Chen Donghe rode the wind and descended at the foot of Guanyun Peak. He was t with a whipping cold wind rustling the pines and cypresses. Taking a few steps forward, he saw a middle-aged man in a gray robe sweeping the stone-paved path. The broom glided lightly over the ground. He stepped forward and courteously said:
"Please pass on the ssage that Chen Donghe from the Li Family has co to visit, wishing to see Elder Xiao Yongling!"
The person before him straightened up with a smile, gave Chen Donghe a careful look, and then replied:
"Please wait a mont, I will go and report your arrival."
Shortly after, a small gap appeared in the formation. Chen Donghe quickly entered through it, climbing the stone steps to the small courtyard. By the door were two pots of squat pines. The middle-aged man bowed and stepped back. Chen Donghe gently pushed open the door and saw Xiao Yongling dressed in a snow-white straight robe, girded with a waistband adorned with a crescent moon pattern. Both items subtly exuded a luxurious aura of mana. A longsword at his waist glinted brilliantly, and he appeared travel-worn, seemingly just having returned from elsewhere.
Chen Donghe was struck speechless by the splendor of his attire. In the past, Xiao Yongling had never worn vestnt robes and always conducted himself with politeness that didn't display the lavishness of the Xiao Family. Now, clad in splendor, he evoked a hint of envy from Chen Donghe, who respectfully said:
"I have the honor of eting the elder!"
"So it is young friend Donghe."
Xiao Yongling nodded slightly and politely responded:
"Does the Li Family need my assistance with sothing?"
"Not at all."
Chen Donghe respectfully replied with a smile:
"One of my family elders has had a breakthrough in Foundation Establishnt. So I have co to share the joyous news!"
"What?! Tongya?"
Xiao Yongling's expression changed drastically, surprised. His grip on the sword hilt tightened suddenly, and his face shifted through various expressions. After a dozen or so breaths, he sighed and said:
"Brother Tongya has ultimately surpassed by a step!"
Years ago, when Xiao Yuansi returned ho, he had shared with Xiao Yongling, who was at the Seventh Layer of Qi Cultivation, that Li Tongya had already reached the Eighth Layer. Xiao Yongling was lanting that Li Tongya was quicker than him, and had thought about who would be the first to reach Foundation Establishnt.
Now, three years later, Xiao Yongling, after consuming spiritual dicine, had reached the Ninth Layer of Qi Cultivation and was still so ti away from gathering enough for a Foundation Establishnt breakthrough. anwhile, Li Tongya had already made it to Foundation Establishnt, leaving Xiao Yongling filled with a multitude of emotions. The slight unwillingness in his heart finally dissipated, turning into deep admiration.
"People all say that Li Chijin is a God-given talent, yet they overlook Brother Tongya. Silent and steady, unassuming, yet he is likewise a true dragon among n!"
Xiao Yongling sighed. He did not know that Li Tongya was aided by Talisman Qi and Talisman Pills. Assuming that Li Tongya had cultivated alone in the wild mountains and ridges and had progressed faster than he did on Guanyun Peak with the aid of spiritual dicine, Xiao Yongling let go of his competitive spirit, his deanor becoming much more profound.
Chen Donghe quietly waited at the side for Xiao Yongling to collect his thoughts. It was then that Xiao Yongling with a smile said:
"Please convey my congratulations to Brother Tongya!"
Chen Donghe nodded with a smile, placing the gifts he had brought on the table, and explained carefully. Xiao Yongling imdiately beca serious and answered:
"Please, young friend, stay for a few days. Firstly, I need to discuss with the ancestor about the marriage proposal between our two families. Secondly, we need to show proper courtesy. Brother Tongya's breakthrough to Foundation Establishnt is a grand celebration, and we of the Xiao Family are certainly going to offer so gesture of goodwill!"
"Elder, you are too kind!"
Chen Donghe agreed and after chatting with Xiao Yongling about the recent state of the Li Family, Xiao Yongling waved over the middle-aged man to take him to rest in the guest room.
After Chen Donghe had left, Xiao Yongling stroked his beard and nodded, saying with a laugh:
"Chen Donghe... he's not bad at all."
————
Receiving guests had always taken place on Guanyun Peak, but the main peak was located more than a hundred miles to the east, deep into Lixia County. There stood a majestic mountain with a gentle yet solid profile, called Xianyou Peak.
Xianyou Peak was divided into eastern and southern peaks, between which flowed a river called Yue River. The river ran rapidly, and it was common to see boatn coming down from upstream, their singing echoing between the peaks, quite moving.
Xiao Yongling rode the wind for half an hour and landed between the peaks. There he saw an old man sitting on the cliff opposite another, each holding a rod, fishing in the deep Cold Pond shrouded in mist.
Xiao Yongling took a step forward, ascended the stone steps, and approached one of the old n, saying in a low voice:
"Ancestor, Li Tongya has reached Foundation Establishnt."
"Oh?"
The old man raised an eyebrow, and his fishing rod trembled slightly as he spoke softly:
"That was rather quick, the boy must have had so opportunity."
Xiao Yongling nodded gently, reverently saying:
"About the marriage proposition..."
