The night is enchanting, and the people are even more enchanting.

By the lake, a woman in a red dress named Hongyi sits quietly, her flawless profile captivating.

Li Ziye sits beside Hongyi, smelling the refreshing fragrance, feeling a bit dazed.

Hongyi, you’ve grown up too.

The first time they met when they were young, on the streets of Yuzhou City, Hongyi was wearing tattered clothes with holes in her shoes, looking pitiful.

He brought Hongyi back to the Li Residence. At that time, he was just seven years old, and Hongyi was only ten.

Unexpectedly, ten years have passed in the blink of an eye.

“Hongyi, have you ever thought about going home?”

Li Ziye asked softly. He had asked about Hongyi’s background before, but she didn’t want to talk about it, so he didn’t ask again.

“I have no home.” Hongyi fell silent and then spoke after a moment.

“As long as Hongyi is willing, the Li Residence will always be Hongyi’s home.” Li Ziye said gently.

Hongyi’s expression froze for a moment, then a brilliant smile appeared on her beautiful face. She said, “Little Ziye, you’ve grown up. You know how to say sweet words to deceive girls now.”

Li Ziye also smiled and said, “So you’ve noticed, Hongyi.”

“Alright, it’s getting late. You should go back to your room and rest.”

Hongyi stood up, brushed her long hair behind her ears, and said softly, “Tomorrow morning, I will take that Yin Kuang back to the Capital City.”

“Why the rush?” Li Ziye was surprised and asked.

“It’s the right time for your Second Brother to use people. Our foundation in the Capital City is still too weak. If we want to achieve something, we must quickly arrange manpower.”

Hongyi said, then added impatiently, “All of this is to pave the way for you in the future. You should strive harder, cultivate well. The Capital City is treacherous. If anything happens, even your Second Brother and I may not be able to protect you.”

“Don’t worry, Hongyi.”

Li Ziye nodded vigorously and said, “I will make the Li Residence produce a Sword Immortal who will shake the world.”

“You have big ambitions.”

Hongyi laughed and said without saying much. She turned and went back to her room.

By the lake, Li Ziye watched her figure for a long time, then picked up the sword beside him and continued practicing.

Under the moonlight, the sword glowed like frost. Li Ziye flew out again and again, falling to the ground and then getting up again.

The first move of the Flying Immortal Art, with only nine steps, seemed simple but was extremely difficult to practice.

Li Ziye practiced day and night for many days, but he couldn’t take that final step.

He didn’t know how long he had been practicing. The moon was setting in the sky, and the night was getting deeper.

“Clang!”

The sword pierced into the ground, and Li Ziye knelt down, gasping for breath. Even in this cold autumn, his face was covered in sweat.

He couldn’t believe it. He couldn’t succeed in this final step!

The persistence of a young heart refused to admit defeat. Li Ziye struggled to get up and started practicing again.

As the night grew darker, a white light appeared in the east, indicating that dawn was approaching.

In a nearby room, Hongyi walked out as the door opened.

In the room next to Hongyi’s, a stranger walked out, completely different in appearance and figure from before.

At this moment, Li Ziye’s figure flashed in the backyard, like a startled swan, like thunder. He covered a distance of eight steps in an instant.

The final step, in mid-air, Li Ziye stepped on nothingness, his aura sinking. A one-inch deep footprint appeared on the ground, and in an instant, the sword was unsheathed, connecting heaven and earth.

“Boom!”

In front of him, the ancient sword swept across, and the artificial mountain shattered with a loud noise. The broken stones flew and fell like rain.

“Hoo! Hoo!”

After the sword strike, Li Ziye landed on the ground, exhausted, gasping for breath, almost unable to stand.

Hongyi approached, supported him, and said softly, “Although practicing the sword is important, don’t push yourself too hard.”

“Squeak!”

On the other side, the door opened, and Qin E’nuo and Slovenly Zhang walked out of their rooms at the same time, hearing the commotion outside.

Success?

