Mountain Venerable and Sea Immortal

The morning mist had not yet dissipated at the outer martial arts arena, where dozens of disciples had gathered for their monthly group physical training, which was in full swing. Master Danxuan sat on the high platform, intently supervising everyone as they honed their physical bodies and stabilized their spiritual power. The sounds of fists and kicks cutting through the air and spiritual energy surging filled the air.

Lin Yan stood to one side of the crowd, his spiritual energy flowing slowly around him. His aura, at the seventh level of Qi Refining, was restrained and unassuming. Occasionally, when he raised his hand, wisps of water swirled around his fingertips as he secretly practiced his newly acquired "Waves Sword Finger." His movements were steady, and his power was gradually becoming more refined. Beside him, Yun Xi closed her eyes and concentrated, her sword intent restrained as if concealing its edge. Yi Azhu stood beside the spiritual herbs, using her water-spirit body to sense the surrounding spiritual energy. Chen Dagang, along with the other disciples, vigorously trained his body, his blood surging, and his aura growing increasingly powerful.

Only Ye Qing stood alone in a corner of the martial arts arena, eyes closed, meditating and silently circulating his wood-elemental spiritual energy. He remained as taciturn and indifferent as ever, yet deep within his heart lingered an unresolved mystery. The azure light that had inadvertently leaked from the forbidden area, and the meaningful gaze of Master Qingxuan at that time, constantly reminded him that he harbored an unknown past, a secret bloodline that even he himself was unaware of.

"Oh, isn't this Lin Yan's little follower? Hiding alone in a corner, is it because you're incapable of cultivating with others, or are you too ashamed to show your face?"

Several deliberately provocative voices suddenly rang out, shattering the tranquility. Su Chen and Zhao Kui, leading two henchmen, slowly approached, their eyes filled with jealousy and malice. Ever since witnessing Lin Yan's sword prowess that day, the two dared not provoke him directly, so they directed all their resentment towards those around Lin Yan. Seeing Ye Qing alone, they immediately stepped forward to provoke him, deliberately setting a trap to cause trouble.

Ye Qing slowly opened his eyes, his expression calm and composed. He simply said, "This is a training ground for the sect. Please refrain from making any noise or causing trouble."

"Causing trouble?" Zhao Kui sneered, taking a step forward. His body surged with seventh-level Qi Refining power. He deliberately raised his hand to shove Ye Qing on the shoulder. "Today, we're going to cause trouble here. What can you do about it? I think you're hiding something, using this body-training opportunity to secretly conceal your spiritual power. You're up to no good!"

He deliberately provoked a conflict so he could frame Ye Qing, cause a scene in the Hall of Deacons, and tarnish the reputation of Lin Yan and his group. The surrounding disciples glanced at him, but none dared to intervene.

Ye Qing wanted to dodge to the side, but Zhao Kui's fist wind, carrying savage spiritual power, came straight at him. Under the sudden pressure, it instantly triggered the bloodline power hidden in his dantian.

In an instant, Ye Qing's wood-elemental spiritual power surged uncontrollably, and a faint yet pure and profound cyan light quietly burst forth from his fingertips. His aura suddenly changed, shedding its usual gentleness and gaining a heavy pressure originating from ancient bloodlines.

An invisible force slowly spread out from him. Zhao Kui felt as if he had crashed into an indestructible barrier. He cried out in surprise and his body staggered back several steps uncontrollably. He almost fell backward, his face full of astonishment and anger.

The entire arena fell silent instantly, all eyes fixed on Ye Qing, filled with astonishment. No one had expected that this usually low-key and unassuming young man would possess such hidden strength, and the flowing blue light emanating from him exuded an extraordinary spiritual charm.

Ye Qing himself was also taken aback. He quickly suppressed the surging spiritual power around him and forcibly pushed that wisp of green light back into his dantian. However, the strange movement just now had already been seen by Danxuan Zhenren on the high platform and Qingxuan Zhenren who had quietly appeared in the forest.

Su Chen snapped out of his daze and immediately shouted angrily, "Ye Qing! How dare you injure someone while you're practicing your body-building skills? You've disregarded the sect's rules! I'm going to report you to the Hall of Affairs!"

