Lu Yuan took a long swig of the good wine. It was the Lamb Fine Wine, a local specialty from the Ancient Pottery Prefecture. During the recent banquet, Lu Yuan had felt utterly uninterested, taking only a few sips before stopping.

The atmosphere then was all wrong, sharing a table with annoyances like Shangguan Qing and Nangong Bai. Lu Yuan had a rule of three drinks and three don’ts when it came to drinking. The first of the three don'ts was simple: he wouldn't drink with anyone he took an instant dislike to.

There was no rigid standard, but if he didn't like the look of someone, he wouldn't share a drink. The second don't was reserved for true scoundrels; there was simply no point drinking with them. These true villains committed arson, murder, and pillage with brazen arrogance, and as someone whose alignment naturally leaned towards neutral-good, Lu Yuan could not abide such behavior.

The third don't was for hypocrites—those whose pretense was too excessive, too affected, too utterly false; he had no interest in drinking with such fake individuals. These were Lu Yuan's three don'ts. As for his three necessary drinks, there was also a clear set of rules.

The first of the three drinks was mandatory when the wine was excellent, such as the Lamb Fine Wine—this was the first mandatory drink. The second mandatory drink was for when the scenery was beautiful. If one didn't properly enjoy the view with a drink in hand, how could one do justice to oneself?

The third mandatory drink was equally straightforward: encountering someone agreeable, or when a friend arrived, one naturally had to toast. Such was Lu Yuan’s system of three drinks and three don'ts. Now, the disagreeable Shangguan Qing and Nangong Bai had already been slain by his sword, and here he had fine Lamb Fine Wine.

Why not enjoy a proper drink? As Lu Yuan drank, he felt an immense satisfaction. Ah, yes.

After that battle, there were still many loose ends to tie up. Given Lu Yuan's nature, patience for such cleanup was understandably low. With Uncle Song heavily wounded, Lu Yuan unceremoniously dragged Situ Hong into handling these immensely troublesome aftermaths.

Situ Hong, ever loyal, naturally raised no objection, accepted the command, and immediately dove into political affairs. Her task was to stabilize the current situation, completely eradicate the core factions loyal to Shangguan Qing and Nangong Bai, and then install her own trusted personnel to ensure the massive enterprise continued to function as before. This was the succession, the great purging of the Shadow Blade Manor.

Having summoned Situ Hong, Lu Yuan had only one primary objective: confiscation. Over the years, how much had Shangguan Qing and Nangong Bai embezzled? Ideally, the confiscation would yield a handsome return, but unfortunately, before the final confrontation, they had already moved all their ill-gotten gains to a secret location, leaving nothing for Lu Yuan, which naturally left him somewhat displeased.

Still, slaying Shangguan Qing and Nangong Bai in this battle was indeed a massive accomplishment. The estate left by his Master, previously controlled by those two, used to yield ten spirit stones annually. Now, these assets had finally returned to his hands.

Firstly, his Master could rest in peace in the netherworld; secondly, he would now gain access to far greater resources. How could such a vast legacy left by his Master offer only meager spirit stones and resources annually? Truthfully, with Lu Yuan’s current strength, he should not be able to command the entirety of the Shadow Blade Manor’s massive enterprise.

Without the imposing shadow of the Mount Hua Immortal Sect, countless others would surely try to seize it. However, Lu Yuan was the strongest disciple of the current generation at Mount Hua, and any cultivator with a rational mind would naturally refrain from troubling him. Individuals like Shangguan Qing, Nangong Bai, and Sima Changbai had long held grudges against Lu Yuan.

As for Venerable Yuan Ling, he had been openly hostile toward the Mount Hua Immortal Sect for years, caring little for their reputation, which is why he dared to act so recklessly. Yet, in the vastness of the Great Jin Kingdom, how many powerful factions truly dared to disregard Mount Hua? Life cannot be constantly exhilarating.

Perhaps a small minority experiences perpetual fervor. But for the majority, life is characterized by tranquility. Lu Yuan's life, too, was defined by its calmness.

Wouldn't constant intensity be exhausting? He already felt exhausted enough as it was. To be idle when possible, to retreat when one can, finding a quiet place to watch the clouds drift, practice the sword, drink a little wine, and sleep—these were his greatest pleasures.

Indifferent to favor or disgrace, calmly watching the flowers bloom and fade before the courtyard; unconcerned with coming or going, letting the clouds gather and disperse beyond the heavens. This was Lu Yuan’s philosophy of life. If not for this detached state of mind, his alignment with the Great Dao’s will would not have been so precise, and his progress would not have been so swift.

Lu Yuan settled into a secluded spot on the North Peak. The days slowly passed by. New hot topics constantly emerged among the younger generation of cultivators.

Word had it that Zhang Qingshu’s strength had significantly increased, achieving notable feats, such as cleaving the Thirteen Eagles of Taihang in a single sword strike—a tale that became instantly celebrated. It was rumored that Song Nanshan had ventured to the seaside for Qi refinement, even causing the great ocean to roar in response. It was also said that Zhao Qiankun had single-handedly defeated the formidable husband-and-wife duo known as the Eagle and Swallow Killers.

