Clouds swirled and mist gathered, and standing here, the fierce wind howled past, causing robes to snap and sleeves to billow wide, as if one were dwelling in a realm of immortals.

At the very apex stood the Bell of Quaking North, a colossal object the size of a small pavilion, cast entirely in brilliant yellow, its surface bearing the mottled marks of time. Positioned at the highest point, the Bell of Quaking North stood even taller than the nearby Hall of Central Harmony and the Pavilion Leaning on Clouds.

“Dong—” A melodious chime rang out from the peak of North Peak, spreading across the entire mountain.

After a long pause, another sound: “Dong—”

Two chimes.

This Bell of Quaking North was no ordinary artifact; it was an heirloom passed down from the Second Generation Ancestor Master.

Three chimes signified the North Peak Grand Competition.

Five chimes signaled the Grand Competition of the Five Peaks.

Nine chimes indicated a situation of extreme peril, requiring the entire peak to be on high alert.

This time, for Venerable Yuan Yuan’s five-hundredth birthday, the bell sounded twice. Venerable Yuan Yuan always disliked extravagance, so the two chimes were a simple token gesture.

At this moment, the liveliest place should be the Cloud Feast Hall in Cloud Dragon Palace.

The celebration for Venerable Yuan Yuan’s five-hundredth birthday was being held in the Cloud Feast Hall. The hall was vast, stretching over twenty zhang long and ten zhang wide, with thirty-six coiled dragon pillars rising in the center. It was brilliantly lit, and numerous tables were already set, laden with fine spirits and exquisite foods.

The fine spirits, arranged according to the tables’ positions, included various types of Spiritual Wines, such as Purple Cloud Immortal Brew and Grape Spiritual Wine.

On every table lay mounds of Dragon-Tooth Rice and Pearl Rice, grains infused with spiritual energy.

While wine and rice could be mass-produced with trace amounts of spiritual energy, the other dishes could not. Although Venerable Yuan Yuan requested simplicity and no extravagance this time, as the master of a peak, he could not appear stingy. Bear’s Paw, Flying Dragon Meat, Hundred-Year Crab from the sea—countless delicacies were present, a symphony of rare tastes and novel colors.

The tables at the very front were reserved for those of high status, such as the renowned Ninth Generation Elders of Mount Hua, or figures well-known throughout the Great Jin Cultivation Kingdom.

The tables in the middle were for the general body of elders.

The tables at the rear were occupied by the core direct disciples.

Following the two chimes, the proceedings could essentially commence.

Lu Yuan was seated at a table toward the back, pouring himself a cup of Grape Spiritual Wine. This wine was valued for its spiritual energy rather than its flavor profile. For an ordinary cultivator, this might not matter much, as most wines tasted similar on their palates anyway. But for him, it was severely lacking—after all, he was something of a wine connoisseur.

Barely acceptable, was Lu Yuan’s assessment of the Grape Spiritual Wine.

As Lu Yuan sipped his wine, Venerable Yuan Yuan raised his cup: “Fellow disciples, esteemed colleagues, friends—to have so many fellow disciples, colleagues, and friends grace my five-hundredth birthday fills me with great joy. Enough needless talk. Let us drink this cup!”

At this, everyone stood and drained their cups together.

Following this, Venerable Yuan Yuan began mingling with his old friends for conversation and drinks.

The Ninth Generation Sword Immortals of North Peak this year, such as Gentleman Sword Fang Ru and Solitary Sword Dugu Ye, were all seated at the front tables, entertaining fellow disciples and friends. If there was anything particularly noteworthy this time, it was that Flying Sword Chu Fei had finally stepped forward successfully. This signaled that the internal succession on North Peak was settled: Flying Sword Chu Fei would replace the aging Sword Immortal Li Yuanbai.

It was unavoidable; Sword Immortal Li Yuanbai had, at most, two or three years left to live, and his position was too crucial to remain vacant.

And Flying Sword Chu Fei was powerful; having him take over was the best possible outcome.

Undoubtedly, North Peak’s formal endorsement of Chu Fei instantly made him one of the rising stars of this five-hundredth birthday celebration.

People drank and chatted idly; the entire Cloud Feast Hall buzzed with activity.

