The North Peak of Mount Hua is vast, home to countless famous sights: the True Martial Monastery, Jiao Gong’s Stone Chamber, the Everlasting Spring Stone Chamber, the Maiden’s Window, the Immortal Oil Tribute, Divine Earth Cliff, the Cloud-Leaning Pavilion, Old Lord’s Plow Hang Spot, Iron Ox Terrace, the White Cloud Wonderland Stone Archway, and more. Relatively speaking, the Cloud-Gazing Terrace is not one of the more renowned spots.

The scenery at the Cloud-Gazing Terrace is exceptionally fine.

Standing on the terrace, one faces an expanse of void above the precipice. Across this void, clouds stretch boundlessly, dense yet ethereal, billowing softly. These continuous rolls of clouds resemble icebergs floating upon a sea; or perhaps they are palatial halls and pavilions carved from luminous white jade, forming an endless, layered avenue of a new city. At times, they transform into scattered giants—majestic elephants, generous white apes, composed camels, placid lions asleep, plump sheep, or proud, silver roosters—standing, sitting, moving, or still.

To observe it all is like witnessing a sea of clouds itself: clouds gathering and surging, rolling up and unfurling, peaks rising and falling with the waves, sea spray splashing, and roaring tides beating against the shore.

The vista here is truly magnificent.

However, given the immense scale of Mount Hua’s North Peak and the sheer breadth of its scenic wonders, this particular location appears quite obscure.

Yet, the Cloud-Gazing Terrace serves a significant purpose.

Those intending to master the Cloud Dragon Heart Method typically come here to observe the clouds.

The Cloud Dragon Heart Method was created by the North Peak’s Second Generation Patriarch. Legend holds that this patriarch cultivated the technique to the stage of the Ten Cloud Dragon Transformations, achieving peerless power in the world. However, in the four thousand years since, no successor has managed to reclaim that former glory and elevate the Cloud Dragon Heart Method to the level of the Ten Transformations.

It was early morning, though a sunless one.

The sky was overcast, yet this gloom in no way obscured the splendor of the cloud sea.

The Cloud-Gazing Terrace was a massive slab of bluestone, nearly half of which jutted out over the chasm of the cliff void.

To stand here, for anyone unable to fly by sword, would induce a certain disquiet in the heart.

On the terrace at this moment stood two figures: a white-haired elder whose age was etched upon him, and a youth of sixteen or seventeen years, who possessed an undeniably cunning look. This venerable elder was Li Yuanbai, the Fading Twilight Sword, one of the renowned Six Sword Immortals of the North Peak—a figure famous throughout the region, though his mortal lifespan was now drawing to a close.

The sixteen-or-seventeen-year-old youth was, naturally, Li Yuanbai’s sole disciple, Lu Yuan.

Lu Yuan was currently steeped in misery.

Perhaps due to his slightly better performance during the North Peak Grand Competition, his master, Li Yuanbai, seemed to believe he still had room for improvement, thus initiating intensive special training. Heavens above, earth below! Training was one thing, but must one be yanked from the warmth of one's sleeping nest so early in the morning?

The North Peak Grand Competition was held in October; a full month had passed since then, and the air was biting cold.

In such frigid weather, who wouldn't rather remain burrowed deep in their quilt, where it was so comfortable?

Fine, he wasn't susceptible to ordinary cold or heat now, but surely one needed some pretext for indulging in a lie-in.

“Achoo—” He involuntarily stifled a yawn.

Li Yuanbai stood there, his white hair flowing, his white beard drifting, truly a figure radiating immortal grace and bone structure. “Lu Yuan, your swordsmanship is quite good now. While it doesn't match us old bones, the level is the same—you’ve reached the stage of Sword Intent. The Ultimate Sword Intent is still a distant peak, but now you need to temper your sword techniques diligently. One day, you will surpass this old master of yours.” Speaking of his disciple’s martial skill, Li Yuanbai felt a touch of pride. To reach the level of Sword Intent at merely sixteen was genius by any standard.

Of course, due to Li Yuanbai’s discreet methods, the other members of the Six Sword Immortals of the North Peak believed he had employed some special trickery, and thus they did not place too much importance on Lu Yuan as a junior.

Li Yuanbai continued, “Your magical power isn't lacking either. You’ve reached the mid-stage of the Fifth Layer of the Qi Condensation Period, the Minor Heavenly Cycle. In terms of the tenth generation of disciples, even among the core inheritors, this places you above average. If my lifespan were not nearing its end, I could naturally teach you slowly. But now, time is short, and I shall pass on to you the core summation of the Cloud Dragon Heart Method.”

“You may not grasp it now, but you can slowly comprehend it later.”

“The Cloud Dragon Heart Method is born of the clouds, it changes with the clouds. It is also known as the Ten Cloud Dragon Transformations.”

“To explain the Cloud Dragon Heart Method, one must first introduce the Nine Sons of the Dragon. These nine are: Bi Xi, Chi Wen, Pu Lao, Bi An, Tao Tie, Ba Xia, Ya Zi, Suan Ni, and Jiao Tu. It is commonly said that the Nine Sons of the Dragon are all different.”

