Chapter 672 492 Bright Splendor Radiant Origin Scripture

Central Hall Terrace.

Two stacks of straw dummies were placed on the steps of the terrace, clad in meticulously hung armor. A middle-aged man stood wielding a short halberd, slightly bowing, draped in a set of white armor, silently watching.

Half of his face was masked, and the exposed skin on his neck was a blackish-red hue, making for a rather terrifying sight.

Despite his fierce appearance, his tone and expression were quite humble. He stood quietly behind the boy in front of him, watching him thrust and withdraw the halberd, striking the armor pieces with resounding clangs for a full quarter of an hour before he softly said,

"Princely Heir, your learning is swift. In just two years, you've already gained quite a form."

The wooden halberd in Li Zhouwei's hands was replaced with an iron one, shorter than a normal long halberd and specially made according to his height, using lightweight spirit iron.

His hands moved gracefully, thrusting and hooking with proficiency, accurately piercing the gaps in the armor and producing a cacophony of clanging sounds. Li Zhouwei planted the long halberd on the ground, wiped off sweat, and replied,

"Chengliao... this is merely practice akin to playing and scuffling, you flatter me too much."

The man wearing the mask was none other than Xu Gongming, whose face had been disfigured during an attack by Devil Cultivators years ago. Through years of cultivation, he had reached the Middle Stage of Qi Cultivation. Not naturally talented, he found advancement difficult.

Obedient to his family elders' last words, he served with diligence. Although he occasionally made minor mistakes, as he grew older, his actions became steadier, leading the Xu Family to gain some renown among the various towns.

Xu Gongming shook his head, replying,

"The halberd is a weapon of dominance. Over the years, I've practiced with both long and short halberds, barely scratching the surface of the martial arts of weapons among Cultivators. Given the difficulty of this art, it is truly not easy for the Princely Heir to have achieved such a form at his young age."

Li Zhouwei nodded, sheathed the long halberd, changed his clothing, donned his robe, while the White Ape stood quietly by his side. Glancing at Xu Gongming, he spoke,

"Today is the day for Spirit Testing. The Princely Heir is set to head to Qingdu. You should leave earlier, Gongming."

"Yes, senior."

As a high-Cultivation Level elder of great standing in the Li Family, White Ape commanded respect. Xu Gongming hurried down the steps in response. Li Zhouwei waited on the stairs for a while, drank some tea, and then a young man walked into the hall.

Li Chengliao was dressed elaborately, wearing a grey wolf fur cloak that shimmered faintly under the light, making his already imposing figure appear even more majestic and formidable.

Although this occasion was for Spirit Testing, Li Chengliao had of course checked his own child beforehand. Li Zhouwei, just over six years old with a Spirit Aperture, had already put his mind at ease. However, he could not discern the quality of his talent, which still warranted a trip to the mountain.

Picking up Li Zhouwei, he said little, taking him into the sky with a surge of Mana, flying over the lake's surface, and swiftly landing atop Qingdu Mountain.

Li Zhouwei, fascinated by the feeling of soaring through the clouds, stabilized himself only to realize that many people were already standing on the mountain.

The person at the forefront was a middle-aged woman holding a spear, her long hair tied back, standing at the summit in glittering Jade Armor, looking quite formidable. Beside her stood an old man, Li Xuanxuan, whom Li Zhouwei had met before.

Li Chengliao promptly greeted with a bow,

"Auntie, welcome back!"

Li Qinghong raised an eyebrow slightly as she quietly said,

"I had some matters to attend to at home and have been back for a few days now. It's just in time for Zhouwei's Spirit Testing, and to take him to the ancestral hall."

Li Chengliao nodded slightly. On the side, Li Xuanxuan's face showed a mix of seriousness and expectation as he softly said,

"Leave the matters that follow to us. You should wait on the mountain."

Without further questioning, Li Chengliao nodded and stepped back. Li Qinghong approached, softly asking Li Zhouwei a couple of questions, staring into his eyes for a few moments before lifting him up, and together they entered the grand hall at the mountain's peak.

Li Qinghong paused briefly and inquired,

"Where is Ximing?"

Li Xuanxuan waved his hand, replying,

"He's in seclusion, adjusting his breath, preparing to break through to the Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment... This child progresses rapidly in cultivation. In just a few years, despite having been aided by a few bottles of Spiritual Liquid and Elixirs brought back by Xuanfeng, his pace of advancement is still astonishing."

Li Qinghong, on her return trip, did indeed want to see Li Zhouwei receiving the Talisman. She also received much news, whispering,

"The East Sea is becoming increasingly chaotic. I've heard that the Tang Jin Sect's Young Master inexplicably perished at sea. The Tang Jin Sect has sent people to look for clues many times and even enlisted the help of Northern Buddhist Practitioners, but they could never trace the whereabouts."

Li Xuanxuan frowned. Being at odds with the Immortal Sect, he naturally had no sympathy or regret for their situation, only asking,

"Given that, what stance is the Tang Jin Sect taking now, do they dare to investigate with their Zifu missing?"

"Of course they don't dare!"

Li Qinghong said softly,

"While passing by Qing Song Island, I made sure to inquire with Zhi. The Tang Jin Sect, realizing that a Zifu might be involved, has ceased their investigation and now is sending a group to the sea, claiming they want to capture the murderer... it's nothing more than an act after losing their Young Master, unable to save face. They're just making an empty showing in the sea to prevent their reputation from completely collapsing."

"It's just to deceive the Clan Cultivators and Loose Cultivators!"

Li Xuanxuan sighed,

"Back when, how arrogant was this Immortal Sect? However, with just a bit of meddling by two Immortal Sects... over a few decades, their talents have dwindled, the Young Master is weak, and even Zifu Monks vanish without a trace. Sooner or later, the Tang Jin Sect will become the Tang Jin Situ Family."

As they conversed casually, Li Xuanxuan placed his hand on the child's Heavenly Spirit Cover, letting Spiritual Sense and Mana flow to seal off his six senses.

After fiddling around, Li Xuanxuan released his hand, only to see the child's eyes still brightly fixed on him, causing him to pause in surprise, then turn to Li Qinghong for direction.