Mi Xingzhe woke up in the inn at Fanli Valley and heard someone enter the room.
He rubbed his dry eyes and finally saw clearly who was standing before him.
"Master, why are we here?" Still confused, Mi Xingzhe rubbed his temples and slowly stood up to ask.
"You do not remember?"
"I only remember going to Miss Ruoying's place to drink tea. After that I woke up here. Where is this place?" Mi Xingzhe stretched his body and looked around the room before asking again.
Seeing that his master did not answer, Mi Xingzhe got out of bed and walked around the room on his own, looking everywhere. He even pushed open the window to look at the street outside. Only then did he turn around and look carefully again.
"This is the first time I have seen Master wearing dark clothes."
"Do they look good?"
"They do look good, but something still feels a little strange."
"What feels strange?"
"I cannot quite explain it. It just feels like you look colder than usual."
What Mi Xingzhe did not know was that the "master" standing before him was not Li Luoning, but Li Minghan, who had the same twin face.
"So you mean I was not cold before?" Li Minghan asked.
"Master usually likes to wear light colored clothes. This is the first time I have seen you wearing black, so it naturally feels a bit different."
Mi Xingzhe touched the back of his neck and moved his sore shoulders.
"Master, why are we here? Where is this place?"
"You were taken away earlier. I rescued you and brought you here to stay for the time being," Li Minghan explained.
"I was taken again? Could it be people from Wuming Demon Mountain again? Why are they so interested in me? Where is Qingyi-ge? Did he not come with us?" Mi Xingzhe stretched his neck and looked around.
"I asked him to handle some matters," Li Minghan replied.
"Oh. Since I am awake now, we can go back." Mi Xingzhe stood up and walked toward the door.
"Wait." Li Minghan reached out to stop him. "Since we rarely come out, how about I take you around for a walk. It would not be too late to go back later."
"Alright." Mi Xingzhe happily agreed. He had always wanted to travel outside before, but his master never allowed it. Now his master actually wanted to take him out personally, so he was naturally delighted.
At that moment it was the Dragon Boat Festival in the human world. Many colorful kites flew across the sky. The streets were filled with the fragrance of herbs. Almost every household hung sweet flag leaves at their doors. Street vendors loudly called out while selling all kinds of goods. The atmosphere of daily life was lively and bustling.
"Master, what day is it today? Why is it so lively?" Mi Xingzhe asked with interest while looking at the busy street.
"The fifth day of the fifth month," Li Minghan replied while waving a black and gold folding fan in his hand.
The fifth day of the fifth month, my godfather's birthday.
"Oh right. Today is the Dragon Boat Festival. No wonder it is so lively." Mi Xingzhe lightly tapped his head as he finally remembered.
"Fragrant orchids. Fine fragrant orchids." A vendor nearby called out loudly.
"Master, look, it is fragrant orchid grass. Should we buy some to take back?" Mi Xingzhe said as he leaned toward the stall.
"What would you buy it for?"
"For orchid bath soup. The book you made me memorize said: on the fifth day of the fifth month people bathe with herbal water made from fragrant plants to cleanse the body and bring good health. If orchid herbs are not available, people use five kinds of herbs gathered at noon instead. I remember all of that. Master does not need to test me." Mi Xingzhe proudly recited a few lines while shaking his head.
"As you wish."
Li Minghan did not understand medicine and had no interest in celebrating the festival. He casually said two words and continued walking forward.
"Master, Master." After bowing politely to the vendor, Mi Xingzhe quickly ran after him.
After walking through the market for a while, Li Minghan suddenly stopped and turned to Mi Xingzhe.
"Do I usually only teach you medical knowledge?"
"No, no. Master also taught me cultivation methods and some simple spells." Mi Xingzhe quickly explained.
"Oh? Then how about finding a place where you can show me what you have learned?"
Hearing that Mi Xingzhe knew some cultivation techniques, Li Minghan immediately became interested.
Soon the two arrived at an open field outside the city.
"Come. Show me a few moves and let me see what you have learned." Li Minghan stood to the side with his hands behind his back, speaking casually.
"Ah? Fight with you, Master? I usually practice with Qingyi-ge." Mi Xingzhe hesitated.
