Xue Qinghe

Xue Qinghe

Feng Yao gently pushed open the room door carved with ancient patterns. A dense energy fluctuation, nearly tangible, immediately rushed toward him. He took a deep breath, sensing the eagerness of the Soul Power within him, then slowly stepped into this mimicry space prepared specifically for him.

The sight inside the room made him pause slightly—the dome glittered like a starry sky, while the floor held only a simple cushion. Feng Yao stepped onto it and sat cross-legged, yet he did not hurry to begin meditating.

"The energy density here..." he murmured, sensing the Soul Power fluctuations in the air, so dense they were nearly palpable. "It's practically like a legendary Cave Heaven Blessed Land." The thought stirred something in him, and he slowly withdrew "Fuxi" into his body.

A bold idea surfaced in his mind. What if I use the Innate Bagua Plate...?

As his thoughts shifted, an ancient Bagua Plate silently appeared in his palm. Its body was neither metal nor jade, and its eight Hexagram Symbols were arranged according to the principles of heaven and earth, emanating a vast, primordial aura.

The instant the Bagua Plate appeared, a sudden change occurred—

Before Feng Yao could even activate his Soul Power, the mysterious patterns on its surface lit up with a faint glow on their own. Kun Hexagram, Zhen, Xun, Kan, Li, Gen Hexagram, and Dui flashed in sequence. Golden threads of energy connected them, forming a perfect cycle in the blink of an eye.

"What is this?!"

Feng Yao's pupils contracted sharply as the phantom of the Bagua suddenly expanded, turning into a massive five-meter-wide light formation that enveloped him. The eight Hexagram Symbols circulated through the air like living things, every rotation drawing a resonance from the energy of heaven and earth.

Even more astonishingly, within this Bagua formation, the originally chaotic energy fluctuations became incomparably clear—the blazing heat of fire, the gentle moisture of water, the nimbleness of wind... Energies of all attributes were distinctly separated, yet existed in perfect harmony.

"What a Cave Heaven Blessed Land." A sharp light flickered in Feng Yao's eyes, and the corners of his lips rose unconsciously.

In an instant, inspiration flashed through Feng Yao's mind like lightning. Gazing at the rippling energy within the Bagua Plate, he suddenly thought, In a purely fire-attributed environment, water- and ice-attributed Spirit Masters would find even meditation difficult. If I could actively adjust the energy distribution around me...

The thought invigorated him, and he immediately tried pouring Soul Power into the Bagua Plate. To his disappointment, however, no matter how much Soul Power he injected, the dense energy field around him only rippled for an instant before returning to normal like a receding tide.

"Of course..." Feng Yao shook his head with a bitter smile, looking at the Bagua Plate in his hand as its glow gradually dimmed. "How could a Martial Soul without even a single Spirit Ring possibly shake an energy field built from countless heavenly treasures?"

This Mimicry Training Ground was like a towering mountain, while his current strength was nothing more than a tiny shovel.

Just as he was about to put away the Bagua Plate and begin ordinary meditation, a scene from his past life suddenly surfaced in his mind—weren't the compasses used by feng shui masters evolved from the Bagua?

"Wait." Light rekindled in Feng Yao's eyes. "Since I can't change the entire layout, why not find the most suitable spot within it?"

He injected Soul Power into the Bagua Plate again. This time, instead of trying to forcefully alter the environment, he carefully sensed the flow of energy. Remarkably, with the aid of the Bagua formation, the originally chaotic energy fluctuations became clear and discernible—the east was abundant with wood energy, the south gathered fire essence, while faint metal-attributed fluctuations could be sensed in the northwest...

"The zither belongs to wood. Wood is the beginning of the Five Elements, and its corresponding Hexagram Symbols are Zhen and Xun. It is night now, and meditation is the path by which Spirit Masters nurture growth. I should seek out Zhen."

Feng Yao's lips curved slightly as he held the Bagua Plate and slowly moved about. When he reached a room on the eastern side, the Zhen Hexagram on the Bagua Plate suddenly shone brightly, and a sense of vigorous life immediately emerged.

"This is the place!" He sat cross-legged and felt the energy fluctuations most compatible with himself. Though he could not alter the layout of the entire training ground, with the Bagua Plate's help, he had successfully found the place most suited to him within this vast sea of energy.

Feng Yao slowly sat cross-legged and drew the Innate Bagua Plate back into his body. As his breathing gradually steadied, his consciousness sank into a mysterious state. His breathing rhythm formed a wondrous resonance with the energy fluctuations in the surrounding environment, and his entire being seemed to merge with this space.

Feng Yao could clearly sense that, at this particular location, energy was continuously flowing into his body like trickling streams. It became exceptionally gentle and peaceful, blending perfectly with the Soul Power within him.

Meditating, Feng Yao wore a tranquil expression, still as an ancient well. Only the Soul Power fluctuations matching his breathing rhythm stirred around him.

