The sonorous chanting of sutras drifted into Li Xun’s ears, faint and distant, too unclear to make out. With a soft groan, he pulled the quilt off his face and opened his eyes, staring blankly at the rafters overhead.
“So… it wasn’t a dream,” Li Xun murmured dazedly to himself.
It had been ten days since his return. Every night when he slept, he dreamt of the events on Zuowang Peak. Every morning, it would take him so ti upon waking to remind himself that he was now in the Hall of Beginnings atop Lianxia Mountain, and that he was officially a disciple of the sect.
Becoming a third generation core disciple was now rely a matter of ti.
Of the group that had ascended the mountain with him, aside from Shan Zhi, the others were still in the "Opening the Mountain" trial. His progress had clearly outpaced theirs.
Li Xun tidied his appearance and donned the Cloud Robe he had worn for seven years. With a few books in hand, he stepped outside.
Hall of Beginnings was situated on Chuyun Peak. The surroundings were serene, birds chirped softly among the trees, a perfect place to cultivate the mind and spirit.
There were nearly a hundred disciples currently residing in the hall. All of them had completed the ordeal of “Opening the Mountain” and were now here for further advancent. Every day, they attended three or four classes: scriptures, spells, arcane knowledge of the Tongxuan Realm, taught by various sect immortals. Yet these took up little ti; most of their cultivation still depended on self study.
Having gone through the rigors of initial training, the disciples had grown disciplined. Though Li Xun rose early, as he strolled among the blossoming trees, he passed many senior brothers already reciting scriptures or refining qi. Clearly, they had been at it for quite a while.
Li Xun found a quiet spot to sit. He first practiced qi refinent for a while, and once his internal cycle was completed, he leaned back against a tree and opened a book for quiet reading.
These were texts recomnded by Qingyin. Naturally, he dared not neglect them. Beyond the general scriptures, most he had already skimd through once. He couldn’t say he had gained profound insight, but the practice was excellent for calming the mind and focusing the will.
In recent days, his focus had been on understanding the Qi Transformation Chapter that Qingyin had passed down. Many of its refined techniques he had already grasped intuitively, albeit in a scattered, unsystematic fashion. Now, seeing the entire frawork as a cohesive whole, new realizations erged.
That chapter clearly outlined the stages of cultivation at this level, which consisted of two realms: “Deep Sea, Sunken Azure” and “Moonrise Over the Sea.”
The first realm, Deep Sea, Sunken Azure, involved the refining of vital qi, a process of tempering the mortal body from within.
Li Xun had, even seven years ago, achieved the minor stage of “Qi follows will, flowing ceaselessly.” Add to that his seven years of arduous cultivation, plus the subtle application of Cloud Pattern techniques, and he had unknowingly passed through this first realm already.
Since Qingyin had imparted the chapter to him, his internal qi had been subtly transforming day and night. By now, concepts like "moving qi as effortlessly as one’s own arm" were child’s play. He had even completed most of the work required to reshape and purify his inner energy.
Before long, he would step into the second realm: Moonrise Over the Sea.
This realm was the so called “Peak of the Mortal Flesh.” It marked the very first threshold where the ordinary body would begin to transform into a Daoist Physique, the foundation of true immortality.
Progress here was difficult. Only by circulating internal qi with precise techniques could one gather qi into a pearl, and at the mont when inner energy reached its boiling point, forge the Golden Core. That marked the Moonrise realm.
With the formation of the Golden Core, one’s Mystic Gate would be opened. The core would serve as a dium, drawing qi through every limb and bone, soaking the body daily in heaven and earth’s essence. Eventually, internal breath would evolve into true breath. Used long enough, the Daoist Physique would form, and one would attain the road to eternal life.
Though Li Xun’s power had yet to reach this stage, his habits from studying Cloud Patterns over the years had trained him to plan far ahead. He liked to begin with simple foundations, analyze structures, enrich his understanding step by step, until the entire cultivation process was complete within his mind so that when the ti ca for true practice, his actions would be fluid and precise, without hesitation.
These past few days, he had already rehearsed the next few hurdles ntally. Whenever he t with a conceptual block, he didn’t rush to check the texts. Instead, he first verified his thoughts through Cloud Pattern and Light Pattern techniques, and even cross referenced incantations from the Netherworld Record. Only after arriving at his own answer would he turn to the books for confirmation, comparing thods and weighing their strengths.
This approach naturally slowed his pace, but every step was solid and free of the rash sharpness that ca with rushing blindly through realms.
Such steadiness was sothing even many accomplished immortals struggled to maintain, and it was precisely this that gave Li Xun an edge over others.
By the ti he had worked through one small obstacle in his mind, it was already midday. He rolled up the scroll and walked back slowly. Along the way, many senior brothers couldn’t help but glance at him. It was likely due to the stir caused by his seven year climb and return.
Li Xun, however, paid no mind. He had always been courteous in company, never offending others. Call it gentleness or tact, but this manner of conduct was best suited for life in the world, and it was the core of his way of dealing with people.
Everyone on the mountain had attained a certain level of cultivation. als were light, one per day, with fresh fruit and clear spring water more than sufficient. Li Xun picked up a piece of fruit, weighed it in his hand, but didn’t eat it imdiately. His mind was already turning to the afternoon’s plans.
That afternoon, one of the Seven Swords of Lianxia, Daoist Mingsong, was giving a lecture. It would likely involve applications of spellcraft. It should be worth attending.
But then again… Shan Zhi might be there as well.
