Chapter 167

Chapter 167: Returning to Kunyu City (1)

Yun Xi oriented herself, swiftly heading toward Kunyu City. It had been nearly ten years since she had left, and she felt a quiet fluttering in her heart at the thought of returning home.

Dian Dian and Flying Rosy Cloud could both sense their master’s anxiety, so neither disturbed her as she traveled. Dian Dian nestled quietly in her arms, while Flying Rosy Cloud rested atop her hairpin, watching the scenery blur past in streaks of green and gold.

Upon reaching Kunyu City, Yun Xi didn’t immediately return to the Wei family; instead, she went directly to the Feng family.

Concealing her features, she appeared as an early-stage Golden Core cultivator, and was greeted respectfully by the Feng family’s guards.

Upon receiving word, Feng Jia Qing hurried to the front hall, puzzled. He didn’t recall the Feng family recently receiving any messages from a Golden Core cultivator. Afraid of a potential enemy, he was cautious, but hearing from the guard that their guest was a female cultivator with a mild manner, he decided not to disturb their ancestor.

Yun Xi observed the hall as she waited. After ten years, it looked much the same, though several new decorative ornaments had been added. [It seems the Feng family has thrived these years.]

When Feng Jia Qing arrived, Yun Xi smiled and greeted him warmly: “Maternal uncle, I’m back!”

Feng Jia Qing was stunned by this sudden address, and after a moment’s pause, he asked hesitantly: “Yun Xi, is it really you?”

Yun Xi laughed softly, lifting a hand to remove her disguise and reveal her true appearance: “It’s me.”

Seeing a face that so closely resembled his younger sister, Feng Jia Qing broke into a genuinely happy smile: “You little rascal, why didn’t you send word before returning? If not for your face, your maternal uncle would never have recognized you.”

He looked her up and down, nodding approvingly and commenting continuously, “Very good! Your cultivation is stable, and you’ve grown taller. But why did you form your Golden Core so early? Shouldn’t you have refined your foundation longer? Did anything go wrong during cultivation?”

Yun Xi guided him gently into a chair and briefly recounted her past decade at the sect, leaving Feng Jia Qing sighing in wonder.

When Yun Xi paused to take a sip of spirit tea, Feng Jia Qing asked: “Have you been back to the Wei family? How did they treat you?”

Yun Xi replied softly, setting her tea down: “Not yet. I wanted to see you first, Maternal Uncle.”

Though Feng Jia Qing did not approve of her doing things this way, his heart warmed with happiness.

“It’s alright since you concealed your face. Tomorrow, after seeing Ancestor, you can return to the Wei family openly. Let Wei Ling Yue see your progress—this time, he’ll be the one greeting you respectfully.”

Yun Xi could hear the smugness in her uncle’s tone, so she casually asked: “Wei Ling Yue failed his Golden Core breakthrough?”

“Yes,” Feng Jia Qing replied. “The news hasn’t spread openly, but we’ve pieced it together. He claims he’s closed-door cultivating, but secretly he’s searching for high-grade healing pills.”

“Did he approach you, Maternal Uncle?” Yun Xi teased gently.

Feng Jia Qing snorted disdainfully: “No. He wouldn’t dare ask the Feng family for help.”

Yun Xi knew the reason must involve her mother. After some thought, she took out a small jade bottle from her storage ring and handed it to Feng Jia Qing.

“Maternal Uncle, this Golden Core Formation Pill was prepared by my master. He originally didn’t approve of me using pills to break through, and by chance, I formed my Golden Core naturally in the mortal world. This pill is useless to me now but could help you achieve Golden Core.”

Feng Jia Qing waved his hand immediately, refusing, “This won’t do. A Golden Core Formation Pill is incredibly valuable. Even if you don’t need it, selling it at auction would provide substantial spirit stones, greatly aiding your cultivation. Don’t waste it on me.”

