“Young master, look.” Cheng Qi rushed into Li Tianyan’s room excitedly, revealing his recent discovery.

Li Tianyan witnessed a cluster of small purple flames playfully moving between Cheng Qi’s fingers. Cheng Qi manipulated the flames in his hands like magic, a skill he had learned just this morning.

Li Tianyan’s attention shifted to Cheng Qi’s face. Overnight, the black birthmark had returned to his left eye. The previous night’s events seemed fleeting, yet Li Tianyan felt a sense of relief. Concealing the little shuanger’s appearance was a good thing for now.

Cheng Qi, who had gone to sleep directly upon returning to the room last night to avoid waking Xiao Liu, was unaware of the events. It wasn’t until he woke up that he discovered he had unknowingly reached a second-level Qi Condensation. Eager to share his new skills, he approached Li Tianyan.

Seeing Cheng Qi’s stable aura, Li Tianyan handed him a book of spells. Just as before, he instructed him to read it independently and ask for clarification when needed. Afterward, he resumed meditating, leaving Cheng Qi engrossed in the book of spells.

The Yin Qi extracted from Cheng Qi the previous night had settled in Li Tianyan’s Dantian. Attempting to activate the black Yin Qi, he realized it differed from other Qi groups in his Dantian. The primary distinction was his five elements of spiritual power were all yang energy, while the black one was pure yin.

Contemplating the yin and yang difference, Li Tianyan controlled the black yin energy to circulate his body while using the spiritual power of the five elements to warm his internal organs. Engrossed in cultivation, he felt a majestic spiritual power entering his body after eighty-one short circles.

Since Cheng Qi obtained a new book, he became captivated by its magical spells. Around noon, he sensed the turbulent spiritual energy in the room and observed Li Tianyan on the bed, realizing he was on the verge of advancement.

Upon this discovery, Cheng Qi quickly set aside his book, grabbed a mute talisman, and posted it on the room’s door. With lunch approaching, he feared Xiao Liu might disturb Li Tianyan.

Li Tianyan absorbed the spiritual energy greedily, but the world’s energy was insufficient. He retrieved two spiritual beads from the Qiankun Realm, holding them in his hand, causing several energy balls to visibly rise.

The medicinal bath Li Tianyan took earlier strengthened his muscles, enabling him to endure the cleansing effect of the spiritual power. Soon, the five intertwined spiritual energies broke through the nine blocked acupuncture points in his body, successfully advancing him to the third level of Qi Condensation.

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“Why hasn’t the young master responded yet?” Li Wu inquired as he approached Xiao Liu outside the room’s door.

“Well, the young master and the young madam must be occupied,” Xiao Liu replied, gazing at the closed door that had remained silent since noon despite his persistent knocks.

After spending over a month together, Xiao Liu noticed the young master’s seemingly incredible abilities, adding to the mystery surrounding him.

“What should we do? The old master is almost here, and the other masters of the Li Mansion are waiting outside to greet the old master,” Li Wu said eagerly.

“The old madam just sent the young master out of the house. If he shows his face in front of him, there might be room for change. Forget it, inform the eldest master (Li Pei) that the young master is unwell and can’t go out,” Xiao Liu suggested.

Li Wu hesitated but ultimately complied, “Okay, I’ll do that.”

.

While the rest of the mansion went to greet the old master, Li Tianyan, claiming illness, secured peace in Qingzhu Courtyard.

After two days consolidating his cultivation at the third level of Qi Condensation, Li Tianyan observed the six energy groups in his body reaching the same size. Intrigued by the extra Yin energy, he sensed its potential for future use.

Unable to decipher its purpose after studying, Li Tianyan decided to change clothes and take Cheng Qi to the birthday banquet.

As it was the old master’s birthday, an event the old madam valued highly, Li Tianyan couldn’t be absent. Thinking about this, a smile crept onto his face.

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Dignified guests gathered at the gates of Li Mansion, and chariots pulled by semi-spiritual beasts adorned the entrance. Warriors from Jincheng, unable to enter but eager to witness the spectacle, marveled at the rare and exotic beasts.

“That’s the one-horned horse from the Qi family in Shuncheng. It’s said to travel three thousand miles a day.”

“Look at the crane from the Tang family in Yuncheng. It’s a rare flying car, crossing mountains and ridges in half a breath.”

“The aristocratic families in Yuncheng are indeed formidable; our Jincheng is far behind,” remarked some envious onlookers.

“Yuncheng, right under the immortal sect’s influence, is unmatched. Their vast resources and expansive territory overshadow us. Shuncheng boasts fertile land for cultivating rare medicinal plants. Jincheng, in comparison, appears a bit modest,” a bystander commented.