"Stop talking."
Without surprise, before even one round was finished, Mi Xingzhe was knocked to the ground by the wind from Li Minghan's palm.
"This is everything you know?" Li Minghan brushed his hand lightly and looked down at Mi Xingzhe on the ground with disdain.
"Master's cultivation is higher than mine. Of course I cannot defeat you." Mi Xingzhe struggled to stand up and brushed the dirt from his clothes.
Li Minghan suddenly became interested. His eyes curved slightly and the corner of his mouth lifted as he looked down at Mi Xingzhe.
"How about I simply pass some of my power to you?"
"Pass power to me?" Mi Xingzhe was caught off guard by the sudden pressure. He felt that his master seemed a little strange today, but he still agreed.
"Alright."
"Very good."
Li Minghan smiled faintly, his eyes filled with a strange satisfaction. He pulled Mi Xingzhe over and had him sit on a stone.
"M... Master?" Sitting on the ground, Mi Xingzhe felt a little confused and was about to say something.
"Be quiet."
"Alright."
Mi Xingzhe obediently sat upright. With both hands forming a seal and his palms facing upward, he closed his eyes and felt the inner energy flowing inside his body.
Li Minghan claimed he was passing power to Mi Xingzhe, but in truth he wanted to test how strong Mi Xingzhe's cultivation really was.
As soon as he tested it, he discovered the golden core inside Mi Xingzhe's body.
He did not expect that such an ordinary looking disciple actually carried a golden core. No wonder Li Luoning treasured this little disciple so much.
With only a brief probe, Li Minghan understood Mi Xingzhe's entire level of cultivation.
What would happen if demonic cultivation merged with a golden core?
Thinking of this, Li Minghan gathered demonic power in his palm and forcefully pushed it into Mi Xingzhe's body.
"Ugh..." The sudden impact was difficult for Mi Xingzhe to endure. A powerful force began rushing wildly through his body. He frowned and bit his lip while trying to endure the pain.
"That is already too much for you?" Li Minghan said coldly behind him.
Why does Master feel different today, as if he has become another person?
Mi Xingzhe could not help thinking this, but he still forced the violent energy inside him down and spoke through clenched teeth.
"I can still handle it."
"Oh? If you can handle it, then I will give you more."
Li Minghan mercilessly pushed another wave of demonic power into his body.
The energy inside Mi Xingzhe that had almost been suppressed suddenly became uncontrollable. He felt a burning pressure in his chest, and the power inside him surged like a raging flood. He spat out a mouthful of blood and fainted.
"Useless."
Li Minghan glanced at Mi Xingzhe lying on the ground and spoke with contempt.
Meanwhile the energy inside Mi Xingzhe's body surged through his meridians. Golden and black currents alternated as they moved through him.
The golden core hidden near his heart released a silver white light, slowly devouring the demonic power that had just entered his body.
At the same time a faint mark quietly began to appear on the back of his neck.
Meanwhile inside the cave, Li Luoning and Yun Qingyi were still trapped.
Li Luoning needed time to recover half of the power he had used earlier. Although Yun Qingyi's poison had been removed, the greatest problem before them was still the stones blocking the cave entrance.
"Master, there are far more stones here than we expected. The cave entrance also seems to have collapsed from above. The more we clear them, the more stones fall down," Yun Qingyi said while moving the rocks.
"Qingyi, do you still have a Glimmer Butterfly?" Li Luoning asked as he looked toward the blocked opening above.
"Yes." Yun Qingyi quickly took one out and handed it to him.
Li Luoning touched his lips lightly with two fingers and murmured a spell. Then he looked at the butterfly in his hand and flicked his fingers.
"Go."
The Glimmer Butterfly instantly turned into a small golden butterfly and flew out through the narrow crack in the cave entrance.
"I have sent a message back. It will take at least one day for people from the Liao Yin Immortal Realm to arrive."
"Master, Nian'nian's life and death are still unknown. Why do you look so calm?" Yun Qingyi asked anxiously.
"Qingyi, do you remember the golden core inside Nian'er?" Li Luoning asked calmly.
"Yes. Are those people not targeting him again and again because of that?" Yun Qingyi asked.
Li Luoning shook his head.
