transform as the tiny roots spread within the dirt.

“T-This place…” Kexin appeared before me, her lips trembled at the sight of the house and field.

“This is your mind realm, the place where your spiritual root resides.” It was a spitting image of the place Wang Yang and she grew up in, so it surprised her that much to be back in Baihe City.

“This is my spiritual root…” Her eyes drawn to the budding sprout, widened.

“It may look feeble right now, but if you attend to it and supplement its growth, one day it will become a sturdy tree that will give you shade through the toughest of weathers.” My spiritual root was with me for 600 years, that vast tree supported me in my cultivation and helped me reach the heights that shouldn’t be possible for me, now it would do the same for Wu Kexin.

“I will not let you down, Master.” The mind realm thumped in response to her words as the spiritual root swayed in the cool wind.

“Don’t worry about letting me down. As long as you don’t let yourself down, that will be enough.” Carried by the wind we exited the mind realm.

Opening my eyes, I tapped on the zither once to stop the music as Kexin opened her eyes, the green eyes now glowing in mysticism as looked at the world with a new Lens. The sunlight poured in from the opening making the pond sparkle like a stream of stars.

“Congratulations, Wu Kexin. You are now an official cultivator.” I said.

She turned to me, her trembling hands balled up. It was an emotional moment because of how much time she had saved, however, the happiness was short-lived as this was but the first step.

“How far has Xiao Wang progressed?” She asked, a fighting spirit lighting up in her eyes.

“He is about to reach the 2nd stage of Qi Gathering any day now.” His speed will only increase from now on, I could say that to her but that wouldn’t have any effect right now, she should already know. “You should cultivate here from now on, do not worry about the Outer Elders or anyone else, I have already notified them and all of your needs are in place.”

“I will, but at what speed should I start? At the maximum, right?”

The Azure Sky Cultivation Method, Variation One had breathing methods to control the absorption of Qi, the first one was at normal speed, the second was to increase it by 75%, and the third was to decrease the speed by 75%, then depending on understanding one could control the absorption with much more freedom. Anyone would jump straight to the faster speed as it would bring more benefits, however, that was akin to biting off more than one could chew.

“Your meridians haven’t hardened enough to take on the extra load yet. Normally, you can only take on that speed once you reach Foundation Establishment Realm, if you force it you’ll end up damaging your meridians and that will affect your growth later.” She didn’t have to walk the same thorny path I did, because she had options I did not. “By the end of this week, I will take you to a place that will help strengthen your meridians, by the end of the year you will be ready to use the higher speed rate without any worries.”

“Will Xiao Wang be coming?” She asked.

“Yes, Sun Lingling too. It is important for everyone’s future.” I said.

“Alright, but won’t that spread more rumors?” Kexin picked up a good point.

After all, I went through a good amount of trouble to meet her as Bian Que, if she was seen around Li Muchen too much and even went on a trip with his disciples, more attention would land on us. However, that wasn’t as bad as it sounded.

“I have already prepared for everything.” I smiled. “After going back to the Outer Sect, visit the Mission Hall and talk with Peach Peak Disciple at the Wall of Trails. She will hand you a mission I had issued for a helping hand, it is a special mission that can only be taken by one person, and that is you.”

“A disguise for the whole trip?” She caught on immediately.

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“A loose one, it is for those who can only look at the surface level.” Some people will try to dig in, but their attempts will not bear any fruit because of Peach Peak, and even if they find out more it will only be because I allow it.

This trip will bring me much more than strengthening meridians and helping the disciples get a headstart, so the real purpose cannot be leaked that easily.

On the map, he was moving towards Hunan Province at top speed and would reach there in about three days if he didn’t rest. The moment he handed over the Three-Mouthed Centipede half of the plan would come to fruition, the other depended on that boy and his willingness.

Do not disappoint me Fu Yuzhe.

“Now then Kexin, stand up and dry yourself before you catch a cold.” Getting to my feet I walked ahead, however, an unexpectedly expected reply came from behind.

“…Master, can I stay in the water a little longer?”

“Why?” I asked without turning back.

“Well, my skin is getting healthier… it is just like the legend. Master, is it true that this happened because you bathed in it?” She suddenly asked.

“…No. that is not how it works.” Liu Zhi really needs severe punishment for this, again.

