The night in Fengwu City was unusually quiet. Moonlight streamed through the windows, casting pale patterns across the floor of Li Jian's room.
Li Jingxuan walked softly down the hallway, he couldn't hide his excitement. He has a guess in mind that his father called him to straighten his fire energy.
Since his bloodline awakening, the fire within him was stronger than ever, but also unstable. He had been unable to control it, and feared what might happen if he lost control. Without the fire suppression clothing he wears daily, anything he touches would catch fire. This instability hindered his cultivation, causing him to fall far behind his brothers. Despite his frustration, he couldn't bring himself to tell his father.
He reached Li Jain's room door and knocked gently.
"Come in," Li Jian said, putting aside the scroll in his hands.
Jingxuan pushed the door open to find his father seated on a cushion, his long hair flowing loosely down his back. The soft glow of a jade lamp illuminated his face, and the air was filled with a faint herbal fragrance.
Jingxuan was stunned by his father's appearance and was unable to look away. Has he always been this beautiful? Jingxuan wasn't sure, but at this moment, it was ethereal, like a celestial being had descended before him.
"Come sit." Li Jian gestured to the mat before him.
Li Jingxuan was awakened from his thoughts and flush: "Daddy, you're the most beautiful being in the world."
Li Jain was stunned at first and responded with a slight laugh: "You really think so?"
"It's true, you really truly are." Jingxuan insisted, his voice earnest. His admiration was clear, and even his eyes began to sparkle: "No one else is as pretty as you, Daddy."
Li Jain smiled, he enjoyed his son's praise and was happy for his simple thoughts. He rarely heard such open compliments, and it was pleasant especially coming from his son.
"Come, sit." Li Jian gestured to the mat before him.
Jingxuan immediately obeyed, kneeling on the floor before settling cross-legged. His father came behind him and placed one hand on his back. Instantly, a flow of cool spiritual energy spread from Li Jian's palm, entering his son's meridians.
"Breathe with me and relax." Li Jian instructed.
Jingxuan closed his eyes, inhaling deeply. His father's energy threaded through his body, guiding the rampant fire within. At first, the flames resisted, but Li Jian's ice spiritual power gently guided it until the fiery essence within him began to coalesce, bit by bit, the fire began to quiet down.
Minutes passed. Beads of sweat formed on Jingxuan's forehead, his small fists clenched on his knees.
Twenty minutes later, the last of the surging heat dimmed. Jingxuan's breathing evened out, and he opened his eyes with relief.
Li Jian withdrew his hand and helped his son to his feet. "Good. You did a good job. But stabilizing the flame alone isn't enough."
He retrieved a small jade slip from the desk and placed it into Jingxuan's hands. The jade slip glowed faintly with golden-red light.
"This technique is called the Blazing Heart Sutra. If you cultivate it diligently, you will be able to control it as easily as your own heartbeat." Li Jain tapped his son's nose and said with a smile: "And you won't need suppression robes anymore."
Jingxuan's eyes widened as he accepted the jade slip, hands trembling slightly: "Thank you, Father." Jingxuan held the jade slip and promised seriously: "I'll do it. I'll master it."
Li Jian patted his head, a gentle smile curving his lips. "Good. Don't stay up cultivating all night long. I have to leave early tomorrow morning."
"Got it, good night, Father." Jingxuan waved his hand and closed the door after he left the room.
...
After Jingxuan left, Li Jian made sure the door was locked. He repositioned Juanxin who wasn't sleeping right. His mind was already turning elsewhere. After hesitating for a moment, with a ripple of light, his figure vanished into the magical space. The space is his boundless pocket dimension
The interior was filled with all the treasures he collected in his previous life. This was the accumulation of countless trades, refining sessions, and hidden opportunities he had encountered.
Li Jian's gaze swept across until he stopped before a wooden shelf where old models were stacked. His eyes narrowed slightly when his gaze landed on a small object.
"Perfect." His lips curved.
At first sight, it looked like nothing more than a child's toy. A delicate 3D model of a carriage, no larger than his palm. But Li Jian knew better that was the solution to his current problem.
"This is it," He murmured: "The Sky-Steed Carriage."
The Sky-Steed Carriage model itself was an unfinished prototype he had once created out of boredom. Although it was small, the base structure was ingenious and he put lots of precious materials into it. At that time, his senior brothers thought he was wasteful and didn't know how to manage rare materials. Now, it was time to refine it.
It was a two-hour horse ride from Qingyuan Town to Fengwu City. The academy Li Cheng and Li Juanxin chose, being the furthest, added another full hour to the journey. His children would be moving back and forth frequently. Coupled with lurking enemies, this made their vulnerability on the road a grave concern. The Li family had, after all, become the talk of Qingyang Town, with major families fighting to recruit them.
