Chapter 210: Three Years Later

The Fei family resided on Cold Cloud Peak.

Cold Cloud Peak was the highest peak on the North Shore, abundant in spiritual energy and covered in pines and cypresses. The Fei family had occupied this place for an unknown number of years, fortifying it like an impenetrable fortress. With Fei Wangbai presiding, even late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators would find it difficult to breach.

Snow covered the peak year-round, sparkling everywhere. Fei Tongxiao, who had already mastered the third stage of Fetal Breathing, moved nimbly, leaving no tracks as he ran through the snow. After a while, a small courtyard appeared before him. It was cleanly painted white, and two pots of winter plum trees stood by the gate, trembling slightly in the wind.

Fei Tongxiao took a slight breath, carefully stopped on the flagstones in front of the gate, straightened his clothes, and then knocked twice on the door, calling out loudly: "Sister Qinghong!"

Fei Tongxiao waited for two breaths before the courtyard gate creaked open. A girl of fifteen or sixteen, dressed in white, stepped out. Her smile was as radiant as an autumn moon, and there was a faint sheen of sweat on her forehead. A white cloth strip cinched her waist, preventing her flowing robes from snagging her spear, but it also accentuated her slender, graceful waist. "Junior Brother!"

Li Qinghong's bright eyes met Fei Tongxiao's gaze, making him lower his head as if burned. He could only stare at her white-furred brown deerskin boots. Li Qinghong propped her spear on the ground and smiled, "Have you come to practice spear-fighting with me?"

Fei Tongxiao obediently nodded. Seeing Li Qinghong's smiling expression, his own lips curved upwards. He softly asked, "Sister Qinghong, do you have good news?"

Li Qinghong casually took his hand, leading him into the courtyard, crushing two patches of snow underfoot. She laughed, "Yesterday, I broke through to the Jade Capital Wheel and developed spiritual consciousness! I've reached the fifth stage of Fetal Breathing."

Fei Tongxiao felt the warmth in his hand. Li Qinghong had just finished practicing her spear, and her body was radiating heat, making him blush and enter the courtyard in a daze. It took him several breaths to react after Li Qinghong released his hand. "Jade Capital Wheel?! Sister Qinghong, you've only been on Cold Cloud Peak for three years, right? Back then, you were only at the third stage of Fetal Breathing... to break through two stages in just three years is truly impressive."

Li Qinghong chuckled softly in response, "As for you, Junior Brother, you're two months behind me, yet you're still at the third stage of Fetal Breathing. You need to work harder."

"Of course, I'm not as good as Sister Qinghong!" Fei Tongxiao nodded with a beaming smile. Li Qinghong gracefully lifted her hand, making her spear dance. She chuckled, "I'd still like to spar with you, Junior Brother. I'll only use the strength of the third Fetal Breathing stage, so I won't bully you."

With that, the red tassel danced, and the spear moved like a dragon, heading straight for Fei Tongxiao.

Fei Tongxiao had sparred with Li Qinghong countless times over the past three years. Li Qinghong had nimble footwork and employed a flexible spear technique. Fei Tongxiao pushed his spear forward, using brute force to counter her agility, parrying Li Qinghong's spear and then thrusting his own back towards her.

Li Qinghong had studied under Fei Wangbai for three years. Although she hadn't learned the Fei family's ultimate third-grade spear technique, "Roaming Dragon's Returning Shadow," she had mastered most of the other spear moves. While her current spear skills weren't exceptional, they were sufficient for combat. She immediately took a step back, her spear leaping up like a venomous snake, thrusting towards Fei Tongxiao.

Fei Tongxiao took a wide step, dodging Li Qinghong's spear. He changed his thrust into a sweep, aiming for Li Qinghong's lower body. Unexpectedly, Li Qinghong's footwork shifted. Like a shadow, she moved past the spear's arc, bringing her spear even closer, swinging it towards Fei Tongxiao's face, almost touching it.

"What?!" Fei Tongxiao was instantly shocked, not understanding how she had so miraculously bypassed his spear technique. He quickly retracted his spear and retreated, narrowly avoiding the blow.

Li Qinghong, seizing the advantage, relentlessly attacked Fei Tongxiao with a barrage of spear techniques. Fei Tongxiao continuously retreated, parrying dozens of moves. With some annoyance, he raised his spear, which now had a hazy gray aura around it. A single strike sent Li Qinghong's spear flying back.

