The Way of The Dao

The first rays of the sun rose from the horizon, illuminating the world as it announced the beginning of the day.

A figure in one of the personal courtyards of the Feng residence slowly moved in various positions, extending his legs and moving his arms in arcs, creating what appeared to be some strange techniques giving off mysterious sensations.

Beads of sweat fell from Ling Tian's temples, covering his entire head and neck, reaching and soaking his upper press as he went through the morning motions for his body.

Ever since he absorbed Purple Chi, Ling Tian never stopped practicing this series of movements he had in his head; every morning he would perform it before sunrise, where the pressure and strength he felt were unique.

"Ugh!"

Ling Tian groaned and opened his eyes when he saw a minuscule, tiny strand of Purple Chi coming from the horizon!

His movements became deeper and more extensive, reaching the last stage he had to perform. The Purple Chi moved as if zigzagging through the sun's rays and headed towards Ling Tian.

* Boom! *

A burst inside his body and slightly around him exploded into small but powerful energies!

Ling Tian let his arm outstretched and let out a long sigh before relaxing, feeling the pressure on his body disappear and the Purple Chi melt into his body.

"Haa~ Haa~ The last step is still somewhat difficult..." Ling Tian whispered with his breathing slowly stabilizing, the last move where it was to throw his fist as if to punch was still difficult, though not like the first time, it was still a little hard for Ling Tian.

"Although there is barely and sliver of this Purple Chi, it is still very beneficial." Ling Tian smiled as he looked into his body; his Meridians and Dantian were repairing a little faster and he was now closer to reaching the fourth revolution of his body refinement!

Moreover, the amount of Purple Chi essence unlike the first time clearly was almost scarce.

"At this rate, my recovery will be much faster and I'll soon be back to cultivating like before."

Ling Tian looked at the small pond he had in the personal courtyard; in it, there were curiously two very small fish swimming.

He had also practiced all night in front of this pond, remembering the sensations when he was immersed in the mysterious Yin-Yang force in the cave earlier, then going about his morning routine. Those two fish must have been created out of his intention and understanding...

"Grandmaster..."

Xuanyuan Ling approached and handed him a small towel, but Ling Tian could see that her expression was somewhat strange and avoided looking him straight in the eyes. Ling Tian could even notice a tinge of disappointment on her...

"What's wrong, Ling'er? Did I do something wrong?" Ling Tian smiled wryly as he wiped the sweat from his face as he remembered that Xuanyuan Ling started to look at him from that way when Li Fengyuan left.

She most likely misunderstood about the personal maid proposal and thought he was that kind of man. Ling Tian had not made it clear that he wanted Li Fengyuan to be his sword maid, nothing more.

Shin Wei said nothing, simply thinking it was normal. Any man would think so, therefore he did not say or ask about it to Ling Tian.

Xuanyuan Ling shook her head slightly before returning to sit down. Although she had that expression, she still handed him a cloth to wipe off his sweat. Ling Tian couldn't even see a somewhat cheerful or normal expression on her anymore, much less now that she was wearing her veil.

Ling Tian cast the basic water spells and washed off the light impurities and sweat from moments ago, changing his clothes right away.

"Is it time already?"

Ling Tian asked once Shin Wei appeared.

"The tournament has apparently already started, but they're only fighting cultivators at the Chi Gathering Stage. This family's brat looks like he will be fighting later along with the other young masters of his generation, including Li Fengyuan." Shin Wei nodded and said everything he had seen when he went out to take a look.

Ling Tian nodded slightly.

"Master, are you planning to help that woman?" Shin Wei asked Ling Tian about Li Fengyuan.

"Do you think I should help her?" Ling Tian smiled indifferently as he recalled the previous night.

Li Fengyuan had asked him to wait because she wasn't sure in the end, so she wanted to think about it that night.

"What if she is in danger?" Shin Wei asked once again, he as Ling Tian did not like this kind of situation seeing Li Fengyuan being forced against her will.

"I can somewhat understand how she must be feeling, after all, my siblings and I also once felt this way before we were taken in by you, Master." Shin Wei spoke once more, referring to him and his martial brothers and sisters.

"You are not the only one... I also felt like that several times, wishing there was a warm and welcoming helping hand that would remove all my problems at that time..."

Ling Tian sighed as he recalled the lonely and cold situations he was in, being surrounded or chased by countless enemies and having no warm and safe side to be on. His mighty and invincible spirit also had its moments of weakness and loneliness, coldness and sadness; there were many moments of near surrender and despondency, discouragement and dejection that he almost lost himself before reasserting himself once again and moving on. Even depression was something that accompanied him most of the time...

Shin Wei couldn't help but blink somewhat in surprise, finally realizing that Ling Tian is also a human and also needed some or many times comforting help, perhaps the same one he received with his siblings.

"Let's see what develops."

Ling Tian simply said these words when Feng Xiao appeared before them.

"Senior brother! Brother, martial sister!" Feng Xiao respectfully greeted Ling Tian and also greeted Shin Wei and Xuanyuan Ling.

Shin Wei nodded with a smile and Xuanyuan Ling did not respond, causing Feng Xiao to scratch his head at her change in demeanor,

"Where is your grandfather?" Ling Tian asked.

"My grandfather warned me that he was on his way, so he will surely see us at the tournament and then leave here and go to the imperial capital." Feng Xiao replied.

Ling Tian nodded without further questions. There were special devices that could make ones communicate despite being separated by several miles. Feng Xiao as part of a grand family it would not be strange for him to have these special and powerful devices.

"By the way, didn't that guy go to personally take you to the tournament?" However, Ling Tian suddenly asked Feng Xiao, referring to Feng Rao.

"No. He didn't even send his servants to warn me." Feng Xiao shook his head and said, "I heard that he was already at the tournament with his son and the other family elders. It seems that now his attention is on that guy who came with his son, the royal family member."

Feng Rao's attitude had changed overnight, and now it seemed that they were no longer important guests like before!

"I'm not surprised." Ling Tian said indifferently, "He couldn't be completely sure with the assumptions of your identity, but having a solid foundation with that kid from the royal family he would put all his interest and care into the latter."

The cultivation world is like that, only interests and profits matter.

"Let's go."

Ling Tian walked with the others to the place where the city's young genius tournament was supposed to be held. Although this tournament did not enter his eyes, he still wanted to see what event would take place having noticed the tensions in the city and the changes he brought with his presence being mistaken for Feng Yu.