Especially the recent incident with Yujian, Li Jain couldn't guarantee his children's safety. He desperately needed a solution that was discreet, efficient, and appropriate for their status.
Li Jian carried the model into the refining room within his space. There, runic arrays glowed on the floor, spiraling around a central furnace shaped like a dragon swallowing the heavens. He set the model inside and with a gesture, a golden flame sprang to life in the furnace.
First, he cleansed the carriage with a wash of pure spirit fire, burning away dust and restrictions. The tiny wheels glowed hot red, before softening into liquid essence. Then, Li Jian summoned rare materials from his shelves:
Windsteel Ore, light as a feather, yet firm as stone.
Cloud Jade, which naturally resisted gravity.
Spirit Beast Leather, taken from a Sky Roc, to serve as the reins and harness.
One by one, these materials dissolved into the furnace, merging with the model. He poured in liquidized spiritual metals, refined sky-iron and a trace of silver essence so the carriage body could withstand high-speed flight.
Afterwards, he inscribed layers of formation arrays one by one, which include; weight-reduction, balance control, defensive shielding, wind acceleration and concealment.
As hours passed, sweat beaded on his forehead. The once tiny model expanded, piece by piece, until it hovered above the array in full size.
He finalized the horses by crafting them from sky-horse beast cores, refined beast blood, and flame-forged spirit steel constructs, molding them into elegant white celestial stallions. These he then bound to the carriage with chains of spiritual light.
A majestic grand carriage drawn by two winged spirit horses hovered above the refining floor. Its polished surface glowed faintly, and its wheels did not touch the ground.
"This will do." Li Jain said with a relieved smile. He was worried that he wouldn't have been able to finish it in time.
Li Jain spent the entire night refining, without a moment of sleep. He needs to prepare breakfast so they can depart early.
...
The children woke up one after another and were attracted by the aroma coming from the kitchen. Just as they went to greet their father and to get a sneak peek of the breakfast, their eyes widened in shock.
"F-father! What is this?!" Li Yuhan shouted, pointing.
Hovering in the backyard was the magnificent flying carriage, its celestial horses pawing the air though their hooves never touched the ground. The golden runes along its frame shimmered like fireflies
"Whoa!" Li Zhang shouted, nearly tripping over himself. "Is this… ours!?"
Li Cheng's eyes sparkled. He darted around the carriage, running his hands along the glowing engravings. "The craftsmanship is ingenious. Father, when did you buy this?"
Li Jingxuan's eyes widened: "It-it can fly, right? Tell me it can fly!"
"It's hovering in the air, dumb-head. If it can't fly, would it crawl?" Li Jingsheng snorted at his brother to control his own excitement.
"I wasn't asking you, genius!" Jingxuan snap.
Even Yujian, who was usually calm, couldn't keep his composure: "Father, isn't this a bit too conspicuous? If people see us flying above Fengwu City…"
"Don't worry," Li Jain reassured, waving his hand. "There are flying carriages in Fengwu City."
Juanxin, unable to contain himself, ran circles around the floating carriage. "Wah! Father, this is amazing! Can we try it now? Can we? Can we?"
Li Zhang's eyes glowed with excitement: "Father, can I be the first to ride?"
"Dream on!" Li Yuhan shoved him aside: "I'm older, I should get the first seat!"
"Who cares about birth order? Let's have a duel, the winner gets to ride first!" Li Zhang wasn't giving in. Despite his uncertainty about defeating his older brother, he was ready for the fight.
The two began to bicker. Li Cheng rolled his eyes at them, though even he had to admit he couldn't wait to try.
"Alright everyone, hurry up and get ready!" Li Jian clapped his hands lightly, urging them: "Time waits for no one."
The children, who were still circling the gleaming grand carriage like little hawks unwilling to let go of their prey, froze for a moment.
"But Father…" Jingxuan whined looking reluctant: "Can't we just sit in it once? Just one time!"
Jingsheng glared at him: "Don't act pitiful. You'll make us late."
"You really are my nemesis." Jingxuan murmured angrily while Jingsheng just smiled.
Yujian cleared his throat, clearly trying to follow their father's words, though his eyes kept darting longingly back at the carriage. "Father is right. We can test it later. Right now, we should prepare properly."
Li Zhang sighed, dragging his feet: "So unfair. We get a flying carriage in our backyard and can't even ride it immediately…"
Li Jian was speechless by their reluctant looks and said helplessly: "This carriage is yours. But if you want to enjoy it, first clean up and dress properly to avoid being late.
Though reluctant, the children knew their father's words were final. One by one, they went back inside, grumbling under their breath yet unable to hide the anticipation in their eyes.