Chapter Thirty-Five: Advancement! Four-Star Spirit Master.

Old Master Ye sat cross-legged in midair, his eyes closed in silence. He remained perfectly still for a long while before slowly opening his eyes and murmuring softly to himself, “The spiritual energy gathering around this little one is so dense—it must be that he’s on the verge of breaking through to the fourth star.”

Deep within the verdant woods, the trees stood lush and thick, their branches and leaves entwined, interlacing with one another and shading all but a few scattered flecks of sunlight. The air was fresh and invigorating, the serenity of nature seeping into one’s soul.

Lu Zhe sat with legs folded beneath him, hands forming cultivation seals, eyes closed as he breathed rhythmically. His process was orderly and unhurried, every breath drawing in the spiritual energy that hovered in the air around him, refining it into pure power within his body.

With a long exhale, Lu Zhe released a mouthful of stale air. The little monkey, Xiao Bai, darted restlessly about him—sometimes scampering up trees, sometimes running along the ground, sometimes swinging from the vines, thoroughly enjoying himself.

“Chitter chitter!” Xiao Bai called out, leaping down from a nearby tree with a handful of wild fruit, scampering eagerly toward Lu Zhe.

Settling beside Lu Zhe, Xiao Bai was careful not to disturb his cultivation. Instead, he simply sat at his side, munching contentedly on a fruit.

Lu Zhe exhaled deeply, then opened his eyes. He squinted against the sunlight, waiting until his vision adjusted before looking fully around. Glancing at Xiao Bai, he gave a faint, gentle smile. Rising slowly, he stretched his limbs, when suddenly he heard the little monkey’s cries. Turning, he saw something flying toward him. Lu Zhe didn’t panic; he casually reached out and caught the object. Looking closer, he realized it was a wild fruit. With another quiet smile, he popped the fruit into his mouth.

Finishing his snack, Lu Zhe smiled at Xiao Bai and said, “Let’s go.”

Xiao Bai chittered twice and, with agile movements, scrambled up Lu Zhe’s leg and perched on his shoulder, a fruit clutched in his hand and his tail swaying energetically. He called out again before devouring his prize with relish.

Lu Zhe glanced at his companion, smiled lightly, and began walking toward another part of the forest—a place he had not yet explored.

It had been two months since Old Master Ye had left Lu Zhe deep in these mountains. Over those months, Lu Zhe had experienced a series of trials: the mysterious cave, a bloody battle with a pack of wolves, and his newfound friend, Xiao Bai. With each challenge, his body had changed—growing stronger, his reserves of power swelling. Especially after battling the wolves, Lu Zhe sensed something unusual within himself; his spirit core now shone more brilliantly than ever, as if foretelling some coming transformation.

He moved swiftly through the woods, Xiao Bai sometimes riding on his shoulder, sometimes leaping to nearby branches, never content to sit still.

Lu Zhe indulged the little monkey’s antics. After all, having a companion—even if it was a monkey—was far better than being alone. Besides, Xiao Bai, mischievous as he was, was obedient enough and often brought him wild fruit. He had no complaints.

As they wandered aimlessly through the forest, Lu Zhe suddenly heard the distant sound of water. He called out to Xiao Bai, who immediately bounded from a nearby tree back to Lu Zhe’s shoulder. Together, they hurried toward the source of the sound.

…

Among the myriad mountains, swirling mists curled between the peaks. A gentle breeze stirred, setting the clouds in motion and lending the landscape an ethereal, otherworldly beauty. Suddenly, a melody carried across the vastness—a flute’s song, pure and clear, enchanting and bright. It seemed to add a touch of grace to this fairyland, yet mingled within the music was a thread of sorrow, as though the musician carried a heavy heart.

Upon a broken cliff stood a man. He wore robes of pristine white, his long hair flowing to his waist, and his face was so strikingly handsome that it could make countless maidens lose their senses. Yet, his expression bore a trace of melancholy as he played a transverse flute of snowy white.

Abruptly, this extraordinary man ceased his playing. With his hands clasped behind his back, he gazed quietly at the shifting mists among the mountains.

Suddenly, a black-robed figure appeared behind him, dropping to one knee with hands clasped in salute. “Reporting, Young Master—the message from Ling Feng, who protects the Second Young Master, has arrived.”