Li Qinghong watched him cultivate his power closely. She stood with her spear retracted, not at all annoyed. She said with a beaming smile, "'Roaming Dragon's Returning Shadow' truly lives up to its name as a third-grade spear technique; it's incredibly powerful."

Fei Tongxiao grumbled as he put away his spear, full of doubts. He looked at her and asked, "Sister Qinghong, how did you manage to dodge my spear technique?"

Li Qinghong chuckled softly, looking up slightly. She replied, "My family has a movement technique called 'Torrential River Crossing Steps.' It's quite profound. I haven't fully mastered it yet, only a partial move or two, but even that can be very useful."

"So, it was a movement technique!" Fei Tongxiao had already suspected as much, and now it was confirmed. He nodded enviously, saying, "My grandfather told me that Senior Tongya had a rather profound movement technique; it must be this one."

Li Qinghong chatted with him for a moment or two. Seeing that it was getting late, she saw Fei Tongxiao out of the courtyard. She then lifted her spear, closed her eyes, and pondered, recalling the moment Fei Tongxiao used "Roaming Dragon's Returning Shadow." She murmured, "Spear aura... how is it cultivated?"

After careful thought, Li Qinghong took out writing brushes and ink from her room and diligently recorded all the insights she had gained that day. She carefully put away the silk scroll, musing to herself, "There's definitely no chance for me to learn 'Roaming Dragon's Returning Shadow' here. I've already mastered seventy to eighty percent of the spear techniques; the rest is just refining the fluidity of the moves. My cultivation has also reached the fifth stage of Fetal Breathing. With two more years of refinement, breaking through the last stage, I can then accumulate energy to break through to Qi Condensation."

Li Qinghong wiped her spear clean and placed it on the rack. She murmured, "I wonder how my Uncle-Grandmaster is doing... and if Father has broken through to Qi Condensation. Tomorrow, I'll write a letter to inquire about the family."

With that, she carefully closed the courtyard gate, having swept all the snow from the yard. Only then did she lie down on her bed, closed her eyes, and began to cultivate in a cross-legged position.

Meanwhile, Fei Tongxiao exited the courtyard. His body, still warm from exercise, shivered from the biting wind and snow. Fortunately, with his third-stage Fetal Breathing cultivation, he wouldn't catch a chill from this. He circulated his spiritual energy, instantly dispelling the cold.

Fei Tongxiao walked briskly for a while. Then he saw a figure standing with hands behind his back in front of his own courtyard. Dressed in a flowing white robe, the person had an elegant demeanor and handsome features, standing with eyes closed. Upon seeing this person, Fei Tongxiao immediately shrank his neck, hesitantly stepped forward, and whispered, "Father..."

Fei Yihe slowly opened his eyes. He was Fei Wangbai's eldest son, a cultivator at the peak of Qi Condensation. His expression was subtle as he spoke, "You went to see that girl again."

"Yes..." Fei Tongxiao replied somewhat nervously, explaining, "Your son merely went to spar with her in spear-fighting."

Fei Yihe shook his head. Now in his fifties, he had also gone through that age; how could he not understand Fei Tongxiao's thoughts? He sighed, speaking earnestly, "Xiao'er, your father has also met Li Qinghong. That girl is wholly dedicated to cultivation and spear techniques; she has no interest in romantic affections. You should put those thoughts aside."

Fei Tongxiao nodded silently. Seeing this, Fei Yihe knew the child hadn't taken his words to heart. Watching him remain silent with his head bowed, he mused, "Li Qinghong is beautiful and captivating. I only hope this child's feelings are merely infatuation and that he'll grow tired of it in a few years, rather than having developed genuine affection."

Fei Tongxiao remained silent, head bowed. Fei Yihe felt a pang of heartache and asked, "What is Li Qinghong's cultivation level?"

"Fifth stage Fetal Breathing, Jade Capital Wheel."

Fei Yihe raised an eyebrow, slightly startled. He said in a deep voice, "She's broken through again! She's only sixteen now; she truly is a genius!"

Fei Yihe's heart stirred slightly. Looking at his youngest son's expression, he murmured, "I could approach the Li family for you later, but with her talent being so exceptional, our family wouldn't allow you to marry into theirs. Bringing it up would only harm the relationship between our two families, and your grandfather would never agree."

Fei Tongxiao finally raised his head. His expression unchanged, he said calmly, "Father, there's no need to say any more."