After the Great Dao Died

Twelve days passed. Deep winter was nearing its end, and Yuanjiang Prefecture welcomed a rare stretch of sunny days.

Days of continuous breathing exercises and martial cultivation made Chen Lingxi's aura increasingly steady.

When he pushed open his door in the morning, sunlight spilled across his face. He could feel the vital blood surging beneath his skin, a warmth rising and circulating throughout his body.

Though his physique had not grown bulky, the lines of his shoulders and back had become sharply defined, and a warm, jade-like luster faintly emanated from beneath his skin.

This was the exact sign of abundant vital blood and gradually strengthening internal organs.

He had woken early to gather flower branches from the rear garden, preparing the floral arrangement he needed to present to Lin Longyue in three days.

The weather had warmed over the past few days. A few early spring flowers had quietly budded in the garden, contrasting with the lingering patches of late-winter snow. They possessed a unique vitality, breaking through the cold to emerge—perfect material for a floral arrangement.

Carrying a bamboo basket, Chen Lingxi strolled through the West Courtyard's moon gate. Just as he stepped onto the bluestone path on the eastern side of the rear garden, a sudden chill ran down his spine.

A cold gaze, like a physical ice awl, pierced him from the side.