Fearless

Jade Spring Mountain, Green Bamboo Lodge.

"Chen Heng, the clan has decided to bestow this Azure Profound Golden Token upon you."

Chen Xingyun's voice was as clear and crisp as jade striking jade, yet it carried an undeniable authority. She stood in the courtyard, her moon-white robe fluttering in the mountain breeze, her gaze like lightning, fixed on the young man before her. She had seen him in a projection, but now he appeared even more composed.

Chen Heng bowed and accepted the dark gold token, about the size of a baby's palm. It felt cool and heavy in his hands, inscribed with mysterious Dao patterns. "Thank you, Elder Xingyun, and thank the clan for this great gift."

His voice was calm, betraying little elation, only a sense of earned composure. This tranquility caused a barely perceptible hint of approval to flash in Chen Xingyun's eyes.

"You don't need to thank me; you earned it with your own abilities." Chen Xingyun's tone softened slightly. "In two years, the Azure Profound Sect will begin its recruitment. With this token, you can enter the Outer Sect directly without an assessment."

"Until then, you must focus on your cultivation and improve your realm. Do not neglect the art of artifact refining. The Azure Profound Sect's legacy in the Path of Artifacts is vast and profound. This skill may be your reliance on your cultivation path, especially for establishing yourself within the sect."

"Nephew understands." Chen Heng replied. In terms of seniority within the Chen Family cultivators, he should have addressed Chen Xingyun as clan aunt. However, he knew that opportunities only came to those who were prepared. This Azure Profound Golden Token was merely a pass to enter the Azure Profound Sect. How he competed and cultivated within the sect afterward would be the true test.

"You have a Three Year Pact with Luo Yuyan of the Luo Family?" Chen Xingyun suddenly smiled, changing the subject, revealing the unpublicized challenge. Their correspondence was relayed through their respective families and wasn't intentionally hidden. The higher echelons of both families were aware of their Three Year Pact.

"Yes," Chen Heng admitted calmly. "In two years, on the Azure Profound Sect's Duelling Stage, we will have another match."

"Heh, interesting." Chen Xingyun's lips curved into a knowing smile. "That Luo Yuyan has now been accepted as a disciple of Venerable Hanfeng of Soaring Peak. As far as I know, she has recovered from her injuries and is currently cultivating intensely in a secret location on Soaring Peak. Her progress has been extremely rapid; she has already broken through to the Fifth Layer of Qi Refining."

"Furthermore, Martial Uncle Hanfeng is personally forging a sword embryo for her. Once this sword is completed, its power will be far beyond that of the Leaf in the Wind you faced before." Her words carried a hint of pressure, and also served as a probe. "Martial Uncle Hanfeng is protective, and he values this new favored disciple immensely. The rivalries between disciples of the various peaks of the Azure Profound Sect are commonplace."

"Do you know how much is involved behind that seemingly fair battle on the Duelling Stage?"

Chen Heng's gaze remained unchanged, but the depths of his obsidian eyes seemed to hold a sharper glint. "Nephew only knows that no matter what advantages the opponent has, or what their background is," he said clearly, neither subservient nor arrogant, "the staff in my hand is my reliance; the enemy in my eyes is the target I will shatter."

"Luo Yuyan challenged me to remove a mental block. I accepted the challenge both to fulfill my promise and to seek the Dao! Whether she is a disciple of a Violet Palace Venerable or has a future natal flying sword, these... will only make the secrets and the lower volume of the Water Fire Defense Scripture obtained after defeating her even more valuable." He paused for a moment, his words exuding immense confidence.

"As for the infighting within the sect, from the day I embarked on the path of cultivation, the struggle for the Great Dao has been the norm! I will fear no difficulty or obstacle."

"'Will fear no difficulty or obstacle'?" Chen Xingyun repeated the words, staring at Chen Heng as if trying to see through him. Silence spread through the bamboo courtyard, broken only by the rustling of bamboo leaves in the mountain wind. After a few breaths, she suddenly burst into laughter, her voice hearty and resonant, causing the spiritual energy in the courtyard to fluctuate slightly.

"Well said, 'Will fear no difficulty or obstacle'!" Chen Xingyun's laughter subsided, but her eyes became sharper, even tinged with satisfaction. "This kind of resolve, this kind of pride, this kind of sharpness—this is the spirit a disciple of the Chen clan should possess! Luo Yuyan wants to remove a mental block? I will see how her mental block shatters under your staff! If there are any conflicts within the sect, my Lightning Roar Peak lineage is not to be trifled with!"

This direct and forceful support was beyond Chen Heng's expectations. He had thought that someone like Chen Xingyun, a proud scion of the sect, would be more inclined to weigh the pros and cons.

