The cold energy within the Millennial Ice Soul Pearl had been absorbed in great quantities by Xu Yang. Now, about a tenth of it was gone. Though its core remained unharmed, the color showing through the pearl had faded considerably.
Although Xu Yang was delighted by his rapid progress, he was on the verge of completing the Iron Body Technique of the Indestructible Golden Body Art. To cultivate the next stage, the Bronze Body, he needed True Spirit Essence Blood. But Xu Yang had none, and he was about to be unable to continue cultivating the art.
So he had no choice but to end his seclusion and leave his pavilion to hunt a demon beast with a True Spirit bloodline. He would refine the bloodline within its body and condense it into True Spirit Essence Blood.
After leaving the pavilion where he had secluded himself for three years, Xu Yang was surprised to find several message Jade Slips outside its Restriction. He reached out and drew them into his hand, then probed them with his divine sense. After reading their messages, his expression shifted. He considered them for a moment, then turned and headed deeper into the residential district.
A short while later, Xu Yang arrived in front of an exquisite pavilion. He flicked his finger, sending a beam of Gang Qi shooting into the Restriction outside.
A moment later, the Restriction opened, and Li Qingqing emerged from the pavilion, holding Wu Yuan's little hand. She came to stand before Xu Yang. Xu Yang immediately hurried forward and bowed to her. "May I ask why Senior Sister was looking for me? Your junior brother has been in seclusion all this time and hasn't been out. Please forgive me."
Li Qingqing said coolly, "Wu Yuan missed you, so I brought him to see you. I didn't want to disturb your cultivation when I found you in seclusion, so I left the message Jade Slips outside your pavilion. I didn't expect you to remain secluded for three whole years."
Xu Yang hurriedly apologized. "That was my fault. I didn't know Senior Sister would come looking for me. And this little guy—I never imagined he'd miss me."
At Xu Yang's words, Li Qingqing's expression softened somewhat. She nudged Wu Yuan in front of Xu Yang. "Have a look! This little guy kept clamoring to see you. He's grown quite a bit in three years."
Xu Yang looked at Wu Yuan and saw that he had grown into a boy of eight or nine. He had also just broken through to the first layer of Qi Refining Realm, though his cultivation was still unstable.
Xu Yang stepped forward and swept him up in his arms. "Wu Yuan, you've grown so much. You should understand a few things by now. Your uncle knows you missed me, but I see you've already broken through to the first layer of Qi Refining Realm. That means you have a Spiritual Root and are a cultivator now, right?"
When Wu Yuan saw Xu Yang, his face had been full of grievance. It had been so long since he'd last seen him that he'd thought Xu Yang didn't want to see him anymore. Now, nestled in Xu Yang's arms and hearing his question, Wu Yuan beamed. "Of course! I have a rare Light Spiritual Root. I broke through to the first layer of Qi Refining Realm a few days ago, so I'm a real cultivator now."
Xu Yang was surprised by Wu Yuan's words and hurriedly looked over at Li Qingqing. She nodded. "Wu Yuan has excellent aptitude. He really does have a rare Light Spiritual Root. After hearing about it, my adoptive father was delighted and said he wanted to meet him in person."
Xu Yang felt a pang of envy. He hadn't expected the little guy to have such excellent aptitude that even Master Qing Yuanzi would teach him personally. What good fortune!
Thinking of this, Xu Yang continued, "Xiao Yuan, with such excellent aptitude and Master to guide you, you must cherish this opportunity and cultivate hard!"
Then Xu Yang joked with Wu Yuan, "Your uncle has a poor Spiritual Root, so cultivating is extremely difficult. That's why I'm often in seclusion. Otherwise, when my lifespan runs out, all my efforts will have come to nothing. If you cultivate diligently, perhaps you'll be able to help your uncle someday!"
At Xu Yang's words, Wu Yuan puffed out his little chest. "Don't worry, Uncle! When I get stronger, I'll beat up the bad guys for you!" "Ha ha! Then you'd better cultivate hard. Your uncle's counting on you!" Xu Yang laughed heartily at Wu Yuan's words.
Seeing how animated the two were, Li Qingqing stepped forward and said to Xu Yang, "Junior Brother, you've never been to my place, have you? Why not come in and have a look? We can talk inside!"
Xu Yang readily accepted Li Qingqing's invitation. Carrying Wu Yuan, he followed her into her pavilion. Inside, everything was pink, which greatly surprised him. Li Qingqing always wore a frosty expression and was curt with people, yet her private quarters were so romantic. Truly, you couldn't judge a book by its cover.
Seeing Xu Yang's surprised expression, Li Qingqing grew a little bashful, and two blushes rose on her cheeks. She hurriedly led him into the side hall, where the decor was quite simple. Xu Yang glanced around, then sat down in one of the seats.
Xu Yang and Li Qingqing then chatted with Wu Yuan. As they talked, Xu Yang was astonished to learn that quite a few major events had taken place over the past three years. His own sect had even gone to war with the Blood Refining Sect.