Qin E’nuo looked at the scattered stones on the ground in front of her, showing surprise on her face.

“Not bad.”

Slovenly Zhang grinned, revealing a mouthful of big teeth.

As Li Ziye stood up straight under their gaze, he looked at the woman beside him, exhausted, and asked, “Is Hongyi leaving?”

“Yes.” Hongyi nodded.

Li Ziye looked at the unfamiliar man not far away, a strange expression flashed across his face, and he said, “When we arrive in the Capital City, follow Hongyi’s arrangements, understand?”

“I know.”

Yin Kuang replied in a deep voice.

“Hongyi, let me see you off.”

After saying that, Li Ziye and the two others walked towards the front yard.

In front of the residence, Hongyi and Yin Kuang got on the carriage. Li Ziye watched the carriage go far away, silent for a long time, then turned and returned to the residence.

In the backyard, Qin E’nuo was already waiting. Seeing him return, she looked at Slovenly Zhang beside her and said, “Sword Enthusiast, it’s your turn to teach the second move.”

“Alright.”

Slovenly Zhang nodded and said, “Kid, watch closely!”

As he spoke, Slovenly Zhang swung his sword, wine entered his mouth, and his body moved like a flying dragon.

Unpredictable footwork, each step’s direction was difficult to predict. After eighteen steps, the sword intent reached its peak. Slovenly Zhang held the sword with both hands, and with one strike, he shattered the sky.

Boom!

A thunderous vibration resounded, and in front, a towering tree collapsed, splitting into two halves, shocking everyone.

Li Ziye was so shocked by this astonishing sword strike that he couldn’t speak.

“You’re getting old.”

Slovenly Zhang waved his hand and sheathed his sword, taking another sip of wine. He sighed, “If I were a few years younger, this old man could have split the Li Residence in half with a single sword strike, demonstrating even more shock and awe.”

“Let’s forget about that.”

Li Ziye snapped back to his senses and looked at the mess in the courtyard, bitterly smiling. “You’re already formidable enough.”

“Keep practicing.”

Slovenly Zhang walked back to the lakeside with his sword, patting Li Ziye’s shoulder. “The Flying Immortal Art has nine forms, and the difficulty will increase exponentially, especially the last three moves. Even I and Qin E’nuo can’t teach you. I hope to see you perform the awe-inspiring Three Supreme Moves of the Flying Immortal Art before I die.”

“I’ll do my best.”

Li Ziye dryly laughed.

“Go practice your sword.”

Qin E’nuo said from the side.

“Okay.”

Li Ziye lightly responded and immediately went to practice with his sword.

“Sword Enthusiast, this won’t work.”

Qin E’nuo spoke by the lakeside, her voice soft. “It’s too slow. The first two forms are manageable, but the third form has twenty-seven steps, and the fourth form has thirty-six steps. At his current speed, who knows how many years it will take.”

Slovenly Zhang fell silent for a while before sighing. “He’s already working hard enough, but he has only opened one meridian so far. Whether it’s cultivation speed or control over his body, it’s limited.”

“I’m going to the capital city.”

Qin E’nuo said in a deep voice. “I’ll leave this place to you.”

Slovenly Zhang was surprised by her words and asked, “Are you really going to the Imperial Academy?”

“I have to give it a try.”

Qin E’nuo said in a firm tone. “So far, we only know the whereabouts of this one Fo-Ti Root. We have no choice.”

“When are you planning to leave?” Slovenly Zhang sighed lightly.

“Today.” Qin E’nuo answered.

Slovenly Zhang frowned but didn’t try to persuade her any further. He nodded and said, “I’ll take care of things here at the Li Residence.”

“Thank you.”

Qin E’nuo said and reached out to draw the Frost Sword by her side. Then, she walked towards the back courtyard.

In the distance, Li Ziye, who was still struggling with the first three steps of the second form, got up from the ground in a sorry state. He saw Qin E’nuo leaving and asked in confusion, “Where is Old Qin going?”

