"I seek the foundational Body Tempering manuals," Gu Qingxi stated her intent plainly.
"Oh! Right, yes! You absolutely need Body Tempering," Lu Tianyu exclaimed, immediately recalling her struggles during the second trial and her firm resolution. He vigorously nodded his agreement. What kind of swordsman couldn't even heft their own blade? His own spirit sword, resting securely across his back, weighed well over two hundred jin. Without sufficient physical fortitude, wielding it would be impossible.
"Come on, I'll accompany you inside. Just register at the entrance using our identity tokens. Generally, manuals from the first three levels are freely borrowable, with a return period of six months. Extensions after that cost spirit stones." Lu Tianyu rattled off the library rules as they swiftly registered and stepped into the grand, serene chamber, its air heavy with the scent of ancient paper and infused spirit wood.
The foundational Body Tempering texts were easily located on the first tier of the vast collection. With the jade slip containing the Bone-Forging Foundation Technique safely secured, the pair returned directly to the tranquil, bamboo-shrouded slopes of Verdant Peak.
The moment Gu Qingxi's feet touched the familiar earth of her master's domain, the communication jade token at her waist vibrated – a summons from Master Mo Tiancheng to attend him immediately at the main hall.
"Off you go then. I'll wait for you in the courtyard," Lu Tianyu said, his original plan to oversee her first steps into Body Tempering momentarily shelved. "I'll be there to supervise your initial exercises when you return."
Nodding, Gu Qingxi parted ways with her senior brother and hurried along the winding stone path that led to the heart of the peak, the imposing structure of the main hall rising ahead.
Verdant Peak operated with minimal formal hierarchy; without a retinue of sect servants or outer disciples to announce arrivals, Gu Qingxi entered the echoing grand hall without hindrance.
Within the lofty chamber, Master Mo Tiancheng sat in quiet communion with a visitor – an elderly man whose snow-white hair belied his sharp, lively eyes and vibrant aura. His kindly face lit up with warm appreciation the moment he spotted Gu Qingxi.
"Qingxi, come closer, child," the animated elder beckoned her forward with an open palm.
"This is Senior Apprentice Uncle Yu," Mo Tiancheng introduced with a calm smile. "He presides over the Beast Taming Peak. The spirit beast egg you carry was his gift. Pay your respects to your Senior Apprentice Uncle Yu. He cherished that egg deeply, yet found it in his heart to part with it for your sake."
Gu Qingxi stepped forward swiftly and offered a deep, respectful bow. "Disciple Gu Qingxi greets Senior Apprentice Uncle Yu. My deepest gratitude for Uncle's generous gift!" The warm reception spoke volumes; the bond between her master and this senior was evidently one of true fondness.
Just as she lowered her head in the final reverence, a thread of sound, condensed through gathered spiritual energy, whispered sharply into Gu Qingxi's ear: "Hah! 'Deeply cherished'? More like utterly useless! Eight hundred years he held it, and not a flutter of life did he coax out. The egg simply ignored him! It sensed you. What else could he do but gift it?" The cutting sarcasm dripping from Mo Tiancheng's transmitted words was unmistakable.
Gu Qingxi sucked in a breath, thankful her bowed posture concealed the flare of incredulity that nearly cracked her composure.
"Mo Tiancheng!" Senior Apprentice Uncle Yu Linzheng snapped, piercing eyes locking onto his junior. "Are you whispering poison into your disciple's ear again? Telling her I'm some senile fool who couldn't hatch an egg in eight centuries? That your precious newcomer succeeded where I failed? That the beast recognized her instantly?"
The direct accusation jolted Gu Qingxi into lifting her head, astonishment writ large on her features as she stared at Senior Apprentice Uncle Yu. He could actually sense the private transmission?
Mo Tiancheng merely let out a dismissive snort, unperturbed by the exposure. "So what if I am? Is it untrue? You held that inert shell for over eight hundred years. Its pulse dwindled. And see now? My disciple arrives, merely graces its presence, and its nascent spirit stirs with life. Such is destiny." He leisurely sipped his tea, basking in his palpable victory.
