This Cloud Mist Palace was not constructed from ordinary bricks and mortar, but rather by the Second Generation Ancestor of North Peak, who forcibly condensed the essence of cloud and mist to form the structure itself. Within this palace, every element—from the walls to the pillars—was composed of condensed clouds and solidified mist. Of course, other furnishings like tables and chairs were brought in later.

The fact that the Second Generation Ancestor could solidify clouds and mist into an entire palace was truly wondrous. The saying that he was once undefeated in the world was certainly no exaggeration.

Because the Cloud Mist Palace was formed from condensed cloud energy and solidified mist, it always appeared as ephemeral as smoke and cloud, never aging—a truly unique spectacle. Furthermore, North Peak’s protective formation array was set up within this palace. Besides that, the main hall of the Cloud Mist Palace, the Cloud Dragon Hall, was the designated place for all North Peak members to convene and deliberate.

At the very entrance to the Cloud Dragon Hall, the three characters "Cloud Dragon Hall" were inscribed. Entering the hall, one saw dozens of coiling dragon pillars standing erect, supporting the massive space.

In the center of the hall rested an extremely long table crafted from Cloud Slipstone.

Cloud Slipstone was notably smooth and cold to the touch, faintly reflecting images. It possessed a superb tactile quality and a distinctly cool palette, making it an excellent material for a long table in the Cloud Dragon Hall. At the far end of this long table sat the North Peak Master, the Daoist master Yuan Yuan, who possessed an air of ethereal wisdom, currently wearing a furrowed brow.

Seated along both sides of the long table were several other figures.

The Four Sword Immortals were present: Sun Sword Sima Changbai, Solitary Heart Sword Dugu Ye, Dusk Sword Li Yuanbai, and Harmonious Sword Ye Yangrong. The Gentleman Sword Fang Ru was absent; he had journeyed to Cloud Mist Valley for the competition over the Cloud Elemental Spirit items. In truth, this contest for the Cloud Elemental Spirits was also a means by which the elders intended to test the Tenth Generation’s Ten Great Direct Disciples, seeking to determine which of the juniors was truly superior. Each elder believed their own disciple to be the best, so this event was set up for them to genuinely contend and battle.

In addition, there was one individual seated who was not counted among the Six Sword Immortals of North Peak.

Flying Sword Chu Fei.

He was an elder of North Peak’s Ninth Generation but had not been included in the esteemed Six Sword Immortals. Generally, those not ranked among the Six Sword Immortals were considered somewhat inferior, their overall standard much lower. However, there were always exceptions, and Flying Sword Chu Fei was precisely one such exception.

Flying Sword Chu Fei originally possessed only above-average aptitude. Through a chance encounter, his mystical power surged dramatically, and he acquired a set of the Flying Heaven Sword Techniques. From that moment on, his strength increased exponentially, allowing him to contend with the Six Sword Immortals. His standing within North Peak was quite high; for instance, the eighth-ranked among the Ten Great Direct Disciples, Ye Fei, was his student. Being able to place one's disciple among the top ten showed the considerable weight this elder carried.

However, the Six Sword Immortals were strictly limited to six.

It was impossible to expand the number to seven just because Chu Fei had emerged. Moreover, there were deep-seated conflicts of interest among the Six Sword Immortals; none were willing to relinquish any portion of their power to Flying Sword Chu Fei. Thus, Chu Fei had always been in an awkward position. Yet, the opportunity he sought seemed to be arriving now, as Li Yuanbai's position would soon become vacant.

Of course, Flying Sword Chu Fei aimed to take Li Yuanbai's seat.

Meanwhile, Sima Changbai coveted Li Yuanbai’s assets.

A position could not be directly inherited, and Li Yuanbai intended to pass his wealth to Lu Yuan, meaning he would never willingly relinquish his property. Consequently, the conflict between Sima Changbai and Li Yuanbai was immense, whereas Chu Fei’s friction with Li Yuanbai was not nearly as severe.

At this moment, six figures occupied the Cloud Dragon Hall: five of the Six Sword Immortals of North Peak, plus Flying Sword Chu Fei.

