Crossing Over: The Strongest Mage

Yanhuo stretched his limbs as he looked at the sky, considering what to do next. "I should head back to the manor," he muttered. "If **Xiuning** notices that I'm missing from my room, she'll be worried. It's better if no one finds out about my cultivation." With that thought, Yanhuo leapt into the air, descending swiftly toward the mountain. Every step he took sent him plummeting several dozen feet, and each landing was precise—his control over his body's strength had become flawless after a night of intense practice.

Landing lightly in the courtyard of the manor, Yanhuo made his way back to his room. As usual, he took out his guqin and began playing, this time choosing the tune **"The Magpie's Nest."**

---

**Xiuning**, who had just woken up and was washing up, heard the sound of the guqin. She raised an eyebrow, feeling puzzled. "Young Master, how come you're up so early today? And immediately playing the guqin?" After listening for a while, she added, "Strange… this tune sounds full of joy… odd, very odd."

In the following days, Yanhuo's routine remained unchanged. He continued his studies and training, and in the evenings and early mornings, he dedicated himself to meditation and cultivation. Although he had already reached the pinnacle of the **Entry Realm**, Yanhuo still believed that he needed to continue practicing the basic **Entry Realm** techniques, as described in **Chongyang Zi**'s notes. He assumed that, like the instructions in the book, it would take him a decade to truly cultivate the foundation.

Yanhuo was unaware of his immense progress, thinking that the peak of the **Entry Realm** required years of hard work. Meanwhile, his body was growing stronger with every session of meditation. Although his cultivation had not advanced in terms of realms, the sheer amount of spiritual energy he absorbed each time was transforming his physical body. It was as if his body was being forged into something more powerful with each passing day.

---

**Two years passed.**

Now, Yanhuo was thirteen years old. His cultivation was nearing the peak of the **Entry Realm**, with the next step being the **Early Stage of Dao Solidification**. It was only a matter of time before he made the breakthrough, needing only a bit more understanding of his cultivation techniques. However, his physical transformation had already far surpassed the normal growth of an ordinary cultivator. His body had become as resilient as stone. The power and strength within him had reached a point where his body felt like an unshakable fortress.

Despite the incredible changes to his body, no one could tell just by looking at him, because Yanhuo had never focused on training his muscles. His body had been strengthened through the absorption of spiritual energy alone.

---

**One afternoon, after returning from a long day of meditation,** Yanhuo was in his room when **Zhang Feng** came to visit. Zhang Feng had been coming up the mountain to see him more often lately, although it was no longer to deliver books. Instead, he simply wanted to check on Yanhuo's progress. The **Dao Qing Temple**'s books had all been read by Yanhuo, and Zhang Feng was eager to know how his friend was doing.

"Yanhuo, I've been meaning to ask you something," Zhang Feng began with a puzzled expression. "You always say you live here on the mountain with your… *sister*?"

Yanhuo nodded, though there was an odd look in his eyes. "Yes, I live with Xiuning."

"But what about your parents?" Zhang Feng pressed. "I always thought you didn't have any, which is why you live up here with her. But if your parents are alive, why are you living here alone?"

Yanhuo sighed, his expression darkening. "I don't know. My father never cared for me. He only comes up here once a year, and when he does, he doesn't even acknowledge me. It's as if I'm a burden to him."

Zhang Feng's face twisted in anger. "What?! That's outrageous! What kind of father does that? You're smart and talented—there's no way anyone would neglect a child like you!"

Yanhuo looked away, a deep sadness in his eyes. "I don't know why. I've seen him only a handful of times in my life. It's like I was born to upset him. The last time he visited, I showed him some of my calligraphy, and he scolded me, telling me not to call him 'father' anymore."

Zhang Feng's fists clenched in frustration. "That's just wrong. You haven't done anything wrong! You're too kind, Yanhuo. What could possibly make him act like that?"

Yanhuo shook his head helplessly. "I don't understand either."

---

Zhang Feng seemed to be lost in thought, trying to piece things together. "Wait... you mentioned your father's name is **Liu Yiqing**, and that he lives in **Yan City** at the foot of the mountain?"

