When the child wishes to care for their parents, the parents are no longer there

"Deliver this letter for me to the Meng Family in the prefectural city of Yinshan Commandery, and place it personally in Old Madam Meng's hands." Instructor Liao Feibai took out a letter she had written long ago.

"And these ten Marrow Cleansing Pills—you must personally attend to Old Madam Meng and her young grandson as they take them. If necessary, use True Essence to activate the medicine and help them circulate its effects. These are ten bottles of specially made tiny Blood Origin Pills. Each pill contains only one-tenth the medicinal strength of the Blood Origin Pills you take. Secretly give them to Little Yue Meng and tell her to take one tiny pill every day. You know the Bear King Mountain Shoulder Fist, right?"

Ye Zhen nodded.

"Personally pass it on to Old Madam Meng's only young grandson."

"But what about the sect rules?" Ye Zhen frowned.

"I'll handle everything!" Instructor Liao Feibai waved her slender hand, speaking with utmost confidence. Ye Zhen could only nod.

"Also, there are a thousand taels of gold and five thousand taels of silver here. When the time comes, secretly contact the Meng Family's steward and purchase some farmland for them."

Instructor Liao Feibai's instructions grew increasingly strange, and her gifts were exceedingly generous. But seeing the resolute look on her face, Ye Zhen could only listen.

"Have you remembered everything?" Instructor Liao Feibai asked after finishing her instructions.

"I remember it all. But Instructor Liao, the prefectural city of Yinshan Commandery is so large. There might be dozens, even hundreds, of Meng families. How am I supposed to find this Madam Meng? You have to give me a specific address, don't you?" Ye Zhen asked.

Instructor Liao Feibai raised an eyebrow. "A specific address? I don't know either. But within Yinshan Commandery's city, if you ask after Old Madam Meng of the Meng Family, there absolutely won't be a second family that dares impersonate them."

Ye Zhen frowned. There was not even a specific address—this would not be easy. "Instructor Liao, could you tell me a little more about the family I'm looking for..."

"Meng Chuan. Upon hearing that name, I shouldn't need to say anything else, should I?"

Ye Zhen's expression turned solemn with respect. Meng Chuan was a household name throughout Black Water Country. At least within the Thirteen Northern Commanderies, he had been a legendary hero. He had even once been a disciple of the Qi Yun Sect. Sadly, he had died young.

"No need. I know what to do," Ye Zhen said loudly.

After pausing, Ye Zhen asked softly, "Instructor Liao, is this letter urgent? Would it be all right if I delivered it a few days later?"

"What? Do you have something to do?"

"I plan to return home to visit my parents. My home is in Wuan Commandery, while Yinshan Commandery lies a thousand li south of Wuan Commandery. If the letter isn't urgent, I'd like to visit my parents in Wuan Commandery first, then take a detour to Yinshan Commandery. That would save time," Ye Zhen said.

At this, Instructor Liao Feibai's long Sword Willow Brows furrowed slightly. "The letter is not urgent. A few days earlier or later makes no difference. But you are presently at a crucial juncture in your cultivation. Before the age of twenty, every single day is precious. Returning home to visit relatives now will hinder the advancement of your cultivation. Don't you understand?

"Ye Zhen, your parents would not wish to see you in such a situation either, would they?"

An indescribable emotion suddenly surfaced on Ye Zhen's face. "Before I came to the Qi Yun Sect, I lived at home without worrying about food or clothes. My parents took care of everything, and I lived carefree and thoughtless.

"But after coming to the Qi Yun Sect and becoming a Menial Disciple, I discovered that life was not easy. A few months ago, my parents traveled a thousand li to visit me. I suddenly noticed that my father, still in the prime of life, had gray hairs at his temples. Yet even so, they left their travel money for the journey home to me, telling me to buy pills and improve my cultivation.

"That suddenly reminded me of something I read while studying at home—when the child wishes to care for their parents, the parents are no longer there."

Having said that, Ye Zhen suddenly smiled. "So I feel that rather than regret it in the future, it is better to act now. As for cultivation, I can travel during the day and cultivate at night. I won't fall behind."

