Azure mists stretched for thousands of miles, the cloudy sky a vast, boundless expanse.

Atop Yunti Peak.

Seated on a bluish-white cushion radiating a faint, refreshing fragrance, Qi Xiu gazed upon a lush and flourishing Yunti garden.

The Yunti Spirit Fruit flowered every nine months, bore fruit every nine months, and ripened every nine months.

Every year, when they matured, the disciples of Yunti Peak were responsible for arranging manpower to harvest the Yunti, store them, and keep them for sale.

In the blink of an eye, he had been at the Shenxiao Sect for more than three months.

Although he was a new disciple, all the other disciples on Yunti Peak—save for Daoist Yunxiong—were currently traveling. Consequently, only Qi Xiu and Ge Ping remained on Yunti Peak.

Thus, the task of harvesting the Yunti naturally fell to them.

After briefly dividing the labor, Qi Xiu took responsibility for the five Yunti garden plots on the eastern slopes.

Harvesting the Yunti was not difficult, but it did involve certain risks.

The Yunti Spirit Fruits formed by absorbing the essence of lightning. They had to be harvested gently and without haste. Otherwise, if the lightning essence was disturbed, it would instantly explode and trigger a chain reaction, destroying the entire Yunti garden.

Qi Xiu and Ge Ping's role was to prevent accidents while the workers harvested the Yunti. If a Yunti fruit became unstable, they had to neutralize it quickly to prevent endangering the entire garden.

While monitoring the Yunti harvest and silently cultivating, Qi Xiu's fingertips moved lightly, transforming [Spirit Elixir Talisman] into medicinal power that flowed into his body.

To achieve Dao-Entering Realm Complete with "The Secret of the Primordial Dragon-Tiger Scripture," one needed to condense three hundred and sixty-five Mixed Primordial Beads. This meant that for Qi Xiu to reach Dao-Entering Realm Complete, he would need to invest three hundred and sixty-five times the time and effort of an ordinary cultivator.

Fortunately, the spiritual energy within the Shenxiao Sect was much richer than in the outside world, and with the aid of the [Spirit Elixir Talisman], Qi Xiu estimated he could condense one Mixed Primordial Bead every three months.

That meant four such beads a year. At this rate, to reach the Peak of Dao Entry, he would need… eighty-nine years!

By then, I'll be over a hundred and ten years old, Qi Xiu mused, rolling up his sleeves, his expression reflective.

The average lifespan of cultivators in the Dao-Entering Realm is between one hundred and eighty to two hundred years. Depending on the Cultivation Technique, there can be significant differences. For instance, someone like Ge Ping, who cultivated the True Scripture Volume of the Wood Dao Scripture, typically had a longer lifespan and could possibly live up to three hundred years without mishaps.

Qi Xiu quietly calculated that his own cultivation journey had barely surpassed three years, not even reaching four.

For a core disciple of a major sect like the Shenxiao Sect—nurtured from birth, enjoying a smooth journey with senior support, and accompanied by True Scriptures and Elixirs—reaching such a Realm would take at least a decade.

Qi Xiu had reached this Realm in just over three years not only due to the support of his proficiency Divine Marvel but also thanks to several fortuitous encounters and obtaining items like the Spirit Pill Pouch, a Magic Artifact from a Middle Ancient Era Demon Sect.

Ten years to reach the Initiate Realm, a hundred years to become Bloodstained. After reaching the Initiate Realm, seclusion for several years, or even over a decade, is normal. This is the actual pace of cultivation. The years of cultivation are long, and the Dao Path is vast and unclear. I should get used to it.

With a calm gaze, Qi Xiu stroked the Flood Dragon Pool on his thumb.

He had his proficiency Divine Marvel. The lengthy and monotonous cultivation that seemed dull to others was not tedious to him. And he didn't have to worry about anything else. As long as he focused on cultivation and improving his skill proficiency, wasn't this precisely the life he had always longed for?

「 」

In the mountains, one loses track of time; winters end, and years turn unnoticed.

Having calmed his mindset, Qi Xiu gradually grew accustomed to his identity as a disciple of a major sect.

As Yunti Peak was one of the seventy-two pillars of the Shenxiao Sect, its disciples were not required to participate in other sect affairs beyond those of their own branch.

Several months later, after all the Yunti Spirit Fruits were harvested, Qi Xiu finally had some leisure time and began a monotonous yet self-fulfilling life.

After "The Secret of the Primordial Dragon-Tiger Scripture" advanced to the third realm, it began to govern all his other Dharma Gates. As long as he cultivated "The Secret of the Primordial Dragon-Tiger Scripture," his other Dharma Gates would also improve.

However, this governing effect only applied to Dharma Gates and could not improve skills like calligraphy, Alchemy, and painting, which were considered Mysterious Abilities.

Spring passed and autumn came; seasons changed swiftly.

Qi Xiu had stayed on Yunti Peak for three years.

「 」

CRACK! BOOM!

Heavenly Thunder roared, shaking the firmament!

"Hmph!"

Atop Yunti Peak, an indignant grunt echoed throughout the summit.

"Seventh Master! The Peak Master requests your immediate presence at Guanlan Cliff!"

The Lotus Demoness, graceful in appearance, gentle and pleasing, arrived at Qi Xiu's courtyard. Like Bai Ling, the tree spirit under Ge Ping's command, this Lotus Demoness, known as Qingyi, was responsible for managing Qi Xiu's daily life.

"Understood."

A calm echo came from the room.

