“Greetings, Senior Brother Jiang!”
Luo Tong cupped his hands in salute with perfect ease, an appropriately measured smile on his face.
He was no ignorant wastrel. From the attitudes of Li Ruohan and even Xiao Tongquan, one could tell that this Senior Brother Jiang was highly valued, and was by no means some common fish in a pond.
“So young, looking even a little younger than me, yet already at the fourth level of Qi Refining. Senior Brother Jiang has boundless prospects; in the future, he will surely become an inner peak disciple!”
Luo Tong’s thoughts raced as he secretly pondered:
“Compared to the stingy, shortsighted Zhou Can, Senior Brother Jiang can help me far more.
If he enters the inner peak, he could become a great support to me!
I must speak to my elder sister again and have her use whatever means necessary to ‘rekindle old ties’ with Senior Brother Jiang!”
Before long, everyone arrived on the second floor of Heshui Cave.
This time, they had changed to an even better private room.
Wang Heng led the way at the front and pushed open the door. Before them was a suspended platform, with railings on three sides that allowed one to gaze far into the distance, taking in the endless snow peaks and sea of clouds in a single view.
The mountain wind, mixed with drifting snow, howled past, only to be perfectly blocked by several floor-to-ceiling screens. Clusters of spiritual light radiated from them, dispelling the bone-piercing chill.
“A fine place.”
Xiao Tongquan nodded in praise and was the first to take the seat of honor. His bearing was calm, carrying a natural dignity.
At the center stood a broad tea table. Upon it, a jade pot emitted curling wisps of white steam, the fragrance of tea crisp and pure.
The others then took their seats.
Lu Yun smiled as he poured Xiao Tongquan a cup of hot tea.
“Senior Brother Xiao, try this ‘Snowtop Emerald.’ It is a new spiritual tea planted by Medicine-Gathering Peak, and matures specifically in the deep winter season.”
Xiao Tongquan raised his hand to receive it. The tea was clear green, the young leaves unfurling within. He took a light sip, and a current of pure freshness seemed to run straight to the space between his brows.
“Not bad. Medicine-Gathering Peak is getting better and better. Among the four outer peaks, you and Sewing Peak earn the most every year, have the fattest purses, and live the most comfortable lives.”
Lu Yun smiled smugly, as if sharing in the honor.
Only after Xiao Tongquan had tasted it did the others pick up their teacups.
Wang Heng also praised it.
“Excellent tea indeed. Many thanks, Senior Brother Lu.”
Li Ruohan lightly gathered her sleeve. Her gaze swept over Jiang Yi, who looked full of heroic vitality, and a faint joy stirred in her heart.
Then she shifted her eyes to the snow-clad mountains and peaks, smiling as she said:
“The heavy snow has sealed the mountains, the year’s end is near, and work in the outer sect has stopped.
In three months, spring will arrive. Here, this little sister wishes all you senior brothers a rise into the blue clouds and a lasting place upon the inner peak.”
Wang Heng and Lu Yun exchanged a bitter smile. They knew very well that they were most likely only there to make up the numbers. The inner peak assessment was extremely difficult; merely having cultivation at the fourth level of Qi Refining was far from enough.
Moreover, direct descendants of local clans had always cherished their own lives.
Unless they had absolute confidence, they would not be willing to easily risk themselves in a desperate fight.
Most likely, they would have to endure for a few more years and polish their cultivation further!
“Among those present, only Senior Brother Xiao is practically certain!”
Lu Yun laughed heartily.
“Your junior brother will use tea in place of wine and offer you a toast first!”
Xiao Tongquan had already established himself at the fifth level of Qi Refining. Although the inner palace of his Yuan Pass had yet to be opened, that was enough for him to look down upon the outer peaks and be called their foremost figure.
In particular, this Senior Brother Xiao’s origins were anything but ordinary. He had ties to the imperial clan of the former Yu Kingdom, and the wealth of cultivation resources supporting him was enough to make even inner peak disciples jealous.
“Senior Brother Xiao’s brilliance shines across the four peaks; your name resounds like thunder! This junior brother has long admired your great reputation, and also offers you a toast!”
Luo Tong could not wait to seize the opening, hoping to show his face before Xiao Tongquan and leave a deeper impression.
Toward such flattery and praise, Xiao Tongquan accepted it all calmly.