The other old man by the pond hearing this also lifted his head and said with a laugh:
"Chuting, I have seen Li Tongya, and he indeed is not bad. In my opinion, if we marry one of ours to their family and take one of theirs, it would benefit both families."
Xiao Chuting nodded, lifting his fishing rod. The waters of the Cold Pond exploded with a crashing sound, the pond water ascended like snow, climbing along the pulled up fishing line towards the cliff and rising high before an invisible force pressed it back down, producing a sound like thunder.
"Boom!"
Xiao Chuting reeled in his fishing rod, bringing back a gleaming silver dagger. He raised an eyebrow, his snowy brows lifting as he laughed:
"Not a bad catch."
Xiao Yongling standing nearby was already stunned, but then Xiao Chuting waved his hand and said in a low voice:
"Let Yuansi handle this matter!"
————
Fei Clan, Hanyun Peak.
The cold moonlight spilled down, and Li Qinghong sat on the treetop, swinging her feet lazily. The pale moonlight enveloped her, making her fair complexion seem nearly flawless.
"Sister Qinghong!"
Fei Tongxiao took two strides across the forest, climbed onto the branch, and cheerfully tread on the treetops, saying excitedly:
"Sister Qinghong is in such a good mood today, actually enjoying the moonlight!"
"Junior Brother."
Li Qinghong politely responded and nodded:
"Are you looking for to practice spears?"
Fei Tongxiao hesitated slightly and answered:
"No practice, no practice! Enjoying the moon... enjoying the moon..."
Seeing his deanor, Li Qinghong couldn't help but chuckle, causing Fei Tongxiao to freeze, his breathing quickened, his cheeks flushed, and he said in a low voice:
"Sister Qinghong, I..."
"Junior Brother."
Li Qinghong stood up from the tree, shook her head, and smiled:
"That's not right, life is fleeting, who has that much ti to enjoy the moon. Let's have a contest instead. I've made progress this month. I'm afraid you are still no match for ."
Fei Tongxiao's words were cut off by her, his face turned pale, his expression a bit downcast, his complexion complex, he hesitated to speak, grinding his teeth as if wanting to say sothing, but Li Qinghong had already leapt from the treetop, her clear voice echoing in the forest.
"Junior Brother, let's go to the mountain to duel!"
Fei Tongxiao watched her disappear into the woods, bit his teeth dejectedly, leapt down, and landed back on the ground, only to see a group of Fei Clan disciples sitting around below. One of them popped his head out and said sowhat begrudgingly:
"This loose cultivator girl Ye Qinghong really is good-looking and spirited, with a great figure, and her cultivation is at the Fifth Layer of Fetal Breathing. Good taste, Junior Brother Xiao!"
Fei Tongxiao glanced at them with embarrassnt and annoyance, clenched his fist as a signal, and all the young n scattered imdiately, each going their own way, leaving only a young man in white leaning against the tree, looking down at him. Fei Tongxiao said in a low voice:
"Brother Yu."
Fei Tongyu stood with his arms folded, smiled softly, and replied:
"Fei Tongcai is up to no good, bringing a bunch of people to laugh at you. Li Qinghong has given you face; you'd better not bother her anymore."
Fei Tongxiao raised his head with indignation, arguing:
"I haven't even spoken yet!"
Fei Tongyu shook his head, his eyes piercing, and spoke with a sense of admiration for Li Qinghong:
"So questions are asked without words, and so answers are given without speaking. Li Qinghong is only sixteen, on the one hand bright and generous, smiling and jovial, and on the other hand, she maintains her propriety with tactful softness. No wonder she leaves you unable to let go."
Fei Tongxiao was both sad and angry, his hands twisting together. Fei Tongyu gave him a look and then said with a smile:
"Li Qinghong is stubborn and self-reliant. If you can't even beat her, how will she take you seriously? Practice hard. We Fei Clan n are all gentlen. A few years down the road when you've grown up, which female cultivator won't fall for you?"
Fei Tongxiao was startled, then almost instantly enlightened, joy spreading across his face as he nodded and laughed:
"I understand now!"
With that, he ran off towards the mountain, bounding through the woods and chasing after Li Qinghong. Fei Tongyu watched him disappear into the distance before shaking his head with a bemused smile. Unbeknownst to him, behind the trees another middle-aged man erged, a fan swaying in his hand, the epito of grace, it was both of their father, Fei Yihe.
"You sure know how to handle it!"
Fei Yihe complinted, but when he received no reply for a long ti, he looked over to find Fei Tongyu deep in thought. Noticing his father's gaze, he suddenly looked up and asked:
"What's the matter, Father?"
Fei Yihe felt uneasy, seeing his eldest son so pensive, he worried he'd missed sothing and quickly said in a low voice:
"What's so engrossing? Has sothing happened?"
Fei Tongyu laughed heartily, shook his head, and said:
"Li Qinghong is indeed not bad, and she is the legitimate daughter of the Li Family..."
Fei Yihe clenched his teeth, sighed with his hand on his forehead, kicked Fei Tongyu's shin in frustration, causing him to cry out in pain, then angrily said:
"Put out that thought right now!"
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