That night, the moonlight was bright and clear. <br><br>Miles Lee sat cross-legged in the courtyard, calming his breath and focusing his mind as he began to condense his third Cyclical Wheel. <br><br>The human body holds infinite mysteries, with twelve meridians and three Core Energy Centers—upper, middle, and lower. As mentioned in *The Art of Lunar Respiration*: <br><br>“The lower Core Energy Center is the repository of essence; the middle Core Energy Center is the repository of energy; the upper Core Energy Center is the repository of spirit.” <br><br>Among the six wheels of the Primal Breath Meditation, the three most challenging ones—The Wheel of Mystic Horizon, Cyclical Wheel, and Jade City Mirage—are collectively referred to as the Embryonic Breathing Three Gates. The difficulty lies in condensing these spiritual wheels out of nothingness within their respective Core Energy Centers. <br><br>The remaining three wheels are relatively easier. For instance, the Wheel of Mystic Horizon resides at the Sea of Qi in the lower Core Energy Center. Once condensed, it requires only steady breathing techniques to give rise naturally to the Bright Inheritance Wheel from the Sea of Qi. <br><br>The Cyclical Wheel, on the other hand, is located in the Grand Spire Hall, the repository of energy within the human body. Once condensed, its energy flows endlessly throughout the body. When infused into the eyes, one gains vision for miles; when infused into the feet, one can traverse walls and rooftops effortlessly. <br><br>Miles Lee took a quarter-hour to adjust his state. Feeling the Sea of Qi brim with energy, with two spiritual wheels intertwining tirelessly, he performed an Arcane Incantation and guided his energy through the Stone Gate, Gate of the Origin, Divine Aperture, and Gate of Destiny. All this energy converged in the Grand Spire Hall as he attempted to condense the spiritual wheel. <br><br>River Sage Lu was observing Miles Lee with his spiritual sense, applying the Serenity Chant to aid him while Thomas Li and Paul Xiang stood guard for him. <br><br>As River Sage Lu watched Miles Lee perform the incantation to break through, he suddenly felt an ominous chill on his back. In the distance, he sensed an overwhelming presence approaching Dali Heights. <br><br>Judging the disparity in power, River Sage Lu decisively withdrew, pulling his spiritual sense back into the inspection lens. Even the moonlight from the Celestial Aperture was no longer absorbed, as he lay lifelessly in the dark chamber of the ancestral hall, pretending to be an ordinary Blue-Gray Mirror. <br><br>Within mere breaths, a streak of azure light zipped across the skies above the Li family. Just as River Sage Lu was about to let out a sigh of relief, the streak of light suddenly turned around and hovered silently above the Li family estate. <br><br>--- <br><br>Siyuan Bai had just broken through a barrier on Emerald Crest, advancing his cultivation further. With the intent of seeking trouble with a boar demon in Dali Heights, he rode his flying shuttle, heading south along Gu Li Path. <br><br>“The great battle devastated the spiritual energy on the northern slopes of Dali Heights, leaving the earth veins in chaos. Now, three hundred years later, the earth veins have slowly regained their vitality, and many demons have begun to establish themselves.” <br><br>As he neared Dali Heights, Siyuan Bai noticed several villages scattered at the base of the mountain, particularly along the banks of an unnamed river. The villages appeared lively and thriving. <br><br>“That battle rid the northern slopes of demons and severed the spiritual energy, but it turned into a fine habitat for ordinary folk.” <br><br>Looking down from a low altitude, Siyuan Bai suddenly noticed faint fluctuations of spiritual energy in a small village and became intrigued. <br><br>Initially suspecting a minor demon causing trouble, he activated his spiritual vision. Under the moonlight, he saw a handsome youth sitting cross-legged. Beside him stood two young men who bore a striking resemblance to each other and seemed to possess spiritual energy as well. <br><br>“How curious. This youth is breaking through a bottleneck without any elders around to protect him.” <br><br>Sweeping his spiritual sense lightly across the village, Siyuan Bai found no other traces of spiritual energy. Slightly surprised, he clapped his hands and laughed. <br><br>“This must be the illegitimate offspring of some fellow Daoist.” <br><br>Below, Miles Lee remained unaware, his focus entirely on his cultivation. As his attempts to condense progressed, the doubts about the Arcane Incantation in his mind steadily resolved. Streams of spiritual energy swiftly gathered in the Grand Spire Hall. A crystalline spiritual wheel began forming, as if Miles had practiced it a thousand