“The latest intelligence submitted by the Great Jin Kingdom suggests that underground demons have been appearing in the surface world with increased frequency recently,” remarked Harmonious Sword Ye Yangrong, who oversaw intelligence matters. He narrowed his plump eyes as he recounted the recent reports. Although the Great Jin Kingdom possessed considerable strength, they ultimately relied on the Five Great Immortal Sects.

After all, without the Five Great Immortal Sects, they would have long since failed to suppress the demons stirring beneath the earth. The frequent emergence of underground demons was a major event, and the only true enemy of the Five Great Immortal Sects was the demonic world beneath them.

Yuan Yuan Shangren knitted his brow. “Chu Fei, investigate this. If necessary, you may handle it.”

“Understood.” Flying Sword Chu Fei nodded. He knew this was his moment to shine if he wished to secure Li Yuanbai’s former seat and officially become one of the Six Sword Immortals. The frequent appearance of underground demons was indeed a serious matter, and he intended to execute Yuan Yuan Shangren’s orders flawlessly.

As soon as Chu Fei accepted, no one else voiced an objection. Indeed, the frequent surfacing of underground demons was serious, but what of it? Chu Fei was the figure second only to the Six Sword Immortals in North Peak. If he took charge, as long as it wasn't a cataclysmic event, the situation could be managed without excessive worry.

“In that case—” Yuan Yuan Shangren was about to declare the meeting adjourned, as the discussion of this specific matter had concluded.

Just then, Fang Ru strode into the Cloud Dragon Hall.

As Fang Ru arrived, the atmosphere immediately tensed.

Fang Ru was the epitome of a rigid gentleman, possessing an overwhelmingly powerful aura of chivalry.

Yuan Yuan Shangren inquired, “Oh, you’ve returned. Someone still needed to go to Cloud Mist Valley. The matter regarding the recent frequent appearance of underground demons has been settled; Chu Fei will take charge.”

Fang Ru nodded. “Senior Brother, the situation at Cloud Mist Valley has concluded.”

“It’s… finished?” This statement stunned nearly everyone present. Logically, the proceedings in Cloud Mist Valley should have taken considerably longer to wrap up. How could it have ended so swiftly? Everyone struggled to process the suddenness of the news; it felt far too fast.

Yuan Yuan Shangren, Li Yuanbai, Sima Changbai, Dugu Ye, Ye Yangrong, and Chu Fei all held their breath, eager to hear the outcome of the contest. While seemingly minor, the Cloud Mist Valley affair was significant for North Peak, as it determined the relative strength of the disciples from various factions.

Although they were cultivators, even they were not immortal; the future depended on the Tenth Generation disciples, which is why their strength was a matter of such intense focus.

Dugu Ye chuckled lightly. “There were two Cloud Elemental Spirits in total. Surely Yun Yi didn't take one and Yun Ping the other?” Among the Ten Great Direct Disciples, the others were in their twenties, but Yun Yi and Yun Ping were both over forty, possessing profound cultivation that the other eight could not match. If they had simply divided the spoils, the other eight disciples would have been helpless. However, this action clearly did not align with Yun Yi’s or Yun Ping’s natures; it would be a strange occurrence if those two did not contend, fight, and vie for everything.

Fang Ru shook his head. “No. Yun Yi and Yun Ping competed for the Cloud Rabbit. In that contest, Yun Yi utilized his seasoned experience, leveraging the surrounding mist in Cloud Mist Valley, securing a narrow victory by one move and claiming the Cloud Rabbit.”

A narrow victory by one move.

This was typical. It didn't decisively settle who was stronger between Yun Yi and Yun Ping; they often traded minor victories, one move here, one move there, making it impossible to truly gauge their relative strength.

Fang Ru cleared his throat. “And the remaining Cloud Cat fell into the hands of—”

Whose hands would it fall into? Ling Yuzhu? Fang Dan? Sima Bo? Or perhaps Lu Yuan, who had performed reasonably well previously?

Naturally, the possibility of it falling to Lu Yuan seemed remote, while the chances for the former three were significantly higher.

Ling Yuzhu’s master, Dugu Ye, and Sima Bo’s grandfather, Sima Changbai, both narrowed their eyes in anticipation.