In the inner courtyard of the Ji residence, Old Madam Ji looked dotingly at her favorite grandson, the Third Young Master. "Little Third," she said, "you’re away all year round and only come home a few times. You’re eighteen now; why haven't you found a wife yet? Are you waiting for these old bones of mine to go into the ground before you settle down?" By the end of her sentence, her eyes were brimming with tears.
Ji Rufeng offered a helpless consolation. "Ancestress, isn't it just because I'm always away and haven't had the time? Twenty at the latest—" Seeing the dissatisfaction in the old lady's eyes, he quickly corrected himself. "No, no! Next year. Next year, I will definitely find a wife to serve you!"
The old lady brightened instantly. "Good, good! You set out this autumn and return next spring—that’s perfect timing. I shall take my time picking from the daughters of the prestigious families; I’ll be sure to find you a fine wife!" Ji Rufeng could only nod helplessly.
A sharp glint suddenly flickered in Ji Rufeng’s eyes as he spoke. "Ancestress, I’ve heard that Hanshan Temple in the eastern suburbs is very efficacious. How about I accompany you there for a stroll?" Old Madam Ji’s heart stirred at the suggestion, and she smiled. "Good, good! Little Third truly knows my heart!" From then on, Ji Rufeng would frequently accompany Old Madam Ji to Hanshan Temple to offer incense, drawing many curious glances from the rest of the Ji family.
In the days that followed, Li Xue focused her energy on her cultivation and Li Lin’s education. It took three full years for Li Xue to break through to the third layer of Qi Condensation. The hardships she endured during this time were beyond description. It was no wonder Li Ran hadn't originally intended to teach Xia Xiaoqing the path of immortality; cultivating with poor spiritual roots was truly an arduous struggle. Without the aid of medicinal pills and spirit stones, progress was nearly impossible. The supplies Li Ran had left behind were already dwindling; Li Xue had consumed more than half just to reach the third layer, and she had to save the remainder for her son.
Speaking of spiritual roots, what frustrated Li Xue the most was her son, Li Lin. He possessed a single fire spiritual root—a talent blessed by the heavens. It took him a mere month to break through the first layer of Qi Condensation, three months for the second, and he reached the third layer in just half a year. In contrast, it had taken Li Xue five years to reach the same level. How could she not feel dejected? Fortunately, Li Lin was her own flesh and blood; otherwise, she might have truly felt the urge to stifle such a precocious sprout!
At the third layer of Qi Condensation, one could learn most low-level spells, such as the Fireball Technique, Water Spirit Technique, and Earth Wall Technique. For a practitioner with five spiritual roots, the minimum time to cast a spell was two seconds, and that was only after achieving mastery. However, for someone with a single fire spiritual root, the casting time was only half a second. The advantage this provided in a magical duel was self-evident. Although those with five spiritual roots could learn spells of any element without needing to convert their energy, the time requirement remained a bottleneck. Even if a single-root practitioner spent half a second gathering Qi and another second converting it, their output was still half a second faster than a five-root practitioner. Among cultivators of the same level, this was theoretically an absolute advantage. This was the disparity of talent; this was the cruel reality.
Faced with this harsh truth, Li Xue could only sigh. Consequently, every time her son mastered a new spell, she would retreat to a corner to draw circles on the ground, lamenting her fate for half the day. However, Li Xue was a self-reliant woman from the modern era; she feared no hardship. Her consistent principle was that as long as she worked hard, she would have no regrets. Besides, she had reached the third layer. Among cultivators with five-element roots, reaching the third layer in five years was considered relatively fast, even if she had relied heavily on pills, spirit stones, and the assistance of the Spirit Gathering Bracelet.
September in Tiandu, the capital of the Kingdom of You, brought the crisp, clear air of autumn. The Ji family’s annual trade expedition to the Kingdom of Yun began. It was a massive caravan of over three hundred people. In the center were more than sixty horse-drawn carriages, flanked by the Ji family guards. Dressed in black martial attire and mounted on yellow-spotted horses, the guards moved with an orderly precision that marked them as a seasoned and well-trained escort.
Li Xue and Li Lin sat in a carriage near the front of the caravan, resting with their eyes closed. The two carriages at the very front served as the vanguard, carrying the Ji family’s consecrated experts—all renowned martial masters of high status. Following them was the carriage of the Third Young Master, Ji Rufeng, who served as the caravan’s leader, though he spent most of his time riding ahead on horseback. Behind his carriage was the one for the female servants and maids, and Li Xue’s carriage followed immediately after. Further back were two wagons carrying daily necessities, followed by the cargo wagons.
Originally, Ji Rufeng had arranged for Li Xue and her son to follow directly behind his carriage, but Li Xue preferred to keep a low profile and chose to follow the servants' carriage instead. As for how Li Xue had managed to hitch a ride with the Ji family caravan, it was quite simple—a classic, almost cliché maneuver. Since Old Madam Ji frequently visited Hanshan Temple to offer incense and Li Xue lived nearby, it was easy to strike up an acquaintance. Over time, they became familiar, and asking for a ride became a natural progression. To Li Xue, these were minor matters. Regardless of Ji Rufeng’s motives, he posed no threat to cultivators at the third layer of Qi Condensation like herself and her son.
Li Lin was, after all, a child of five. Since becoming aware of the world, he had never traveled far, and he now leaned against the window, gazing at the passing scenery with great interest.
Ji Rufeng rode his horse up to Li Lin’s side, slowing his pace. He asked with a smile, "Xiao Lin, would you like to ride with your uncle?"
Li Lin’s eyes lit up. He turned to ask Li Xue, "Mother?"
Li Xue opened her eyes and gave her consent. "Go on, but don't play too wildly." Before leaving, Li Xue had instructed Li Lin that he was not to use magic while with the caravan and must maintain a low profile.
Li Lin happily hopped down from the carriage. Ji Rufeng leaned over and released a burst of inner force, sweeping Li Lin up onto the horse before galloping toward the front.
"Bravo!" a cheer erupted from ahead. "The Third Young Master’s cultivation has improved significantly!"
"Haha, Elder Ma, you flatter me!" Ji Rufeng laughed heartily.
Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation
--- | --- | ---
季老夫人 | Old Madam Ji / Matriarch Ji | The elder matriarch of the Ji family.
小三 | Little Third | A familial nickname for the third-born child (Ji Rufeng).
寒山寺 | Hanshan Temple | Literally "Cold Mountain Temple," a place of worship in the eastern suburbs.
火球术 | Fireball Technique | A basic fire-element spell.
水灵术 | Water Spirit Technique | A basic water-element spell.
土墙术 | Earth Wall Technique | A basic earth-element spell.
天都 | Tiandu | The capital city of the Kingdom of You; literally "Heavenly Capital."
黄骠马 | Yellow-spotted horse | A specific breed of horse known for its speed and stamina, often yellow with white spots.
供奉 | Consecrated Expert / Enshrined Master | High-level martial artists or specialists retained by a wealthy family.
马老 | Elder Ma | A senior martial artist or guard within the Ji family caravan.
劲气 | Inner force / Martial energy | The physical energy used by martial artists, distinct from spiritual Qi.
