In Yan Manor, as Yan Sen and his friend Li Wei woke up from their six-day cultivation, they found themselves feeling different, more mature and experienced as if they had lived six years in those six days. Their souls had grown stronger, and their consciousness had evolved, giving them wisdom beyond their young years. Although their physical bodies remained that of six-year-olds, their souls and minds were now 12 and 15 years old, respectively.

Yan Sen's eyes twinkled with amusement as he looked at Li Wei, "Hey, old man, looks like we've aged pretty fast in these six days!"

Li Wei laughed heartily, "You're right, old man! But I must say, you were acting like an old man even before this accelerated growth!"

Yan Sen playfully punched Li Wei's shoulder, "Watch it, you rascal! Let's not forget that we're kids in front of everyone else."

Li Wei nodded, "You're right. Our secret shall remain with us, old man."

The two friends exchanged a mischievous grin, revelling in their newfound bond and strength.

Meanwhile, Mei Lin, with her spirited nature, couldn't contain her excitement and ran up to Yan Sen, "Yan Sen, that was amazing! Our soul and perception become so strong!"

Yan Sen tousled her hair gently, "Yes, Mei Lin, we have. And with our improved understanding of the UCH technique, we can grow even stronger in no time!"

Mei Lin is confused.” What UCH technique?” Li Wei interjected, “ He abbreviated the Mortal Level Unified Chrono Heart Technique because it's too long.”. Mei Lin bowed her head for being too slow, but in the next moment, Mei Lin's eyes sparkled with gratitude, "Thank you, Yan Sen, for sharing this cultivation technique with us. We owe you so much."

Yan Sen smiled warmly, "We're friends, Mei Lin. There's no need to thank me. We'll face everything together, remember?"

The three friends shared a heartwarming moment, their bond deepening as they prepared to face the challenges ahead.

With newfound enthusiasm, Yan Sen shared his master's guidance with Li Wei and Mei Lin, and they too felt a connection to the mysterious Time Sovereign. Though they hadn't seen him, they knew he was the key to their remarkable progress.

Excited about their cultivation prospects, the kids decided to improve their skin-tempering cultivation. They knew they needed external help in the form of an elixir to enhance their progress further.

Yan Sen explained, "We need to find a lot of Shy Weed. It's abundant on the outskirts of the mountain near Faybrook. It seems like even the Alchemist Society is not aware of the property of the weed. My master said that weed is rich in essence and can be made into a potent elixir."

Li Wei chuckled, "Shy Weed? It’s almost everywhere! It’s because the herb gets shy when we touch it they call it Shy weed."

Yan Sen grinned, "Exactly! It closes its leaves whenever someone touches it. That's why it's called Shy Weed."

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Mei Lin laughed, "Well, we better be gentle with it then!"

The kids decided to collect the herbs themselves, but knowing their young age, Yan Sen decided to ask the servants for help. He called Lao Chun, the trusted butler, and informed him about the task.

Lao Chun nodded, "Yes, young master. I shall send some servants to collect the Shy Weed and the other 3 wild weeds with you."

Li Wei leaned in, "Hey, Uncle Lao Chun, I heard that Shy Weed is valuable and not like what we thought useless. You should be careful not to damage it!"

Lao Chun's eyes twinkled, "Of course, young master Li Wei. I shall handle it with utmost care."

As Lao Chun left to instruct the servants, Li Wei and Mei Lin bid their farewells for the day. They planned to meet the next day to venture into the outskirts of the mountain together.

As Li Wei returned home and Mei Lin went to help with the chores, Yan Sen entered the main hall to find his mother and grandfather Yan Meng waiting for him.

They asked how he felt after the cultivation and shared the news about the incident in the Tang family. Yan Sen was shocked to hear about the rare case of someone missing in Faybrook, especially when it involved the general's daughter, Sophia Tang, whom he secretly admired.

"That's terrible news, Mom. I hope Sophia is safe and well. I pray for her return."

Lady Meilan patted his head gently, "Don't worry too much, dear. Sophia is strong, and I'm sure she'll be fine."

Yan Sen felt a mix of emotions. The safety of the city of Faybrook was rarely compromised, and the incident had shaken him deeply.

Crystal Peaks Province - mountain Pass of the north:

Meanwhile, in the northern borders of Serenvale, General Yan Zhi led his soldiers in a fierce battle against the Valorian forces. Arrow after arrow flew through the air as General Henry Parker attempted to retreat to the other side of the mountain pass.

Parker's lieutenant expressed his concern, "General Parker, we thought General Yan was absent from their camp, but he's here, and his archery skills are devastating! We can't retreat easily!"

General Parker's face contorted with anger, “ It’s either the spy was exposed or he betrayed us. I will personally report this to his majesty when we get back. As for General Yan, I will make sure to break every limb of his body, rape every woman and kill every man of his family when we invaded Serenvale in the future. Serenvale cultivators are weaker than ants, if not for the mountain pass and the treat from Al-Razil, we have long invaded their kingdom.”

Cultivators at Foundation Establishment Stage already condensed the Qi in their bodies and can use powerful techniques, but it is still not to the point that they can control heaven and earth to summon the rain and lightning to battle, so a number of soldiers, as well as the strategic position, are still important. Unlike high-level cultivators who can wipe out even a million low-level cultivators on a whim.

On the other side of the battle, General Yan skillfully aimed his arrows at General Parker's legs, preventing his retreat. With the Whispering Wind Arrow Art, Yan Zhi's control over his Qi and the wind became even more profound. He unleashed a series of arrows that struck Parker multiple times, severely injuring him. General Parker has his own techniques, and he tried using it all but General Yan is a level higher than General Parker in cultivation, and with his advantageous position, it is not surprising to win easily against General Parker.

As the Valorian forces were defeated, General Yan made sure to capture General Parker alive. He believed that Parker held valuable information that could be critical for the kingdom's security.

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Mountain Pass - The small passage within the mountain range, which is easily defensible and difficult to be invaded, is commonly known as a "mountain pass" or a "chokepoint."