"Incorrigible!" Yu Linzheng's pristine white beard seemed to bristle. His fists clenched briefly at his sides, an almost tangible desire to wipe the smugness off his junior brother's face warring with the pragmatic knowledge that he likely couldn't. He wouldn't humiliate himself before the junior disciple he secretly coveted. "Don't preen! Qingxi's inherent affinity for spirit beasts marks her for the Beast Taming Peak! She should be mine!"
"She is my disciple, my chosen successor. Cease this foolishness!" Mo Tiancheng cut him off coldly, any trace of amusement vanished. "Have your years finally addled your wits? Have you forgotten the very reason you graced my humble peak today? Stop dithering! Present your gift to Qingxi and be on your way!" His final words were a clear dismissal.
"You wretched little—" Fury surged through Yu Linzheng, old muscles tensing. How he longed to discipline this disrespectful pup! But the undeniable gap in their combat prowess… Gritting his teeth, he forcefully wrestled his temper down once more, smoothing his expression as he turned back to Gu Qingxi. His face underwent a remarkable transformation, radiating paternal warmth. The stark contrast left Gu Qingxi internally marveling.
"Ah, Qingxi," Senior Apprentice Uncle Yu began, his voice as soothing as aged spirit wine, the previous clash seemingly a distant dream. "As I declared when the egg chose you, whosoever earns its acceptance shall receive from this old man three years' provision of the finest spirit-grade beast fare. Today, I fulfill that pledge."
"But… Senior Apprentice Uncle Yu," Gu Qingxi interjected hesitantly, recalling the faint, definite wriggle within the egg shell the previous night as she fed it a stream of her own qi. "It hasn't truly hatched yet…"
"Indeed, the final emergence awaits us, the mystery of its species still veiled," Yu Linzheng acknowledged, a flicker of profound regret and possessiveness fleeting through his bright eyes – aimed both at the enigmatic egg and the promising girl standing before him. His sigh was almost imperceptible. "Therefore, mindful of the likely demands of its awakening, I have converted that promise into spirit stones, worthy of the finest beast fare. This token is a small gesture to ease the heavy burden of nurturing it to life." Without waiting for further protest, he pressed a substantial, ornate silk pouch – unmistakably a mid-grade storage artifact – firmly into Gu Qingxi's hands. The significant weight confirmed its valuable contents.
"A senior's gift demands acceptance; it carries refusal not." Mo Tiancheng's voice rang out, perfectly composed and utterly serious. His handsome face was a mask of solemnity. "Take it with gratitude, Qingxi. Your Senior Apprentice Uncle Yu truly has pressing matters requiring his urgent return to the Beast Taming Peak."
Gu Qingxi: "…" Master, you deliver that lie with such conviction... is it truly necessary?
Yu Linzheng's eyelid twitched: "…" Must you rob me of dignity before the disciple? Scoundrel! More than ever, he contemplated the merits of performing a cleansing service for their departed master…
"This unworthy disciple humbly accepts Senior Apprentice Uncle's generous gift!" Gu Qingxi managed to swallow her internal commentary and offered another profound bow of thanks. "Upon the beast's successful emergence into this world, Uncle Yu shall be the very first to know its name and nature!" Her promise was sincere.
"Ah, a wise and grateful child." The praise flowed warmly from Yu Linzheng, yet it only sharpened the sting of his loss – this remarkable young woman, a natural beast whisperer, should have been his disciple! Alas, snatched away by this arrogant junior! The injustice festered.
"Enough pleasantries! Your 'urgent affairs' beckon, do they not?" Mo Tiancheng's frigid voice cut through the air once more. He emphasized "urgent affairs" with chilling weight.
Yu Linzheng felt his teeth grinding together. He shot Mo Tiancheng a look that could curdle spirit milk before turning swiftly to Gu Qingxi for his parting shot. A conspiratorial, almost imploring gleam entered his eyes. "Qingxi, my dear, remember these words: Should this… place," he gestured vaguely around Verdant Peak's main hall with undisguised skepticism, "…ever prove stifling or unkind to your talents… should you feel a… dissonance… know that the Beast Taming Peak welcomes you always! Its gate shall swing wide at your approach!"
