Chapter 84

Time flows like water, silently and without a trace, and before they knew it, nearly five years had passed.

Winged Snake Lake, Clear Heart Island.

Clear Heart Island was the name Ji Ning gave to this lake island. The island, once desolate, was now as beautiful as a paradise, with various flowers blooming in competition. With the meticulous care of some servants, it was even more breathtaking. It was now the transition between spring and summer.

"Big Sister Qiuye, Big Sister Qiuye," a young man in green clothes was running and shouting.

Qiuye, who was sitting there brewing tea, turned her head and smiled, "Qing Shi, have you finished your archery practice? Did Master Mengyu scold you again?"

"Well..." Qing Shi scratched his head helplessly, "How could I not be scolded? Master Mengyu always scolds me during practice, and he often compares me to my brother. My brother is such a genius; how can I compare?"

"You must cherish it," Qiuye looked at Qing Shi as if he were her own younger brother and said earnestly, "Young Master said that although Master Mengyu’s dantian was destroyed, he is now more specialized in archery. His archery skills have even improved. Master Mengyu agreed to teach you because he lives on Clear Heart Island and Young Master spoke on your behalf. You must study well; it is a great art to master."

Qing Shi nodded, "I understand."

Qing Shi was also very happy living on Clear Heart Island. Ji Ning treated him like a younger brother, addressing each other as brother and younger brother. The way they addressed each other showed their close relationship. Normally, they would call each other 'Big Brother' or 'Older Brother,' but only those who grew up together in childhood would call each other brother.

"Sure," Qiuye smiled and nodded.

"Where is Big Brother Ji Ning?" Qing Shi asked, "Is he practicing his sword?"

Qiuye smiled and said, "He’s not practicing his sword."

"Oh, then he must be sleeping on Winged Snake Lake," Qing Shi said with a smile. Having lived on Winged Snake Lake for nearly five years, he was very familiar with Ji Ning’s habits. Nowadays, Ji Ning either practiced his sword or slept on a small boat on Winged Snake Lake, drifting with the waves.

"Yes, he’s sleeping," Qiuye also turned to look at the vast lake.

Qing Shi couldn’t help but say, "When I asked Big Brother Ji Ning why he always sleeps on Winged Snake Lake, he said... he was practicing. I don’t understand how sleeping on Winged Snake Lake can be practice. But Big Brother Ji Ning’s sword skills have indeed become more powerful. Two years ago, Commander Ji already admitted defeat!"

"Yes, Young Master’s sword skills have become even more incredible," Qiuye sighed. "I once saw Young Master practicing his sword, and a large number of water birds flew over and circled around him, unwilling to leave for a long time."

"Really that amazing?" Qing Shi was surprised.

"Commander Ji used to duel with Young Master every year. After admitting defeat two years ago, he hasn’t come back. It’s a pity that Young Master doesn’t allow me to watch. I wonder what the scene of the duel between Commander Ji and Young Master is like." Qiuye had a hint of longing. In her eyes, Ji Yichuan’s sword skills had long been mythologized, and Young Master’s current level of sword skills was unfathomable.

Ji Yichuan lived on Clear Heart Island, but on the other end. He was usually reclusive and proud, forbidding anyone from entering. There were no servants at all. Only Ji Ning could enter occasionally to accompany his father. "I’m really curious, what level has Big Brother’s sword skills reached?" Qing Shi’s eyes were filled with admiration.

"Look," Qiuye suddenly looked towards the lake.

"Huh?" Qing Shi also turned to look.

In the distance, a boat could be seen faintly. Qing Shi first showed a joyful expression, thinking it was the small boat where Ji Ning was sleeping. But upon closer inspection... it was a large boat, a ferry boat that frequently transported people between the island and the shore. After all, now many people lived on Clear Heart Island, with nearly a hundred servants. A large amount of food had to be delivered to the island, and some outsiders came to visit, so there was a ferry boat.

On the ferry boat.

A group of young people were on the boat, chatting and laughing.

"The Patriarch sent us to pay respects to Ji Ning," a tall young man with a bare chest said with a hint of resentment. "We are from the Ji Clan’s main house, much stronger than the other four houses! We six are the strongest of the young generation in the main house. It’s fine to have us spar with Ji Ning, but to say we should ‘pay respects’ and let Ji Ning ‘guide’ us? And to be respectful?"

