As the dawn approached and all things were still in slumber, a fleeting figure dashed through the thick morning mist at the foot of the Bixia Mountain, heading towards its heart.
With incredible speed, the figure disappeared within moments, leaving behind a clear path through the mountains.
The figure continued deep into the mountains until it reached a secluded mountain valley rarely visited by humans. Coming to a halt, the surprising truth was revealed—this figure was no more than a tiny child, with a delicate face and features that seemed too mature for its young age.
Yes, this child was Biqi, born five years ago to Bili and Ahui. However, unknown to Bili and Ahui, the true identity of their child was that of an immortal cultivator who had lived for tens of thousands of years.
Taking a careful look around to ensure no one was following, Biqi lightly leaped forward and continued onward, not following the original path but veering towards the nearby forest. Despite the dense undergrowth and thick branches, it seemed like nothing could slow down Biqi's pace.
In no time, Biqi had traversed the forest and arrived at a peacefully serene mountain valley. Simultaneously, the scenery along the path behind began to change; the once vaguely visible trail was now completely obscured by towering trees. Anyone attempting to cross the forest to reach the valley would likely find it difficult to locate the path. Obviously, an illusion array had been set up outside the valley, and Biqi was the one who arranged it.
Although the valley was not large, spanning less than a kilometer in radius, it exuded an incredibly rich spiritual energy. Mist lingered, and being in the valley felt like being surrounded by clouds. Upon closer inspection, the plants in the valley possessed an extraordinary spiritual nature, with crystal-clear radiance flickering at the tips of their leaves. Undoubtedly, this place could be considered a hidden paradise, a realm created by Biqi. During his first visit, Biqi had set up a gathering formation, and after four years of accumulation, the spiritual energy here had become unimaginably dense.
"Arrived!" Wiping away the sweat on his forehead, Biqi took a few deep breaths, calming his mind and body. Despite having formidable cultivation, Biqi was still a five-year-old child. Even though he trained his physique daily, there was still a significant gap in physical strength compared to an adult.
Of course, Biqi was not concerned about this. Human growth follows a natural process dictated by the laws of the universe, and no one can change that. As long as he matures in the future, his body will also become robust. However, before that, Biqi needs to lay the foundation for the future, so physical training is an essential task.
Entering the valley and reaching a secluded pool, Biqi retrieved the herbs he had collected from beneath a nearby boulder. Grinding them and brewing the concoction in a medicinal pot, he poured the herbal soup into the pool. Instantly, the entire pool turned emerald green, radiating a dazzling glow like translucent jade.
However, this seemingly beautiful thing posed a great challenge for Biqi. This was a highly effective body-refining elixir known to Biqi from his previous life. Despite its benefits, the process was extremely painful. Given the choice, Biqi would never use such elixirs to temper his own body.
"Today, I must break through to the Elemental Master realm!" with a touch of sorrow on his face, Biqi had to make a determined effort. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath and, with a "plop," plunged into the pool, initiating the painful transformation.
Biqi's daily routine involved both body refinement and cultivation. He had persisted for three years, enabling him to achieve considerable cultivation at such a young age.
As time passed, the spiritual energy in the valley converged towards the pool. In a short span, Biqi's entire body was enveloped in a white glow—a sign that the spiritual energy had condensed into a visible form. Clearly, the spot where Biqi was located was the core of the gathering formation, the most concentrated area of spiritual energy.
After an hour, two hours passed, and by the third hour, Biqi, emerging from the pool, opened his eyes. Letting out a loud shout, his aura erupted like a volcano, instantly breaking through from the Elemental Master pinnacle to the Elemental Grandmaster realm. After three hours of accumulation, the spiritual energy within Biqi's body had reached a sufficient level, making the breakthrough process smooth and effortless.
However, after the breakthrough, Biqi did not express excitement or stop practicing. It seemed as though breakthroughs were routine for him. With just a faint smile, he continued cultivating in the pool, showing no intention of resting.
