The still night lay deep, the spring mountains faint.
The early autumn moonlight flowed like water, clear and bright. Filtering through sparse branches and leaves, it scattered dappled silver across the ground, lending everything a mysterious tranquility.
Jiang Yang stepped out of his little Courtyard. Two or three years had passed, yet his surroundings showed no obvious changes.
When he looked up, the only change was the spirit-pure elm in the middle of the Courtyard. Its trunk had grown as thick as an ordinary person's waist, its lush branches and leaves spreading in a particularly pleasing sight.
Radiance spilled down from overhead, and the elm drank deeply of the moonlight, regulating the spirit vigor throughout the Courtyard.
The night breeze swept past his temples, lifting his hair with a refreshing coolness.
He took a step and floated upward, riding the wind to hover in midair. Feeling the abundant, powerful Broadwood true essence filling him, he was so exhilarated that he wanted to let out a long cry. The stifling gloom born of seclusion was swept away at once.
Hovering in the air, he looked down and spotted his senior brother Bi Xingjian's residence. Remembering that Bi Xingjian had also contributed to his successful Foundation Establishment, Jiang Yang decided to descend and share the good news.
"Fourth Senior Brother!"
It was nighttime, and Jiang Yang worried that his senior brother might be cultivating. Rather than barge in, he landed and called into the Courtyard.
After a short wait, Jiang Yang saw someone emerge from the Courtyard—not Bi Xingjian, but a young child less than five feet tall.
The child wore a black brocade Daoist Robe that fitted close to his body and reached his ankles. Gold threads intertwined at the cuffs, and an ink-dark cloud pattern adorned his chest. His head