"Shut up," a handsome young man said sternly. "The Patriarch has instructed us to be respectful and to address Ji Ning as Young Master."

"Alright, alright, Young Master Ji Ning," the tall young man couldn’t help but say. "We are fine, but Ji Mo, you are the absolute genius of the young generation in our main house, having reached the Xiantian realm at the age of fifteen. You have already mastered the Ji Clan’s clan-defending art, the ‘Myriad Sword Melody.’ Ji Ning... Young Master Ji Ning, although he reached the Xiantian realm a few years earlier than you, can only spar with you. How can you go to pay respects and let him guide you?"

"Ji Mo," a woman in black said, "Tong Zhan is right. This time, the Patriarch’s instructions are clear, and no one dares to openly resist, but everyone is不服气 (unconvinced) in their hearts. We are the best of the young generation in the main house. Ji Ning... Young Master Ji Ning is just from the Western House of the Ji Clan. No matter how talented, he is only slightly better than us. How can he have the qualifications to make us pay respects and be guided by him?"

"Enough," the handsome young man’s gaze was calm, and he scanned the surroundings. The other five young men fell silent.

Ji Mo was the undisputed first among the young generation of the Ji Clan’s main house and had been with Aunt Shadow since childhood, making his position even more special. Many people believed that Ji Mo would be the next head of the main house.

"You all know that I have been with Aunt Shadow," Ji Mo said slowly.

"Yes," the five young men’s eyes were filled with admiration.

Aunt Shadow...

In the entire Ji Clan, there were two people at the pinnacle: the Clan Leader Ji Jiuhuo! The other was Aunt Shadow! Aunt Shadow was Ji Jiuhuo’s younger sister, a grandmother who had lived for nearly four hundred years, and there was no doubt that she had also reached the Zifu cultivator realm three hundred years ago.

These two were the publicly known Zifu cultivators of the Ji Clan.

As for whether there were any hidden Zifu cultivators, it was hard to say. A clan must have some hidden cards and means, real and fake, to last long.

"Aunt Shadow taught me sword skills," Ji Mo said softly. "My sword skills are far inferior to Aunt Shadow’s. Do you know why the Patriarch sent us six to Winged Snake Lake to pay respects to Ji Ning?"

"I heard that the other Eastern, Northern, and Southern Houses have sent their young generation disciples to pay respects to Young Master Ji Ning, so our main house also sent us six."

"Wrong," Ji Mo shook his head gently.

"Our main house is the foundation of the Ji Clan. The Clan Leader and Aunt Shadow are both from our main house," Ji Mo said. "Our main house also has the largest territory and the most Xiantian beings, far exceeding the other four houses. The Red Armor Guards are also stationed in our main house. Why would we need to learn from the other houses?"

"Then why?" they all looked at Ji Mo.

Ji Mo said softly, "Because a year ago, Aunt Shadow came to Winged Snake Lake."

"Aunt Shadow came to Winged Snake Lake?" The other five young men immediately had many thoughts.

Ji Mo said, "The Clan Leader once highly praised Young Master Ji Ning, believing that he would surely be the first of the Ji Clan in the future! So Aunt Shadow came to Winged Snake Lake to personally see what Young Master Ji Ning was capable of..."

"How was it?"

"What did Aunt Shadow say?" The five young men looked at Ji Mo expectantly.

Ji Mo’s eyes had a hint of peculiar expression and said slowly, "After Aunt Shadow returned, I asked her how I compared to Young Master Ji Ning. Aunt Shadow only said it was hard to compare, hard to compare. I continued to ask what level Young Master Ji Ning’s sword skills had reached, and Aunt Shadow only said one thing—unfathomable!"

"Unfathomable!" The five young men were shocked. For Aunt Shadow to say this, Ji Ning’s sword skills must be terrifying.

"Gentlemen, it’s time to disembark," a boatman shouted loudly.

The six of them looked up, and the ferry boat was already almost docked. The buildings in the distance were staggered, and the scenery was breathtaking. They all couldn’t help but marvel, and Ji Mo’s eyes sparkled, "Ji Ning lives here?"