Ye Zhen spoke calmly, but Instructor Liao Feibai suddenly froze. A trace of indescribable sorrow appeared on her beautiful face, so full of heroic spirit.

"When the child wishes to care for their parents, the parents are no longer there... Ye Zhen, you are happier than I am... Go."

Ye Zhen had only just stepped out of the inner courtyard of the Instruction Hall when Instructor Liao Feibai called after him. "Ye Zhen, wait."

"I didn't know beforehand, so I wasn't prepared. Here are another four Marrow Cleansing Pills. Bring them to your parents. Consider it a small token from me." As she spoke, a pill bottle flew accurately into Ye Zhen's arms.

Ye Zhen was stunned. A token from Instructor Liao for his parents? What was that supposed to mean?

That made no sense at all!

"Why are you still standing there? Do you want to be cleaved by a sword?" Before Ye Zhen could react, Instructor Liao's Ice Sword Light suddenly shot out again. Carrying terrifying force, it bore straight down on Ye Zhen, frightening him into fleeing in a blind panic.

Ye Zhen could sense that this Ice Sword Light was exceptionally terrifying this time. The instant it emerged, frost condensed throughout the entire room.

After Ye Zhen left, a layer of mist welled up in Instructor Liao Feibai's beautiful eyes, turning into white frost that clung to her thick eyelashes. Amid the Ice Sword Light, Instructor Liao Feibai instantly became a sorrowful frost spirit.

"Sister Liao, you gave something to Ye Zhen's parents. Those who understand know that you were moved by the scene, but those who don't might think you have feelings for Ye Zhen." Caiyi emerged from the inner room. With a sweep of her colorful sleeve, she instantly dispersed the frost filling the room.

The mist in Instructor Liao Feibai's eyes vanished, and her sorrow receded as her heroic bearing returned. "What is it, Caiyi? Are you jealous? Why don't you catch up to him and give Ye Zhen's parents some special token as well?"

Two rosy clouds immediately flew onto Fairy Caiyi's cheeks. "Sister Liao, you're awful, always teasing me for fun. Let's see how I deal with you." Amid laughter like silver bells, Fairy Caiyi's hands darted like lightning beneath Instructor Liao Feibai's arms, and the two women immediately fell into a playful tussle.

Though Ye Zhen's heart had already flown home like an arrow, he did not rush back immediately. Visiting his parents was important, but he could not neglect cultivation either. He planned to remain in the sect for another two or three days, gain a preliminary grasp of the Primal Chaos Unity Art, and then set out for home.

Moreover, given the miraculous effects of the Marrow Spirit Liquid, Ye Zhen planned to bring some home and secretly let his parents take it. In the previous days, he had used nearly all the Marrow Spirit Liquid he had accumulated in order to break through. He intended to stay a few more days and gather some more.

The Primal Chaos Unity Art was a Human-tier High Grade cultivation method, divided into six levels. It was said that it had been one of the cultivation methods practiced by the founder of the Qi Yun Sect in his youth.

The first three levels placed extreme emphasis on condensing True Essence, tempering it through a thousand hammers and a hundred refinements while building one's foundation. Cultivation progressed rather slowly, requiring nearly twice the time of other methods.

But at the fourth level, one could condense Gang Qi and form indestructible Body-Protecting True Gang. At the fifth level, Gang Qi could leave the body to a distance of three zhang. Taking a life within ten steps would be as easy as turning one's palm over, and few could contend against it.

As for the sixth level, one would cultivate Primal Chaos Unity and touch upon the realm of the Spirit-Drawing Innate Realm.

This introduction alone to the Primal Chaos Unity Art surprised Ye Zhen.

Condensing Body-Protecting True Gang was the hallmark unique to the third level of the True Essence Realm. In other words, as long as he cultivated the Primal Chaos Unity Art to the fourth level, his cultivation could reach the third level of the True Essence Realm.

Several pages of handwritten annotations by Instructor Liao Feibai were also tucked into the book, along with points that required attention while cultivating the Primal Chaos Unity Art. With Instructor Liao Feibai's notes, cultivating the Primal Chaos Unity Art became much easier for Ye Zhen.

Five days later, on a remote cliff, Ye Zhen sat cross-legged. His chest suddenly began to expand and contract rhythmically, his breath rising and falling without cease.

