This was a forest of unparalleled density, where the canopy of leaves choked out the searing September sunlight. Branch laced into branch overhead, creating a tapestry through which birds flitted. Last autumn's fallen leaves lay piled deep upon the forest floor, a thick, decaying carpet occasionally disturbed by tiny insects navigating the undergrowth.
Beneath the leaves, the air was incomparably cool.
Lu Yuan found a refreshing spot and settled down.
He had recently emerged from the Cultivator’s Market, where he had successfully sold that water-elemental artifact, the Twin Serpent Gourd, for one hundred low-grade spirit stones. He intended to use these stones now for his cultivation practice.
He launched five Spirit Sealing Talismans, embedding them into five surrounding tree trunks. Instantly, a Spirit Sealing Array enveloped the area. With a flick of his hand, he withdrew fifty low-grade spirit stones, drew the Yangwu Sword, and pierced each stone with a fluid, light motion. Immediately, the primal energy of heaven and earth flooded into the formation.
Without hesitation, he settled into a cross-legged posture.
His inherent Cloud Dragon Heart Method was already circulating, beginning to draw in the ambient primal energy.
Of course, at this precise moment, the seven Cloud-elemental spirit beasts within the Spirit Sealing Tablet were also contributing their own cloud-elemental essence.
The Cloud Dragon Heart Method cycled within his body.
Currently, he stood at the mid-stage of the Eighth Layer of Qi Refining: the Subtle Meridian stage.
Reaching the Fifth Layer of Qi Refining established the Minor Heavenly Cycle, where the Twelve Primary Meridians and Eight Extraordinary Meridians were all opened and interconnected, forming a complete, small circuit.
The Eighth Layer, the Subtle Meridian stage, involved the force of one’s magic power beginning to impact the body's auxiliary meridians. Successfully forcing open all remaining channels essentially completed this stage. The next level, the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining—the Major Heavenly Cycle—was characterized by the continuous, unobstructed flow of magical energy through every single meridian within the body.
He was presently stuck at the Subtle Meridian hurdle. More than half of the meridians outside the Twelve Primary and Eight Extraordinary Meridians had been opened, but a small portion remained stubbornly sealed.
Today, he would rely on the ambient energy contained within the spirit stones to systematically break through these final few channels.
The Cloud Dragon Heart Method was not accelerated; speed was fundamentally contrary to its nature. Its essence was to be slow like the drifting cloud, continuous and dense—that was its defining characteristic. If one pushed the Cloud Dragon Heart Method to be rapid and forceful, it would essentially be ruined, and no further progress could be made with it.
A Heart Method possesses its own characteristics.
A Sword, too, possesses its own characteristics.
The practice of selling flying swords at cultivator markets was largely misleading to others. Every cultivator possessed a unique temperament, requiring a correspondingly unique flying sword; a sword needed to be custom-made to be the best.
“There is no ultimate flying sword, only the sword most suited to oneself,” this saying was widely known among the Five Great Immortal Sects.
However, the rogue cultivators outside, lacking genuine transmission, often did not know this. Even when the saying spread, many rogue cultivators dismissed it as a trick to fleece them.
Lu Yuan dismissed these idle thoughts and slowly circulated the Cloud Dragon Heart Method. The primal energy of heaven and earth poured ceaselessly into his body. Under the rhythmic impact of the Heart Method, meridians were forced open one after another, making his internal magical power deeper and more robust. The Cloud Dragon Heart Method was not about immediate explosive force, but about sustained endurance.
It was unclear how long the Cloud Dragon Heart Method had circulated within him, pushing forward with its slow, steady momentum.
...
Lu Yuan opened his eyes, his forehead slick with fine sweat.
The Cloud Dragon Heart Method had circulated long enough to force open nearly all the body's meridians, yet it had failed to connect them all into a single, continuous flow for his magical power. This was the pinnacle of the Eighth Layer of Qi Refining; breaking past this point would allow him to advance to the Ninth Layer.
Forget it, I’ll pause here for now.
Rushing things would be counterproductive, and the Cloud Dragon Heart Method was best practiced without haste.
