The heavy stone door of the Cold Ice Cave shifted open. After months of ascetic cultivation, Ji Changkong emerged. Quick reading via mobile: à.1κ .O Text version premiere.

Outside, Han Hai was pouring himself a drink. Seeing Ji Changkong emerge, he smiled and asked, "Changkong, after cultivating for several months, have you gained anything?"

"Uncle Han, there is something strange about the cave. This Cold Ice Cave, from this day forward... I'm afraid it can no longer be used to punish us."

"What happened?" Han Hai stood up, walked to the entrance of the Cold Ice Cave, and peered inside. Suddenly, he gasped, his face filled with shock as he demanded, "Where is the cold air inside the cave?"

With a shift in his state of mind, Ji Changkong's eyes instantly changed. Two beams of icy silver light shot out, striking the rocks at the mouth of the Cold Ice Cave.

The hard rock, illuminated by the silver light from Ji Changkong’s eyes, was suddenly coated with a layer of frost.

With another change in his state of mind, the silver pupils reverted to black. Ji Changkong gave a wry smile, "The cold air inside the cave was likely absorbed entirely into my eyes."

Han Hai: "..."

After a long silence, Han Hai shook his head with a bitter laugh, "Changkong, how did you manage that?"

"I don't know myself. I just cultivated in the pool for a period. When I woke up, the cold air in the Cold Ice Cave was gone, but my pupils had mutated... Uncle Han, do I seem strange?" Ji Changkong asked.

"Let's go. Take me to the Scripture Pavilion to see your Granny Mo!" Han Hai grabbed Ji Changkong without argument and hurried him toward the Scripture Pavilion.

...

In the Scripture Pavilion, Mo Yunyi's face also showed astonishment upon hearing Ji Changkong's account. After pondering for a long time, she spoke softly, "Changkong, you are perhaps... different from ordinary people, but don't hold any burdens in your heart. The changes in your body... are not a bad thing."

"Granny Mo, how am I different from ordinary people?" Ji Changkong was stunned.

"It's nothing much, just that your innate talent is exceptional. Both your cultivation speed and physical strength far surpass the other young men of the Ji family." Mo Yunyi spoke evasively, as if there were things she couldn't comfortably disclose.

After a brief hesitation, she continued, "Changkong, you have now reached the Three Talents Heaven Realm. Since the cold air of the Cold Ice Cave is gone, there is little necessity for you to continue cultivating within the Ji family... You have obediently stayed here all these years, which is good, but you are destined to be much more outstanding than your father. You can go out and wander ahead of schedule."

"Granny Mo, you mean I can go out and see the world beyond?" Ji Changkong’s face lit up with joy. He had long wished to venture out, and hearing Mo Yunyi bring it up voluntarily made him visibly excited.

"Exactly!" Mo Yunyi smiled benevolently, "Go talk to your grandfather and aunt. Tell them I said you can leave the Ji family and venture out into the world."

"Thank you, Granny Mo!" Ji Changkong bowed deeply with delight and turned to leave the Scripture Pavilion.

...

"Is it a bit too early?" After Ji Changkong left the Scripture Pavilion, Han Hai frowned, saying with some worry.

"With the Xuanyuan bloodline in him, it's not too early for him to go out now. Every generation of 'Xuanyuan' ought to be sent out early; only through strife and slaughter can the unique nature of the Xuanyuan bloodline manifest. Changkong has a resolute temperament and exceptional talent, and he has noble benefactors secretly assisting him, so he should be fine. As the Ji family's 'Xuanyuan,' this is his destined path. Only by soaring to the heavens can he grow at the fastest pace!" Mo Yunyi said with a look of yearning.

"We tested his blood back then; his blood was clearly bright red?!" Han Hai asked curiously.

"I don't know why his blood was red back then, but I am certain that this generation’s Xuanyuan is him!" Mo Yunyi stated sharply. After a moment of thought, seeing that Han Hai still seemed unconvinced, Mo Yunyi added, "Only I know that the mount of the first generation Xuanyuan was the Sky Turtle Winged Dragon! The Ancestor left a family maxim: the Sky Turtle Winged Dragon will only feel close to those with our Ji family's Xuanyuan bloodline. The Sky Turtle Winged Dragon can recognize the Xuanyuan bloodline holders better than we can!"

When Mo Yunyi revealed this secret matter, Han Hai finally believed her and exclaimed, "No wonder, no wonder he could summon the formidable beasts of Yunmeng! Looking at it this way, there can be no mistake!"