When the two sects' war came up, Xu Yang asked Li Qingqing curiously, "Senior Sister Li, why didn't you go to the battlefield? And I've been in seclusion for three years, yet no one came to disturb me. Did the sect not send either of us?"
Li Qingqing chuckled. Her frosty face bloomed like a winter plum, stunningly beautiful, and Xu Yang was momentarily dazed. Fortunately, his mind was firm, and he quickly recovered. Li Qingqing said, "How could that be? The sect keeps a strict rein on its disciples. All disciples at the seventh layer of Qi Refining Realm or above must go to the border battlefield for a trial. It's compulsory, no discussion. Once you've completed the trial, you're free to leave the battlefield or keep fighting. Of course, the sect gives rewards for killing opponents. The more you kill, the greater the reward."
Xu Yang froze at her explanation and asked, "Then why haven't either of us gone to the battlefield?"
Li Qingqing shot Xu Yang a sidelong glance. "Who says I haven't gone? I came back from the battlefield long ago. You're the only one in the sect who hasn't been to the border battlefield. Since you were in seclusion, the sect spared you out of consideration for my adoptive father. Now that you've come out, you still have to make a trip to the battlefield."
As she spoke, she looked Xu Yang up and down. "Not bad. You've already broken through to the eighth layer of Qi Refining Realm. As long as you're careful on the battlefield, you shouldn't be in any danger."
Xu Yang understood at last. He hurriedly asked Li Qingqing about the border battlefield. When he heard that only cultivators of the Qi Refining Realm took part, while Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators stayed in the rear to hold the line, he immediately relaxed. At his current strength, cultivators of the Qi Refining Realm no longer posed much of a threat.
Xu Yang chatted a while longer with Li Qingqing. He also encouraged Wu Yuan to cultivate diligently and stop getting into mischief, and to listen to Senior Sister Li. He promised to visit when he had time, then rose to leave Li Qingqing's pavilion and headed for the External Affairs Hall.
When he arrived at the External Affairs Hall, Xu Yang glanced around and immediately spotted Lin Heng sitting behind a counter. He walked straight over. "Junior Brother Lin, long time no see. Your cultivation has improved quickly—you're already at the seventh layer of Qi Refining Realm."
Lin Heng immediately smiled when he saw Xu Yang. "It's all thanks to Senior Brother Xu. Last time, Vice Hall Master Xu accepted me as his disciple. It's only through his guidance that I've made this progress. What brings you here, Senior Brother Xu?"
"Oh, you're fortunate to have been taken as Vice Hall Master Xu's disciple. He's a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator, so you have a bright future ahead of you! I've come to sign up for the border battle. I was in seclusion until today and only just came out. I haven't been to the border battlefield yet," Xu Yang replied with a smile.
At Xu Yang's words, Lin Heng was delighted. "What a coincidence! I just broke through to the seventh layer of Qi Refining Realm, and I haven't been to the border battlefield either. I was planning to go alone. Why don't I go with you, Senior Brother Xu?"
Xu Yang quietly sized him up. Lin Heng looked happy, and his eyes were clear. He didn't seem to be lying or plotting anything. After thinking it over, Xu Yang nodded in agreement, and the two set off together.
Lin Heng was overjoyed that Xu Yang had agreed. He immediately took Xu Yang's identity token and registered him, then brought out his own token and registered himself. He called over a disciple of the External Affairs Hall, gave him instructions to cover his work, and left the hall with Xu Yang.
The two left the sect and flew directly toward the Wu Kingdom's border. Along the way, Xu Yang asked Lin Heng with a puzzled look, "Junior Brother Lin, have you never been to the border battlefield before?"
Lin Heng gave a wry smile. "Of course not. The border battlefield is too dangerous. For cultivators below the seventh layer of Qi Refining Realm, it's a gamble with their lives. Win, and the rewards are naturally immense. Lose, and everything's over. My master was afraid I'd die on the battlefield, so he never let me go. Now that I've broken through to the seventh layer of Qi Refining Realm, the sect's rules require me to go at least once. That's why my master finally let me."
"I see. With your current cultivation, Junior Brother Lin, as long as you're careful, you shouldn't be in much danger. After all, cultivators at the seventh layer of Qi Refining Realm or above are already quite capable."
"Ha ha! I can only hope to come back in one piece. Life and death are fated. Sometimes it still comes down to luck—to whatever Heaven has in store for us!" Lin Heng said with an easygoing laugh.
Xu Yang curled his lip at that and said dismissively, "You shouldn't think like that, Junior Brother Lin. We cultivators defy Heaven itself. We must have the will to press forward and fight with all our might. Otherwise, how can we become true immortals?"
Lin Heng looked thoughtful at Xu Yang's words. He cupped his hands to him. "You're right, Senior Brother. I was being too pessimistic."
The two chatted as they flew straight toward the border battlefield. A day later, they finally crossed Border City Prefecture and neared the battlefield. They immediately grew alert, keeping watch on their surroundings. Fortunately, nothing happened, and the two arrived safely at the camp established by their sect.
Before you continue