“The first nine transformations of the Cloud Dragon Heart Method correspond to these nine sons: the Bi Xi Transformation, the Chi Wen Transformation, the Pu Lao Transformation, the Bi An Transformation, the Tao Tie Transformation, the Ba Xia Transformation, the Ya Zi Transformation, the Suan Ni Transformation, and the Jiao Tu Transformation. Only by mastering these nine transformations can one unveil the final stage: the True Cloud Dragon Transformation. Once this is achieved, vital energy from the Immortal Realm flows down incessantly, reshaping the Cloud Dragon body, allowing one to attain the true Dragon Form. The Second Generation Patriarch of yesteryear mastered the Ten True Dragon Transformations, receiving an endless stream of Immortal Realm energy to reshape his body into the true Dragon Form, making him invincible in the world.”

“As for the Tenth Transformation, the True Cloud Dragon Change, you need not practice this yet, and in fact, it is almost impossible to master now.”

“What you must master first are the preceding nine: the Bi Xi, Chi Wen, Pu Lao, Bi An, Tao Tie, Ba Xia, Ya Zi, Suan Ni, and Jiao Tu Transformations. Mastering each level brings a significant surge in power, and one’s intrinsic magic power gains an added layer of change—truly marvelous in its efficacy,” Li Yuanbai explained.

At this point, Lu Yuan actually regained some spirit. After all, this was an exquisitely profound technique, far beyond the ordinary.

The Cloud Dragon Heart Method, the Ten Cloud Dragon Transformations, was inherently the North Peak’s highest cultivation art.

But as Li Yuanbai continued his detailed explanation, Lu Yuan found his drowsiness intensifying. He felt the urge to yawn again.

Noticing Lu Yuan’s reaction, Li Yuanbai smiled inwardly. His disciple’s nature would not change; as the saying goes, it’s easier to change mountains and rivers than a person’s inherent disposition. Still, he had listened attentively during the initial exposition of the general principles, which was adequate. The Cloud Dragon Heart Method was unfathomably deep, with endless inner variations; everything would depend on his disciple's future enlightenment.

Some people advance by treading the worn paths of their predecessors, step by measured step.

Others possess great innate creativity, finding their own routes—often excellent ones—and forging ever onward.

His disciple belonged to the latter category, a person of substantial originality who frequently experienced flashes of brilliance. For such individuals, strict regimentation was unnecessary. If his own time were not so limited, he would never have imparted the supreme summation of the Ten Cloud Dragon Transformations to him this early.

Li Yuanbai gazed at the swirling expanse of clouds. “Lu Yuan, this is the Cloud-Gazing Terrace. Stare here for a while; it will greatly benefit your comprehension of the transformations within the Cloud Dragon Heart Method.”

“Yes.” Lu Yuan nodded. With his master right beside him, even shirking felt difficult.

He reluctantly settled into a cross-legged posture and began observing the sea of clouds before him.

The cloud sea shifted ceaselessly, and in Lu Yuan’s eyes, it began to morph into visions of roast chicken, roast rabbit, and whole roasted lamb—the longer he watched, the more mouth-watering the visions became. If Li Yuanbai knew what his disciple was truly thinking at this moment, he would likely be torn between laughter and tears, unsure what to say.

——————

In a blink, more than half a year had passed.

Lu Yuan lay stretched out on the grass. It was now the season when flowers blossomed in warmth.

This weather was the most comfortable.

So comfortable that it made one lethargic.

Lying on the grass, feeling the life stirring around him—the grass growing and orioles flying—spring felt wonderful. Sleeping in on a spring day felt even better. Lu Yuan let out a long breath. Over these past six months, although he hadn't pushed himself too hard, he hadn't been completely lazy either, managing to advance his magical power to the late stage of the Fifth Layer of the Qi Condensation Period, the Minor Heavenly Cycle.

Naturally, progress in swordsmanship had been impossible. Having reached the Sword Intent level, further advancement in technique was exceedingly difficult.

Not far away, Ye Fang and Ye Yuan were sparring. These two no longer sought to spar with Lu Yuan. While sparring with him brought great improvement, the constant feeling of defeat was not pleasant. Ye Fang and Ye Yuan’s swordsmanship remained firmly rooted in the first level of swordsmanship—being bound by fixed forms. They had only just brushed against the edges of the second level, which involves freedom from set forms. In a direct duel, how could they possibly defeat Lu Yuan? After losing too many times, they naturally stopped challenging him.

Of course, the three of them shared a similar taste for mischief, so drinking and barbecuing were still done together. It was rare to find kindred spirits in the same sect, after all.

Watching Ye Fang and Ye Yuan duel, Lu Yuan’s thoughts drifted far away.

He was seventeen now. He had left home at ten; seven years had slipped by without him realizing it.

Perhaps he ought to return home for a visit.

Immortals are not without affection, and cultivators, even more so. He genuinely felt a pang of homesickness.

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