As the ten great true disciples matured rapidly, it became increasingly difficult for them to assemble all at once. This was growth. Growth meant more trials, more future responsibilities, and less time for leisure. Once a person begins to mature, the resources they can control increase, but correspondingly, the burdens and responsibilities they carry upon their shoulders also multiply. The Tenth Generation true disciples were in the midst of this growth.

This reunion brought with it an added layer of joy. Informal cliques naturally began to form: Senior Brother Yun Yi, Fourth Brother Fang Dan, and Eighth Brother Ye Fei formed one circle; Second Brother Yun Ping, Fourth Disciple Sima Bo, and Seventh Disciple An Zhi formed another; while Lu Yuan, Ye Fang, and Ye Yuan clustered together; then there was Ling Yuzhu, who always remained outside of any defined group. These were essentially the groupings among the ten true disciples of the North Peak.

Originally, the clique of Lu Yuan, Ye Fang, and Ye Yuan was the weakest, destined to be absorbed into the circles of Senior Brother Yun Yi and Second Brother Yun Ping. However, due to Lu Yuan’s swift ascent, this circle now quietly held enough strength to contend with the other two, and Ling Yuzhu was also showing signs of potentially aligning with Lu Yuan, Ye Fang, and Ye Yuan’s group. If Lu Yuan harbored ambitions of seizing power, another conflict was likely brewing. However, it was clear that Lu Yuan was a fundamentally lazy individual.

Of course, even within Yun Yi's and Yun Ping’s circles, disputes had lessened in recent years compared to previous times. After all, the words of Reverend Yuanyuan had taken effect; harmony was prioritized within the sect, and the relationship between Yun Yi and Yun Ping had gradually softened over the years.

“Oh, everyone is here already…” A lean, middle-aged man walked out. “Greetings, Master…” Eighth Disciple Ye Fei immediately bowed. The newcomer was none other than the Flying Sword Immortal, Chu Fei. Chu Fei’s temperament was among the most easygoing of the Ninth Generation renowned Sword Immortals, much more approachable than others. This might be because he had spent a long time as an unrecognized Ninth Generation elder before gaining a fortunate encounter that propelled him to fame. Perhaps it was due to those experiences that he rarely maintained a stern demeanor. “Everyone is here already…”

“The first level of the Heavenly Prison holds prisoners from Qi Cultivation Layer One to Layer Seven…” “The second level holds prisoners from Qi Cultivation Layer Eight to Layer Ten…” “The third level is for prisoners from Body Tempering Layer One to Layer Three…” Chu Fei explained, speaking exactly as he had when describing it to Lu Yuan before.

“Fang Dan, Sima Bo, An Zhi, Ye Fei, Ye Fang, Ye Yuan—I suggest the six of you challenge the first level of the Heavenly Prison…” Chu Fei used the word ‘suggest.’

“Ling Yuzhu, your strength is at most a notch above Fang Dan and Sima Bo’s. However, since you have been training in the first level for some time, you may try for the second level. If you feel anything is amiss, retreat back to the first level…”

“Yun Yi, Yun Ping, given your strength, you two should proceed to the second level. With your current power, you should be able to establish a foothold there…”

At this point, the other true disciples all looked over. Chu Fei had named every other disciple except Lu Yuan. Could it be that Lu Yuan was being sent to the third level? If so, wouldn’t that imply Lu Yuan possessed Body Tempering stage strength? If that were true, it seemed utterly unimaginable. They simply could not fathom Lu Yuan having reached the Body Tempering stage.

Naturally, Chu Fei did not say such a thing.

Chu Fei then continued, “As for Lu Yuan, if you wish to linger on the first level, linger there. If you wish to roam the second level, roam the second level. However, you are not permitted to enter the third level…” Chu Fei was unaware that Lu Yuan had reached the Body Tempering stage; if he had known, he would certainly have been shocked. Lu Yuan was not initially required to participate in this Heavenly Prison special training. However, since the other nine true disciples were attending, his absence would have seemed overly conspicuous, so he was summoned. Of course, Chu Fei knew that Lu Yuan could no longer advance within the structure of the Heavenly Prison, so he merely gave him a casual instruction and left it at that.

In the days that followed, Lu Yuan lived quite the leisurely life. In truth, the degree of one’s ease often depends on contrast.

When he observed Fang Dan, Sima Bo, An Zhi, Ye Fei, Ye Fang, and Ye Yuan exhausting themselves in the first level, frequently getting beaten and injured by the inmates; when he saw Ling Yuzhu constantly shuttling between the first and second levels; when he noted that even Yun Yi and Yun Ping barely managed to hold their own in the second level, finding it extremely difficult— In stark comparison, Lu Yuan, strolling about leisurely with a pale yellow wine gourd in hand, appeared incomparably serene.