"Nian's golden core is not the same as the ones we know."
"What is different about it?"
"It is true that I have a golden core, but mine is a single fire element core. Cultivators all know golden cores are rare, but few know that they also have different elemental types." Li Luoning explained slowly.
"Different elemental types?" Yun Qingyi looked puzzled.
"I once read an ancient record in my master's library. It described golden cores with different elemental attributes. A single element core cultivates one element. Multi element cores are divided into two types, dual element and five element. I once met a senior who possessed a dual element golden core. Although he was not all powerful, he truly had the ability to command wind and rain."
"Then Niannian's golden core is also dual element?" Yun Qingyi asked quickly.
Li Luoning smiled slightly and shook his head again.
"If my guess is correct, Nian'er's golden core is the extremely rare five element type."
"Five element?" Yun Qingyi was shocked, as he had never heard of it before.
Li Luoning was not surprised by his reaction. The five element golden core had disappeared for tens of thousands of years. Even Li Luoning's master had only read about it in ancient books.
"The five element golden core allows its owner to cultivate all five elemental powers: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. The golden core itself perfectly balances these elements so they do not harm the body. There is no conflict between the elements and no imbalance of energy."
"No wonder Master asked Ruling to teach Nian'nian movement techniques earlier. I once thought her cultivation method would not help him much. It turns out Master already knew he could learn techniques from any element." Yun Qingyi finally understood.
Li Luoning nodded.
"Ruling does not have a golden core, but her power comes from spiritual herb energy combined with Qingyuan's guidance, making her cultivation strong in the wood element. Besides that, the five element golden core has another ability that few people know."
"Another ability?"
"This golden core possesses great spiritual awareness. It will instinctively protect its host. If the host dies, the five element golden core will also disappear."
"So it protects the host?" Yun Qingyi thought about this and suddenly understood.
Seeing his reaction, Li Luoning nodded with satisfaction.
"Yes. This golden core can protect its owner."
"Then the reason Nian'nian keeps getting taken away is because someone discovered that his golden core is a five element core?" Yun Qingyi asked.
Li Luoning sighed quietly.
"Nian has been taken many times. It appears that someone is targeting him, but the real goal behind this is actually someone else."
"Someone else? If Nian'nian is not their target, then who is?" Yun Qingyi asked in confusion.
"Me."
Outside the city in the countryside, evening had already fallen.
Mi Xingzhe slowly sat up from the ground in a daze. He could see a campfire not far ahead, but his master was nowhere in sight.
He stood up and vaguely noticed a figure near the trees.
"Master."
Mi Xingzhe called softly and began to walk forward. But the next moment he froze when he saw the gaze directed at him.
Why does Master's gaze look full of hostility and killing intent?
Hearing the voice behind him, Li Minghan turned back cautiously. When he saw that it was Mi Xingzhe, the killing intent in his eyes disappeared.
"You are awake," he said with a slight smile.
The hand behind his back moved quietly, as if signaling someone to leave.
"Why is Master standing here alone?"
When Li Minghan saw Mi Xingzhe approaching, he walked toward him quickly but did not answer his question. Instead he went straight to the campfire and leaned against a nearby tree with his arms folded.
Mi Xingzhe followed him. But the moment he turned around, a faint white figure flashed quickly behind him.
Seeing that his master ignored him, Mi Xingzhe thought he was angry about what had happened earlier.
"Master, I did not faint on purpose just now." Mi Xingzhe gently tugged at Li Minghan's sleeve.
Li Minghan clearly showed a moment of disgust at the sudden touch and looked at Mi Xingzhe's hand holding his sleeve.
But he seemed to think of something and quickly softened his expression. He turned to Mi Xingzhe with a slight smile.
"I just passed some power to you. You can try it now."
He glanced toward a thick tree nearby.
Mi Xingzhe looked at his master, then at the tree that was twice as thick as himself, and swallowed nervously.
"This one?" Mi Xingzhe reluctantly agreed.
He focused his mind and gathered his inner energy. His palms pressed together as he raised his left hand slowly. Closing his eyes, he felt the power inside his body. Four fingers touched the center of his forehead.
A dark green mist appeared as he moved his palm forward and shot toward the tree in front of him.