Previously on Immortality begin with Alchemy Grandmaster...
Fu Qinglan discovers a damaged array flag that feels familiar, hinting at a past connection. Meanwhile, Luo Chen successfully captures a Fifth-tier Ghost God, though he notes that taming it will be a challenge. He devises a plan to refine it into a powerful treasure. Later, Luo Chen and Little White travel to the desolate Heaven and Earth Peak, now shrouded in mist, before heading to the Western Continent and ascending into the vast void of Azure Darkness. There, Luo Chen begins refining the captured Ghost God and prepares to nurture his Blood Sword Yuan Tu within his Purple Mansion.
Drip!
Drip!
For several years now, the Bailu Marsh, sprawling across three thousand miles, has been shrouded in perpetual gloom.
Amidst this early spring chill, a ceaseless, fine rain falls.
On the eaves, slender streams of rainwater gather, cascading like a beaded curtain. Even beneath the sheltered corridors and the swooping eaves of the small, three-entry courtyard, droplets formed from congealed moisture continue to fall, one by one.
Thunk! Thunk! Thunk!
Soft yet sharp footsteps suddenly break the quiet, quickening their pace, becoming gradually more frequent.
Soon, a little girl, her hair in pigtails and her face small enough to fit in a hand, sprints in from outdoors.
This young girl is exceptionally adorable, possessing large eyes like pure black gems, a nose that tilts slightly upward, and delicate lips. However, her complexion is alarmingly pale, entirely lacking any natural rosiness.
She is dressed warmly, completely enveloped in a white velvet robe.
Yet, even the soft white velvet cannot mask her sickly pallor.
A voice, brimming with tender affection, calls out from behind her.
"Mao Mao, slow down, be careful not to trip."
The little girl obediently halts her dash, placing a hand on a thick corridor pillar as she catches her breath.
With palpable excitement, she addresses the person following her, "Mother, brother's lessons are finishing today, I want to play with him."
Having regained her breath, she resumes her sprint, running through the lengthy corridor towards a waterside pavilion, concealed behind a rock garden.
From behind, the gentle lady offers a soft smile and shakes her head, following at a leisurely pace.
Though a considerable distance separates her from the child named Mao Mao, the girl's figure remains clearly in view.
Just as they approach the entrance to the waterside pavilion, a middle-aged woman, clad in simple attire, emerges, bowing respectfully before retreating.
Upon seeing the gentle lady, she offers a solemn salutation.
"Greetings, madam."
Lin Jingshu regards the woman's face with a hint of uncertainty, inquiring hesitantly, "Are you affiliated with the Seventh Family?"
The middle-aged woman nods affirmatively, "Yes, my master learned that Young Master Fu You is dedicating himself to his studies. Considering his close connection with Young Master Yuqi, he specially instructed me to deliver some supplementary nourishment."
Lin Jingshu suddenly understands; her son indeed maintains a cordial relationship with Zhou Yuqi from the Seventh Family.
Furthermore, her husband shares a strong bond with the Seventh Family, forged through shared trials and tribulations.
Nevertheless, maintaining proper etiquette, she says, "This is exceedingly generous."
The middle-aged woman gives a strained smile, "It is of no significant trouble. Primarily, it is due to Young Master Fu You being so young and working so assiduously; there is concern he might inadvertently harm his health."
Lin Jingshu smiles warmly, "Thank you kindly. I shall personally visit to convey my gratitude when circumstances permit."
"Then this servant shall take her leave."
Lin Jingshu nods, her gaze following the middle-aged woman as she glides through the long gallery.
Her husband is truly held in high regard within the clan!
With a gentle sigh, she proceeds through the gallery, making her way towards the waterside pavilion.
Before even entering, she can discern the sound of laughter emanating from within.
"Brother, oh brother, is this character pronounced 'fēng', like the wind that blows?"
"That is correct, Mao Mao."
"Then what about the next character?"
"Ché, as in 'wind speed lightning chè'. It is also one of the characters employed in our Zhou Family Genealogy: 'Cang Kun Yun Xiāo, Hǎi Yú Jǐng Fēng, Ché Yú Qū Chéng, Lěi Diàn Ní Xià...' This verse signifies soaring through the clouds and commanding the seas, shattering lightning at the rosy dawn. Our Zhou Family originates from the Immortal Cultivation Clans of the Extreme North Coral Sea, thus we yearn for Longevity, traversing the oceans; our ancestors inscribed this series of profound characters."
"It's so intricate! And why do neither of our names incorporate these characters, while brother Yuqi's does?"
"In truth, you do. Your original name was Zhou Qingyu, but the ancestor altered it to the homophone, the character 'yǔ' for feather."
"What about you, brother?"
"I..."
The young girl's voice consistently resonates with vibrant curiosity, whereas the boy's voice, though gentle and clear, speaks with a measured cadence.
Yet, when addressing the reason his own name is absent from the family tree's character set, a trace of bewilderment underscores his tone.
Lin Jingshu enters at the opportune moment, observing her delightful daughter and handsome son. With a smile, she explains:
"It is because the ancestor harbored lofty aspirations for your brother, choosing the meaning derived from the humility of 'Fu You' to serve as a reminder against complacency."
The young boy, attired in a simple white Daoist robe, rises, extricating himself from the little girl's grasp, and offers a respectful salute to the woman.
"Mother!"
Lin Jingshu gently shakes her head, "We are at home; such formality is unnecessary. How have your studies progressed recently?"
Zhou Fuqiu responded with unwavering certainty: "I have exhaustively studied thirty-two volumes of the Taoist Collection, am deeply familiar with the ancestral teachings from our family’s classic texts, and have even explored the intricacies of the Wind and Earth Chronicles..."
The young boy's voice, calm and self-assured, carried an unhurried cadence.
Coupled with his impressive height, significantly surpassing that of his twin sister, it was truly astonishing to consider he was merely a five-year-old child!
Indeed, it was so.
At the tender age of five, Zhou Fuqiu had already earned the reputation of a prodigy, with his talents recognized throughout the entirety of the Zhou family.
By one year old, he could walk; by two, he spoke eloquently; and by three, he had mastered a vast number of poems and songs.
Subsequently, the conventional literary classics proved insufficient for his burgeoning intellect, leading him to begin delving into the Martial Arts Scriptures pertaining to cultivation.
Virtually every senior family member who encountered him harbored the conviction that, given the development of a Spirit Root, he was destined to become the Zhou family's preeminent cultivation genius!
Gazing at her son, Lin Jingshu’s eyes shimmered with profound pride and unadulterated joy.
However, her attention shifting to her daughter, who remained noticeably frail compared to other children her age, her complexion as pale as exquisite white jade coral, an indescribable ache of sorrow and pity gripped her heart.
Though they were twin siblings, brought into the world at nearly the same moment, Zhou Qingyu had been delicate and prone to illness since birth, her intellectual awakening occurring much later.
Despite the considerable resources invested by her parents, her health had not shown significant improvement.
To ensure her potential freedom from ailments, they had even bestowed upon her the unassuming moniker "Mao Mao," adhering to common customs for nurturing fragile children.
With a deep sigh, gently quieting the burgeoning affection within her chest, Lin Jingshu directed her inquiry to her son regarding another pressing matter.