Some true disciples grumbled, wondering why Lu Yuan wasn't cultivating and was instead free to wander about aimlessly every day. Then, one time, they accidentally witnessed Lu Yuan enter the second level, where the prisoners were so terrified they dared not even move. Only then did they understand why Martial Uncle Chu had said Lu Yuan didn't need to cultivate and could just wander around. Moreover, the many true disciples were somewhat shaken. Third Disciple Ling Yuzhu was struggling significantly in the second level, often forced to retreat to the first. Even Senior Brother Yun Yi and Second Brother Yun Ping seemed barely capable of managing in that environment. Yet, Sixth Disciple Lu Yuan managed to intimidate the prisoners of the second level to such an extent. Did this imply that Sixth Disciple Lu Yuan was actually… superior to the First and Second Senior Brothers?

Although these disciples had long known that Lu Yuan had grasped Sword Intent level insights, and although the Sixth Disciple had recently experienced a rapid surge, due to the exceptionally high status of the First and Second Senior Brothers among the other true disciples, they had always been reluctant to believe Lu Yuan could surpass them. However, the current scene presented a clear and undeniable fact. Of course, even so, some true disciples remained unconvinced. Until a real fight occurred, they would never truly believe it.

Naturally, Lu Yuan paid no mind to this. He had absolutely no interest in the rankings among the true disciples. He simply wanted to remain an ordinary true disciple; he never intended to become a core disciple or the future master of the North Peak—that sounded far too exhausting. Lu Yuan spent this period in the Heavenly Prison in utter contentment.

It was time for a meal again, though this one was being served on the first level of the Heavenly Prison. The Grand Competition of the Five Peaks was fast approaching. Through their sparring with the inmates, most disciples recognized their shortcomings and wished to rectify them before the competition, aiming to enter it in peak condition. Consequently, they decided to save time by having their meals right there on the first level.

A square table was laden with sixteen dishes, along with ample rice—the midday meal for the ten true disciples. Except for the very few like Lu Yuan, Ye Fang, and Ye Yuan, the others generally paid little attention to what they ate, satisfied as long as the quality was average. As long as the dishes weren't poor, they hardly cared what they were.

Lu Yuan, of course, could not be so indifferent. Today’s offerings were quite decent, and with a few cups of fine wine, the flavor was excellent. Ye Fang and Ye Yuan watched Lu Yuan drink with considerable envy, but they dared not partake. Getting even slightly tipsy before fighting the inmates would be tantamount to seeking death; they had no desire for that. Thus, Ye Fang and Ye Yuan could only watch as Lu Yuan savored his wine leisurely, feeling intense frustration. Lu Yuan found this experience particularly enjoyable. Usually, he had to compete with those two rascals, Ye Fang and Ye Yuan, for a drink; now that he could drink freely while they abstained, the wine tasted significantly better.

Just then, with a loud bang that seemed to shatter the surrounding stone, a sinister-looking, silver-haired old man hurried over and stopped beside their table: “By your appearance, you must all be true disciples. That works out well. I was just thinking, although I managed to escape my cell on the third level of the Heavenly Prison, fleeing the prison entirely is nearly impossible. Now, with true disciples like you in my grasp, I can negotiate with the Ninth Generation Sword Immortals. Escaping this prison, escaping Mount Hua, shouldn't be too difficult. Perhaps I can even extort some spirit swords…” The silver-haired old man cackled maniacally.

Lu Yuan picked up information from the old man’s words: this elder must be an escapee from the third level of the Heavenly Prison. The third level housed those at Body Tempering Stage One to Three, meaning this silver-haired elder was likely a Body Tempering expert. Who knew he would stumble upon an escape attempt purely by chance. Life, indeed, was becoming intensely eventful. Truly, a new complication arose out of nowhere.

The silver-haired elder thrust an illusory palm strike towards Yun Ping, the nearest to him. This strike was vast and surging, manifesting powerful Water Element magical energy within his hand. Seeing this, Yun Ping retaliated by drawing his Dragon Head Sword and cleaving towards the elder. The elder laughed heartily, “A mere Qi Cultivation character dares to contend…” As he reached out, a streak of water-colored sword qi materialized on his right middle finger, instantly shattering the defense formed by Yun Ping’s Dragon Head Sword technique. The elder surged forward, engaging Yun Ping rapidly. The water-colored qi in his hand was exquisitely refined, and his magical power overwhelming. Within merely a few exchanges, he had captured Yun Ping. “First hostage secured…”

The silver-haired elder laughed, but his mirth sent a jolt of alarm through the assembled true disciples. This elder was indeed terrifyingly strong; he had subdued the Second Senior Brother in fewer than ten moves. Were the ten great true disciples truly destined to fall to a mere prisoner today? The silver-haired elder who had escaped from the third level clearly intended to capture all the true disciples present to use as bargaining chips with the Ninth Generation Sword Immortals.

The silver-haired elder had not yet noticed that, not far from him, a youth in cyan robes had his hand resting on his sword hilt. Of course, even if he had noticed, he would not have cared. Merely a Tenth Generation true disciple—one who had not yet truly come into his own. What was there to fear?