The North Peak has been quite lively recently. This latest round of disciple recruitment brought in quite a few newcomers. The ones with better temperament and aptitude were selected by several unknown Ninth Generation elders, while the remainder naturally fell into the general group, practicing together. After all, the North Peak had morning and evening classes, and ordinary elders or core disciples occasionally gave lectures. As long as one was diligent, even without being chosen as a true successor, one could still learn something.

With this new batch of people, plus the selection process by the general elders, the North Peak naturally enjoyed a period of bustle.

Recently, however, many of the core disciples of the North Peak found themselves sighing in complaint whenever they were assigned to teach swordsmanship.

Originally, the core disciples currently remaining on the North Peak—those who had survived the North Peak Grand Competition—were already much stronger than before. Most of them had reached the sixth level of Qi Condensation, and their swordsmanship had generally attained the first level, with a few even reaching the second level, no longer constrained by mere sword forms.

Logically, it should have been sufficient for the core disciples to guide the ordinary disciples in swordsmanship.

However, once the core disciples began their teaching duties, they realized the role of instructor was unexpectedly difficult. It wasn't that they were incapable of teaching the general disciples well. Rather, these ordinary disciples had all witnessed the battle achievements of Senior Brother Lu Yuan against Tian Zhong, the Lone Walker of Ten Thousand Miles, and they couldn't help but ask the core disciples how their swordsmanship measured up to Senior Brother Lu Yuan's.

How were these core disciples, residing on the mountain, supposed to answer? They were left utterly speechless, with only endless tears to express their plight.

Of course, all this turmoil on the North Peak had nothing to do with Lu Yuan.

During this time, Lu Yuan had remained sequestered in Changchun Residence, diligently practicing swordsmanship with his master, focusing on his master's Dusk Sword Style. His master's technique was truly extraordinary; it could slow an opponent's movements, obscure their vision, and allow one to hide within the darkness, ignoring mortal danger.

Naturally, Lu Yuan studied this style so earnestly simply because it was his master's sword art.

However, because he had yet to grasp the Sword Intent of Dusk, he had only managed to learn the forms of the technique, failing to absorb its true essence.

Time flowed by in this steady manner.

Inadvertently, two months had already passed.

Over these two months, he had spent his free time practicing his sword forms and cultivating his magic power, being slightly more diligent than before.

The main reason for this slight increase in diligence was the immense appeal of the first level of Body Tempering: Qi Control and Soaring Flight. If he could master this, he would be able to fly in the air. Humans have always dreamed of flight; even a lazy person like Lu Yuan had become a bit more diligent recently.

Yet, even with this extra effort, reaching the Body Tempering stage was no easy feat.

In two months, although his magic power had long since advanced to the peak of the tenth great cycle of Qi Condensation, the Body Tempering stage remained far off, with no sign of a breakthrough.

For the ten stages of Qi Condensation, others spoke of the fifth level, the Minor Heavenly Cycle, the sixth level of Solidified Qi, and the ninth level, the Major Heavenly Cycle, as being exceptionally difficult. But truthfully, Lu Yuan had encountered no obstacles in those three stages; they had been achieved naturally, as a matter of course.

However, he had finally encountered a genuine barrier now. Being stuck here for two months without breaking through to Body Tempering, and judging by the current trend, he might not reach it for several years.

The transition from Qi Condensation to Body Tempering was truly arduous.

Master Li Yuanbai found this situation perfectly normal: "The transition from the tenth level of Qi Condensation to the first level of Body Tempering is inherently fraught with extreme difficulty. When I made the leap from the tenth level of Qi Condensation to the first level of Body Tempering, it took me a full five years." Li Yuanbai's aptitude was hardly inferior; as one of the Six Sword Immortals of the North Peak, he was already an unparalleled figure of the Ninth Generation, yet even he required a decade, illustrating the severity of this stage.

"Currently, among the Tenth Generation core disciples of the Mount Hua Immortal Sect, only Song Nanshan, the first core disciple of the Qi Sect's West Peak, has reached the Body Tempering stage, thanks to receiving the Qi Sect's Purple Qi East Coming cultivation method coupled with a unique fortuitous encounter. The core disciples of the other four peaks, even Shi Chaoyang, the first core disciple of the East Peak, have not yet reached Body Tempering." The West Peak's Purple Qi East Coming method has always been renowned as an ultimate, supreme skill: Purple Qi Arriving, Purple Haze Spanning a Thousand Miles.

As for the North Peak’s senior disciples, Yun Yi and Second Brother Yun Ping, it was the same story. Both reached the peak of the tenth level of Qi Condensation earlier than Lu Yuan, but they remained trapped at this level, unable to advance further.

Hearing his master's words, Lu Yuan mused inwardly, it seemed breaking through from Qi Condensation to Body Tempering was indeed not simple.

Never mind, there was no need for him to rush.

Such matters could never be rushed.

In cultivation, haste easily leads to deviation and qi deviation.

It was still best to hold a bottle of wine and take a plate of peanuts, enjoying the drink with a snack—that was his way of life, his way of cultivation.

