The week passed in tranquil silence atop the Li Estate's spiritual courtyard. A week in which Li Qingyun, having broken into the Foundation Establishment realm, focused solely on consolidating his new cultivation base. The nine elemental circuits in his Core Vein Matrix no longer surged with restless power—they flowed in serene harmony. His spiritual sea was steady, his divine sense sharp, and the black-gold core at his dantian's center pulsed faintly like the beating heart of a star.
Everything was ready.
On the seventh morning, golden clouds drifted over Azure Sky City as the long-awaited Spiritual Boat returned. It loomed like a divine vessel descending from the heavens, its gleaming hull etched with arrays that shimmered faintly. The bow bore the crest of the Sky-Reaching Sword Sect, glowing like a sword piercing through the sky. Measuring nearly a hundred meters in length and twenty meters in height, it hovered silently with solemn majesty above the city.
The air in the city turned electric. Crowds gathered in the plaza below, their eyes fixed on the boat as if watching a dragon return to the heavens.
Inside the Li Estate, Li Qingyun stood with his parents at the edge of the main courtyard. His robes fluttered gently in the breeze, the rich spiritual essence of a Foundation Establishment cultivator now subtly present in every breath he took.
His mother, Lin Meiyu, brushed a strand of hair from his face and smiled gently. "You've grown so fast… I still remember carrying you as a baby in my arms."
Li Qingyun smiled warmly. "And I remember… nothing of that," he chuckled softly, "I will return home mother, and I will be stronger than ever."
His father, Li Tianyang, placed a hand on his shoulder. "Be strong, Qingyun. The sect is a vast world, with challenges and opportunities far beyond this city. But remember—your family is always behind you."
"I know, Father." Li Qingyun bowed deeply to both of them. "Thank you… and take care of yourself and mother."
"And why don't you guys give me a little brother or a sister in the meantime I am away from home." He asked them mischievously.
His father and mother were dumbfounded by what they had just heard, but in a corner in their heart a thought emerged, 'Maybe we should.'
With that, he turned and walked toward the platform, where Elder Wu Zheng and Xia Shuying were waiting.
Xia Shuying's black robes fluttered as she stood with a serene gaze. Her figure was tall and slender, her temperament cold and distant. Though only eight, her physical development rivaled that of a teenager. Her cultivation had already reached the peak of Qi Gathering, and her piercing eyes spoke of a mind far beyond her years.
As the trio boarded the Spiritual Boat, Li Qingyun took a moment to look around.
The interior was vast and segmented into multiple decks. On the upper level, several array control chambers and rooms for elders could be seen. The lower decks held over a hundred cabins, each fitted with formation stones for meditation and cultivation. There were dining halls, sparring arenas, libraries—even a small garden array for spiritual relaxation.
On the central deck, the provisional disciples were being counted.
There were exactly 128 new provisional disciples from cities across the region, many flanked by personal guards, servants, or even maidens. Their outfits glittered with silks, jade, and fine embroidery—clearly nobles and the offspring of powerful families. Among them were proud gazes and calculating eyes.
Li Qingyun stood out—not because of arrogance or flair, but because he had come alone. No servants. No fanfare. Only calm confidence.
"Who is that…? He doesn't seem to belong to any major clan," whispered a pale-robed youth nearby.
"Probably a hidden genius from some remote city," murmured another, narrowing his eyes. "Or… maybe just lucky."
Further away, several young male disciples' attention was entirely elsewhere.
"Who is that girl?" gasped one boy in a golden-blue brocade robe, nearly dropping his spirit fan. "She looks like a fairy."
"Don't you know? That's Xia Shuying! Already at the peak of Qi Gathering at eight! I heard she had awakened a special physique that is very compatible with sword cultivation 'Sword Bone Physique'..."
Their gazes were filled with admiration and infatuation, but Xia Shuying didn't even glance at them. Instead, she turned to Li Qingyun and spoke in a low voice.
"Our agreement still stands. Once we reach the sect... we will have to rely on each other and I will also try to achieve Foundation establishment realm as soon as possible and will not be a burden in our cooperation."
Li Qingyun smiled faintly and teased her. "I am aware of this but you have to work hard not to be left behind."
Her lips turned upward slightly.
With that, she turned and vanished into one of the upper cabins, her presence like a snowflake carried by wind—untouchable, serene.
Elder Wu Zheng gave Li Qingyun a knowing glance before walking to his own chambers. The disciples were now left to settle in.
As Li Qingyun made his way toward his assigned room, someone stepped in front of him.
The boy's robes were far more extravagant than the rest—scarlet silk lined with golden dragons, a shimmering waist-sash with talismans of wealth, and a folding fan inlaid with spirit crystals. His hairstyle was neatly coiled, showing obvious vanity.
"Stop right there," the youth said with a smirk, folding his arms.
Li Qingyun blinked. "…Yes?"
"I saw you speaking to Lady Shuying just now. What did she say to you?" His tone was casual, but the contempt was thick in the air.
Li Qingyun stared at him.
The situation felt oddly familiar. 'Is this… a third-rate antagonist line from a bad novel?'
He tilted his head, genuinely baffled. "Why would I tell you?"
The youth frowned. "Do you know who I am—"
But before he could finish, Li Qingyun had already stepped past him.
In one fluid movement, he entered his room and closed the door with a soft click.
The arrogant youth stood dumbfounded for a moment. "...He just ignored me?"
Inside, Li Qingyun was already seated cross-legged on the cultivation mat. A peaceful smile played on his lips.
'I'm too old for this kind of drama.'
Outside the door, the boy's face turned red with fury. "You'll regret this…!"
He didn't even know Li Qingyun's name yet—but in his mind, the seed of resentment had already begun to sprout.
Meanwhile, the Spiritual Boat had already lifted high above Azure Sky City, gliding like a phoenix through the clouds. Beneath them, the city shrank into the distance, and the horizon opened like a great canvas of possibility.
The path to the Sky-Reaching Sword Sect had begun.