The white-robed man’s demeanor shifted minutely. Without turning, he spoke with subdued excitement, “What is it?”

The black-robed man continued, “The Second Young Master has become the disciple of Old Master Ye. His safety need no longer be a concern.”

Still facing away, the man said quietly, “Ye Liu, is it? Very well. And what of the Underworld Clan?”

“Our spies report nothing unusual from the Underworld Clan as yet.” Suddenly, the black-robed man looked up, hesitated, and asked, “Young Master, do you think he might…”

The man did not turn, replying in a cool tone, “Go and see for yourself. Report to me at once if anything happens.”

“Yes, sir.” With a salute, the black-robed man vanished as swiftly as he had appeared.

Unperturbed, the white-robed man remained where he was, watching the mists roll through the mountains. Lifting his gaze to the blue sky, his voice grew faint and desolate, “My brother…”

…

Lu Zhe and Xiao Bai arrived at the waterfall. Xiao Bai called out excitedly, then dashed to the creek, raising his haunches and lapping at the water.

Lu Zhe chuckled at the sight, then rolled up his trousers, removed his shoes, and stood in the icy stream. After a few refreshing sips, he began to wash himself.

Having wrung out his clothes and dried the droplets from his skin, Lu Zhe returned to the bank—only to spot a sudden flash in the creek. Peering closer, he saw it was a fish. Grinning, he climbed ashore, broke a branch from a nearby tree, bound his sharpened makeshift spearhead to the tip, and stalked back to the water.

Before long, he emerged with three decent-sized fish. On the bank, he gathered wood and lit a fire, skewering the fish and setting them over the flames to roast.

“Chitter chitter!” Xiao Bai’s cries sounded behind him. Turning, Lu Zhe saw the little monkey leaping down from a tree with several wild fruits, which he laid before Lu Zhe, squatting and watching with keen interest.

Lu Zhe smiled, threaded one fish onto a stick, and set it over the fire, turning it slowly as the flames licked at the meat. Soon, the aroma of roasting fish wafted through the air.

When the fish were done, Lu Zhe set them aside and picked up the first, tearing off a piece of flesh and tossing it to Xiao Bai. The little monkey caught it eagerly, crying out in delight before gobbling it down, heedless of the bones.

Lu Zhe smiled faintly, eating his own fish. Though it was somewhat bland, to enjoy fresh fish in this remote wilderness was a rare pleasure.

Just as he was about to start on the second fish, Lu Zhe suddenly sensed the spiritual energy in the air thickening and converging upon him. Drawing on his previous experience, he realized this was his chance to advance.

Since the opportunity had come, he would not let it slip by. Laying aside his fish, Lu Zhe folded his legs, formed his seals, and entered a state of cultivation.

Xiao Bai watched in puzzlement as Lu Zhe meditated, then hopped over and, finding the unattended fish, pulled it from the ground and began gnawing contentedly.

Lu Zhe, immersed in cultivation, turned his inner gaze upon his spirit core. He saw it spinning rapidly—a clear sign of impending breakthrough. The surrounding spiritual energy swirled into a vortex, drawing him into its center, pouring ceaselessly into his body and circulating through his meridians before finally being absorbed by his core.

With each exhale, Lu Zhe drew in more and more of the world’s energy, guiding it along his meridians and into his core, which absorbed it all with ease.

Time flowed by unnoticed. Lu Zhe had been cultivating for a long while. The sun slipped quietly beneath the horizon, and night’s darkness crept across the sky. Still, the spiritual energy surged into Lu Zhe’s body. Then, just as the once orderly flow reached its peak, it suddenly surged with wild abandon, flooding into him and being absorbed in a single rush.

With a forceful exhale, Lu Zhe opened his eyes. For a brief moment, a sharp light flickered within them before fading. The aura he emitted was noticeably stronger than before.

He stood, feeling power coursing through his body, and glanced at his spirit core, now restored to its usual state. Yet he could sense it was fuller, more robust than ever.

“Fourth star,” Lu Zhe murmured, gazing at his hands.

He then looked up at the star-studded sky, his voice turning cold, “Shangguan Yijing, three years from now, you will pay for what you did.”