Then, in a masterstroke of evasion, before either Mo Tiancheng's expression could darken further or Gu Qingxi could formulate a stunned response, Yu Linzheng gathered his formidable qi. With a speed that blurred his form, he vanished from the hall like a wraith dispersed by a gale, leaving behind only the faint shimmer of displaced air and the echo of his invitation.
"Hmph!" Mo Tiancheng's chilling gaze swept the now-empty doorway where the spirit light of his senior brother's departure was fading. "Vanished into a wisp of wind! He's lucky…" His frigid whisper hung in the air, sharp as unsheathed steel, leaving no doubt that a drawn sword would have followed any less expeditious departure.
Gu Qingxi absorbed the explosive frisson, the witty barbs, and the lightning escape. The complex truth crystallized: This deep "kinship" between her Master Mo and Senior Apprentice Uncle Yu wasn't the harmonious respect she'd first imagined. It was the fierce, unbreakable bond of brothers who traded barbs like strikes, each provocation an affirmation of their history and unique closeness. Mutual respect ran deep, disguised as relentless ribbing.
"Master," Gu Qingxi addressed the still-lingering frostiness in Mo Tiancheng's posture, her voice firm and clear. "Senior Apprentice Uncle Yu's words were surely spoken in jest. This disciple will never depart from Verdant Peak."
Hearing this reaffirmed loyalty, the glacial aura around Mo Tiancheng dissolved instantly. His features softened into a rare, genuine smile of profound satisfaction. "Your master has never doubted it. My Qingxi has ever displayed wisdom beyond her years." A shift to practical matters. "Tell me, your studies within the Hall of Triple Inquiry? Any foundational principles proving elusive?"
"All progresses smoothly, Master," Gu Qingxi reported honestly. "The Senior Brothers tasked with instruction elucidate the material with exceptional clarity. No confusions linger."
"Excellent," Mo Tiancheng nodded, paternal pride evident. "Should challenges arise hereafter, your master's door stands open. If my path leads me briefly from the peak, seek Tianyu first. Though the boy possesses energy enough to rival a spirit squirrel and a tongue that wags more than it ponders," – a faint, affectionate sigh escaped him – "let it be known his grasp of core cultivation tenets is exceptionally solid. He will guide you true."
"Disciple understands and will remember your counsel, Master," Gu Qingxi pledged with serious intent.
A shadow of concern briefly darkened Mo Tiancheng's gaze as he regarded her slender frame. "Body Tempering, Qingxi… it is a path fraught with hardship. It demands the crushing of old limits, the forging of the vessel anew. Once you tread upon it, retreat becomes the greatest defeat. Persevere through the tribulations. Only unwavering resolve grants the mastery that awaits. Go now. Your master believes in your fortitude." He ended the advice, trusting her inner mettle, though the image of the arduous path ahead – the shattering and rebuilding that true Body Tempering promised – caused an instinctive pang of protectiveness for the girl he'd pledged to harden into jade.
Bowing deeply once more, accepting both the challenge and the implicit trust, Gu Qingxi took her respectful leave of the main hall.
As she approached her modest courtyard sanctuary nestled within the whispering bamboo groves, a surprising scene greeted her. Lu Tianyu, sleeves rolled high, was meticulously measuring and binding thick shafts of resilient, spirit-infused bamboo. He was constructing a surprisingly sturdy and elegant canopy frame directly over the stone table at the courtyard's center. Spotting her return, he instantly beamed, a sheen of sweat visible on his forehead despite the cool air.
"Us rough-and-tumble fellows? A burrow carved in rock suffices!" Lu Tianyu declared cheerfully, wiping his brow with his forearm. "But our Junior Sister? She deserves an abode touched by grace! Soon as Senior Brother scrapes together a few more spirit stones," he promised with contagious enthusiasm, gesturing around the spartan space, "I'll hunt down the most luminous spirit flowers and the most resilient mystic herbs! We'll weave vitality into this very earth!" His vision of transforming her quiet corner into a miniature paradise bloomed brightly in his eyes.