Within this small space, Feng Yao seemed to have found the perfect point of balance between the principles of heaven and earth and himself. Every breath he took drove the rhythm of the surrounding energy, while every fluctuation of that energy in turn advanced his Soul Power. This state of cultivation, this Unity of Heaven and Man, was precisely the realm every Spirit Master dreamed of attaining.

The night passed without incident. Feng Yao habitually withdrew from meditation when a strange wave of Soul Power suddenly rippled around him.

"This is..."

Feng Yao's eyes flew open. He felt the Soul Power within him surge like a river, rushing turbulently through his Meridians. He could clearly sense that the level twenty-seven bottleneck he had reached several days ago shattered with a resounding crash at that moment.

"Overnight, I not only reached level twenty-eight, but I still have a substantial surplus. This speed..."

Feng Yao let out a soft breath, his face full of emotion. One night of cultivation here was absolutely comparable to several days' work outside. Even in such a Mimicry Training Ground, unless others were exceptionally lucky enough to find a room with a position suitable for them, it would be difficult for them to achieve Feng Yao's efficiency. Looking at the Soul Power gathered in his palm, denser and purer than the night before, he could not help but smile.

Feng Yao slowly rose to his feet, only to discover that his robes had been soaked by the night dew. Only then did he realize that he had cultivated in this mimicry environment for the entire night. Through the room's Glazed Window, he could see the morning sun gilding the buildings of Heaven Dou Royal Academy with golden edges.

"Time to eat and train." Feng Yao straightened his robes and slowly pushed open the door. As he prepared to leave, he gave the closing door a reluctant look. For a moment, Feng Yao suddenly felt that meditating here every day would not be a bad choice.

Feng Yao walked into the morning light, a faint smile on his lips. What he had gained that night went far beyond a breakthrough in Soul Power.

Through the Mimicry Training Ground, Feng Yao had also gained a deeper understanding of how to use the Innate Bagua Plate, as well as the laws governing the flow of energy.

Morning sunlight streamed through the window lattice. After finishing breakfast at the dining hall of Heaven Dou Royal Academy, Feng Yao carried the "Fuxi" zither and slowly headed toward the training grounds. The morning breeze brushed his robes, casting a long silhouette across the stone path.

Inside the training grounds that morning, the members of the Imperial Dou Team were warming up. The air was filled with the vitality of youth.

"Good morning, everyone." Feng Yao approached slowly with "Fuxi" in his arms, the morning light casting a soft glow over his refined features.

"Morning!" Everyone responded in turn. The Shi Mo brothers waved honestly, Oslo gave a cool nod, while Yu Feng exaggeratedly performed a noble greeting.

Dugu Yan's emerald hair drew a graceful arc through the air as she turned to Feng Yao, her eyes carrying a teasing smile. "Little Feng, the results were pretty good, weren't they?"

The corners of Feng Yao's lips rose as his fingers gently brushed the zither case. "Better than expected." Unconcealed delight colored his voice. "I almost didn't want to leave. I broke through successfully last night—I'm already level twenty-eight."

"What?!" Dugu Yan's cry made the entire training ground fall silent. Her green eyes widened roundly. "Level twenty-eight? You're only twelve this year, aren't you?"

Feng Yao smiled modestly. "Just luck."

Beside him, Yu Feng dramatically clutched his chest, wearing an expression of profound grief. "Tsk, tsk. Twelve years old and level twenty-eight... Little Feng, are you going to leave us ordinary people any way to survive?" His eyes spun beneath his golden hair. "At this rate, in just a few years, we'll have to start calling you Senior Feng!"

His clowning drew laughter from everyone. Even the usually stern Oslo could not help curling his lips, while Yu Tianheng, though still wearing a straight face, had a trace of complicated emotion flash through his eyes.

Ye Lingling stood in the corner, her silver hair gleaming softly in the morning light. Besides surprise, her gaze toward Feng Yao held an indescribable extra glimmer.

Under Qin Ming's careful guidance, the Imperial Dou Team had always maintained an uplifting training atmosphere. Although mornings were usually freely arranged by the team members, everyone voluntarily came to the training grounds for additional practice—this had long become an unspoken tradition of the Imperial Dou Team.

After the brief greetings, Feng Yao carried "Fuxi" and slowly walked toward the corner where he had played yesterday. Sunlight shone through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a warm halo over that small space. He sat cross-legged, his long fingers gently stroking the zither's body as though greeting an old friend.

Before long, clear zither music flowed through the training grounds like a babbling stream. Unlike yesterday's ethereal melody, today's music carried a little more vigorous vitality—the joy of his breakthrough, transformed into notes dancing upon the strings.

As the zither music flowed, Feng Yao's Soul Power traveled along the strings with the melody, forming a mysterious resonance with "Fuxi." He closed his eyes and focused, his entire being seeming to merge with the music as he comprehended the mysteries woven from melody and Soul Power through cultivation.