He waved his hand, retrieving the five Spirit Sealing Talismans and tossing them back into the Asura Pouch—currently, his sole artifact, and a remarkably useful one at that.
—————— Li Family Villa.
His master’s influence in this region was centered around a mine, upon which a manor named the Li Family Villa had allegedly been established near the mining operations.
The Li Family Villa sat not far below the mine entrance.
In days past, the Li Family Villa had been a place of considerable prosperity, but now it showed clear signs of decline.
Lu Yuan approached the Li Family Villa, scrutinizing the somewhat faded estate. He flagged down a tall, thin man passing by and asked, “Is this the Li Family Villa?” The man was clearly a cultivator, but of an extremely low level—only the Second Layer of Qi Refining, scarcely worth noting.
The tall, thin man nodded. “Yes, this is the Li Family Villa.” He glanced at the long sword strapped to Lu Yuan’s back. “Looks like you’re a cultivator too. But if you’re a cultivator, I wouldn’t suggest coming to join the Li Family Villa. Surely you’ve heard this is the faction under the command of Immortal Sword Master Li Yuanbai of Mount Hua’s Northern Peak, the Fading Sword Immortal?”
Lu Yuan feigned surprise. “A faction under such a famous Sword Immortal? How could that be a bad thing? Why shouldn’t one join?”
The tall, thin man adopted a knowing air. “Listen, young brother, you need to look further ahead. The Fading Sword Immortal Li Yuanbai is indeed renowned now, but word is he only has a few years left to live. Once he’s gone, the Li Family Villa will immediately change hands. Heh heh, if you join them now, you have absolutely no future.” This man puffed up with the air of someone who knew the true state of affairs.
“Thank you for the reminder.” Lu Yuan smiled. It was rather ironic. Few seemed to support his master now; even local powers dared to be arrogant, and a mere rogue cultivator at the Second Layer of Qi Refining spoke as if following his master led nowhere. Lu Yuan suppressed a sneer but had to admit the truth: his master was entering his twilight years, and their assessment was correct.
It seems I must take this seriously.
He would show them that even after the Fading Sword Immortal passed, this lineage still possessed cultivators worth reckoning with.
The tall, thin man continued his enthusiastic pitch. “Or perhaps I can recommend somewhere else? We have many mines nearby, and among the other factions here, the Sun Family Villa, backed by the Nine Generations of Sword Immortals from Qingcheng, is the first choice.” This area was rich in mines; Li Yuanbai only controlled one substantial mine, while other powers held the rest.
“I’ll pass,” Lu Yuan politely declined the man’s offer and stepped toward the Li Family Villa.
The plaque above the gate of the Li Family Villa seemed duller, perhaps untouched by cleaning dust for some time. The two stone lions flanking the entrance lacked any majesty, resembling a pair of sickly beasts. Lu Yuan rested his hands behind his back. This was the faction under his master, the one he would eventually inherit.
Power structures, how should one regard them?
Originally, given his naturally lazy disposition, he had no desire to manage such organizations, much like how he evaded the position of Northern Peak Lord.
However, the forces and industries left by his master had to be accepted. Firstly, they were his master’s legacy, naturally belonging to him; if others seized them, even his leisurely nature would ignite anger. Secondly, these factions and industries yielded spirit stones annually, which, if he took charge, would all flow into his own coffers.
Humans, after all, do not live in a vacuum.
Cultivation required insight, but it also demanded resources.
Even he required resources to pursue immortality.
While managing an entire Peak Lordship would grant access to greater resources, it entailed far too much administrative work, which he was too lethargic to handle. Yet, to refuse all influence and industry entirely was impossible. Very well, he would find a balance: he would govern the faction left by his master and accept its assets.
This was the equilibrium point determined by his own temperament. Positions like Northern Peak Lord were too troublesome, and he respectfully declined them.
Of course, even as Northern Peak Lord, his resources would certainly surpass those of the other six Sword Immortals on that Peak, but conversely, the time dedicated to his own cultivation would decrease. This was ultimately a matter of degree; the choice depended on how each person calibrated it according to their nature and habits.
(It’s tiring after finishing the fifth chapter, but the new cycle of stories below the mountain has begun. Also, summoning for recommendation tickets for next Tuesday.)