Chapter 36: The Chase

After breaking through a small bottleneck, Junior Brother Bai Ming did not feel much joy in his heart; to him, this was merely a natural result.

Having calmed the ripples in his heart, he refocused his mind on gathering spiritual energy.

His control over the Qingming Storm Soul strengthened, transforming into a thin green light that coursed through his body, even faintly radiating through his skin.

Several more days of sunrise and sunset passed.

The aura around Junior Brother Bai Ming strengthened once more; by this time, he had reached Qi Refining Stage 6, needing only to cross the hurdle before him to break through to the late stage of Qi Refining.

Cangqiong Spiritual Energy gathered bit by bit into his spiritual roots, accumulating power to break through that dam.

The minute traces of spiritual energy congregated, beginning to assault the bottleneck. Finally, cracks appeared in the dam, and it could no longer withstand the continuous flow of spiritual energy.

The bottleneck was broken, and his cultivation reached Qi Refining Stage 7.

Junior Brother Bai Ming exhaled a breath of stale air, his heart filled with joy; the remaining stages were merely a matter of time and effort, presenting no further difficulties.

Thinking about how long he had been in seclusion and that he could finally leave the cultivation room to see the beautiful woman he missed, he couldn't help but feel excited, the warmth radiating from his spiritual roots increasing slightly.

"If I continue like this, I can break through to the Qi Refining Peak in one go," Junior Brother Bai Ming said with a smile. "I wonder how Song Wanqing and the others are getting on with the preparations."

Thinking about the possibility of seeing the venue decorated with lanterns and streamers for the wedding upon stepping out, Junior Brother Bai Ming's heart felt as if it had a small hot air balloon inside, carrying his excitement as it soared upwards.

The speed at which the spiritual energy in the cultivation room gathered increased, surging toward the young man at the center.

The soft light emitted by the Night Bright Stones seemed to be slowly absorbed by the young man.

The vast spiritual energy gathered into a stream of spiritual power within the young man, unobstructed as it charged toward higher realms.

Qi Refining Stage 8.

Qi Refining Stage 9.

Qi Refining Peak! (Qi Refining Stage 9 Completion)

Junior Brother Bai Ming opened his eyes suddenly, his face full of smiles. "I've finally broken through to Qi Refining Stage 9, only one step away from Foundation Establishment. I wonder how much time has passed."

Sensing the incense wafting in the air, Junior Brother Bai Ming felt comfortable and walked toward the door.

He opened the door impatiently, and a young girl dressed in white came into view.

Xiaoxue's body leaned slightly, as if she had not expected the door to open so suddenly.

Her eyes widened in surprise. "Young Master, you have already reached the Qi Refining Peak."

Excitement flickered in Junior Brother Bai Ming's eyes. "Where is Song Wanqing? Also, how long have I been in seclusion? What is the situation now?"

Xiaoxue steadied herself. "Only twenty-four days have passed. The wedding preparations are almost done, and the Young Lady is still outside overseeing them."

Junior Brother Bai Ming was excited. "Take me there quickly."

Xiaoxue was taken aback for a moment. "Very well, Young Master, please follow me."

The two walked toward the boudoir, and the festive atmosphere of lanterns and colorful streamers rushed to meet them.

Servants on both sides of the corridor were carefully hanging strips of red silk, and the windows on both sides were covered with paper-cuts of the character for 'Happiness'. A wave of red swept across the entire corridor.

The servants on both sides stopped their work. "Greetings, Young Master and Miss Xue."

Xiaoxue raised her hand to signal them. "Is the Young Lady in her room?"

The servant shook her head. "The Young Lady has been out for some time."

Xiaoxue frowned. "Do you know where she went?"

The servant shook her head. "This maid does not know."

Xiaoxue turned her head, her beautiful eyes filled with inquiry. "Young Master, this is rather unfortunate. What shall we do now?"

Junior Brother Bai Ming clenched his right hand slightly, a smile on his face. "We shall simply go and find her."

Stepping out of the corridor, a dazzling array of red rushed into their view.

The bright red of the Red Cloud Silk wrapped around the pillars on both sides like a vibrant red snake, winding and climbing up the lacquered columns.