And so, a whole day quickly passed. As the sun set in the west, Biqi finally regained consciousness. Glancing at the late hour, he wiped his body clean and began his journey back home.
However, on his way back, Biqi seemed less excited than when he came. His face carried a hint of distress, as if the seemingly short journey home felt particularly long and challenging for him.
Biqi's home was located in a large courtyard at the foot of the mountain. Although referred to as a courtyard, it was larger in scale than an ordinary village. The occupants of this courtyard were all members of a family—the renowned Bixia family in the southern part of Xingluo. The courtyard, known as the old residence, was a place designated for the elderly, women, children, and infants of the family. To provide the best living environment, the Bixia family deliberately built the old residence in the picturesque setting of Bixia Mountain. More importantly, it was only ten miles away from the main city of the Bixia family, Bihuo City. In case of any emergencies, the family's experts and masters could arrive promptly.
Descending the mountain, when approaching the courtyard, Biqi concealed his aura and inexplicably dispersed his Elemental Master-level cultivation. In an instant, the Elemental Crystal in his dantian disappeared, and he transformed into an ordinary child. Just like that, Biqi turned back into an ordinary child, completely devoid of any cultivation.
After completing these actions, Biqi continued on his way. Relying on his powerful perception, he skillfully avoided all family members, returning home unnoticed.
"Biqi, you're back?" As Biqi stepped into the house, a gentle female voice slowly rang out.
Biqi heard this and looked up. He immediately saw the woman waiting for him in the courtyard. Biqi wasn't surprised by this; he just grinned and walked back to his room in a carefree manner. However, after returning to his room, Biqi clearly heard a sigh from the woman.
This woman was Biqi's mother, Ahui. Although Biqi's birth five years ago brought joy to Ahui, the subsequent events related to Biqi made her suffer, and over these five years, Ahui had shed countless tears of sadness.
The first issue was Biqi's congenital deficiencies. Biqi not only couldn't speak, but he also lacked the basic foundation for cultivation. This was the most painful thing for both Bili and Ahui. Because of this, an anxious Bili left for the main city of the Bixia family when Biqi was one year old, immersing himself in the family's business, attempting to numb himself with work. As a result, Bili rarely returned home over the past four years.
The second issue was Biqi's wayward and peculiar behavior. When Biqi had just learned to walk at the age of one, he inexplicably disappeared without anyone noticing. Even with the combined efforts of the clan members searching for him, and even bringing Bili back, they couldn't find him. Biqi later returned on his own, leading to an enraged Bili giving him a severe beating.
However, the matter didn't end there. After Bili left, Biqi disappeared again and again. Each time he vanished for half a day, but miraculously returned on his own. Later, Biqi went missing once more, and this became a frequent occurrence. Each disappearance lasted an entire day. Ahui initially feared that she might anger the family members, so she dared not speak out. Fortunately, Biqi always returned on his own. Over time, Ahui got used to it. Eventually, Biqi's disappearances became routine, happening every day, and every time he would be gone for a whole day. Ahui once wanted to follow him, but inexplicably, she always lost track of Biqi. In the end, they formed an unspoken agreement. Whenever Biqi disappeared for a day, Ahui would wait for him in the courtyard, and when they met, they exchanged glances and smiles.
Hearing Ahui's sigh in the courtyard, Biqi felt a twinge of discomfort. This was why he felt guilty every time he returned home. If he had a choice, Biqi wouldn't want to disappoint Ahui. Unfortunately, he had no choice. The reason for not having the foundation for cultivation was that Biqi needed to condense the foundation of chaos. Therefore, before birth, he abolished his own elemental power foundation. As for not speaking, Biqi wasn't ready to face Bili and Ahui. As for sneaking out for cultivation, Biqi didn't want to reveal his secret to others. After all, once his identity was exposed, the Bixia family would no longer tolerate him.
Thinking about all this, Biqi shook his head forcefully, and his gaze became determined again. He wasn't someone else's child, and he would eventually leave. He would seek to reclaim everything from his previous life.