While savoring the fragrant tea, he said casually:
“If I enter the inner peak, I will likely take Elder Xu as my master.
A few days ago, Elder Xu privately transmitted to me the ‘Metal-Severing Jade-Cleaving Qi Blade Art’ for use in the assessment.”
Wang Heng and Lu Yun exchanged a glance, both deeply envious.
In past years, when the inner peak set its assessment, it would always choose one of the resource grounds such as the Hundred Beasts Cavern, Heart-Seizing Forest, or Soul-Falling Gorge.
It would then send the many menial disciples competing for inner peak seats inside to complete the assignment of the Initiation Hall.
Strictly speaking, it was neither difficult nor easy.
First, one’s cultivation had to be sufficient. At the very least, one had to be at the fourth level of Qi Refining to protect oneself.
Second, one also had to grasp protective means and not fear the dangers that lurked everywhere in the resource grounds!
Direct descendants of local clans like Wang Heng and Lu Yun were stuck precisely at this step.
As the saying went, methods were worth ten thousand in gold, and a single art was hard to seek.
Most of the cultivation essentials circulating outside the true lineages were ungraded common goods like the Orthodox Meridian Qi Circulation Art.
Even a famous local clan with prestige like the Li clan of Bo Commandery only had a scant few ninth-grade Qi Refining methods listed as treasured possessions.
Beyond that, methods were hard to obtain, and arts were hard to cultivate.
If one did not invest a great deal of energy and time, painstakingly polishing and comprehending them, it was extremely difficult to grasp the profound principles within an art.
“Methods are hard to obtain, and arts are hard to cultivate! Those words are not false. Elder Xu only transmitted the complete text to me, without any further guidance.”
A gloomy look appeared between Xiao Tongquan’s brows.
“Over these days, even though I have studied it day and night and exhausted my thoughts, I still have not obtained its true essence. It truly worries me to death!”
At the end, Xiao Tongquan seemed somewhat frustrated and abruptly tilted his head back, draining the tea in one gulp.
Tsk. Senior Brother Xiao’s talent isn’t all that good.
Jiang Yi lowered his head to drink tea, silently acting like an inconspicuous onlooker, while inwardly muttering to himself.
It was only through casual chats with Yang Xun that he had learned that cultivating the Dao and practicing arts had no such thing as a universal approach. Ten thousand people had ten thousand paths.
In simple terms, a single ninth-grade Qi Refining method could branch into numerous versions because different cultivators understood it differently.
For a famous clan like the Li clan of Bo Commandery, one part of their foundation lay in the “annotated manuals” left by the clan’s ancestors on secret formulas and methods.
If someone took the original copy of a method, without referring to the views and insights of any predecessor, and could directly enter the threshold, then advance past thirty percent and proceed straight to perfection—
According to Yang Xun’s original words, such a person would be a born Dao seed on the level of divine palaces and heavenly mansions!
Thus, it was very normal for Xiao Tongquan to feel distressed.
He clearly knew this was Elder Xu’s “test,” yet he had still been unable to put on any display and win his favor.
The more anxious he became, the more tormenting it was!
Jiang Yi could not help recalling when he had first obtained the Lesser Yuan-Tempering Fire-Control Art. Back then, he had actually been full of enthusiasm, planning to teach himself into mastery.
Looking back now, he had been something of a frog in a well, making a fool of himself.
While Jiang Yi was slacking off and saying nothing, Luo Tong, on the other side, smiled ingratiatingly and spoke:
“I have long heard that Senior Brother Xiao comes from a profound family tradition and that your knowledge and experience are far beyond ordinary folk! How could you possibly be stumped by a mere ninth-grade Qi Refining formula?”
His words made Xiao Tongquan’s brows sink slightly. Beside him, Wang Heng and Lu Yun’s expressions also changed faintly.
As for Li Ruohan, who had brought Luo Tong here, she was even more shocked, nearly knocking over the teacup she had been playing with.
Junior Brother Luo had said the wrong thing!
Many people in the four outer peaks knew that Xiao Tongquan was suspected to be a descendant of the imperial clan of the former Yu Kingdom.
They regarded this as the fundamental reason for Senior Brother Xiao’s extraordinary bearing and outstanding presence.