Who knew how much time passed? Just as Feng Yao's Soul Power was about to run dry, a burst of crisp applause suddenly reached his ears. The clapping was unhurried in rhythm, yet carried an impossible-to-ignore presence.

Feng Yao raised his head in slight confusion. As his long lashes trembled, he saw a handsome young man clad in a moon-white brocade robe. Sunlight danced across the gold-trimmed cuffs of his sleeves, outlining dazzling halos. Two guards with restrained auras stood behind the young man, while he himself wore a perfectly measured gentle smile and gazed intently at Feng Yao.

"A fine piece. The melody is exquisite, and the artistic conception lofty." The young man's voice was clear and smooth as he nodded in praise.

At that moment, the Imperial Fighting Team members in the training grounds also noticed something unusual. Yu Tianheng was the first to react, flashing forward in an instant, while the remaining members quickly gathered around.

"Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince!" Everyone bowed in unison, their voices echoing through the training grounds.

Feng Yao hurriedly rose. In the midst of bowing, he discreetly sized up the "Xue Qinghe" before him. A suitably surprised look appeared on his face, but inwardly, he already understood. Qian Renxue. It seems the education committee has already told her everything about me.

A breeze drifted past, carrying a faint, elusive fragrance. Feng Yao noticed that "Xue Qinghe's" gaze lingered on him for a moment longer. Deep within those seemingly gentle eyes, there flashed an almost imperceptible trace of scrutiny.

Xue Qinghe nodded slightly, his noble yet gentle gaze sweeping slowly over everyone present. A perfectly measured smile rested on his lips, and his voice was as clear as jade. "I heard that the Imperial Dou Team has gained a young talent whose zither skills are near divine. I came specifically to see for myself."

"Your Highness overpraises me." Feng Yao stepped forward calmly and gave a standard courtly bow. The ancient zither "Fuxi" in his arms shimmered with a simple, aged glow beneath the sunlight, while the hidden patterns on its body appeared and disappeared as though responding to its master's bearing.

A hint of surprise flashed in Xue Qinghe's eyes—this youth who appeared to be of common birth had etiquette more precise than that of many noble children. He studied Feng Yao with interest and asked warmly, "Could I ask Student Feng to play another piece for me?"

"I am honored by Your Highness's favor." Feng Yao gracefully sat on the ground and lightly plucked the strings with his slender fingers. In an instant, clear zither music flowed forth like a fresh spring, every note seeming to possess the power to cleanse the soul. The training grounds immediately fell silent, and even the sound of breathing grew faint.

Xue Qinghe stood with his hands behind his back. Beneath his seemingly calm expression, however, a trace of amazement flashed through his eyes. He noticed that as Feng Yao played, two Spirit Rings naturally circulated around him, his Soul Power blending perfectly with the zither music—such control was far beyond what an ordinary Spirit Master could achieve.

When the piece ended, its lingering resonance drifted through the air. Xue Qinghe lightly applauded and praised, "Wonderful. Student Feng's zither skills are exceptional, and his control over Soul Power is even more exquisite." He paused, his voice gentle yet impossible to refuse. "Would you honor me with your company at noon, so we may speak?"

Feng Yao merely rose calmly and bowed once more. "It would be my honor." His voice was calm as water, as though he were simply accepting the most ordinary invitation. Only in the depths of his profound eyes did an imperceptible flicker of contemplation pass.

Xue Qinghe nodded in satisfaction, his gaze lingering on Feng Yao for another moment. He turned gracefully, his moon-white brocade robe glowing softly beneath the sunlight. "In that case, I shall prepare a banquet and await you at noon."

Only after the Crown Prince departed did the atmosphere in the training grounds become lively again. Dugu Yan was the first to rush to Feng Yao's side, her emerald hair lifting slightly with her hurried movement. "Little Feng, do you know what this means?"

Feng Yao lightly brushed the strings and smiled. "Perhaps he is simply interested in music?"

"Stop playing dumb." Dugu Yan lowered her voice. "You can't possibly not know why the Crown Prince came."

"I understand." Feng Yao's fingertips gently passed over the strings. "But making a good connection is never a bad thing." He raised his eyes toward the direction in which the Crown Prince had left, a trace of deep thought flashing in them. "As for those court struggles... they are neither something a Great Soul Master like me should meddle in, nor something I can afford to meddle in."

At his words, Dugu Yan's emerald eyes flickered slightly, and she nodded. "It's good that you think that way." Rare seriousness colored her tone. "But..."

She hesitated, glanced around, and lowered her voice. "His Highness the Crown Prince has always kept a low profile. For him to suddenly visit today, and personally invite you alone... I'm afraid it isn't that simple."

Feng Yao smiled noncommittally, put away "Fuxi," and said with a smile, "Don't worry, Sister Yan. I know my limits."