As the aura radiating from Ye Zhen's body grew increasingly heavy, the movement of his chest and abdomen became more and more intense.

Puff!

The movement throughout his body abruptly ceased. A stream of white vapor, almost solid in substance, burst from Ye Zhen's mouth and struck a pine tree as thick as a bowl five meters away. The pine immediately snapped in two.

"After converting all the cultivation from the third level of the Essence Blood Origin Body Art, then painstakingly cultivating with more than a dozen Condensing True Pills, I have only barely touched the threshold of the third level of the Primal Chaos Unity Art. The progress of this Primal Chaos Unity Art is truly slow."

Though he murmured softly, delight appeared on Ye Zhen's face.

The Primal Chaos Unity Art progressed slowly, but merely touching the threshold of its third level had increased the total amount of True Essence in Ye Zhen's dantian by nearly one-tenth. Furthermore, under the combined effects of the Primal Chaos Unity Art and the Mirage Dragon Pearl, the True Essence within his body had already been condensed until it resembled mercury.

Compared with the few drops of True Essence Ye Zhen had initially condensed, it was dozens of times purer.

Just thinking about the power contained within a single drop of such incomparably pure True Essence made Ye Zhen feel terrified.

Having cultivated the Primal Chaos Unity Art to its current stage, and lacking Condensing True Pills to assist his cultivation, all that remained was the daily work of grinding water through stone.

After thinking briefly, Ye Zhen prepared to pack his belongings and return home to visit his parents. He could not delay his return any longer.

The date of the Ye Family clan gathering was drawing near. This time, Ye Zhen intended to bring honor to his parents properly!

Outer Disciples of the Qi Yun Sect had the right to return home and visit relatives. However, before leaving, they had to register with Deacon Guan Peak at the Sect Main Hall.

With Ye Zhen's status as second on the Earth Ranking, the procedures were swiftly completed. However, he did not immediately pack and leave the sect. Before departing, there was still one very important thing he had to bring to his parents—the Marrow Spirit Liquid.

At sunset, Ye Zhen headed directly toward Hundred Pine Peak.

"Going to see Sha Fei again? Sha Fei is truly fortunate to have such an ironclad brother as you. Before long, I think Sha Fei will become an Outer Disciple too." When Ye Zhen arrived, he happened to run into Steward Zhao of Hundred Pine Peak.

"Heh, it should be my good fortune instead. If Sha Fei hadn't protected me back then, how could I have what I do today?"

After chatting with a smile for a few moments, Steward Zhao was about to take his leave when Ye Zhen suddenly remembered something. "Steward Zhao, I'd like to ask about someone. I wonder if you know of him."

"Ye Zhen, just ask. If this old man knows, I certainly won't hide anything," Steward Zhao said with a smile.

"Tu Fangye—the True Disciple Tu Fangye who once fell. You..."

The moment the three words "Tu Fangye" left his mouth, Steward Zhao's expression abruptly changed. He cut Ye Zhen off and asked in a lowered voice, "Why are you asking about that person?"

"I..."

"Never mind why. Remember this: ask less about Tu Fangye. His affairs are not something you can inquire into either. That person is a sect taboo!"

"All right, I'm going home. If you want to see Sha Fei, hurry up and go see him," Steward Zhao said.

Watching Steward Zhao leave in a rush, Ye Zhen's expression grew somewhat grave. That fallen True Disciple was actually a sect taboo. It seemed that the Sect Forbidden Ground behind the mountain was not as simple as he had imagined. He would have to be more careful when seeking information in the future.

At Hundred Pine Peak during the Hour of the Rooster, many Menial Disciples had just finished their chores and were resting. Seeing Ye Zhen, an Outer Disciple dressed in black, arrive, even though many of them knew him well, each one still rose carefully to greet him. Their gazes toward Ye Zhen were filled with awe.

From far away, Sha Fei spotted Ye Zhen.

This time, Sha Fei did not first chat with Ye Zhen in the courtyard as usual. Instead, he grabbed Ye Zhen and pulled him into his room, then asked solemnly, "Ye Zhen, have you offended someone recently?"