The Next Day
Mu Feng sat quietly in the living room, fingers interlocked, gaze fixed on the doorway. His grandfather's meeting with the Second Elder would decide his next steps—his future.
If all went well, the agreement would give him the perfect excuse to travel to Bo City.
And in Bo City… his hidden plans could finally begin.
A soft creak of the door pulled him from his thoughts. Fang Ning stepped inside, brushing off the cold air.
"How was it, Grandpa?" Mu Feng asked immediately.
Fang Ning let out a short breath, a mix of amusement and confidence.
"How do you think it went? Of course he agreed. He'd be an idiot not to. With you 'removed' from Mu Feiluan's path, even without Mu Rong's support, Feiluan can become Clan Leader without resistance."
Mu Feng nodded slightly.
"So that part is settled. What about the bow?"
Fang Ning's expression tightened, a rare hint of annoyance slipping through.
"That was trickier. The Ice Crystal Bow is a clan treasure, after all. But he finally gave in after I offered to take Mu Feiluan as my disciple. With that guarantee, he finally gave in. You'll receive Mu Ningxue's fragment first. The clan will gather the remaining pieces steadily."
Mu Feng's eyes gleamed with satisfaction.
"So… when do we take action?"
"Mu Ningxue isn't here right now," Fang Ning replied. "We'll wait until she returns. Only then can we proceed."
Mu Feng shook his head slowly.
"Actually, Grandpa… doing it inside the clan is too risky. If I suddenly 'awaken' her talent, people will get suspicious."
Fang Ning raised a brow, interest flickering in his gaze.
"Oh? Then where do you think we should do the transfer?"
"In her hometown—Bo City. After the transfer… we can make her disappear, or settle it discreetly. No witnesses. No suspicion."
A faint smile curved Fang Ning's lips.
"Oh? You want to do it that way? Very well. That actually benefits us more."
Mu Feng continued, "But, Grandpa… who will perform the technique?"
Fang Ning snorted lightly.
"Who else? Of course I will. In the Mu Clan, only I have mastered the method. And you know—no one gets secrets out of my mouth."
Mu Feng nodded respectfully.
"Then… when do we leave?"
"Wait a few days," Fang Ning said. "I'll gather the cultivation resources you'll need for the Novice Tier. Once everything is ready, we depart."
A Few Days Later
Mu Feng immersed himself in cultivation, sitting cross-legged as he tried again and again to connect the stars in his spiritual sea.
Nothing responded.
Not a single star trembled.
Not even a faint glimmer of light.
Frustrating… but expected.
That night, as they ate dinner, Fang Ning glanced at him casually.
"Come to my study after you're done eating."
"Okay," Mu Feng replied.
After finishing, he headed to the study. Fang Ning was already inside, seated behind his desk, the lamplight casting long shadows across the room.
"Grandpa, why did you call me?"
Fang Ning placed a finely carved wooden box on the table and pushed it toward him.
"For this."
Mu Feng opened the box—and froze.
Inside lay a silver bracelet, glowing softly with a pure, moonlike radiance.
His breath caught.
He knew what it was instantly.
"This… is this a Stardust Cultivation Tool?"
"Yes," Fang Ning said. "And not an ordinary one. This is a Soul-Grade tool. It increases cultivation time by sixty percent—and it nourishes your Stardust passively."
Mu Feng looked up, stunned.
"But Grandpa… how did you even get something like this? It must have been extremely difficult."
Fang Ning waved a hand dismissively.
"Don't concern yourself with that. Just give me results. With this, you should be able to release Ice magic in about five months. That's what's expected of you."
Mu Feng narrowed his eyes slightly.
"So those are the clan's terms?"
"Yes. Can you meet them?"
Mu Feng didn't hesitate.
"I can. Don't worry, Grandpa."
"Good." Fang Ning stood up. "Go cultivate. We leave for Bo City tomorrow. Be ready."
Mu Feng closed his fingers tightly around the bracelet, feeling its soft energy pulse against his skin.
"Okay, Grandpa."
Later That Night
Mu Feng began cultivating again—this time while wearing the Soul-Grade bracelet.
The difference was immediate.
His spiritual sea felt clearer.
The flow of energy smoother.
The strain on his mind almost nonexistent.