High-status guests arrived, and the Li family took great care to welcome them. Both Li Shengyu and Duan Qin sat at the head of the banquet hall, greeting those who came to celebrate their birthdays.

Duan Qin, observing the esteemed families present, felt a sense of pride but maintained a reserved and graceful demeanor, offering only a faint smile.

Li Pei and Hong Man, posing as a devoted couple, brought their eldest son, Li Tianzhou, to greet the ladies from other houses.

Throughout Li Mansion, rooms were adorned, and residents exchanged cups in the inner hall, chatting and laughing with pride, reveling in the grandeur of the occasion.

As Li Tianyan and Cheng Qi hurried toward the back door of the birthday banquet hall, they nearly collided with a maid carrying tea. Quick reflexes from Li Tianyan prevented them from knocking over the girl’s tray.

The nearby high-level warriors, initially drawn by the commotion, turned their heads to see the third young master of the Li Mansion, a seemingly unremarkable figure, and paid little attention.

“Are you okay? Be careful,” Li Tianyan asked with concern, putting his arm around Cheng Qi.

Cheng Qi nervously shook his head, “I’m fine.”

“Third young master, please be cautious. This tea is for the old master and the old madam. I can’t afford it if it spills,” the maid remarked, rolling her eyes impatiently at the seemingly unimportant duo.

“I’m sorry,” Li Tianyan replied, unfazed by her attitude, nodding at the maid before pulling Cheng Qi along to the lobby.

“Young master, how did I do just now?” Cheng Qi asked quietly as they distanced themselves.

“Good job,” Li Tianyan praised without hesitation. The young shuanger indeed had a knack for mischief.

.

Entering the lobby through the back door, they found an inconspicuous seat. Despite Li Tianyan’s higher position as the son from the eldest master, but due to the family separation issue and his recent ‘illness’ his usual spot had been taken.

Shortly after sitting down, Li Tianyan observed a maid bringing in tea. Duan Qin, maintaining her distinctive demeanor, used her own purple gold sand cup for everyday tea drinking, even at today’s birthday banquet.

“He actually had the audacity to come out. I thought he would hide until the birthday party was over and slip away secretly,” someone remarked.

“Isn’t he willing to come out to such a big scene today? The people here are not the ones he can meet if he wants to, so he has to come out quickly and see if he can make one or two friends,” remarked one of the juniors from the Li family.

“Sixth brother, what you said makes sense.”

Li Tianyan overheard the conversation but didn’t take it seriously.

“Hiss!” Li Kun inadvertently let his drink touch the wound on his mouth, gasping in pain and drawing the attention of those around him.

“Brother Li, what happened? Why are you injured like this?” Hong Ye, seated nearby, asked with concern.

As in-laws of the Li family, the Hong family was arranged in the inner hall, while the Cheng family, once favored, was left out this time, positioned at the junction of the outer hall.

“Don’t mention it,” Li Kun covered his wound and spoke with a gloomy expression.

“You were playing with your concubine and got poisoned by the jealous wife, almost getting ulcers all over your body. It’s really nothing to mention.” Duan Qin, putting down her tea cup, snorted coldly and revealed the truth, causing the entire hall to fall silent.

Li Kun stared at his mother in disbelief. The old madam had suppressed news of his affairs in the Li Mansion, so why would she deliberately embarrass him in public today?

Sun Xiang’s expression soured too. Although the rumors existed, with no evidence to support them, and her husband’s concubines were easily intimidated, she hadn’t rushed to clarify. Now, the old madam had publicly confirmed the allegations.

It took a while for the audience to react, and glances of contempt or ridicule were directed at Li Kun. Faced with so many eyes, he blushed and nearly stormed out in embarrassment.

Li Shengyu snapped out of it, turning around to glare at those around him. Despite Duan Qin’s evident dislike for her second child, he found her current attitude toward him inappropriate on his birthday.

Duan Qin, feeling angered by the reproachful looks, wasn’t sure what transpired but decided to keep quiet. She picked up her tea cup and took a sip, opting to speak less for the rest of the day.

The recent incident served as a brief interlude, and the chatter in the banquet hall shifted to other topics, with people no longer focusing on Li Kun.

After all, how could an eighth-level warrior, acquired at that, garner much attention at today’s banquet?

Cheng Qi turned to Li Tianyan with bright eyes, surprised that the pill had indeed been effective.

Li Tianyan, offering only a faint smile, picked up the chopsticks and served a crystal ball to Cheng Qi. “Enjoy. The dishes at today’s banquet were prepared with care. I thought you might like them. Later, I can take you out for something different,” he suggested to Cheng Qi.

Note: warrior had two different classifications, the lower was acquired and the higher was innate.