Lu Yuan slowly drank his wine, observing the unfolding scene. From the start of the banquet until now, nothing had changed. The people Yuan Ling had arranged for had not appeared. It seemed the incident from the night before was indeed a victory for Venerable Yuan Yuan, a perfect triumph over Yuan Ling that rendered Yuan Ling’s carefully laid plans useless.

Venerable Yuan Yuan’s methods were truly superior.

Admirable, admirable. I am impressed, truly impressed.

Lu Yuan continued sipping his wine.

On the surface, this birthday banquet was utterly tranquil, yet beneath this calm lay the shadow of countless unseen struggles.

Just then, Ye Fang, seated to his left, leaned close to his ear: “Sixth Senior Brother, your seat this time is excellent, isn't it?”

“Is it?” Lu Yuan had been preoccupied, watching for any signs of Yuan Ling’s deployed assets, keen to judge who truly held the upper hand in the conflict between Venerable Yuan and Yuan Ling. He hadn't noticed anything special about his own seating. Only after Ye Fang prompted him did he survey his surroundings.

As he looked, he realized that on his right sat a young woman in green robes. She possessed a baby face, skin as white as snow, a slight fullness suggesting infant plumpness, an innocent countenance, and eyes so clear they seemed transparent. Dimples graced her cheeks, making her smile devastatingly charming. Wait, isn't this Liu Ye'er, the Ninth Core Direct Disciple from the Eastern Peak of the Sword Sect?

Liu Ye’er sat there quietly, utterly serene, drawing one’s gaze involuntarily.

Lu Yuan now understood why Ye Fang on his left had commented on his excellent seat. Suddenly, Lu Yuan noticed a faint fragrance drifting into his nostrils—surely the natural scent of the young woman in green robes beside him.

No wonder the wine tasted off today; it was mixed with a trace of this delicate fragrance.

Lu Yuan felt his heart begin to thump a little faster. After all, he was just an eighteen-year-old youth. Sitting next to such a lovely girl with an innocent face, clear eyes, and cute dimples, an accelerated heartbeat was entirely normal.

Eighteen years old is still eighteen years old.

An eighteen-year-old youth, despite a hint of cunning, remains eighteen. When encountering things unexperienced, the heart naturally quickens.

Of course, this was merely the normal reaction of a youth encountering an opposite sex figure who perfectly aligned with his aesthetic appreciation for the first time.

At that moment, the young woman in green gently licked the Grape Spiritual Wine in her cup: “A bit sweet, isn't it?” For some reason, Lu Yuan thought the girl’s action resembled a small dog lapping water. She then turned her head toward him: “I’ve been watching you drink this wine; it really is quite good. A bit sweet, no wonder you like it.”

She extended her red tongue and delicately took another small lick.

She truly does resemble a puppy, Lu Yuan thought privately.

Yet, Lu Yuan felt a sudden urge to weep. No man prefers sweetness in wine; this young woman was truly a bit obtuse.

——————

This day was Venerable Yuan Yuan’s five-hundredth birthday.

Within the Cloud Feast Palace, the famous Ninth Generation Sword Immortals shared tales of the past—stories of battles, stories of romance. It was a rare gathering, and naturally, some of these renowned figures were also quietly negotiating matters of mutual benefit.

The ordinary Ninth Generation Elders cultivated their personal connections.

Meanwhile, the Tenth Generation Direct Disciples, the youngest group, sat close together. There was the contention between Yun Yi and Yun Ping, the mutual aloofness between the Sword Sect and the Qi Sect, the gentle girl acting like a puppy licking the slightly sweet Grape Spiritual Wine, and the languid youth drinking his wine while admiring the surrounding scenery and, particularly, that charming girl beside him.

The sun shone brightly outside this day.

These young direct disciples would likely remember this day for a very, very long time.

What fates awaited the futures of these young direct disciples?

(It’s Monday again, business as usual: a Monday burst, five chapters released. If there are enough recommendations, there might be more pleasant surprises. I’ll work hard; you all should be enthusiastic too—send collections, recommendations, and tips quickly. I want to climb the weekly points chart and the weekly recommendation chart; yes, I aim for both. Everyone, please give your support!)