This was the first day after the conclusion of the team competition.

By Lu Yuan’s usual habit, he should have found some delicacies, paired with a pot of wine, and enjoyed a hearty indulgence. But today, Lu Yuan did not do that. He sat in his private chamber, sinking a portion of his consciousness into the Spirit Sealing Tablet.

This had to begin with the team competition that had just wrapped up. The so-called "team competition," in plain terms, was a contest between the ten true disciples from the Five Peaks—a massive free-for-all where both individual prowess and coordinated ability were tested.

This time, the North Peak’s opponents were the West Peak and the East Peak. The West Peak’s Qi Sect had already lost to the North Peak previously, so this round was merely a repetition of that defeat, holding no surprise whatsoever. The East Peak specialized in sword formations for the team contest. However, the Fine Rain Sword Intent that Lu Yuan had cultivated was naturally complementary to and capable of countering their Rising Sun Sword Intent. Unsurprisingly, Lu Yuan, whose magical power far surpassed theirs, was immune to being curbed by the Rising Sun Sword Intent. Coupled with the fact that Yun Yi, Yun Ping, and the others were also formidable, their victory over the East Peak’s Rising Sun Peak was a foregone conclusion once they coordinated with Lu Yuan.

In truth, ever since the battle at the Taiji East Origin Gate, with Lu Yuan achieving a one-man victory over ten, the team competition had lost much of its significance and suspense.

Consequently, the North Peak secured first place in the team competition. The North Peak’s results this year were quite outstanding: first place in the individual competition, first place in the team competition—far exceeding previous years’ achievements. Last night, the true disciples had been celebrating wildly, finally settling down near dawn. Lu Yuan had been ceaselessly busy yesterday too; despite receiving his rewards yesterday, he hadn't found a moment to examine them. Fortunately, today he had the leisure to look at what he had won.

The rewards had already been redeemed.

The reward for first place in the individual competition was a large spirit beast.

The reward for the team competition was a small spirit beast for each member of the team.

Originally, his Spirit Sealing Tablet held seven spirit beasts: three Cloud Hares and four Cloud Cats. The three Cloud Hares came from slaying a Shura in Dongye County, while the four Cloud Cats were acquired—one from the competition in the Cloud Mist Valley, and three from his trials in Donglu County. What greeted his sight in the Spirit Sealing Tablet now, however, was not those three Cloud Cats and three Cloud Hares.

It was a massive Cloud Tiger.

If this pure white great tiger stood up, it would likely be as tall as a man. It lay sprawled on the ground, comfortable and languid, yet even in its relaxed posture, its aura was terrifying, as if it could spring forward at any moment to devour everything in sight. Though white, its claws were razor-sharp and its eyes were icy cold, projecting a truly fearsome presence.

In contrast to this Cloud Tiger, the other eight spirit beasts—four Cloud Hares and four Cloud Cats—seemed utterly devoid of imposing might. One of the three initial Cloud Hares had been a reward from the team competition victory. Yet, the Cloud Hares and Cloud Cats appeared quite endearing; the Cloud Hares cuddled spirit stones in their paws while the Cloud Cats meowed contentedly.

The Cloud-type spirit beasts within the Spirit Sealing Tablet all possessed a degree of intelligence, though not high. They were all tangible entities.

Of course, there was no fighting among the Cloud Tiger, Cloud Hares, and Cloud Cats. They were all formed from condensed clouds, identical in essence, and would not attack each other. Furthermore, they all subsisted on spirit stones, which Lu Yuan provided, meaning they would never consume one another.

Lu Yuan looked at the one Cloud Tiger, four Cloud Hares, and four Cloud Cats in his Spirit Sealing Tablet and nodded with satisfaction.

Practicing the sword was his passion.

Collecting Cloud-type spirit beasts was also his hobby. Naturally, sword practice was an innate love, whereas collecting Cloud beasts served a practical purpose: the more Cloud beasts he possessed, the faster his magical power increased, allowing him to avoid spending excessive time on cultivation—a perfect opportunity for him to be lazy, which he considered a major interest.

He tossed the spirit stones he held over. The Cloud Hares and Cloud Cats immediately scurried to his feet, playfully demanding attention. The Hares affectionately nuzzled his trouser cuffs, and the Cats meowed incessantly, looking quite delighted. The Cloud Tiger, though it accepted its spirit stone, maintained an air of supreme arrogance. Fine, Cloud Tiger, you win.

The Cloud Tiger wasn't cute, but Lu Yuan knew its utility far outweighed that of the Cloud Hares and Cloud Cats combined.

Lu Yuan was no animal lover. Despite the Tiger’s majesty and the cuteness of the Hares and Cats, he didn't keep them lingering long in the Spirit Sealing Tablet. He allowed them to emerge, immediately feeling the surging transformation in his surrounding magical energy.

Magical power flooded into his body. If the influx from the previous spirit beasts was a small stream, the current flow entering him was easily a small river. Lu Yuan estimated internally that the Cloud Qi provided by this single Cloud Tiger was roughly four or five times that of the other eight Cloud Cats and Hares combined.

One Cloud Tiger was equivalent to so many Cloud Cats and Hares.

No wonder many renowned ninth-generation Sword Immortals had felt a pang of envy when he collected his rewards yesterday.

This Cloud Tiger was too precious!

Lu Yuan felt immensely pleased. The Cloud power provided by this beast was incomparably pure and incredibly surging, ceaselessly pouring into his body.

After reaching the Body Tempering stage, he had found that the seven small Cloud spirit beasts were no longer providing mana fast enough. Now, after the Five Peaks Grand Competition, acquiring the large Cloud beast, the Cloud Tiger, had increased his magic influx speed by five or six times the previous rate. At this pace, reaching the second stage of Body Tempering—the Five Viscera and Six Entrails realm—was clearly within sight.