***

Shang City, Hunan Province, Rising Sun Dynasty.

The first rays of the sun had touched the green grass around the city wall when Fu Yuzhe arrived at the city gate, although called a city, Shang City barely qualified to be one. Even the walls around the homes of two thousand residents were made of wooden spikes tied together by hand-woven ropes, the two guards at the gate however had good-quality leather armor and shiny metal spears. As they saw Fu Yuzhe, the two bowed.

“Welcome back Immortal Fu!” Their voice filled with happiness at meeting the young man who was the reason their village became a city, an inner disciple of a major sect hailed from their birthplace, it was something to brag about.

“Good to see you, Brother Yu and Brother Li. I would love to talk with you, but I have to go home.” Fu Yuzhe showed a genial smile despite his clouded mind.

“It is no problem at all! How dare we waste the time of an immortal such as you. Please say hello to Miss Fu and Brother Gu.” The two young men who once looked down on him were now bowing their heads while making way, their eyes filled with admiration and jealousy at his position.

At first, Fu Yuzhe enjoyed that look, the way the tables turned as the fortune shined on him was something he only dreamt about. Using that newfound status and the resources he got in the sect, Yuzhe built a mansion in his hometown for his sister, he bought her the silk robes he would always see from the peddlers, hired servants to take care of her, and brought scented soaps and perfumes used only by the noble families.

He felt happy to give her life like that, to get her out of that rundown hut at the edge of a garbage dump, to see her sleep in a bed wide enough for ten people, he was happy to see silk clothes didn’t leave rashes on her frail body like the previous ones. All that was possible because he had a spiritual root, because he became a cultivator at a major sect. He was proud of that.

“So, you are finally here Yuzhe…” At the gate of the mansion, a rat-faced man welcomed him with a crooked smile. “If you had taken any longer the brother Gu was planning to take Miss Fu on a morning walk.”

“…I apologize, please tell Brother Gu that I have brought something important.” Now, he only had resentment in his heart for this talent.

“Huhu, Brother Gu is waiting inside, let’s go.”

If it wasn’t for this… my sister wouldn’t be roped into this. If only I didn’t join that damned sect… Clenching his fists he could only follow the rat-faced bastard through the garden full of wilted flowers.

The servants continued their work in the mansion, yet none dared to meet his eye. They knew what was happening here, but they couldn’t do anything about it. Hunan Province was neutral ground, no sect had dominion here as it had nothing of value. The city hall was already under the Demonic Cultivator’s control, all information that left the city was under their hands. Even if someone did alert the special warrior force under the Emperor, it wouldn’t result in anything but deaths.

This bastard is too strong. Fu Yuzhe came face to face with the man that made his life hell.

Sitting at the head seat of the reception room, the purple-haired youth smirked as soon as their eyes met. His name was Gu Changge, and he was the leader of a group of Demonic Cultivators who invaded his house one night.

“You know that cursing me in your mind won’t work, right?” Although good-looking, Gu Changge's smile appeared rotten. “If you want to keep your sister safe, you better have brought something of value.”

An invisible pressure bore down on Fu Yuzhe making him sweat, the oppressive force targeted his head, forcing him down into a bow as the laughter of Changge’s five subordinates rang in the polished room, four guys and one woman. They were standing close by, the men snickering at his current situation, four of them were stronger than him even on their bad days.

“Making a disciple of the Major Sect bow with your presence alone, Big Brother Gu has improved again.” The rat-faced man tried to make a good impression for himself.

“Of course, I have reached the Nascent Soul Realm cultivator. You understand what that means right, Brother Fu?” Gu Changge turned to Fu Yuzhe who still had his head down.

“It means that Brother Gu’s talent is unparalleled,” Yuzhe said.

“In front of someone like Brother Gu, Fu Yuzhe is trash. Can’t believe the province once put someone like him on a pedestal, the governor's eyes must be for show.” The rat-faced man said showing a toothy grin.

“Yes… I am simply trash…”

At that admittance the laughter in the room died down in an instant, they all looked at Fu Yuzhe, not because of his words but because of the change in the atmosphere. Gu Changge’s face fell as he pointed at the rat-faced guy.

“Ling Su and Pi Yun put Lao Shu in a pit of poisonous insects.” His low but sharp words sliced through the silence.