As the door opened, Qi Xiu, clad in a light blue long shirt, stepped out. His robes fluttered elegantly, like flowing clouds and water. His ink-black hair cascaded down to his waist, its slight curl revealing a touch of softness. His brow conveyed steadiness and wisdom, and his eyes were clear and bright, as if harboring endless sagacity.

Three years had passed, and the transformation in Qi Xiu could be described as earth-shattering.

During those three years, he had not slackened his cultivation despite being under the protection of the Shenxiao Sect. On the contrary, free from other concerns, his devotion to cultivation had become even more fervent.

In these three years, aside from tasks arranged by Daoist Yunxiong, he had dedicated all his time to cultivation. Calligraphy, Alchemy, painting, and other Mysterious Abilities were not neglected either.

By now, thirty-six Mixed Primordial Beads had condensed within him. This was more than twice as fast as he had originally anticipated.

His frightening level of Cultivation, unparalleled in history, left even Daoist Yunxiong deeply surprised. After all, even he, a Dao Expert with hundreds, approaching a thousand years of cultivation, had never seen anyone accumulate such a vast and profound True Gang in the Dao-Entering Realm.

"Did Master say what it was about?"

Stepping out of the room, Qi Xiu loosened the sleeves of his robe, revealing golden chains writhing faintly on his arms.

"The Peak Master did not specify, only mentioning that you, Seventh Master, should go as soon as possible."

With a thoughtful nod, Qi Xiu waved his hand, signaling Qingyi to leave. He then soared, transforming into a tumultuous and raging fire cloud that spanned miles, shooting straight towards Guanlan Cliff at the summit of Yunti Peak.

「 」

Clouds roiled and Thunder Sound trembled at Guanlan Cliff.

Daoist Yunxiong, clad in purple robes, meditated with closed eyes. Towering behind him stood the Divine Authority Furious Thunder Vajra, thousands of feet tall with six arms, each wielding various Thunderbolt Magical Weapons. Overhead, layers of thunderclouds rumbled, and cascading Lei Mang flashed like waterfalls; the sound alone was enough to obliterate countless malevolent spirits.

"Master."

Arriving at Guanlan Cliff on his fire cloud, Qi Xiu looked up at the terrifying six-armed Vajra. It emanated an infinite aura of destruction, like a world-ending deity, and his brow furrowed slightly.

What's happened to make the old man so furiously angry?

"You're here."

Hearing Qi Xiu's voice, Daoist Yunxiong slowly opened his eyes. The surging divine might of Heavenly Thunder behind him, resembling the Thunder God incarnate, also dissipated.

"Take a seat."

With a wave of his sleeve, a meditation cushion suddenly appeared in front of Qi Xiu.

"How has your cultivation been recently? Do you have any doubts that need your master's clarification?" Daoist Yunxiong asked calmly, looking at Qi Xiu.

"Thanks to Master's blessings, everything has been well recently."

"Mhm, among my seven disciples, you are the one that gives me the least worry."

"Not like your sixth senior brother. I haven't seen him devote much effort to cultivation. Playing the lover, though, he's quite adept at that."

"Banking on his status as a direct disciple of the Shenxiao Sect, he dares to meddle in mundane politics, becoming some sort of Provincial Government prefect!"

"Hmph!"

"With his dog brain, a prefect? He's more suited to eating history!"

Suddenly enraged, Daoist Yunxiong's eyes blazed with Lei Mang. The surrounding void seemed to sense the Dao Expert's wrath as endless thunderclouds converged out of thin air. The vast Heavenly Thunder, like a world-ending calamity, was utterly terrifying.

After a brief loss of composure, Daoist Yunxiong promptly restrained his emotions and returned to calmness.

"Seventh, your sixth senior brother is so clouded by lust, his spirit and will turbid, that if he remains outside, he will surely tarnish the reputation of our Shenxiao Sect."

"He fancies himself an invincible Initiate Realm disciple of the Shenxiao Sect, able to battle across realms and achieve Bloodstain, doesn't he?"

"Take my token now and go."

"Drag this rebellious disciple back to the Sect!"

"What if my sixth senior brother is unwilling to come back with me?" After a moment of silent contemplation, Qi Xiu asked.

"Then you fight! Fight him to the death!"

"Your disciple obeys!"

Receiving a command token from Daoist Yunxiong made of silvery-white material with an ancient thunder pattern on the front, Qi Xiu turned and left.

「 」

"Master called for you?"

Qi Xiu had just returned to his courtyard when, upon entering, he encountered his fifth senior brother, Ge Ping, waiting with a smile.

"Yes."

"It's about Sixth Brother, isn't it?"

"How do you know?" Qi Xiu asked, a hint of surprise on his face. He hadn't expected his fifth senior brother to be so well-informed.

"Just a guess." With his hands clasped behind his back, Ge Ping paced leisurely.

"Sixth Brother is a disciple from the main family branch—talented and intelligent. He reached the Initiate Realm at nine and, by seventeen, had achieved Three Flowers Gathering at the Top, reaching the Peak of Dao Entry."

"But precisely because he's too young and his path has been too smooth, his Temperament is unruly, and he's naive about worldly affairs."

"That's why Master sent him down the mountain to travel, to broaden his horizons and temper his character."

"However, it seems the boy not only failed to use the mortal world to temper his Dao Heart but has instead become ensnared by it."

"Master sent you to rescue him, right?"

"Sixth Brother interfered in mundane affairs, breaking the rules. Master ordered me to bring him back," Qi Xiu replied concisely.

"I knew it. Master still can't bear to be too harsh..." Ge Ping started to say.

"Regardless of life or death."

"What... what?"

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.