The lanterns overhead emitted a soft red light, casting a rosy glow upon their faces.

The orange hue on the horizon shone onto the open space ahead, the light soft and carrying a gentle sense of weariness.

The distant sky displayed layers of twilight colors, as if declaring that night was about to fall.

Xiaoxue looked up at the sky. "It is almost dark; the Young Lady should be returning soon. Do we still need to go looking for her?"

Junior Brother Bai Ming admired the twilight above. "Yes, of course we must."

These words came out almost instinctively; he did not know why, perhaps if he waited in place for a while, Song Wanqing would return.

If he rashly went to look for her now, they might miss each other; the worst-case scenario was that after missing each other, they would both blindly search for one another.

But he simply did not want to wait.

He did not want to wait.

He wanted to see the beautiful woman he had longed for in his heart immediately.

His heart pounded incessantly, a surge of excitement gripping his scalp and accelerating his blood circulation.

They arrived at the gate of the Song Mansion.

Junior Brother Bai Ming asked anxiously, "Where has Song Wanqing gone?"

Cultivator Zhao pointed a finger. "It seems to be in this direction."

Junior Brother Bai Ming turned and formed a hand seal, a faint layer of green light emerging on his body, and then he flew off rapidly. Xiaoxue also hurriedly circulated her energy to give chase.

Looking at the bustling scene on the ground, Junior Brother Bai Ming couldn't help but reveal a smile.

This vast Canglan City was filled with a festive atmosphere, and the red ribbons posted everywhere announced the news that the City Lord's daughter was about to be married.

He had not expected his first marriage to be so grand.

Watching the crowds rushing back and forth on the ground, Junior Brother Bai Ming unconsciously increased his speed.

A streak of green light streaked across the sky of Canglan City, so conspicuous in the vast sky that it drew people to look up.

A Song family Cultivator noticed the anomaly and prepared to step forward to apprehend them, but another Cultivator beside him quickly held him back.

"What are you doing! Have you gone mad?"

The patrolling Cultivator was puzzled. "Flying is forbidden in the city; isn't it our duty to step forward and apprehend them?"

The Cultivator on the other side stared blankly, rubbing his forehead. "Then let me ask you, who set this rule?"

The patrolling Cultivator was confused. "Naturally, it was Patriarch Song. As Song family Cultivators, we should follow it."

The Cultivator opposite hurriedly blocked the foolish man before him, fearing that he would rush into the sky to give chase the next moment.

"That person is Patriarch Song's son-in-law. You still want to chase him! Do you want to keep your job or not?"

"Ah."

Pointing at the green light in the sky, a child exclaimed in surprise.

"It's a shooting star."

The slightly older child opposite him voiced his disdain. "What ghost are you talking about? It's obviously a Cultivator; didn't you see the figure inside?"

The child squinted, trying hard to look. "It seems there really is a shadow."

The older child followed the direction of the green light in the sky, his eyes sparkling with starlight. "Cultivators are truly free and easy."

At an inn nearby, several Cultivators who had been concealing their auras were attracted by the child's exclamation and used their spiritual sense to look up at the sky.

The young Cultivator looked curious. "What is that person's status? The Song family Cultivators didn't even stop him."

The middle-aged man looked thoughtful. "It's a face I haven't seen before, but judging by this cultivation technique, it should be at the level of the Song family's direct lineage."

The young Cultivator took a sip of wine. "But what has been happening in the Song family lately? They are making such a big fuss, as if they are holding a wedding; they even made the wine in this inn free of charge."

The middle-aged man said calmly, "Who else could it be? Could City Lord Song have a second daughter?"

With a clatter, a wine cup fell to the ground.

The young Cultivator's face turned ugly. "Could it be Fairy Song's wedding? No way, I've never heard of Fairy Song having a Dao companion, and this is clearly a mortal ceremony."

The middle-aged man teased, "If you think it isn't, then it isn't."

The young Cultivator slumped over. "Master, why is this wine so bitter? I can't drink it anymore; I'm going to go rest."

The middle-aged man briefly stopped the young Cultivator.

"Pay for the cup yourself."