Re-birth: The Beginning after the End-Chapter 246: VISITING LI HAO PART 1

Li Hua scanned the room with analytical interest, noting the substantial differences from their quarters at the Beast Tamer Sect. The Heavenly Smith Sect provided significantly more space—disciples' rooms nearly twice the size of comparable accommodations in their home sect. Instead of the floor-to-ceiling windows, these quarters featured specialized skylights and reinforced ventilation systems designed to channel excess spiritual energy safely from refinement work.

The furnishings emphasized practicality over aesthetics. Li Hao's workstation dominated the space—a massive desk of ironwood surrounded by organized chaos. Various metallurgical tools hung from specialized racks, different types of metals were sorted in labeled containers, raw spirit stones awaited refinement in protective cases, and dozens of scrolls depicting complex formation diagrams covered available surfaces. Every element positioned for maximum efficiency rather than comfort.

"Not what I was expecting," Li Hua commented as she surveyed the workshop-like quarters. "The sect truly prioritizes crafting over conventional cultivation."

Li Wei nodded with scholarly appreciation of the specialized environment, while Li Hao merely shrugged—the arrangement so natural to him that he barely noticed its uniqueness. "Different sects, different focuses," he remarked. "My specialty requires continuous experimentation."

Without further commentary, Li Hua began unpacking materials from her storage space, replicating the preparation she had performed in Li Wei's quarters. With practiced efficiency, she arranged the cardinal talismans, prepared the spirit water with a drop of her blood, and crafted each formation marker with precise brushstrokes.

Her brothers watched in fascinated silence—Li Wei with analytical appreciation having already witnessed the outcome, Li Hao with the wide-eyed enthusiasm of recognizing superior technique. When she activated the completed formation, the spiritual density in the room transformed dramatically, ambient essence becoming purified and concentrated to levels.

"This is..." Li Hao whispered, his usual exuberance temporarily overwhelmed by genuine awe.

As the formation stabilized into the same harmonious hum she had created in Li Wei's quarters, Li Hua produced two additional items. First, she handed Li Wei a detailed scroll documenting the formation principles.

Then, for her craft-oriented second brother, she extracted several precious materials from her inner space—metals including steel, pure gold, high-quality jade, and several rubies that glowed.

"Something to experiment with," she explained to Li Hao's astonished expression. "I thought these might be more useful to you."

"Wow! Impressive, Sister!" Li Hao exclaimed with characteristic enthusiasm as he examined the materials. He picked up one of the rubies, turning it carefully between fingers before holding it up to the skylight. "This is perfect!"

Li Hua smiled, genuinely pleased by his appreciation. "I'm glad you like it. If I find any other materials, I'll send them your way."

"Definitely!" Li Hao grinned, giving her a thumbs-up before carefully arranging the gifts in a wood container.

With the gift-giving complete, the atmosphere relaxed. Li Hua settled comfortably on the edge of his bed while her brothers found seats amid the organized chaos. Despite having been separated for nearly two months, they fell immediately into the familiar rhythm of sibling conversation.

Li Hua shared carefully edited tales of the Forbidden Zone—emphasizing genuine wonders she had witnessed while omitting any mention of Mo Xing or her celestial awakening.

Li Hao reciprocated with animated descriptions of his latest refinement breakthroughs, demonstrating a modified essence amplifying blade that had earned him recognition from the smith sect's elders. Li Wei contributed scholarly perspectives on cultivation theory that connected both siblings' experiences to broader spiritual principles, his analytical mind finding patterns that others might miss.

For hours they conversed, shifting seamlessly between serious cultivation discussions and lighthearted reminiscences of childhood adventures—the balanced interaction of siblings whose fundamental connection remained unchanged despite their diverse cultivation paths.

As afternoon transitioned to early evening, hunger finally interrupted their conversation. Rather than risk Li Hua's detection by visiting the sect's communal dining hall, they decided to share a meal in Li Hao's quarters. Li Hua produced several sealed containers from her storage space—a selection of spirit essence infused foods.

"I've missed your prepared meals," Li Hao said with a deep sigh of appreciation as he inhaled the spirit essence-infused rice. "All those provisions you made before, are long gone."

"Already?" Li Hua asked in surprise. She had prepared at least three months worth of meals.

"Yes," he chuckled, a hint of embarrassment coloring his admission. "When I'm refining, I sometimes forget mundane necessities like eating. By the time exhaustion reminds me, the sect dining hall has usually closed."

"The Heavenly Smith Sect doesn't offer after-hours meal service?" Li Hua inquired, genuinely curious about the operational differences between cultivation institutions. "The Beast Tamer Sect maintains a continuous kitchen rotation specifically for disciples with irregular schedules."

"I wish," Li Hao replied with a rueful smile, reaching for a spirit-vegetable dumpling. "Our sect prioritizes resources differently." freēnovelkiss.com

Li Hua made a mental note to prepare additional meals and arrange regular deliveries to her second brother.

When she unpacked several elegantly crafted spirit pastries for their shared meal, Little Firefly materialized beside the food container.

"Woah! What is that?!" Li Hao exclaimed, leaping to his feet with such enthusiasm that several nearby tools rattled in response to his spiritual fluctuation. He pointed at the Little Firefly with the unrestrained excitement. "Is that your bonded spirit beast?"

"Ah, that's right—you haven't formally met him yet," Li Hua realized, gesturing toward her spirit companion. "This is Little Firefly, my contracted spirit beast. You briefly saw him as the glowing orb in my spiritual space during our last training session, remember? This is his materialized form after...his breakthrough." She deliberately kept the explanation vague.

"Oh! That's right!" Li Hao nodded in recognition, immediately shifting into the curious assessment mode. He carefully extended his hand toward the phoenix. "Good to meet you formally, Little Firefly."

"It's good to meet you too, Master's Second Brother!" Little Firefly replied with clear articulation.

Li Hao's face instantly drained of color, his hand freezing mid-gesture as his eyes widened to perfect circles. "I-it can talk?!" he stammered, falling back a step in shock. "A talking spirit beast? That's not possible, right?"