Qiao Silu of the South Sea Immortal Sect was recently reported to have mastered the sect’s ultimate technique, the Thirteen Fatal Swords, an even more impressive achievement that earned him vast renown throughout the South Sea. Many such rumors circulated, detailing the accomplishments of these shining stars among the younger generation during this period, spreading their fame throughout the cultivation world. Meanwhile, Lu Yuan, who remained secluded on the North Peak, naturally saw his own fame gradually fade compared to theirs.

But what did any of that matter to him? He was content on the North Peak, observing the flowers bloom and wither, the clouds roll and unroll. The light on the North Peak had brightened considerably.

Lu Yuan tidied himself and headed towards the North Peak Celestial Prison—he was under orders from Martial Uncle Yuanyuan to undergo a period of tempering there. It seemed Martial Uncle Yuanyuan likely felt he had become too idle and decided to assign him this duty. Lu Yuan had been to the North Peak Celestial Prison before.

He had previously spent time in the first and second levels, which housed prisoners in the Qi Refining stage. This time, naturally, he wouldn't be lingering on the first two levels. Martial Uncle Chu Fei had arranged for him to be placed on the fifth level.

The North Peak Celestial Prison comprised ten levels in total. The fifth level was reserved for inmates ranging from the eighth layer to the tenth layer of Body Tempering. The atmosphere of the prison required no description; the light wasn't exactly dim, but there was always that unique, oppressive prison aura.

Lu Yuan paid no mind to this so-called distinctive jailhouse smell. Since he was here, he would make the best of it—this place would serve as a training ground where the various inmates were his potential sparring partners. Lu Yuan first sought out cultivators at the eighth and ninth layers of Body Tempering.

While he could currently contend with those at the ninth layer, sparring against them still held considerable value. Each Body Tempering Ninth Layer cultivator possessed unique specializations; some excelled at magic techniques, others at swordsmanship. Swordplay had countless variations, as did magical arts.

Take Earth-elemental magic, for instance: some cultivators specialized in channeling it into their bodies to enhance strength, others used it to boost their defenses, while still others turned the ground into a swamp to trap their foes. Just one Earth technique offered so many applications, and the variations across other elements, not to mention swordsmanship, were even more numerous. Engaging these individuals would vastly increase his practical experience.

No matter how profound your swordsmanship, it's useless without sufficient experience. Opponents could set all manner of traps, and if inexperience led you to stumble into one, the loss would be devastating. The North Peak Celestial Prison served precisely to provide Lu Yuan with this kind of experience; indeed, almost every immortal sect utilized their prisons to temper their disciples.

After sparring with the Body Tempering Eighth and Ninth Layer cultivators for quite some time, feeling his experience was sufficiently bolstered, he decided to test his current peak strength by challenging those at the Body Tempering Tenth Layer. During the exchange with a Body Tempering Tenth Layer cultivator, Lu Yuan never imagined he would be utterly suppressed. No matter how high his sword skill, under the pressure of a cultivation level three steps higher, his attacks were utterly routed.

Furthermore, the inmate was ferocious and ruthless, attacking with frenzied abandon while holding the overwhelming advantage, clearly aiming to kill Lu Yuan outright. It could be said this was Lu Yuan’s first time in such an environment, facing an opponent actively trying to end his life. The prisoner, long confined and now used for forced sparring, carried immense pent-up rage.

Lu Yuan felt his mind nearly cease functioning under the duress. Thankfully, Martial Uncle Chu Fei intervened, felling the inmate with a single blow. That single strike made Lu Yuan fully realize the gulf between himself and the Ninth Generation Sword Immortal.

At this stage, the difference between them remained as vast as heaven and earth. And why couldn't he even manage against a Body Tempering Tenth Layer cultivator? Lu Yuan couldn't help but feel a pang of dejection.

He had recently won several victories and had become slightly complacent, believing himself quite capable—even thinking he might stand a chance against cultivators in the Longevity stage. It seemed he had become arrogant. Facing a Body Tempering Tenth Layer opponent, he was utterly defeated; if he encountered a true Longevity stage master, he would likely be crushed in just a few moves.

This was truly a moment of setback! A shock! However, humans cannot always expect smooth sailing.

This setback, this blow, shattered his minor self-satisfaction and forced him to recognize his limits, admitting he was inferior to a Body Tempering Tenth Layer cultivator. Moreover, his experience fighting at a disadvantage was severely lacking; he had grown accustomed to fighting when already ahead, and his mind had gone blank for a critical second when he was cornered. Why did that happen?

Lu Yuan pondered deeply and realized he was, after all, only a twenty-two-year-old youth, unable to compare with predecessors who had endured countless battles. This was merely a normal human reaction. Very well, he would accumulate more combat experience and cultivate diligently in the Celestial Prison for a while longer.

A person must not forget their footing or become complacent just because they are currently riding on favorable winds.