Yanhuo nodded. "Yes, that's right. **Liu Yiqing**... he lives just below the mountain in **Yan City**."

Zhang Feng's eyes widened in shock. "Liu Yiqing... Wait... are you certain that your father's name is **Liu Yiqing**? Is he really the one who lives in **Yan City**?"

Yanhuo frowned. "Yes, I'm certain. Why?"

Zhang Feng's face went pale. He seemed to be struggling to comprehend what he had just heard. "You mean... your father... *that* Liu Yiqing? The one everyone talks about?"

---

At this moment, Yanhuo was confused by Zhang Feng's reaction. He had never been told much about his father, and it seemed that this name carried weight that he was unaware of.

Could his father truly be someone of great significance?

**"What's going on?"**

**"Do you... know what your father does?"**

**"I don't know. They never tell me anything. There are a lot of things they keep from me."**

**"Haha! I don't dare say this in other places, but in Yan City, there is only one person named Liu Yiqing, and only he dares to bear that name."**

**"What exactly does my father do? Zhang Feng, please tell me!"** Yan Huo asked anxiously.

Liu Yiqing visited Daoqing Temple every year. The temple treated him as a distinguished guest, not only because of his generosity but also due to the immense power of the Liu family.

Zhang Feng had grown up in the temple, so he certainly knew about this influential figure. Whenever the disciples chatted, the most common topic was the Liu family. Zhang Feng slowly began explaining the matters of the Liu family to Yan Huo. He told him in great detail, but when he reached the part about the celestial phenomenon that had shaken Yan City, Zhang Feng suddenly paused, as if recalling something.

Zhang Feng had never seen the phenomenon himself, so he was unsure whether to believe it. Then another thought struck him: **"Yan Huo wouldn't lie to me, right? What's the point of him lying? Liu Yiqing has three children: Liu Zheng, the eldest son; Liu De, the second son; and Liu Yanran, the daughter. But I've never heard of a son named Yan Huo. Oh! Right! There was also a child who passed away and whose body was cremated by Liu Yiqing himself. What was that child's name?"**

Zhang Feng shook his head, trying to remember.

**"Zhang Feng, please continue! You stopped right when it was getting interesting!"** Yan Huo urged.

**"Oh, Yan Huo, you wait..."** Zhang Feng looked at Yan Huo and then suddenly shouted in surprise: **"Liu Yan Huo!!!"**

**"Zhang Feng, what's wrong? Don't scare me!"** Yan Huo was taken aback.

**"What nonsense! Unless Liu Yiqing found a substitute, burned him, and then hid Yan Huo away... Haha! No way! Haha! I really have an overactive imagination!"** Zhang Feng laughed, sizing up Yan Huo. **"But if even Yan Huo himself doesn't know who he really is..."** Zhang Feng thought for a moment and then curiously asked: **"Yan Huo, has Xiuning ever mentioned the celestial phenomenon that happened in the Liu family more than ten years ago?"**

**"No, Xiuning has never told me anything about the family matters. Why? Is something wrong?"** Yan Huo asked, puzzled.

**"... No, nothing."** Zhang Feng fell silent for a moment, then continued: **"Yan Huo, listen to me. When you go back, put a note with the words 'Yan Huo hiding in Yan Mountain' in Xiuning's room. See how she reacts when she finds it."**

**"Why?"** Yan Huo was confused.

**"No reason, just do it."** Zhang Feng said firmly, his voice louder than usual. After a brief pause, he added, **"Actually, let Yan Huo figure it out on his own... Sigh!"**

Zhang Feng had known Yan Huo for over two years now. During their time together, Zhang Feng had already come to treat Yan Huo like a younger brother.

**"Zhang Feng, please continue with the Liu family's story! You stopped telling me just now."**

**"Let's talk about it tomorrow. It's getting late, I need to head back to Daoqing Temple."**

**"But the sky hasn't even darkened yet..."** Yan Huo started to say, but Zhang Feng interrupted.

**"Alright, Yan Huo, I'm going now."**