Fangfei, Gu Yu, Jiang Xiaozhai

Dawn.

Atop Peach Blossom Mountain.

Zhou Yi leaned against a peach tree for a brief rest, his green Daoist robe slightly damp with dew, yet he felt no chill at all.

Scattered around him were over a dozen Daoist scriptures, their pages rustling noisily as the wind turned them.

The peach tree behind him was peculiar—its upper half was charred black, while the lower half flourished with lush branches and leaves.

The other peach trees had already passed their blooming season, but this one alone was in full, vibrant flower.

A mountain sparrow landed on the peach tree, staring at the human with wide-eyed curiosity.

"Who wakes first from the great dream? I alone know my life's course!"

Zhou Yi stretched his limbs, and a series of crackling pops sounded from his joints like bursting beans.

The morning sun had yet to rise, but Zhou Yi was already awake.

Even if he couldn't absorb and cultivate the first wisp of purple mist between Heaven and Earth, he could still greet it to temper his body.

Half a month had passed since his return to Blue Star. With the rich wood spiritual energy emitted by the Peach Spirit, Zhou Yi's progress had been swift.

Normally, body tempering required the Origin to repair hidden injuries before one could quickly reach the state of a flawless physical body. Wood spiritual energy couldn't compare to the Origin, but repairing the hidden damage from body tempering was a trivial task.

Now, not only had he achieved success in body refinement, but he had also saved up twenty points of Origin—enough to sustain the consumption of blood and energy needed to condense Internal Force.

Zhou Yi cupped his hands toward the peach tree. "Greetings, Fellow Daoist Fangfei. This poor Daoist has been quite a bother; please don't take offense."

The Peach Spirit's branches swayed, its spiritual fluctuations intense: I do take offense! I do take offense! Are you going to leave or not?

Zhou Yi sat cross-legged atop Peach Blossom Mountain, facing the rising sun, breathing in the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy to refine his flesh.

Half a month ago, his parents had come to see the Peach Spirit, but their Divine Sense wasn't sharp enough to fully grasp the Peach Spirit's mental fluctuations.

If not for the Peach Spirit changing its form three times a day, his parents would have thought Zhou Yi was lying.

"This spirit isn't fun at all—it doesn't even move. Might as well keep a cat or a dog."

That was his parents' exact words. When they finally saw a real spirit, they felt it was less impressive than its reputation.

After that, his parents began practicing the Primordial Chaos Stance, buying plenty of high-calorie supplements to sustain the energy drain of the stance training. This was one of Blue Star's advantages. Compared to the resource-scarce Great Jing, where eating meat while practicing stances was a luxury for the wealthy, Blue Star directly supplied high-energy food.

After an hour of body tempering, Zhou Yi stopped and began reciting the Daoist classics of the ancient sages.

"The Dao is born from nothingness, concealing all spirits beyond measure; the spirit condenses in the void, transforming myriad things without fixed form..."

His voice was clear and resonant, his powerful lung capacity carrying the chanting all the way to the mountainside.

When Gu Yu heard the chanting, he was about to leave, but then turned to look toward the summit.

His girlfriend, Jiang Xiaozhai, said considerately, "This little mountain isn't a spiritual energy node, but since there's a Daoist here, it wouldn't hurt to take a look."

The two moved swiftly, covering hundreds of meters of mountain path in moments without a flushed face or heavy breath.

When they reached the summit, they happened to see an exceptionally handsome young man reciting Daoist scriptures.

With sword-like brows and starry eyes, a face like polished jade, and robes fluttering in the mountain wind, he truly seemed like an immortal.

The moment the young man turned and saw Gu Yu and the others, a sharp glint flashed in his eyes, and he stepped forward, covering several zhang in a single stride.

His five fingers curled into a claw.

Great Strength Eagle Claw Technique!

The tendons, bones, flesh, and blood of his fingers contracted, turning them into iron bars and steel ribs—a single claw strike could shatter stone and split monuments.

In a daze, Gu Yu saw a massive eagle descending from the sky, its prey being none other than himself.

The handsome young man was Zhou Yi, but after using the Bone Shifting Disguise Technique, he was three inches taller, three inches thinner, and his face was devastatingly handsome—even his parents wouldn't recognize him at a glance.

A perfected Bone Shifting Disguise Technique was no less effective than the three great sorceries.

After comprehending Sword Intent, Zhou Yi's martial arts had reached the realm where intent came first and force followed. The moment he struck, he suppressed his opponent with intent, weakening them by three parts from the start.

"You're asking for death!"

Jiang Xiaozhai's brows shot up like willow leaves as she roared, and a bolt of lightning suddenly appeared.

"Hiss—what a fierce girl!"

Zhou Yi's body seemed weightless, drifting with the wind as he easily dodged the lightning, drawing even closer.