"You were the ones who provoked me first, and Ye Qing was merely acting in self-defense." Lin Yan had appeared beside Ye Qing at some point, his expression calm and his tone steady. "With the judge before us and all eyes on us, right and wrong will be judged fairly."

Master Qingxuan slowly walked out of the bamboo forest, his gaze sweeping over Lin Yan, Ye Qing, Su Chen, and Zhao Kui. His tone was authoritative and brooked no argument: "You two are punished for deliberately provoking trouble and disrupting the sect's order during your group physical training. You are to clean the mountain path behind the sect for three days. If you commit this offense again, you will be severely punished and expelled from the outer sect."

The two were filled with resentment, but faced with the punishment from the inner sect master, they dared not utter a word of objection. They could only glare hatefully at Lin Yan and Ye Qing before leaving dejectedly. Thus, a deliberately provoked storm was quelled.

The physical training continued, but the doubts in Ye Qing's heart grew stronger.

After the morning practice ended, all the disciples dispersed. Master Qingxuan dismissed everyone else, leaving only Ye Qing behind. The two walked to a secluded bamboo grove beside the martial arts arena. It was quiet all around, and there was no one else around.

Master Qingxuan turned to look at Ye Qing, his gaze gentle yet containing a hidden meaning. He did not reveal Ye Qing's bloodline or background, but simply raised his fingertip and took out a dark green jade slip that shimmered with the luster of wood spirit, and handed it to him.

"This is the 'Azure Wood Nourishing Spirit Technique,' a superior wood-attribute cultivation method that conceals spiritual power and nourishes the soul. It is extremely compatible with your physique and talent." Master Qingxuan's voice was calm and solemn. "You should cultivate diligently and remember three things: conceal your power, wait for the right time, and guard your mind. Do not easily reveal any abnormal spiritual power within your body unless it is a matter of life and death."

Ye Qing accepted the jade slip with both hands, his fingertips tightening slightly. Looking into Qingxuan Zhenren's eyes, he became increasingly certain that he must be hiding a shocking secret about his past. However, since the Zhenren was unwilling to speak openly, he did not press the matter further. He immediately bowed respectfully and said, "This disciple will remember the Zhenren's teachings and will never forget them."

Master Qingxuan gave him a deep look, sighed softly, and turned to leave, leaving Ye Qing alone in the bamboo forest, filled with confusion. He lowered his head to stare at the "Azure Wood Spirit Nourishing Technique" in his hand, recalling the uncontrollable burst of azure light just now, and secretly resolved to find out the mystery of his own origins. After Master Qingxuan's figure had completely disappeared, Ye Qing composed himself and walked straight towards the outer sect's scripture pavilion.

During his leisurely afternoon, he quietly perused ancient books and scrolls in a corner of the library, carefully searching for any words or phrases related to Qingmang and the ancient wood-type bloodline. However, most of the books in the library contained basic cultivation techniques and records of sect affairs. By dusk, he had still found nothing and could only walk out of the library with a heart full of regret.

All of this was observed by Lin Yan, who was secretly keeping an eye on things.

As Ye Qing slowly emerged from the library, Lin Yan stepped forward without saying a word. He didn't press for details about the secret, but spoke sincerely with unwavering eyes: "Brother Ye Qing, I know you have something on your mind. If you're unwilling to speak, I won't force you. From now on, we are close friends, walking hand in hand. In the future, if you ever face difficulties, I will share them with you."

Ye Qing felt a warmth in his heart. Since arriving at Laoshan, many people had distanced themselves from him and suspected him because of his unknown background and his low-key and taciturn nature. Only Lin Yan had always treated him with sincerity and without any contempt or distance. Looking at the sincerity and determination in Lin Yan's eyes, his tense brows relaxed slightly, and he nodded solemnly.

"Brother Lin's trust is deeply appreciated by Ye Qing. If ever needed in the future, I will serve you to the death."

The evening breeze rustled through the woods, and the bamboo leaves whispered. The two boys stood side by side, needing no words; a tacit understanding of walking side by side and weathering storms together was already deeply rooted in their hearts.