Yun Xi gently persuaded him: “Maternal Uncle, don’t treat me as an outsider. How could giving it to you be a waste? Now that I’m a Golden Core cultivator, the Wei family will inevitably boast of my achievements, overshadowing the Feng family. But once you form your Golden Core, you’ll stand as equals. Even if I leave Kunyu City again, the Feng family won’t be suppressed.”

Yun Xi understood clearly that her return would upset Kunyu City’s delicate balance. In the original novel, Wei Yun Xi became the disciple of Grand Righteous Sect’s Sect Master, and Wei Yun Qing studied under the Alchemy Peak Master. This had made the Wei family the leading power in Kunyu City.

In the novel, Wei Ling Yue had used this momentum to secretly suppress the Feng family, but Wei Yun Xi had been too caught up in winning Sheng Yu Hong’s affection and competing against Wei Yun Qing to notice. Yun Xi would never make that mistake again.

Giving the Golden Core Formation Pill to Feng Jia Qing was a calculated move, especially now that she knew her mother hadn’t truly fallen but was temporarily absent from the Lofty Cosmos Realm. She needed to secure the Feng family’s position.

Feng Jia Qing hesitated, aware he couldn’t truly refuse such a valuable pill. Finally, he sighed and accepted it solemnly: “Then, Maternal Uncle will shamelessly accept this. However, I’ll pay you the market value for the pill; you must accept it.”

This time, Yun Xi did not refuse, understanding that paying in spirit stones would ease Feng Jia Qing’s heart, ensuring he did not feel indebted.

After receiving the pill, Feng Jia Qing rose: “Come, Yun Xi, let’s go see Ancestor.”

“Alright.”

When they reached Ancestor Feng Feng’s quiet cultivation place, they heard a loud explosion and saw black smoke pouring out.

Feng Jia Qing rubbed his forehead, explaining sheepishly: “Ancestor has been trying to refine a Golden Core Formation Pill lately, and it seems the cauldron just exploded again.”

Yun Xi smiled knowingly; she was familiar with the frustration of exploding furnaces.

Moments later, Feng Feng appeared in the yard, flicking his sleeve to disperse the smoke. He studied Yun Xi carefully before smiling warmly: “You’re Yun Xi?”

“Yes, Ancestor. Yun Xi has returned.”

“Excellent. Your cultivation is already equal to Ancestor’s,” Feng Feng praised, deeply gratified.

Feng Jia Qing quickly added proudly: “Ancestor, Yun Xi even became a disciple of True Lord Yu Ling from the Grand Righteous Sect. Wei Ling Yue will have to acknowledge her greatness now.”

“Good! Very good!” Feng Feng laughed even more cheerfully.

The three of them then gathered around the stone table, chatting warmly into the moonlit night.

Besides recounting her experiences, Yun Xi asked Feng Feng several alchemy questions, even bringing out her Purple Jade Coiling Dragon Cauldron for appraisal.

After their discussion, Feng Jia Qing returned to Yun Xi the items her mother had entrusted to his safekeeping. He also informed her seriously that one of her mother’s storage bags had secretly been taken by Wei Ling Yue.

Yun Xi’s expression turned cold as she scoffed softly: “He truly feels no shame.”

Feng Jia Qing explained in detail how he had discreetly handled the items left behind, clarifying that the storage bag Wei Ling Yue found hidden under the white jade bed was intentionally placed there as a decoy. The real valuables were safely hidden under the floor tiles.

Yun Xi didn’t care about such details; anything her mother had left was meant for her alone—Wei Ling Yue had no right to them.

Then she turned serious and asked directly, “Ancestor, Maternal Uncle, tell me honestly—was Wei Ling Yue involved in my mother’s ‘death’?”

This was what she needed to know most urgently.

Feng Feng and Feng Jia Qing exchanged glances, eventually deciding to tell the truth, believing Yun Xi was now strong enough to handle the information.

Feng Jia Qing cleared his throat gravely and admitted, “Yes. Your mother and Wei Ling Yue explored an ancient cultivator’s tomb, but only Wei Ling Yue returned.”