The scenery of late spring felt especially profound after the rain.

Before the rain, the flowers were still thriving luxuriantly, but after the downpour, crushed crimson lay everywhere on the ground.

Pink petals were scattered across the flagstone path in the courtyard.

This place was not Changchun Residence; it was a compound at the foot of the North Peak called the Dark Sword Manor. This was essentially one of Li Yuanbai's estates at the base of the North Peak. Beyond Mount Hua’s North Peak, Li Yuanbai possessed a vast network of enterprises, and many people involved in this network could not ascend to the North Peak.

Therefore, Li Yuanbai established the Dark Sword Manor at the foot of the North Peak. Normally, Li Yuanbai’s subordinates reported here instead of going to Changchun Residence.

Lu Yuan was seated in the courtyard at this moment.

Opposite Lu Yuan sat an old man with a neatly trimmed, triple-goatee beard.

"Young Master, the industrial holdings in Dongping Province have remained largely consistent with previous years, with little expansion elsewhere. However, the mining operations in Dongdao Prefecture—where the Young Master once managed things—have seen significant expansion..." The old man with the triple goatee reported on the status of the industries across Dongping Province. This elder was the supreme leader of Li Yuanbai's faction in Dongping Province; his surname was also Li, named Li Feng. His standing was far higher than Li Fang of Dongdao Prefecture, and his strength surpassed Li Fang’s as well. His cultivation had reached the first level of Body Tempering: Qi Control and Soaring Flight. As the leader of the entire Yi Province faction, such strength was necessary.

Li Yuanbai’s enterprises were generally required to report their annual status to him once a year. Listening to subordinates report on the business situation was normally Li Yuanbai’s duty, but his health had been declining recently, so this responsibility had been passed on to Lu Yuan.

Lu Yuan listened to the report from the triple-goatee elder, Li Feng, and found himself growing sleepy. This string of intensely dry data held no interest whatsoever. Just as Lu Yuan was about to doze off, a sharp glint flashed in the eyes of the triple-goatee elder, Li Feng.

At that instant, Lu Yuan instinctively dodged. As he moved, the wall behind him was violently pierced by a sharp thrust, leaving a hole.

Damn it! This Li Feng intends to kill me.

Lu Yuan reacted purely on instinct.

Why would Li Feng want to kill him? The only person who should hold a grudge against him now was Sima Changbai. Yet, Li Feng was one of the Master’s men. Wait, Lu Yuan immediately realized something was amiss. His Master likely had a little over a year left to live, and those loyal to his Master should, in turn, be loyal to him as the successor.

But, there were also those who wished him dead. After all, supporting him as the next master was less appealing than being the master themselves. Ambitious individuals were never scarce; this was simply human nature—the desire of a snake to swallow an elephant.

Although Lu Yuan rarely engaged in social maneuvering or interpersonal politics, he was hardly unfamiliar with such tactics.

This explained the current assassination attempt.

Of course, there must be others behind Li Feng; Li Feng was merely the blade being wielded. Who was holding the knife? Naturally, he had no time to consider these matters now. Li Feng’s long sword was already lunging toward him, and with every thrust, a powerful gust of wind swept forth.

His magical power was overwhelmingly formidable. Lu Yuan instantly recalled that Li Feng was at the first level of Body Tempering: Qi Control and Soaring Flight.

Given his current strength, defeating Li Feng would indeed be extremely difficult.

After all, the Body Tempering stage was vastly superior to the Qi Condensation stage.

At this critical juncture, Lu Yuan’s mind grew unusually calm. A characteristic of Lu Yuan was that his mind became clearer during fierce combat.

The cultivation world was currently enjoying a period of peace and prosperity, but a golden age did not preclude hatred and slaughter.

The most unpredictable thing in the world was the human heart, and cultivators were human; their intentions were equally difficult to fathom.

Beneath the surface of this apparent peace, how many undercurrents were surging?

If there were no stakes, things might be manageable, but once interests were involved, disputes arose, leading to all manner of covert struggles, infighting, and assassinations.

His previous cultivation life had been almost entirely comfortable.

The image of a languid youth in green robes, the Yangwu Sword shimmering like autumn water often held in his hand, the wine gourd, and the ethereal scenery of the North Peak—these constituted his past existence, weaving a beautiful, dreamlike tapestry of immortal cultivation amidst clouds and mist.

However, a cultivation career could not proceed without turbulence.

The path of cultivation contained dark corners.

Especially since he was a core disciple on the verge of inheriting his Master's considerable legacy, and his Master's lifespan was limited to just over a year.

Now, assassination had found him.

The darkness of the human heart.

But since it had arrived, let it arrive. A hint of his usual indolence still lingered on Lu Yuan's lips. Yes, his typical life was comfortable, like a picturesque landscape painting, but he also possessed the ability to cope with the dark side of cultivation, to face its inevitable turbulence. He had survived the assassination attempt involving the Three Great Swordsmen of Xizhou; he could survive this one too.