Morning.<br>The dazzling sunrise leapt out from Dali Heights, brushing over the golden shimmering Moonwatch Lake. The wind swept across the endless, layered reeds, carrying with it the cheerful laughter of children playing along the Meichi River.<br>Chen Erniu sat on a field ridge, his worries weighing heavily as he gazed at the crops. His thoughts lingered on his wife, bedridden at home.<br>Chen Erniu was born in the eastern part of Dali Heights, at Lichuan Pass. Over twenty years ago, an inexplicable drought struck Lichuan Pass, leaving the land parched without a single drop of rain. Even the earth puffed out white smoke, terrifying the villagers, who scattered and fled in all directions.<br>At the time, he was just a child, confused and dazed, fleeing to Li Jing Village. After much pleading, a farmer, Li Genshui, took him in. The following year, Li Genshui even rented him an acre of land so he could sustain himself.<br>As he grew older, Chen rented another acre of paddy field, built a mud house, and married Li Genshui's daughter, establishing his roots in the village with great fanfare.<br>But suddenly, his wife fell ill. Fortunately, he had saved up some money over the years. Taking her to the village’s Mr. Han for an examination, he learned it was a minor illness that could be cured with a few doses of medicine. He left his wife in Mr. Han's care, but his heart remained heavy. After all, an illness could impoverish three generations!<br>“Uncle-in-law!”<br>Lost in thought, Chen Erniu was startled by a cheerful voice.<br>He looked up to see a handsome young man, a bright smile on his face, greeting him from the courtyard entrance.<br>“Ah, Changhu, please, there’s no need for such formality!”<br>Chen Erniu bent over repeatedly, overwhelmed by the greeting. After all, he was just a tenant who had married one of the Li family’s secondary daughters. He hardly felt worthy of being addressed with such regard by the eldest son.<br>Li Genshui was a shrewd and capable man, yet notoriously indulgent. Not content with just one wife, he also took in two women as concubines. His wife bore him two sons, while the concubines gave him three more sons and four daughters.<br>When Li Genshui aged and was near death, his only legitimate younger son tragically died suddenly. This left his robust illegitimate sons eyeing the family’s dozen acres of land with greed.<br>It was then that Matthew Lee, who had left home years earlier, returned wielding a blade and accompanied by others. The fierce war veteran killed the treacherous steward with a single slash and eradicated an entire clan planning to seize control of the property. He left no one alive—not even a dog.<br>With blood-soaked blades, Matthew Lee and his brothers dragged corpses on carts, leaving a gruesome trail from one end of the village to the other. Terrified, every household locked their doors, and everyone held their breath. His illegitimate brothers, trembling, feared that the rightful heir had returned, and the lands were surely out of their reach.<br>To their surprise, Matthew Lee summoned his brothers and declared that the blood of the legitimate and illegitimate sons flowed alike, parting the disputed land equally—each receiving two acres. The brothers who had followed him into battle were also granted four acres each. Grateful, his brothers hailed him as the elder of the family, thus solidifying the hierarchy.<br>Looking at Li Changhu’s gentle smile, Chen Erniu couldn't help but see a fleeting image of Matthew Lee’s cold and blood-soaked face. Under the blazing sun, he shivered, then respectfully asked:<br>“To what do I owe your visit, Changhu?”<br>“Uncle-in-law, you’re being too polite,” Li Changhu replied with a gentle smile. “I heard Auntie is ill. My father thought you might not have time to cook, so he asked me to invite you and Xiaoze over to our house to try my mother’s cooking.”<br>“This… I wouldn’t want to impose.” Chen Erniu’s smile was forced as he hesitated.<br>“It’s settled, then! Mother has already prepared the meal.” Li Changhu patted him on the shoulder and took his leave.<br>“Alright,” Chen Erniu said with a smile, shaking his head. He called into the house, “Xiaoze, get ready. We’re going to your uncle’s house for dinner tonight.”<br>The Li family had rebuilt their residence the year before, expanding it several times over. The grand compound faced south and was rectangular in shape. The front courtyard was paved with stone bricks and decorated with stone locks, resembling a martial training ground. Chen Erniu, noticing the weight of the stone locks, couldn’t help but marvel:<br>“The Li family must have some martial arts techniques to train with such heavy stone locks!”<br>Stepping onto the stone bricks, they entered the main courtyard. At its center, there was a pond with a few blue fish swimming inside. Surrounding the courtyard were chambers, corridors, and gates paved with flagstone or stone steps, which gave off an air of grandeur.<br>Li Tongya entered the main courtyard as well. Now eighteen years old, he was still unmarried. Meanwhile, Li Changhu had already married the second daughter of the Ren family and brought her home in a grand ceremony not long ago.<br>After dinner, Chen Erniu and the Li family sat in the courtyard, chatting idly. Suddenly, Li Chijing hurriedly entered the front courtyard and whispered something into Matthew Lee’s ear.<br>Li Chijing, though only nine, was already strikingly handsome and exceedingly clever, endearing himself to his uncles and cousins.<br>Matthew Lee, who had been leisurely observing the younger generation converse, listened intently as Li Chijing whispered:<br>“Father, the inspection lens has lit up!”<br>Unmoved, Matthew Lee patted his knees and addressed the group:<br>“An old man like me can’t sit still for too long. I’ll go rest. You all continue.” With that, he turned and headed to the rear courtyard. The others quickly acknowledged his words, while Chen Erniu bowed respectfully and prepared to take his leave.<br>In the rear hall were several chambers. Matthew Lee entered the grandest one in the center, which served as the ancestral shrine. Inside, offerings of fruits and plaques commemorating six generations of ancestors were displayed.<br>He pushed against a section of the wall, revealing a hidden compartment behind it.<br>The hidden chamber was illuminated by a celestial aperture, allowing moonlight to spill onto a platform made of blue stone.<br>On the platform rested a blue-gray mirror, gleaming with a water-like white light.<br>“Three years… Jing’er, go summon your brothers.”<br>Matthew Lee gazed at the Blue-Gray Mirror, his brows furrowed as he gave the order.<br>“Yes,” Li Chijing replied firmly and left to fetch his brothers.<br>———<br>River Sage Lu awoke to a head filled with dense information. After a moment’s pause, he began to focus on processing the knowledge stored in the jade.<br>*The Lunar Respiration Cycle Manual*!<br>This technique focused on manipulating the “apertures” of the human body to channel heaven and earth’s spiritual energy, draw upon the Lunar Energy Force, and ultimately cultivate the Six Phases of Embryonic Respiration. With these six phases, one could extend life, nourish the soul, and perform various spells. Once the six phases were nurtured to resemble a full moon, one could enter the Energy Cultivation Phase.<br>The manual also included several minor techniques such as the Golden Light Technique, Clean Garment Technique, Water Veil Technique, Exorcism Technique, and Heart Thread Technique. By cultivating the six phases and activating spiritual energy as described, these techniques could be performed.<br>Additionally, it described the six stages of immortal cultivation: Primal Breath Meditation, Energy Cultivation, Foundation Establishment, Violet Palace, Golden Core, and Nascent Soul. The jade contained the method for nurturing the six phases of Lunar Energy Core, as taught to disciples of the Yue Nation’s Lunar Energy Core Immortal Sect.<br>After absorbing the jade’s knowledge, River Sage Lu felt an inexplicable clarity. His spiritual awareness expanded to a range of twenty feet, and the limit of his Lunar Energy Force multiplied many times over. With sufficient Lunar Energy Force, he could even perform the minor techniques within a one-foot radius of the mirror.<br>Most importantly, the mirror’s memory revealed a spell:<br>*Mystic Orb Offering Technique*!)