Seven years apart, who knew what kind of person he had beco?
To Li Xun, Shan Zhi was still useful, worth the effort to build a solid connection with. And when dealing with soone like him, the key was to cater to his preferences.
Li Xun knew well that seven years was enough ti to change a person profoundly, especially on a mountain like Lianxia, where all one saw and heard ca from beings akin to immortals. The quiet influence of such surroundings was not to be underestimated.
He originally planned to gather more intelligence before eting him again. But on second thought, perhaps that would be too deliberate.
It’s better not to be too obvious. I’ll observe him carefully first, then decide what to do. With that, Li Xun had made up his mind.
He decided to attend the lecture that afternoon, but before that, he might as well study so restrictive formations to avoid wasting ti.
With that thought in mind, he turned to leave. But after taking only two steps, a flash of swordlight cut across the sky, and a figure erged.
“Junior Brother Xun? Is that you over there?” a voice called out.
The voice was familiar. Li Xun looked up and froze.
“Senior Brother Shan Zhi?”
He couldn’t help but think fate was playing gas with him. He had just thought of this person, and now here he was.
Still, the surprise only lasted a heartbeat. In the next mont, his expression transford into one of vivid joy and disbelief at seeing an old friend again.
Shan Zhi laughed heartily in midair and leapt down lightly, placing a hand on Li Xun’s shoulder.
Shan Zhi had indeed changed greatly in seven years. He now stood half a head taller than Li Xun, with a square face, phoenix eyes, and thin lips, handso in a way that had matured. Though his features had shifted, the outline of his face remained recognizable, so Li Xun recognized him instantly.
Shan Zhi’s outward change was significant, but his temperant had clearly evolved as well. At the very least, he no longer had the childish vanity he once did. He greeted Li Xun warmly and with apparent sincerity. Seven years of cultivation had indeed tempered his character.
After giving Li Xun a once over, he chuckled. “Well," he said. "Look at you! Sturdier by far, like a young leopard! Who could’ve guessed you were once a princeling? Though your skin’s still pale, that handso face of yours hasn’t changed a bit!”
He wasn’t wrong. Despite seven years in the mountains, Li Xun’s skin remained fair, though his body had grown lean and strong, his muscles defined, not bulky, but brimming with a tensile, feline power. Like a leopard indeed.
A trace of facial hair had sprouted, yet a youthful air still clung to him, a mix of boyish charm and raw potential. Compared to seven years ago, his face hadn’t changed much, almost like he was born with a perpetual baby face.
Li Xun laughed shyly, as always. “You’re the one who’s changed more, Senior Brother. I only got this way because of all the ferocious beasts in the mountains. If I hadn’t trained hard, I wouldn’t have survived. The fact that I made it out alive is already a miracle.”
Shan Zhi laughed again. “I just ca out of seclusion yesterday and heard from Master that soone had managed to climb Zuowang Peak. I had no idea it was you. Then I heard your na today, turns out, the sect leader has summoned you, and I volunteered to co fetch you. Co on, let’s go.”
“The sect leader summoned ?” Li Xun's face lit up with just the right mix of surprise and joy, which made Shan Zhi smile.
“Of course. Other than the third generation founder, you're the only one to climb Zuowang Peak on foot. According to sect rules, you're now a core disciple like . Who else would he be looking for?”
“But I only made it halfway...” Li Xun answered honestly. “It was thanks to the cloud robe, the pills, and that defensive dagger you gave . Without them, I would’ve died that first year on the mountain.”
His words rang with sincerity. Shan Zhi, pleased by the recognition, didn’t show it. He simply smiled even more kindly, still holding Li Xun by the shoulder.
“Well, if they helped you succeed, I suppose that counts as a good deed on my part. No need for thanks. Oh, my cultivation still isn’t strong enough to carry others while flying, so we’ll have to go on foot.”
The two walked side by side, chatting and laughing. Shan Zhi shared the difficulties he’d faced in his cultivation, along with so amusing stories from within the sect. Li Xun responded with tales of strange encounters on the peak. They got along well, a touching picture of old friends reunited.
Though they couldn’t fly, both were swift walkers. Li Xun was a little slower, and while his steps lacked the graceful ease of Shan Zhi’s, he kept up just fine. It took them barely more than half an hour to reach Zhiguan Peak.
It was Li Xun’s first ti at this vital sect stronghold. Yet compared to the other mountain peaks, he didn’t find it particularly grand. The buildings were nestled modestly among flowers and trees, with streams andering through. It felt more like a hidden peach blossom grove, natural, serene.
Shan Zhi casually explained the layout to him.
At the summit stood a single Daoist hall, not built for grandeur, but for refinent. Those who had touched the Dao cultivated within; those still seeking trained outside in the surrounding grounds. Only during sect wide etings would everyone gather in the hall.
At that mont, within the hall, all mbers of the sect from the leader down who were present on the mountain had assembled.
Of course, it wasn’t all for Li Xun. As Shan Zhi ntioned, there were other matters to be discussed. His induction was just one part of the agenda.
When he first set foot on the peak, Li Xun noticed nothing unusual. But after a few steps, as clouds drifted past him, sothing stirred in his heart.
He looked closer and noticed the flow of so buildings, trees, and streams felt oddly familiar.
After thinking hard, he realized: they were fragnts of the Cloud Pattern formation. But these fragnts were blended with other types of restrictions, more complex and profound, almost unrecognizably so.
Their power was far beyond anything Li Xun could yet comprehend.
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