Eternal Reverence Chapter 4: Talent Restored

Li Fuchen opened his eyes and stated plainly, “Li Yunhe, today could have been a peaceful and happy day for you.”

He paid Li Yunhe no mind; even though Li Yunhe was at the fifth level of the Qi Realm, strength wasn't the sole determinant of one's cultivation. Martial sense possessed the ability to easily bridge such gaps.

“Enough with the empty talk! Draw your sword!” Li Yunhe commanded, unsheathing his steel sword.

“As you wish.”

Li Fuchen walked towards the training grounds, positioning himself five meters away from Li Yunhe.

“Li Fuchen, I recently achieved the novice stage of my Drifting Sword Style, though it’s not even near completion. I shall use you as a test subject.” With a sudden shift in posture, Li Yunhe’s steel sword darted out, moving with a fluidity akin to water, aimed directly at Li Fuchen.

Had it been merely half a month prior, Li Fuchen would have been incapable of repelling Li Yunhe’s Drifting Sword Style. However, at this moment, Li Yunhe’s sword forms appeared riddled with openings to Li Fuchen’s perception.

With a subtle shift, Li Fuchen skillfully evaded the incoming steel sword.

“How dare you!” Li Yunhe’s composure fractured, and he began to escalate the speed of his sword strikes.

Despite the increased velocity, none of his attacks connected with Li Fuchen, who moved as if dancing with the wind, exuding an aura of effortless mastery.

“This is… impossible?”

Li Yunhe found it hard to believe his own eyes. His face flushed crimson as he compressed his Qi, pushing the Drifting Sword Style to its absolute limit.

Nevertheless, his efforts proved futile.

“Li Yunhe, it’s my turn to draw now.”

The instant he finished speaking, his steel sword was drawn from its scabbard.

*Dang!*

Li Yunhe’s sword clattered to the ground, dislodged from his grasp.

*Pfff!*

A spray of fresh blood erupted as Li Yunhe staggered backward. The fabric of his chest area tore open, revealing the distinct imprint of a palm.

“Li Yunhe… lost?”

A collective gasp of astonishment rippled through the observers at the training grounds.

“How can this be? Just half a month ago, Li Fuchen was no match for Li Yunhe. Has his talent miraculously returned within these two weeks?”

“Even if his talent returned, to surpass Li Yunhe in just half a month… isn’t that too unbelievable?”

A profound sense of disbelief settled upon everyone present; the situation was simply too surreal.

“Li Yunhe, in the past, you were never my equal, and that holds true now more than ever. I hope you learn from this.”

With his sword returned to its scabbard, Li Fuchen turned and departed.

Not long after Li Fuchen’s departure, the entire Li Clan erupted into a frenzy of discussion.

……

“Fuchen, has your talent truly returned to its former state?”

At the dining table, Li Tianhan’s voice trembled with emotion. His mother, Shen Yuyan, gazed at Li Fuchen with tender, loving eyes.

“Dad, Mom, my talent recovered two weeks ago. I was planning to surprise you both,” Li Fuchen admitted truthfully.

“You silly boy, if your talent had returned, why didn’t you tell us sooner?” Upon hearing Li Fuchen’s confession, Li Tianhan felt a surge of elation mixed with a touch of exasperation.

“Haha! In the end, the heavens have not forsaken you, nor have they forsaken me, Li Tianhan.”

Li Tianhan let out a hearty laugh, the immense burden that had weighed on his heart finally lifted. He had endured a similar sense of oppression, yet had no one with whom to share the burden.

Despite holding the esteemed position of Li Clan Patriarch and possessing a noble standing, their Li Clan in Yunwu City had been in steady decline. They had not only fallen far behind the Yang Clan but were also being slightly surpassed by the Guan Clan.

Originally, both Li Yunhai and Li Fuchen represented the hope of the Li Clan, possessing a high probability of being accepted as disciples into the Cang Lan Sect. Should they both succeed, the Li Clan would stand a chance of reclaiming its former glory, or at the very least, escape its current state of decay.