His hand formed a palm strike.

Falling Flowers, Flowing Water.

In an instant, over a dozen palm shadows appeared.

Gu Yu snapped back to his senses. With a thought, a ball of blazing flame erupted and blasted toward Zhou Yi, while he grabbed his girlfriend and hastily retreated.

Attack as defense!

"Roar—"

Dragon Roar Tiger Howl Lion Roar Technique!

The flames, hot enough to melt metal and burn iron, were actually extinguished by the roar!

Gu Yu was terrified. He stepped in front of Jiang Xiaozhai and said, "Sir, we didn't mean to intrude. If we've offended you, please forgive us."

The powerful Eagle Claw and the shadow of Falling Flowers Palm were less than an inch from Gu Yu's head. The wind from the palm made his long hair flutter.

"Haha, I am Chi Xiaozi of the Kunlun Sect. Seeing such fine talents, I couldn't resist sparring."

Zhou Yi clasped his hands and said, "This way, please. It's a wild place, so I only have a cup of plain tea to offer."

With that, he turned and walked over to the Peach Spirit. There was a tea table made of Greenstone, with only a teapot and cups on it—no tea leaves or stove in sight.

Zhou Yi set out three cups, held up the teapot, and said, "Fellow Daoist Fangfei, we have honored guests. Please lend me a pot of clear water and three peach leaves."

The Peach Spirit's consciousness gave a snort but didn't refuse. Its branches shook, and three emerald-green peach leaves fell into the teapot.

From the tip of a peach branch, clear water began to gush, filling the pot in moments.

Gu Yu and Jiang Xiaozhai exchanged a glance. Strange as it was, they obediently sat at the tea table, not daring to speak lightly.

"Friends, no need to be afraid. It so happens this one is a natural Fire Spirit—he can help boil the water and save me the trouble of kindling a fire."

Gu Yu nodded in agreement. He rubbed his hands together, and a flame as thick as a wrist coiled around the teapot.

In just a few breaths, the water came to a rolling boil.

Zhou Yi poured tea for the three of them. A rich, refreshing aroma burst forth.

"Good tea! Fellow Daoist Fangfei, how about we go into business selling tea leaves? We'd make a fortune."

The Peach Spirit's consciousness rippled: You're the one selling tea leaves. Your whole family sells tea leaves!

Gu Yu was the first to pick up his cup. He took a cautious sip.

An intensely rich wood-element spiritual energy flowed into his body, nourishing his organs and meridians.

The damage to his meridians from forcibly using his ability healed in an instant. He could faintly feel his internal spiritual power growing stronger.

"A single cup of tea has such miraculous effects!"

Jiang Xiaozhai was more straightforward. She tipped her head back and downed it in one gulp.

Zhou Yi refilled their cups and said with a smile, "May I ask if you two have masters?"

"No. Xiaozhai and I were ordinary college students. We suddenly awakened our abilities and decided to explore the world together."

"Do you know why you awakened?"

Gu Yu hesitated for a moment. Grateful for the tea, he said in a very low voice, "We guessed that Blue Star might be undergoing a Spiritual Energy Revival."

He looked cautious, as if afraid others might overhear.

Zhou Yi shook his head. "The Spiritual Energy Revival has been going on for three years. Why haven't others awakened, but only you two? I'm just an ordinary person—I haven't awakened any abilities."

Jiang Xiaozhai said, "Please enlighten us, Daoist."

They had been an ordinary college couple, but both awakened abilities—one with Fire Control, the other with Lightning Control.

At first, they couldn't control their powers well, causing a minor accident. The police were still tracking their whereabouts.

They had long wondered what the root cause of their awakening was.

Later, while exploring famous mountains and great rivers, they guessed the secret of the Spiritual Energy Revival. It excited them—they thought they'd found the answer.

The man before them was undeniably strong. If it came to a real fight, their chances of winning were less than thirty percent.

Gu Yu and Jiang Xiaozhai had held back earlier, but they also clearly sensed that the Daoist had no killing intent.

"I can enlighten you, of course. But this is a secret of my sect. How could I tell just anyone?"

Zhou Yi pretended to hesitate. After a moment, he said, "Unless you join the Kunlun Sect. Then the sect's secrets will naturally be revealed to you."

"The Kunlun Sect?"

Gu Yu and Jiang Xiaozhai exchanged a look. They had recently explored the Greenstone Plateau and had never heard of the Kunlun Sect there, only Buddhist temples.

"I am a newly appointed elder of the Kunlun Sect, traveling the world on the sect's orders. You two are fine talents, certainly worthy of joining our Kunlun Sect."

"Once you enter the sect, you may choose any one of the Thirty-Six Absolute Techniques. We guarantee to teach it to you thoroughly!"

Zhou Yi's smile was like a fisherman baiting his hook.