Chen Xingyun changed the subject, her tone becoming cautionary. "However, do not underestimate your opponent. Cultivation realm is the foundation of cultivation. The barriers between Mid Qi Refining and Late Qi Refining are formidable."

"Do not waste the remaining two years. You must cultivate your cultivation method and practice your spells, but you are forbidden from relying on mundane techniques like the Blade-Hiding Staff!"

"True combat power lies in your own foundation, in your ability to adapt during battle, and in making further progress when you are already at the peak!"

"Do you understand?"

"Nephew remembers, thank you, Aunt, for your guidance!" Chen Heng replied solemnly.

"Mm." Chen Xingyun nodded slightly, her gaze sweeping across the courtyard. "Your residence is quite secluded. Although the spiritual energy on the mountainside is acceptable, it is ultimately limited. Why not go to the mountain peak to cultivate?"

Chen Heng shook his head. "This place is excellent. The spiritual energy on the mountain peak is only slightly more abundant, but there are more cultivators there. Why bother?"

Chen Xingyun, about to leave, turned back and said, "Here on Jade Spring Mountain, it's fine for you to call me Aunt. But when we get to the Azure Profound Sect, absolutely do not call me that."

"You're making me sound old."

According to the Chen family's cultivator genealogy, the two were related as aunt and nephew, but in reality, their bloodlines were separated by countless generations.

Chen Heng, in particular, was the concubine-born son of a minor branch family.

After a quiet mumble, Chen Xingyun didn't linger any longer and flew directly away from Green Bamboo Lodge.

Chen Heng gazed at the retreating silhouette for a long time, remaining rooted to the spot.

Having lived two lives, he was naturally not attracted by her beauty. Instead, he was shocked by the cultivation realm of this woman who was nominally his aunt.

She was a Foundation Establishment true cultivator who had only just turned thirty and cultivated lightning techniques.

Even within the Nascent Soul sect, Azure Profound Sect, she was an extremely rare seed for cultivation.

Barring any accidents, reaching the Violet Palace realm in the future was a certainty, and there was a high probability she would break through to the Golden Core realm.

Whether she could condense a Nascent Soul would depend on her own destiny.

Thinking this, Chen Heng shook his head, reached out, and patted his cheek, muttering inwardly, I'm only at Mid Qi Refining right now, why am I worrying about whether someone else can reach Nascent Soul?

Immediately after.

He went straight back to the second floor of Green Bamboo Lodge, returning to his cultivation chamber. Just as he was about to begin cultivating.

He heard Uncle Fu calling for him.

Chen Heng pushed open the bamboo window, and the mountain wind, carrying a chill, rushed in, causing his green robe to billow slightly.

His cultivation at the peak of Fourth Layer of Qi Refining made his perception of the outside world more acute.

"Uncle Fu, what is it?"

Uncle Fu stood bowing in the courtyard, a hint of barely perceptible urgency on his face.

In his hands, he held a smooth jade box. The lid was tightly shut, but a faint, fresh fragrance emanated from it, clearly indicating it contained freshly picked spiritual herbs.

The old servant hurried forward a few steps, holding the jade box up with both hands. "Young Master, it's the Frost Condensing Grass from the family's medicine garden."

"Seventh Elder said this spiritual herb is the best in terms of age, having just passed sixty years. Its Water and Ice attributes are pure, and he insisted you accept it. Refining it will greatly help in stabilizing your realm and breaking through to the Fifth Layer of Qi Refining."

Uncle Fu paused, his voice lowering slightly, "Seventh Elder also said... this is Elder Xingyun's intention."

Sent by Chen Xingyun?

Chen Heng's gaze swept over the jade box.

Frost Condensing Grass was indeed a rare and precious spiritual medicine of the First-grade Upper rank. It was especially suitable for cultivators who leaned towards the Water element or, like him, possessed dual Water and Fire true essence. It could calm the mind and spirit, helping to solidify the foundation and improve cultivation efficiency. It was quite valuable.

The family's attitude, or rather Chen Xingyun's optimism, was self-evident.

Chen Heng did not refuse and reached out to take the jade box.

The box felt cool to the touch, and wisps of cold air lingered around the gaps in the lid. "Please thank Seventh Elder for me, and... thank Elder Xingyun as well." He no longer used the somewhat intimate address of "Aunt."

"Yes, Young Master." Uncle Fu breathed a sigh of relief when Chen Heng accepted it, a hint of joy appearing on his face. "If Young Master has no other commands, this old servant will take his leave."

"Mm, you may go."

Green Bamboo Lodge returned to silence, with only the sound of bamboo rustling outside the window and the distant murmur of the waterfall faintly audible.

Chen Heng's gaze fell upon the jade box, but his thoughts were not on the Frost Condensing Grass itself.