But only “one of their own” who moved close to him, such as Wang Heng, Lu Yun, and Li Ruohan, knew that Senior Brother Xiao most hated any mention of his family background and origins.
Luo Tong’s flattery had truly struck the horse’s leg.
“Senior Brother Xiao…”
Li Ruohan wanted to remedy the situation.
After all, she was the one who had brought him in, so naturally, she had to shoulder part of the responsibility.
“No matter. The ignorant are not to blame.”
Xiao Tongquan waved his hand and interrupted her. Ignoring Luo Tong’s puzzled expression, he quietly shifted the topic.
“It has been a long time since I gathered with all you junior brothers and junior sister. I cannot help but think back to when we first entered the outer sect, those days when we mutually verified our cultivation and supported one another as we advanced. They are truly unforgettable.
There are inner peak seats every year. Whether one is a step faster or slower, in the end, we will all meet at the mountaintop.
Today, since I am in good spirits, this Xiao shall demonstrate some cultivation methods for everyone!
I hope you will all reach the fifth level soon and step into the inner peak!”
“Senior Brother Xiao, please demonstrate your art!”
Wang Heng and Lu Yun said in unison.
Without a change in expression, the two of them shifted their seats slightly, widening the distance between themselves and Luo Tong.
The latter was completely unaware, his attention firmly captured by Xiao Tongquan.
The fifth level of Qi Refining!
In the outer sect, that was enough to manage an entire division!
Within a clan, he would also be an ancestor-like formidable figure!
Senior Brother Xiao formed a hand seal with his right hand and softly shouted, “Rise!”
Majestic true qi surged out from his physical shell like the Milky Way hanging upside down, imposing and magnificent.
The air trembled and roared, pressing down on everyone present until their chests felt stifled, as though burdened by a massive stone.
“This Senior Brother Xiao’s cultivation is truly profound…”
Jiang Yi’s eyelids twitched slightly. In his perception, the power and cultivation Xiao Tongquan displayed were only half a step inferior to Yang Xun’s.
“Condense!” Xiao Tongquan uttered another word. The true qi that had originally been rushing endlessly suddenly rolled back and transformed into a giant palm.
“Go!” With another light shout, the several-zhang-wide giant palm of true qi broke through the air, its momentum vast and mighty!
Xiao Tongquan calmly formed seals, controlling the giant palm as it seized and grasped, shaking out muffled thunder-like booms!
The howling mountain wind, the snow flurries filling the sky, and the surging clouds and mist all scattered beneath this palm, turning into wildly dancing currents of air!
Once the palm had struck, the true qi dispersed, yet Xiao Tongquan did not stop. He slowly walked to the railing, his finger seals changing again as specks of black light rose from his seven orifices.
Between exhalations and breaths, the water nature nurtured within the hundred bones of his body transformed into vast black clouds, pouring down like a waterfall!
Crash!
It was as if surging black water were washing over everything, scouring and ravaging!
Wherever it passed, trees toppled, snapped, and shattered. Everything within a radius of over ten zhang was reduced to ruin!
“So this is the fifth level of Qi Refining?”
Jiang Yi held his breath and restrained his presence, sighing inwardly.
“What formidable methods!”
A flash of golden light appeared in his eyes, and the Heavenly Book was reflected within them.
“I humbly beseech the Heavenly Book: directly show me the answer. Among the menial disciples of Qianji Sect’s four outer peaks, what rank is the strength of Xiao Tongquan of Soul-Nurturing Peak?”
This was the newest usage Jiang Yi had figured out.
This sort of question did not involve deducing specifics, so the Heavenly Book responded extremely quickly.
By not asking for concrete details and only seeking a brief answer, with no need for excessive deduction, he could greatly save time.
“First.”
Jiang Yi was not surprised. He treated Xiao Tongquan as a “combat strength standard” and asked another question.
“I humbly beseech the Heavenly Book: directly show me the answer. Among the menial disciples of Qianji Sect’s four outer peaks, what rank is the strength of Jiang Yi of Scarlet Flame Peak?”
After two or three breaths.
“Seventh.”
“Jiang Seventh, is it? Tsk, that’s a little far off, and it doesn’t sound good either!”
Jiang Yi took a deep breath and secretly reflected that looking down upon the four outer peaks of the outer sect was still a long and difficult road!