"There certainly is no mistake!" Mo Yunyi asserted firmly. After a pause, she smiled faintly and continued, "Changkong's background is not simple. Over the years, I know that someone has visited the Ji family many times in the dead of night, watching him while he slept. The visitor’s realm far surpassed ours. If I hadn't possessed a Yuan Power Pearl capable of detecting fluctuations in Yuan Power, I might never have noticed!"

"Was it one of the suddenly appearing He Haoran, Chen Yihui, or Tuoba Lie?" Han Hai asked.

Shaking her head, Mo Yunyi replied, "That person was far more formidable than those three! As soon as the Yuan Power Pearl reacted, he detected it immediately. However, he did not attack me; instead, he quietly departed. Afterward, I examined Changkong’s body and found nothing unusual, which let me know he likely harbored no ill intent, perhaps only coming to see Changkong."

"To detect the fluctuation of a Yuan Power Pearl! That is terrifying!" Han Hai gasped. "Who exactly was Changkong's mother?"

"I don't know, but since He Haoran, Tuoba Lie, and Chen Yihui have appeared, the matter will eventually be revealed... This is also one of the reasons I let Changkong go out to wander. Only by leaving the Ji family can he slowly uncover the truth of his parentage!" Mo Yunyi concluded.

...

"Grandfather, Aunt, Granny Mo said it is time for me to go out and travel." In front of Ji Yushèng and Ji Wanyun, Ji Changkong recounted his strange experience in the Cold Ice Cave, followed by Mo Yunyi's suggestion.

Ji Yushèng and Ji Wanyun had not yet recovered from the marvels of the Cold Ice Cave when they heard him propose leaving the Ji family. They stopped pressing for details about the cave and instead began inquiring about Mo Yunyi's counsel.

"Father, what do you think of her proposal?" Ji Wanyun asked.

Ji Yushèng frowned deeply and remained silent for a long time before reluctantly saying, "Within the Ji family, no one has a more accurate judgment than her! Since she says Changkong can leave the Ji family, it means Changkong... truly should be able to go out and wander."

"But... back when my brother was at the Four Symbols Heaven Realm and said he wanted to leave the Ji family, she strongly opposed it!" Ji Wanyun anxiously interjected. In her eyes, Ji Changkong currently lacked the ability to face dangers alone. The outside world was fraught with peril, and human hearts were incredibly treacherous. She feared Ji Changkong would repeat his father’s path and never return.

Ji Wanyun’s words plunged Ji Yushèng back into silence. After a very long interval, he finally managed to say with difficulty, "As a son of the Ji family, one ought to travel far and wide. Only through tempering himself now can he truly soar to the skies later! Changkong, decide for yourself!"

"I want to go out and see!" Ji Changkong’s expression was resolute.

Ji Wanyun wanted to speak but stopped, reluctant to see him go, yet realizing that keeping Ji Changkong by her side indefinitely was inappropriate.

"It is settled then!" Ji Yushèng made his decision and instructed Ji Wanyun, "Prepare the remaining Black Jade Essence Crystals, the contents from the Thousand-Year Purple Gold Toad, and the strange flowers and herbs Changkong brought back from the Great Marsh of Yunmeng for him. Tomorrow, we will send him to Qingyan City!"

"I understand," Ji Wanyun sighed softly, turned, and went back inside to prepare.

"Changkong, I need to talk to you about some things concerning the outside world." Ji Yushèng took a sip of water and began to elaborate extensively on the treachery of human hearts, telling Ji Changkong how complex the world outside was. He cautioned Ji Changkong to always maintain a pure heart, but also warned him not to be overly merciful; against those who would threaten his life, he must strike decisively and resolutely, without hesitation.

...

In the blink of an eye, a night passed.

The next morning, without bidding farewell to Ji Yuxing or the others, Ji Yushèng and Ji Wanyun set out early and escorted Ji Changkong to Qingyan City.

Ji Yushèng returned home, but Ji Wanyun could not bear to part with him and accompanied him across Qingyan City. She watched him mount his horse and gallop down the official road, heading toward Lingyun City.

Changkong, your sky is bound to be much broader than ours. Your aunt will wait for you in the Ji family until you truly make a name for yourself throughout the world!

Only when Ji Wanyun could no longer see Ji Changkong's figure did she murmur this silently in her heart, then turned with a wistful expression and returned to the Ji family.

...