times before. <br><br>“What a remarkable youth!” <br><br>Siyuan Bai stroked his beard and praised in a soft voice. <br><br>The path of immortality is fraught with peril. The Spiritual Nexus is merely the entry point. One still needs fortune, comprehension, determination, a good family background, a strong sect, and advanced techniques. <br><br>This youth possessed extraordinary talent and comprehension, as well as a profound cultivation technique. Yet living in a mortal village deep in the mountains, how many resources for immortal cultivation or secret incantations could he possibly obtain? At most, he might achieve the Qi Refinement stage and vanish into ash after two hundred years. <br><br>The road of cultivation is long and arduous. So many great heroes perish on the path, and countless talents meet their demise along with their clans. <br><br>Gradually descending from his flying shuttle, Siyuan Bai cast an invisibility spell and leisurely seated himself on the artificial hill in the courtyard to observe the group below. <br><br>At that moment, an elderly mortal approached from outside the courtyard. One of the young men standing guard addressed him, “Father.” <br><br>Hearing this, Siyuan Bai’s expression turned peculiar. A mortal with spiritual talents was already rare—one in a thousand. But here was a family with three such individuals. Could these truly be the children of this old mortal man? <br><br>Judging their pure and refined spiritual energy, they were undoubtedly practicing high-level techniques. It seemed inevitable that they were the illegitimate offspring of some Daoist cultivator. A cultivator fortunate enough to have children yet too cautious to bring them home might leave them in such a village to practice in secret instead. <br><br>“Still, all three of these children possess a Spiritual Nexus. Their father’s cultivation level is likely above Laying the Foundation.” <br><br>The higher a cultivator’s realm, the harder it is to have children, but the chances of their offspring being born with a Spiritual Nexus increase significantly. Qi Refinement practitioners might have a ten to twenty percent chance, while those at Laying the Foundation boast a fifty percent likelihood. Having three children all with a Spiritual Nexus pointed strongly to a Laying the Foundation practitioner. <br><br>As for cultivators in the Purple Mansion? Aside from the ancestral elders of the major immortal sects, even the entire Yue Kingdom might not have enough to count on two hands. Such a revered Purple Mansion cultivator wouldn’t need to leave their child in a remote village. They could simply bring the child back home, where no one would dare question it. The child would likely be treated as a treasure. <br><br>Below, Miles Lee concluded his cultivation and, with a face full of joy, said excitedly, “Father, I’ve broken through!” <br><br>The Li family erupted in jubilation. Meanwhile, Siyuan Bai, sitting on the artificial hill, had a sudden thought. He pondered: <br><br>“This section of Gu Li Path leading to Dali Heights has been populated with mortals but lacks a cultivator’s supervision ever since that great battle three hundred years ago. Now, as the earth veins stabilize and spiritual energy returns, this area ought to come back under sect control.” <br><br>“Perhaps I could use this family to affiliate with the sect and protect this place. With the support of that Laying the Foundation senior, they should be able to keep the local demons at bay.” <br><br>Verdant Lake Order, ruling over the five southern prefectures of the Yue Kingdom, had a system of governance that utilized the deep-rooted familial connections of cultivation clans. Through the distribution of medicinal pills and magical artifacts, the sect compelled these clans to cultivate materials and provide manpower. Each year, they harvested the best disciples from these clans to bolster the sect. This method had been practiced by Verdant Lake Order for over five centuries. <br><br>“It would also foster goodwill with that Laying the Foundation cultivator.” <br><br>Having made up his mind, Siyuan Bai performed an incantation, shedding the invisibility spell. He lightly landed in the courtyard. <br><br>Miles Lee was still reveling in his breakthrough, marveling at the ceaseless flow of energy from the Cyclical Wheel. Suddenly, a figure in azure robes materialized in the courtyard. <br><br>The man wore azure robes and appeared to be in his thirties or forties. His features were sharp yet approachable, with a warm smile. At his waist hung a radiant sword, exuding an air of otherworldly grace. <br><br>Miles Lee and the others immediately became alert, moving swiftly to shield Matthew Lee behind them. Thomas Li warned in a low voice, “Who are you, sir?” <br><br>--- <br><br>*Note: Another update will come tonight.*)