Naturally, his heart swelled with boundless joy.

He carefully tucked the Spirit Sealing Tablet away with even greater reverence.

Among the items he currently possessed, the most valuable to him should be the Yangwu Sword, because it was a gift from his Master, representing his Master's painstaking effort. In the eyes of others, it might not be as precious as the spiritual items in the Spirit Sealing Tablet, but in his own heart, the Yangwu Sword was the most treasured.

Second was the Spirit Sealing Tablet holding the nine spirit beasts.

Third, without question, was the Shura Pouch, whose value was slightly higher than the Changgong Sword.

Fourth was the Changgong Sword.

As for spirit stones, a single one wasn't worth much; their value accumulated. He counted several hundred remaining—all salvaged from the battle at the Eastern Dao Prefecture. That campaign had yielded quite a few spirit stones, enough for a considerable period of his cultivation and to feed the nine spirit beasts in the tablet. The Cloud Tiger’s function was significant, and correspondingly, its required spirit stone consumption had increased—this was natural.

Now that the individual competition and the team competition were both over, this meant the Five Peaks Grand Competition should be finished. Should he pack up and return to the North Peak? His recent series of confrontations on the East Peak, while improving him significantly, had also left him quite exhausted. He needed to return to the North Peak to recuperate for a while.

Moreover, the crucial point was that his Master’s remaining lifespan was only a little over a year. For this temporary period, he did not wish to venture out on trials.

He wanted to spend this last year or so with his Master.

As a disciple, one must fulfill their filial duty.

Lu Yuan now followed behind Reverend Yuanyuan, walking forward.

This matter related back to a moment ago. He had just finished thoroughly examining the Spirit Sealing Tablet, intending to order a few dishes and a pot of wine for a proper meal before sleeping, when Martial Uncle Ye Yangrong sought him out. It turned out Reverend Yuanyuan required his presence at a meeting, specifically naming Lu Yuan. Lu Yuan could only comply helplessly.

He intended to be lazy, but laziness wasn't so easily attained.

After all, Reverend Yuanyuan was the Lord of the North Peak! Fortunately, when he arrived, he discovered he wasn't the only one summoned. Eldest Senior Brother Yun Yi and Second Senior Brother Yun Ping had also been assigned. This situation should have been wonderful; having Yun Yi and Yun Ping accompany him to suffer this ordeal was excellent. However, the moment Lu Yuan thought this was great, he realized he was mistaken.

Both his Eldest and Second Senior Brothers were immensely interested in attending a meeting where they could observe the Five Peak Lords. Only he viewed it as tedious labor. Indeed, his senior brothers were passionate about status and influence; how could they not be keen on such an occasion? Alas, a tragedy, Lu Yuan mused internally.

The Five Peak Lords’ meeting was not merely Reverend Yuanyuan bringing his true disciples out to gain exposure; the Peak Lords of the other four peaks had also brought their true disciples for the same purpose.

Reverend Yuanyang of the East Peak, Reverend Huifeng of the South Peak, Reverend Yuanyuan of the North Peak, Reverend Zixia of the West Peak, and Reverend Yuzhen of the Central Peak sat around the long table in the hall.

Lu Yuan, yawning while listening by the side, initially assumed the affairs of the Five Peak Lords were sheer nonsense, but he soon discovered that wasn't entirely the case—it wasn't purely pointless chatter.

It turned out that during the Five Peaks Grand Competition, the Five Peak Lords had also accomplished something major.

The Huashan Immortal Sect's Five Peaks Grand Competition inherently displayed the strength of nearly every true disciple, naturally drawing attention and all manner of scrutiny. The five Peak Lords, those five old foxes, had actually used this psychological focus to counter-spy and locate a branch outpost of a mysterious organization.

That mysterious organization was said to be called the 'Heaven-Aiding Alliance' (Tiantian Meng). This Alliance was extremely secretive and powerful, specializing in recruiting traitors from the major immortal sects. Yuan Ling, whose strength could essentially contend with, or perhaps even surpass, Reverend Yuanyuan, was now a member of the Heaven-Aiding Alliance. This Alliance rose to prominence nearly a hundred years ago, taking advantage of the Five Great Immortal Sects’ protracted war against the subterranean Demon World’s Myriad Cave Demons, absorbing many powerful defectors and becoming immensely formidable.

Currently, while the mysterious Heaven-Aiding Alliance’s power could not yet challenge the Five Great Immortal Sects directly, it was already a significant menace. It seemed the Huashan Immortal Sect, utilizing the Five Peaks Grand Competition as cover, had managed to counter-spy and discover one of the Heaven-Aiding Alliance's branch strongholds.

Then, not long ago, they annihilated that stronghold and acquired some intelligence on the Alliance.

These old foxes conducted their affairs with remarkable subtlety. While the tenth generation was still foolishly fighting among themselves, these elders had quietly achieved a major feat: destroying a branch of a powerful, mysterious organization and obtaining partial documentation.

These old foxes brought the tenth-generation true disciples to witness this to naturally teach them such methods; learning skills also benefits from immersion.

As for Lu Yuan, he could only sigh inwardly. The world is truly complicated.

In just the Great Jin Kingdom, there were the countless demons and fiends of the subterranean Myriad Caves, the mysterious Heaven-Aiding Alliance, and the other four great immortal sects. Even within Huashan itself, there were the Sword Sect, the Qi Sect, and the Sword-Qi Sect. It was all too complicated, too bothersome. It was simpler and easier to drink wine, practice his sword, and sleep. Though the world was immeasurably complex, he resolved to live his life simply.