Hours passed in the blink of an eye.
When he finally opened his eyes, the faint light of dawn was leaking through his window.
'5 a.m.?'
He stared, surprised.
He had cultivated through the entire night…
and yet felt no exhaustion at all.
Since it was already morning, he lay down for a quick sleep before getting ready.
Morning
Fang Ning was already seated at the dining table when Mu Feng arrived.
"Good morning, Grandpa."
"Good morning. How was your cultivation?"
"It was good. I cultivated the entire night… but I didn't feel tired at all."
Fang Ning nodded, pleased.
"Good. It's important you take your training seriously. With me taking Mu Feiluan as my disciple, many people will question your worth. You must have the strength to shut their mouths."
"Don't worry, Grandpa. I won't let you down."
"Good." Fang Ning rose after finishing his meal. "We'll leave for Bo City after the clan meeting. Pan Xi will accompany us."
"Who is Pan Xi?"
"Pan Xi is the one in charge of maintaining the Ice Crystal Bow fragments. He has absolute authority over the bow. He will retrieve Mu Ningxue's piece—and handle its transfer to you."
Mu Feng frowned.
"If he has such control… won't he cause trouble for us?"
"You don't need to worry about him," Fang Ning replied calmly. "I will handle everything."
With that, he stood and walked toward the clan meeting hall.
After the meeting ended, Fang Ning emerged from the clan meeting hall with a middle-aged man walking beside him. The man had sharp eyes, a cold temperament, and carried himself with the rigid discipline of someone accustomed to responsibility.
"Xiao Feng," Fang Ning called out, "since we'll all be traveling together, let me introduce you to each other."
He gestured toward the man.
"This is Pan Xi—the person in charge of the Ice Crystal Bow fragments."
Then he turned to Pan Xi.
"And Pan Xi, this is my grandson, Mu Feng."
Mu Feng stepped forward respectfully.
"Hello, Uncle Xi. Thank you for helping us this time."
Pan Xi accepted the handshake without hesitation.
"No need for thanks. I'm simply doing my duty."
Fang Ning nodded. "Alright. Let's go. The car is ready."
To the Train Station
A black, clan-provided car waited outside. The moment they were seated, the driver pulled out of the Mu Clan estate and headed straight toward the railway station.
Bo City did not have an airport, so they would rely on the fastest method available—high-speed rail.
Within half an hour, they reached the station. The Grand Elder's identity guaranteed priority access, and without any delays, they boarded a high-speed train in a private compartment reserved entirely for them.
The doors slid shut.
The train began to move.
Inside the Compartment
Mu Feng leaned back in his seat, glancing at Pan Xi, who sat with perfect posture, hands folded, eyes sharp even in rest.
After a moment of silence, Mu Feng asked,
"Uncle Xi, could you tell me more about the Ice Crystal Bow?"
Pan Xi's gaze softened slightly—just a little.
"Of course."
He paused, as if recalling something distant.
"The Ice Crystal Bow was discovered hundreds of years ago in the Antarctic region. Back then, the clan researched it extensively but found that no one could control the complete bow directly. Its power was too overwhelming, its will too cold and domineering."
Mu Feng listened closely.
"So the elders made a decision," Pan Xi continued. "They shattered the bow into fragments and distributed them among the most talented disciples across the clan. Each fragment carries a portion of the bow's power. But only the one with the strongest compatibility—the one acknowledged by the bow—can gather them all and restore it."
His eyes darkened with a mixture of longing and frustration.
"It has been over fifty years since anyone last completed the bow. Many have tried. All failed. The fragments reject anyone unworthy."
He looked directly at Mu Feng now.
"So I hope you can succeed, Mu Feng. I hope you can complete the bow… and show the world its power once more."
There was no envy in his voice. No ambition.
Only longing—like a guardian who had waited decades to witness the bow's revival.
Mu Feng nodded lightly.
"I'll do my best, Uncle Xi."
Pan Xi gave a small nod of approval.
After gaining a deeper understanding of the bow's history—and its significance within the clan—he closed his eyes and satrted meditating as the train sped forward, carrying them closer and closer to Bo City… and to the moment that would decide the fate of Mu Ningxue, the Ice Crystal Bow, and Mu Feng's future.