You looked outside. Overnight, it was as though the world had been replaced.
The Parasol Tree outside the house had bloomed with pear blossoms.
The stone table in the courtyard was piled high with thick snow, while the large water vat had frozen over with a thick layer of crystalline white ice.
Not even the chirping of birds remained; there was only an endless expanse of white.
Parasol Tree rubbed her hands together. The cold outside rushed straight at her face, and the frigid air she breathed in turned her nose bright red.
You did not feel the cold as keenly anymore. After a month and a half of martial training, your body had grown much stronger.
"Get inside quickly, Young Master. It's cold out here."
You nodded and returned indoors, then began to light the fire.
Although Parasol Tree did not want you helping with such trivial chores, you insisted, and she could do nothing about it.
Dry firewood and charcoal had been stuffed beneath the stove. With a rub of your hands, a wisp of flame sprang up between your fingers. This was one of the mystical abilities gained upon entering the second realm of Primordial Spirit cultivation, Stabilizing the Spirit.
Within your heart, you invoked the Five Dragons Fortune-Flourishing Talisman, one of the seven arts in the Hidden Talisman Scripture. It was a talismanic pattern that increased the power of the Primordial Spirit, and you could already trace it within your sea of consciousness.
The instant you drew the talisman, the flame between your fingers surged. The fire of your heart and lungs set the kindling ablaze.
Before long, the stove fire blazed fiercely, filling the room with warmth. Even the tea atop the warmer began to bubble and gurgle with heat.
You nodded in satisfaction, sat