Setting aside the clan’s affairs, any father would naturally desire a bright future for his child. The sudden and inexplicable disappearance of Li Fuchen’s talent, with no apparent means of recovery, had left him outwardly calm but inwardly in constant turmoil.

Now, however, everything was back on a promising path.

“Oh, that’s right. Fuchen, how did you manage to defeat Li Yunhe? Weren’t you not cultivating for the past year?” Shen Yuyan inquired.

Li Fuchen had a prepared explanation: “During the past year, I diligently practiced cultivation daily, enduring nothing but hardship. Once my talent was restored, I discovered my concentration had improved tenfold. Consequently, my swordsmanship advanced at a remarkable pace.”

“Blessings and hardships often walk hand-in-hand. Having been unable to cultivate for an entire year, Fuchen developed an unyielding determination and persistence, enabling him to achieve results with half the effort.” Li Tianhan offered a logical explanation, accepting it without a trace of doubt.

Shen Yuyan was overcome with emotion, contemplating the inexplicable wonders of the world. The atmosphere at the dinner table tonight was one of joyous celebration, a rare occurrence this year.

The dinner at the other family’s residence, in stark contrast, was steeped in gloom.

“Yunhe, tell me, what exactly happened?” Li Tieshan questioned Li Yunhe.

Still reeling from the defeat, Li Yunhe mumbled, “I… I don’t know. I truly don’t…”

Witnessing the current state of Li Yunhe, his elder brother, Li Yunhai, scoffed. “I’ve already surpassed you. Your sword techniques are riddled with openings, and your fundamentals are still shaky. Even Li Fuchen could easily defeat you; you’re a disgrace.”

“Enough, Yunhai. He is still your brother; give him some leeway,” chided the mother of the two young men.

“If you cannot even endure a minor setback, how can you possibly achieve success in the future?”

Li Tieshan was displeased with Li Yunhe’s performance. He had been in a long-standing rivalry with Li Tianhan, always finding himself in the inferior position, even losing the Patriarch position to him. This fueled his immense expectations for his sons. His eldest was the clan’s genius, with a high probability of becoming a disciple of the Cang Lan Sect. His youngest, too, had been developing well this year, but his showing today was a considerable disappointment.

Noticing his father’s displeasure, Li Yunhai spoke up, “Father, please be at ease. When the opportunity arises, I will help my brother discipline that Li Fuchen.”

He had never truly considered Li Fuchen a threat, not even a year ago, as he hadn't believed Li Fuchen's talent surpassed his own.

***

Pant… Pant…

Li Fuchen’s breaths were deep and drawn-out, with a faint crimson glow emanating from his abdomen with each inhale.

Last year, Li Fuchen had reached the peak of the fourth level of the Qi Realm. If not for the delay, reaching the peak of the fifth level of the Qi Realm would not have been a demanding task.

Making up for the lost year was no simple feat.

Li Fuchen’s immediate priority was to break through to the fifth rank of the Red Jade Technique, which would boost his cultivation speed. With future advancements in mind, he intended to rapidly break through to the seventh rank of the Red Jade Technique.

Within his mind, as Li Fuchen cultivated his Qi… streaks of green appeared within his pale green soul spirit. Like threads, they began to weave themselves around the golden amulet.

***

Deep into the night.

The pale red glow around Li Fuchen’s abdomen suddenly intensified! Inside his body, his Qi detached itself from all meridians associated with the fourth rank of the Red Jade Technique and channeled into a hidden meridian.

One meridian, two meridians…

The Qi freed a total of five meridians, causing Li Fuchen’s Qi to flow through an intricate network of paths.

“Fifth rank of the Red Jade Technique.”

Exhaling a powerful breath, Li Fuchen opened his eyes, a look of elation gracing his features.

Advancing to a higher rank in techniques would not only accelerate his cultivation but also make his Qi more potent and explosive.