“To the capital city.” Slovenly Zhang replied casually.

“The capital city?”

Li Ziye was surprised and asked, “Why is she going to the capital city?”

“To get medicine for you.”

Slovenly Zhang answered indifferently. “Stop wasting time and continue practicing your sword.”

Li Ziye looked in the direction Qin E’nuo had left, then withdrew his attention and continued practicing his sword.

Why didn’t Old Qin say goodbye to him before leaving?

Outside Yuzhou City, Hong Zhu and Yin Kuang’s carriage had just left the city. A graceful figure swiftly approached from behind, holding an ancient sword and moving like a fairy. After a few breaths, she surpassed the carriage and continued towards the distance.

Two days later, in the capital city of Great Shang.

Qin E’nuo entered the city with her sword.

In the Imperial Academy, in a simple small courtyard, flowers and plants thrived. The courtyard was filled with green vegetables, and chickens and ducks came to peck at insects from time to time, creating a lively scene.

In the courtyard, an old man dressed in a plain Confucian robe scooped up a ladle of water and carefully watered the vegetables in the garden.

The old man looked really old, with wrinkles all over his face, and even his eyes seemed cloudy.

However, despite this, no one dared to underestimate the old man in front of them in the world.

Confucian Scholar Kong Qiu, the belief of scholars in the world, even hailed as a sage living in the present age.

No one knew how strong Kong Qiu was because he rarely left the capital city, and in this capital city of Great Shang, Kong Qiu had never been defeated.

In this vast world, there were countless strong individuals, but only Kong Qiu dared to claim invincibility.

So, as long as Kong Qiu didn’t leave the capital city, no one dared to challenge this sage living in the present age.

“Now that you’re here, show yourself.”

Autumn leaves fell, and in the small courtyard, Kong Qiu watered the vegetables while speaking.

“Qin E’nuo, pay respects to Confucian Scholar.”

Qin E’nuo appeared outside the courtyard and respectfully bowed.

“Plum Blossom Sword Immortal has come in person. What brings you here?”

Kong Qiu asked without even lifting his head.

“I’ve come to ask for something.”

Qin E’nuo said solemnly, “The thousand-year-old Fo-Ti Root in the Imperial Academy.”

“Seeking medicine.”

Kong Qiu calmly said, “Is it to save someone?”

“No.”

Qin E’nuo shook her head and truthfully said, “It’s for opening meridians.”

“Isn’t the third son of the Li Family a martial arts prodigy?” Kong Qiu continued to ask.

“No.”

Qin E’nuo shook her head again.

“Heh.”

Kong Qiu chuckled and said, “I knew it. This old man shouldn’t have made a mistake.”

Qin E’nuo narrowed her eyes upon hearing this. It was said that Kong Qiu could calculate everything in the world, and now it seemed that it might not be an empty claim.

“We do have the thousand-year-old Fo-Ti Root in the Imperial Academy, and I can give it to the third son of the Li Family.”

At this point, Kong Qiu’s tone changed, and he continued, “But not now.”

“What do you mean, Confucian Scholar?” Qin E’nuo asked in a serious tone.

“When the third son of the Li Family comes to the Imperial Academy, I will personally tell him.” Kong Qiu replied.”He probably won’t come to the Capital City.”

Qin E’nuo frowned, she could somewhat guess Li Ziye’s thoughts. He was quite resistant to the Capital of Shang and didn’t want to come.

“Whether he comes or not, it’s not something his will can decide.”

Kong Qiu put down the water scoop in his hand and said, “How about a bet? If the third son of the Li Family comes to the Capital City within ten days, the Plum Blossom Sword Immortal will lecture at my Imperial Academy for a year. If he doesn’t come, I will present a thousand-year-old Fo-Ti Root with both hands.”

Upon hearing this, a glint flashed in Qin E’nuo’s eyes. After thinking for a moment, she nodded and said, “Alright, I’ll take the Confucian Scholar up on this bet.”