Jason Brooks carefully cradled the Xuanmo Spirit Sword, wanting to store it in his storage ring, but felt it would be disrespectful. After some thought, he finally tucked it reverently against his chest.

Seeing that Jason Brooks had put away the spirit sword, Henry Brooks smiled and said, “Let’s go.”

As he spoke, he lightly patted his storage pouch, and a small crimson sword flew out, growing larger as it met the wind, radiating a faint fiery glow.

This was the [Huoyun Sword], a rare mid-grade magical artifact.

It could be used for both offense and defense in magical duels, and also served as a flying artifact—truly, its uses were endless.

Henry Brooks leapt onto it, steering the Huoyun Sword as he flew down the mountain.

Jason Brooks also summoned his flying artifact—the Spirit Leaf—carrying it single-handedly, following behind Henry Brooks with a graceful posture.

A red and a green streak of light flew down along the mountain ridge.

In the past, Jason Brooks would have been envious of his fourth uncle’s Huoyun Sword, but now, thinking of the Xuanmo Spirit Sword against his chest, his heart burned with excitement.

But before they could reach the foot of the mountain—

Suddenly, a paper kite soared up from the mountain path platform, flapping as it flew toward them.

Seated on the kite was a young maiden, her dress fluttering beautifully in the wind.

Who else could it be but Emily Martin!?

Jason Brooks’s face darkened.

Is this wild cultivator girl ever going to stop pestering me?

As she drew near, Emily Martin even forced a flattering smile at Jason Brooks.

However, she said nothing, simply following at a steady pace seven or eight zhang behind, as if to say, “Wherever you go, I’ll go.”

This left Jason Brooks completely at a loss.

“Jingyun, is this the pretty rogue cultivator girl you secretly met in the back mountain?” Henry Brooks, riding the Huoyun Sword with his robe billowing, looked every bit the elegant gentleman as he asked with a smile via voice transmission, “She looks quite attractive—you have good taste.”

At these words—

Jason Brooks’s face grew even darker.

By now, is there anyone in the entire Chen clan who doesn’t know about this?

Frustrated, he pushed himself harder, urging the Spirit Leaf to accelerate.

But of the three present, he had the lowest cultivation; Emily Martin and Henry Brooks easily kept up.

As the three of them swept past the foot of the mountain, a mortal town could be seen not far away.

This was Chen Family Town, mainly inhabited by some of the Chen clan’s mortal branches, as well as mortals serving the Cangyi Chen clan.

But Henry Brooks and the others did not enter Chen Family Town, instead skirting the foot of Cangyi Mountain and heading straight northwest.

Qi Refining cultivators usually don’t fly too high.

First, most magical artifacts don’t support high-altitude flight, and the heights are too dangerous—if you fall from your artifact and your spiritual power isn’t enough to keep you aloft, you could die from the fall.

Second, the higher you go, the stronger the fierce winds become. Cultivators must use spiritual power to resist the winds, which is very draining, and they’ll soon be exhausted before getting far.

But this time, after flying only a few dozen li, Jason Brooks was already breathing unevenly, sweat beading on his forehead.

Seeing this, Henry Brooks caught up on his Huoyun Sword, smiling as he said, “Jingyun, you’re flying too fast. On long journeys, you mustn’t rush. Always control your spiritual power consumption and maintain a steady rate of recovery to achieve a delicate balance.”

When a cultivator uses a flying artifact, they must channel spiritual power to drive it—the faster you go, the more spiritual power you burn.

It’s just like long-distance running: if you don’t pace yourself, you’ll quickly run out of energy.

“Thank you for the reminder, Fourth Uncle.” Jason Brooks quickly slowed down, shooting a fierce glare at Emily Martin behind him. If she hadn’t been tailing him so closely, he wouldn’t have felt the need to rush like this.

If he went all out, he could certainly burst forth with lightning speed for a short time. But doing so would consume a tremendous amount of spiritual power, and with his peak third level Qi Refining cultivation, he couldn’t keep it up for long.

Emily Martin, however, looked completely innocent, catching up with a flattering smile and saying loudly, “Young Master Jingyun, if your cultivation isn’t enough, you can lower your body a bit—this will help conserve spiritual power.”

“Hmph!” Jason Brooks turned away, ignoring her.

It’s just the Spirit Spring stage—what’s there to be so smug about?

Within a year, he, Jason Brooks, would surely reach the Spirit Spring stage as well.

Emily Martin secretly grumbled in her heart—this Chen clan’s Jingyun young master is really hard to please, always giving her the cold shoulder.

Qianqian, oh Qianqian, for the sake of the grand plan, you must endure.

Ethan Brooks followed leisurely behind, feeling a bit sentimental at the scene.

He remembered when he had just entered the Foundation Establishment stage, he had “invented” a prone flying technique—head forward, arms outstretched like gliding—to reduce wind resistance, and had been quite proud of it.

In the end, his master called him over and gave him a severe scolding, saying his flying posture looked like a “scurrying rat or charging pig,” as if he were fleeing for his life.

As cultivators, when flying through the air, we should hold our heads high and stand proud between heaven and earth.

His master had lectured him at length.

At the time, Ethan Brooks found his master’s nagging annoying, but now, thinking back—

Sigh~

Master, in the end, I, Ethan Brooks, have still let you down.

But that’s enough idle talk.